By-Laws of the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation, Inc.

Last Revised October, 2011

 Section Titles:

1		OBJECTIVES OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH IN HUMAN MILK AND LACTATION, INC.
2		MEMBERSHIP IN THE SOCIETY.
3		THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIETY.
4		OFFICERS.
5		COMMITTEES.
6		THE MACY-GYORGY AWARD FOR RESEARCH IN HUMAN MILK AND LACTATION.
7		THE EHRLICH-KOLDOVSKY YOUNG INVESTIGATOR AWARD FOR RESEARCH IN HUMAN MILK AND LACTATION.
8		LIFE MEMBERSHIP.
9		FINANCES.
10		GUIDELINES FOR ACCEPTING FUNDS FROM EXTERNAL SOURCES.
11		AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS.

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1.	OBJECTIVES OF THE INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH IN HUMAN MILK AND LACTATION, INC.
	The objectives of the Society, a non-profit organization, are to:
		a.	Promote excellence in research on all aspects of human lactation including the composition of human milk and the effects of human milk/breastfeeding upon the infant or the mother.
		b.	Disseminate information on current research in the field.
		c.	Organize international meetings on appropriate topics at timely intervals.
		d.	Organize an annual symposium at the Experimental Biology Meetings and/or in conjunction with other appropriate research societies.
		e.	Establish and maintain liaison with relevant governmental agencies, private groups, public health authorities and other organizations interested in these subjects.
		f.	Aid other groups in their educational efforts concerning these topics.
		g.	Recognize outstanding scientists in the field of human milk and lactation.
2.	MEMBERSHIP IN THE SOCIETY
		a.	Full Membership. Full membership is open to the following individuals:
			1.	Investigators with a doctoral degree or equivalent experience and a proven research record in the fields of human milk and lactation. Their application will identify at least two publications that pertain to human milk and lactation in peer-reviewed journals.
			2.	Professional individuals who hold public policy-making positions that pertain to human lactation. Their application will identify at least two publications that pertain to public policy decisions regarding human lactation, infant feeding, or a closely related area.
		b.	Associate Membership. Associate Membership is open to graduate students, post-doctorial fellows (who do not as yet have two publications that pertain to human milk and lactation), and individuals with at least a baccalaureate degree or equivalent who specialize in research, education or clinical practice in human milk and lactation. Associate members receive all correspondence sent to the full membership of the Society, but they do not have voting privileges. When associate members have met the requirements of full membership, they may request full membership status from the Executive Committee.
		c.	Emeritus Membership. Upon retirement from professional appointments or duties, members of the Society will be eligible for emeritus status. Two members of the Executive Committee will nominate individuals for Emeritus Membership. Nominations will be made on the basis of an individual’s research contribution and service to the Society. Nominations must be approved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. Emeritus members will enjoy the rights of full members.
		d.	Selection Process. New members will be screened by the Secretary/Treasurer and approved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee. A letter of recommendation from a member of the Society, the applicant’s curriculum vitae and a publication list will support the application.
3.	THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF THE SOCIETY
	The affairs of the Society will be governed by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee of the Society will be composed of 13 members: the President, President- Elect, Secretary- Treasurer, Immediate Past President and 9 Councillors who collectively represent the following disciplines: anthropology, bioactive factors in milk, epidemiology, immunology, lactation physiology, mammary gland biology, nutrition, paediatrics, and obstetrics and gynaecology. At least two members should be from outside the United States. The President of the Society, or in his/her absence the President-Elect, will convene the Executive Committee at least once each year prior to the annual meeting of the Society. A quorum of the committee will be a simple majority of 7 members. Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Executive Committee may be taken without a meeting providing no members of the Executive Committee object to the proposed action.
		a.	Functions of the Executive Committee.
			1.	Membership. The Executive Committee will approve nominations for full, associate, and emeritus membership status. A membership brochure will be maintained and updated annually.
			2.	International Research Meeting of the Society. The Executive Committee will approve selected general topics for the International Scientific Meeting of the Society. The President Elect will chair a committee to organize the meeting, and to approve the program prior to final approval by the Executive Committee (see Section 5.b).
			3.	Annual Scientific Meeting. The Executive Committee will, in consultation with the Lactation Research Interest Section (RIS) of the American Society for Nutrition (ASN), appoint a chairperson and program committee for the Annual Scientific Meeting and approve the program before it is finalized.  The RIS chair, if not already a member of the Executive Committee, will be invited to become a nonvoting ex officio member of the Executive Committee. The meeting will be held within the framework of the Experimental Biology meetings in the USA. Planning for each meeting should begin in conjunction with RIS two years preceding the date of the Annual Scientific Meeting.
