These are the Bylaws shared by all SWS Sections:
Bylaws of the [Section Name] Section of the Society of Wetland Scientists
Article 1: NAME. The official name of this Section shall be "The [Section Name] Section
of the Society of Wetland Scientists".
Article 2: PURPOSE. The purpose of this Section shall be to ...
Example:
"...promote communication, research and education in studies of the influence of biology
on the chemistry of the surface of the Earth, the processing of energy and materials in
Earth's ecosystems, and the impact of humans on Earth system functions. The Section
shall organize a symposium, workshop or other activity at the annual SWS meeting on a
topic of interest to the members of their section, and pursue any additional activities that
are consistent with the interests of the Section."
Article 3: ORGANIZATION. The [Section Name] Section shall be a subdivision of the
Society of Wetland Scientists and shall be governed by the Constitution and Bylaws of
that Society.
Article 4: MEMBERS. Any member of the Society of Wetland Scientists who wishes to
become a member of the [Section Name] Section may do so upon payment of the
designated dues.
Article 5: OFFICERS. The officers of the [Section Name] Section shall be a Chair, Chair-
Elect, and Past-Chair. The Chair-Elect shall be elected by majority vote taken by written
and/or electronic ballot of members of the Section. The officers shall be installed at the
Section business meeting. Officers shall govern the Section with due consideration of the
needs and expectations of the Section membership.
Article 6: CHAIR. The chairperson shall preside at the business meetings of the Section,
authorize expenditures of Section funds, promote the interests of the Section, and ensure
that a symposium or other activity is organized in advance for the annual SWS meeting.
The Chair shall serve a one-year term.
Article 7: PAST-CHAIR. Upon completion of a one-year term, the Chair shall serve as
the Past-Chair of the Section for one year and shall serve as a member of the Executive
Committee of the Section.
Article 8: CHAIR-ELECT. The Chair-Elect shall serve for a term of one year before
assuming the duties of the Chair. He/she shall assume the duties of the Chair whenever
that person is unable to serve.
Article 9: FINANCES. The necessary expenses of the Section shall be paid from the
treasury of the Society and is subject to Society bylaws or standing rules that govern
financial transactions. The President of SWS shall review and sign any single contract
that involves legal exposure or has financial consequences for SWS in amounts greater
than $2000. Single expenditures with financial consequences greater than 75% of a
Section's assets require the SWS President's signature. No officer or member of the
Section shall have authority to incur any expense in the name of the Society, except as
specified above. In the event that the Section is dissolved, its assets will be transferred to
the general funds of the Society of Wetland Scientists.
Article 10: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. In intervals between annual meetings an
Executive Committee composed of the Chair, Past-Chair and Chair-Elect may act for the
Section.
Article 11: MEETINGS. The Section shall hold its business meeting at the annual
meeting of the SWS, and the members present shall constitute a quorum for transaction
of official business. The Section will also organize Section meetings at other times and
places as appropriate.
Article 12: REPORTS. The Chair shall prepare a report for the Secretary General in
advance of meetings of the full SWS Board. The report will include past Section
activities and plans for future activities.
Article 13: COMMUNICATION. The Section shall maintain and update a webpage and
communicate regularly with Section members.
Article 14: AMENDMENTS. These Bylaws may be amended by two-thirds vote of those
members in good standing present at any annual meeting of the Section, provided that
notice has been given to all members sixty days in advance, or by a two-thirds vote in a
ballot sent to all Section members. For the amendments to take effect, the other Sections
must pass the same amendment so that all Sections are governed by the same Bylaws,
with the exception of amendments to Articles 1 or 2.
