I. ELECTIONS AND LEADERSHIP

As stated in the Bylaws, the ASN is governed by a Council consisting of the Officers (President, Past President, President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer), and twelve ordinary members. The President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer are also ex officio members of all standing, annual and ad hoc committees.

A. Election of Officers and Terms of Office

1. Elections

At least 6 months prior to each second annual meeting (usually in October of the year prior to the March meeting), the Chair of the Nominating Committee will solicit nominations for Officers and Council from the nominating committee, and the Secretary will prepare and distribute a request for nominations for Officers and Council from the members. Nominations must be received within 45 days of this mailing. Members may nominate no more than one candidate for each vacancy. The nominating committee shall identify two candidates (from individuals receiving 6 or more nominations if more than two are nominated) and only two candidates for the office of president elect. If only one individual is nominated by members, the committee will nominate a second person to run for that office. The Chair of the Nominating Committee will inquire as to their willingness to serve. Nominees must accept their nomination in writing. Only ordinary members in good standing are eligible to hold office in the Society.

The ballot shall have a minimum of two candidates for each office and a minimum of 8 candidates for the vacancies on Council. An exception may be made upon advice of the nominating committee and approval by Council to allow the current secretary and treasurer to stand for reelection unopposed. The Secretary will prepare the ballot and distribute it to the membership no later than 60 days prior to the annual meeting. No distinction will be made as to which candidates were nominated by the membership vs. those nominated by the Nominating Committee. The President will appoint a Senior Teller to tabulate the ballots. All ballots must be received by the Senior Teller no later than three weeks prior to the annual meeting. The Teller will inform the Officers of the elections results, and the President will notify the candidates of the outcome at least ten days before the annual meeting to insure that the newly elected officers attend the meeting. Ballots will be destroyed one year after the annual meeting.

The election results will be made known to the membership at the end of the annual business meeting. The six vacancies on Council are filled by the six nominees receiving the most votes. The open alternate position on Council is filled by the person receiving the seventh-most number of votes. New officers except the Secretary-Elect and Treasurer-Elect, and council members will assume their offices at the third Council Meeting. The Secretary-Elect and Treasurer-Elect will assume their offices at the last Council meeting of the following annual meeting.

2. Filling vacancies in Officer positions and on Council

a. Vacancies on Council that occur in between regular elections are filled by Council from the alternates, and then by candidates in the last preceding election in order of decreasing number of votes received. If there are not enough alternates to fill vacancies on Council, the Bylaws allow that Council operates with a minimum of seven members. In the unlikely event that the number of Council members falls below seven, the President shall call a special election that follows the procedures outlined above in section A1.

b. Vacancies in Officer positions are filled by Council, for the unexpired portion of the term. Council may elect to fill a vacancy with any ordinary member of the Society, including a current Council member or a candidate from the last preceding election.

B. Office of the President

The office of President is assumed by the President-Elect for a single two-year term. At the end of the President's term, he/she assumes the office of Past-President. The President, with the advice of Council, is the only legal signature on all contracts made with the ASN, such as maintenance of the ASN office, hotel contract for the annual meeting, fees for external organizers, and all obligations for the annual meeting. The responsibilities of the President include:

C. Office of the Past President

The office of the Past President is assumed by the President at the end of his/her term. The duties of the Past President include:

D. Office of the President-Elect

The President-Elect is elected for a two-year term after which he/she assumes the office of President.

The duties of the President-Elect are to assist the President, and to work closely with the President and Program Committee to coordinate meetings that will occur during their term of office

E1. Office of the Secretary

The Secretary is elected for a two-year term, and is eligible for two additional terms, after which he/she is ineligible for another term for a period of four years. The responsibilities of the Secretary include:

E2. Office of the Secretary-Elect

The term of the person elected to this office will be just the year prior to assuming the duties of Secretary. During that year the individual elected will assist the Secretary and learn the duties associated with the position of Secretary.

F1. Office of the Treasurer

The Treasurer is elected for a two-year term, and is eligible for two additional terms, after which he/she is ineligible for another term for a period of four years. The Treasurer has to indicate a year prior to the end of each of his/her terms whether or not he/she will serve an additional term. The responsibilities of the Treasurer include:

F2. Office of the Treasurer-Elect

The term of the person elected to this office will be for a maximum of 6 years starting immediately after election to the office. The Treasurer-Elect will assist the Treasurer, learn the duties associated with the position of Treasurer and serve as a Member of the Enterprise Committee. The Treasurer-Elect will begin serving as the Treasurer when the Treasurer retires at the end of the term.

