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Charter on the Section of Risk Analysis

History

Risk Analysis is a relatively new section of the American Statistical Association. The section grew out of an ASA committee, advisory to the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission. A prime mover in the establishment of the Section is Professor Bernard Harris (University of Wisconsin). Bernie was the first Chair of the Section (and is currently the Section's Representative to the ASA Council of Sections). Other members of the initial Executive Committee included Lee R. Abramson (U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission), Robert F. Bordley (General Motors Research Laboratories), Harry F. Martz (Los Alamos National Laboratory), Lisa Weissfeld (University of Pittsburgh), and Stanley L. Sclove (University of Illinois at Chicago).

Section business meetings, with two short invited scientific presentations, were held at the 1994 Joint Statistical Meetings, Toronto and the 1995 Joint Statistical Meetings, Orlando. The section participated more extensively in JSM96/Chicago.

At JSM97/Anaheim, the Section hosted three sessions, two Invited Sessions (including "The Many Faces of Risk in the 21st Century", in keeping with the theme of JSM97, "Shaping Statistics for Success in the 21st Century") and one Contributed Paper Session and sponsored or co-sponsored six other sessions (including "Applications of Decision Analysis in the Pharmaceutical Industry").

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Mission

• to study and develop the methododology of risk analysis and risk assessment
• to develop their applications to various subject matter areas.

Specific activities of the Section shall include, but not be limited to:

• organizing sessions at meetings of the ASA
• conducting workshops
• sponsoring joint meetings with other professional societies
• sponsoring sessions at meetings of other professional societies publishing newsletters and scientific articles
• establishing committees and advisory groups for government agencies and other nonprofit bodies.

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Charter on the Section of Risk Analysis

Specific activities of the Section shall include, but not be limited to: organizing sessions at meetings of the American Statistical Association, conducting workshops, sponsoring joint meetings with other professional societies, sponsoring sessions at meetings of other professional societ-ies, publishing newsletters and scientific articles, and establishing committees and advisory groups for government agencies and other nonprofit bodies.

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The membership year for each member of the Section shall coincide with that member's membership year in the Association.

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The Program Chair shall be responsible for developing and coordinating the Section's sessions and other program events at national and regional meetings of the Association. The Program Chair serves as a member of the Executive Committee and also as a member of the Association's Program Committee.

The Program Chair-elect shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee and assist the Program Chair.

The Publications Officer shall serve as a member of the Executive Committee and also as the Section's representative on Association committees concerned with section publication matters. The Publications Officer shall coordinate activities within the Section related to publications sponsored by the Section. The Publications Officer shall solicit the views of the Section's members concerning the content and operation of the Association's journals and shall bring those views to the attention of the Editors. When requested by the Editors, the Publications Officer shall assist in soliciting, reading, and editing articles on risk analysis and risk assessment for publication in the Association's journals.

The Representatives to the Council of Sections shall serve as members of the Executive Committee and shall represent the interests of the Section and its members on matters that come before the Council of Sections.

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The Executive Committee of the Section shall consist of the officers of the Section and the immediate past Chair of the Section. Between business meetings the management of the affairs of the Section shall be in the hands of the Executive Committee, subject to such standing rules as the business meeting may from time to time provide.

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If the office of Chair becomes vacant, the Chair-elect shall become the Chair, the term extending through the following year. The same principle of succession shall apply if the office of Program Chair becomes vacant. Vacancies in other offices shall be filled by appointment by the Chair with the approval of the Executive Committee.

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No officer shall be eligible for immediate re-election to the same office except the Secretary/Treasurer.

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1. Types. The Committees of the Section shall consist of the Executive Committee, Standing Committees provided by this Charter, and such Standing or Current Committees as the Chair and the Executive Committee may establish.
   
