Bylaws

The SCSS Bylaws were approved in 2010.

Article I—Name

The name of this organization shall be the Stem Cells Specialty Section of the Society of Toxicology, hereafter designated as the Stem Cells Specialty Section or SCSS.

Article II—Purpose and Objectives

The purpose of the Stem Cells Specialty Section shall be to provide a forum for toxicology-based work involving cells (normal or abnormal) from any species, from any stage of development (embryonic, fetal, adult) and possessing stem cell or stem cell-like characteristics (i.e. stem cells, progenitor cells, embryonic, fetal, or adult stem cells, tumor-initiating or cancer initiating cells, etc.). This definition shall be subject to modification based on the rapidly emerging nature of this field.

The objectives of the Stem Cells Specialty Section shall be to:

1. Promote an exchange of information among academic, government, industry, clinical, and preclinical researchers in stem cell toxicology.
2. To serve as the focal point for the interaction of SOT members interested in stem cells and stem cell toxicology.
3. To provide a forum for the interaction of toxicologists and other professionals involved in stem cell toxicity/toxicology studies.
4. To advocate the development of the most appropriate, sound science-based guidelines for stem cell toxicology in vitro and in vivo.
5. To organize cutting-edge programs and educational activities which emphasize new developments, discoveries, and issues in stem cells and stem cell toxicology.
6. To relate the developments in stem cell research to the activities of SOT to stimulate interest and growth in stem cells as it relates to the general science of toxicology.
7. To provide a liaison with other professional organizations such as the America Association for Cancer Research, International Society for Stem Cell Research, etc.

No part of the net earnings of the Stem Cells Specialty Section shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the Stem Cells Specialty Section shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes herein-above set forth.

No substantial part of the activities of the corporation shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation and the Stem Cells Specialty Section 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 III—Membership

Any member in good standing with the Society of Toxicology can become a member of the Stem Cells Specialty Section upon payment of Specialty Section dues. Membership may be extended to full-time students attending colleges or universities and having an interest in toxicology. A member of the Stem Cells Specialty Section will be dropped from membership if dues are not paid on an annual basis or if they are not a member in good standing with the Society of Toxicology.

Article IV—Officers and Councilors

The Executive Committee (EC) of the Stem Cells Specialty Section shall be comprised of the President, Vice President, Vice President-Elect, Secretary/Treasurer, and three (3) Councilors. They shall be Full or Associate (active or retired) members in good standing of the Society of Toxicology and be members of the Stem Cells Specialty Section. The Vice President-Elect and one Councilor shall be elected annually and the Secretary/Treasurer biannually by the Specialty Section members. They shall serve until their successors are installed. Officers and Councilors shall take office on May 1.

Article V—Election of Officers, Councilors, and Representatives

Section 1. The office of the Presidency shall be for a term of one year. The President, after serving one year, shall be designated immediate Past President for one year. The President shall preside at all meetings.

Section 2. The Vice President shall become the President of the Stem Cells Specialty Section after serving one year as Vice President.

Section 3. A Vice President-Elect shall be elected by a majority vote of the ballots cast and shall become Vice President after serving one year as Vice President-Elect.

Section 4. The Secretary/Treasurer shall be elected by a majority vote of the ballots cast for a term of two years.

Section 5. There shall be three Councilors who, together with the officers, comprise the Executive Committee. Two shall be chosen by a vote of the membership for a term of two years. The third Councilor shall be the immediate Past President.

Section 6. There shall be a Student and a Postdoctoral Representative who shall be elected by a majority vote of the ballots cast for a term of one year each. In the event that there are not at least two student or two postdoctoral members of the Stem Cells Specialty Section, the existing members will be invited to serve as the Student or Postdoctoral Representative (as appropriate). Should an individual decline the invitation, there shall be no representative to the Executive Committee for that year.

Section 7. Elections shall be held annually in association with the mail (paper or electronic) ballot of the Society of Toxicology.

Section 8. In the event of a vacancy in an elective office other than President, Vice President and Vice President-Elect, the Executive Committee may make an appointment or 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 shall accede to that office; similarly, the Vice President-Elect shall accede to the office of Vice President should that office become vacant.

Section 9. A special election must be held to fill the office of Vice President-Elect should that office become vacant.

Article VI—Administration

Section 1. The Stem Cells Specialty Section shall be governed by the Executive Committee.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall consist of the four elected officers plus the three Councilors. The Student and Postdoctoral Representatives will serve in an advisory capacity as non-voting members of the Executive Committee. The President of the Stem Cells Specialty Section shall be the 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 Stem Cells Specialty Section 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 Vice President shall act for the President. The Vice President-Elect shall serve in the absence of the President and Vice President.

