The International Biometric Society is an international society for the advancement of biological science through the development of quantitative theories and the application, development and dissemination of effective mathematical and statistical techniques. The Society welcomes as members biologists, mathematicians, statisticians, and others interested in applying similar techniques. By definition of the IBS, ENAR includes portions of the United States and Canada east of approximately 104 degrees West Longitude. Membership is open to all residents of this region.
Journals of The International Biometric Society: Biometrics; Journal of Agricultural, Biological, and Environmental Statistics; Biometric Bulletin.
(Revised September 2006)
As a subdivision of the International Biometric Society (the Society), the Eastern North American Region (ENAR, the Region) is governed by the Constitution and By-Laws of the Society and the following Regional By-Laws. In case of any conflict between the ENAR By-Laws and the Constitution or By-Laws of the Society, those of the Society shall apply.
1. Scope.
The Region shall be concerned with biometric activities, as defined in Article 1 of the Constitution of the Society.
2. Membership.
By definition of the Society, ENAR geographically includes those portions of the United States and Canada east of approximately 104 degrees West Longitude. Membership is open to all residents of this region. Classes of membership are defined by the IBS Constitution. In addition, members of the Society outside of ENAR's geographic boundaries may become Supporting Members of ENAR, as described in the By-Laws of the Society.
3. Affiliations.
By action of the Regional Committee (RECOM, see 4.1 below), approved by the Council of the Society, the Region may affiliate itself with national organizations in the fields of biology, mathematics, and statistics or other related fields. New affiliations must be approved by RECOM and shall be reported to the membership, for confirmation, at the next annual meeting.
4. Governance
4.1. Regional Committee (RECOM).
The Regional Committee shall consist of the Regional President, who shall serve as its Chair, the immediate Regional Past President, the Regional President-elect, the Regional Secretary, the Regional Treasurer, nine ordinary members who shall serve three-year terms, and, ex-officio, the Chair of the Regional Advisory Board (RAB, see 4.2 below), Regional Executive Director, all Regional members of the Council of the Society, and the ASA Representative to ENAR. If an ordinary member cannot complete a term, the Regional President shall appoint a replacement to serve out the balance of the term to which that member was elected. The Regional Committee shall be responsible for oversight of the affairs of the region. RECOM shall be convened at the annual Regional meeting and may be convened (possibly in conjunction with the Regional Advisory Board - Section 4.2) at any other meeting sponsored or co-sponsored by ENAR.
4.2. Regional Advisory Board (RAB).
There shall be a Regional Advisory Board consisting of a Chair and thirty members, appointed as described below by successive Regional Presidents. The RAB Chair shall be appointed by the Regional President in alternate years to serve one year as Chair-elect and two years as Chair. In addition, each year the Regional President will appoint ten members who will each serve a three-year term commencing on January 1 of the ensuing calendar year. RAB should be constituted to have broad representation of the membership. RAB shall meet at the annual Regional Meeting and may be convened (possibly in conjunction with RECOM) at any other meeting sponsored or co-sponsored by ENAR. RAB shall advise RECOM on matters of policy, new initiatives, and on the appointment of committees.
4.3. Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee shall consist of the Regional President, Regional President-elect, Immediate Regional Past President, Regional Secretary, Regional Treasurer, and RAB Chair. The ENAR Executive Director shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee. If any of the above members, with the exception of the Immediate Regional Past-President, cannot complete his or her term, the remainder of the Executive Committee shall determine the successor who shall serve out the balance of the term to which the Executive Committee member was elected. The Executive Committee implements policies of RECOM and is responsible for day-to-day operations of the Region. The Executive Committee meets at the ENAR Annual Meeting and the Joint Statistical Meetings, which ENAR co-sponsors, and may meet otherwise as needed to conduct ENAR business. The Executive Committee also normally communicates via e-mail and telephone throughout the year, as needed.
4.4. Elected Officers.
The ENAR Regional officers of the IBS shall be the Regional President, Regional President-elect, Regional Past-President, Regional Secretary, and Regional Treasurer, elected from among and by the ENAR membership. All officers are charged with protecting and promoting the organization, and with carrying out the ENAR policies and procedures. All terms of office start on January 1 of the calendar year following election to the position.
Once elected to the position of Regional President-elect (see Section 7 below), the incumbent shall normally serve a three-year term. The first year shall be as Regional President-elect, the second as Regional President, and the third year as Regional Past-President. No elected Regional President who has served a full term shall be eligible to serve again as Regional President. Re-election of the Regional Secretary and Regional Treasurer is permissible except that no one may serve continuously for more than two consecutive terms.