G. Council Members

Members of the Council serve for a four-year term. ASN also elects 2 alternates to Council who serve for 4 year terms. Alternates have the privilege of attending and participating in discussions of Council meetings. Alternates will have voting rights only when they are present at a Council meeting where there would not be a quorum unless they are included as voting members of Council. There is no limit to the number of terms, as long as they are not consecutive, that individuals can serve. The duties of Council members include:

H. Parliamentarian

The office of Parliamentarian is occupied by the Past-President and as Alternate by the current Secretary. A Parliamentarian is required at Council and Business meetings of the ASN. Since 1991, the Parliamentarian has also served as chair of the Standing Rules Committee. The Parliamentarian's function is to advise the presiding Officer on questions of procedure during Council and Business meetings. If requested by the President or the assembly, the Parliamentarian will state a ruling or give an interpretation of it. In the case of an error, the Parliamentarian may advise the presiding Officer of its occurrence, but the decision rests with the presiding Officer. The Parliamentarian's opinion is purely advisory.

I. Historian

The Historian, appointed by the President, will maintain the ASN archives as a living history of the Society and, as such, all important matters that relate to the operation of the Society should become a part of the archives. Items for submission to the archives should be given to Committee Chairs or Officers of the Society for forwarding to the Historian. In 1997 the archives were moved to University of California Los Angeles. Access to the archives is limited to the Historian, so all requests for information should be made through him/her. The archives should be maintained in chronological order. Items suitable for inclusion in the archives include:

J. Meetings of the Council

The ASN Council, composed of the Officers, Council members, Parliamentarian and Historian will meet twice during the annual meetings (one meeting prior to the annual business meeting and one after the annual business meeting) and will hold an interim meeting at the annual meeting of the Society for Neuroscience, or any other venue. In addition, Council will conduct business during the year via e-mail.

K. Legal Issues

The ASN is registered in the District of Columbia through HIQ Corporate Services. The Treasurer maintains information on this registration. Two firms with offices in Washington, D.C. have been used for legal advice. Melrod, Redman & Gartlan, Suite 1100K, 1801 K Street, N.W., Washington,D.C. 20006, telephone (203) 833-3700, have been "official" lawyers of the Society; this firm was involved in drawing up the original bylaws. Browdy & Newmark, Muncie Bldg., Washington, D.C., telephone (202) 628-5197 handled the trademark registration for "Transactions of the ASN." The patent registration #130,370 was issued on February 5, 1980; it was last renewed in February 2010.

L. ASN Office

The director of the ASN Office will be appointed by the President upon approval by Council. This office was established by Council in 1998. The current manager is Mrs. Amanda Lattuca of International Conference Services., 710-1201 W. Pender St. Vancouver, BC, Canada V6E 2V1, Email: amanda@asneurochem.org. The officers of the ASN will interact with the ASN Office as is pertinent to their individual duties. The duties and responsibilities of the ASN office are:

II. ASN MEMBERSHIP

Four classes of regular membership exist within the ASN, viz., ordinary members, affiliate members, emeritus members, and corresponding members. These categories are defined in the Bylaws of the Society.

A. Membership Categories

1. Ordinary members of the Society shall be investigators in the field of neurochemistry or related fields that reside in the Western Hemisphere, which is defined as Canada, North America, Central America, South America, US Possessions and the Caribbean. Ordinary members receive all circulars, publications and announcements of the Society, may attend and submit abstracts to the meetings of the Society, may hold elected office in the Society, may nominate new members, may propose motions at the annual business meeting, and may vote on matters arising, including elections.

2. Corresponding members of the Society shall be investigators in the field of neurochemistry or related fields that do not reside in the Western Hemisphere. Corresponding members receive all circulars, publications and announcements of the Society, and may nominate new members.

3. Emeritus members of the Society are members who have retired from their professional duties and who have chosen to be classified as emeritus status. Emeritus status can be obtained by notifying the Secretary of retirement, in writing, with a request for reclassification. Emeritus members shall have all the rights and privileges of the membership class from which they transferred.

B. Corporate Sponsors

Corporate sponsors are corporations that provide financial support to the Society. Corporate sponsors will receive appropriate recognition for their support of the educational activities of the ASN.

C. Application and Election to Membership

Application forms are available from both the Secretary, the ASN office, and the ASN web site. Applications for membership and requests from members for reclassification are received by the ASN Office and forwarded to the chair of the Membership Committee on a monthly basis. Individuals whose applications are pending may submit abstracts for the annual meeting. Applications are also available at the ASN website, the Neurochemistry Newsletters, and at the ASN booth at the Society for Neuroscience Meeting.

D. Membership Lists and Dues Collection

All membership information and dues collection are handled by the ASN office. The ASN office ensures that the membership list is updated periodically. Mailings for collection of dues from current members are sent by the ASN office in January of each year. New members are billed for dues on a pro-rated basis upon ratification by Council. Dues are payable upon first notice. If dues are not paid by the third notice the member will be placed on inactive status.

