Current OIP Members
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Mission Statement
The mission of OIP is to:
- provide continuity and coordination of APS international activities;
- promote collaboration among plant pathologists and other scientists of all nationalities; and
- facilitate teaching, research, and extension with the aim of increasing agricultural production through improved plant health, especially in developing countries.
General Responsibilities
OIP is charged by Council with primary leadership for the society’s international programs and is empowered to dispense funds allocated by Council for international programs as well as to utilize staff time for execution of these programs. It is the responsibility of OIP to coordinate, enable, and nurture international programs from various sectors of the society.
Organizational Structure
To carry out its responsibilities, the OIP shall be comprised of the following:
- A director
- A vice director
- Immediate past director
- 10 members
- Chairs of each of the APS and Sister Society Working Groups (ex-officio, nonvoting)
- APS Foundation Board member (ex officio, non voting)
- APS Staff Member (ex officio, nonvoting)
Council appoints the director and vice director. Members will be formally appointed by a majority vote of the OIP and will serve a three-year term but may not serve more than two consecutive terms. Appointments should be staggered so that no more than one-third are replaced or reappointed each year. All members must be members of APS.
General Responsibilities of the Director
The director, appointed by the Council for a three-year term, is responsible for the activities of the OIP. The director reports to Council twice each year and at other times when major changes are made, makes financial requests to Council and prepares a report of activities for inclusion in the annual report. The director shall appoint an official note taker at each meeting of the OIP. That individual will provide their draft to the director to be disseminated, approved, and archived. The director serves as liaison with the Foundation in selection of awardees of the International Travel Fund. The director also serves as chair of the JANE Fund Technical Committee with 2 other members suggested by OIP and approved by the APS Foundation for a two-year term. This committee is responsible for soliciting grants for and evaluating proposals for awards from the JANE Endowment with the exception of the APS International Service Award. The director ensures announcements for both of these awards are included in Phytopathology News issue at least three months prior to the application deadlines.
General Responsibilities of the Vice Director
The vice director will be appointed by Council and will serve a three-year term, this position is not reappointable. This is a leadership role on OIP, but does not automatically transition into the director position. The vice director will be the lead organizer of the chairs of the APS Sister Society Working Groups. It will be the responsibility of the vice director to maintain communication with each working group and provide reports on activities twice each year, and as needed. The vice director will also support the efforts of the director and at times may step in to lead other selected initiatives as appropriate. The director and vice director will coordinate meetings and conference calls with the members of the Office, and will share responsibilities for drafting reports and other communications from the Office.
General Responsibilities of the OIP
The OIP is responsible for advice and oversight on OIP activities and policies, and helps establish OIP committees and committee chairs. OIP members will be proactive in bringing issues to the attention of OIP and in pursuing opportunities to increase the visibility of APS internationally. The OIP will meet once at the APS annual meeting to make programmatic and financial decisions. However, planning, decision-making, and program execution occur on a daily, year-round basis. OIP members are expected to participate actively in regular discussions via E- mail, and to respond in a timely manner to requests for information/opinion by the OIP director and staff.
General Responsibilities of the Committees of OIP
OIP may form committees and action groups as necessary. Committee chairs will be OIP members. Additional committee members may be added at the discretion of the committee membership and with the approval of the director. Committee members will not vote on OIP issues, but are encouraged to attend and participate in all OIP activities. All committee members must be members of APS. The OIP committees will meet once at the APS annual meeting to make programmatic and financial decisions. However, planning, decision-making, and program execution occur on a daily, year-round basis. Committee members are expected to participate actively in regular committee discussions via E-mail, and to respond in a timely manner to requests for information/opinion by the Committee Chair, OIP director and staff.
General Responsibilities of the APS International Sister Society Working Groups
APS’s official chairs of International Sister Society Working Groups will serve as ex officio, nonvoting members of OIP. The Working Group chairs are appointed by Council. Working Groups will be established as part of the Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) and/or official agreements between APS and a sister society. It will be the responsibility of the working group chairs to participate in OIP meetings and discussions with other sister society representatives via e-mail, phone, or in-person, and determine collaborations/programming that would benefit the needs and wants of the membership of both organizations. Working Group chairs will report to the OIP vice director on an ongoing basis and provide a full activity report to be included in OIP’s portion of the annual report.
