BYLAWS OF THE
SECTION ON ENVIRONMENT
AMERICAN PUBLIC HEALTH ASSOCIATION

Adopted by the Section on October 18, 1978
(Revision history; 1992; April 6, 2005.)

Background: The Engineering Section was established in 1911 as the fourth Section of the American Public Health Association.

The Section name was changed to Engineering and Sanitation Section in 1955 and to the Section on Environment in 1970.

I. OBJECTIVES

A. To create a formal organized unit within the structure of APHA for the environmental disciplines where the role and interrelationships of the environment with the public health and welfare can be effectively represented.

B. To provide a forum for coordinating the interests and activities of the environmental field with the other disciplines of public health represented in APHA.

C. To provide the APHA with the expertise necessary in formulating public health policy and action affecting environmental health and safety.

D. To provide the environmental leadership, expertise, and technical information to aid APHA in influencing national health policy and in related legislative action, research, and program formulation and implementation.

E. To identify ways and means of joining with other areas of public health concerns to improve personal and environmental health in the nation.

F. To bring together persons involved in the many disciplines which make up the wide areas of environmental concern in a harmonious setting of other public health related disciplines, to promote better communications, disseminate information, and to seek unity of efforts.

G. To stimulate discussion, research, and actions to identify problems, solutions, techniques, methods, and programs to improve the relationship of persons within their environments.

H. To educate Section members, APHA members, and the public in matters concerning environmental health.

II. ORGANIZATION

A. Members.

1. Primary members shall consist of current APHA members in good standing who have selected the Section on Environment as their primary section and have agreed to promote the goals, bylaws, and the good of the Section.

2. Secondary members shall consist of current APHA members in good standing who have selected the Section on Environment as a secondary affiliation and have agreed to promote the goals, bylaws, and the good of the Section.

B. Officers.

The officers of the Section shall consist of the Chairperson, Chairperson-elect, the immediate past Chairperson, Secretary, and Secretary-elect, Treasurer/Fundraiser and Treasurer/Fundraiser-elect.

C. Section Council.

1. The Section Council shall consist of the officers of the Section, six elective council members, and ex officio members consisting of: Section representatives to the Governing Council, any primary Section members serving on the Association's Executive Board, Action Board, and Program Development Board.

2. The Section Council shall act as the governing body of the Section.¯ It shall conduct business, formulate policy, rules and procedures, and make recommendations and take actions for and in behalf of the Section.

3. The Section Council shall assist the Committee Chairpersons in appointing the members for specific terms to all standing and ad Hoc committees and/or organizations, except as otherwise provided herein.¯ Except as otherwise provided, the Section Council shall assist the Chairperson of the Section in designating the Chairpersons of all standing and ad Hoc committees of the Section.

4. The Section Council shall meet at the Annual Meeting to effectively conduct the Section's business and at such other times as appropriate and required.

5. It shall oversee actions of the various committees, representatives, and subparts of the Section and obtain and submit reports, positions, resolutions, and other necessary documents.

D. Section Executive Committee

1. The Executive Committee of the Section shall consist of the officers.

2. The Executive Committee shall act in behalf of the Section Council under the direction of the Council to facilitate actions and business of the Section where it is impossible or impractical to convene the entire Council.

E. Committees and Representatives

1. Committees and Representatives shall be appointed to represent and serve the best interests of the Section and all such committees and representatives shall be subject to the bylaws, policies, goals, and interests set forth by the Section.

2. Committees

a. Committees, both standing and ad Hoc, shall be established and dissolved by the Section Council to serve the best interests of the Section.

b. The in-coming Section Chairperson shall select the Committee Chairperson(s) by the end of the Annual Meeting to serve during that Section Chairperson's forthcoming term unless otherwise set forth in these bylaws. The Section council shall assist the Committee Chairperson in identifying committee members.

c. The Committee Chairpersons are responsible for establishing committee goals and objectives within sixty (60) days of the Annual Meeting, and reporting such goals and objectives to the Section Chairperson.

d. The Committee Chairpersons are responsible for establishing the size of their committees and appointing the members, unless otherwise established in these bylaws or set forth by the Section Council. The Section Chairperson and Council may assist the Committee Chairperson in identifying committee members.

