COUNCILOR

COUNCILOR - Candidates for the position of Councilor should be carefully screened before their names are placed in nomination so as to be sure they are aware of the responsibilities of a Councilor; then, if their willingness to serve the Section is indicated, their names may be included for nomination. A Section must be represented at all Council meetings by its representative.

PURPOSE

The Society’s Constitution states that the management of the Society shall be vested in a governing body called the Council. Members of each Section and each Division elect one representative, the Councilor, and Councilor has one vote.

ELECTION OF COUNCILOR

See the Councilor’s Guidebook (available from the Executive Office).

DUTIES

Council elects the Officers of the Society, as specified, and establishes standing committees. Council also authorizes organization of Sections and Divisions. Society Bylaws, Rules and Operating Procedures are established and amended by Council. Council approves the annual budget within which the Society operates.

The Councilor is expected to attend all Council meetings or appoint an alternate or proxy to represent the Section. As the Section’s Councilor, he/she shall obtain clarification of existing policy, make recommendations, introduce new policies, and convey information concerning pertinent Section activities.

As a member of the management of the Society, the Councilor shall act in the best interest of the Society as a whole. His/her decisions shall be based on an objective analysis of the need or opinions of all members of the Society, not only the members of his/her Section.

The Councilor shall report to the Section Board of Directors all significant activities of the Council or the Society’s Executive Committee. When appropriate, he/she shall arrange to have a member of the Society’s Executive Committee or Executive Office staff visit the Section and attend Board meetings.

The Councilor shall report to the Section members all-important Society actions and activities. The Section newsletter is usually the best vehicle. Reports may be given at Section meetings.

Society Bylaws gives to Council the authority to remove from office Councilors who have failed to perform the duties of the office.

A newly elected Councilor shall assume the duties of his/her office immediately after the Annual Business Meeting of the Society.

ALTERNATE COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE

Upon being elected, the Councilor should appoint a qualified permanent alternate. The Alternate should be prepared to attend Council meetings if the Councilor is unable to do so. A past Councilor or current or past Section Officer is suggested.

A written notice of the appointment of an Alternate should be sent to the Executive Director. It will then not be necessary to give prior notice when the Alternate attends Council meetings.

PROXY FOR COUNCIL REPRESENTATIVE

In the event that neither the Councilor nor the Alternate can attend a particular Council meeting, the Councilor should appoint a proxy. The proxy may be any voting member of the Section.

The Councilor must inform the Executive Director in writing of the appointment of the proxy. Such as appointment shall be effective for the meeting named in that notice.

COUNCILOR’S GUIDEBOOK

This separate Guidebook gives details on preparation for Council meetings. The conduct of a typical meeting is summarized, as is the manner in which other Society business is handled. Copies are available from the Executive Office.