Rules of Operation

ARTICLE I – Purpose
ARTICLE II – Membership
ARTICLE III – Organization
ARTICLE IV – Meetings
ARTICLE V – Amendments

ARTICLE I – PURPOSE

The purpose of this Board shall be to promote university-based programs dealing with natural resources, ecology, energy, and the environment. The Board will provide leadership in communicating issues of significance to these programs with the U.S. Congress, federal agencies, states, private organizations, and other institutions that have programs and interests dealing with natural resources, ecology, energy and the environment. In fulfilling its responsibilities, it shall adhere to all Rules of Operation of the Commission on Food, Environment, and Renewable Resources (CFERR) and By-laws of its parent organization, the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities (APLU). Top of Page

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership – APLU Institutions

Institutions holding membership in the association may become active members of the Board at the request of their Chief Executive Officer. The CEO of each participating institution shall appoint up to six representatives to the Board, one for each section and one at large.

Section 2. Membership – non-APLU Institutions

Institutions, not members of the association, may become members of the Board, without holding membership in the association, by application of their chief executive officer, approval of the executive committee of the Board on Natural Resources, and payment of the appropriate participation fee to the association.

Section 3. Board Representation

The affairs of the Board shall be conducted by representatives from the member institutions. Each member institution has one vote in the affairs of the Board. Any representative from a APLU member institution or a BNR non-APLU affiliate institution may request information and services from the Board on Natural Resources to further that institution’s program in these fields and may serve on BNR committees and task forces.

Section 4. Fees

A participation fee, to be paid by the institutions who are not APLU member institutions, shall be established and assessed annually by the president of the association.
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ARTICLE III – ORGANIZATION

Section 1. Organization

The Board shall have the following organizational structure: Sections, Officers, Executive Committee, Standing Committees, ad hoc committees, Representatives to the CFERR Executive Committee and APLU Assembly as described below.

Section 2. Sections

Operating units of the Board shall be Sections. Those Sections will include but not be limited to Sections on Forest Resources, Fish and Wildlife Resources, Mineral and Energy Resources, Water Resources, and Ecology. Each Section shall develop its own Rules of Operation, subject to the approval of the BNR Executive Committee, which shall adhere to all Rules of Operation of the Board on Natural Resources, the Commission on Food, Environment, and Renewable Resources, and By-laws of the Association of Public and Land-grant Universities.

Section 3. Officers

The officers of the Board shall be: Chair, Vice Chair, Past-Chair, and Secretary. A Secretary shall be elected each year and will succeed to the Vice Chair, Chair, and Past-Chair post in subsequent consecutive years. The Secretary shall rotate among the Sections, guaranteeing each a turn to serve in successive years. Each officer serves a one-year term, which begins at the conclusion of the Association’s Annual Meeting. In the case of a vacancy, with the exception of the past chair, the succession of officers will commence immediately. Elections will be conducted for a new secretary within 30 days. No succession will occur at the next annual meeting. The annual election for secretary will be held at the annual meeting of the Board. All Board members present are eligible to vote, consistent with Article II, Section 3.
The Chair, in consultation with the Executive Committee, shall: 1) provide the call for the meetings of the General Membership and the Executive Committee; 2) establish the agenda and preside at meetings of the Executive Committee and the General Membership; 3) appoint chairs of standing and ad hoc committees and Board Representatives to all other CFERR and A۰P۰L۰U committees; 4) serve on the Executive Committee and the Steering Committee of the Commission on Food, Environment, and Renewable Resources; and 5) conduct elections of Board officers.

The Vice Chair shall: 1) fulfill the chair’s duties in case of absence of the chair and 2) serve as program chair for the Annual Meeting. The Vice Chair, serving as the Chair-elect, shall succeed the Chair at the end of his or her term.

The Past-Chair shall: 1) chair the Nominating Committee.The Secretary shall: 1) record the minutes of each meeting of the Executive Committee and the General Membership; and 2) keep the membership of the Board informed of all pending and completed actions of the officers and Executive Committee.

The Secretary shall succeed the Vice Chair at the end of his or her term.

Section 4. Board Executive Committee

The Board shall be governed by an Executive Committee. The Executive Committee takes appropriate action on matters affecting the interests of the member institutions and is responsible to the Commission for the management of Board affairs.
The Executive Committee shall consist of: 1) Chair; 2) Vice Chair; 3) Past-Chair; 4) Secretary; 5) Chairs of all standing committees; 6) the Chair and one other elected official of each of the Sections of the Board; and 7) the Board representatives holding three-year terms to the CFERR Executive Committee and the A۰P۰L۰U Assembly.

Section 5. Board Representation to the CFERR Executive Committee

The Board Chair is representative to the CFERR Executive Committee (one-year term). One other Board member shall be elected by the Board at the appropriate Annual Meeting to a three-year term as representative to the CFERR Executive Committee.

Section 6. Board Representation to the NASULGC Assembly

The Board member elected for a three-year term to the CFERR Executive Committee shall also represent the Board to the APLU Assembly (three-year term, running concurrently with CFERR Executive Committee term). One other Board member shall be elected by the Board at the appropriate Annual Meeting to a three-year term to represent the Board to the APLU Assembly.

Section 7. Board Committees

The Chair of the Board is authorized to appoint such committees as are necessary to carry out the purposes of the Board. Appointments to Standing Committees shall be for three years, staggered initially for one, two, and three years so that one-third of the members are replaced annually.
Chairs of Standing Committees shall be appointed by the Chair of the Board from among the Board.

The Committee Chair, in consultation with the sections, shall assure representation from each of the sections. Initially, the Standing Committees shall include:

1. Government Relations Committee. This committee is responsible for providing leadership on Federal and State legislative agency and budget matters of concern to the Board. The committee will develop appropriate positions on issues, legislation, Federal budgets and agency regulations and initiatives, and will communicate those positions in a timely manner to Congress, Federal agencies and other key constituencies. Also, the committee will coordinate with other groups within NASULGC, including the Commission on Food, Environment and Renewable Resources and the Council on Governmental Affairs.
2. Nominating Committee. This committee is responsible for recommending nominees for officers and Board representatives to the CFERR Executive Committee and NASULGC Assembly.
3. Program Committee. This committee is responsible for planning all Board program activities especially for the APLU Annual Meeting, and for all other Board meetings that may be scheduled.

In addition to Standing Committees, the Board will have ad hoc committees as needed. Ad hoc committees will be appointed by the Board Chair.
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ARTICLE IV – MEETINGS

Section 1. Board on Natural Resources

The annual meeting of BNR shall be called by the Chair at the time of the Annual Meeting of the Association. Other meetings may be held upon the call of the Chair.

Section 2. Board Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall meet at least once per year at the Annual Meeting of the Association. Other meetings may be held upon the call of the Chair.

Section 3. Sections, Standing Committees, Ad Hoc Committees, and Task Forces

Sections, standing committees, ad hoc committees and task forces shall meet at the discretion of
their respective chairs. Top of Page

ARTICLE V – AMENDMENTS

Section 1.

These operating rules may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the voting members present at any annual meeting of the Board, provided the proposed changes have been presented in writing to the membership at least 30 days prior to the meeting. Top of Page