e. Unless otherwise expressly allowed or directed by the Section Council, committee members shall be members of the Section and shall fully represent the best interests of the Section in the committee deliberations.

f. The following standing committees, among others, may be established within the Section:

(1) Membership Committee - The Chairperson of this committee shall be the individual appointed by the Executive Board to represent the Section on the Association's Membership Committee. The term of office shall be three years to coincide with the person's term on the Association's Membership Committee.
(2) Program Committee - Shall plan and arrange for Section-related program activities at the Annual Association Meeting and other Section-sponsored meetings as necessary. The Senior Program Planner shall be the Chairperson of this committee, and the Junior Program Planer will also sit on this committee.
(3) Communications Committee - Shall be responsible for publishing the Section Newsletters throughout the year as directed by the Section Council. Shall be responsible for monitoring and updating contents of the Section website. Shall be responsible for diligently seeking out appropriate articles and news items of interest and benefit to the Section and submitting them or encouraging their submission to the Association publications editors. The Secretary shall at least be a member of the Communications Committee.
(4) Policy Committee - Shall be responsible for determining, seeking out, and formulating resolutions and policy statements on Section-related subjects which are timely and vital to the overall interests of the Section and the Association. It shall submit them into the Association process for adoption. The committee shall obtain input from other Section committees and coordinate its action with other APHA Sections where mutual interests prevail and for broad-based support.
(5) Nominations Committee - Shall seek out the best qualified candidates for Section and Association awards and present the same into the nomination process for such awards.
(6) Awards Committee - Shall seek out qualified candidates for Section and Association awards and present the same into the nomination process for such awards.
(7) Student Involvement Committee – Shall seek to involve students in Section activities.
(8) Other Standing Committees - The Section Council may establish Standing Committees which may be responsible for Section activities. The Secretary is responsible for keeping a current list of the Section’s other standing committees and for notifying the Section membership about these committees.

The membership of these committees shall be appointed for specific terms and the membership shall be determined by the Committee Chairperson with the assistance of the Section Council. Further, immediately following the Annual Meeting of the Association, the Section Council shall provide the Chairperson of each Standing Committee with a written set of charges or instructions which shall be used to guide the Committee in its activities during the ensuing year.

g. The Section Council is authorized and directed to establish, as necessary, ad Hoc committees to deal with specific subjects or specific problems. Such ad Hoc committees will be established for a specific purpose and for a specific period of time. Whenever the Section Council establishes an ad Hoc committee, the Section Council shall provide the Chairperson with a written set of charges or instructions delineating the activity of the ad Hoc committee.

h. Committees shall be under the overall direction of the Section Council and may not present views, make commitments, conduct activities, or represent positions which are contrary to the wishes and express approval of the Section Council.

i. Committees shall not incur expenses in behalf of the Section or APHA unless they have received written approval from the Section Council or APHA to do so.

3.Representatives

a. Persons representing the Section shall act in the best interests of the Section and in accordance with its bylaws, policies and positions.

b. Governing Council

(1) Persons elected to the Governing Council by the Section membership shall also be ex officio members of the Section Council.
(2) Governing Council representatives shall maintain close liaison with the Section Council and shall promote its positions on the Governing Council.

c. Joint Committees, Task Forces, Board, etc.

(1) Persons elected, appointed, or nominated to serve on Joint Committees, Task Forces, Boards, Councils, etc., by the Section or its officers shall agree to present views, make commitments, conduct activities, and represent positions which are in accord with the policies and approvals of the Section Council.
(2) They shall agree to actively participate in the deliberations of such organizations and to keep the Section Council informed by timely reports.
(3) They may not incur expenses in behalf of the Section or APHA unless they have received written approval from the Section Council or APHA to do so.

F. Duties

1. Chairperson

a. Provides leadership for Section activities.

b. Presides at meetings of the Section and Section Council.

c. With advice of Section Council, appoints Committee Chairpersons and helps develop committees and their charges.

d. With advice of Section Council, develops Section reports, budgets, and Section plans.

e. Approves expenditures from the budget.

f. Makes appointments and acts in behalf of the Section Council and Section Executive Board in between meetings of these governing structures.

g. Serves as ex officio member of all committees of the Section.

h. Serves as ex officio member of the Governing Council.

i. Must have been a primary member of the Section for at least four consecutive years immediately prior to taking office.

j. Must agree to actively serve the best interests of the Section and abide by its bylaws, policies, and positions.

