By-Laws of the Human Dimensions of Global Change Specialty Group of the American Association of Geographers
Amendments adopted on April 18, 2024
Adopted on February 26, 2022
The by-laws of the Human Dimensions of Global Change (HDGC) Specialty Group (SG) outline the mission and purpose of the group, membership in the group, the duties and responsibilities of officers, and committees to carry out the objectives of the group.
Article I: General
1. The name of this organization is the Human Dimensions of Global Change (HDGC) Specialty Group (SG) of the American Association of Geographers (AAG). (Hereafter the specialty group may be referred to as the HDGC and the Association as the AAG.)
2. The mission of the HDGC SG is to promote the varied interests of geographers who are united by research, teaching, and service that involves the human dimensions of processes in coupled human-environment systems at local to global scales.
3. The purpose of the HDGC is:
a) To carry out the AAG's mission of advancing professional studies in (human-environment) geography and encouraging the application of (human-environmental) geographic research in education, government, and business.
b) To encourage effective participation, communication, and the open exchange of ideas among members by sponsoring special conference sessions and workshops, developing proposals for funding, publishing newsletters, and networking on a regular basis.
c) To create a spirit of collaboration and cooperation with other specialty groups and related organizations that have an interest in human dimensions of environmental change.
d) To enhance scholastic development and achievement in universities by strengthening linkages with them and to collaborate for the enrichment of ideas more broadly.
e) To increase diversity and inclusion of our HDGC community and beyond.
f) To transmit to the AAG Executive Council carefully considered recommendations on matters that promote the interests of the HDGC.
4. The activities of the HDGC include but are not limited to:
a) Organize events such as symposia, sessions, workshops, and social events at the AAG meetings.
b) Coordinate faculty and student award competitions.
c) Communicate HDGC SG activities to the membership and facilitate communication about broader HDGC research, teaching, and service topics within the field.
Article II: Members
1. Membership in the HDGC is open to all AAG members in good standing, subject to the rules of the AAG regarding membership in a specialty group. Membership in the HDGC is on an annual basis, but need not be concurrent with AAG membership renewal.
2. Annual dues are currently $15 and $5 for students. Dues can be changed by a majority vote at the annual HDGC business meeting. Dues are paid directly to the AAG.
3. Members have full voting privileges and are eligible to hold office or serve on HDGC committees.
4. Members are invited to business meetings, which are held annually at the AAG conference meetings.
5. Special meetings may be held by three or more members at regional AAG meetings or other conferences. The HDGC chairperson must be notified of the outcome of these meetings.
Article III: Board of Directors
1. The HDGC is administered by a Board of Directors (hereafter referred to as the Board) consisting of the following officers:
Chairperson
Vice-Chairperson
Secretary
Treasurer
Diversity, equity, and inclusion lead
Professional at-large (2)
Student at-large (2)
By default, board members will be professionals in the field (i.e., having completed their education) unless otherwise noted in their eligibility below.
2. The Board will exercise general supervision over the affairs of the HDGC and will legislate policies as seem proper to the interests of the HDGC and AAG. The Board will perform its duties and abide by the limitations specified in these By-Laws and the governing Council of the AAG. The Board will report its actions and decisions at the Annual Business Meeting of the HDGC. The Board will meet at least once each year during the AAG Annual Meeting. The Board may conduct additional business by mail, email, telephone, or directly in meetings as needs arise.
3. The HDGC board may vote to remove an elected officer who fails to meet or carry out the responsibilities of their elected position as outlined in Article IV. Such a vote will only become necessary after a written warning from the executive committee to the erring officer and will be decided by a simple majority of the remaining board officers.
4. The Chair serves a two-year term and should serve no more than two consecutive terms. The responsibilities of the Chair are:
a) Coordinate the activities of the HDGC by presiding at business meetings, appointing committees, delegating tasks to board members, communicating with AAG administration, and attending SG chairs' meetings at the annual meeting. The Chair may also work to enhance research opportunities and educational experiences in the field of human-environment geography, create a closer spirit of cooperation with other specialty groups and organizations interested in human-environment geography, and engage in other activities to promote the mission and purposes of the HDGC.
b) Prepare and submit an annual report to the AAG board within one month of the conclusion of the AAG annual meeting. The report should describe HDGC activities accomplished in the previous year and goals and planned activities of the Board and the individual Committees for the coming year.
