ISHSElection2011

International Society for Humor Studies

2011 Ballot Results

In Fall 2011, ISHS members were invited to vote for the next ISHS President and two new Executive Board Members-at-Large. In addition to the Board election, members voted on 14 amendments to the ISHS Constitution. The voting period for this ballot ran from November 15 through December 16, 2011, and was conducted electronically through the voting service, Ballot Box Online.

In all, 56% of the ISHS membership cast valid ballots. Willibald Ruch (University of Zurich) was elected as ISHS President and Moira Marsh (Indiana University) and Graeme Ritchie (University of Aberdeen) were elected as Board Members-at-Large. The new ISHS President will serve from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2013. The two new Board Members-at-Large will serve from January 1, 2012 to December 31, 2015.

To pass, all proposed amendments had to be approved by 2/3 of the members casting valid ballots. All amendments, with the exception of the amendment to change the Executive Secretary-Treasurer's Board voting status, received the necessary 2/3 vote to be adopted.

On this page, you will find the list of candidates and the list of amendments. You can click on the profile link beside each candidate to read more about them. You can click on the background information link with the constitutional amendments to read the rationales for the amendments and review the proposed constitutional revisions.

2011 Presidential Candidates

Paul Lewis (Boston University, Massachusetts, USA)	Profile
Willibald Ruch (University of Zurich, Switzerland)	Profile
*Winner indicated in blue.*

2011 Executive Board Candidates

Goh Abe, Ph.D (Kagawa University, Japan)	Profile
Sammy Basu, Ph.D. (Willamette University, Oregon, USA)	Profile
Bruce Findley, Ph.D. (Swinburne University, Australia)	Profile
Gil Greengross, Ph.D. (University of New Mexico, USA)	Profile
Moira Marsh, Ph.D. (Library Sciences, Indiana University, USA)	Profile
Rene Proyer, Ph.D. (University of Zurich, Switzerland)	Profile
Graeme Ritchie, Ph.D. (University of Aberdeen, Scotland)	Profile
*Winners indicated in blue.*	Profile

2011 Proposed Constitutional Amendments
Click here for Background Information and Rationales

Amendment #1: Honorary Membership (Adopted)
Shall Article III (Membership) and Article VI (Meetings) of the ISHS Constitution be amended, as proposed, to remove Honorary membership as a class of ISHS membership?

Amendment #2: Officer Position of the Past Convenor (Adopted)
Shall Articles IV (Officers) and Article V (Executive Board) of the ISHS Constitution be amended, as proposed, to remove the Immediate Past Convenor as an ISHS Officer and Executive Board Member?

Amendment #3: Board Position of the HUMOR Book Editor (Adopted)
Shall Article V (Executive Board) of the ISHS Constitution be amended to remove the HUMOR Book Editor as an Executive Board Member?

Amendment #4: Confirmation of the HUMOR Book Editor (Adopted)
Shall Article VII (Publications) of the ISHS Constitution be amended, as proposed, to no longer require that the ISHS Executive Board confirm the HUMOR Book Review Editor?

Amendment #5a: Voting Status of the HUMOR Editor (Adopted)
Shall Article V (Executive Board) of the ISHS Constitution be amended, as proposed, to change the HUMOR Editor from a voting to a nonvoting Executive Board member?

Amendment #5b: Voting Status of the Convenor (Adopted)
Shall Article V (Executive Board) of the ISHS Constitution be amended, as proposed, to change the ISHS Conference Convenor from a voting to a nonvoting Executive Board member?

Amendment #6: Voting Status of the Executive Secretary (Not Adopted)
Shall Article V (Executive Board) of the ISHS Constitution be amended, as proposed, to change the Executive Secretary from a full voting Board member to a member who votes only to break ties?

Amendment #7a: Appointment of the HUMOR Editor (Adopted)
Shall Article VIII (Publications) of the ISHS Constitution be amended, as proposed, to provide that the HUMOR Editor be appointed and confirmed by the ISHS Executive Board?

Amendment #7b: Office Terms of the HUMOR Editor (Adopted)
Shall Article VIII (Publications) of the ISHS Constitution be amended, as proposed, to provide that the HUMOR Editor receive a renewable five year appointment?

Amendment #8: Office Terms for the Executive Secretary (Adopted)
Shall Article IV (Officers) of the ISHS Constitution be amended, as proposed, to provide that the ISHS Executive Secretary-Treasurer receive a renewable five year appointment?

Amendment #9: Executive Board Proxies (Adopted)
Shall Article V (Executive Board) of the ISHS Constitution be amended, as proposed, to provide that voting Executive Board members can only give their proxies to other Executive Board member and that written proxies must be delivered to the Executive Secretary?

Amendment #10: Annual to General Conference (Adopted)
Shall Articles IV (Officers), V (Executive Board), VI (Meetings), IX (Committees), and X (Elections) of the ISHS Constitution be amended, as proposed, to refer to the Society’s Annual Conference as a General Conference?

Amendment #11: Annual Meeting of the Members (Adopted)
Shall Article V (Executive Board) and Article VI (Meetings) be amended, as proposed, to allow the Executive Board to set in years without a Society Conference the location and date of the annual Executive Board meeting and the Annual Meeting of the Members of the Society?