Committees play a vital role in supporting the
Executive Board in achieving chapter projects and objectives. Active
involvement in committees is essential for the chapter to effectively express
our professional views on wildlife policy issues, engage with members and
students, and acknowledge the exceptional work of individuals involved in
wildlife conservation and management. All committees strive to incorporate The
Wildlife Society’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion vision into their work.
Specifically, plans to enhance diversity and provide for equity in our
organization and our programs and build an inclusive culture that respects and
values all and provides equal access to opportunities.
Membership
The membership
committee develops and implements strategies to recruit and engage a diverse
membership in the Alabama Chapter of the Wildlife Society. The committee is also responsible for
welcoming new members and help facilitate communication between members and the
executive board.
Awards
The awards
committee coordinates the necessary communication for seeking nominations for
awards, establishes a selection process and panel to review award nominations,
and prepares, acquires, and presents the award certificate. Standing awards are
the Biologist of the Year award and the Lifetime Achievement award.
Elections
The elections
committee seeks nominations for board members.
Elections are held every two years, and committee members are
responsible for preparing a slate of two candidates from the Chapter membership
for each of the elective positions:
President-Elect, Secretary/Treasurer, Representative to the Southeastern
Section, and two Members-at-Large. The committee will also oversee the ballot
and voting process.
Student Outreach
The Student
Outreach Committee engages students and graduates via the ACTWS Mentorship Program,
Southeastern Field Course Sponsorship nominations, student travel sponsorships,
presentations awards, and other programs. The committee partners with TWS
student chapters in Alabama and non-traditional programs at Alabama
universities. Student chapter presidents are automatic members of the
committee.
Conservation
Policy
The Conservation
Policy Committee reviews policies, regulations, and other subjects or issues relevant
to wildlife conservation and habitat at the local, state, and federal levels.
The committee will make recommendations to the executive board for any action
that could be taken by the Alabama Chapter and leads the drafting of letters
and policy statements, as needed. The
committee will build on relationships with state and federal regulatory
agencies in Alabama, in addition to non-profits.
Communications Committee
The Communications Committee assists in managing the
chapter website via WordPress and manages the
chapter's social media platforms. The
committee keeps the website
updated quarterly, provides content for social media sites following the
chapter posting guidelines, publishes Chapter news, and generally informs the
membership and public.