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All About Birds
AOS Committees
The American Ornithological Society (AOS) has many standing committees that conduct much of the business of the organization. These committees are composed of dedicated volunteers who contribute their time and expertise to the benefit of the society, its individual members, and ornithology as a whole.
There are also ad hoc committees which are groups that are later voted on to be standing committees or not.
For questions that are directed to a specific committee, contact the individual committee chairs via info@americanornithology.org. Please designate the subject line as the following: "(Specific Committee/Person) - Inquiry Regarding ____"
If you are interested in joining an AOS committee, please send any inquries to Andy Jones, AOS Secretary.
Audit
Chair: Doug Phillips
Directs, reviews, and presents findings of the independent annual financial review or audit to Council. Provides oversight of financial reporting and disclosures, recommends changes in practices or reporting, and alerts Council to any problems raised by the auditors.
Bird Collections
Co-Chairs: John Bates and Carla Cicero.
Monitors the status and promotes improvements of scientific collections of avian materials. Works with the Ornithological Council to facilitate collections-based research, including providing information on permits, protocols, preparation techniques, and supplies. Occasionally sponsors workshops on these topics.
Birds of North America Liaison
Chair: Scott Johnson
Reviews the Birds of North America website and provides oversight on functioning of the BNA-AOS partnership. Recommends improvements that maintain scientific value and add value and usability to the website.
Bylaws
Chair: Francie Cuthbert
Oversees the process of changing the AOS Bylaws that govern the operations of the society.
Classification and Nomenclature - NACC
Chairs: Terry Chesser
Keeps abreast of and adds to the systematics, nomenclature, and distribution of North and Middle American birds. Publishes the Checklist of North and Middle American Birds, including supplements (online and print).
Classification and Nomenclature - SACC
Chair: J. V. Remsen, Jr.
Keeps abreast of and contributes to the systematics, nomenclature and distribution of South American birds. Produces products that provide ready access to such information, including the Checklist of South American Birds.
Communications Advisory
Chair: Kathi Borgmann
Develops, oversees, and evaluates strategies for communication via the American Ornithology website and associated social media to advance AOS' mission and deliver timely and relevant content to audiences who use information generated by ornithologists.
Conservation
Chair: Pete Marra
Identifies and implements appropriate means for AOS to promote sound ornithological science for making conservation and management decisions for birds.
Diversity and Inclusion
Co-Chairs: Kevin Omland & Viviana Ruiz-Gutierrez
Works on fostering diversity and inclusion within our society and ornithology. This committee sponsors a range of activities including travel awards focused on increasing broadening participation. The AOS Diversity Statement is available for viewing and download.
Early Professionals
Chair: Sara Kaiser
Discusses the needs of early professional ornithologists (postdoctoral researchers, pre-tenure faculty members, and non-academic scientists who have received degrees within the past five years) and promotes the availability of professional development resources and opportunities for these individuals.
Early Professional Awards
Chair: Katie Dugger
Solicits and reviews applications for the Early Professional Awards: James G. Cooper Young Professional Award, Ned K. Johnson Young Investigator Award.
Ethics
Chair: Jeffrey Brawn
To promote a high level of ethical conduct by ornithologists through development of educational activities for AOS members and other ornithologists.
Finance
Chair: Rebecca Kimball
Establishes and implements a strategic financial plan for the Society. Addresses financial management issues or emerging needs and opportunities that affect the Society’s fiscal health and security.
History
Chair: Robert Montgomerie
Collects materials of historical importance and submits them to the Smithsonian Institution archivist assigned to looking after AOS records. Provides materials to the Memorials Committee on request, and decides how to handle requests for access to the AOU archives.
International Affairs
Chair: Doug Robinson
Investigates and implements appropriate means for AOS to engage with ornithologists outside the US and Canada, including regional and indigenous ornithological societies (particularly in Latin America), and administers the International Grants program.
Investing Trustees
Chair: John Fitzpatrick
Oversees AOS investments. Reviews policies for investment instruments and evaluates performance of the investments and professional investment managers. Presents AOS Council with projected transfers from investments to the operating account for the next fiscal year.
