Bylaws

Article 1.0 NAME

The name of the society shall be the American Baseball Biomechanics Society.

Article 2.0 HISTORY

The American Baseball Biomechanics Society (ABBS) is a not-for-profit The American Baseball Biomechanics Society (ABBS) is a not-for-profit organization that was established in February 2020. In early February, Dr. Glenn Fleisig emailed an interest form to dozens of people considered involved with baseball biomechanics. Forty-four people responded with interest in joining the society, including 10 who expressed strong interest to be involved in the society’s formation. On February 27, 2020, a conference call was conducted among the 10 people with strong interest: Anthony Brady, Dr. Glenn Fleisig, Ben Hansen, Dr. Bryson Nakamura, Dr. Gretchen Oliver, Dr. Hillary Plummer, Dr. Jonathan Slowik, Dr. Matt Solomito, Ethan Stewart, and Megan Stewart. The society’s name was selected on that conference call. Dr. Robert Shapiro joined this founding group shortly thereafter.

Article 3.0 PURPOSE

Provide valid, valuable biomechanical information to baseball players, coaches, teams, and organizations. To set standards for sports biomechanics evaluations and analyses within a baseball setting.

Article 3.01 Diversity

The ABBS is committed to creating a culture within the society that encourages and values diverse and inclusive participation; building both a membership and a leadership of ABBS that are reflective of the communities that we represent, study, and service.

Article 4.0 MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the Society shall consist of the following classes: member, fellow, student member, and affiliate member.

Article 4.01 Member

Membership shall be open to any individual who is interested in the application of biomechanics in baseball.

Article 4.02 Fellow

The Fellow award of the American Baseball Biomechanics Society recognizes substantial scholarly and service contributions to ABBS and baseball biomechanics. ABBS members may apply to the Awards Committee for review of Fellow status by showing they meet the minimum requirements for the award. Members receiving the Fellow Award may use the title Fellow American Baseball Biomechanics Society (FABBS).

Candidates for FABBS would be required to:

  • Be nominated by a board member, executive member, or Fellow of the Society
  • ABBS membership for at least 4 consecutive years and meet at least 3 of the 4 requirements below
  • Presented at least one paper at two ABBS symposia
  • Published at least 5 papers related to baseball biomechanics
  • Served ABBS as either
    • Conference host
    • Executive board member
    • Board director
    • Significant contributor to the application of biomechanics in baseball
  • Provided substantial assistance to ABBS through any of the following
    • Financial support
    • Meeting organization
    • Advertisement or dissemination of published works to the public

Article 4.03 Student Member

Student membership shall be open to individuals who are attending institutions of learning as an undergraduate or graduate, but are not concurrently employed anywhere as a full-time employee. A student member has all the privileges of membership except holding an elected office.

Article 4.04 Affiliate Member

Affiliate membership shall be open to international and national governing bodies and societies that are interested in cooperating with the Society to achieve objectives. An affiliate member shall have the privilege of appointing one delegate to attend and vote at meetings of the Society.

Article 4.05 Emeritus Member

Emeritus Members shall be those members of the Society who are designated Emeritus Members by the Executive Board of the Society. Emeritus Member is reserved for long-standing members of the Society who have made substantial contributions to the Society and the field of baseball biomechanics. To be designated an Emeritus Member, the member must be retired from professional employment. Emeritus Members have all privileges of membership.

Article 4.06

The membership year is one calendar year.

Article 4.07

Only members in good standing may vote, stand for election or appointment to office.

Article 5.0 ADMINISTRATION

The Executive Council shall consist of 6 officers, who together with up to 8 Directors shall constitute the Board of Directors of the Society.

Article 5.01

The Executive Council shall be: President, Secretary General, Treasurer, Vice President of Conferences and Meetings, and Vice President of Social Media. The sixth officer position on the Executive Council will alternate annually between the President-Elect or the Past-President.

Article 5.02

The Officers and Directors shall serve for three-year terms except the President, who shall serve for one year as President-Elect, two years as President, and one year as Past-President.

Article 5.03

The Directors are eligible for re-election on completion of their term of office for up to a maximum of 6 consecutive years. The 6-year term limit does not apply to the terms served as an officer.

Article 5.04

Open positions for Officers of the Executive Council (President-Elect, Secretary General, Treasurer, Vice President of Conferences and Meetings, and Vice President of Social Media) shall be filled by an annual election among the Society membership. Then, at least 30 days following the Officer election, there shall be a second election held among the Society membership to fill open positions for Directors.

Article 5.05

Newly elected Officers and Directors will take office during the Annual Meeting.

Article 5.06

The first set of Directors and Executive Board members, consisting of the founding group, will be submitted for approval at the initial Annual Meeting. In order to ensure continuity, the first set of Directors and Executive Board members except for President, will serve terms of 2, 3 or 4 years. Subsequent Directors and Executive Board Members will serve 3-year terms.

Article 5.07

If for some reason one of the Officer positions is not filled by election, then the newly elected Board of Directors will appoint someone to the position.

Article 5.08

Vacancies occurring on the Executive Council of the Board of Directors shall be filled by appointment by the Executive Council. Appointees shall serve only for the duration of the terms of the previous incumbents.

Article 5.09

The Executive Council and the Board of Directors shall meet at least once annually.

Article 5.10

Other meetings or conference calls of the Executive Council and the Board of Directors may be called by the President or upon the written request of five (5) Officers and/or Directors.

Article 5.11

The Board of Directors may empower the Executive Council to act with the full authority of the Board.

Article 5.12

The Executive Council shall be empowered to appoint ABBS members to represent the Society at special gatherings and events.

Article 5.13

All members of the Society may attend meetings of the Board of Directors, and may participate in the discussions, but only Directors may propose or second motions and vote.

