Approved amendments to the WAC By-Laws 28 July 2022, e-ICOC

1. Modernization of the by-laws (ie. change "mail" and "in person" to "online" or "announce")

2. Changes to be more inclusive (ie. change "his/him" to "they/their")

3. Edits to reflect what the WAC is actually doing (ie. timelines, membership, EC involvement with Local Secretary)
Amendment to Article 1: Membership
Remove “The Executive Council confers on those who have completed these
processes the status of a member.” WAC EC will no longer vote on membership.
Amendment to Article 13 (now 12): Meetings
Add “The Executive Council must meet (can be virtual) with the Local
Secretary at least two times a year for updates on meeting progress. The Local
Secretary must follow the best practices policy of WAC as determined by the
Executive Council.” All business decisions shall be taken by the vote of the membership quorum, “and can be in person during the business meeting during the ICOC conference, and/or at an online business meeting, at any other time, called at the discretion of the Executive Council.”

4. Addition of the Monoculus Award
Article 15: Monoculus Award
The triennial Monoculus Award may be awarded to scientists for their exceptionally
devoted service and contributions to the activities of the World Association of
Copepodologists. The award will be presented at the discretion of the Executive
Council.
Move Article 12 (now 16): The Zbigniew Kabata Student Award, to the end as to have both awards articles together.
(Addition of this Article 15 and moving Article 12 to 16, makes the current Articles 13-15 slide to Articles 12-14)

These amendments to Articles 1 and 13 (now 12), and the addition of Article 15, of the By-Laws were placed before, and approved by the WAC members at the business meeting held in online on 28 July 2022.

Julianne Kalman Passarelli, Past Vice-President, WAC
2017–2022 WAC Executive Council

Approved amendments to the WAC By-Laws 17 July 2014, Seoul, Korea

1. Composition of the Executive Council
Following the resignation of the current editor of the Monoculus newsletter there was a general consensus among WAC officers to terminate the production of the newsletter and use the WAC website as the major forum for communication and dissemination of information. The President explained that website design, maintenance and updating will remain the main responsibilities of the Webmaster. The Webmaster will be assisted by two Executive Council Members who will advise on input and (re)structuring of the website. Since this advisory role will rotate annually between Council Members it was recommended to the WAC membership that the Council be enlarged to six officers by adding one additional elected Council Member. The post of Editor will be abolished.

Amendment of “Article 3: Officers”
The officers of the WAC shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Past President, a General Secretary, a Treasurer, a Local Secretary, a Webmaster and six Council Members, comprising the Executive Council. The term of office of all officers will be coincident with the interval between two successive meetings of the WAC. The President, Vice-President, General Secretary, Treasurer and Council Members shall be elected by the membership. The Local Secretary and Webmaster shall be appointed by the new President. After completion of one elected term as President, the President will serve a second term as Past-President. All officers shall be eligible for re-election, but the Vice-President and Council Members shall serve no more than two consecutive terms.

Amendment of “Article 4”: Executive Council
The Executive Council shall determine general policy on the basis of input from the membership and shall conduct the business affairs of the WAC. Two Council members will assist the Webmaster in maintaining the WAC website and provide advice on input and structure. This advisory role will rotate annually between the six Council members. The Executive Council is chaired by the President of the WAC. In his absence, the Council is chaired by the Vice-President and in his absence by the General Secretary.

2. The Zbigniew Kabata Student Award
The Executive Council unanimously agreed to institute the Zbigniew Kabata Student Award to honour the late Founder President of WAC (1984–1987) for his exceptionally devoted service to copepodology and his significant contributions to the activities of the WAC. The prestigious prize will be presented to the student giving the best oral presentation. Selection will be based on research quality, originality of the work presented, content clarity, presentation and design. The terms and conditions of the award are clarified in a new Article 12 which will replace the old “Article 12: Newsletter”. Student awards for best oral communications and poster presentations have been awarded before during WAC conferences and the Executive Council recommended the continuation of this tradition, albeit with the caveat that these awards will be considered inferior to the Zbigniew Kabata Student Award.