4.4.1. Regional President.
The Regional President is the presiding officer of ENAR and serves as the official representative of the organization. The Regional President is a voting member and presides over all meetings of the Executive Committee and RECOM. The Regional President presides over the ENAR Annual Meeting and serves on the Council of Presidents of Statistical Societies (COPSS). Except as provided elsewhere in the ENAR By-Laws, the Regional President is responsible for making committee Chair appointments. Where occasion arises, the Regional President may appoint such persons as needed to serve ENAR in an ad hoc capacity or to represent ENAR in an official capacity. These appointments are for a specified duration and are subject to review and continuation by future presidents. The Regional President shall provide an annual report to the membership on the activities of the organization as a whole.
4.4.2. Regional President-elect.
The Regional President-elect shall serve as a voting member of the Executive Committee and RECOM, and shall act as Regional President in the event of the latter's absence or inability to serve. The Regional President-elect is responsible for all planning and organization of the annual meeting to be held in the year of his/her presidency. This responsibility includes, but is not limited to, appointment of a Program Committee Chair, a Local Arrangements Committee Chair, and selection of presenters for the continuing education program at the meeting.
4.4.3. Regional Past-President.
The Regional Past-President serves as a voting member of the Executive Committee and RECOM, as the Chair of the Nominations Committee, and as the Chair of the Student Awards Committee. In the event that both the Regional President and Regional President-elect are absent or unable to serve, the Regional Past-President shall act as Regional President.
4.4.4. Regional Secretary.
The Regional Secretary serves as a voting member of the Executive Committee and RECOM. The Regional Secretary is responsible for recording all actions taken and appointments made at RECOM and Regional Business meetings and for promptly preparing the minutes of such. The Regional Secretary shall oversee ENAR correspondence, preparation of ballots and the ENAR membership list, and shall be responsible for providing information from and maintaining ENAR records. Under direction from the Regional President, the Regional Secretary is responsible for reporting ENAR activities to the IBS.
4.4.5. Regional Treasurer.
The Regional Treasurer is the financial officer of ENAR and serves as a voting member of both the Executive Committee and RECOM. The Regional Treasurer shall oversee ENAR funds and the collection of dues, and shall assure that proper accounting standards are followed and that biennial financial audits are performed by a certified public accountant. The Regional Treasurer shall prepare the annual budget, with the assistance of the ENAR Business Office, and present it to the Executive Committee and RECOM for approval. The Regional Treasurer is responsible for reporting on the financial status of ENAR at all RECOM and ENAR Business Meetings, as well as when called upon by the Regional President to do so. An investment policy is established by recommendation of the Regional Treasurer and approval of RECOM. All persons who are authorized to withdraw funds, sign checks, drafts or money orders for payment of monies shall be bonded or otherwise insured against default or other contingency.
4.5. ENAR Executive Director.
In coordination with the volunteer efforts of ENAR officers and committee members, the administrative management of ENAR shall be achieved through the ENAR Business Office, under the management of the ENAR Executive Director, which is a salaried post. The ENAR Executive Director shall carry out the work of ENAR by managing and directing activities of the organization subject to ENAR policies and through the office of President. The ENAR Executive Director shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee and of RECOM. The ENAR Executive Director cannot authorize spending of funds except within the approved budget and with the Treasurer's approval. Authority to spend funds outside the approved budget requires approval of the Executive Committee. Decisions to hire or change the Regional Executive Director and/or contract management company shall be by a two-thirds vote of RECOM.
5. Standing, Continuing, and Ad Hoc Committees
5.1. Standing Committees.
Standing Committees are committees that have been established over the course of several years as continuing committees, and whose long-term worth and missions have been sufficiently established to warrant permanency and inclusion in the ENAR By-Laws. They are established as standing committees by amendments to the By-Laws and can be disbanded by amendments to the By-Laws (see Section 9).
5.1.1. Terms of Office and Committee Membership.
Unless otherwise specified in the By-Laws, standing committees will consist of six members, each serving a three-year term. The Regional President-elect will appoint two members to each standing committee, to serve three-year terms commencing on January 1 of the ensuing calendar year. On making the new appointments, the President-elect appoints a committee Chair for the ensuing year. The Chair is renewable and may be one of the continuing or new Committee members.
5.1.2. Established Standing Committees.
5.1.2.1. Nominating Committee.
The Nominating Committee is charged with submitting nominees for elective Regional offices to the Regional Secretary. The Nominating Committee will consist of 6 members: each Regional President-elect shall appoint two members to serve two-year terms commencing on January 1 of the ensuing calendar year. One of these two appointments must be a RAB member who has served in that capacity for at least one year. The appointed RAB member should reflect nominations generated through RAB throughout the member's term on the Nominating Committee. The Regional Past-President shall chair the Committee and then serve an additional year. No member of the Nominating Committee may be nominated by the Committee for any ENAR office during the term of the member. Should any Committee member be unable to complete his or her term, the Regional President shall appoint a replacement to serve for the remainder of the term, maintaining representation of RAB on the Committee.
