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Codified May 26, 2006
ARTICLE I. NAME AND OBJECTIVES Section 1. Name.
The name of this section shall be the Graduate Student Section [of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association (GSS-AAEA)], Hereinafter it is referred to as the ?GSS-AAEA? and the ?Association,? respectively. In the event of any conflict between the by-laws of this section and the constitution or operating policies of the Association, those of the Association shall prevail.
Section 2. Goals
The goals of the GSS-AAEA shall be the same as those of the Association as stated in its constitution and nothing in these by-laws shall be inconsistent with the Association constitution or by-laws.
Section 3. Objectives
The objectives of the GSS-AAEA shall be:
a. To promote the professional development of graduate students in agricultural economics and related graduate programs,
b. To increase participation and involvement of students with both academic and non-academic career goals in the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association, and
c. To provide more opportunities for graduate student involvement at the Annual Meetings and any other related activities of the Agricultural & Applied Economics Association.
ARTICLE II. MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Membership
Membership in this section is open to all interested members of the Association who pay dues established by the GSS-AAEA. Two classes of members are defined as:
a. Regular members?students currently enrolled in an agricultural economics or related graduate programs, and
b. Associate members?other individuals interested in achieving the objectives of the section but are not currently students.
All classes of Association members shall enjoy the privileges of the GSS-AAEA.
Section 2. Resignation.
Any member may resign section membership by writing the Secretary of the GSS-AAEA.
Section 3. Termination
Termination of membership or reinstatement shall be on the same basis as the Association.
ARTICLE III. OFFICERS AND TERMS OF OFFICE
Section 1. Officers
The officers of the GSS-AAEA shall consist of a chair, chair-elect, and secretary.
Section 2. Terms of Office
All officers shall serve for a term of one (1) year or until their successors qualify. Upon completion of the term, the chair-elect shall automatically succeed to the office of chair. Presentation of elected officers will be at each annual meeting of the Association with terms beginning at the end of the meetings and running until the next annual meeting.
Section 3. Duties
The duties of the officers shall be those customarily performed by such officers, together with those responsibilities prescribed the constitution and operating policies of the Association, the by-laws of the GSS-AAEA, and such other duties as may be assigned by the section executive committee.
a. The GSS-AAEA chair shall preside at all meetings of the GSS-AAEA, execute the decisions and recommendations of the GSS-AAEA executive committee, appoint all committees authorized by these by-laws, represent the GSS-AAEA to the Association, and sign vouchers for GSS-AAEA expenses and transmit them to the Executive Director of the Association for payment.
b. The GSS-AAEA chair-elect shall assume the duties of the chair in the absence of the chair, develop the GSS-AAEA's annual budget, coordinate with necessary committees in designing program sessions for the Association's annual meeting, and by May 15 prepare a report covering GSS-AAEA activities for the previous fiscal year (April 1 through March 31). This report is to be submitted to the executive director of the Association for review by the executive board.
c. The GSS-AAEA secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the GSS-AAEA executive committee, receive a quarterly list of members from the Association and send members such notices as the business of the section may require, conduct the assigned correspondence of the GSS-AAEA, submit to the executive secretary of the Association results of the GSS-AAEA election by August 31st, notify the Executive Director of the Association of any dues to be assessed by the GSS-AAEA for the following calendar year by August 31st, sign vouchers for GSS-AAEA expenses and transmit them to the Executive Director of the Association for payment and receive the GSS-AAEA quarterly financial reports from the Executive Director of the Association and relay those reports to the executive committee.
Section 4. Vacancies
a. In the event the office of the current chair becomes vacant, the current chair-elect shall succeed the office and duties of the chair for the unexpired term and thereafter shall serve the intended term as chair.
b. If the office of the current chair-elect becomes vacant, a special election must be called by the chair.
c. If the vacancy occurs up to three (3) weeks before the annual meetings, this special election may be conducted via electronic vote.
d. In the event the office becomes vacant within three (3) weeks before the annual meeting, the special election will be conducted during the business meeting at the annual meeting. A majority vote of the membership attending the business meeting where a quorum is present, is necessary to confirm the selection of the new chair-elect.
e. If the office of the current secretary becomes vacant, a new secretary will be appointed by the executive committee to serve the unexpired term.
ARTICLE IV. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Section 1. Duties
a. The GSS-AAEA executive committee shall be the governing body of the GSS-AAEA and shall have full power to conduct, manage and direct the business of the GSS-AAEA in accordance with these by-laws and with the constitution and by-laws of the Association.
b. Each of the Members-At-Large will lead a Standing Committee (described in Article VI, Section 1) selected by the current Chair related to Membership Recruitment, Publicity of GSS Activities and News, Activities Coordinator.
Section 2. Composition
The GSS-AAEA executive committee shall consist of the chair, chair-elect, immediate past chair, secretary, three (3) members-at-large, and four (4) faculty advisors. The members-at-large will be elected from the body of the membership and all members of the executive committee will be voting members.
Section 3. Representation
Nominees for membership on the GSS-AAEA executive committee shall be chosen by a call for nominees from the membership to represent the broad spectrum of GSS-AAEA membership.
Section 4. Term
The terms of membership on the executive committee shall be:
a. Elected officers (chair, chair-elect, and secretary) shall serve their respective terms of office,
b. the members-at-large will serve a one (1) year term, and
c. each faculty advisor will serve a four (4) year alternative rotating term .
