By-Laws

(Amended and adopted November 26, 2002)

Download : PDF version of the By-Laws (144 kb)

ARTICLE I. NAME

  1. The organization shall be known as the "FISH HEALTH SECTION" of the ASIAN FISHERIES SOCIETY."
  2. The registered address of the Fish Health Section shall be the same as that of the Asian Fisheries Society, i.e., P.O. Box 2725, Quezon City Central Post Office, 1167, Quezon City, Philippines.

ARTICLE II. OBJECTIVES

  1. The general objectives of the Fish Health Section shall be those of the Asian Fisheries Society.
  2. The specific objectives for the Fish Health Section shall be:
    • to promote effective interaction and cooperation among persons involved in aquatic animal health research;
    • to encourage and promote investigation and advances in knowledge of aquatic animal health;
    • to focus attention on aquatic animal health problems by disseminating technical and other information on all aspects of aquatic animal health; and
    • to promote the proper implementation of effective aquatic animal health protection practices in the region.
  3. The furtherance of the above objectives by:
    • holding, on a regular rotational basis, a triennial "Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture," a meeting of members to discuss broad issues and specific topics related to aquatic animal health;
    • compiling and disseminating proceedings, notes and abstracts of Section-sponsored aquatic animal disease conferences and workshops, and other relevant information on aquatic animal health to Section members and to the general public;
    • compiling and submitting a report to the parent Society covering the period since the last Triennial General Meeting, containing a summary of the activities of the Section (in the region), the status of aquatic animal health problems, significant progress made towards their control, and recommendations for Society action, as appropriate; and
    • promoting the development and use of standardized, internationally accepted techniques for the detection and diagnosis of diseases of aquatic animals determined to have regional importance.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

  1. Membership shall be open to any person interested in the furtherance of Fish Health Section objectives and who is a Society member in good standing.
  2. All officers and committee members must be full members in good standing of the AFS and members of the Section.
  3. Each Section member who is a full member in good standing of AFS is entitled to one vote on all matters requiring the approval of the membership.

ARTICLE IV. ADMINISTRATION

  1. The Section shall be administrated by an Executive Committee consisting of a Past Chairperson, Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary-Treasurer, Newsletter Editor, and six elected members.
  2. The Chairperson, Vice Chairperson, and Secretary-Treasurer shall be citizens or residents in Asia.
  3. The officers of the Section shall be elected by ballot during the Triennial General Meeting of the Section, which will be held in conjunction with the "Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture".
  4. Each officer of the Section shall hold office until the conclusion of the next Triennial General Meeting of the Section.
  5. The retiring Vice-Chairperson will automatically become the Chairperson of the incoming Executive Committee, while the retiring Chairperson will become, as Past Chairperson, a member of the incoming Executive Committee.
  6. In the event of a vacancy in any office, the Executive Committee by majority vote, may appoint one of its members to the vacant office, and the member so appointed may continue in office until the conclusion of the next Triennial General Meeting following the date of his/her appointment.
  7. The Chairperson shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of three members, two of whom shall be members of the Executive Committee, who will prepare a list of candidates to fill the offices of Vice-Chairperson, Secretary-Treasurer and Elected Members. The Nominating Committee will contact all potential nominees to ensure their willingness to serve if elected and to obtain from them copies of Curriculum Vitae and a short statement to members.
  8. The Executive Committee shall direct and regulate the general affairs of the Section. It may co-opt members and appoint subcommittees to consider and report to the Executive Committee upon any matter(s) referred to them by the Executive Committee.
  9. In any matter concerning interpretation of the Bylaws of the Section, the decision shall rest with the Executive Committee. In such decisions, a simple majority of the Executive Committee members present and voting shall be sufficient.
  10. Article IV Sections 3 and 7 pertaining to methods for the election of officers and elected members shall not apply to the election of the Fish Health Section's first Executive Committee.
  11. The Executive Committee shall appoint a Newsletter Editor, following the election of a new Executive Committee. The Editor will automatically become a member of the Executive Committee.
  12. At the Triennial General Meeting of the Section, the Secretary-Treasurer shall present to the membership, a statement outlining the current financial status, assets and liabilities of the Section, audited and certified by him/her and the Chairperson of the Section.