New “Article 12”:
The Zbigniew Kabata Student AwardThe Zbigniew Kabata Student Award (named after the Founder President of WAC) will be awarded triennially during the International Conference on Copepoda for the best oral presentation given by a student participant. Free communications from all fields of copepodology will be considered. Students presenting poster contributions are not eligible recipients for this award. An Award Panel comprising three WAC members in good standing will be appointed by the Executive Council prior to the start of the conference. Judging will be based on a defined list of prescribed criteria drafted by the Executive Council in consultation with the President, Past-President and Vice-President. The recipient will receive a certificate and a cash prize. In addition, ten smaller awards will be presented for other outstanding research (5 for oral communications and 5 for poster presentations) in the student category.

These amendments to Articles 3 and 4, and replacement if Article 12, of the By-Laws were placed before, and approved by the WAC members at the business meeting held in Seoul on 17 July 2014.

Rony Huys, Past President, WAC

Approved amendments to the WAC By-Laws 24 July 2002 in Keelung, Taiwan  

1. Composition of the Executive Council
The workload of the Executive Council continues to grow rapidly. In addition to conducting normal WAC business affairs, the EC has instituted a system of student grants and prizes, has opened a WAC website, and has made plans for an electronic version of Monoculus. In order to continue to launch new initiatives for the benefit of copepodologists everywhere, we recommended to the WAC membership that the Council be enlarged. We proposed to add one additional elected Council Member and to institute the post of immediate Past President (who will serve for one term after completion of his/her term as president).

The role of Past President provides important continuity between successive Executive Councils. The proposed change, which has been approved during the last business meeting held in Taiwan, required amendment of Article 3 of the WAC By-Laws.

Amendment of "Article 3: Officers"
The officers of the WAC shall be: a President, a Vice-President, a Past President, a General Secretary, a Treasurer, a Local Secretary and up to five members, comprising the Executive Council. The term of office of all officers will be coincident with the interval between two successive meetings of the WAC. The Local Secretary will not be an elected officer, but be appointed by the Executive Council. After completion of one elected term as President, the President will serve a second term as Past President. At each meeting half of the slate of officers shall be replaced. All officers of the Executive Council shall be eligible for re-elections.

2. Nominations
The Executive Council wishes to ensure that elections are as open and transparent as possible. The previous version of the By-Laws stated in Article 7, that "Nominations for any office may be made in writing by any two members of the WAC not later than six months in advance of an election." Most previous Executive Councils have experienced difficulty in gaining sufficient nominations in advance and, in practice, it has often been necessary to solicit nominations during the opening few days of each conference. This is allowed under the current By-Laws which also state that "Additional nominations may be made by a Nomination Committee appointed by the Executive Council and during business meetings of the WAC."

The Executive Council hopes that the development of a WAC website will facilitate the nomination process since we will be able to post nominations on the website, as soon as possible after they are received, so that members can view them. We also proposed to reduce the time limit for receipt of posted nominations from six months to two months in advance of an election.

Approved amendment of "Article 7: Nominations."
Nominations for any office, with the exception of those of Local Secretary and Past President, may be made in writing by any two members of the WAC in good standing not later than two months in advance of an election. The proposer must ascertain that each candidate is willing to stand for office and serve if elected. Additional nominations may be made by a Nomination Committee appointed by the Executive Council and during business meetings of the WAC.

These amendments to Articles 3 and 7 of the By-Laws were placed before, and approved by the WAC members at the business meeting held in Taiwan last July.

Geoff Boxshall, Past President, WAC

    
Approved amendments to the WAC By-Laws 18 July 2008 in Pattaya, Thailand

1. Proposal addition of an auditor post
The President explained that it is a general practice for an organization such as the WAC to have Auditors, and proposed the creation of this position. The appointment of Auditors is clarified in a new Article 7. He also proposed the amendment of the current Article 3, to clarify which positions are to be elected by members and which are to be appointed by the President.

