Toxicologic & Exploratory Pathology Bylaws


ARTICLE I-NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Toxicologic & Research Pathology Specialty Section of the Society of Toxicology and herein shall be designated as the Specialty Section.


ARTICLE II -OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Toxicologic & Research Pathology Specialty Section of the Society of Toxicology shall be:

  1. To sponsor scientific and educational programs including symposia, poster and platform sessions, workshops, and continuing education courses, on current scientific information and scientific policy issues that advance the science of toxicology through the tools of the toxicologic and experimental pathologists. Such activities would serve to highlight these scientific issues and foster risk assessments and regulatory policy appropriate for such issues.
  2. To encourage proactive communication and interactions among toxicologists in government regulatory agencies, regulated industries, and academia regarding issues currently vital to the research and development of health care products and specialty chemicals vital to society.


ARTICLE III -MEMBERSHIP
Section I. Members of the Society of Toxicology shall become members of the Specialty Section upon payment of Specialty Section dues.

Section 2. Any person having a professional interest in toxicology may become a member of the Specialty Section on payment of the required dues.

Section 3. Membership may be extended to full-time students attending colleges or universities and having an interest in toxicology.


ARTICLE IV -OFFICERS AND COUNCILORS
Section I. The Executive Committee (EC) of the Specialty Section shall be comprised of the President, Vice President, Secretary- Treasurer and 3 Councilors. They shall be active, associate, and retired members in good standing of the Society of Toxicology. They shall serve until their successors are installed. Officers shall take office on May 1 of each year.


ARTICLE V -ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Section I. The office of the Presidency shall be for a term of one year, however, the immediate Past President becomes one of the Councilors and remains on the EC to advise and support the successor.

Section 2. The Vice President shall be chosen by vote of the membership for a term of 1 year.

Section 3. The Secretary- Treasurer shall be chosen by a vote of the membership for a term of two years.

Section 4. There shall be three Councilors. Two shall be chosen by vote of the membership for a term of two years. One shall be elected each year. The third councilor shall be the immediate past-president. At the initiation of the Specialty Section two councilors will be elected by the membership to a one-year term and one will be elected to a two-year term.

Section 5. In the event of a vacancy in an elective office, other than the Presidency, the Specialty Section's Executive Committee may make an appointment or may provide for a special election to fill the vacancy until the unexpired term is completed. In the event of a vacancy in the Presidency, the Vice-President accedes to that office.


ARTICLE VI -ADMINISTRATION
Section I. The Specialty Section shall be governed by the Executive Committee except as otherwise herein expressly provided.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall consist of three officers and three Councilors. The President of the Specialty Section shall serve as chairperson of the Executive Committee. Four members of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 3. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Specialty Section and of the Executive Committee and shall perform such duties as may be directed by the Executive Committee. In the President's absence, the succeeding order of officers shall preside. The President shall keep in contact with developments in the field of toxicology and guide the Specialty Section in the formulation of constructive activities.

Section 4. The Specialty Section shall comply with Provisions for continued authorization of the Society of Toxicology.


a. The Specialty section shall provide annual reports of their activities and finances for the current year as well as plans of programs, activities, and finances for the following year. Annual reports shall be submitted to the SOT Secretary by November 1 of each year.

b. Annual reports and plans shall be reviewed by the Committee on Specialty Sections.

c. The Committee shall consult with the Specialty Section as necessary and report to Council with recommendations concerning continued authorization of the Specialty Section.

d. Society of Toxicology authorization shall withdraw the Specialty Section of it fails to comply with the provisions for continuing authorization.

e. Chapter policy statements must be reviewed and pre-approved by the Society of Toxicology in advance.