At the end of September Prior to the abstract deadline date, the ASN office sends the local host committee chair a list of members in arrears. ASN members who are in arrears in their dues will be required to pay the non-member registration fee for the annual meeting if they have not paid their membership dues prior to registration. Members in arrears will not be permitted to pick up registration materials at the annual meeting until they pay their dues (or pay the non-member registration fee). The local host committee will be responsible for checking that registrations and abstracts are accepted only from members in good standing with regard to dues. This applies only to ASN members. Members of other neurochemical societies are welcome to submit abstracts for the ASN annual meeting.

The President will initiate termination letters. The Treasurer, with approval of the President, may waive payment of dues for members experiencing financial hardships.

Current dues are listed on the ASN web site. Emeritus membership is free.

III. ASN FUNDS

All donations to the ASN General Fund or any Special Fund, or to support the annual meeting, should be sent to the Treasurer in the form of a check made payable to American Society for Neurochemistry.

A. Basic Neurochemistry Fund

The Basic Neurochemistry Fund is supported by royalties earned from "Basic Neurochemistry" and is maintained by the Treasurer. These funds are used for editorial expenses including travel for the editors, and in support of the Basic Neurochemistry Lecturer for the annual meeting. Editorial expenses are forwarded to the ASN Treasurer for reimbursement. In addition, this fund may be used for educational ventures of the ASN such as the Young Investigators Educational Enhancement Fund (see D. below). Use of the funds for educational ventures of the ASN may be initiated by the ASN Council or the Basic Neurochemistry Editorial Board; in either case, all requests require the approval of both groups. The Basic Neurochemistry Editorial Board consists of the editors of the book, and its chair is the Editor-in-Chief of the book. Replacement editors are recommended to the Officers and Council for approval by the current editor.

B. Jordi Folch-Pi Memorial Fund

The Jordi Folch-Pi Memorial Fund was established to honor the memory of Jordi Folch-Pi through an award to an outstanding young investigator who has contributed to the field of neurochemistry. The amount of the award is determined by the ASN Council. The fund is maintained by the Treasurer, and is supported by interest generated on the principal, as well as from member donations.

C. Marian W. Kies Fund

The Marian Kies Award was established in memory of Dr. Marian Kies to recognize an individual who performed outstanding work in the field of molecular, chemical, and/or cellular biology during his/her graduate studies. The amount of the award is determined by the ASN Council. The fund is maintained by the Treasurer, and is supported by interest generated on the principal,, as well as from member donations.

D. Young Investigators Educational Enhancement Award

The Young Investigators Educational Enhancement Award (previously the Travel Fund for Young Investigators) was created to provide travel support for young neurochemists to attend the annual meeting of the ASN. The amount and number of awards are determined by the Treasurer. The fund is maintained by the Treasurer in a separate account, and is supported by contributions from the Basic Neurochemistry Fund and corporate sponsors, as well as member donations.

E. The Inter-American Cooperation Fund

In 1998, Council approved establishment of this committee whose function is to provide educational support for the Americas. This committee has no assigned budget, though the treasurer will entertain reasonable requests for some funding, i.e. travel, consistent with the status of the ASN treasurer.

F. The Bernard Haber Award Fund

The Bernard Haber Award was established in 2001 to recognize Dr. Bernard Haber’s leadership and outstanding contributions of to the field of Neurochemistry, and in particular for his efforts to develop and strengthen relationships between the American Society for Neurochemistry and other neurochemistry and neuroscience societies around the world. The award will be given to an ASN member of any category for their contributions in fostering the goals of the ASN and furthering interaction with other neurochemical or neuroscience societies. The award is a cash prize of $1,000 to be awarded as funds permit. The recipient has the opportunity to organize a symposium at the ASN Annual Meeting in the year following the award. The fund is maintained by the Treasurer, and is supported by interest generated on the principal, as well as from member donations.

G. General Fund

The General Fund is the main operating fund of the ASN. The fund is maintained by the Treasurer, and is supported primarily by dues collections, corporate sponsorship, and income associated with the annual meeting. The fund is used to support all activities of the ASN, including partial support of the annual meeting.

IV. ASN STANDING COMMITTEES

Members and chairs of ASN standing committees are appointed by the President for two-year terms. Individuals may serve more than two consecutive terms. Committee memberships will represent a broad geographic distribution, with no more than one person from a given institution. Committee membership should have staggered terms so that part of the committee turns over every two years.

Committees are encouraged to communicate and conduct their business throughout the year by e-mail. Committee meetings will no longer be scheduled at the annual meeting unless requested in advance by the committee chair. Each committee chair will be responsible for preparing a permanent record of decisions and how they were made by his/her committee. These records should be transmitted to the Secretary, and to the Historian for inclusion in the ASN archives. Each committee chair should present a brief (five minute) oral report to the Council and to the business meeting during the annual meeting. Longer reports should be conveyed in writing by e-mail to the secretary and chair of the electronics committee.

