Organizational Structure
Officers and Their Duties
President (2 year term; cannot be re-elected)
The President is responsible for coordinating organizational business in consultation with other members of the Board of Directors. The President drafts an agenda for and conducts the annual meeting of the Board of Directors, in consultation with other board members and Society advisors. The President also drafts an agenda and conducts the annual Society meeting for the entire Membership. During the intervening period between annual meetings, the President conducts Society business with other officers and advisors via e-mail, phone and US mail. This business is also reviewed, discussed and read into meeting minutes at the following annual business meeting.
Vice President/President Elect (2 year term; cannot be re-elected)
The Vice-President/President-Elect assists the President and takes a role in the organization of the annual meeting. The Vice President also serves on the Nominating committee.
Treasurer (3 year term; can be re-elected)
The Treasurer is responsible for receiving dues, managing the Society's funds, and disbursing same. This person is authorized to sign checks for the organization. The Treasurer is also responsible for reporting to the Membership and the Board of Directors the current and projected financial situations of the Society.
Board of Trustee, Member-at-Large (3 year term; can be re-elected for two additional terms):
Terms of the six Member-at Large Trustees are staggered, so that two new Trustee members are elected each year. A member of the Board of Trustees takes part in discussions of and voting on all matters related to running the Society of Ethnobiology, both during the year, and at annual meetings held by the Society. Board members are elected as coordinators of one of the six following positions (approved April 17, 2008):
1. Web Editor: Take active role in keeping the web site updated.
- Scan the web (bi-weekly? Monthly?) for relevant news that can be added to our website (e.g., info from News section on the Texas A & M website)
- Post new information directly on the site (depending on the section to be updated) or relay this updated information to webmaster
- Solicit and Coordinate the addition of new web features: e.g., “Ethnobiology in the News” (i.e., posting relevant material from monthly scans); Publications Section (pubs by our members, with possible links to purchasing)
- Encourage submissions to Ethnobiology Around the World page
- Assess requests for links, etc. to our site; send appropriate links to webmaster
- Co-ordinate with conference organizer to get conference information posted early
- Co-ordinate with secretary-treasurer to have annual fees and conference registration on our website
- Monthly: look over web site to make sure all links are working properly
- Monthly: make suggestions to webmaster about deleting stale information
- For the future: start “e-bio news” newsletter, sending out info that might also be posted on the web, solicit news from board and membership, etc.
- Membership in Web Committee (made of two other Board members)
2–3. Promotion, Outreach and Inreach Coordinators: Responsible for promoting and encouraging involvement in the Society (filled by two people)
- Whenever possible, one of these positions will be filled by a student
- Take active role in making suggestions for outreach, etc. in co-ordination with the Society’s President
- In co-ordination with the President, actively promote the Society to other organizations
- Develop relations and initiatives with other related societies
- Scan web, etc. for conferences, etc. where we should be a presence
- Help seek funds for special outreach projects
- Acquire other mailing lists to whom we can send society info
- Help seek funds for participation by indigenous people
- Increase participation of indigenous people
- Strengthen ties and communication within membership
4. Journal of Ethnobiology—Board Liaison: Responsible for helping J. of Ethnobiology editor with maintenance and expansion of our journal
- Assist editor as need arises
- Work with editor to solicit reviewers
- Promote subscription to BioOne.2 to libraries
- Help procure further indexing on anthropological search engines
- Promote the journal (e.g., at professional meetings, ads, etc.)
- Help with any updates to the format, etc. of the journal
- Help identify future candidates for journal editor
- Assist with transitions between journal editors
- Help reviewing press contracts
- Solicit competitive bids from other presses
- Solicit advertisements and announcements
- Solicit Book Reviews?
5. Fundraising/Investment Coordinator—Seek out funding for the Society
- Coordinate the application for funds to various granting agencies (McArthur, Christensen)
- Liaise with the other Board Members about their funding needs and coordinate with them to apply for funds
- Create funds to provide seed money for graduate research, for community projects, for endowments.
- Coordinate the investment of our money sitting in CD’s
- Membership on "Investment Committee"
6. Secretary
- Taking notes at the meetings and writing them up
- Updating by-laws (wording, internal consistency, etc.)
- Taking calls/queries from web and phone calls and redirecting to appropriate Board member.
- Keeping track of yearly discussions – to report as "Old Business" at yearly meeting
- Arranging conference calls for Board meetings.
- Helping set up agendas for meetings
- Creating and maintaining an archive for Society material
Advisors and Their Duties
Editor, Journal of Ethnobiology (term is variable)
The Editor of the Journal is appointed by the President, in consultation with the Board of Directors. The Editor appoints an Editorial Board representing diverse sub-disciplines of Ethnobiology, to help review and assess manuscripts submitted for publication in the Journal. The Editor may also appoint an editor for book reviews. The Editor solicits manuscripts from the membership and outside scholars, and has full responsibility for decisions concerning publication.
Conference Coordinator (term is variable)
The Conference Coordinator is appointed by the President, in consultation with the Board of Directors. The Conference Coordinator recruits potential future conference venues, for consideration and selection by the Board. The Conference Coordinator is also the keeper of the Society's collective memory on conference logistics, maintains and updates the Conference Guidelines, and advises and assists the current conference host as needed (applying for funds, contacting interested groups, organizing round tables, putting together schedule of papers).
Website Coordinator (term is variable)
The Website Coordinator is appointed by the President, in consultation with the Board of Directors. The Website Coordinator is the custodian of the Society's presence on the World Wide Web. The Website Coordinator modifies www.ethnobiology.org in response to input from the Society's Officers, Advisors and Members. The Website Coordinator also occasionally communicates directly with the entire membership, sharing timely information or important reminders.
Past Presidents (advisors for life)
Each Past President has served the Society as both Vice President/President Elect and President, for a total of four years. Past Presidents retain the right to be heard and to participate in all Society Board and Committee Meetings, whether open to the public or not. They comprise a group of experienced general advisors that support the Society and its efforts, and help with all decisions related to Society business.
Society Membership
Membership includes both individuals and institutions. Paid members are entitled to receive semi-annual issues of the Journal of Ethnobiology, to attend the annual Society of Ethnobiology meeting hosted in diverse cities, and to attend and vote in the annual Society Business Meeting. Members may currently pay for either one or two years of membership. See "How to Join or Renew" for list of current dues.