Section 5. The Secretary- Treasurer shall be the custodian of all monies and dues of the Specialty Section and shall pay all authorized bills against the Specialty Section. The disbursement of all funds for this section shall be made upon authorization by the Executive Council. The Treasurer of the Society of Toxicology shall be authorized to draw against the Specialty Section funds. The Secretary- Treasurer shall submit the accounts for audit by members designated by the Executive Committee at the last meeting of the Executive Committee prior to the Annual meeting of the Specialty Section, and shall transmit to the successor in office all funds and property of the Specialty Section in their possession. An annual report shall be submitted to the Specialty Section in such form as may be determined by the Executive Committee. The Secretary- Treasurer shall keep an accurate record of all transactions of all meetings


Section 6. Any chapter funds or other property remaining at the time of termination or abandonment or dissolution of the Specialty Section shall be turned over to the Society of Toxicology and shall become a part of the Society's general funds. No part of any such funds or property shall inure to the benefit of any member or officer, or any person associated with the Specialty Section.


ARTICLE VII -MEETINGS
Section I. Meetings shall be held at least annually and as dictated by the scientific and educational programs of the Specialty Section. The time and place of each meeting shall be established by the Program Committee and be communicated to the membership at least one month before each meeting.

Section 2. Special meetings may be called by the President at any time, with the approval of the Executive Committee or the presentation of a petition to the President, signed by 20% of the members of the Specialty Section in good standing.

Section 3. A quorum shall consist of 20% of the Specialty Section members in good standing.

Section 4. Executive Committee meetings shall be held at the discretion of the President at any time during the year, provided a notice of at least seven (7) days is given.


ARTICLE VIII -DUES
Section 1. The dues will be established by a majority of the Executive Committee, after which there may be changes subject to a vote by the members of the Specialty Section.


ARTICLE IX -COMMITTEES
Section 1. The Vice President shall be designated as chairperson of the Program Committee. The Program Committee will develop scientific and educational programs and will complete arrangements for speakers and for meeting places and provide the Secretary with the program. The Secretary will, in turn, notify the membership.

Section 2. A Election Committee shall be appointed by the EC and shall be comprised of the immediate Past President plus the two other Councilors. This committee shall nominate at least two persons for each elective office to be filled. SOT headquarters staff shall distribute the ballot to all eligible members of the SS and shall count the votes. The candidate receiving the highest vote shall be elected to the contested position even when the vote does not reach a majority of those voting. Successful candidates shall be invited to the EC meeting held at the annual SOT conference and shall be introduced to the full membership at the membership reception and through the newsletter.

Section 3. A Membership Committee shall be appointed by the EC and shall have the charge of expanding the membership of the SS as appropriate for the Objectives and goals of the Section.

Section 4. An Awards Committee shall be appointed by the EC and shall have the charge of recognizing the contributions of SS members and of students who are training to become toxicologists. The committee shall work with headquarters to assure research abstracts are requested and any funds designated to support student travel are appropriately and efficiently handled.

Section 5. A Communications Committee shall be established to permit dialogue between members of the specialty section. The Secretary- Treasurer shall be chief editor of a SS newsletter, which shall be published at least twice annually at times most appropriate for the membership. The Secretary- Treasurer shall serve on the Communications Committee and solicit assistance from associate editors, as necessary.

Section 6. The President shall appoint any other committees as required by the By-Laws and shall automatically become and ex-officio member of such committees. Members of such committees serve at the pleasure of the incoming President.


ARTICLE X -AMENDMENTS
Section I. Amendments to these By-Laws may be presented by any member in good standing at any regular meeting of the Specialty Section or any special meeting call for by that specific purpose. They shall be presented in writing and shall be offered to the membership present at that meeting on motion for consideration and circulation to the membership. A simple majority shall be necessary to pass the motion.

Amendments accepted for future consideration and circulation shall be printed and circulated with a ballot to all members in good standing. A two-thirds affirmation vote of the ballots returned within 30 days shall be necessary for adoption of any amendment.

Section 2. Amendments to these By-Laws must be approved by the Council of the Society of Toxicology before they become effective. This is done to insure the Specialty Section that future changes in these By-Laws will have the same force as the original, which was so approved.


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