ASEH BYLAWS
ARTICLE I: Name of Corporation and Offices
Section 1)
The name of the corporation is the American Society for Environmental History (the organization, the Society, or ASEH).
Section 2)
The corporation does not have a physical office building; its offices and records are co-located with the current executive director. It is incorporated in the state of Pennsylvania.
ARTICLE II: Corporate Purpose
Section 1)
This corporation is organized exclusively as a non-profit, charitable, literary, and educational corporation, for those stated purposes, and including, for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
Section 2)
Specific Purpose. The object of this corporation shall be to foster, promote, and evaluate research, scholarship, teaching, and other creative work relevant to the field of environmental history; to support publications and programming that broaden knowledge of environmental history among scholars and the general public; and to pursue kindred activities in the interest of environmental history.
ARTICLE III: Membership
Section 1)
The membership of the Society shall consist of individuals interested in the objectives of the organization on the payment of one year’s dues and those holding lifetime or
honorary memberships. The Council may elect honorary members of the Society.
Section 2)
The membership of the Society shall not be limited as to number, residency, or citizenship.
ARTICLE IV: Council and Officers
Section 1)
The governance of the corporation will be vested in a board of directors to be known as the Council. The Council may take any action permitted or required to be taken by the board of directors of a non-profit corporation under the laws of Pennsylvania.
Section 2)
The elected officers of the Society shall consist of a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. The Council shall consist of the four elected officers, seven
elected Council members, the two immediate past Presidents, the President of the Early Career Caucus, and the Chair of the Committee on Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity
Leadership Committee as voting members of the Council. The Council shall transact such business as may be assigned to it under these bylaws or by the Society. The
Executive Director shall be an officer of the Society and an ex officio member of the Council without a vote. Additionally, the Editor(s) of ASEH publications and the
Assistant Treasurer are ex officio members of the Council, without a vote.
Section 3)
The President shall preside at all Council and member meetings of the Society and shall appoint members of all committees except where otherwise provided for in these
bylaws. In case of the President's absence or inability to act, the Vice President shall discharge the duties of the President.
Section 4)
The Vice President will act for the President in all matters when the President is absent or unable to act, and otherwise assist the President as required. The Vice President shall also oversee various aspects of the annual conference, including appointing a Program Committee, which shall consist of interested members, and a Local Arrangements Committee.
Section 5)
The Secretary shall keep a record of the meetings of the Council and the Society's membership meetings, and will submit official minutes for approval to the Council.
Section 6)
The Treasurer will oversee organizational finances and report annually to the Council and Membership. With the Executive Director they will create an annual budget, maintain all necessary bank accounts and records, receive all monies due or payable to the Society, pay outstanding accounts, and officially receive all monies given or bequeathed to the Society. Given the complex duties of this office, the Council, in consultation with the nominating committee, may from time to time appoint an Assistant Treasurer to aid in these duties. An Assistant Treasurer will be an ex officio member of the Council, without vote, unless they are presently serving as an elected member of the Council and thus retains their vote.
Section 7)
The Editor(s) of Environmental History (published jointly by ASEH and the Forest History Society) shall serve terms and have charge of editorial and production decisions
of the journal, in accordance with the Memorandum of Understanding between the ASEH and the Forest History Society.
Section 8)
The Executive Director shall be appointed by the Council for a renewable three-year term and generally will oversee the administration of the Society. The Executive
Director is an ex officio member of all committees except where otherwise noted in these bylaws. Responsibilities include but are not limited to managing the membership
database and website, handling financial transactions in partnership with the Treasurer, assisting the President with Council meetings and materials, editing the newsletter,
maintaining the Society’s archives, coordinating with committees, overseeing online programming and the annual conference, fundraising, and general correspondence. The
Council may appoint an assistant to support the Executive Director due to the scope of these duties.
Section 9)
Council members shall participate equally and jointly with officers in making collective decisions concerning the Society where provided for in these bylaws or where
otherwise necessary and proper.
Section 10)
Any vacancy occurring in an office may be filled by a vote of the Council until the next regular elections are held.
ARTICLE V: Society, Business, and Council Meetings
Section 1)
The Society will convene an annual or biennial conference at such time and place as the President with the Executive Director may determine. Members of the Society shall
be invited to an annual business meeting, normally held at the conference or online within 30 days of the conference. Additional business meetings may also be called as
the occasion may require, due notice thereof being given to all members by the Executive Director.
Section 2)
At business meetings, whether in person or online, a quorum shall consist of the President OR the Vice President together with any fifteen other members of the Society.
Section 3)
Matters requiring a decision by the entire membership may, at the discretion of the Council, be submitted to the membership by electronic ballot. The Secretary shall
maintain a record of any substantive decisions that are reached in this manner.
Section 4)
Meetings of the Council shall be held at least annually, normally within thirty days of the business meeting or at such other time as may be determined by the President.
Due notice of such meetings shall be given to all members of the Council.
Section 5)
At meetings of the Council, a quorum shall consist of the President OR the Vice President and any other five voting members of the Council. Council meetings may be
held in person or by means of conference telephone or other electronic technology by means of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other.
Participation in a meeting pursuant to this section shall constitute presence in person at the meeting.
Section 6)
As occasion demands, the Executive Director, at the direction of the President, may submit matters for decisions to the Council by consent. Any action required or
permitted to be approved at a meeting of the Council may be approved without a meeting if one or more consents to the action in record form. The consents must be
signed, before, on or after the effective time of the action by all of the Council members in office at the effective time. The consent or consents must be filed with the
Secretary and shall be reported at the next meeting of the Council.
