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BYLAWS 2024 Bylaws THE NORTH CAROLINA CHAPTER SOCIETY OF TOXICOLOGY BYLAWS Incorporated 1981: (Amended 2002, 2007, 2009, 2012, 2017, 2024) ARTICLE I—NAME The name of this organization shall be the North Carolina Regional Chapter of the Society of Toxicology and hereinafter shall be designated as the Chapter. ARTICLE II—OBJECTIVES The Objectives of the North Carolina Regional Chapter of the Society of Toxicology shall be:
ARTICLE III—MEMBERSHIP Section 1. Members of the Society of Toxicology shall become Members of the Chapter upon payment of the Chapter dues. Section 2. Any person having a professional interest in toxicology may become a member of the Chapter on payment of the required dues. Section 3. Membership may be extended to full-time students attending area colleges or universities and having an interest in toxicology. Section 4. NCSOT is committed to diversity, equity, and inclusiveness in all its activities and supporting all members of our community. ARTICLE IV—OFFICERS, COUNCILORS, AND REPRESENTATIVES Section 1. The Chapter Officers shall be a President, Vice President, Vice President-Elect, and Secretary-Treasurer. Only Full, Associate, Retired, or Emeritus members in good standing of the Society of Toxicology and the Regional Chapter shall be eligible to serve as Officers in the Presidential or Treasurer chain. The Vice President-Elect shall be elected annually and the Secretary-Treasurer biannually by the Chapter members. They shall serve until their successors are installed. Section 2. There shall be three Councilors. Two Councilors are elected from the Chapter membership and need not be a member of the Society of Toxicology; one shall be elected each year for a two-year term. The third Councilor shall be the immediate Past President. Section 3. There shall be a Graduate Student Representative, a Postdoctoral Representative, and respective Representatives-Elect. The Graduate Student Representative-Elect and the Postdoctoral Representative-Elect shall be elected from the Chapter membership and shall be a student or postdoctoral member in good standing of the Society of Toxicology. Section 4. There shall be an Undergraduate Student representative, to be elected annually from the Chapter membership and shall be a student member of the Regional Chapter. Section 5. The Officers, Councilors, Representatives, and Representatives-Elect constitute the Executive Committee and have full voting privileges. ARTICLE V—ELECTION OF OFFICERS, COUNCILORS, AND REPRESENTATIVES Section 1. The office of the Presidency shall be a term of one year at the conclusion of which the President shall automatically transition to the office of Councilor as the Immediate Past President for a term of one year. Section 2. The office of Vice President shall be a term of one year at the conclusion of which the Vice President shall automatically accede to the office of President. Section 3. The Vice President-Elect shall be elected annually by a vote of the membership and shall become the Vice President of the Regional Chapter for one year after serving one year as Vice President-Elect, becoming President and Immediate Past President in the two subsequent years. The Vice President-Elect shall serve in the absence of the President and the Vice President. Section 4. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be chosen by vote of the membership for a term of two years. Section 5. There shall be three Councilors. Two of these Councilors shall be elected by vote of the membership for a term of two years, with one Councilor being elected each year. The third Councilor shall be the Immediate Past President, who will serve a term of one year. Section 6. The Graduate Student Representative-Elect and the Postdoctoral Representative-Elect shall be chosen by vote of the membership for a term of two years. At the conclusion of the first year, they automatically accede to the respective position of Representative. The Undergraduate Student Representative shall be chosen by vote of the membership for a one-year term. Section 7. Newly elected Officers, Councilors, Representatives, and Representatives-Elect shall be announced no later than April, and shall begin their terms of office on May 1. Section 8. In the event of a vacancy in the Presidency, the Vice President accedes to that office and the Vice President–Elect accedes to Vice President. An election shall be held to fill the offices of Vice President or Vice President-Elect should either of these offices become vacant. In the event of a vacancy in the elective office of Secretary-Treasurer, Councilor, or Representative, or Representative-Elect, the Chapters’ Executive Committee may make an appointment or may provide for a special election to fill the vacancy until the unexpired term is completed. Section 9. Officers, Councilors, and Representatives may not run for consecutive terms in the same position so long as there are at least 2 other candidates nominated for that position. Officers and Councilors may run for a consecutive term by running for a different Executive Committee position. Representatives may run for a consecutive term by running for a different Executive Committee position according to their professional status. ARTICLE VI—ADMINISTRATION Section 1. The Chapter shall be governed by the Executive Committee except as otherwise herein expressly provided. Section 2. The Executive Committee shall consist of four Officers, three Councilors, and the Undergraduate Student, Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Representatives, and the respective Representatives-Elect. The President of the Chapter shall serve as chairperson of the Executive Committee. Six 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 Chapter and of the Executive Committee and shall perform such other duties as may be directed by the Executive Committee. In the President’s absence, the succeeding order of officers shall preside. The President should keep in contact with developments in the field of toxicology and guide the Chapter in the formulation of constructive activities. Section 4. The Regional Chapter shall comply with the following provisions in order to retain its status as an authorized body within the Society of Toxicology:
Section 5. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be authorized to draw against North Carolina Regional Chapter funds. The Secretary-Treasurer shall pay authorized bills incurred by the Regional Chapter as directed by the Board. Dues and all other funds will be collected and held by SOT for use exclusively by the North Carolina Regional Chapter. The successor to the Secretary-Treasurer shall receive all property of the Chapter following installation of office. A full statement with regard to its funds shall be reported to the
members at the annual meeting.
