Working Group Resources

Help us keep your group connected and running smoothly. Send these forms to MB*****@******fe.org:

• Officer Report – Due within 20 days of your annual elections or any officer change. Keep your leadership in the loop on news and updates from TWS headquarters.
• Working Group Report to TWS Council – Due before each TWS Council meeting (usually October and March). Deadlines vary. A link to submit your report will be distributed to all working group chairs and chair-elects. Contact re*****@******fe.org with questions.
• Dues Renewal Form – Due by April 30 if you’re changing dues. New rates take effect July 1. If a member pays the wrong amount, it’s up to your group to follow up. Only submit this form if rates are changing.

All approved Working Group logos must include “The Wildlife Society” or the TWS logo in order for TWS Council to ensure that affiliation is clearly identified.

Please refer to the working group brand toolkit. Working groups may also use these logo templates from TWS.

Officers can download your group’s membership roster through the member portal (TWS membership required). Here’s how to download rosters.

Need a virtual meeting space? We can set up recurring meetings for your group through TWS’ Zoom account. Email Mariah at MB*****@******fe.org.

If your bylaws allow online elections, we can run them for you. Email Aniket Gajare at AG*****@******fe.org with:

• Your working group name
• Election open date
• Election close date
• Positions and candidates
• Any restrictions

Deadlines:

• Send details two to four weeks before your planned open date.
• Shorter notices can be accommodated on a case-to-case basis.

As the scientific society for professional wildlife managers and conservationists, TWS has a responsibility to address national and international issues that affect the current and future status of wildlife in North America and throughout the world. The diligent development of authoritative, science-based statements on wildlife issues is essential for interjecting wildlife concerns into decision-making processes. The Wildlife Society fills this role through development of position statements.

Working groups may also desire to formulate position statements pertaining to subjects in their locale or subject area. They are authorized to do so when the statement addresses a topic upon which TWS does not have a position statement, when the statement would be consistent with existing TWS position statements, and when that statement is within the scope of TWS’ policy engagement. These statements, if approved by TWS Council, are considered position statements of The Wildlife Society.

A position statement is a carefully prepared and concise exposition on a wildlife issue that defines the issue, contains factual background data, describes the most probable biological, social, and economic results of alternative actions, and may also contain a recommended course(s) of action. For more information on how these are developed by TWS (main/international), please click here.

Position statements developed by working groups must be reviewed and approved by TWS Council for adoption as a position statement of The Wildlife Society. Working groups are encouraged to communicate with TWS staff when developing position statements. Staff may also coordinate with working groups to request support on position statement development.

TWS working groups often publish proceedings from the symposia or workshops they host at the TWS Annual Conference and elsewhere. Several publishing options are available, including special sections or issues in The Journal of Wildlife Management or the Wildlife Society Bulletin (e.g., National Wild Turkey Symposium), commercial or academic book publishers, or other outlets. While some events are planned with publication in mind, organizers may consider publishing only after presentations are delivered.

Regardless of timing, proceedings published under the TWS logo must undergo rigorous peer review in line with science-based wildlife management principles and the TWS Code of Ethics. Peer review upholds professional standards and adds credibility to TWS products and sponsored events.

For proceedings published in TWS journals, strict standards of peer review are well-established. Organizers are encouraged to contact the journal’s Editor-in-Chief early in the process if they are considering a TWS journal as an outlet.

When proceedings are published outside of TWS journals, the following standards must be upheld:

1. Editor Selection: Editors must be approved by the working group’s governing board. Organizers of the symposium or workshop may serve as editors, but others may be appointed if better qualified. Editors are generally expected to be TWS members, though exceptions may be made.
2. Peer Review: Each paper must be reviewed by at least two wildlife professionals. Anonymous peer review is preferred but may not always be feasible for specialized topics.
3. Editorial Decisions: Editors determine which submissions are accepted, based on reviewer input. Authors may be required to revise the work initially presented and inclusion in the symposia or workshop does not guarantee inclusion in the proceedings. Material not presented at the event may be included in the proceedings if the presenter was unable to attend or if an important topic needs to be included for completeness.
4. Ethics: Editors must operate ethically and transparently. If a paper in the proceedings criticizes another’s work, the criticized researcher must be given a chance to respond within the same proceedings. Similarly, if an attendee submits a comment for the proceedings and the editor determines it warrants inclusion, the original author should have the opportunity to reply. All authors and editors must adhere to the TWS Code of Ethics, regardless of TWS membership status.
5. Conflicts of Interest: Editors must avoid conflicts of interest, including their own. They should not have a vested interest in one side of an issue and should not make publication decisions on their own work.
6. Revisions: All editorial changes must be shared with authors before publication for review and comment.
7. Final Approval: Once editing is complete, the proceedings must be submitted to the working group’s governing board for final approval.
8. Disclaimer: Proceedings published outside of TWS journals must include a disclaimer stating that the views expressed do not necessarily reflect those of The Wildlife Society. Editors and governing boards should ensure the quality of the published material.