Any expenditures by a committee must be approved in advance by Council in the form of a committee budget request.

The creation or dissolution of standing committees is initiated by the president and requires majority approval of council.

A. Membership Committee

The Membership Committee, consisting of five members, functions to review membership applications on an on-going basis and to present recommendations to Council for approval.

The chair of the committee will receive applications from the ASN office, and will send copies of each completed application to each member of the committee as soon as possible. Applications will be evaluated independently by each committee member and decisions reported to the chair. Members of the committee shall not participate in decisions on the membership of applicants they have sponsored.

The original signed copy of the application will be retained in the ASN office files. After checking with the ASN office to ensure that he/she has a copy of each application, the chair may discard copies of the applications. A master list of the members accepted should be kept by the chair for two years. Individual committee members may discard their applications and evaluation forms after the committee has finished its evaluation. The ASN office should keep applications on file indefinitely.

The committee shall hold virtual meetings by e-mail to review and discuss its decisions on membership. In cases of disagreement in the initial evaluations, a majority vote will decide the classification of any given applicant. The Membership committee forwards their nominations to the Secretary, who sends the names to the Council for ratification by majority vote. Council will review the nominees, ratify the nominations by majority vote, and submit a list of the names of approved applicants to the Secretary, who will notify the ASN Office. The Secretary will present this list to the membership at the Business Meeting for their information. The Secretary will notify all applicants of the outcome of their application. The membership committee is responsible for inviting non-member invited speakers at the annual meetings to join the Society.

The membership committee should make an effort to track affiliate members to facilitate their re-classification as ordinary members.

B. Education and Public Policy Committee

This committee oversees all activities of the ASN that are related to education and public policy, and may request in a timely fashion (i.e. well in advance of the annual meeting), a specific budget from the ASN Treasurer, as approved by Council, to carry out its activities (including the Public Policy Forum at the annual meeting). The duties of the committee are:

C. Electronic Communications Committee

The ASN web site is located at http://www.ASNeurochem.org. Items to be posted on the ASN web site must be approved by the Secretary who will forward items to the web site manager. The duties of the Electronic Communications Committee, which is chaired by the Secretary, are:

• • to maintain a computerized network among the membership and other interested parties - to alert members by e-mail of opportunities to testify to Congressional committees and staff on matters requiring their expertise or of concern and interest to the ASN membership (generally initiated by the chair of the Public Policy committee)
  • to alert members of events and opportunities relevant to the success of the scientific enterprise (generally initiated by the chair of the Public Policy committee)
  • to maintain the ASN pages on the Internet.
  • the web site includes:
• • Lists of officers, committee chairs and members with e-mail links
  • Standing rules and bylaws
  • Searchable membership directory
  • Membership application form
  • Information about the annual meeting
  • Award nomination forms
  • Abstract submission forms
  • Meeting registration forms
  • ASN newsletter
  • Links to University home pages and other Internet information of interest to members of the ASN, and of service to students and the public

Positions available, which is a service available to all neurochemical societies, The Worldwide Neurochemistry Placement Service

D. Inter-American Cooperation Committee

The Inter-American Cooperation Committee promotes the work and participation of ASN neurochemists from Latin and South America. The Committee receives no formal budget, but may request a specific budget from the ASN Treasurer, as approved by Council, and based on the moneys collected (via member donations) specifically for this purpose. Funds allocated to this committee should be used for the Basic Neurochemistry School.

E. Jordi Folch-Pi Memorial Award Selection Committee

The Jordi Folch-Pi Memorial Award Selection Committee receives applications for the award and selects an appropriate awardee annually. A call for nominations for the award will be listed in the Preliminary Program for the ASN Annual meeting by the chair of the committee. The committee chair ensures that the call for nominations will also be posted on the ASN web site and submitted to other neurochemistry-relevant web sites and publications. The committee will solicit nominations via e-mail from ASN members, past winners and past nominees.

The committee chair will collect the nominations, make sure the documentation is in order, and circulate the information to committee members for evaluation. The nomination materials to be submitted include:

To be eligible for this award, individuals must have received their Ph.D. within the past ten years and must reside within the Western Hemisphere; nominees need not be a member of the ASN, but they should be eligible for membership. The award is for foreign travel for the purpose of attending a scientific meeting (e.g., the ISN meeting).