			4.	Annual General Meeting. The Executive Committee will organize an annual general meeting of the membership. This meeting will usually be held at the annual Experimental Biology meeting in the USA and be followed by the annual RIS meeting.
			5.	Communication. The Executive Committee will disseminate to members information that is deemed appropriate via a newsletter, website, or listserve (see Section 4.b).
			6.	Nominating Committee. This committee will be chaired by the President-Elect. The Executive Committee will choose two additional full members who are not members of the Executive Committee, for membership on the nominating committee. This committee will select a slate of nominees for vacant councillor and officer positions as required by the Bylaws. There will be at least two nominees for each executive committee vacancy.
			7.	Ad Hoc Committees. The Executive Committee will appoint ad hoc committees to deal with special issues.
			8.	Special Awards. The Executive Committee will select recipients for the Macy-Gyorgy Award and the Ehrlich-Koldovsky Early Career Award.
			9.	The Executive Committee will recommend to the membership of the society any activities or changes in the structure of the organization that are appropriate. Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Executive Committee may be taken without a meeting providing no members of the Executive Committee object to the proposed action.
		b.	Election of Councillors to the Executive Committee. Councillors will be elected by an annual ballot of the full members from a slate of nominees selected by the Nominating Committee. Councillors will start their appointment on January 1st and serve until December 31st for a total of three (3) years. The elective procedure is as follows. Six individuals will be nominated for the three positions which become open annually. The ballot will be made available to the full members by September 1st. The three candidates receiving the highest number of votes will take office in January of the following year. Election results will be announced by November 15th of the same year. If for any reason a member of the Executive Committee vacates the position during their term, the nominee with the next highest number of votes (fourth runner up) in the most recent election ballot, will be invited to serve the remainder of the term. If this person is not available, the Executive Committee will appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of the term.
4.	OFFICERS
	The officers of the Society will consist of a President, a President-Elect and a Secretary/Treasurer. The President will serve for two years. The President-Elect will serve for two years, after which he/she will become President. The Secretary-Treasurer will serve for three years and can be re-elected for an unlimited number of terms. Newly elected Secretary/Treasurers will take office at the Annual General Meeting held at the time Experimental Biology Meeting of the following year.
		a.	Selection of Officers. The Nominating Committee will select at least two candidates for President Elect and, if required, at least one candidate for Secretary/Treasurer (the ballot will allow for write-in candidates). The candidates receiving the highest number of votes will take office at the Annual General Meeting held at the time of the Experimental Biology Meeting of the following year. Election results will be announced by November 15th of the same year. If a serving councillor is elected to be an officer, the council nominee with the next highest number of votes (fourth runner up) in the most recent election ballot, will be invited to serve the remainder of the term. If this person is not available, the Executive Committee will appoint a replacement to serve the remainder of the term. If for any reason an officer is unable to complete their term, a replacement officer will be appointed by a majority vote of the Executive Committee to complete the term.
		b.	Duties of the Officers. The President will convene meetings of the Executive Committee and chair the Awards Committee. The President-Elect will assist the President in these duties and chair the Nominating Committee. The immediate Past- President will remain as a member of the Executive Committee to provide continuity. The Secretary-Treasurer will screen applications for membership, keep and distribute the minutes of meetings of the Society, manage the Society’s funds, and be responsible for all communications to the members of the Society. This includes updating the listserve, updating the website, and updating the membership brochure. The Secretary/Treasurer may delegate any of these responsibilities to other members of the Executive Committee.
5.	COMMITTEES
		a.	Standing Committees
			1.	Experimental Biology Scientific Meetings Committee. Duties of this Committee will be to recommend topics for the Annual Scientific Meeting. The Chairperson of this Committee will be the RIS ex officio member of the Executive Committee.
			2.	Formation of additional standing committees requires a majority vote of the membership at the annual business meeting.
		b.	Ad Hoc Committees
			1.	Nominating Committee. The nominating committee will be chosen at the meeting of the Executive Committee each year to nominate replacements for the Society officers and councillors as needed. The Committee will be chaired by the President-Elect of the Society. Two other members at large who are not members of the Executive Committee will be appointed by the Executive Committee as members of the Nominating Committee. The members of this committee will not be eligible for election to the Executive Committee.
