Justice, Equity and Risk

Join JERSG!

The Justice, Equity and Risk Specialty Group (JERSG) of SRA general
membership meetings are held the last Monday of each month from 12:00 to 12:30
pm EST.  To access meetings, please select JERSG as one of your specialty
groups by:

1. Login to SRA member area
2. Enter your username and password
3. Click ‘Login’ button
4. Select ‘COMMITTEES & GROUPS’
5. Scroll down under ‘Committees Available for Membership Header’ and pay

the $15 fee (waivers may be available based on need; contact the JERSG chair
for more information).

If you need help with membership and logon, please contact Jennifer
Rosenberg at jrosenberg@burkinc.com.

 

JUSTICE, EQUITY AND RISK SPECIALTY GROUP BY-LAWS

I. Purpose

The Justice, Equity and Risk Specialty Group (JERSG) of the Society for Risk Analysis (SRA) provides a forum for SRA members interested in

• Identifying disparities in risks experienced by specific subpopulations and sources of those disparities 
• Informing the scientific community about issues related to justice and equity in the distribution of risks
• Collaborating to empower other SRA members to further address justice and equity concerns within their purview
• Discussing and recommending approaches to address and/or mitigate disparities in exposure to risk

II. Members of the JERSG

Members shall consist of all people with an interest in justice and equity matters pertaining to risk who indicate a desire to be members by submitting their names to the JERSG Chair, and who pay the annual dues to the Society for Risk Analysis. It is the option of the JERSG Executive Committee to request dues for membership to the JERSG. Payment of annual dues to the specialty group is required only for officers and voting members.  A waiver of dues can be requested to the JERSG Executive Committee based on financial need.  Documentation to support a claim of financial need is not necessary to grant such a request.

III. Meetings of Members

Annual meetings of the JERSG will be held in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the Society for Risk Analysis. Announcements of the annual meetings will be included in the printed program of the Society.

IV. Government of the JERSG

1. Four officers will comprise an executive committee to govern the JERSG: Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary/Treasurer; and a Young Professional (Graduate Student/Postdoctoral/Early Career) Representative.
2. Two “upcoming” officers (Secretary/Treasurer and Young Professional) will be non-voting members of the executive committee.  
3. The duties of these officers are:

Chair: Chair an Annual JERSG Meeting at the Annual Meeting of the Society for Risk Analysis, work with SRA officials to organize JERSG meetings or panels, take other actions requested by the JERSG’s Officers or that are in the interest of the JERSG, and consult the SRA Specialty Group Guidance. Coordinate and encourage development of symposia for the annual meeting and solicit and track ideas for presentations at open teleconferences or other activities of the group. The Chair assists with new Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer transitions.  

Vice-Chair: Coordinates and administers the yearly student award program. This should include publicizing the award program, collecting submissions, forming, and chairing a committee to select the winners, informing the winners, and distributing the awards. The Vice-Chair may stand in for the president at a meeting should the president be unavailable. After completing a one-year term, the Vice-Chair will become Chair for a one-year term.

Secretary/Treasurer: Maintain a record of actions of the JERSG meeting and coordinate as appropriate with the SRA Secretariat to arrange JERSG meetings. Maintain JERSG financial records and communicate relevant information to the JERSG membership.

Young Professional (Graduate Student/Postdoctoral/Early Career) Representative: Solicit nominations for the yearly student award program. Serve as a conduit for input to the Executive Committee on issues of interest to young professionals, graduate students, and postdoctoral research associates in risk analysis. To be eligible, this individual must, at the time of nomination, be either (a) enrolled in a post-baccalaureate Master’s or Doctoral degree program relevant to risk analysis (in the case of a Graduate Student) or (b) employed in a non-tenure track, temporary position (such as a postdoctoral research associate) within 3 years of receiving his/her PhD. This person may be nominated for a second term if they are still eligible. 

Upcoming Secretary/Treasurer: Attend Executive Committee Meetings to become familiar with operations of JERSG prior to assuming responsibilities of an office. The “upcoming” Secretary/Treasurer may assume the responsibilities of the designated office at any time if the corresponding officer is unable to complete their term or if the Vice Chair moves into the Chair’s position.  