Local Arrangements
Chair: Colleen Handel
(2019 Anchorage, AK) Works with professional meeting organizers and the Scientific Program Committee to make local arrangements for the smooth conduct of a given Stated Meeting, helping to impart a local flavor.
Meeting Coordination
Co-Chairs: Mike Webster and Colleen Handel
Chair: Courtney Conway (Scientific Program)
Provides strategic oversight and coordination of annual meetings and development of the scientific program, and works in collaboration with the Local Arrangements committee each year.
Membership
Chair: Mike Butler
Develops strategies for retaining, increasing, and diversifying membership of the society. Works with AOS committees to evaluate effective ways to best serve and engage our members, and provide meaningful opportunities for members to contribute to their profession.
Memorials
Chair: Ted Anderson
Obtains information and keeps records on the deaths of AOS members as well as nonmembers who are prominent in the field of ornithology. Oversees the preparation of memorials for The Auk: Ornithological Advances and The Condor: Ornithological Applications.
Nomination of Fellows and Elective Members
Chair: Jack Dumbacher
Surveys the AOS membership and prepares nominations of qualified members for the Special Membership class of Elective Member, and nominations of qualified Elective Members for the class of Fellow, according to the criteria established in AOS Bylaws.
Nomination of Honorary Fellows
Chair: John Wingfield
Nominates candidates for the Special Membership class of Honorary Fellows, who are chosen for exceptional ornithological eminence. Honorary Fellows are limited to 100 and must be residents of a country other than the United States or Canada at the time of their election.
Nomination of Officers and Elective Councilors
Chair: Thomas Sherry
Ensures that a sufficient number of persons are nominated to stand for election for governance positions of President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Elective Councilor, in accordance with AOS Bylaws.
Publications Advisory
Chair: Alice Boyle
Guides the American Ornithology Publications office on how AOS can advance our journals, manage our historical content, and advise on new directions to best position our publications.
Publications Awards
Chair: Michael Murphy
Selects candidates for the Publications Awards that recognize outstanding ornithological publications: The three awards include the Harry R. Painton Award, Katma Award, and a new award to be introduced in 2018.
Research Awards
Chair: Brian Peer
Solicits and reviews applications for student and postdoctoral research awards made from AOS research grant funds. These awards support student and postdoctoral research in various areas of avian biology.
Science Arbitration
Chair: Jeff Walters
Evaluates and synthesizes relevant science to provide objective information to policy decision-makers. Specialists conduct and publish scientific reviews pertinent to current and emerging issues in avian conservation. Reviews may be sponsored by agencies and organizations or produced by Conservation Working Groups initiated by AOS.
Senior Professional Awards
Chair: Keith Hobson
Selects candidates for the Senior Professional Awards that recognize the outstanding research contributions to ornithology of senior scientists. The four awards include the William Brewster Memorial Award, Elliott Coues Award, Lloye and Alden Miller Award, and the Ralph W. Schreiber Conservation Award.
Service Awards
Chair: Barbara Kus
Selects candidates for the two AOS annual Service Awards. These awards recognize members at different career stages for their outstanding service to the Society.
Student Affairs
Co-Chairs: Amelia-Juliette Demery and Nick Mason
Evaluates and recommends efforts that address the needs of student members and increase student participation in AOS committees, annual meetings, and society communications. Fosters society-sponsored activities to promote interactions between students and professional ornithologists. Works with representatives from other societies when the annual meeting involves more than just AOS.
Student Membership Awards
Chair: Daniel Mennill
Provides one-year Student Membership Awards in AOS to undergraduate and graduate students interested in pursuing a career in ornithology.
Student & Postdoc Travel and Presentation Awards
Co-Chairs: Matt Carling & Morgan Tingley
Selects candidates for Travel Awards to help defray costs of travel to annual meetings, and for Presentation Awards that recognize the best scientific papers and posters given by student members at the meeting.
