Revised June 2025
1) The name of this organization is the Landscape Specialty Group of the American Association of Geographers (AAG).
1) The Landscape Specialty Group (LSG) provides a forum to exchange ideas and information relating to landscape, including human/environmental interaction. The LSG sees landscape as a broad and inclusive concept for investigating human and non- human objects, patterns, and processes across scales, from the local to the global. The group supports approaches that bridge human and physical geography in innovative and creative ways.
2) The LSG aims to bring in voices that have been neglected or marginalized in past debates and conversations about landscape. This includes encouraging participation from geographers interested in perspectives on landscape that have, in the past, been seen as disparate and even contradictory to facilitate communication, share research, and discuss pedagogical issues related to landscape in geography. The LSG also aims to support and facilitate geographers researching and working in landscape across traditionally under-represented regions and those whose work may challenge dominant narratives, helping to build a more equitable and representative landscape geography field. Through these efforts, we aim to foster a landscape geography that reflects the diversity of human experiences and geographies.
3) The LSG will organize and promote activities, such as special sessions, paper and poster presentations, symposia, roundtables, and keynote speakers, at the AAG Annual Meeting, as well as at other times throughout the year.
4) The LSG will serve as common ground for geographers with memberships in various other specialty groups who have a shared or overlapping interest in landscape issues.
Article 3. Membership
1) Any member of the AAG may become a member of the LSG. This involves selecting the LSG as part of AAG membership and paying LSG dues.
2) The LSG has two types of membership: regular and student. Both types of members can vote at LSG meetings and in LSG elections.
3) Dues are set by the Executive Committee. The rate for student dues applies to members from developing regions, as well. Any changes in dues shall be communicated to LSG members at least 30 days before the change is implemented.
1) The LSG will be governed by an elected Executive Committee consisting of the following voting members: Chairperson, Program Director, Treasurer, Communications Director, Awards Director and two Graduate Student Representatives. The Emeritus Chair serves as a non-voting member of the Executive Committee.
2) Elected officers may hold AAG and LSG student membership, except for the Chairperson, who must be a regular member of the LSG.
3) Terms of office are two years.
4) No member shall serve more than two consecutive terms in any office. Members may serve in other roles on the Executive Committee, or any ad hoc committee that might be formed, after reaching term limits in any position. Members may serve again in an Executive Committee position previously held following a minimum two-year period out of that office.
5) Officer responsibilities:
a) All officers are required to:
i. participate in meetings of the LSG and of the Executive Committee;
ii. promote LSG membership, events and activities;
iii. support LSG activities and presence at the Annual Meeting;
iv. contribute to LSG communications, such as LSG’s social media presence;
v. maintain content on the LSG website that is relevant to their office; and
vi. recruit nominees for office.
b) Chairperson: The Chairperson serves as the chief executive officer of the LSG and will preside over all meetings of the Executive Committee. The Chairperson is responsible for:
i. representing the LSG membership to the AAG and at all AAG meetings and functions; to other AAG specialty groups; and to other relevant organizations and at relevant events;
ii. communicating to the AAG the consensus position of the LSG Executive Committee and membership;
iii. chairing the LSG’s annual business meeting;
iv. complying with AAG reporting requirements;
v. guiding the LSG toward accomplishing the goals and objectives set out by the Executive Committee and membership;
vi. along with the Communications Director, communicating AAG policy, news and initiatives to the LSG membership;
vii. along with the Graduate Student Representatives, soliciting candidates for LSG officers; and
viii. providing general stewardship of the LSG in all matters while promoting the discipline of geography in general and the landscape perspective in particular.
ix. The Chairperson will serve as emeritus chair for two years following the conclusion of their term.
c) Program Director: The Program Director is responsible for:
i. assisting the Chairperson in completing the duties of that office and presiding over meetings in the absence of the Chairperson;
ii. assisting with organizing paper sessions, panel sessions and workshops related to landscape at the AAG annual meeting and other meetings;
iii. granting LSG sponsorship to special organized sessions related to landscape at the AAG annual meeting and other meetings;
iv. exploring and publicizing opportunities for LSG members to network and collaborate with geographers and non-geographers interested in landscape; and
v. assisting the Chairperson in organizing symposia, roundtables, book reviews or other special events as necessary at the AAG annual meeting and other meetings.
