Types of STS Task Forces
The Society utilizes two types of task forces to further the STS mission and strategic priorities:
Presidential task forces; and
Task forces established under workforces.
Process for Establishing and Making Appointments to Presidential Task Forces
STS Bylaws Article VI, Section 5 provides for the creation of presidential task forces, stipulating that the “President, upon approval of the Executive Committee, may appoint such ad hoc task forces as he or she deems appropriate, provided that such task forces shall act in an advisory capacity only, and may not exercise the powers of the President or the Board of Directors.” Therefore, pursuant to STS Bylaws Article VI, Section 5, with the prior approval of the Executive Committee, the President has the authority to create ad hoc task forces “deemed appropriate” and make appointments to them.
Dissolution of Presidential Task Forces
The Executive Committee shall routinely review any ad hoc presidential task forces that are in existence and dissolve any group that has outlived its purpose.
Process for Establishing and Making Appointments to Task Forces Beneath Workforces
A workforce chair seeking to create a task force should consult with their council chair on the business case for establishing a subgroup under their workforce. Workforce chairs should not seek to establish task forces to oversee projects that may be more easily and efficiently supervised by the workforce itself.
If a workforce chair and the associated council chair concur that the Society would benefit from a new task force, they should work with the staff liaison(s) to the workforce and the council operating board on developing a written proposal for STS Executive Committee review. The proposal should also include a recommendation(s) regarding an individual who is well qualified to lead the proposed task force.
Based on the proposal, the Executive Committee shall determine whether the task force should be created. At the time that the Executive Committee creates a new task force, it should also appoint the task force chair.
The remaining membership of the task force should be determined by the associated council chair, associated workforce chair, and the newly appointed task force chair.
Dissolution of Task Forces Established Beneath Workforces
On an annual basis or at least upon the approval of significant revisions to the STS Strategic Plan, Council chairs should review with workforce chairs the task forces sitting beneath the council’s workforces to determine whether any should be dissolved.
Council chairs should bring a recommendation for the dissolution of a task force sitting beneath a workforce to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall have the authority to discontinue any task force that it determines has outlived its purpose.
Eligibility for Service on Task Forces
Only STS members in good standing are eligible for appointment to STS task forces (of either variety). In exceptional circumstances where special expertise is required to enhance the deliberations of a task force, the task force chair may request the Executive Committee to appoint a non-member advisor to the group.
Length of Service of Chairs and Members of Task Forces Established Under Workforces
Chairs of task forces established under workforces shall serve a maximum of two three-year terms. In extraordinary circumstances, the Executive Committee may appoint a task force chair for an additional three-year term.
Regular members of task forces created under workforces shall serve terms of one to three years as determined by the task force chair and associated workforce chair. They shall serve a maximum of six years, unless extraordinary circumstances require reappointment of a member for an additional term of one to three years. The task force chair and the associated workforce chair should stagger the service of task force members and otherwise regularly rotate the membership of task forces to:
provide new opportunities for leadership within STS; and
facilitate the inclusion of new perspectives in task force deliberations.
The staff liaison to a task force shall maintain the task force roster and monitor terms accordingly.
Conversion of Task Forces into Workforces
As appropriate and consistent with the Society’s mission and strategic priorities, the Executive Committee may from time to time consider recommending to the STS Board of Directors the elevation of a task force (either a presidential task force or a task force established under a workforce) into an STS workforce.
Approved by the STS Executive Committee: November 20, 2024