Bylaws

ARTICLE I: Membership

Section 1)

The membership of the society shall consist of individuals interested in the objectives of the organization. Classes of membership shall consist of (a) annual members, (b) institutional members, (c) student members, (d) life members and (e) such other classifications of membership as may here after be established.

Section 2)

The membership of the society shall not be limited as to number, residency, or citizenship.

ARTICLE II: Officers

Section 1)

The officers of the society shall consist of a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, Executive Director (ex officio, without vote), and seven elective executive committee members. Additionally, the Editor of Environmental History, a representative of H-Environment, and the Executive Director are members ex officio, without vote. These officers, with the three immediate past presidents, shall transact such business as may be assigned to it under these bylaws or by the society.

Section 2)

The President shall preside at all business meetings of the society, shall appoint members of all committees except where otherwise provided for in these bylaws, and shall be ex-officio a member of all committees, except when the committee or its chairman is appointed by the executive committee. In case of the President's absence or inability to act, the Vice-President shall discharge the duties of the President.

Section 3)

The Vice-President shall have overall charge of arrangements for the society's annual program, for which purpose he/she shall also appoint a program committee. This group shall consist of interested officers and members. He/she shall also arrange joint programs with other organizations in cooperation with the President and members of the executive committee. He/she shall act for the President in all other matters when the President is absent or unable to act.

Section 4)

The Secretary shall keep a record of the meetings of the executive committee and the Society's business meetings, and shall assist the President in arranging these meetings and distributing materials for review.

Section 5)

The Treasurer shall receive all monies due or payable to the society; shall pay all outstanding accounts when these have been approved by the President, and shall officially receive all monies given or bequeathed to the society. Information concerning these and all other transactions shall be transmitted to the executive committee. He/she shall maintain all necessary bank accounts and records, and shall report annually to the membership concerning the receipts and disbursements for the preceding fiscal year.

Section 6)

The Editor of Environmental History (published jointly by ASEH and the Forest History Society) shall have charge of all editorial and production decisions subject to the approval of the ASEH executive committee and the governing board of the Forest History Society. He/She may select an advisory committee to assist in making editorial decisions.

The Executive Director shall be appointed by the executive committee for a renewable four-year term and generally will oversee the administration of the Society. Responsibilities include editing the newsletter; organizing and maintaining the archives of the Society; coordination with committees, including program, local arrangements, awards, site selection, nominating, outreach, and development committees; fundraising; oversight of annual conference; general correspondence; and review of website and assisting webmaster. The Executive Director shall do and perform such other duties as this Code of By-Laws provides or as may be assigned to that person by the President and/or the executive committee.

Section 7)

Elective members of the executive committee shall participate equally and jointly with elected officers in making collective decisions concerning the society where provided for in these bylaws or where otherwise necessary and proper.

Section 8)

Any vacancy occurring in an office may be filled by vote of the executive committee until the next regular elections are held.

Section 9)

All non-institutional members shall be eligible to vote and hold office.

ARTICLE III: Meetings

Section 1)

Stated meetings of the society shall be held annually or biennially at such time and place as the executive committee may determine. Special meetings shall be called by the executive committee as the occasion may require, due notice thereof being given to all members by the Secretary.

Section 2)

As occasion demands, the Secretary, at the direction of the President, may submit matters for decisions to the executive committee by mail ballot. All such votes of the executive committee shall be placed on the record by the Secretary and shall be reported at the next meeting of the board.

Section 3)

At meetings of the executive committee, a quorum shall consist of the President OR the Vice President and any other five members.

Section 4)

At stated meetings of the society, a quorum shall consist of one of the officers specified in Section 3 of this article, together with any fifteen other members.

Section 5)

Meetings of the executive committee shall be held prior to the beginning of the stated meeting of the society, or at such other time as may be determined by the President. Due notice of such meetings shall be given to all members of the executive committee.

Section 6)

Meetings of the society of whatever kind, except for meetings of the executive committee, shall be open to the public unless otherwise ordered by a majority of the members present.

