ARTICLE I—NAME
The name of this organization shall be the Pacific Northwest Chapter of The Society of Toxicology, also known as the Pacific Northwest Association of Toxicologists (PANWAT), and hereinafter shall be designated as the Chapter.
ARTICLE II—OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Pacific Northwest Chapter of the Society of Toxicology shall be:
- To serve as the focal point for toxicological interests in the region.
- Encourage interactions among toxicologists in government, industry, academia, and independent research organizations.
- To sponsor scientific and educational programs in toxicology.
- To foster a broader understanding of the science of toxicology with public, governmental and private sectors.
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.
ARTICLE IV—OFFICERS AND COUNCILORS
Section 1: The Executive Committee of the Chapter Shall be comprised a President, VicePresident, Vice-President Elect, and a Secretary-Treasurer. They shall be active, associate or retired members in good standing of the Society of Toxicology. 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. The Vice-President automatically accedes to the Office of President and the Vice-President-Elect automatically accedes to the Office of VicePresident. Officers shall take office on May 1 of each year.
There shall be two Councilors, one Post-doctoral Representative, one Student representative (Elect), and one Student Representative elected annually from the Chapter’s membership.
ARTICLE V—ELECTION OF OFFICERS
Section 1: The office of the Presidency shall be for a term of one year.
Section 2: The Vice-President shall automatically accede to the Office of President at the conclusion of his/her one year term.
Section 3: The Vice-President-Elect shall be chosen initially by vote of the membership for a term of one year at the conclusion of which the Vice-President-Elect shall automatically accede to the Office of Vice-President.
Section 4: The slate of officers approved by Council will be presented to the membership at the annual meeting. Elections will be held by electronic ballot and results returned to the current President by December 1 each year.
Section 5: In the event of a vacancy in an elective office, other than the Presidency, VicePresidency, or Vice-President-Elect, the Chapter's Executive Committee may make an appointment or may provide for a special election to fill the vacancy to hold until the unexpired term is completed. In the event of a vacancy in the Presidency, the Vice-President accedes to that office until the unexpired term of the Presidency is completed and shall serve as President the following year. In the event of a vacancy in the Vice-Presidency, the Vice-President-Elect accedes to that office until the unexpired term of the Vice-Presidency is completed and shall serve as the Vice-President of the following year.
Section 6: A special election must be held to fill the office of Vice-President-Elect, should this office become vacant.
Section 7: The Post-Doctoral Representative and Student Representative (Elect) shall be chosen by vote of the membership for a term of one-year. The Student Representative (Elect) shall automatically accede to the Office of Student Representative at the conclusion of his/her one year term.
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, two Councilors, one PostDoctoral Representative and One Student Representative. The President of the Chapter 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 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 Chapter shall comply with provisions for continued authorization by the Society of Toxicology.
- The Chapter shall provide annual reports of their activities 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 July 1, the required date of each year.
- Annual reports and plans shall be reviewed by the SOT Council which shall consult with the Chapter as necessary.
- The Committee shall consult with the Chapter as necessary and report to Council with recommendations concerning continued authorization of the Chapter.
- Society of Toxicology authorization shall withdraw the Chapter if it fails to comply with the provisions for continuing authorization.
- Chapter policy statements must be reviewed and approved by the SOT Council prior to release.
Section 5: The Secretary-Treasurer shall be responsible for all monies and dues of the Chapter and shall pay all authorized bills against the Chapter or submit requests for payment to the SOT headquarters, as appropriate. The disbursement of all funds for the Chapter shall be made upon authorization by the Executive Committee, or the program committee for annual meeting expenses. 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 Chapter, and shall transmit to the successor in office all funds and property of the Chapter in his/her possession. An annual report shall be submitted to the Chapter in such form as may be determined by the Executive Committee. The Secretary-Treasurer shall record minutes of meetings of the Executive Committee; shall carry on the correspondence of the Chapter; and shall address Chapter membership requests. No funds shall be expended by or in the name of the Chapter to the extent that the expenditure, if made by the Society of Toxicology, would represent use of funds for a purpose or for purposes not within the Society's exempt purposes under Section 501 (c)3 of the Internal Revenue Code.
The President shall be the Chair of the Fundraising Committee. Membership on the committee will be by appointment by the President with the concurrence of the Executive Committee (Article 6, Section 2).
Section 6: Any chapter funds or other property remaining at the time of termination or abandonment or dissolution of the chapter shall be turned over to the Society of Toxicology and shall become a part of the Society's general funds; no part of any funds or property shall inure to the benefit of any member or officer of, or person associated with the Chapter.
Section 7: No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation and the Chapter shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.
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 Program Committee and communicated to the membership at least two months 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 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 will be established by a majority of the Executive Committee, after which they may be changed subject to majority vote by members of the Chapter.
ARTICLE IX—COMMITTEES
Section 1: The Vice-President shall be designated as the chairperson of the Program Committee, responsible for the annual meeting to be held during his or her term of office. Program Committee members are appointed by the Vice-President. 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, who will, in turn, notify the membership.
Section 2: The President shall be designated as the chairperson of the Fundraising Committee. The members of this committee shall be appointed by the President and approved by the Executive Committee. The Fundraising Committee is to be responsible for oversight of Fundraising by the Chapter and to ensure that this activity accurately reflects the goals and objectives of the Chapter as a scientific organization and does not conflict with policies of the Society of Toxicology.
Section 3: The President shall appoint all other committees as required by the By-Laws 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 By-laws 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. 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.
Section 2: Amendments accepted for future consideration shall be circulated with a ballot to all members in good standing. A two-thirds affirmative vote of the ballots returned within 30 days shall be necessary for adoption of any amendment.
Section 3: Amendments to these By-laws must be approved by the SOT Council before they become effective. This is done to insure the Chapter that future changes in these By-laws will have the same force as the original, which was so approved.