The candidate will be selected at least one month before the meeting, and notified by the chair of the committee by phone; the President will notify the winner by mail. The chair should notify other nominees of the decision by mail. The chairperson should get an assurance that the candidate will be present at the meeting. Criteria used for selection of the awardee include demonstration of:

The award will be presented at a plenary session or at the annual banquet. The ASN President will introduce the awardee, and present him/her with a check and a plaque. The awardee should give a brief acceptance speech (five minutes). The award winner will be invited to become a member of the ASN (if not already a member), and will be invited to organize a symposium at the next annual meeting of the ASN. There should be communication between the chair of the Folch-Pi committee and the chair of the Program Committee to ensure that this happens.

The committee chair should submit relevant information about the winner of the award to the Secretary for inclusion in the ASN newsletter and on the ASN web site.

The committee will actively solicit donations to the Folch-Pi fund, and will provide records of their activities and information of interest to the Historian for inclusion in the ASN archives.

F. Marian W. Kies Award Selection Committee

The Marian W. Kies Award Selection Committee receives applications for the award and selects an appropriate awardee annually. A call for nominations for the award will be listed in the Preliminary Program for the ASN Annual meeting by the chair of the committee. The chair of the committee ensures that the call for nominations will also be posted on the ASN web site and submitted to other neurochemistry-relevant web sites and publications. The committee will solicit nominations via e-mail from ASN members, past winners and past nominees. The committee chair will collect the nominations, make sure the documentation is in order, and circulate the information to committee members for evaluation. The nomination materials to be submitted include:

To be eligible for this award, individuals must have received their Ph.D. within the past two years prior to the ASN annual meeting and must reside within the Western Hemisphere; nominees need not be a member of the ASN, but they should be eligible for membership.

The candidate will be selected at least one month before the meeting, and notified by the chair of the committee; the President will notify the winner by mail. The chair should notify other nominees of the decision by mail. The chairperson should get an assurance that the candidate will be present at the meeting. Criteria used for selection of the awardee include:

The award will be presented at a plenary session or at the annual banquet. The chair of the committee will encourage the winner's advisor to attend. The ASN President will introduce the awardee, and present him/her with a check and a plaque. The awardee will also receive a letter from the chair of the committee indicating that his/her registration fee for the following ASN meeting will be waived. The awardee may give a brief acceptance speech (five minutes). The award winner will be invited to become a member of the Society and will be invited to organize a colloquium at the next annual meeting of the ASN. The chair of the Kies committee will notify the chair of the Program committee to ensure that this happens.

The committee chair should submit relevant information about the winner of the award to the Secretary for inclusion in the ASN newsletter and on the ASN web site.

The committee will actively solicit donations to the Marian Kies Fund, and will provide records of activities and items of interest to the Historian for inclusion in the ASN archives.

G. Young Investigators Educational Enhancement Award Committee

The Young Investigators Educational Enhancement Award Committee, named previously the Travel for Young Investigators Committee, functions to secure and provide funds for young investigators to attend the annual meeting.

The Committee seeks to obtain funds to support the award by contacting individuals in the private sector on an annual basis. Funds received by members of the committee are forwarded to the chair, who in turn forwards the funds to the ASN Treasurer who sends letter of thanks to the donors. The chair will provide a list of donors to the chair of the Program Committee for inclusion in the abstract book. The Secretary of the ASN will send a copy of the abstract book to each donor with a cover letter listing the names, affiliations, and titles of presentations of the awardees.

The Committee determines who will receive awards and the amount of each award within guidelines established by the treasurer, who must approve all awards. The committee chair ensures that a call for nominations will be listed in the Preliminary Program for the ASN Annual meeting and that the call for nominations will also be posted on the ASN web site and submitted to other neurochemistry-relevant web sites and publications. The committee chair will collect the nominations, ensure the documentation is in order, and circulate the information to committee members for evaluation. The nomination materials to be submitted include:

The funds available for awards are determined annually by the Treasurer of the ASN. Individual awards are determined by the committee, based on the needs of the applicant. The list of awardees is forwarded from the committee chair to the Treasurer. Upon approval by the Treasurer, the committee chair will notify the applicants concerning the status of their request. The committee chair will also provide a list of awardees to the chair of the Program Committee for inclusion in the program. The Treasurer will distribute the checks at the annual meeting.

To be eligible for this award, individuals must be in their final year of graduate study, or have received their Ph.D. or M.D. within the past 6 years prior to the ASN annual meeting and must reside within the Western Hemisphere; nominees need not be a member of the ASN, but they should be eligible for membership. Applicants must be first (presenting) author of a submitted abstract, and priority will be given to those who have not received an award previously from the ASN. The number of applications from any one laboratory is limited to two.

The committee chair should provide information concerning winners of the awards and donors to the funds to the Historian on a yearly basis for inclusion in the ASN archives.

H. The Bernard Haber Award Selection Committee

The Bernard Haber Award Selection Committee receives applications for the award and selects an appropriate awardee biennually or as funds permit. A call for nominations for the award will be listed in the Preliminary Program for the ASN Annual meeting by the chair of the committee. The committee chair ensures that the call for nominations will also be posted on the ASN web site and submitted to other neurochemistry-relevant web sites and publications. The committee will solicit nominations via e-mail from ASN members, past winners and past nominees.

