Constitution

CONSTITUTION OF THE GEOGRAPHIC INFORMATION SCIENCE AND SYSTEMS SPECIALTY GROUP OF THE ASSOCIATION OF AMERICAN GEOGRAPHERS

Approved at 05/24/2023 by the AAG GISS-SG Board of Directors.

Article I. Name:

The name of the association shall be the Geographic Information Science and Systems Specialty Group of the Association of American Geographers (GISS-SG/AAG).

Article II. Purpose:

  1. To promote the exchange of ideas and information relating to Geographic Information Science and Systems
  2. To promote Geographic Information Science and Systems research.
  3. To improve the understanding of the proper application of Geographic Information Science and Systems
  4. To develop materials and promote activities needed to improve the teaching of Geographic Information Science and Systems
  5. To promote and coordinate activities and directions with other professional organizations involved with GIS.
  6. To pursue charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

Article III. Membership:

  1. Any member of the Association of American Geographers, AAG, may elect membership in the GISS-SG group.
  2. Any member of GISS-SG may hold office in GISS-SG if duly elected or appointed.
  3. The AAG Central Office will certify membership in GISS-SG each year after payment of AAG dues.

Article IV. Officers:

  1. The GISS-SG will be governed by an elected board of directors consisting of the following eight voting members all of whom must be members of GISS-SG: a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, past chair- person, communications director, academic director, commercial director, government director, and a student director.
  2. The Board of Directors will meet at least once each year. A quorum of four is necessary to conduct GISS-SG business.
  3. The chairperson will serve for a two-year term (one year as the Chair and the following year as the Emeritus Chair).
    1. The chairperson will be the chief executive officer of the GISS-SG.
    2. The chairperson will preside over all meetings of the Board of Directors.
    3. Together with the vice chairperson, the chairperson is responsible for planning annual events, awards, budgets, and reports.
    4. The chairperson shall ensure that an adequate number of sessions of interest to GISS-SG members are scheduled at each meeting of AAG.
    5. If needed, the chairperson may establish ad hoc committees to address specific short- term needs of GISS-SG.
    6. The chairperson will serve as emeritus chair for one year following the conclusion of their term and advise incoming chair in their first year of duties.
  4. The vice chairperson will be elected for a two-year term (one year as the Vice-Chair and the following year as the Chair).
    1. After the second year the vice chairperson shall become and assume the duties of the chairperson.
    2. The vice chairperson shall assume all the duties and responsibilities of the chairperson in the absence of the chairperson.
    3. Together with the chairperson, the vice chairperson is responsible for planning annual events, awards, budgets, and reports.
    4. The vice chairperson shall request latest GISS-SG financial data from the AAG Central Office and shall prepare an annual report of those data to the Board of Directors.
    5. The vice chairperson will make all required information reports of GISS-SG activities to the AAG Council and Central Office.
  5. The communications director will be elected for a one-year term.
    1. The director will oversee the website, list, and AAG community portal.
    2. The communications director will record minutes of each meeting of the Board of Directors and transmit such minutes to the members of the Board of Directors and to the AAG Central Office within 60 days of such meeting.
  6. The academic director will be elected for a one-year term.
    1. The academic director position will be open only to persons employed by an institution of higher education.
    2. The academic director organizes the annual student paper competition at the annual meeting.
  7. The commercial director will be elected for a one-year term.
    1. The commercial director position will be open only to persons employed in the private sector.
    2. The commercial director will promote relationships and information exchange with businesses and firms.
    3. Related to the AAG Annual meeting, the commercial director will seek sponsorship for AAG Tobler Lecture honorarium and Reception and manage invoices/reimbursement from those supporters each year.
  8. The government director will be elected for a one-year term.
    1. The government director position will be open only to persons employed by a governmental organization.
    2. The government director will promote relationships and information exchange with governmental agencies
  9. The student director on the Board of Directors will be elected for a one-year term.
    1. The student director will fully participate and advise on GISS SG activities.
  10. The Board of Directors for cause or emergency in the best interests of GISS-SG may meet and declare any position on the Board of Directors vacant by a vote of at least five of its members. If a vacancy on the Board of Directors occurs the following procedures apply:
    1. Office of chairperson vacant: the vice chairperson shall assume duties of the chairperson and serve the remainder of the current term plus the second year of his or her elected term as chairperson.
    2. Office of the vice chairperson vacant: any member of the Board of Directors, except the chairperson, may be appointed by the Board of Directors to serve in the capacity of vice chairperson until the next regularly scheduled election.
    3. Office of communications director: the Board of Directors by approval of a majority may appoint any GISS-SG member to fill the unexpired term created by the vacancy.
    4. Office of Academic/Private/Government vacant: The Board of Directors by approval of a majority may appoint any GISS-SG member to fill the unexpired term created by the vacancy.
    5. Office of student director vacant: The Board of Directors by approval of a majority may appoint any GISS-SG student member to fill the unexpired term created by the vacancy.

