Dear IUSSI-Members,
During the Congress this July, the North American Section will hold a special business meeting (12:15 – 1:15, July 4th, room TBD). The purpose of the meeting is to vote on a proposed amendment to our constitution, discuss two new NAS student awards that are being drafted for November, and to recognize the many NAS members who contributed to the international congress! The meeting will be brief and it will likely include refreshments.
Regarding the proposed constitutional amendment: An ad hoc committee consisting of 18 IUSSI-NAS members, led by Chelsea Cook, has developed a new DEIJ amendment based on previous discussions and a member-survey shared over a year ago. The amendment has been discussed, reviewed, and a majority of these participants and the Executive Committee have approved it. We hope that the rest of the constituency feels it is suitable to vote on after much hard work. Please read the attached amendment in preparation for the business meeting. Direct any questions about the DEIJ amendment to Chelsea Cook, cook.chelsean@gmail.com.
Proposed amendment:
The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Justice (DEIJ) Committee exists to support diversity and inclusion within IUSSI NAS and within the scientific field and will develop a strategic plan to create a more inclusive society. The DEIJ Committee shall be responsible for identifying and ranking DEIJ goals as solicited from IUSSI NAS members at most once per calendar year and submitting the list to the Executive Committee for approval. After approval, IUSSI members vote on initiatives at a business meeting. The DEIJ then recruits volunteers for an ad hoc committee to address the initiative(s) the members voted on. After the initiative(s) has/have been enacted, a report and assessment will be prepared by the DEIJ committee for distribution to the society. The DEIJ Committee shall consist of three members serving staggered terms of three years, with a new member elected each year. The longest-serving member shall serve as chair of the committee during the third year of their term.
Our constitution: https://iussi.cyberbee.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/NAS-IUSSI_Constitution_Jan2021.pdf
All the best,
Christina Kwapich
President, IUSSI-NAS