The committee chair will collect the nominations, make sure the documentation is in order, and circulate the information to committee members for evaluation. The nomination materials to be submitted include:

The award will be given to an ASN member of any category for their contributions in fostering the goals of the ASN and furthering interaction with other neurochemical or neuroscience societies.

The candidate will be selected at least one month before the meeting, and notified by the chair of the committee by phone; the President will send written notification to the winner. The chair should notify other nominees of the decision. The chairperson should get an assurance that the candidate will be present at the meeting.

The award will be presented at a plenary session or at the annual banquet. The ASN President will introduce the awardee, and present him/her with a check and a plaque. The awardee should give a brief acceptance speech (five minutes). The award winner will be invited to organize a symposium at the next annual meeting of the ASN. There should be communication between the chair of the Bernard Haber Award and the chair of the Program Committee to ensure that this happens.

The committee chair should submit relevant information about the winner of the award to the Secretary for inclusion in the ASN newsletter and on the ASN web site.

The committee will actively solicit donations to the Haber fund, and will provide records of their activities and information of interest to the Historian for inclusion in the ASN archives.

I. Finance Committee

The Finance Committee evaluates and provides advice on the financial activities of the society. In addition, the Committee actively recruits and maintains corporate sponsors. The committee is chaired by the Treasurer of the ASN, and consists of the President, the Past President, the President-Elect, the Past Treasurer, the Treasurer-Elect, the Secretary and the Secretary-Elect. This committee is charged with consulting a tax advisor regarding the non-profit status of ASN and ensuring compliance with Federal tax code. The committee is also charged with development of fiduciary and investment strategies for the future well-being of the ASN.

J. Standing Rules Committee

The Standing Rules Committee reviews the Standing Rules on an ongoing basis and identifies sections that require revision. In addition, any changes in procedures voted by the Council should be incorporated into the Standing Rules. The committee is chaired by the Parliamentarian and includes the secretary as a member. The Chair of the committee should insure that updates to the Standing Rules and Bylaws are provided to the ASN web master for inclusion on the web site. Officers, Council Members, and the Historian should be notified when revisions are posted.

K. Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee will consist of a chair and several members appointed by the president. At the direction of the Chair, the Nominating Committee will solicit at least six months prior to each second annual meeting, nominations for Officers and Council. Special skills, administrative backup, expertise and geography are to be considered in selection of nominees. At the same time the Secretary will prepare and distribute documents soliciting nominations for Officers and Council from the members. The nomination responses should be set up to allow confirmation of nominator eligibility (i.e. valid membership and within limit of nominations) as well as anonymous recording of the names nominated. Nominations must be received within 45 days of this mailing. Members may nominate no more than one candidate for each vacancy. Within 30 days of the close of the nominations, the nominating committee shall identify two candidates (from individuals receiving 6 or more nominations if more than two are nominated) and only two candidates for the office of president elect. If only one individual is nominated by members the committee will nominate a second person to run for that office. The Nominating Committee will construct a list of candidates, and communicate that list to the President and Secretary. The Chair of the Nominating Committee will inquire as to their willingness to serve. Nominees must accept their nomination in writing. Only ordinary members in good standing are eligible to hold office in the Society.

It has been customary for Secretary and Treasurer running for re-election to run unopposed and for the ballot to have two candidates for each of the other offices and eight candidates for the vacancies on Council.

The Nominating Committee will meet at the Annual Meeting to discuss the process for the election, and potential candidates for subsequent elections.

The President should appoint the Chair no later than the meeting preceding the year of elections. The previous Chair of the Nominating Committee should provide the new Chair with information and copies of relevant correspondence from the previous election process at or soon after the meeting preceding the year of elections. The new Chair should work closely with the Secretary, Parliamentarian and Business Manager at the beginning of the process to set the schedule and arrange for mailings in accordance with the by-laws, and communicate with them as well as the President throughout the process. The Nominating Committee will assist the President, as requested, in identifying candidates for appointment to ASN committees.

L. Journal Oversight and Publisher Liaison Committee

The Journal Oversight and Publisher Liaison Committee will be comprised of the Past-President (as chair), President, President-Elect and ASN NEURO Editor-in-chief, and ASN NEURO Deputy Editor-in-chief when someone holds that position. With this composition, the past-president would have up to 6 years’ experience on this committee. The mission of this committee is to serve as the liaison between the Society and the Journal. The committee is the authorized ASN agent that interacts with and has oversight of the ASN journal and editor in chief. The committee serves as the official liaison between ASN and the publisher. The committee must meet at least on an annual basis and must provide an annual report to Council. This committee is authorized to determine the procedures for selecting and appointing each editor-in-chief.

