[Coral-List] International Society for Reef Studies - Call for Nominations for Council Members

[Rupert Ormond]

Dear Coral Listers,*
*

Please excuse me using the list as an additional means of contacting 
past as well as current members of the International Society for Reef 
Studies to invite nominations for 6 new council members, each to serve 
for four years, from 2013-2016 inclusive. The society's council consists 
of 12 members, all of whom serve for a term of 4 years, but with half of 
these (6) being elected every two years.

The present officers and council have recently introduced a number of 
key changes - we have switched to on-line subscription payment and 
on-line journal access (to the society's journal CORAL REEFS). We have 
also introduced a new range of low cost membership options to attract 
developing country members and students. Already nearly 300 members have 
used the on-line system to pay their 2013 dues. We now hope to introduce 
further activities and on-line services. It is thus key that the society 
has an enthusiastic and supportive council willing to help develop the 
society.

_Please therefore consider whether one or more of your colleagues, or 
you yourself, could make a worthwhile contribution to ISRS by serving a 
term as a council member._ Membership of the council is not arduous. 
However we have also begun establishing a number of committees or 
working groups (to relaunch Reef Encounter and to upgrade the website), 
and some council members are also serving on these committees, to which 
we also welcome ordinary members with relevant interests.

Nominations for council membership should be sent to me by e-mail 
(rupert.ormond.mci at gmail.com) by Monday February 18th 2013.  
A nomination requires a proposer and a seconder, and the 
member proposed should also indicate their willingness to stand for 
election. The member standing for election should also provide a 200-300 
word statement, summarising their professional experience and indicating 
how they would intend supporting the society if elected. Assuming there 
are more than six nominations there will be an electronic ballot of members.

You may nominate another member or yourself by e-mailing me a page 
_which gives the names of and is signed by a) the candidate, b) the 
proposer and c) the seconder_ - this is probably most easily done as a 
pdf file that has been  printed, signed and scanned successively by 
proposer, seconder and nominee. This can then be e-mailed to me as a pdf 
file, accompanied by the candidate's supporting statement as a Word or 
similar file.  (I am not circulating a form.)

Members who would like to put themselves forward are encouraged to 
contact colleagues willing to support their nomination. Younger 
candidates (graduate students and early career researchers) would be 
especially welcome.

Candidates and proposers and seconders must all however be paid up 
members of the society. If you have not yet joined or renewed, may we 
encourage you to try the new on-line system by going to 
https://www.sgmeet.com/isrs/membership/, which you can also access via 
the membership page of the society's website at 
www.coralreefs.org/membership-application.htm 
<http://www.coralreefs.org/membership-application.htm>.

Thanking you for your attention,

Sincerely,

Rupert

*Rupert Ormond*

Corresponding Secretary, International Society for Reef Studies.

Hon. Professor, Centre for Marine Biodiversity & Biotechnology, 
Heriot-Watt University, Edinburgh.
(Office: 5/6 Lang Rigg, South Queensferry, Edinburgh, Scotland, UK. EH30 
9WN.)