The New York State Young Birders Club (NYSYBC) is a special project of the New York State Ornithological Association (NYSOA).

This club is for birders in New York State between the ages of 10 and 19, inclusive.  Club activities include field trips, annual meetings, and other events.  In addition, youth members communicate via this website, a private mailing list, and an online discussion group.

Adult volunteers guide and mentor the youth members of the club, provide transportation, and handle the many administrative tasks required to make the club a success and maximize the value of the club to its young members while giving their safety top priority at all times.

Member Clubs/Organizations of NYSOA are invited to become NYSYBC Partner Clubs/Organizations.  Check our Membership page for more information, or contact us via .

Adults who wish to support the club may join as Supporting Adult members.   Check our Membership page for more information, or contact us via .

YOUTH OFFICERS & OTHER YOUTH LEADERS - 2010

ROLES AND ELECTION PROCESS

ELECTED POSTS (one year term)

President: is responsible for correspondence (thank you notes to trip leaders/clubs, general communication with fellow youth members), publicity, and reminding members to renew each December. The President also works with the adult coordinators on major decisions. The President is the "face" of the club to other groups. He or she also presents the year in review report at the annual meeting, and organizes the elections for the next year. The President should be as active as possible in the club, attending field trips regularly and serving as the "head cheerleader."  The President automatically becomes the Past President after serving.

Vice President: reminds members of field trips, helps the Field Trip Coordinator, and assists the President.  If the President cannot be at a meeting, the Vice President presides.  The Vice President must be good with details, remembering to remind the members about trip RSVP's and permission forms without needing to be reminded him/herself!

Secretary: takes minutes at meetings and gives them to the adult coordinators to post on the website. The secretary also mails out materials as needed.

Past President: provides guidance to the newly elected President to ensure a smooth transition of responsibilities and is available to the President throughout the year to discuss new ideas or issues that may arise.

OTHER LEADERS

Photo Editor: works closely with the club's webmaster and prepares images for publication on the club's website. This includes image resizing and optimization for the web as well as insertion of copyright text on each image.

Records Chair: maintains a data base of NYSYBC bird records and creates charts for publication on the club's website.

ELECTION PROCESS

Elections are conducted online via secret ballot after the Annual Kickoff Meeting, which is held in January. Youth Members may nominate themselves or other members for any or all of the 3 elected positions. They are also welcome to encourage other members to nominate themselves. The current president will set a deadline to accept nominations, and will confirm nominees' willingness.  Anonymous elections will be held using an online polling service. An adult coordinator will run the actual polling after nominations are received.  If individuals are running for multiple offices, each position they are running for will be voted on consecutively (in the order of President, Vice President, and Secretary). Terms have a one year limit, though officers may run for different positions in consecutive years.

If there is a tie for winner among fewer than all the candidates running for any office, there will be a runoff election to determine the winner. For example, if there are 3 candidates and 2 of them tie for the win, there will be a runoff election.

If all candidates running for any office are tied for the win, the winner will be determined by a random selection method that will be communicated at the time that the tie is announced. For example, if 3 candidates run and they all get the same number of votes, the winner will be determined by random selection.

The above provisions for settling ties apply to runoff elections as well as initial votes.