2. Chairperson-elect.

a. Must have been a primary member of the Section for at least three consecutive years immediately prior to taking office.

b. Acts in behalf of the Chairperson in the Chairperson's absence.

c. Assists the Chairperson in providing leadership for Section activities.

d. Serves on the Section Council and Executive Committee.

e. Acts as Chairperson of the Section's Program Committee.

f. Must actively serve the best interests of the Section and abide by its bylaws, policies and positions.

3. Secretary

a. Must have been a primary member of the Section for at least two consecutive years immediately prior to taking office.

b. Must actively serve the best interests of the Section and abide by its bylaws, policies, and positions.

c. Serves on the Section Council and Executive Committee.

d. Keeps minutes of all business meetings, Section leadership calls, maintains records of the Section, and oversees updating of the Section website.

e. Submits necessary reports and records.

f. Serves as a member of the Communications Committee and edits the Section's Newsletters as determined by the Section Council.

g. Serves as an Annual Meeting abstract reviewer and session moderator as needed.
h. Provides guidance and instruction to the Secretary-elect to fully prepare that person for the work of the Secretary.

4. Secretary-elect

a. Must have been a primary member of the Section for at least one year immediately prior to taking office.

b. Must actively serve the best interests of the Section and abide by its bylaws, policies, and positions.

c. Serves on the Section Council and the Executive Committee.

d. Prepares for assuming duties of the Secretary.

e. Assists the Secretary with duties of the Secretary.

f. Assumes the duties of the Secretary in the Secretary's absence.

5. Treasurer/Fundraiser

a. Must have been a primary member of the Section for at least two consecutive years immediately prior to taking office.

b. Must actively serve the best interests of the Section and abide by its bylaws, policies, and positions.

c. Serves on the Section Council and Executive Committee.

d. Works closely with the Section Chair to prepare the budget, monitor expenditures on an ongoing basis, and prepare regular reports as to the status of Section funds.

e. Interacts with APHA staff to facilitate the solicitation of information regarding section financial matters.

f. Advises the Section on the availability of outside or additional APHA funds for activities (e.g., CE courses, social events), and on the mechanisms to obtain them.

g. Provides guidance and instruction to the Treasurer/Fundraiser-elect to fully prepare that person for the work of the Treasurer/Fundraiser.

6. Treasurer/Fundraiser-elect

a. Must have been a primary member of the Section for at least one year immediately prior to taking office.

b. Must actively serve the best interests of the Section and abide by its bylaws, policies, and positions.

c. Serves on the Section Council and the Executive Committee.

d. Prepares for assuming duties of the Treasurer/Fundraiser.

e. Assists the Treasurer/Fundraiser with duties of the Treasurer/Fundraiser.

f. Assumes the duties of the Treasurer/Fundraiser in the Treasurer/Fundraiser's absence.

 

7. Committee Chairpersons and Section Representatives

a. Must be a primary member of the Section at the time of appointment or election.

b. Must actively serve the best interests of the Section and abide by its bylaws, policies, and positions.

c. Must pursue charges set forth by the Section Council and Section Chairperson.

d. Develops the committee membership necessary to carry out charges and duties.

e. Submits progress reports at midyear and prior to the Annual Meeting and as often as necessary.

f. Develops resolutions and submits items for Section Newsletter, APHA publications as appropriate and requested by the Section Chairperson.

g. Maintains close liaison with Section Chairperson, Secretary, and Section Council on activities and progress.

III. ELECTION AND TERMS OF OFFICERS AND COUNCILORS

A. The Nominating Committee shall submit nominations for Section Officers, Section Council members, and Governing Council members to the Section membership prior to the Annual Meeting and in accordance with the Association's nominating procedures

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B. The Nominating Committee shall add to the list of their nominees any additional nominations which carry the signatures of at least twenty-five (25) primary members of the Section if such nominations are submitted according to the bylaws of the Section.

C. Voting shall be by mail ballot sent not less than thirty (30) days before the Annual Meeting to all primary Section members.

