For Members

Members and Communications

GGBN Primary Contacts

GGBN communicates with its membership primarily through a designated GGBN Primary Contact at the Member Institution. All Primary Contacts are automatically subscribed to the GGBN Members Listserv (ggbn-members@si-listserv.si.edu), which is the main method of sharing member-only information across the GGBN.

The GGBN Primary Contact, as liaison with the Member Institution, is responsible for facilitating the following:

• Communication of Member-only information with relevant parties within the Member Institution
• Contact Information Updates, including:
  • Sending contact information updates as required to info@ggbn.org
  • Submitting the GGBN Member Institution Information form every five years
  • Updating institution and collections records in the Natural Collections Description (NCD) toolkit
• Annual in-cash or in-kind Contributions (Contributing Members Only)
• General Assembly voting and representation (Contributing Members Only)
• Registration Discount for GGBN Conferences (Contributing Members Only)

Listservs and Communications

GGBN Members Listserv: ggbn-members@si-listserv.si.edu Private listserv for GGBN Member Primary Contacts to receive targeted member-only announcements, such as information for General Assembly meetings.

• Primary contacts are automatically subscribed. If someone else should be included, please email info@ggbn.org with their name, title, and email address.

GGBN Info Listserv: ggbn-info@si-listserv.si.edu Private listserv for all individuals to receive public GGBN announcements, such as the GGBN conference, opportunities for involvement, new samples added to the portal, etc.

• All contact email addresses from your submitted GGBN Institution Information Form are automatically subscribed. Others can subscribe (or unsubscribe) by emailing info@ggbn.org.

GGBN Social Media pages:

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ggbnoutreach/
• Twitter (English): https://twitter.com/GGBNOutreach
• Twitter (Spanish): https://www.facebook.com/ggbnespanol/

GGBN Website

• News Announcements: https://wiki.ggbn.org/ggbn/News
• Annual Newsletters: https://wiki.ggbn.org/ggbn/Newsletters

Membership Documents

• GGBN Memorandum of Understanding
• GGBN Memorandum of Understanding, Appendix I
• GGBN Memorandum of Understanding, Appendix II
• GGBN Terms of Reference
• GGBN Institution Information Form
• GGBN Contribution Guide
• GGBN In-Kind Support Proposal Form
• GGBN In-Kind Support Year-End Report Form

Additional Documents for members may be found in the GGBN Document Library under the “GGBN Information” Category

GGBN Governance

The General Assembly represents the entire GGBN Membership, including Core, Associate, Observer, and Consortia Members, and is the ultimate decision-making body of GGBN. Contributing Members are entitled to a vote; non-Contributing Observer Members and Partners do not have a vote.

General Assembly meetings coincide with annual or biennial GGBN Conferences, with additional meetings and voting scheduled to occur virtually if no in-person meetings are scheduled.

Voting typically occurs annually to approve the operating budget, work program, and other essential decisions recommended by the Executive Committee. A quorum consisting of at least half of the Contributors is required for all decisions. Unless specified otherwise, General Assembly decisions are made by consensus or a simple majority. In absentia voting is facilitated for Contributing Members that cannot be present at an in-person vote.

The General Assembly has the authority to:

• Modify the Governance Model and GGBN Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) (two-thirds majority required);
• Alter the rates of the annual monetary Contributions by Members (two-thirds majority required);
• Elect Members of the Executive Committee;
• Nominate members of standing Task Forces;
• Nominate and/or renew the terms of the Secretariat and Technical Management hosts;
• Identify strategic activities and partners;
• Identify new Task Forces and propose issues, ideas, and new Task Forces for consideration by the Executive Committee;
• Approve GGBN’s strategies as proposed by the Executive Committee to include policies, budgets, and work plans;
• Consider any matters pertaining to GGBN or its operations submitted to it by the Executive Committee Chair, the Secretariat Host, the Technical Management Host, or by any Member.

Complete information on the formal governance structure of GGBN is outlined in the GGBN Terms of Reference.

Operations reports and business meeting documents can be found in the GGBN Document Library under the “GGBN Information” category, subcategory “Business Meetings and Documents.”

Additional information on GGBN’s offices, committees and task forces can be found here:

• GGBN Executive Committee
• GGBN Secretariat and Technical Management Offices
• GGBN Task Forces:
  • Data Standards Task Force
  • Policies Task Force
  • Biobank Procedures Task Force
  • Document Library Task Force
  • Communications & Outreach Task Force

Opportunities for Involvement

• Participation in GGBN Task Forces

We encourage GGBN Members to participate in GGBN’s Task Forces. Nominations to participate as a Task Force Member or Chair are invited, as is participation in several targeted activities. For more information on these opportunities, visit each of the Task Force webpages below:

• • Data Standards Task Force
  • Policies Task Force
  • Biobank Procedures Task Force
  • Document Library Task Force
  • Communications & Outreach Task Force

Resources and Technical Assistance

• Providing Data to GGBN
  • How to Provide Data
  • Technical Requirements
  • Technical Support
  • Software Tools
  • Webinars and Tutorials
• Portal Usage and Reporting Statistics
• ABS & Nagoya
• GGBN Document Library

Funding Opportunities for Contributing Members

• GGBN-GGI Awards Program
• GGBN Meeting Travel Support (for GGBN meetings only)
• Request for Fundraising Letter of Support
  • Contact info@ggbn.org