5. The Vice-Chair serves a two-year term with the expectation of assuming the position of Chair. If that expectation changes, the term of the vice-chair will end one year early or be extended an additional year to stagger the term of the Vice-Chair with the term of the Chair. The responsibilities of the Vice-Chair are:
a) Assist with activities of HDGC by leading and serving on committees.
b) Assume ad hoc responsibilities designated by the Chair.
c) Assume the duties and responsibilities of the Chair in the Chair’s absence.
d) Assist in promoting the mission and purposes of the HDGC.
6. The Secretary serves a two-year term. The responsibilities of the Secretary are:
a) Take minutes at the HDGC business meetings.
b) Maintain records of minutes and distribute them to group members.
c) Maintain key documents, statements, and information within the AAG Knowledge Community library, and any HDGC internal shared file systems and outward-facing websites.
d) Preside at meetings in the absence of the Chair and Vice-Chair.
e) Conduct elections.
7. The Treasurer serves a two-year term. The responsibilities of the Treasurer are:
a) Maintain all financial records.
b) Oversee disbursement of awards and financial support associated with sessions and workshops at the AAG annual meeting.
c) Report on HDGC finances at the business meeting.
8. The Diversity, equity, and inclusion lead serves a two-year term. This individual may be at any professional stage (e.g., student, permanent researcher, faculty). The responsibilities of the Diversity, equity, and inclusion lead are:
a) Promote diversity, equity, and inclusion-related initiatives within the HDGC.
b) Liaise with members, AAG, and other groups to advance HDGC contributions to diversity, equity, and inclusion-related initiatives.
9. There are two Professional at-large members. Each serves a two-year term. The responsibilities of these board members are to:
a) Participate in meetings and email exchanges of the HDGC as well as HDGC events at the AAG annual meeting
b) Contribute to the activities of HDGC by leading, co-leading, or serving on at least one Committee.
10. There are two Student-at-large members. Each serves a two-year term. The responsibilities of these board members are to:
a) Assist with the student award competition(s).
b) Assist in organizing special sessions and workshops that are of particular interest and benefit to students.
c) Encourage student participation in specialty group activities and solicit peer group input. The student directors may communicate HDGC activities to students via a special column in the HDGC newsletter.
d) Contribute to the activities of HDGC by leading, co-leading, or serving on at least one Committee.
Article IV: Elections
1. Nominations for all open offices are solicited by the Chair electronically approximately one month prior to the AAG annual meeting. All candidates must be members of the HDGC. All nominated candidates will prepare a 150-word biographical statement to include on the ballot.
2. Elections for the HDGC officers are announced by the Chair approximately two weeks before the HDGC business meeting during the annual AAG meeting.
3. The Secretary conducts the elections. Where the Secretary is also a second-term candidate, any board member who is not contesting may conduct the elections. Where all board members are running for re-election, any HDGC member may conduct the elections.
4. Elections are conducted by electronic ballot.
5. Candidates do not need to be present at the business meeting to be elected, but should be committed to attending the business meetings during the course of their elected tenure.
Article VI: Committees
The Board consists of four committees: Executive Committee, Events Committee, Awards Committee, and Communication Committee. All committees will be led or co-led by at least one Board member. All Board members will lead or co-lead and serve on at least two committees. Committees will maintain plans of work as part of the overarching Plan of Work maintained by the Chair.
1. The Executive Committee oversees the operation and general direction of the HDGC. It also serves as an advisory board to the group. This committee consists of the Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer.
2. The Events Committee consists of three members appointed by the Chair. This committee is responsible for organizing symposia, sessions, workshops, and networking activities at the AAG annual meeting.
3. The Awards Committee shall consist of three members appointed by the Chair. The committee will be responsible for coordinating award competitions and organizing the award ceremony at the AAG annual meeting.
4. The Communications Committee consists of three members appointed by the Chair. This committee is responsible for communicating with the members and broader audiences about the activities of the HDGC SG and others within the broader HDGC field through means described in the committee Plan of Work.
5. The Chair may form ad hoc committees as necessary.
Article VII: Amendments
1. Amendments to the constitution and by-laws proposed either by the Board or members of the HDGC may be made by a two-thirds majority vote by the participants at the Annual Business Meeting. A vote will be taken only after a notice of proposed changes has been submitted to all members of the HDGC ahead of the Annual Business Meeting.