   
2. Membership. The term of membership on Standing and Current Committees, if not otherwise specified in this Charter, shall be three years. Initial terms shall be set by the Chair for one, two, or three years so that, as nearly as possible, one-third of the members shall be appointed each year. No member may serve on a committee for more than six consecutive years without specific approval by the Executive Committee, except for ex officio members. Members of committees shall serve until their successors are appointed or elected.
   
   Unless otherwise specified in this Charter, each committee shall be governed by a chair appointed by the Chair of the Section. All members of Standing Committees, as well as the chairs of Current Committees, shall be members of the Section.
   
   
3. Normal Time of Appointment. In order that new members of Standing and Current Committees may begin work promptly, the Chair-elect shall normally designate these members. If possible, the designations shall be made at least two months prior to the time when the new committee members take office.
   
   
4. Standing Committees. The three Standing Committees provided by this Charter are as follows:
   
   A. Committee on Nominations. The Committee on Nominations shall consist of the immediate past Chair of the Section, who serves as chair of the Committee, and three other members, one appointed each year by the chair of the Committee. The Committee shall submit nominations for officers as provided in Article VI of this Charter. Members of the Committee are not eligible for nomination by the Committee.
   
   B. Committee to Nominate Fellows. The Committee to Nominate Fellows shall consist of three members. Each year the Committee shall identify members of the Section who would be suitable nominees for the honor of Fellow of the American Statistical Association (as described in the By-Laws of the Association) and shall coordinate preparation and submission of the nominations.
   
   C. Charter Committee. Not more than three years after adoption of this Charter, the Chair shall appoint a Charter Committee for the purpose of reviewing the Charter of the Section. If necessary, the Charter Committee shall prepare a revision to be submitted to the Section not more than five years after the adoption of this Charter, in accordance with Article XI of this Charter. In the event that the Committee undertakes a major revision of the Charter, the Executive Committee may extend the life of the current Charter one year at a time.
   
   In addition to the Standing Committees provided by this Charter, the Chair, with the approval of the Executive Committee, may establish Standing Committees. Such Standing Committees may be dissolved by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.
   
   Each Standing Committee must submit an annual report to the Executive Committee.
   
   
5. Current Committees. Current Committees may be established to serve a particular need or interest of the Section. The life of a Current Committee may not exceed five years without a review of its need by the Executive Committee. Any committee that is to continue for more than one year must have a charge approved by the Executive Committee. Each Current Committee must submit an annual report to the Executive Committee.
   
   Current Committees established in accordance with this article may be dissolved at any time by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.

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Article IX. PUBLICATIONS

Editors for Section publications shall be members of the Section and shall be appointed by the Chair with the approval of the Executive Committee.

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The Executive Committee shall meet at the annual meeting of the Association. It may also hold additional meetings at times and places designated by the Chair with the consent of the Executive Committee. Meetings shall be held at the call of the Chair or by vote of two-thirds of the Executive Committee. Between meetings the Executive Committee may conduct business by mail, telephone, or other electronic means.

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1. Proposal. Amendments to this Charter may be proposed by the Executive Committee or by a petition signed by at least 25 members of the Section. An amendment originating by petition shall be referred to the Executive Committee, which shall vote on its recommendation regarding ratification. Periodic revisions, as provided for in Article VIII, shall be referred to the Executive Committee, which may recommend ratification as a whole or in parts. The Executive Committee may also decide upon the final wording of a proposed amendment, as long as such wording is consistent with the original intent of the petition.
   
   
2. Ratification. All proposed amendments shall be submitted to the members of the Section for mail vote at the time of the next annual election of officers. If approved by a majority of the members voting, the amendment shall take effect immediately. A copy of the amendment shall be filed with the Secretary of the Association.

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This material prepared by:

Prof. Stanley L. Sclove
Information & Decision Sciences Dept. M/C 294
University of Illinois at Chicago
601 S. Morgan Street
Chicago, IL 60607-7124, USA
Office (312) 996-2681
Department (312) 996-2676
Fax (312) 413-0385
E-mail slsclove@uic.edu

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Revised: March 14, 2007