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Young Forensic Scientists Forum Newsletter - July, 1999 Structures and
Bylaws of YFSF: Progress Report |
| One of the main goals of the Young Forensic
Scientist Forum for 1999 is to develop and implement a formal organizational structure and
bylaws. During the annual meeting of the AAFS in Orlando (February 1999), the YFSF
Steering Committee met and outlined preliminary ideas for the organizational structure and
bylaws. The next step is to develop, refine and fill in the gaps of this preliminary plan.
Once the YFSF has a finalized plan it will be presented to the AAFS for approval.
The YFSF is currently in the second stage (development and refinement) of the structure and bylaws. As other individuals who have been involved in the development of a new organization know, these early steps are both the most important and the hardest to accomplish. During this process, it seems that as soon as one issue is addressed a new area is revealed. For example, the expanding programs and sessions conducted by the YFSF require a budget, which in turn requires a treasurer position, as well as oversight of the treasurer. Other considerations include having not only requirements for admission to the YFSF and serving on the YFSF committees, but also protocols for removal of individuals from office. In an attempt to cover these areas as completely as possible, the writing and refining of the structure and bylaws has become a much larger project than previously anticipated. The limited experience of the young forensic scientists drafting these documents has increased the difficulty of the task, but the advice and assistance of experienced forensic scientists has helped the YFSF in many areas. Some of the areas that have been addressed so far are: officers, committees, requirements for committee participation, requirements for officers, term limits and progression, committee member duties and responsibilities, protocols for removal, budgetary requirements and a mission statement. The current committee members and officers of the YFSF feel strongly that this structure and bylaws will define the YFSF both internally and in the eyes of the forensic community. Therefore the YFSF is striving to ensure that the final document(s) are well written, easily comprehensible and will serve the YFSF of both today and 50 years from now. The YFSF plans to have a finalized document in the next few months, which can be presented to the AAFS and then be implemented. |
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© 1999 Young Forensic Scientists Forum / American Academy of Forensic Sciences |