4. The president shall announce to the society the names of members of the nominating committee at the first regular meeting of each society year.

5. The president-elect or the secretary shall appoint an AUDITING COMMITTEE consisting of one but preferably  two members, none of whom is an officer, to audit the Treasurer’ s account after the annual business meeting.

6. The president-elect shall be responsible for the arrangement of programs and attending to other details connected with the Branch meetings.  In addition, he/she will handle other assignments delegated by the President and become familiar with the duties of the office of president.

7. a.The nominating committee led by the president-elect shall report to the society at the regular meeting preceding  the annual business meeting.

b. The secretary shall circulate among the ACTIVE members of the society the nominations made by the committee and such additional nominations, if any, as are made by members of the society.  Circulation of nominations shall be made two weeks before the annual business meeting.

c. Election of officers shall be at the last annual business meeting of the biennial election cycle.

d. Nominations to fill vacancies shall be made by the nominating committee at the regular meeting next following the separation.

8. The secretary shall furnish the chairperson  of the nominating committee with a list of the members  of the society together with their place of employment.

9. The Secretary shall report to the executive secretary of the American Society for Microbiology brief accounts of the proceedings of the meetings.

 10. Associations of students at high schools, colleges and universities in the Washington, DC area may form STUDENT chapters, attached to the branch society.  STUDENT chapters will be sponsored and advised by one or more faculty members who are members of the Branch.  STUDENT chapters will devise constitutions

patterned upon the branch constitution.  STUDENT chapters of the branch may be accepted by majority vote of branch members at any meeting of the branch.