ARTICLE V. DUTIES OF OFFICERS

  1. CHAIRPERSON : The Chairperson shall normally preside at all meetings of the Section and of the Executive Committee and shall appoint all committees. The Chairperson or his/her designated alternate shall represent the Fish Health Section to the parent Society. With the assistance of the Executive Committee, the Chairperson shall prepare a triennial report on the status of serious aquatic animal diseases, advances in disease control, and on Section activities to the Executive Committee in time for inclusion in the agenda of the Meeting of the Section.
  2. VICE CHAIRPERSON : The Vice-Chairperson shall perform the duties of the Chairperson in the absence of the Chairperson. The Vice-Chairperson shall serve as the Rules Officer of the Section to (1) assure Section compliance with these Bylaws and (2) coordinate the adoption of any changes to the Bylaws. The Vice-Chairperson shall also perform such duties as the Section or Chairperson may assign to him/her or to the office of Vice-Chairperson.
  3. SECRETARY-TREASURER : The Secretary-Treasurer shall record the minutes of all meetings of the Section and the Executive Committee, prepare the agenda for these meetings, and keep accurate and complete records of all officers and committees and of all business transacted by the Executive Committee and Section. The Secretary-Treasurer shall also safeguard the funds of the Section. He/she shall issue all statements of financial obligations owing to the Section; account for all funds, properties and disbursements; and pay all accounts owed by the Section and authorized by the Executive Committee.
  4. PAST-CHAIRPERSON : The Past Chairperson shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee and will undertake any duties which may be assigned to him/her by the Chairperson.
  5. ELECTED MEMBERS : The elected members of the Executive Committee shall be responsible for providing information on the status of aquatic animal diseases and advances in aquatic animal disease control in their individual countries, as well as for other countries in the region not presently represented on the Executive Committee which may be assigned them by the Chairperson.
  6. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE : The Executive Committee shall have authority to determine policy and conduct business consistent with the objectives of the Section. The Executive Committee may authorize the disbursement of Section funds for specific clerical tasks and other operational expenses. No real property or capital equipment may be purchased with Section funds without the approval of the membership.

    The Executive Committee shall maintain an awareness of serious aquatic animal health problems and significant advances in aquatic animal disease control, and shall prepare appropriate resolutions for parent Society action. The Executive Committee is responsible for aiding the Chairperson in preparation of the Section report.

    Meetings of the Executive Committee may be held whenever the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson, as his designated alternate, and a majority of the Executive Committee Members can assemble to conduct Section business. Business and voting of the Executive Committee may be conducted by mail.

ARTICLE VI. MEETINGS

  1. The Triennial General Meeting of the Section shall be held in conjunction with the "Symposium on Diseases in Asian Aquaculture."
  2. The Triennial General Meeting of the Section shall be held to receive Reports from the Executive Committee on the activities of the past term, to receive an audited statement of income and expenditure and a balance sheet of assets and liabilities, to elect the Executive Committee and its officers for the next term, to transact general business of which due notice has been given, and to consider Bylaws, where necessary, of the Section.
  3. General meetings may be held any time a quorum consisting of the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson or both and ten members of the Section are present.
  4. Scientific sessions or symposia on topics of interest to the membership may be organized by the Executive Committee, independently or in conjunction with the Asian Fisheries Forum or any other organization as deemed appropriate, and at such other times that the Executive Committee may see fit.

ARTICLE VII. BYLAWS

  1. The Executive Committee may propose Bylaws from time to time, the adoption of which will improve the functioning of the Executive Committee and/or of the Section.
  2. Amendments to Bylaws may be brought to a vote of the membership by a petition signed by not less than ten members in good standing or by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.
  3. Amendments may be adopted by vote of the membership during the Triennial General Meeting, or by mail ballot. In the case of mail ballot, upon notification by the Chairperson, the Secretary-Treasurer shall prepare and process a mail ballot regarding proposed Bylaws changes. The membership at large must be given thirty days in which to return Bylaws ballots.
  4. Amendments shall be adopted when a two-thirds (2/3) majority votes favorably on a proposal. Unless otherwise specified, amendments shall become effective immediately upon adoption by the membership.

Top

Copyright © 2006. Fish Health Section : Asian Fisheries Society. All rights reserved.

Contact Us: helpdesk@fhs-afs.org