Section 1. NAME AND OBJECTIVES
(a). The name of this organization shall be the Equal Opportunities Section of the American Fisheries Society, hereinafter referred to as the Section.
(b). The objectives of the Section shall be those of the American Fisheries Society as set forth in Article I of the Constitution, and especially, to encourage the exchange of information pertinent to the promotion of employment, education, scholarship, participation, professionalism, and recruitment for all individuals in the fisheries profession.
(c). All activities of this subunit shall conform to the Society’s Constitution, Bylaws, Rules, and policies.
Section 2. MEMBERSHIP
The membership of the Section shall be composed of those Active Members of the American Fisheries Society who have an interest in Equal Opportunities.
Section 3. MEETINGS
The Section shall hold at least one meeting annually at a time and place designated by its Executive Committee.
Section 4. OFFICERS
(a). The officers of the Section shall consist of, at least, a President, a President-Elect, and a Secretary-Treasurer, although the latter position may be split between two people, if desired.
(b). Officers shall be elected at the annual meeting or by mail ballot received by members at least 30 days prior to the annual meeting; however, terms of newly elected officers shall coincide with those of the Parent Society officers. Officers shall serve for one year (in some instances an exception to this can be made); however, the Secretary-Treasurer may serve more than one term. If an office is vacated, the Executive Committee shall appoint a qualified repleacement to fill the remainder of the term.
Section 5. DUTIES OF OFFICERS
(a). The President of the Section shall preside at all meetings, chair the Executive Committee, make appointments, and serve as a voting member of the Society’s Executive Committee, except that the President shall serve as a non-voting member until the Section has at least 200 members at the end of the previous calendar year. The President also performs other duties and functions
as authorized by the Section’s Executive Committee.
(b). The President-Elect shall chair the Program Committee and shall assume the duties of the President if the latter is unable to act.
(c). The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep the official records of the Section, submit minutes of the Section’s meetings to the Society’s Executive Director within 30 days after each meeting, disburse funds as authorized by the Executive Committee or the membership, submit a record of receipts and disbursements at the annual Section meeting, and discharge other duties as requested by appropriate Society officers.
Section 6. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee of the Section shall consist of elected officers, the immediate Past-President, Committee Chairs and other members as may be appointed by the President. The Executive Committee is authorized to act on behalf of the Section between annual meetings.
Section 7. SECTION COMMITTEES
Committees and Chairpersons of committees, except as listed in Sections 5 and 6 of these bylaws, shall be appointed and charged by the President. Except for Standing Committees, these Section committees shall cease to function upon the discharge of the duties for which they were appointed.
Section 8. VOTING AND QUORUM
(a). All decisions at meetings are decided by a simple majority vote, except for Bylaw revisions.
(b). A quorum at any meeting for transaction of official business shall be one-third of the Section membership, except that members present may approve a lesser number for a given meeting, if circumstances dictate.
(c). Unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws or the Constitution of the Society, meetings are conducted according to the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order.
Section 9. DUES AND FEES
The Executive Committee shall establish annual dues subject to approval of the members voting at the annual meeting. The Executive committee may assess registration fees for annual meetings.
Section 10. AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS
(a). The Bylaws of the Section may be amended by a two-thirds majority approval of those members voting, provided that notice of the proposed change(s) be given to the membership at least 30 days prior to a meeting. If voting is by mail ballot, members must be given at least 30
days to return their ballots.
(b). Following approval by Section membership, Bylaw amendments must be submitted to the Executive Director at least 45 days before the next meeting of the Society’s Executive Committee.
(c). Bylaw amendments shall not be implemented until they have been approved by the Society’s Executive Committee.

SECTION HISTORY
Bylaws for the Equal Opportunities Section were created in 1991. The first officers of the Section were President Cay C. Goude, President-Elect Ira Palmer, and Secretary-Treasurer Mary Fabrizio. Dues were $5. Standing committees were: Nominating, Education, Awards, Membership, Public Outreach, and Regional Representatives. Goals and objectives proposed included scholarship programs, financial support for attending AFS meetings, natural resource recruitment programs for women and minorities, a job network for affirmative action employers, support networks, mentorship programs for both students and new employees, special symposia and workshops at AFS meetings, and regional committees to work on local concerns.