WOULD YOU LIKE TO BE CHAIR OF THE ARS PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE?

Ken Hodgkinson has been chair of the ARS Publications Committee since late 2004 when he took over from Leigh Hunt. He originally took on the position for three years and is stepping down at the end on 2012. This means that he will have been eight years in the position and, during this time, has made a major contribution to the steadily increasing quality,profile and effectiveness of the ARS Publications.

Peter Johnson, Peter.Johnston@deedi.qld.gov.au, Don Burnside, don.burnside@urs.com and I, rwhalley@une.edu.au have been asked to find people who are willing to take on the task so that the Publications Committee can make a recommendation to Council of a suitable person.

Some General Comments about the position, the Detailed Responsibilities and the Terms of Reference are below.

If you are at all interested in the position, then please contact one of us and we’ll take it from there.

Wouldn’t it be great if we were swamped with replies!

Wal Whalley

Chair, Search Committee for the Chair of the ARS Publications Committee.

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CHAIR OF PUBLICATIONS COMMITTEE

General

The Chair will lead the Publications Committee in development and promotion of the Society’s publications for members. Overall measures of success include the number and quality of content in printed and electronic media, the use and acquisition of published material by members and others, and the income from and cost effectiveness of the publications.

Currently there are three publications of the Australian Rangeland Society (ARS); The Rangeland Journal, the Range Management Newsletter (RMN) and the ARS Website which electronically publishes the RMN, proceedings of the Society’s Biennial Conferences and other material. The policies for the three publications are determined by the Publications Committee, in consultation with the Publishers, and approved by Council. The Editors of the publications are members of the Publications Committee and each take the leading role in determining and applying specific publishing strategies.

An appropriate honorarium will be provided each year by the Society.

Detailed Responsibilities

1. Ensure that the ARS publications meet members’ needs and aspirations and are aligned to the relevant markets.

2. Grow national and global support and recognition for the ARS publications.

3. Lead the development and implementation of appropriate strategies for increasing the quality and impact of ARS publications in association with the respective Editors.

4. Regularly evaluate publication standards and indicators of publication performance.

5. Communicate with publishers and seek professional advice as required to ensure that the ARS publications meet industry standards and are commercially competitive.

6. Regularly communicate with the respective Editors to identify emerging issues and problems.

7. Arbitrate on any disputes between Editors and Associate Editors or equivalent.

8. Lead the evaluation of Editors, Associate Editors and others as required.

9. Establish and maintain links with partners and relevant scientific societies.

10. Represent, where appropriate, the ARS publications at national and international meetings and during visits to key institutions.

11. Report regularly and as requested to Council and others in a formal, timely and efficient manner.

Terms of Reference

1. In consultation with the ARS Council and the Publications Committee, the Chair is responsible for ensuring the outcomes of any review of ARS publications are implemented. Currently this is the 2005 review of ARS publications. The Chair needs to ensure that publication matters are dealt with in accord with the Articles and Memorandum of Association of the Society under Australian Company Law.

2. The Chair should have a good general knowledge of national and global rangelands, an awareness of movements in publication content and procedures and a network of key people who are leading important community, scientific, Government and business initiatives in both and southern and northern hemispheres.

3. The Chair should oversee the job descriptions of, the search for, and selection of, new Editors and members of the Publications Committee on behalf of Council, as well as any Associate Editors and Advisory Editors for the publications. The Publications Committee will make recommendations to Council on these appointments.

4. The Chair with the Publications Committee should arbitrate where there is a major disagreement between an Editor and one or more Associate Editors or authors over the acceptability of a manuscript or submitted work for publishing.

5. The Chair should ensure regular evaluation of each of the publications by the Publications Committee.

6. The Chair should organise and promote Rangeland Journal Lectures each year.

7. The Chair will provide a report on publications when requested by Council and to the General Meeting at Biennial Conferences of the Society.

This description of the Chair of Publications Committee position was been approved by the

Publications Committee at its meeting on 1 March 2012.