5.2. Continuing Committees.
With the approval of RECOM, the Regional President can form continuing committees to address on-going issues, but whose exact mission may not yet be firmly established. Continuing committees shall be reviewed on a regular basis (see Section 9) to determine if they warrant inclusion in the By-Laws as standing committees. Continuing committees can be disbanded with the approval of RECOM.
5.3. Ad Hoc Committees.
The Regional President may appoint ad hoc committees as needed to address short-term issues for the Society. Such committees shall be disbanded by the Regional President upon completion of the charge for which they were formed.
6. Meetings.
RECOM shall designate one meeting to be ENAR's Annual Meeting, usually held in the spring. Additional meetings shall be held whenever called by RECOM. ENAR may also actively participate in other co-sponsored meetings. The Regional President-elect shall appoint a program chairperson for each meeting sponsored or co-sponsored by ENAR at least one year in advance of that meeting. The ENAR Annual Meeting shall include an ENAR Business Meeting open to all members. A co-sponsored conference with large representation of ENAR members, such as the Joint Statistical Meetings, will normally also include an ENAR Business Meeting for purposes of informing the membership.
7. Election.
On or before May 1 each year, the Nominating Committee shall submit nominees for Regional President-elect, Regional Secretary and Regional Treasurer (in alternate years), and two nominees for each vacancy among ordinary members of the Regional Committee, to the Regional Secretary. Additional nominations may be made by signatures of 2.5% or more of regular members of the region in accordance with the current ENAR regulations for submission of petitions. No ordinary RECOM member shall be nominated to consecutive terms. Otherwise, except as stipulated above and in Section 4.4, all members may be nominated for any office, but may not serve simultaneously in two elective offices or in an elective office while on the Regional Advisory Board. The consent of each nominee must be obtained in advance of nomination. On or before July 1 each year, the Regional Secretary shall mail to each member of the Region a preferential ballot for the election of officers from among the persons nominated. The ENAR management company, or an alternate based on the discretion of RECOM, shall act as a teller to determine the election from a count of the ballots returned by September 1, and shall report the results of the election by October 1. The Regional President-elect shall serve for one year and at the close of the term shall automatically become Regional President, subject to confirmation by the Council of the Society, and Regional Past-President the following year. The Secretary and the Treasurer shall each serve two-year terms, staggered by one year. RECOM members serve three-year terms. All terms of elected offices start on January 1 of the ensuing year.
8. Tax-exempt status.
8.1. ENAR is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes.
8.2. No part of the net earnings of ENAR shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, officers, or other private persons, except that RECOM shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to present monetary awards at modest levels to recognize scientific achievements. No substantial part of ENAR activities shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and ENAR 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. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, ENAR shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or of the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).
8.3. Upon the dissolution of ENAR, RECOM shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all the liabilities of the corporation, dispose of all the assets of ENAR exclusively for the purposes of ENAR in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the United States Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as RECOM shall determine. Any remaining assets shall revert to the International Biometric Society. In the event of the previous or concurrent dissolution of the International Biometric Society, any such ENAR assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the District of Columbia.
9. Amendments.
Proposed amendments to these By-Laws originating with the Executive Committee must be received in writing by RAB and RECOM members accompanied by a rationale by the President at least two weeks prior to the Annual Meeting. All proposed amendments shall be reviewed by RAB and presented for recommendation to RECOM. Proposed amendments approved by RECOM shall be included on the annual ballot for election of officers. Also, proposed amendments accompanied by signatures of 5% or more of regular members of the Region in accordance with the current ENAR rules for submission of petitions will be placed on the ballot. The rationale and RECOM recommendation would accompany the ballot. A majority of votes received is necessary for passage of an amendment. Although amendments to the By-Laws may occur at any time, an ad hoc By-Laws revision committee should be formed at five- year intervals starting in 2005 to review the By-Laws and to consider changing the status of committees from continuing to standing.
10. Business Office.
Administrative tasks described in these by-laws may be performed by staff of the ENAR Business Office at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
11. Operations/Procedures Manual.
The Business Office shall maintain and update an Operations/Procedures Manual to summarize the annual flow of activities and detail procedures not covered in the By-Laws. In case of any conflict between the ENAR By-Laws, and the Operations/Procedures Manual, those of the By-Laws shall apply.
Suggestions or inquiries should be sent to enar@enar.org