Section 4. The Stem Cells Specialty Section shall comply with Society of Toxicology provisions for continued authorization.

1. The Stem Cells Specialty Section shall provide annual reports of its 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 Society of Toxicology by July 31 of each year.
2. Annual reports and plans shall be reviewed by the Committee on Specialty Sections.
3. The Committee on the Specialty Sections shall consult with the Stem Cells Specialty Section as necessary and report to Council with recommendations concerning continued authorization of the Specialty Section.
4. Society of Toxicology authorization shall be withdrawn from the Stem Cells Specialty Section if it fails to comply with the provisions for continuing authorization.
5. Stem Cells Specialty Section policy statements must be reviewed and approved by the Society of Toxicology in advance.

Section 5. The Secretary/Treasurer shall pay authorized bills incurred by the Stem Cells Specialty Section as directed by the Executive Committee. Dues and all other funds will be collected and held by the SOT for use exclusively by the Specialty Section. The successor to the Secretary/Treasurer shall receive all property of the Section following installation of office. The Secretary/Treasurer shall record all transactions of all meetings for the Section and the Executive Committee, and shall be responsible for the correspondence of the Section, and shall maintain a list of members and their status. 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 purposes not within the Society’s exempt purposes under section 501(c) 3 of the Internal Revenue Code.

Section 6. Any Stem Cells Specialty Section funds or other property remaining at the time of termination or abandonment or dissolution of the 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 of, or person associated with, the Section.

Section 7. The responsibilities of the Executive Committee are summarized here:

• President. The President presides over the annual business meeting and other meetings of the Executive Committee. The individual provides leadership direction for the future of the Specialty Section. The President represents the Stem Cells Specialty Section to the SOT or other meetings and serves as a standing member of the Program Committee. The President is the final decision-maker for the Specialty Section. The President is responsible (with input from the Secretary/Treasurer) for organizing through the SOT the Executive Committee meeting at the SOT Annual Meeting.
• Vice President. The Vice President serves in the absence of the President for meeting conduct and decision making, and accedes to the place of President in the case that the Presidency is vacated for any reason. The Vice President is the Chair of the Program Committee and as such appoints committee members and determines the process of proposal selection and communicates those selections to the membership. The Vice President may attend SOT-sponsored meetings of the greater (all) Specialty Section Officers throughout the year and at the Annual Meeting.
• Vice President-Elect. The Vice President-Elect serves in the absence of the Vice President as needed, and accedes to the place of Vice President in the case that the Vice Presidency is vacated for any reason. The Vice President-Elect is a standing member of the Program Committee, and may attend SOT-sponsored meetings of the greater (all) Specialty Section Officers throughout the year and at the Annual Meeting.
• Secretary/Treasurer. The Secretary/Treasurer shall record all transactions of all meetings for the Specialty Section and the Executive Committee, and shall be responsible for the correspondence of the Specialty Section. The Secretary/Treasurer shall maintain a list of members and their status. The individual also is responsible for coordinating the finances of the Specialty Section with the SOT Headquarters, and provides a Financial Report at the Annual Meeting. The Secretary/Treasurer will also oversee the newsletter and the content of the Stem Cells Specialty Section website (until a separate committee or individual has been appointed for these tasks).
• Past President. The immediate Past President provides experiential guidance to the Executive Committee.
• Councilors. Councilors provide general scientific and organizational guidance for the Specialty Section.
• Postdoctoral Representative. The Postdoctoral Representative serves in an advisory capacity to the Executive Committee on mechanisms by which the Stem Cells Specialty Section could help serve student needs in terms of education and mentoring. The Postdoctoral Representative shall prepare the Stem Cells Specialty Section poster for the Postdoctoral/Student mixer. The individual will be responsible for maintaining the Section website.
• Student Representative. The Student Representative serves in an advisory capacity to the Executive Committee on mechanisms by which the Stem Cells Specialty Section could help serve student needs in terms of education and mentoring. The Student Representative shall prepare the Stem Cells Specialty Section poster for the Postdoctoral/Student mixer. The individual will be responsible for maintaining the Section website.

Article VII—Meetings

Section 1. Meetings of the membership shall be held at least annually and as dictated by the scientific and educational programs of the Stem Cells Specialty Section. The time and place of each meeting shall be communicated to the membership at least two 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 of a petition to the President, signed by 20% of the members of the Stem Cells Specialty Section in good standing.

Section 3. A quorum shall consist of 20% of the Stem Cells 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 notice of at least seven (7) days is given.