ARTICLE I

 

This Division shall be known as the American Phytopathological Society, Southern Division.  The States of Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee and Texas are included in the Southern Division.

 

ARTICLE II

Membership and Dues

 

Section 1.  The Division shall consist of members of the American Phytopathological Society.

 

Section 2.  All persons not members of the American Phytopathological Society but interested in the study  of plant diseases, shall be eligible for associate membership.

 

Section 3.  All graduate or undergraduate students interested in the study of plant pathology shall be eligible for student membership.

 

Section 4. Applications for associate or student membership must be endorsed by at least one member of the Division.

 

Section 5.  Each member, associate member or student member shall pay annually such dues as the Division shall determine and shall have a vote in all matters pertaining to the Division.

 

ARTICLE III

Officers

 

The officers of the Division shall consist of a President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, and Councilor.  Their duties shall be those  usually performed by such officers.  The officers shall serve the following terms:  President, President-Elect,  and Vice-President - one year; Councilor - three years; and Secretary-Treasurer - three years or until their successors are elected.  The Executive Committee shall fill any vacancies occurring in the interim between elections.

 

The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Councilor, and the immediate Past President.  All actions of the Executive Committee or officers will conform with the Constitution, By-Laws, and Manual of Operations.

 

ARTICLE IV

Election of Officers

 

The Vice-President and Councilor shall be elected by ballot.  The Secretary-Treasurer shall send a nomination ballot for these officers to all members of the Southern Division in time to allow nominations to be returned not less than two months before the date of the annual meeting.  The Executive Committee shall designate the nominees for any office when such nominations are wanting, or are tied.

 

The names of the two persons who received the highest number of nominating votes for each office shall be placed on a final ballot, which shall be sent to each  member not less than one month before the annual meeting.  If the same person should receive sufficient ballots to qualify for nomination to more than one office, the name shall be placed on the final ballot as a candidate for only the office for which he or she receives the greatest number of ballots, and in the case of an equal number of ballots, he or she shall be entered as a candidate for only the higher office as listed in Article III.  These ballots shall be returned to the Secretary-Treasurer and shall be canvassed by the Executive Committee.  A plurality vote shall elect.  In the event of a tie on the election ballot, all members attending the annual business meeting shall vote by secret ballot, and a plurality vote shall elect.

 

The President-Elect shall become President and the Vice-President shall become President-Elect upon completion of their terms of office as President-Elect and Vice-President, respectively.  The Secretary-Treasurer shall be appointed by the Executive Committee for a term of three years.

 

ARTICLE V

Committees

 

Temporary and standing committees may be appointed by the President and deliver their reports to the Division in the annual business session.

 

ARTICLE VI

Meetings

 

Annual meetings shall be held unless prevented by a national emergency.  The annual meetings will normally be held in conjunction with the annual meetings of the Southern Association of Agricultural Scientists.  The annual meetings may be held in conjunction with the annual meetings of the American Phytopathological Society whenever that organization meets within the area of the Southern Division. However, the annual meetings of the Southern Division may be held with other organizations and additional special meetings may be held, provided that the time and place of such meetings are recommended by the Executive Committee and approved by a majority of members voting at the annual business meeting.

 

ARTICLE VII

 

The provisions of the By-Laws of the American Phytopathological Society pertaining to the organization and regulation of Divisions of the Society shall be followed in the operation of the Southern Division.

 

ARTICLE VIII

Amendments

 

This constitution may be amended at any annual meeting by a three-fourths majority of all members voting, notice of the proposed amendment having been sent to all the members at least one month previous to the meetings.