Constitution and Bylaws of the Northeast Section of the American Society of Animal Science and the Northeast Branch of the American Dairy Science Association

*Updated July 2021 and Ratified at July 14, 2022 Business Meeting via ZOOM 

CONSTITUTION

ARTICLE I Preamble

Preamble. Viable animal-related industries depend on discovery, dissemination, and application of new knowledge. These activities can be fostered by coordination on a regional basis in a collegial but formal atmosphere. A forum of university, industry, and government personnel will provide for interactions among individuals involved in research, teaching, extension, governmental services and industry applications to define and understand problems and to contribute to their solutions.

ARTICLE II Name

This organization shall be known as the Northeast Section of the American Society of Animal Science and the Northeast Branch of the American Dairy Science Association Combined Organization and shall be known by the acronym “NEASAS/ADSA”.

ARTICLE III Purposes

1. To provide a meeting of academic, industry, and government personnel for discussion of the science and industry of animal production and product manufacturing, especially those pertaining to the northeast region of the United States.
2. To provide a meeting for the presentation of scientific papers.
3. To stimulate graduate and undergraduate student participation in a scientific meeting in their field of interest.
4. To recognize the accomplishments of outstanding professionals in the Northeast region.

ARTICLE IV Membership

All members of the American Society of Animal Science and the American Dairy Science Association working in Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, West Virginia, and Eastern Canada shall automatically be considered Members of this combined organization.

Any member of the national associations living or working outside the specified area who wishes to have the privileges of membership may so indicate to the Secretary- Treasurer.

The membership dues shall be fixed by the national associations.

ARTICLE V Officers

The officers (6) shall be Northeast President, Northeast Vice-President, Northeast Secretary-Treasurer, Northeast Section Director, and two Northeast Graduate Directors. These officers shall act as the Northeast Board of Directors.

The President shall preside at business meetings of the NEASAS/ADSA and of the Northeast Board of Directors.

The Vice-President shall function as President in the absence of the President. The Secretary-Treasurer shall record minutes of the meetings of the NEASAS/ADSA and the Northeast Board of Directors and record all financial transactions of the combined organization. He/she shall approve transactions of funds and shall also ensure that minutes and financial reports of the NEASAS/ADSA are maintained in archives at the Business Offices of the national associations.

The Northeast Board of Directors shall be responsible for any business that needs to be transacted between the annual business meetings. They shall also be responsible, through delegation to committees, for arrangements for the Northeast regional meetings, including programs, sponsorship and facilities.

The Northeast Board of Directors shall fill, for the unexpired terms, all vacancies in elective positions. The President shall fill vacancies in appointive positions.

ARTICLE VI Meetings

A Northeast regional meeting shall be held approximately every 18 months in conjunction with other northeast United States regional meetings with similar meeting topics when possible, to maximize attendance. The Northeast Board of Directors shall retain the authority to select an alternative time and location for the Northeast regional meeting should there be compelling reasons to do so. Sponsorship of meetings, awards or activities organized during the meetings shall be sought. The Northeast Board of Directors shall have the authority to cancel a Northeast regional meeting if circumstances make such action necessary or desirable. An Annual NEASAS/ADSA Business Meeting shall be held yearly in July.

ARTICLE VII Committees

The President with the advice of the Northeast Board of Directors, shall be empowered to appoint such committees as are considered desirable to carry out special functions.

Nominating Committee. A committee consisting of the current Northeast President, President-Elect and Secretary-Treasurer shall review the nominations collected via the “Call for Nominees Form” and return their recommendations to the full Northeast Board of Directors for the ballot. The Election Ballots shall consist of Secretary-Treasurer and Graduate Student Director candidates yearly and the addition of Northeast Section Director every three years.

ARTICLE VIII Amendments

This Constitution or Bylaws may be amended or repealed at the annual business meeting by a vote of two-thirds of the members present, provided that the proposed amendment or repeal shall be stated in writing to all members of the NEASAS/ADSA at least one month preceding the annual meeting.

BYLAWS

ARTICLE I Financial Support

1. Contributions from the parent organizations shall be requested each year to help defray expenses associated with the annual meeting.
2. A registration fee shall be charged at the annual meeting sufficient to cover expenses not adequately covered by the contributions of parent organizations or other contributors.

ARTICLE II Election of Officers

The Nominating Committee will be responsible for selection of candidates willing to serve as Secretary-Treasurer, Graduate Student Director and Section Director. The nominees for Secretary-Treasurer will alternate with regard to their primary national organization membership, such that every other year the nominees will be members of ADSA and in alternate years they will be members of ASAS. The position of Northeast Section Director is a three-year term. Election will be by ballot to members of the NEASAS/ADSA as distributed by the current Secretary-Treasurer. The candidate receiving the largest number of votes shall be declared elected. In the case of a tie vote, a run-off election will be held at the annual business meeting.

The Vice-President automatically will become President for the ensuing term.

The Secretary-Treasurer automatically will become Vice-President for the ensuing term.

New officers will take office at the conclusion of the annual business meeting following their election and continue through the next annual business meeting for a term of approximately one year. The Northeast Section Director is a three-year term and will change over at the business meeting every three years.

ARTICLE III Adoption

This Constitution and Bylaws will take effect upon adoption by the membership as indicated by a majority of those voting at the annual business meeting.

ARTICLE IV Dissolution

If for any reason, it seems desirable to dissolve the NEASAS/ADSA, a written statement to that effect shall be sent to all members, along with a ballot. If two-thirds or more of the ballots so indicate, the NEASAS/ADSA shall be dissolved. Any monies remaining in the treasury shall be divided equally between the American Dairy Science Association and the American Society of Animal Science.