Greetings Georgia Chapter American Fisheries Society Members!
Message from Georgia AFS President Jim Page:
In recent years, the American Fisheries Society has tasked all Chapters with evaluating and updating the bylaws of each Chapter. In an effort to fulfill this request, Executive Committee (EXCOMM) members of the Georgia Chapter have recently evaluated, updated, and otherwise modified our bylaws, which were last amended in 2000. These proposed modifications brings our bylaws up-to-date, provides a way to formally establish many of our previous practices, and puts our Chapter into compliance with AFS standards. Below you will find some of the highlights of these newest proposed updates.
Highlights of updated proposed bylaws include:
- Addition of an Executive Secretary-Treasurer, which shall be appointed by the President and is currently held by Rebecca Brown.
- Modification of Secretary-Treasurer to now read “Recording Secretary-Treasurer”. This position will be elected and will work closely with the Executive Sec-Treasurer.
- More clearly defined expectations of each officer.
- Per AFS Constitution, requirement that committee Chairs must be AFS members. In the event that no committee member having AFS membership agrees to serve as Chair, the President may appoint a Chair member to serve as Director of a committee until such time a Chair can be appointed.
- Added several new standing committees to bylaws (e.g. Ballot, Fundraising, Arrangements, Training, Scholarship, Communications, etc.) and more clearly defined the duties of each standing committee. Many of these committees have been used but were never formally established in our bylaws.
- Per AFS Constitution, requirement that only AFS members can vote on Chapter business.
- Defined quorums for meetings and ballots and established the use of electronic ballots.
- Added multiple new Sections to bylaws (Rules/Procedures, Sub-Units, Student Opportunity Fund, Lobbying, Resolutions)….Many of these were already being practiced but have not been formally established in our bylaws.
Please note that the EXCOMM will be placing these proposed bylaws on our website (www.gaafs.org), along with posting them via other media outlets (Facebook, etc.). Proposed bylaws will be made available for viewing for the mandatory 30-day period prior to a vote occurring on potential adoption of these updated bylaws. At the completion of the 30-day review period, ballots will be sent to voting members. Voting members, as identified by the AFS Constitution, shall consist of those individuals having AFS membership. Should you have questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to any of the following EXCOMM members (President: Jim Page; President-Elect: Jamie Roberts; Executive Sec-Treasurer: Rebecca Brown).
Jim Page
President – Georgia AFS
2019 Proposed Bylaws: GA CHAPTER BYLAWS 2019 FINAL DRAFT
Reminder – only Chapter members who are also members of AFS are allowed to vote on Chapter business as required by American Fisheries Society Constitution. We value the voice of ALL of our Chapter members. Although you may not vote on the proposed bylaw update/changes, your opinion counts. You can always contact one of the members of EXCOM to voice your concerns. We will send out ballots for voting on the amended Chapter bylaws in 30 days.
It is important we have an updated list of all of our members who are members of AFS. You need to complete the 2019 membership form. The membership form is a fillable pdf which you can complete and email back to the Chapter (it will help if the file name of the pdf you submit is your name).
2019 Membership Form: 2019 membership form
Georgia Chapter American Fisheries Society 