Section 5. Vacancies
Vacancies on the GSS-AAEA executive committee shall be filled by the executive committee. Individuals so appointed will serve the unexpired term.
ARTICLE V. NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1. Nominations
The executive committee will also serve as the nominating committee. After each annual meeting, solicitations of nominations for elected positions within the section will be sent to the membership. All active regular (not associate) members of the GSS-AAEA who have paid their dues by April 15th of each year are eligible for office. A limit of one nomination per institution will be accepted for the position of chair-elect, secretary, and member-at-large. No nominee's name will be placed on the ballot unless the nominee has confirmed a willingness to serve if elected. Officer Nominations are to be submitted to the GSS Chair by April 15th of each year.
Section 2. Elections
Elections shall be conducted by ballot mailed to all active regular (not associate) members of the GSS-AAEA who have paid their dues by April 15 th of each year. The ballot must be returned to the Chair of the GSS-AAEA by May 1 to be counted. No late ballots will be counted.
Section 3. Results
The results of the election will be announced to the membership through the GSS-AAEA newsletter (if applicable), the Association newsletter, and/or via electronic means such as email and the world wide web.
ARTICLE VI. COMMITTEES
Section 1. Standing Committees.
The following standing committees will be lead by a Member at Large:
a. Activities Committee. The activities committee will consist of a faculty advisor and a Member at Large. The duties of this committee will be to organize events at the annual meetings and any other activities deemed appropriate by the executive committee. This includes the annual business meeting and reception, organizing assistance for the Case Study Competition, and aiding the Vice Chair in coordinating annual meeting track sessions.
b. Membership Recruitment Committee. The Membership Recruitment Committee will consist of a faculty advisor and a Member at Large. The membership recruitment committee will work towards informing other AAEA student and professional members about the benefits of becoming a member of the GSS. The committee will target AAEA graduate students members who have not joined the GSS and encourage them to become Regular Members of the GSS. The committee will also target professional AAEA members to join as Associate Members of the GSS.
c. Publicity Committee. The Publicity Committee will consist of a faculty advisor and a Member at Large. The publicity committee will be responsible for all outgoing communications of GSS announcements, deadlines, activities, etc. This committee will update the GSS website, coordinate bi-monthly articles to be published in the ?Student Corner? of The Exchange (AAEA's Newsletter), and a quarterly newsletter about GSS events and activities.
d. Competition Committee. The competition committee shall consist of the three (3) faculty advisors, the chairman of the industry committee/section, one student member, and one associate member appointed by the chair. The duties of this committee are to insure the fair administration of the student case study competition and/or any other competition deemed appropriate by the executive committee.
e. Other Committees. Other standing committees may be appointed by the chair as needed to conduct the business of the GSS-AAEA.
Section 2. Committee Membership.
Committee appointments shall be made by the chair unless otherwise expressly provided.
ARTICLE VII. MEETINGS
Section 1. Business Meeting
The GSS-AAEA shall hold a business meeting annually in connection with the annual meeting of the Association. A quorum for transaction of business at a GSS-AAEA meeting shall consist of fifteen (15) qualified voting members or 20 percent of the members of the GSS-AAEA, whichever is smaller.
Section 2. Executive Committee Meetings
The GSS-AAEA executive committee shall meet upon the call of the chair or at the request of a simple majority of the members of the GSS-AAEA executive committee. Conference phone calls may substitute for a meeting. A majority of the members of the GSS-AAEA executive committee including at least two (2) of the officers shall constitute a quorum for either a physical or conference call meetings. In the absence of a quorum, a meeting of the GSS-AAEA executive committee shall adjourn to another date.
ARTICLE VIII. FISCAL
Section 1. Fiscal Year
The fiscal year for the GSS-AAEA shall be the same as the fiscal year for the Association.
Section 2. Dues
Members of the GSS-AAEA shall pay annual dues not to exceed 25 percent of the annual dues charged to Association members. Dues will be the same for all classes of members. The amount for all classes of members shall be decided annually by the GSS-AAEA executive committee. The GSS-AAEA secretary shall notify the Executive Director of the Association no later than August 31 of the amount for the following year. Dues are paid in advance on the same basis as the Association dues. Funds collected shall be deposited in the general funds of the Association and credited to the GSS-AAEA.
Section 3. Budget
The annual budget shall be prepared by the chair-elect and submitted by February 1 st to the Executive Director of the Association for approval by the executive board of the Association at their next board meeting.
Section 4. Dissolution
In the event of the dissolution of the GSS-AAEA or revocation of its charter, all GSS-AAEA funds remaining after the discharge of all debts and obligations shall be conveyed to the AAEA Foundation to support the Association programs.
ARTICLE IX. AMENDMENTS
These by-laws may be amended by 2/3 of the members present at any annual business meeting of the GSS-AAEA at which a quorum is present or by a majority vote of members of the GSS-AAEA returning ballots by mail.
ARTICLE X. DISSOLUTION
The executive board of the Association may revoke the charter of the section if the GSS-AAEA becomes inactive, fails to fulfill its purpose, or fails to submit the required reports to the Association. Such revocation of the GSS-AAEA Charter shall not affect the standing in the Association of the members of the GSS-AAEA.
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