			2.	Organizing Committee for International Scientific Meetings. The organizing committee for the international scientific meeting, chaired by the President Elect, will be chosen two years in advance of a meeting and will serve until that meeting is concluded. The Executive Committee will select the theme in collaboration with the organizers and suggest possible sites and a possible site coordinator for the meetings. The organizing committee will be responsible for designing the program, including the selection of topics, speakers, a proposed budget, and the site arrangements. At least 18 months prior to the international meeting, these plans and objectives and a draft of the program and will be examined, modified and approved by the Executive Committee before submission for extra mural funding. Substantial deviation from a proposal approved by the Executive Committee must be approved by the majority of the Executive Committee. Depending on availability of appropriate sites, an attempt will be made to hold the International Scientific Meetings at various locations around the world. The chairperson of the Organizing Committee will provide report to the first Executive Committee meeting held after the International Scientific Meeting on the Scientific outcome of the meeting and in consultation with the Secretary-treasurer on the financial outcome.
			3.	Other Ad Hoc Committees. Other ad hoc committees may be formed by the Executive Committee as necessary.
6.	THE MACY-GYORGY AWARD FOR RESEARCH IN HUMAN MILK AND LACTATION
		a.	Purpose. The purpose of the award is to honor individuals who have made outstanding, original scientific contributions to the study of human milk and lactation.
		b.	Qualifications. The awardee will be a senior scientist whose work has been recognized internationally and whose papers have appeared in excellent peer-review journals. Although membership and participation in the Society may be reasons for consideration, they are not essential criteria. Active members of the Executive Committee are not eligible for the award.
		c.	Nomination Process. A candidate will be nominated by two members of good standing in the Society. The nomination will consist of primary and seconding letters of nomination that detail the qualifications of the candidate, the curriculum vitae of the candidate, and three of the most significant research publications from the nominee. These documents will be sent to the President of the Society six months before the international research meeting of the Society.
		d.	Selection of the Recipient. The Awards Committee (defined under 5-b above) will recommend nominees to the Executive Committee. The selection of a recipient will require a majority affirmative vote from the Executive Committee.
		e.	Nature of the Award. The award will be a plaque and/or certificate from the Executive Committee indicating the significance of the award. The recipient will be invited to attend the next international research meeting of the Society. The recipient will be introduced by the nominator and presented the award from the Society by the President. The awardee will be invited to present an overview of their research at the meeting. If funds are available from the society’s general fund, a travel grant to defray the costs of attending the meeting may be supplied to the awardee.
7.	THE EHRLICH-KOLDOVSKY EARLY CAREER AWARD FOR RESEARCH IN HUMAN MILK AND LACTATION
		a.	Purpose. The purpose of the Award is to recognize early career investigators who have begun to make outstanding, original scientific contributions to the study of human milk and lactation.
		b.	Qualifications. Nominees will be at the junior faculty level or will hold a similar position that includes independent research responsibilities. They will have obtained their Ph.D. or M.D. degree within the last 10 years. Their work will have been published in excellent peer-reviewed journals and will be beginning to be recognized internationally. The work in question will be due primarily to the efforts of the nominee and not to efforts of mentors or other colleagues. It is not required for nominees to be members of the Society.
		c.	Nomination Process. A candidate will be nominated by a Society member in good standing, who may be a mentor or a senior colleague of the nominee. A nominator may be a current or past member of the Executive Committee. A nomination will consist of the curriculum vitae of the candidate, the most significant research publication from the nominee, and a letter of nomination that details the qualifications of the candidate. These documents will be sent to the President of the Society three to six months prior to the meeting where the award is to be presented. The candidate must have an abstract accepted for either an oral or poster presentation at the International Scientific Meeting.
		d.	Selection of the Recipient:  The selection of a recipient will require a majority affirmative vote by the Executive Committee members who are in attendance for the presentation of the work at the international scientific meeting.
		e.	Nature of the Award. The award will be a plaque and/or a certificate from the Executive Committee indicating the significance of the Award. The recipient will be introduced by the nominator (if she or he is in attendance), and the award presented by the President of the Society at an international research meeting. If funds are available from the society’s general fund, a travel grant will be given to defray the costs of attending the meeting.