Section 7)

Elections and other matters requiring a decision by the entire membership may, at the discretion of the executive committee, be submitted to the membership by mail. The Secretary shall maintain a record of any substantive decisions that are reached in this manner.

ARTICLE IV: Elections and Resignations

Section 1)

The President and Vice-President shall hold office for a term of two years, and may be re-elected. The Secretary and Treasurer shall hold office for four years, and may be re-elected. The other elective members of the executive committee shall serve staggered four-year terms. Elections are to be held in odd calendar years, at which time all officers with expiring terms and three or four (roughly half) of the members of the executive committee shall stand for election. No member of the executive committee (with the exception of the Secretary, Treasurer, Executive Director, and Editors of Environmental History and H-Environment) may serve more than two consecutive terms in office.

Section 2)

The Editor of Environmental History shall be appointed for a term agreed upon by majority vote of the governing boards of ASEH and FHS, and shall serve at the pleasure of those boards. In the event that the editor is unable to perform his/her duties, the presidents of ASEH and FHS, in consultation with their governing boards, shall make the necessary temporary arrangements. Prior to the expiration of the editor's term, a new editor shall be selected by a joint search committee of the two organizations for approval as provided in this section.

Section 3)

Ninety days prior to odd calendar year meetings of the society, a nominating committee, elected by the membership, shall meet or shall communicate in some other fashion and shall select a slate of officers and elected members of the executive committee. The candidate for President shall normally be the standing Vice-President. The nominating committee shall consist of four members to serve four years each, with two members being elected biennially from a slate of four nominees. The slate they select shall consist of one nominee for Vice-President/President-elect,one nominee for other officers with expiring terms, and two nominees for each vacancy on the executive and nominating committees, and shall be communicated to the Secretary, who shall in turn communicate it to the membership by mail as provided in Article II, Section 4 of these bylaws. Elections shall take place during odd calendar year meetings, or by mail ballot prior to the meeting. The candidates receiving the highest number of votes are elected. All ballots shall have provisions for write-in nominees.

Section 4)

Elections may be held by mail ballot if circumstances warrant. A decision to do so may be made by the President and any five other members of the executive committee. This same group may make such other alterations in the election procedure as they deem necessary, except that a slate of nominees must still be selected by the nominating committee, and the Secretary must still provide notice of the election to the membership in the usual fashion. All terms of office shall begin and end the day after the stated meeting.

Section 5)

A discussion of the merits of the nominees for office may be held during the stated meeting election procedure if the membership desires.

Section 6)

If no nominee for office receives a simple majority of the votes cast, voting shall continue until a decision is reached.

Section 7)

Resignations from office or from the society shall be promptly reported to the Secretary. If an officer must be replaced before the conclusion of his term and the executive committee is not able to meet immediately, his successor may be selected by means of a mail or telephone ballot.

ARTICLE V: Dues

Section 1)

Annual dues shall be paid by all members in amounts to be set by the executive committee.

Section 2)

Dues for the ensuing year shall fall due on the first day of each January or, for members who joined in 1996 or later, one year after the date of initial application for membership, and shall be in arrears if not paid within 120 days thereafter.

Section 3)

No member in arrears for dues shall be permitted to vote or take part in the business of any meeting.

Section 4)

Life membership, exempting the possessor from any further payment of dues, may be obtained by paying a sum equal to thirty times the amount of annual dues currently in force when payment is to be made. This sum may be paid in one payment or in four successive annual installments. No increase may be made in life membership dues until 120 days after the date on which an increased annual dues payment becomes due, but in no case will individuals paying annual installments on a life membership be assessed any portion of the higher rate.

ARTICLE VI: Additions and Amendments

Section 1)

Proposed additions and amendments to the bylaws must be submitted to the Secretary in writing, signed by three or more members, at least 90 days prior to a stated meeting. If approved by two thirds of those present and voting at that meeting, it shall then be put to the membership by the Secretary by means of a mail ballot. If approved by two thirds of the membership returning completed ballots to the Secretary, the change shall then take effect.