ARTICLE I. Membership
Section 1. Membership is open to all persons interested in the scientific study of bats (Chiroptera) including scientists, candidates for an academic degree, and/or persons involved in bat research or education about bats, including their conservation. Categories of membership shall include Regular Members, Student Members, Institutional Members, and Lifetime (Emeritus) Members as defined below.
Section 2. Regular Member. Regular members are eligible to vote and may be elected to office in NASBR. Any person may become a Regular Member upon registering for and attending the annual meeting of the NASBR. Membership shall continue for one year following the close of the annual meeting, or until the start of the next meeting, whichever term is greater.
Section 3. Student Member. A Student Member must be a candidate in good standing for an academic degree. Evidence for such standing may be provided by endorsement of the student's research advisor or departmental chair, or by official documents asserting student status. Student Members are eligible to vote, but may not be elected to office. Any person may become a Student Member upon registering for and attending the annual meeting of the NASBR at the student registration rate. Student membership shall continue for one year following the close of the annual meeting, or until the start of the next meeting, whichever term is greater.
Section 4. Institutional Member. An association, organization, corporation, or institution desiring to support bat research conservation, or education may apply as an Institutional Member. Institutional membership does not, however, include voting privileges or eligibility for office. Institutional memberships shall continue for one year following the close of the annual meeting, or until the start of the next meeting, whichever term is greater.
Section 5. Lifetime (Emeritus) Member. Lifetime membership is conferred by the NASBR in recognition of a long and distinguished career in bat research or education about bats. Lifetime members shall be elected by at least a 75 per cent vote of members of the Board of Directors at the annual meeting. Lifetime members are entitled to all the benefits of Regular Membership, but shall be exempt from payment of the annual registration fee for all annual meetings thereafter.
ARTICLE II. Duties of the Board of Directors
Section 1. The Board of Directors shall serve as the governing board of the NASBR and shall review and establish policies and procedures of the NASBR in line with the provisions of the Constitution and By-Laws. The Board of Directors shall meet at the time of each regular meeting of the NASBR to conduct such business as may properly come before it. In particular, the Board of Directors oversees the actions of the Program Director as he/she functions to produce the annual meeting.
Section 2. The Chair of the Board of Directors presides over the Directors Meeting and co-presides with the Program Director over the general business meeting(s) of the NASBR. He/she assumes overall concerns for the general affairs of the NASBR. The Chair will be elected annually by members of the Board from within their ranks, and will serve from the time of election until the start of the next annual Directors meeting. Neither the Program Director nor a Local Host may serve as Chair of the Board of Directors. A Chair may be re-elected and serve an unlimited number of years, provided he/she continues to be a bona fide elected member of the Board.
Section 3. The Recording Secretary assumes responsibility for taking minutes of the Directors Meeting and the business meeting(s) of the NASBR, and for ensuring that the minutes are added to the NASBR archives. The Secretary will be elected annually by members of the Board from within their ranks and will serve until the start of the next annual Directors meeting. Any member of the Board, including ex officio members, may serve as Recording Secretary.
Section 4. The Treasurer of the NASBR assumes overall responsibility and oversight over the financial affairs of the NASBR. The Treasurer will be elected annually by members of the Board from within their ranks and will serve until the start of the next annual Directors meeting. Neither the Program Director nor a Local Host may serve as Treasurer of the NASBR. A Treasurer may be re-elected and serve an unlimited number of years, provided he/she continues to be a bona fide elected member of the Board.
Section 5. In the event a member of the Board
of Directors cannot serve the remainder of his/her term, the vacancy may be
filled by appointment by the Chair of the Board.
ARTICLE III. Awards
Section 1. Subject to the availability of
funds, the NASBR may, from time to time, make awards to undergraduate and graduate
students at the annual meeting, in recognition of an outstanding platform or
poster presentation of their research. Winners of student awards are selected
by an ad hoc committee of members selected by the Program Director of the NASBR
each year prior to the start of the annual meeting.
ARTICLE IV. Amendments to the Bylaws
Section 1. Amendments to these Bylaws may be initiated
by individual members of NASBR at the annual business meeting. Amendments
require a second to be considered valid. Amendments may be acted upon
by the attending members at that meeting, or may be postponed for action by
a majority vote until the next annual meeting held after submission of such
proposed amendments. Approval of a two-thirds majority of attendees is
required for approval of an amendment.
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