Article V. Awards

  1. Waldo Tobler Distinguished Lecturer
    1. Nominations for this award will be put forward by members of the board.
    2. The Board of Directors approve the final candidate by a 60% positive vote.
    3. Awards committee shall be empowered to recommend to the AAG Honors Committee names of GISS-SG members for consideration.
    4. The Awards committee shall be empowered to select the recipients of any awards or prizes established and/or handled by the GISS-SG.
  2. Student Paper Competition
    1. The Board of Directors will post a call for papers each year by September 30th.
    2. Submissions will be screened by the Academic Director and the best papers are forwarded to the Board of Directors for review. Invitations to present at the student paper competition are forwarded to the 5 best papers.
    3. The winning paper will be decided upon by board members present at the student paper competition itself. The winner is announced at the end of the competition.

Article VI: Officer Nominations and Elections

  1. The chairperson office is not elected and is filled by the incoming vice chairperson following the end of the chairperson’s tenure. All other offices are filled by election or appointment by the chair.
  2. Nominations to fill the vacating offices must be solicited from the entire membership.
  3. Elections will take place by online voting prior to the annual meeting.
  4. Election results will be announced after the voting.
  5. In the June-August following the AAG Annual meeting, the incoming and outgoing officers will hold a meeting to transfer the roles and responsibilities to new officers.

Article VII: Dues and Fees:

  1. The GISS-SG Board of Directors may assess annual dues from its membership. Such dues must be approved by the AAG Council and by a majority of the GISS-SG membership
    1. The GISS-SG Board of Directors shall manage all dues collected.
    2. Annual reports of income and expenditures collected from the AAG Central Office shall be made by the vice chairperson to the Board of Directors.
  2. Insurement of Income. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, trustees, officers or other private persons except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered.

Article VIII: Meetings

  1. This GISS-SG will hold an annual business meeting in conjunction with the AAG annual meeting.
  2. The annual business meeting will be open to all members of GISS-SG.
  3. The Board of Directors will hold at least one Board meeting annually.
  4. An annual report of the GISS-SG activities and finances will be submitted by July 1st each year to the AAG Central Office.

Article IX: Amendments

Changes to this constitution must be approved by at least 5 votes of the Board of Directors and ratified by a letter ballot of the GISS-SG membership. Approval by 60% of those GISS-SG members voting shall be required.

Article X: By-laws

By-laws essential to the conduct of the affairs of the GISS-SG may be enacted by the Board of Directors. Approval of a By-law requires at least 5 positive votes of the Board of Directors. Such By-laws will be in effect until the next general membership meeting of GISS-SG at which time approval must be obtained from a majority of the GISS-SG members in attendance.

Article XI: Operation Date

GISS-SG will operate fiscally on a calendar year basis.

Article XII: Legislative or Political Activities:

No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation and the organization shall not participate in or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.

Article XIII: Operational Limitations:

Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on

  1. by an organization exempt from Federal Income Tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or
  2. by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Revenue Law).

Article XIV: Dissolution Clause

Upon the dissolution of the organization, the Board of Trustees shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all of the liabilities of the organization, dispose of all the assets of the organization exclusively for the purpose of the organization in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law), as the Board of Trustees shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Please in the county in which the principal office of the organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

Article XIV: GISS-SG Materials

The GISS-SG will utilize the GISS-SG website at http://aag-giss.org/ to archive materials and communicate with members.