Amendment of “Article 3: Officers”
The officers of the WAC shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Past President, a General Secretary, a Treasurer, a Local Secretary, an Editor, a Webmaster and up to five Council Members, comprising the Executive Council. The term of office of all officers will be coincident with the interval between two successive meetings of the WAC. The President, Vice-President, General Secretary, Treasurer and Council Members shall be elected by the membership. The Local Secretary, Editor and Webmaster shall be appointed by the new President. After completion of one elected term as President, the President will serve a second term as Past President. All officers shall be eligible for re-election, but the Vice-President and Council Members shall serve no more than two consecutive terms.

Amendment of “Article 7: Auditors”
Two Auditors shall be appointed by the new President. The Auditors shall audit the accounts of the Treasurer and report the status of the accounts at the business meeting of the WAC.

(Addition of this Article 7 makes the current Articles 7-14 slide to Articles 8-15)

2. Proposal to amend by-laws about Membership
The President commented that the current process to become a WAC member is out-of-date and needs to be simplified.

Amendment of “Article 1: Membership”
Any person interested in any aspect of the study of Copepoda is eligible for membership in the WAC. Applicants for membership must send an application form by mail to the General Secretary, and pay the annual dues two years in advance to the Treasurer. The Executive Council confers on those who have completed these processes the status of a member.

Shin-ichi Uye, Past President, WAC

Approved amendments to the WAC By-Laws 24 July 2002 in Keelung, Taiwan

1. Composition of the Executive Council
The workload of the Executive Council continues to grow rapidly. In addition to conducting normal WAC business affairs, the EC has instituted a system of student grants and prizes, has opened a WAC website, and has made plans for an electronic version of Monoculus. In order to continue to launch new initiatives for the benefit of copepodologists everywhere, we recommended to the WAC membership that the Council be enlarged. We proposed to add one additional elected Council Member and to institute the post of immediate Past President (who will serve for one term after completion of his/her term as president).

The role of Past President provides important continuity between successive Executive Councils. The proposed change, which has been approved during the last business meeting held in Taiwan, required amendment of Article 3 of the WAC By-Laws.

Amendment of "Article 3: Officers"
The officers of the WAC shall be: a President, a Vice-President, a Past President, a General Secretary, a Treasurer, a Local Secretary and up to five members, comprising the Executive Council. The term of office of all officers will be coincident with the interval between two successive meetings of the WAC. The Local Secretary will not be an elected officer, but be appointed by the Executive Council. After completion of one elected term as President, the President will serve a second term as Past President. At each meeting half of the slate of officers shall be replaced. All officers of the Executive Council shall be eligible for re-elections.

2. Nominations
The Executive Council wishes to ensure that elections are as open and transparent as possible. The previous version of the By-Laws stated in Article 7, that "Nominations for any office may be made in writing by any two members of the WAC not later than six months in advance of an election." Most previous Executive Councils have experienced difficulty in gaining sufficient nominations in advance and, in practice, it has often been necessary to solicit nominations during the opening few days of each conference. This is allowed under the current By-Laws which also state that "Additional nominations may be made by a Nomination Committee appointed by the Executive Council and during business meetings of the WAC."

The Executive Council hopes that the development of a WAC website will facilitate the nomination process since we will be able to post nominations on the website, as soon as possible after they are received, so that members can view them. We also proposed to reduce the time limit for receipt of posted nominations from six months to two months in advance of an election.

Approved amendment of "Article 7: Nominations."
Nominations for any office, with the exception of those of Local Secretary and Past President, may be made in writing by any two members of the WAC in good standing not later than two months in advance of an election. The proposer must ascertain that each candidate is willing to stand for office and serve if elected. Additional nominations may be made by a Nomination Committee appointed by the Executive Council and during business meetings of the WAC.

These amendments to Articles 3 and 7 of the By-Laws were placed before, and approved by the WAC members at the business meeting held in Taiwan last July.

Geoff Boxshall, Past President, WAC