ARTICLE VI: Elections and Resignations
Section 1)
All members in good standing shall be eligible to vote and hold office.
Section 2)
The President and Vice President shall hold office for a term of two years, and may be re-elected. The Secretary and Treasurer shall hold office for a term of four years,
and may be re-elected. The other elected members of the Council shall serve staggered four-year terms.
Elections are to be held in odd calendar years, at which time all officers with expiring terms and three or four (roughly half) of the members of the Council shall stand for
election. No member of the Council (with the exception of the Secretary, Treasurer, and other ex officio members) may serve more than two consecutive terms in office.
Section 3)
By February 1 of odd calendar years, a nominating committee, elected by the membership, shall submit a slate of nominees for the positions of officers and elected
members of the Council.
The nominating committee shall consist of four members serving staggered terms of four years. Two members shall be elected biennially from a slate of four nominees.
The slate assembled by the nominating committee shall consist of one nominee for President (normally the standing Vice President), one nominee for Vice President, one
nominee for other officers with expiring terms, two nominees for each vacancy on the Council, and two nominees for each vacancy on the nominating committee. The
choice of nominees shall be communicated to the Executive Director, who shall in turn communicate it to the membership electronically. All ballots shall have provisions
for write-in nominees.
Section 4)
Elections will be held by April 1 of odd calendar years by electronic ballot. The President and any five other members of the Council may make such other alterations in
the election procedure as they deem necessary, while the Executive Director must still provide notice of the election to the membership in the usual fashion. All terms of
office shall begin and end June 1.
Section 5)
The candidates receiving the highest number of votes are elected. If necessary, a run-off election will be held.
Section 6)
Resignations from Council or an office shall be promptly reported to the Secretary and Executive Director. The nominating committee will submit a candidate to Council within 45 days, who must be approved by a majority vote of Council. The newly elected Council member will serve until the next election cycle.
Section 7)
A Council member (including elected officers) may be removed for cause, including failure to fulfill fiduciary or organizational duties, repeated unexcused absences, breach of ethical standards, or actions inconsistent with the mission and values of the organization.
A removal process may be initiated by any two voting member(s) of the Council through a written petition to all Council members stating the grounds for removal and calling for a special meeting to vote on the matter.
The Council member in question will receive written notice at least 14 days prior to the meeting, including the reason for the petition and has the right to respond, either in writing or during a meeting, before a vote is taken.
Removal requires a two-thirds vote of the remaining Council members. Once removed, the position is considered vacant and will be filled per the vacancy procedures in these bylaws.
Section 8)
ASEH shall include an Early Career Caucus that will convene annually, normally in conjunction with the Society's meeting. The officers of the caucus shall consist of a
Chair and a Chair Elect. The caucus shall hold an election, no later than May 1 for Chair Elect. The Chair Elect shall serve one year in this position and a second year as
chair of the caucus.
ARTICLE VII: Dues
Section 1)
Dues shall be paid by members in amounts and according to procedures established by the Council.
Section 2)
No member in arrears for dues shall be permitted to vote or take part in any business meeting.
Section 3)
Any member whose dues are in arrears shall be dropped from the roll. Members who have been so dropped may be reinstated at any time by the payment in advance of one year’s dues.
Section 4)
Honorary members shall be exempt from payment of dues.
ARTICLE VIII: Committees, Special Interest Groups, and Affiliates
Section 1)
ASEH has two kinds of committees: standing committees and ad hoc committees. Section 2)
The Council creates and, if appropriate, terminates standing committees. Standing committees typically have three members serving staggered terms of three years.
Individuals serve as a member in their first years, chair in their second years, and past chair in their third years on a standing committee.
Section 3)
The President or Council may create ad hoc committees. Ad hoc committees terminate twelve months after creation unless (a) the President or Council terminates them
earlier, or (b) the President or Council extends their duration for up to twelve more months. If the Council thinks an ad hoc committee’s work should continue after 24
months, it typically creates a standing committee to carry out the work.
Section 4)
All committee chairs submit written reports to the Council annually, typically in the spring. The reports briefly summarize activities during the previous year and plans for the upcoming year. Reports from prize committees include the number of submissions, the names of winners and works, and, if prepared, prize citations. Committee reports become part of the minutes of the Council meeting that reviewed the reports.
Section 5)
The President, normally in consultation with the nominating committee, appoints members to committees, unless stated otherwise in the bylaws. ASEH announces
openings on committees and invites individuals to nominate themselves and/or others. The individuals or entities appointing committee members consider these
nominations but are free to appoint other individuals. Appointments to committees should reflect ASEH’s commitment to promoting diversity among our membership
and in the field. Membership in the Society is not normally a requisite for serving on committees of the Society.
Section 6)
The Council may recognize groups of like-minded scholars as special interest groups, or other organizations or communities as affiliates, when their interests and objectives
align with those of the Society. Such relationships are reviewed and renewed regularly.
ARTICLE IX: Amendments
Section 1)
Any member of the Council may submit proposed amendments to the bylaws to the Secretary in writing at least 30 days prior to the next scheduled Council meeting.
Section 2)
Three or more members of ASEH may jointly submit proposed amendments to the bylaws to the Secretary in writing at least 30 days prior to the next scheduled Council meeting.
Section 3)
If approved by two thirds of those present and voting at the meeting of the Council, proposed amendments to the bylaws shall be presented to the membership by the
Secretary, with the assistance of the Executive Director, by means of electronic ballot within 30 days of the most recent Council meeting. If approved by two thirds of the
membership returning completed ballots, the amendment shall then take effect.
The American Society for Environmental History
Approved and adopted: April 21, 2026