Section 6. Any Regional Chapter funds or other property remaining at the time of termination or abandonment or dissolution of the Regional Chapter shall be turned over to the Society of Toxicology and shall become a part of the Society's general funds. ARTICLE VII—MEETINGS Section 1. Meetings shall be held at least annually and as dictated by the scientific and educational programs of the Chapter. The time and place of each meeting shall be established by the Executive Committee and communicated to the membership at least four weeks 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 to the President of a petition signed by 20% of the members of the Chapter in good standing. Section 3. A quorum shall consist of 20% of the Chapter 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 notice of at least seven (7) days is given. ARTICLE VIII—DUES Section 1. The dues shall be established by a majority of the Executive Committee. Dues shall be collected by the Society of Toxicology for members of the Society. Section 2. Dues shall be collected by the Secretary-Treasurer or the Society of Toxicology for Chapter members who are not members of the Society. Section 3. All dues collected will be processed to the Chapter bank account by the Society of Toxicology. ARTICLE IX—RESPONSIBILITIES Section 1. The President will be responsible for solicitation of nominations of officer candidates, with at least two candidates for each position. The slate of candidates will be approved by the current Executive Committee before being submitted to the membership for a vote. The organization of the Annual Meeting and the development of scientific and educational programs are the responsibility of the Vice President. The Vice President shall complete arrangements for speakers, other activities, and for meeting places, and provide the program to Society of Toxicology who will in turn notify the membership. Program Committees may be formed at the request of the Vice President, to be chaired respectively by the responsible officer, to assist in the planning and organization of the activities. Section 2. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be in charge of the Regional Chapter website. While the website is maintained by the Society of Toxicology, the Secretary-Treasurer shall interact with the Society as to its accuracy and informativeness. In addition, the Secretary-Treasurer, with the support of the other Officers and Councilors, shall be charged with contacting potential sponsors to help defray the costs of the Annual Meeting, and other activities as needed. Section 3. The Councilors will assist the Vice President in organizing award competitions at the Regional Chapter meeting as needed. The second-year Councilor shall be the Regional Chapter contact person for any K–12 education/outreach. Section 4. The Graduate Student Representative will serve as liaison to the Society of Toxicology Graduate Student Leadership Committee. The Postdoctoral Representative will serve as liaison to the Society of Toxicology Postdoctoral Assembly. The respective Representatives-Elect will use the first year of service on the Executive Committee to gain an understanding of the Chapter procedures, assist with local Chapter activities, and assist the Representatives when necessary. Section 5.The Communications Coordinator will be responsible for compiling and issuing the Chapter newsletter, and managing social media presence and announcements. The Communications Coordinator shall be a volunteer from among the Executive Committee, to be determined upon transition each May. Section 6.The President shall appoint other committees as needed and shall automatically become an ex officio member of such committees. Members of such committees serve at the pleasure of the incoming President. ARTICLE X—AMENDMENTS Section 1.Amendments to these Bylaws may be presented by any member in good standing at any regular meeting of the Chapter or at any special meeting called for that specific purpose. Proposed amendments 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. Section 2. Amendments accepted for future consideration shall be forwarded to the Regional Chapter Staff Liaison to be circulated with a ballot to all members in good standing. A two-thirds affirmation vote of the ballots returned within the specified time frame shall be necessary for adoption of any amendment. Section 3. Amendments to these Bylaws must be approved by the Council of the Society of Toxicology before they become effective. This is done to ensure the Chapter that future changes in these Bylaws will have the same force as the original, which was so approved.
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