Announcement: Standing and Special Nomenclature Committees

Abstract

One Standing and five Special Committees were authorized by the Tokyo Congress to be set up under the auspices of the General Committee (see McNeill in Taxon 42: 907-922. 1993). It is recommended that each Committee have one person, usually the Convener, who launches the Committee's proceedings by outlining the goals and makes and/or invites comments and proposals of the members. Members' comments should be addressed to the Committee Secretary, who agrees to act as the focus of correspondence and to bring the proceedings to a successful conclusion, drafting a report which, when appropriate, will include specific proposals to the 1999 Congress in St. Louis. All circulars and proceedings of the Committees should be distributed with continuous page numbers, as well as clearly titled and dated. The Rapporteur-General (Werner Greuter) and the General Committee Secretary (Dan H. Nicolson) are ex officio non-voting members of each Committee. They should be included in its mailing list and may participate in the discussions. Committees may co-opt additional members and are specifically encouraged to do so in order to replace members who are not responsive. This is very important. It is advisable that membership be at least 6, or 9 or 12 (a number divisible by 3), because Committees are not to submit proposals without the support of two-thirds of the active membership, defined as those participating in the final vote. Proposals with support have a much stronger chance of being accepted. Final Committee reports are to be sent to the Editors of Taxon on or before 1 August 1997. This early date is to ensure timely publication (February 1998), give the Rapporteurs time to complete the Synopsis (August 1998), and give everyone else a chance to consider and discuss the proposals before receiving the mail ballot and Synopsis (February 1999). Readers of this announcement who can offer examples, comments, etc. to any of these Committees are urged to communicate directly with one of the officers, or a member. Proposals to amend the Code that impinge directly on subjects that are a Committee's concern should not be submitted directly for publication in Taxon, but first offered to the relevant Committee for consideration.