1. The purpose of the region is to promote the general objectives of the International Biometric Society in the countries and territories of Central America and the Caribbean and to promote and extend the use of mathematical and statistical methods in pure and applied biological services.

2. There shall be two classes of membership: Ordinary members and Observing members. Ordinary members have the rights and status established in the International Biometric Society By-Laws and in these Regional By-Laws. Classification of Ordinary members is according to that provided by the International Biometric Society By-Laws.

3. Regional Ordinary membership is open to individuals with residence in the countries and territories of Central America and the Caribbean Zone who have a substantial interest in development and application of mathematical and statistical methods in pure and applied natural sciences.

These include countries or territories lying in the Caribbean Sea, all Central American countries, and all South American countries with a Caribbean or Atlantic coastline between and including Colombia and Guyana. Scientists from Suriname and French Guyana may also apply for membership.

Also residents of the countries of Central American and the Caribbean living abroad who wish to maintain their Ordinary membership status in the Central American Region may do so if they continue to pay their regional dues and are not active Ordinary members of other Groups or Regions of the Society.

4. There may be Observing members of the Region who are members of other regions, groups, or members at large of the International Biometric Society who desire to contribute to the objectives and development of the region.

5. The Observing members may attend the General Assembly meeting with voice but no vote. They do not pay regional dues or receive Biometrics (except through their own Region, Group or At Large memberships).

6. The functioning bodies of the Region are the General Assembly and the Regional Committee.

7. The General Assembly shall be comprised of all Ordinary and Observing members of the Region. The general assembly will meet once every two years at a place established by the Regional Committee. The functions of the General Assembly are to: (1) elect the members of the Regional Committee according to the statutes of the International Society and these By-Laws, (2) receive and discuss the Regional Committee reports, (3) propose and debate the core activities of the Region, and (4) propose and debate modifications of the Regional By-Laws.

8. Those attending the General Assembly can make recommendations to the Regional Committee and call a vote on issues that concern the Society.

9. In the case that there are written requests from a minimum of eight members of the Region, the Secretary-Treasurer will bring to vote by written ballot among all the Ordinary members of the Region an issue or issues which concern(s) the Society. The issue(s) must be distributed to the Ordinary members at least five weeks before the deadline set by the Secretary-Treasurer for his/her receipt of the written ballots. Ballots may be sent by mail, e-mail, or fax. A simple majority of all of the voting members is required to pass the motion(s) upon which the vote is being taken.

10. The Regional Committee shall be composed of a President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Biometrics Bulletin Correspondent, and whatever member(s) of the Council of the Society that belongs to the Region.

11. The membership of the Region shall elect at the biennial Regional Conference, a Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer and Bulletin Correspondent. The Vice-President shall serve for one year, then automatically succeed to the office of President for a two-year period, and finally serve a further term of one year as Vice-President. A vacancy in the Presidency shall be filled by the Vice-President. The Secretary-Treasurer and Bulletin Correspondent will be eligible for

re-election. The term of each of these offices shall be four years.

12. The Regional Committee shall have power to fill casual vacancies in their number. Any member so appointed shall hold office only for the unexpired terms of the predecessor, but shall be eligible for immediate re-election.

13. Nominations for vacant offices should be received by the Secretary-Treasurer at least one month before the biennial Regional Conference and must be accompanied by a written declaration from the nominee that he or she is willing to serve. If there is more than one nomination for any position, an election will be held at the Regional Conference.

14. The Regional Committee shall receive nominations of candidates for membership to the Region, and the Secretary-Treasurer shall forward those deemed appropriate to the International Secretary.

15. It is the responsibility of the Regional Committee to call for the meetings of the Assembly and supervise the organization of the biennial Regional Conference for the presentation of scientific papers dealing with Biometry and the development of other activities of training and furtherance of Biometry in the Region.

16. The Secretary-Treasurer shall compile all of the information related to the biometric activities in the Region and send them to the International Secretary or other interested parties which seem appropriate. Also, the Secretary-Treasurer shall inform the members of the Region by whatever methods deemed appropriate about activities related to Biometry that are developing in the countries and territories of the Region.

17. The financial obligations and rights of the members of the Region shall be those established by the Statutes and Council of the International Society

18. The International dues of each member are laid down from time to time by the Council. A small add-on to these International dues (subject to International Biometric Society approval) may be authorized by the Regional Committee to finance regional activities. Dues are payable to the Regional Secretary-Treasurer on joining and subsequently on January 1 of each year, unless joining was later than October 1, in which case the next dues shall fall due fourteen months later. Dues must be paid by March 31 in order to continue uninterrupted Biometrics delivery. The Regional Secretary will send International dues to the International Treasurer only for those individuals who have paid their local dues.

19. The Regional Secretary-Treasurer shall, on behalf of the Regional Committee, transmit to the General Council such portion of the dues as shall from time to time be determined by the Council.

20. The membership of any member whose dues are three or more years in arrears may be terminated on a vote of the Regional Committee. No application to rejoin the Society shall be entertained until the unpaid dues have been discharged.

21. During the month of March each year the Secretary-Treasurer shall circulate to members an annual report for the previous year and a statement of the Region’s finances for that year prepared by the Secretary-Treasurer and audited by an Honorary Auditor appointed by the President. The Honorary Auditor shall not be a member of the Regional Committee or be a resident of the same country as the Secretary-Treasurer.

22. The Regional Committee may from time to time recommend a revision of the By- Laws of the Region. In such cases, a written ballot must be distributed to the ordinary members by the Secretary-Treasurer and the number responding must be at least fifty per cent of the number of Ordinary members to be a valid election. The number of votes for revision must exceed 2/3 of the number voting in order for revisions to pass. The recommended revisions and the supporting reasons must be distributed by the Secretary-Treasurer to the ordinary members of the Region at least five weeks before the deadline set by the Secretary/Treasurer for his/her receipt of the written ballots. Ballots may be sent by mail, e-mail or fax.