D. Election shall be by a majority of the primary members, voting in the mail ballot. Votes are tabulated at APHA headquarters, certified by the Section Chairperson and Nominating Committee Chairperson. Each candidate is notified of the election's outcome.

E. If a vacancy occurs more than ninety (90) days prior to the opening date of the Annual Meeting among officers of the Section Council, the Chairperson with concurrence of Executive Committee shall designate a new member to serve until the next meeting of the Section, at which time the vacancy will be filled by election as specified in the APHA constitution. Vacancies occurring within ninety (90) days prior to the Annual Meeting shall be filled by election by a majority of those primary members present and voting at a regularly called business meeting of the Section at the Annual Meeting. Persons appointed or elected to fill vacancies of unexpired terms shall serve out the remainder of the unexpired term.

F. Terms of office shall be:

1. Chairperson - two years.

2. Chairperson-elect - one year, coinciding with the final year of the Chairperson's term.

3. Secretary - three years.

4. Secretary-elect - one year, coinciding with the final year of the Secretary's term.

5. Treasurer/Fundraiser - three years.

6. Treasurer/Fundraiser-elect - one year, coinciding with the final year of the Treasurer/Fundraiser's term.

7. Section Council person - three years. Terms of Section Councilors are staggered equally over the three-year period.

8. Governing Council - two years. Terms of governing councilors are staggered equally over the three-year period.

9. Other Boards, Councils, Commissions, etc. of APHA - as specified in the APHA Constitution or set by the Association officers.

10. New terms begin and old terms end at the end of the Annual Meeting.

11. After one term in any elective Section office, such person is ineligible for re-election to the office during the following Association year unless the Section Council declares that extenuating circumstances exist which warrant a variance of this limitation.

12. The immediate past Chairperson shall serve on the Section Council until the current Chairperson is succeeded.

13. The Governing Councilors and those Action Board, Program Development Board, and Executive Board members who are primary members of the Section serve as ex officio members of the Section Council concurrently with their terms in those Association offices.

14. No person may be nominated for any Section position or as a Section representative to any APHA position unless that person has agreed to represent the Section's interests and attend and actively participate in the meetings, functions, and activities of the office or position for which they will become a candidate.

15. Persons elected by the Section to represent them may be removed for just cause. The Governing Council shall notify the voting membership by mail of the circumstances including the incumbent's views and include a ballot to obtain their vote on the action. A simple majority of the responding mail ballots shall determine the action. Vacancies created by such action shall be filled through the procedure set forth in Section III, E.

IV. BUDGET

A. The annual budget is prepared by the Chairperson and the Treasurer/Fundraiser and submitted to the Section Council for approval before being sent to the Association's Executive Board.

B. The Chairperson has the authority to approve expenditures during the Association year in compliance with the approved budget and according to Association and Section policies. Requests for variation from the approved budget must be approved by the Section Council and the Association.

V. MEETINGS

A. The Annual Business Meeting of the Section shall take place at the Association's Annual Meeting and by no later than Wednesday of that meeting.

B. Section Council and Executive Committee meetings shall be held during the Association's Annual Meeting and as necessary during the Association year, at the call of the Chairperson.

C. At least two Section Council meetings shall be held by the existing Council and at least one by the new Council at the Association's Annual Meeting.

D. Robert's Rules of Order shall prevail unless otherwise set forth in these bylaws.

E. Section Council and Executive Committee business, unless otherwise stated in these bylaws, shall be determined by a majority vote of the members present and voting.

F. Quorum - A necessary quorum to conduct business of the Section shall be five voting members for the Section Council and three voting members for the Executive Committee.

VI. AMENDMENTS & SEPARABILITY

A. Amendments or changes to these bylaws may not be made unless approved by a two-thirds majority of the members returning their votes in a ballot mailed to all voting members of the Section.

B. All provisions of these bylaws are subject and subservient to the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association. If any provision of these bylaws is less stringent or in prohibited conflict with the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association, such provision shall be superseded by the Association provisions until they are changed to eliminate the conflict.

C. The provisions of these bylaws are declared separable and if any provision is declared to be illegal or in conflict, the rest of the bylaws shall remain in effect.