The mission of the Membrane Fusion, Fission & Traffic Subgroup (formerly Exocytosis & Endocytosis) is to further the understanding of the basic mechanisms of membrane fusion, fission and traffic. The research interest includes exocytosis, synaptic transmission and plasticity, endocytosis, intracellular trafficking, organelle & cell fusion or fission, cargo release, exosome secretion, viral entry, and any other process related to membrane fusion, fission and trafficking. Our subgroup seeks to accelerate progress by facilitating exchange of ideas and collaborations. We organize a yearly symposium in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the Biophysical Society, and the symposium is followed by a dinner and a social mixer. The subgroup sponsors the Bernard Katz Award, which recognizes outstanding scientific careers in the field of membrane fusion, fission and traffic.
In order to join the Membrane Fusion, Fission & Traffic Subgroup, you must be a member of the Society.
Exocytosis and Endocytosis Subgroup Bylaws
Article I
Purpose: The purpose of the Membrane Fusion, Fission & Traffic Subgroup (formerly Exocytosis & Endocytosis) is to promote the interchange of information about membrane fusion, fission and traffic among members of this Subroup and between this Subroup and others interested in fusion, fission and traffic, and to foster the advance of knowledge about membrane fusion, fission and traffic.
Article II
Membership: Members of the Biophysical Society may join the Membrane Fusion, Fission & Traffic Subgroup; non-members of the Biophysical Society are welcome to attend Membrane Fusion, Fission & Traffic Subgroup symposia but are unable to join the Subgroup, serve as Officers of the Subgroup, or vote.
Article III
Dissolution: The Membrane Fusion, Fission & Traffic Subgroup must be in accordance with the Biophysical Society’s constitution and bylaws, mission, values, goals, and operational guidelines. If the subgroup is found in violation of their bylaws or Society’s guidelines, the group will be placed on probation and may be dissolved at the discretion of the Council of the Biophysical Society.
Article IV
Meetings: Business meetings shall be held in connection with the annual scientific meeting of the Biophysical Society. Five percent of the members of the Membrane Biophysics Subgroup or 10 members, whichever is smaller, shall constitute a quorum. Scientific meetings shall be held in association with the annual Biophysical Society meetings, and must follow the guidelines established by the BPS Council.
Article V
Officers: The Officers of the Subgroup will be the Subgroup Chair, the Past Chair, the Chair-Elect, and the Secretary-Treasurer.
Duties of the Subgroup Chair are to organize and conduct Subgroup Meetings and to advise the Biophysical Society of the activities and needs of the Subgroup. The Chair also advises the Society on matters related to membrane fusion, fission and traffic, and any other activities the Chair deems to be beneficial to the Subgroup and to the Society. The Chair is to consult other members of the Executive Committee in organizing Subgroup Meetings.
The Secretary-Treasurer is elected for a two-year term and is responsible for maintaining adequate records of membership and finances, and carrying out necessary correspondence. The Chair-Elect makes the technical arrangements for the Subgroup Meetings and administers Subgroup elections.
After a new Chair-Elect is elected, the Chair will become the Past Chair and the former Chair-Elect will become the Chair and appoint two new members to the Executive Committee, each for one-year terms, to represent the breadth of research interests of the Subgroup membership. The two appointed members of the Executive Committee are ineligible to be reappointed for next two years but may be elected to Chair-elect position.
Article VI
Executive Committee: The Executive Committee will be responsible for fulfilling the scientific and business obligations of the group. The Executive Committee will consist of the four Officers and two appointed members. The Executive Committee shall have the power to conduct business by means of electronic vote. The affairs of the Subgroup shall be handled by the Officers in accordance with the policies determined by the Executive Committee and the Biophysical Society Council.
Article VII
Nominating Committee: The members of the Executive Committee shall constitute the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee is responsible for soliciting nominations from subgroup membership and for preparing the final slate of candidates. Nominations will be received electronically up to one month prior to the Subgroup’s business meeting. Nominees must accept their nomination prior to being placed on a ballot. It is the intent of the Subgroup that the Chair shall be rotated so as to fairly represent the different specialties within the membership
Article VIII
Eligibility for Office: Only members of the Membrane Fusion, Fission & Traffic Subgroup may be candidates for offices. Members may not be elected to one office more than every five years.
Article IX
Elections: Elections will be held electronically up to two weeks prior to the Subgroup’s business meeting. The candidates for each office receiving the highest number of votes will be elected. The results will be announced to the Subgroup’s membership during the Subgroup’s business meeting. Officers will take office at the end of the annual business meeting held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the Biophysical Society. Interim vacancies in officers or councilors will be filled in accordance with Bylaw Article VII of the Biophysical Society.
Article X
Awards Committee: An awards committee will solicit nominations through a call to all subgroup members, evaluate nominations, and select awardees. The committee’s selection criteria will be based on scientific excellence first but must also consider diversity.
Article XI
Annual Award: An award shall be presented at the Annual Subgroup Meeting to honor an individual who has made outstanding contributions to the field of exocytosis and/or endocytosis. It is the intention of the Subgroup that award recipients be rotated so as to fairly represent the different specialties within the membership. It is also the intention of the Subgroup to give the Award on occasion to Investigators who are in relatively early stages of their career. Individuals do not have to be members of the Membrane Fusion, Fission & Traffic Subgroup to be eligible for the Award. The amount of money or other financial consideration (travel expenses, etc.) associated with the award, if any, is decided by a majority vote of the Award Committee based upon the resources of the Subgroup. The Chair of the Award Committee will solicit nominations for the Award from the Subgroup membership. The Award recipient must receive at least three votes from the five-member Award Committee. If necessary, multiple “runoff” elections may be held until an individual receives the required three votes. The Award recipient should be chosen within approximately one month of the election of the new Chair-Elect in order to allow time for the Award recipient to make plans to attend the Annual Meeting.
Article XII
Amendments to the Bylaws: Amendments to the bylaws of the Membrane Fusion, Fission & Traffic Subgroup must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Subgroup’s Executive Committee, and ratified in an electronic ballot by a majority of the members of the group voting. Proposals for new or amended Bylaws shall be submitted to the Chair-Elect for consideration at the Annual Meeting.