Article 5.14

The Board of Directors shall establish the dues for various categories of membership.

Article 6.0 DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Article 6.01 President

The chief executive officer, the President, generally shall supervise the affairs of the Society and perform all duties incident to the office and those prescribed from time to time by the Executive Council and Board of Directors. This includes internal workings within the society as well as external interactions with other societies, organizations, companies, sponsors, individuals, and the media. Ex-officio, the President shall be a member of all Committees and shall chair the Membership Committee.

Article 6.02 President-Elect

The President-Elect shall serve one year in this position, before assuming the position of President. The term of President-Elect shall coincide with the final year of his/her predecessor’s final year as President. The President-Elect shall assist the President in the performance of his/her duties, and in the absence of the President, shall perform the duties of that office.

Article 6.03 Past President

The President shall serve as Past President for one year, immediately upon conclusion of his/her term as President. The Past President shall assist the President in the performance of his/her duties, and in the absence of the President, shall perform the duties of that office.

Article 6.04 Vice President of Conferences and Meetings

The Vice President of Conferences and Meetings shall be responsible for planning, coordination and implementation of conferences, clinics, tutorials, workshops and meetings. The Vice President of Conferences and Meetings shall have the overall responsibility for the Annual Symposium and shall function as Co-Chairperson of the local Symposium Committee, together with the local Symposium Chair.

Article 6.05 Vice President of Social Media

The Vice President of Social Media shall function as the Chairperson of the Social Media Committee, which is responsible for publicizing the activities and accomplishments of the Society and its members through social media. The Vice President of Social Media is also responsible for publications among ABBS members, such as newsletters.

Article 6.06 Secretary General

The Secretary General shall be custodian of the official documents and records and shall maintain the files of the Society, including the membership roster, which shall be maintained jointly with the Treasurer. 

Article 6.07 Treasurer

The Treasurer shall be the chief financial officer and shall maintain appropriate bank accounts and financial records of the Society and shall jointly maintain the membership roster with the Secretary General. The Treasurer shall prepare a fiscal year-end audited financial statement, to be submitted to the Annual Meeting. The Treasurer shall prepare a budget for the forthcoming year for approval by the Board of Directors. Other duties of the Treasurer are outlined in the appropriate Policy Manual. 

Article 6.08 Directors

The needs and interests of the Society shall determine the function of the Directors.

Article 6.09 Executive Council

ABBS Executive Council will provide and update from time to time the documentation on policies to regulate activities of the Society’s Committees. Policies expressed in the appropriate Policy Manuals will be required to be followed for all business of the Society. All Policy Manuals will be available to the members via a link on the Society website. The policies related to the selection, organization, and delivery of the annual conference, are required to be followed by the host.

Article 7.0 STANDING COMMITTEES

Committees named in these Bylaws shall be designated as Standing Committees and shall function on a continuing basis. They shall carry out duties, and report as hereinafter specified.

Article 7.01

Unless provided otherwise, the Chairpersons of Standing Committees shall select the members thereof, and shall report to the Executive Council, Board of Directors, or Annual Meeting as appropriate.

Article 7.02 Standing Committees

The Standing Committees shall be: Nominations, Social Media, Conferences and Meetings, and Bylaws.

Article 7.03 Nominations Committee

The Chairperson shall be the Past President/ President-Elect. The remaining committee members will be the Secretary General and two Directors. The Committee shall receive and solicit nominations for the positions of the President-Elect and Directors to ensure that all positions on the Board of Directors are filled. The Committee shall attempt to provide at least two nominations for each position. The slate of nominees shall be submitted each year to the Secretary General.

Article 7.04 Social Media Committee

The chair shall be the Vice President of Social Media and shall include at least two members appointed by the Chairperson. The Committee shall be responsible for publicizing activities and accomplishments of the Society and its members on social media, as well as communications among members of the Society.

Article 7.05 Conference and Meetings Committee

The chair shall be the Vice President of Conferences and Meetings, who shall appoint committee members as required. The Vice President of Conferences and Meetings shall be responsible for arranging conference venue and hosts, review conference abstracts, and establish the conference agenda.

Article 7.06 Bylaws Committee

The chair shall be the President. The Chairperson shall appoint members as required. The Committee shall review the Bylaws in relation to the current structure and functioning of the Society and propose appropriate amendments to improve the Society.

8.0 QUORUMS AND VOTING

A quorum for meetings of the Executive Council shall be five (5) officers.

Article 8.01

A quorum for meetings of the Board of Directors shall be one third of the incumbent Directors plus one (1).

Article 8.02

A quorum for the Annual General Meeting shall be the lesser of 25% or 25 duly qualified members in good standing.

Article 8.03

Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern proceedings at all meetings of the Society. If the rules of order are in conflict with the Bylaws, the latter shall prevail.

Article 9.0 ANNUAL MEETING OF ABBS

The Annual Meeting of the Society may be held in conjunction with the holding of the Annual Symposium.

Article 9.01

The Order of Business at the Annual Meeting shall be as provided in the Regulations.

Article 9.02

Auditors shall be appointed for the next fiscal year.

Article 9.03

The Annual Meeting of the Society may be held in conjunction with a meeting of any other Society.
 

Article 10.0 AMENDMENTS

The Bylaws may be amended with approval of 2/3 majority of the members voting in an email poll or 2/3 of the members present at the Annual Meeting providing a quorum is achieved.

Article 10.01

All amendments to the Bylaws must be provided to members one month prior to voting.

Article 10.02

The email voting period is defined as 30 days from the posting of the email to all financial members.

Article 10.03

Proxy votes from financial members will be accepted at Annual Meeting voting, provided that the President receives such votes two weeks prior to the commencement of the Annual Symposium.