The Continuing Committee

Membership

The Members of the Continuing Committee shall consist of 17 professional rangeland specialists representing the broad geographical and ecological rangeland regions of the world, namely:

  • Europe and Russia, two members;
  • North America (including Mexico), two members;
  • Central and South America, two members;
  • Northern Africa and the Middle East), two members;
  • Africa south of the Sahara, two members;
  • Central Asia and Mongolia, two members;
  • South and East Asia, two members;
  • Australasia, two members; and,
  • the Congress Chair of the immediately preceding Congress Organizing Committee (or nominee from that Committee) – ex-officio.

Continuing Committee Responsibilities

The responsibility of the Continuing Committee will be to provide continuity to the International Rangeland Congress between meetings of the Congress. This will include:

  1. The President, in consultation with the Continuing Committee, shall advise the Organizing Committee of the forthcoming Congress and provide recommendations regarding its proposed programs and arrangements;
  2. The President shall receive proposals for hosting the next Congress.
    1. To be accepted for consideration, the proposals must conform to Continuing Committee guidelines.
    2. All proposals from potential host countries or sponsoring organizations must be received by the preceding Congress.
    3. The President shall put the names of the proposed host countries to vote by the members of the Continuing Committee by correspondence. The names will be accompanied by details of the facilities that can be offered by these countries for the holding of the Congress. If one country receives two thirds or more of the votes, that is not less than twelve out of seventeen, the country shall be elected as the host for the next Congress.
    4. If no country receives a clear two thirds majority by the time of the Final Business Meeting, the President shall put the names of the countries before the Final Business Meeting for voting according to Clause 7 using secret ballot papers which will be issued to the voting members by the President of the Continuing Committee;
  3. The President, on behalf of the Continuing Committee, shall ensure that the lists and materials as required by the Constitution are handed over to the Organizing Committee of the next Congress;
  4. The Continuing Committee, through the President, shall ensure that an updated copy of the International Rangeland Congress Constitution is provided, and is available, to the Organizing Committee of the next Congress and is adhered to at all times, subject to (a) the financial limitations imposed by bankruptcy and insolvency law; or (b) the committing of any unlawful acts. Furthermore, the Continuing Committee shall maintain an updated list of resolutions relevant to future Organizing Committees and shall provide, and make available, such a list to the next Organizing Committee at any time; and
  5. Conduct any other necessary affairs that require attention between meetings of the Congress including making alternate arrangements if the invited country is unable to proceed with the Congress, by inviting the country obtaining the next highest votes to host the Congress.

Continuing Committee Election Procedure

At each Congress half of the elected members of the Continuing Committee shall retire on a rotational basis and be replaced by members nominated and elected by full members of the Congress.
The procedure of the election shall be as follows:

  1. The President of the outgoing Continuing Committee shall, in consultation with the Congress Chair (or nominee), appoint a Nominating Committee of at least five members who shall be members of the International Rangeland Congress, preferably past Congress Chairs and past Presidents or members of the Continuing Committee, prior to the First Business Meeting;
  2. A call for candidates by region will be made at the First Business Meeting of the organization at the relevant Congress. Candidates, who shall be full members of that Congress, should be nominated in writing by 6 delegates of whom at least three must be from the region. This nomination, together with a brief profile of the candidate, shall be provided to the Nominating Committee. The statement should include information on the candidate’s ability to attend the next two Congress meetings, previous experience of International Rangeland or similar Congress meetings, and the particular background or skills that will allow the candidate to make a specific contribution to the Continuing Committee;
  3. Twenty-four hours before the Final Business Meeting of the organization at that Congress, the Nominating Committee will circulate one-paragraph summaries of the candidates to the members. Separate voting for the candidates for each region will take place during the Final Business Meeting by all the full member delegates present without discussion. The President shall announce the names and geographical region of the candidates prior to voting at the Final Business Meeting;
  4. The voting may be by show of hands or secret ballot at the discretion of the President of the Continuing Committee;
  5. The President shall announce the new members of the Continuing Committee at the Final Business Meeting;
  6. The term of office for each member of the Continuing Committee shall not exceed two terms. One term means the period between successive Congresses. The terms of office shall be arranged so that half the elected members will normally retire at each Congress.

Election of President and Vice-President

  1. The Continuing Committee President shall be elected for one term from among continuing members who have previously served a term, that is, only those members who have served one term shall be eligible for election.
  2. For the purpose of electing a new President, the retiring President will convene a meeting of the newly appointed Continuing Committee and hold an election either by show of hands or secret ballot. The names should be duly proposed and seconded, and the successful candidate shall be decided by a simple majority. This meeting will be held after the Final Business Meeting.
  3. The incoming President of the Continuing Committee shall assume office at the same meeting of the Continuing Committee. The out-going President shall hand over office after reviewing the activities of the Continuing Committee during their tenure of office.
  4. The incoming President shall at this meeting hold an election for the position of Vice President. This election shall be held by hand or secret ballot, with candidates duly nominated and seconded with the successful candidate being determined by a simple majority. The Vice President shall act in place of the President on such occasions as the President’s temporary absence due to health or other matters as advised by the President, and shall assume the office of President on the resignation, permanent incapacitation or death of the existing incumbent.

Duties of the President of the Continuing Committee

The President will:

  1. Manage the affairs of the Continuing Committee in the period between Congresses including liaising with the Organizing Committee of the next Congress, circulating information to Continuing Committee members, organizing meetings, teleconferences, email discussions or other appropriate means of enabling Committee members to participate in decision-making;
  2. Manage the financial affairs of the Continuing Committee such that any income is prudently and conservatively invested (in internationally generally accepted accounting terms) and that all costs and expenses incurred are agreed to by a majority of the Continuing Committee;
  3. Cause a set of financial statements to be prepared for the period of the President’s trusteeship that would be acceptable to a registered auditor;
  4. At the President’s discretion (but taking into account any nominations at the preceding Congress under this Constitution) , appoint an alternate member from the same region to act in the event of the death of a Continuing Committee member, or their inability to fulfill their obligations, for the remainder of that person’s term Any person so appointed as a substitute will remain eligible for future election for a full two terms if they are appointed as a replacement for a second term member;
  5. Preside over the First and Final Business Meetings at the next Congress;
  6. Form a Nominating Committee for the purposes and in the manner described above for the election of Continuing Committee Members;
  7. Form a Resolutions Committee for the purposes and in the manner described below to receive and assess the suitability of Resolutions;
  8. Convene and conduct the meeting of the newly appointed Continuing Committee after the Final Business Meeting for the purpose of electing the new President and handing over office;
  9. Announce the venue for the next Congress or hold an election for this purpose as prescribed in this Constitution; and
  10. Present an address at the First Plenary Session.