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Legislation, Information and Policy (LIP) Committee
Mission Statement:
To serve the membership and support the Board by monitoring relevant legislative, regulatory, and political activity and shaping policy consistent with the goals and objectives of IMATA.
Committee Description:
The Legislation, Information, & Policies Committee is a standing advisory committee. It supports the Board of Directors, especially the President, and the membership by monitoring relevant legislative activities, maintaining liaison with other organizations with similar interests, and recommending policies consistent with the goals and objectives of the Association. The LIP committee is also responsible for investigating formal complaints of violations of the Association’s Code of Ethics initiated by the membership, the Board, or the committee itself, and reporting recommendations for appropriate action to the Board. The Chair is responsible for directing the activity of this committee, which is typically composed of a relatively small number of long-time, professional members, often with previous experience as Board or committee members, or other relevant subject matter expertise.
Committee Requirements:
Members of this committee must be from the Professional, Active, Associate, or Student levels of membership and be in good standing.
Committee Chair Description:
- The LIP Committee Chair is re-filled annually by the officer holding the Past- President position.
- The LIP Chair is expected to attend the annual meeting and attendance is preferred at the mid-year meeting.
- The LIP Chair will be expected to compile reports from Chief Editors and prepare a quarterly report as dictated by the President’s yearly calendar. Dates for these reports are usually Jan 31, Apr 30, Jul 31, & Oct 31. These reports will be submitted to the President and the Secretary using the form in the IMATA Policy Manual.
- IMATA compensates its LIP Chair in the following ways: membership will be paid for each year served and conference registration fees are waived.
- Be a professional or active member in good standing.
- Qualified individuals must have current and historical knowledge of both 1) U.S. and international legislation, regulation, and other political activity and societal influences that impact marine animals and the animal training and public display communities, and 2) IMATA bylaws and Board policy. Previous experience with corporate board operations, general business practices, and parliamentary procedure is also desirable.
- The Chair will maintain liaison with the Alliance of Marine Mammal Parks and Aquariums, ensure IMATA is represented as a non-voting member at the Alliance’s annual meeting, and provide a summary of that meeting to the Board. The meeting has historically been held the first week of April, outside Washington D.C (Alexandria, VA). The focal point of the Alliance’s annual meeting is visiting the Capitol to lobby members of the U.S. Congress. While engaged in lobbying, individuals cannot act as representatives of IMATA.
- To update the membership on relevant legislative and regulatory activity, the Chair will submit draft columns, currently entitled LIP Sync, for the 1st and 3rd issues of Soundings. Material for the columns is drawn principally from the Alliance’s monthly newsletter. Draft columns are due to the cognizant Soundings Associate Editor on 15 Nov and 15 May.
- The Chair will maintain liaison with IMATA’s general counsel and other legal representatives as needed. The Chair will submit an annual budget estimate for legal services.
- The Chair will annually renew IMATA’s insurance policies for General Liability and Professional Liability. The Chair will submit an annual budget estimate for insurance services.
- The Chair has historically been tasked by the President and Board to submit draft policy statements and/or respond to inquiries by members and the public on various issues. The Chair maintains electronic and hard copy files of such documents.
- The Chair and LIP Committee will execute others tasks as requested by the President or Board. All committee work is subject to Board approval.
- The LIP Chair will be responsible for updating the job description when she or he leaves the position, or at a minimum of every two years. The job description should contain the following information:
- Position Title
- Revision Date
- Basic Job Description
- Responsibilities
- Annual Timeline/Flow Chart
| Committee Chair: |
MIKE OSBORN |
| Committee Openings: | Committee Chair |