Upcoming Young Professional (Graduate Student/Postdoctoral/Early Career) Representative: Attend Executive Committee Meetings to become familiar with operations of JERSG prior to assuming responsibilities of an office. Assist the current Young Professional with their duties as needed. The “upcoming” Secretary/Treasurer may assume the responsibilities of the designated office at any time if the corresponding officer is unable to complete their term or if the Vice Chair moves into the Chair’s position. To be eligible, this individual must, at the time of nomination, be either (a) enrolled in a post-baccalaureate Master’s or Doctoral degree program relevant to risk analysis (in the case of a Graduate Student) or (b) employed in a non-tenure track, temporary position (such as a postdoctoral research associate) within 3 years of receiving his/her PhD. 

JERSG Executive Committee: Fill vacancies in any office including its own membership until the next election; nominate candidates for officer positions and solicit nominations from the membership; propose amendments to these bylaws or receive petitions for changes in the bylaws; make decisions and recommendations for any other business of the JERSG; encourage and promote the advancement of issues related to environmental justice; establish liaisons where appropriate with other societies and groups engaged in similar or related activities; and interpret these bylaws. Liaisons with other societies or groups will be members of the JERSG Executive Committee or appointees of the Executive Committee. Executive Committee member will consult the SRA Specialty Group Guidance regarding any changes in bylaws or operating procedures. 

V. JERSG Elections

1. Notice of Elections and Nominations: 

On or around October 1, JERSG officers shall communicate to the membership that nominations are being accepted for officers to be voted on at the December Annual Meeting. JERSG Officers may choose to inform JERSG members of the nominations through the RISK Newsletter or other means. Elections are held for Vice Chair, Upcoming Secretary/Treasurer, and Upcoming Young Professional (Graduate Student/Post-Doctoral/Early Career) Representative.  The position Chair is automatically filled by the Vice-Chair at the end of the Chair’s term. Nominations are accepted up to and including the time of the JERSG meeting at the SRA Annual Meeting.

2. Election Process: 

Election of officers at the JERSG Meeting shall be by confidential ballot, with the elected officers taking office at the conclusion of the SRA Annual Meeting. Officers shall be elected by a plurality vote. In the case of a tie, the winner will be chosen by drawing lots. 

1. If there is only one nominee for any position, the Chair may move to accept said nominee without formal balloting. If any JERSG member present at the meeting objects, the election shall proceed in the usual way, i.e., by confidential ballot.
2. If no nominations for the position of Vice Chair are made, the Executive Committee, at its discretion, will (1) appoint one of the Officers to this position for a term ending at the next annual business meeting of the JERSG or (2) appoint another JERSG member to the position of rotational Vice Chair for that year.
3. If no nominations for Upcoming Secretary/Treasurer or Upcoming Young Professional Representative are made, the vacant position will be appointed by the Executive Committee (1) from the Officers or (2) if no Officer is willing to accept the vacant position, then from the JERSG general membership, for a term ending at the next annual business meeting of the JERSG.
4. Question or conflicts regarding any election shall be settled by the Executive Committee.
5. In the event that an officer is unable or unwilling to complete their term of office, the upcoming pending officer will be designated to fill the position. If the pending officer is unable to become an officer, the Executive Committee may fill the vacancy with an individual of their choosing on an interim basis until the next election, at which time a replacement (possibly the individual selected for the interim) will be elected to fill the remaining term of the officer.

3. The terms of office for JERSG Officers are:

Chair: 1 year. 

Vice Chair: 1 year, after which she or he succeeds to Chair

Secretary/Treasurer: 1 year.

Pending Secretary/Treasurer: 1 year, after which she or he succeeds to Secretary/Treasurer

Young Professional (Graduate Student/Postdoctoral Representative/Early Career) Representative: 1 year.

Pending Young Professional (Graduate Student/Postdoctoral Representative/Early Career) Representative: 1 year.

VI. Amendments to the Bylaws

Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed at any time by the Executive Committee or by petition containing signatures of 25% of paid JERSG members (including any who have received waivers of membership dues), or by majority vote of the participants at the annual JERSG Business Meeting. Amendments to these bylaws may be enacted by either (1) a majority vote of responding JERSG members via email or standard mail or (2) a majority vote of JERSG members attending the annual JERSG business meeting. The intent of these rules is to allow changes to bylaws to occur at the annual business meeting, immediately following a proposal to change the bylaws at the same meeting, as well as at times other than the annual meeting, where necessary. Although the rules allow for the proposal and enactment of changes at the annual meeting, the Executive Committee is encouraged to provide at least 30 days of notice to the membership of its intent to enact changes to the bylaws at the annual meeting. 

VI. Implementation of Bylaws

These bylaws will initially take effect when approved by the SRA Council.  Subsequent amendments will take effect as described in Section V.