M. Enterprise Committee

The Enterprise Committee helps coordinate fundraising efforts by all ASN committees and meeting session chairs. It will explore new funding opportunities and it will assist in devising strategies to collect membership dues. The chair of the Enterprise Committee will be the Past Program chair. The committee may be composed of additional following members: Preset Program chair, Future Program chair, Present Local chair, Treasurer, Treasurer-elect and one Presidential appointee. The Presidential appointee will be determined President in by consultation with the current Treasurer and the Treasurer-Elect.

N. Young Latin American Scholars Committee (YLAS)

The Young Latin American Scholars (YLAS) Committee functions to provide scholarships for young neuroscientists from Latin American countries. These awards provide travel expenses to attend the Annual Meeting of the American Society for Neurochemistry. The award winner(s) will also visit, for a period not shorter than one additional week, an established neuroscience laboratory in North America.

Awards are restricted to graduate students, postdoctoral fellows, and faculty no more than 35 years of age at the time of application. Applicants must be first (presenting) author of a submitted abstract. Applicants may not have received a YLAS Award from ASN previously. No more than two applicants from any laboratory may apply.

The Committee determines who will receive awards. The committee chair ensures that a call for nominations will be posted on the ASN web site and submitted to other neurochemistry-relevant web sites and publications. The committee chair will collect the nominations, ensure the documentation is in order, and circulate the information to committee members for evaluation. The committee chair will also provide a list of awardees to the chair of the Program Committee for inclusion in the program.

The nomination materials to be submitted include:

The funds available for awards are determined annually by the Treasurer of the ASN.

O. Young Investigator Advisory Committee (YIEE)

The Young Investigator Advisory Committee will serve as representation for trainee-level members of the ASN (students and postdoctoral fellows) and provide guidance and feedback to council related to the views and concerns of young investigator members. The Young Investigator Advisory Committee will also facilitate personal and professional development opportunities for young investigator members, and it will contribute to the sustainability of the Society by fostering recruitment and preservation of young investigator membership. To this end, the Young Investigator Advisory Committee will manage social media presence in collaboration with the electronic communication committee and the secretary of the society. The Chair of the YIEE committee will be included as an ex-officio member.

P. Diversity and Inclusion Committee (DIC)

The Diversity and Inclusion Committee (DIC) was founded in 2021. It serves to promote diversity and inclusion in society membership, scientific programs, and various committees. DIC will work an advisory capacity to the council and all other committees.

DIC will work together with the Program committee on programs, speakers, and themes before conferences. It will coordinate with committees to identify opportunities to improve diversity and inclusion in the society’s awards. The DIC will oversee speakers and themes for Women in Neurochemistry program. DIC will work with upcoming meeting planners on both the scientific and networking aspects of meetings to promote diversity and provide an inclusive environment. They will provide to all ASN members, and keep current, a list of diversity and inclusion workshops, resources, and recommended readings as links on our ASN website. Finally, the DIC will suggest speakers on diversity and inclusion to speak during our council and  ASN meetings.

V. ORGANIZATION OF THE ANNUAL MEETING

The Annual Meeting of the ASN is the responsibility of Council or delegate (an external organizer), a Local Organizing Committee, and a Program Committee. The Local Organizing Committee or external organizer (if so delegated by Council) is responsible for all on-site organizational aspects of the meeting; the Program Committee is responsible for all aspects of the scientific program of the meeting. In the event that Council contracts with an external organizer, a local organizing committee is not required. It is expected that the Program committee and the parties responsible for on-site organization (the local host committee and/or the external organizer) will work together very closely.

A. Invitations to Host the Meeting

Early in November, three years prior to the meeting date, the Secretary will solicit invitations for the meeting from the membership. The individual who extends the invitation for the meeting to be held in his/her city will normally serve as the Chair of the Local Organizing Committee. An invitation to host the annual ASN meeting should be based on a cost-effective site, with reasonably priced, easily available air transportation and a cooperative hotel. Invitations must contain the following information:

Submitted invitations will be discussed by Council, and decisions will be presented to the membership at the business meeting. The final decision concerning the meeting date and place will be made by Council.

B. Appointment and Responsibilities of the Meeting Management

In the event that a local organizing committee is used for meeting management, the individual who extends the invitation for the meeting to be held in his/her city will normally serve as the Chair of the Local Organizing Committee. The Chairperson of the Local Organizing Committee will select others from the local site to serve on the committee in consultation with previous Local Organizing Committee Chairs, the President, and the President-Elect. The Chair and all members of the committee must be approved by the Council. The Local Organizing Committee (in conjunction with an external organizer, if applicable) has the responsibility for all on-site organizational aspects of the meeting. Any contracts made with external organizers, hotels or any other entity can be signed only by the President. The local organizing committee has no authority to obligate the ASN contractually.

