Every two years, members of the International Society of Ethnobiology (ISE) are invited to nominate candidates for the Board of the ISE. Nominations will be open for the 2014-2016 or 2014-18 term (depending on the position) as of 28 February 2014 and will close 5 May 2014.
Ideally, the ISE Board is comprised of individuals who span a wide age range, are from a diversity of backgrounds, and have varied personal and professional experiences. Board members need to be genuinely interested in the well-being of the ISE community, have a demonstrated commitment and responsibility in their personal and/or professional lives commensurate with being a Board member of an organization with charitable tax status, embrace a consensus approach to decision-making, and make themselves available for regular communication by telephone or internet with other board members and ISE staff (estimated 2-8 hours per month, depending on position). Specialized leadership and skills (or an aptitude for such) in the areas of communications, fundraising and financial management are an asset. We encourage nominations from all parts of the world and from women and men associated with ethnobiology and biocultural diversity in diverse ways.
All members of the Board commit, as volunteers, and without remuneration, to a strong consultative role in shaping the direction and continued success of the ISE in its commitment to achieving a greater understanding of the complex relationships that exist within and between human societies and their environments.
Open positions
We invite nominations for (i) Vice President (President-Elect; a 2-year term followed by a 2-year term as President); (ii) Secretary (a 4-year term); (iii) 6 Regional Representatives, one from each ISE region (Africa, Central and South America and the Caribbean, North America, Asia, Europe, and Oceania and Pacific Islands), and (iv) up to two student representative(s). Note that while nominations are open for the Student Representative positions, they are appointed by the Board and not open to vote by membership.
You may nominate yourself or someone else who you are familiar with, as long as that person accepts the nomination in writing. The nomination should include approximately 300 words outlining specifically how the candidate fulfills the requirements for the Board position, his/her intentions and vision for ISE development over the next term, and any other information that the voting membership should know about the candidate. A photograph and a short biography or curriculum vitae are not required but may be included as supporting materials if you wish. These materials will be vetted by the ISE Board and Council of Elders, and then published on the ISE website on 5 May 2014 so that members may familiarize themselves with the candidates; these materials will also be linked to the electronic ballots so that members may review them while voting.
Send email nominations to both Sarah-Lan Mathez-Stiefel ([email protected]) and Natasha Duarte ([email protected]).
Qualifications
To qualify for nomination, all candidates must be members in good standing. For the positions of President-elect and Secretary, candidates must have attended two prior ISE biennial Congresses (i.e. not including the 14th ISE Congress in Bhutan); candidates for Regional Representatives and Student Representatives must have attended one prior ISE biennial Congress.
Expectations of ISE Board Members
The ISE is unique in that, in addition to being a member-run Society, it maintains three distinct programs: the Global Coalition, the Ethics Program, and the Darrell Posey Fellowship for Ethnoecology and Resource Rights. Additionally, biennial congresses are organized to provide a time and place to formally gather our diverse membership for ethnobiology exchanges and to conduct Society business. Because of the programs and congresses, the work of the ISE Board spans a wide array of activities. Incoming Board members are expected to learn about ISE business and core initiatives and to respect and build on the direction and decisions of Boards that came before them.
Prospective candidates should familiarize themselves with the detailed duties of each position and assess whether or not they have the time and skills to carry them out. In addition to their specific duties, Board members will have both the privilege and the commitment of guiding the ISE through an ongoing process of institutional self-assessment and development, and will need to be in regular email or telephone contact with one another and the ISE staff. A minimum estimated time commitment is 4-8 hours per month for President-elect and Secretary; and 2 hours per month for Regional Representatives and Student Representatives.
Online voting process
Electronic voting will begin on 19 May 2014 and will remain open through Thursday 5 June, the day before the 2nd General Assembly. For those members attending the Congress, the Managing Director will be able to facilitate e-voting if needed; additionally, the 2014 congress venues have wifi and (wired) computers will be available at the main congress building for participants to use, should there be disruption in the wifi service. The results will be announced during 2nd General Assembly and subsequently posted on the ISE website and member forum. A presentation from the winning congress bid will also be made during this General Assembly.
As required by the Article 9.8.2 of the ISE Constitution, if there are fewer than two nominees for a given Regional Representative position, we will seek additional qualified nominees from the floor of the General Assemblies. For these cases, a vote will be taken by ISE members present at the 2nd General Assembly and these decisions will stand. If there are unfilled positions following the second General Assembly, an appointment will be made by the incoming Board at the earliest possible date following the second General Assembly and the members shall be notified. Similarly, any motions raised from the floor of the General Assemblies will be decided by vote of the ISE members present. Note that this process was announced in August 2011.
We look forward to receiving your nominations.