Date: February 16, 2016
To: Members of the Society for Prevention Research
From: SPR Board of Directors
Action: The SPR Board of Directors puts forth proposed amendments to the Bylaws. The Board approved proposing these amendments during its October 9 and December 14, 2015 board meetings. The Bylaws may be amended by a two thirds vote of the eligible voters who cast votes in an electronic ballot.
Ballot: Please go to https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/SPRbylaws to cast your Bylaw amendments vote.
Ballot Materials: Please click here to read the proposed revised Bylaws (changes highlighted in red).
Voting Deadline: Thursday, March 17, 2016
A summary of the proposed amendments and the reason for the proposals are as follows.
Article V. Board of Directors, Section 2.
This section indicates the number of officers and members of the Board. Currently there are (17) board members: (4) officers: president, president-elect/past president, secretary and treasurer and (13) directors one of whom is the chair of the DNC and one of whom is the chair of the ECPN who are ex-officio voting members of the Board.
The proposed revisions are recommended to increase the flexibility in the number of board members and to enable the Board to appoint (2) board members to ensure diversity and inclusivity e.g. substantive prevention science content, gender, culture and ethnicity, etc.
Current Article V. Board of Directors, Section 2.
The Board of Directors shall consist of (a) the officers of the Society, and (b) twelve members of the Society who will be elected for three year terms and (c) the ECPN Chair and the Diversity Network Committee Chair who are ex-officio voting members of the Board.
Proposed Revision Article V. Board of Directors, Section 2. (see page 3 of the proposed bylaw revisions document.)
The Board of Directors shall consist of (a) the officers of the Society, (b) twelve to fourteen members of the Society who will be elected for three year terms and (c) the ECPN Chair and the Diversity Network Committee Chair who are ex-officio voting members of the Board. The Board of Directors shall determine in the fall of each year the number of members to be elected in the spring of the following year. In addition to those Board members elected each year the Board by majority vote may elect for a three year term up to two additional board members who may be beneficial to meet the Society’s goals.
Transition year: If the proposed revisions to Article V. Board of Directors, Section 2. are approved by the SPR membership in the first quarter of 2016, the Board shall determine, prior to the 2016 election, the number of members to be elected in the spring of 2016.
Article VIII. Standing Committees, Section 1. Create new standing committee
The proposed revisions are recommended to create a new standing committee. The current International Task Force would become a Standing Committee, the International Committee.
Proposed Revision Article VIII. Standing Committees, Section 14. (see page 9 of the proposed bylaw revisions document.)
Section 14: The International Committee.
The purpose of the International Committee is to support and expand SPR’s commitment for international prevention research and to promote global health and to encourage and promote collaboration among international researchers, students, practitioners, and policy makers.
The International Committee shall comprise a Chair and a Liaison to the Board of Directors, appointed by the President, and no fewer than 10 members to be appointed by the Committee Chair to incorporate a balance of US and non US members.
The term of office of the Chair is three years. The term of the Liaison is one year.
Article VIII, Standing Committees, Sections 1.
Other language in the Bylaws is modified to be in sync with creating the International Committee i.e. Article VIII, Sections 1.
Current Article VIII, Standing Committees, Section 1.
Section 1. There shall be Standing Committees to carry out and sustain the long term strategic objectives of the Society. Currently these committees are Publications, Program, Nominations, Membership, Recognition and Honors, Prevention Science Advocacy, Early Career Preventionists Network, Training, Finance and Management, Diversity Network, and Fund Development.
Proposed Revision Article VIII, Standing Committees, Section 1. (see page 5 of the proposed bylaw revisions document.)
Section 1. There shall be Standing Committees to carry out and sustain the long term strategic objectives of the Society. Currently these committees are Publications, Program, Nominations, Membership, Recognition and Honors, Prevention Science Advocacy, Early Career Preventionists Network, Training, Finance and Management, Diversity Network, Fund Development, and International.