There are two options for the management of the meeting.

1) The ASN Office functions as the meeting organizer for an appropriate fee, negotiated with the President, in a contract signed by the President.

2) The local host committee may choose to use a local organization and staff (e.g. a University Continuing Education Unit), with fiscal oversight and management by the ASN Office.

Any contracts must be signed by the President. The choice will vary with the location chosen and the preferences of the local host committee and the President. Final decisions will be made by the President, with consideration of cost and efficiency.

The organizational aspects of the meeting include:

C. Appointment and Responsibilities of the Program Committee

Following selection of the meeting site, the President will appoint a Program Chair. The Program and Local Organizing Committees must work very closely and cooperate in all aspects, especially in matters concerning the budget. It is important that the two chairs have a good working relationship.

The President, in consultation with the Program Committee Chair, will appoint members of the Program Committee. The chair of the committee should be a member of past program committee to provide continuity and experience. Members of past program committees should serve as some of the members of the current committee to provide continuity. The program committee should meet to formulate general policy the year before the meeting they program. This general policy includes the creation of a balanced program with a broad representation of topics.

The Program Committee, in consultation with the Local Organizing Committee (and external organizer, if applicable), is responsible for the conduct of the scientific portion of the annual meeting. Any contracts made with external organizers, hotels or any other entity can be signed only by the President. The program committee has no authority to obligate the ASN contractually.

These scientific portion of the meeting includes:

D. ASN Abstracts

The ASN Abstract Volume must include the title, TRANSACTIONS OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY FOR NEUROCHEMISTRY, and will be published in an easily accessible form (paper, CD, DVD, or other portable digital storage device). The Abstract Volume will be generated under the direction of the Program Committee and the Officers, and it will be archived in perpetuity. The Abstract Volume will be distributed to all meeting registrants, as well as mailed by the ASN office to all society members in good standing who request a copy.

E. Financial Aspects of the Meeting

The Local Organizing and Program Committees should consult with the Treasurer regarding their budget for the annual meeting. Although the ASN subsidizes part of the meeting, it does not have sufficient funds to cover all meeting expenses. Thus, it is up to the Local Organizing and Program Committee, as well as symposia, colloquia and workshop chairs to actively seek funding for their activities.

When possible, the ASN will provide financial support for scientific sessions (symposia, colloquia, workshops) commensurate with the financial state of the society. The precise amounts will be determined following discussion held between the President, the Treasurer, and the Meeting Organizer. Funding allocation will take into account previous funding levels, expected attendance, and funds raised by the individual sessions. Those amounts will be presented to council for approval at least 1 month before the first call for session proposals is sent out.

When possible, the ASN will provide two registration waivers per session that can be used at the session chair's discretion for ASN members or non-members.

These allocations are to serve as guidelines for support available to organizers in real need, and are not to be interpreted as a blanket allocation to each organizer.

In addition the ASN will provide moneys for:

The Local Organizing Chair and the Program Chair should work together to develop an appropriate budget for the meeting that covers all expenses not listed above. The budget should include all costs associated with:

The registration fee for the meeting should be determined based on costs associated with the conduct of the program. The budget should be planned to break even with 500 registrants (note: approximately 30% of the attendance will be non-ASN members). Non-ASN members should be charged 1.3 times more than ASN members, and accompanying persons should be charged a registration fee adequate to cover the cost of the banquet and other social activities. Late registration (which should cost more than cancellation) in all categories can be appropriately increased. There should be a clearly stated cancellation policy. Student registration should reflect actual costs not to exceed 40% of member registration. Emeritus members are charged the student fee. Members of ASN sister societies (i.e. International Society for Neurochemistry, European Society for Neurochemistry, Japanese Society for Neurochemistry) may register at member rates The registration fee shall be set jointly by the Local Organizing Committee and Program Committee in consultation with the Officers of the Society.

The ASN office will handle all financial aspects of the meeting. No person is permitted to spend or commit the Society to spend any funds unless approved in writing by the Treasurer. Any donations or fees raised by the Local Organizing Committee, the Program Committee or organizers of symposia, colloquia and workshops must be in the form of a check made payable to the American Society for Neurochemistry. All expenses incurred for the meeting must be documented with receipts. After the meeting, but no later than August 31 following the meeting, the ASN Treasurer will prepare an accounting of the meeting income and expenses. Any surplus will be transferred to the General Fund.

F. Using an External Organizer

The Local Organizing Committee cannot sign any contract with an external organizer. Contracts can be signed only by the President. The assistance of a professional organizer can be very beneficial. Even with professional assistance, considerable input from the Local Organizing and Program Committees is necessary for a successful meeting. A professional organizer can be of major assistance with: