of the Society for Risk Analysis

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BIOLOGICAL STRESSORS SPECIALTY GROUP BY-LAWS

I. Name and Purpose of Specialty Group

The name of the group is the Biological Stressors Specialty Group (BSSG) of the Society for Risk Analysis (SRA). The purpose of the group is to facilitate the exchange of ideas and knowledge among practitioners, researchers, scholars, teachers, and others interested in risk assessment of biological stressors, to encourage collaborative research on risk assessment of biological stressors, and to provide leadership and play an active role in advancing issues related to risk assessment of biological stressors.

II. Members of the BSSG

Members shall consist of all people with an interest in risk assessment of biological stressors who indicate a desire to be members by submitting their names to the Secretary or the Secretariat, and who pay the annual dues to the Society for Risk Analysis. It is the option of the Executive Committee to request dues for membership to the BSSG.

III. Meetings of Members

Annual meetings of the BSSG will be held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the Society for Risk Analysis. Announcements of the annual meetings will be included in the printed program of the Society.

IV. Government of the BSSG

A. Three Officers will form the Executive Committee and govern the BSSG. The Executive Committee consists of a Chair, a Vice-Chair, and a Secretary. The duties of these officers are as follows.

Chair: Chair an Annual BSSG Meeting at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Risk Analysis, work with SRA officials to organize BSSG meetings or panels, coordinate and encourage the development of symposia for the annual meeting, and take other actions that are in the interest of the BSSG.

Vice-Chair: The Vice-Chair serves as the Chair-Elect and may stand in for the Chair at a meeting should the Chair be unavailable.

Secretary: Maintain a record of actions of the BSSG’s Officers and the meeting, working as appropriate with the SRA Secretariat, maintain the financial records of the BSSG, and communicate relevant information to the BSSG membership.

B. BSSG Executive Committee: Fill vacancies in any office, including its own membership until the next election; nominate candidates for officer positions and solicit nominations from the membership, propose amendments to these By-Laws or receive petitions for changes in the By-Laws; make decisions and recommendations for any other business of the BSSG; encourage and promote the advancement of issues related to risk assessment of biological stressors; establish liaisons where appropriate with other societies and groups engaged in similar or related activities; and interpret these By-Laws. Liaisons with other societies or groups will be members of the BSSG Executive Committee or appointees of the Executive Committee. The immediate past officers serve the BSSG Executive Committee in an advisory capacity, as requested by the current officers.

C. The election of officers shall be by mail (or email) ballot prior to the BSSG Meeting at the Annual Meeting, with the elected officers taking office at the conclusion of the BSSG Meeting. The election of officers shall proceed as follows:

1. Prior to the annual BSSG Meeting, the Executive Committee shall inform BSSG members of the nominations through the RISK Newsletter, Preliminary Annual Program, a mailing, or other means. The Executive Committee shall also inform members to whom they can send additional nominations. Any nominee who indicates a willingness to serve if elected shall be added to the ballot. The period for additional nominations will close 30 days after the sending of the Executive Committee’s list of nominees to members.

2. If no nominations for the position of Vice-Chair are made, the Executive Committee, at its discretion, will (1) appoint one of the Officers to this position for a term ending at the next annual business meeting of the BSSG, or (2) create a position of rotational Chair for that year, and appoint individual members of the Executive Committee to terms of rotation, each to be specified by the Executive Committee.

3. If no nominations for the position of Secretary are made, the vacant position will be appointed by the Executive Committee (1) from the Officers, or (2) if no Officer is willing to accept the vacant position, then from the BSSG general membership, for a term ending at the next annual business meeting of the BSSG.

4. At the conclusion of the period for addition nominations, the Executive Committee shall send a ballot to members at least 30 days before the Annual BSSG Meeting. The results shall be announced at the Meeting.

5. Election shall be by confidential ballot. Officers shall be elected by a plurality vote. In the case of a tie, the winner will be chosen by drawing lots.

6. Question or conflicts regarding any election shall be settled by the Executive Committee, with the Secretary also voting in the case of a tie between the Chair and Vice-Chair.

7. In the event that an officer is unable or unwilling to complete their term of office, the Executive Committee may fill the vacancy with an individual of their choosing on an interim basis until the next election, at which time a replacement (possibly the individual selected for the interim) will be elected to fill the remaining term of the officer (i.e., for the 2nd year of a 2-year position).

D. The terms of office for BSSG Officers are:
Chair: 1 year.
Vice-Chair: 1 year, after which she or he automatically succeeds to Chair.
Secretary: 2 years.

V. Amendments to the By-Laws

Amendments to these By-Laws may be proposed by the Executive Committee, by a majority vote of the participants at the Annual BSSG Meeting, or by a petition containing the signatures of 25 percent of BSSG members submitted 30 days prior to the Annual BSSG Meeting. Amendments to these By-Laws become effective immediately after approval by two-thirds of the members returning their mail (or email) ballots – a mail (or email) ballot will take place at the request of 10 percent of the members at the Annual BSSG Meeting.

VI. Implementation of these By-Laws

These By-Laws will go into effect when approved by a majority vote of those present at the Annual BSSG Meeting or immediately after approval of these By-Laws.

(These bylaws were adopted unanimously by voice vote at the group's December 6, 2006 business meeting.)