8.	LIFE MEMBERSHIP
	a. Purpose:  The purpose of this award is to recognise full members of the Society who have made an outstanding contribution to the objectives of the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation.
	b. Qualification:  The awardees will be as senior full member of the Society. Active members of the Executive Committee are not eligible for the award.
	c. Nomination Process:  Two full members of good standing in the Society will nominate a candidate. The nomination will consist of primary and seconding letters of nomination that detail the outstanding contribution that the member has made to promote of the objectives of the International Society for Research in Human Milk and Lactation. These documents will be sent to the President of the Society six months before the International Scientific Meeting of the Society.
	d. Selection of the Recipient:  The selection of a recipient will require a majority affirmative vote from the Executive Committee.
	e. Nature of the Award:  The award will include a framed certificate from the Society indicating the significance of the award and a waiver of all subsequent annual membership dues. The recipient will be invited to attend the next International Scientific Meeting of the Society to receive the award. The nominator will introduce the recipient and the President will present the award. If funds are available from the society’s general fund, a travel grant to defray the costs of attending the meeting may be supplied to the awardees.
9.	FINANCES
		a.	Fiscal Year. The fiscal year of the Society will run from April 1st of one year to March 31st of the following year.
		b.	Dues. Annual dues will be collected from each Member and each Associate Member by the Secretary/Treasurer. No dues will be collected from Emeritus Members. Based upon the recommendations of the Executive Committee, any change in the amount of the annual dues must be approved by the majority of members present at the annual business meeting of the Society.
		c.	Accounting. There shall be an annual accounting to the Executive Committee by the Secretary/Treasurer of all funds that are collected as dues or donations to the Society, and of all funds distributed for meetings held under the auspices of the Society.
		d.	Discretionary Expenditures. The Society may pay the costs of travel to meetings of the Society for certain members, including the President and Secretary/Treasurer, when this is deemed to be appropriate by the Executive Committee.
10.	GUIDELINES FOR ACCEPTING FUNDS FROM EXTERNAL SOURCES (adopted 1996)
		a.	Background
			1.	The ethical issues that are of concern to an organization established for the purpose of furthering the science practiced by its members include: (aa) Ethical principles in the reporting and dissemination of research results (bb) The ethical conduct of research
			2.	There are certain ethical issues that lie outside of the purview of an organization established for the purpose of furthering the science practiced by its members. These include: (aa) The non-scientific conduct of its members (bb) Larger ethical issues of society that do not impinge on the ethical issues within the purview of the scientific organization. These larger issues may be of concern to many, even a majority of the membership, but should be addressed through other forums.
			3.	A scientific organization may choose to make explicit the principles they collectively agree to with respect to one or more of these issues.
			4.	Funding for scientific research and for the presentation of research results comes from many sources with different conditions attached to accepting the funding.
			5.	Thus, one important issue for policy is sources of funding.
			ISRHML depends for many of its activities on governmental and private funds to complement the funds provided by membership fees. ISRHML proposes the following guidelines to accept funds over and above those derived from membership fees:
		b.	Guidelines for accepting funds to complement the funds provided by membership fees.
			1.	Funds will only be accepted to do those activities for which ISRHML is constituted (see Bylaws).
			2.	Funds will not be accepted if they threaten the ethics under a-(1) above. In particular, funds that: (aa) Set condition above the inferences to be drawn from research by members of ISRHML. (bb) Set any conditions about the views to be presented in any ISRHML forum (including views of non-ISRHML members). (cc) Restrict the dissemination of any information about or from an ISRHML activity. (dd) Restrict acceptance of funding from other sources. (ee) Entail any obligation to support in any way the goals of the funding organization, except for those goals that are mutual with ISRHML for the specific activity funded. (ff) Could, through other kinds of coercion, result in conditions aa-ee above. This is a possibility if: - ISRHML depends on funds for essential activities from one source, or from a group of sources that could together exert coercion. - ISRHML does not have clear guidelines that are part of the initial contract with the donor about what may be expected from the ISRHML activity. - ISRHML accepts to undertake any effort for a donor outside of those agreed upon at the time of the donation. (gg) Could be misconstrued to endorse the donors or their products. This includes funds to advertise donors or specific products of the donors,
		c.	Implications
			1.	ISRHML should seek funding from as wide a variety of donors relative to their objectives.
			2.	ISRHML will make these policies clear to donors before accepting donations.
		d.	ISRHML will acknowledge all sources of funding whether for an individual speaker or a particular session at all functions under its auspices.
		e.	ISRHML acknowledgment of donors will follow the following format:“ISRHML gratefully acknowledges the unrestricted underwriting of all conference costs provided by the following foundations, agencies and organizations:Acceptance of these funds does not imply endorsement of the donor or its products.”
11.	AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS
	Changes in the BYLAWS of the Society are first proposed by the Executive Committee. The proposed amendments are subject to approval by a majority of those voting on a ballot sent to the entire membership before they are promulgated.