SOT Council undertakes a yearly review of the Constitution and Bylaws to ensure that they continue to evolve to meet the Society’s current needs.
As the science of toxicology continues to grow and attract a wide array of scientists from various disciplines, this proposed set of revisions aim to:
- Provide a new membership structure for Full and Associate members with the overall goal to enhance the inclusivity of membership in the Society while maintaining the Society’s high standards for membership
- Expand voting privileges to Associate members
- Increase participation at the Annual Business Meeting by meeting virtually
- Clarify ballot distribution timing and processes
Proposed revisions to the Constitution and Bylaws are summarized here, and a detailed, track-changes version of the proposed changes is available online.
Comments are welcome! Please leave us your reactions and comments through this online form by February 4.
I: Modified Membership Structure
In order to offer an efficient and inclusive membership process to qualified professionals engaged with the science of toxicology, prospective members would apply to become Associate members. After acceptance and continuation of their Associate member status for three years, the individual would automatically become a Full member after that three-year period.
This change is intended to make membership in the Society more accessible to qualified individuals from all scientific backgrounds and career stages—as the science of toxicology has grown in recent years to include a wide-range of scientific disciplines—while still maintaining the high standards expected of prospective members.
Proposed changes do not affect prospective or current Student, Postdoctoral, Retired, and Emeritus members; these specific membership privileges remain unchanged.
Only Full members will be eligible for elected Officer positions or positions on elected Committees (i.e., Awards, Nominating, and Membership Committees). Only Full members will be eligible to sponsor applicants for Associate membership. Associate members will be eligible for appointed committees and other service.
II: Expansion of Voting Privileges
To enhance the engagement of members in the Society, the ability to vote on Society matters will be granted to Associate members.
III: Accessible Annual Business Meeting
Modern technology allows the Society to hold a virtual Business Meeting, providing a means to expand member participation in this essential function.
IV: Ballot Distribution
To encourage greater participation in officer elections, the delivery date of the officer election ballot will move from December 31 to the first week of January. This change will not affect the timeline for announcing the election results or the start of the new leadership year.
The distribution and process to cast votes is modified to reflect modern technology available to the membership.
#Communique:SOTNews