d) Treasurer: The Treasurer is responsible for
i. receiving and disbursing all funds of the LSG;
ii. keeping the Executive Committee updated on the LSG’s finances, including providing a report at Executive Committee meetings;
iii. complying with AAG reporting requirements and through AAG’s required platform; and
iv. presenting a financial statement of the LSG at the annual business meeting.
e) Communications Director: The Communications Director is responsible for:
i. recording minutes of each meeting of the Executive Committee and transmitting such minutes to the members of the Executive Committee, and to the AAG as required;
ii. overseeing the LSG website by providing content as relevant and ensuring Executive Committee members maintain their sections;
iii. overseeing communication with LSG membership; and
iv. leading on activities to promote LSG and its members.
f) Awards Director: The Awards Director is responsible for:
i. organizing and publicizing the LSG’s award programs;
ii. assembling a committee of judges to evaluate award submissions;
iii. coordinating the judging process; and
iv. announcing the results of the awards to participants and the LSG’s membership.
g) Graduate Student Representatives: The two student representatives will be responsible for:
i. organizing special sessions and workshops that are of particular interest and benefit to students;
ii. encouraging student participation in LSG activities;
iii. soliciting student-member input;
iv. managing elections for Executive Committee positions and other elections as needed;
v. maintaining regular communication on the LSG’s social media; and
vi. assisting Executive Committee members in the operation of the LSG.
h) Emeritus Chair: The Emeritus Chair is responsible for:
i. advising the incoming Chairperson, and other newly elected executive officers as needed, on LSG procedures, including communicating with the AAG and completing annual reports.
ii. The Emeritus Chair is not eligible to vote on matters under consideration by the Executive Committee.
6) Removal from office and vacancies:
a) The Executive Committee, for cause or emergency in the best interests of the LSG, may meet and declare any position on the Executive Committee vacant by a majority vote of Executive Committee members.
b) If the office of Chairperson is vacant, the Program Director shall assume duties of the Chairperson and serve the remainder of the current term.
c) If other office positions are vacant, the Executive Committee, by approval of a majority, may appoint any LSG member who meets eligibility requirements stipulated in the LSG bylaws to fill the unexpired term created by the vacancy.
Until an appointment is made, other Executive Committee members will perform the duties of the vacated position.
1) Elections for Chairperson, Awards Director, Treasurer and one Graduate Student Representative will be held in odd-numbered years. The Communications Director, Program Director, and second Graduate Student Representative shall be elected in even-numbered years.
2) Officers will be chosen by online nominations and voting carried out via email or other appropriate electronic voting method as agreed upon by the Executive Committee.
3) The Graduate Student Representatives who are not running for re-election are responsible for administering LSG elections.
4) If the Executive Committee deems necessary, an Election Committee consisting of Executive Committee and/or LSG members can be formed to facilitate elections. The Election Committee shall not include any individuals running for election or re-election.
5) Self-nominations for officer positions are acceptable.
6) Nominees must be in good standing with the AAG and the LSG at the time voting begins. A nominee must have been an LSG member for at least six of the previous 12 months before their nomination for office.
7) Before being added to the ballot, nominees must confirm their willingness to serve, and must provide biographical information and a statement of interest, which will be made available to the membership at the beginning of the election period.
8) The Graduate Student Representatives, with an Election Committee if formed, are responsible for preparing the ballot, presenting the names and biographical information of nominees for offices to the LSG membership, and supervising the election.
9) Votes will be counted by the Graduate Student Representatives who are not running for re-election and Election Committee members, if applicable.
10) Candidates will win by majority vote.
11) Results of voting will be communicated to LSG members, such as announced at the LSG’s annual business meeting or via other method.
1) The Awards Committee is a standing committee of the LSG. It shall consist of the Executive Committee members and two LSG members approved by the Executive Committee. The Awards Director will chair the Awards Committee. The Awards Committee will annually review all LSG awards programs to discuss participation rates and future viability of each program. The committee also may consider establishing other opportunities that reward distinguished scholarship on landscape. Approval of creating or eliminating awards programs requires a majority vote of Executive Committee members.
2) As needed, the Executive Committee may form ad hoc committees. These will comprise LSG members in good standing.
1) Amendments or modifications of the bylaws proposed either by the Executive Committee or LSG members may be made by a two-thirds majority vote of members by electronic voting. A vote will be taken only after proposed changes have been disseminated to LSG members.