CAST depends on scientists, researchers, and professionals who contribute their expertise to publications, programs, and governance. This hub covers every volunteer role at CAST — what you do, what CAST does for you, the policies that apply, and who to contact.
Volunteer Hub
Workgroups are the scientific foundation of CAST. They identify emerging issues, develop publication concepts, recruit subject matter experts, and advise CAST leadership. Membership is how organizational members shape what CAST produces.
CAST workgroups include two categories of members, each with distinct roles and voting privileges. There are three CAST workgroups: Animal Agriculture and Environmental Issues; Food Science and Safety; and Plant Agriculture and Environmental Issues.
Appointed by CAST organizational members to serve as the primary liaison between their organization and CAST. Eligible to vote, serve as Co-Chair and Chair, and subsequently join the Board of Directors. Generally encouraged to serve three-year terms.
Former Board of Directors members who remain active after their Board service. Bring expertise and mentorship; do not represent any organization. Their votes may not exceed 33% of total votes counted in any workgroup decision.
Workgroup members are expected to actively participate:
Active membership status: Members who miss four consecutive meetings without notifying CAST staff may be designated inactive — making them ineligible to vote and not counted toward quorum. If you have a recurring scheduling conflict, notify CAST staff. You can remain active by engaging through meeting materials and correspondence.
Workgroups meet monthly throughout the year. CAST staff distribute agenda materials before meetings and summaries after. All workgroup members are encouraged to attend the CAST Annual Meeting, held each fall — the business meeting serves as the official workgroup meeting for that month and generally includes a virtual participation option.
New members go through onboarding with CAST staff, covering:
Members who haven't completed onboarding are considered inactive. They can't vote and don't count toward quorum.
When an organization appoints a new Representative Member, it should notify CAST staff so representation continues without a gap.
Outgoing members are offered an exit conversation with CAST staff. Former members are encouraged to stay involved through individual membership and CAST events.
Members are expected to contribute respectfully and collaboratively, guided by CAST's commitment to science-based communication:
Members are encouraged to introduce students to CAST. That can mean encouraging them to join CAST, attend events, apply for scholarships, and use CAST resources for professional development.
Workgroup members are the first step in CAST's publication pipeline.
See the Task Force page for what happens after a Task Force is assembled.
A quorum is a simple majority of active workgroup members. Members who abstain count toward quorum but not vote totals. No official action may be taken without quorum. If quorum is not met during a meeting, CAST staff distribute a virtual vote by email — open until quorum is achieved, with weekly reminders.
Legacy Member cap: Legacy Member votes may not exceed 33% of the final vote count in any decision, including leadership elections. If exceeded, sufficient Legacy Member votes are removed from consideration.
Workgroups follow a simplified form of Robert's Rules of Order:
Votes can be taken by voice, show of hands, electronic poll, or another method chosen by CAST staff and workgroup leadership. A motion passes with a simple majority of the eligible members who vote. Whenever possible, votes take place during the regular monthly meeting.
In a tie, all Legacy Member votes are removed and the vote recalculated using only Representative Member votes. If the tie remains, the matter returns for further discussion and a subsequent vote. In leadership elections, a tie that remains goes to a runoff instead (see Election cycle).
Following discussion, a workgroup may vote to: recommend the proposal for Board review; recommend it contingent on specified revisions; return it with requested revisions for resubmission; or decline to recommend it.
CAST staff run all official votes and certify the results. This covers verifying quorum, sending and collecting electronic ballots, checking compliance with the Legacy Member cap, and keeping the official voting records. The result certified by CAST staff is the official action of the workgroup.
Every official vote is recorded in the meeting recap or another official record, including:
Authority: These procedures apply to all three workgroups. If they conflict with the CAST Bylaws or a Board-adopted governance policy, the Bylaws or Board policy prevail.
Each workgroup has a Chair and a Co-Chair. The Co-Chair serves one year, then transitions directly into the Chair role.
Serves one year, immediately after their Co-Chair term.
Serves one year, then moves into the Chair role.
Eligibility: Only Representative Members can serve as Co-Chair or Chair. To become Chair, a member must first complete a full term as Co-Chair.
Nominations open in November. Elections are held in December. New terms begin in January. Any active member may nominate an eligible Representative Member or self-nominate. Members absent during the nomination meeting have one week after the meeting recap to submit a self-nomination to CAST staff and the incoming Chair.
Members may serve a maximum of 3 full Co-Chair/Chair cycles. Exceptions may be granted if no eligible and willing candidates are found.
After each election, the outgoing Chair, incoming Chair and newly elected Co-Chair meet with at least one CAST staff member. Important documents, notes and information are handed over at this meeting.
If the Chair resigns: The Co-Chair becomes Chair immediately and covers both roles until a new Co-Chair is elected. The new Chair completes the rest of the original Chair's term, then serves their own full one-year term.
If the Co-Chair resigns: A nomination and election cycle starts immediately, and the Chair covers both roles in the meantime. The new Co-Chair completes the rest of the original Co-Chair's term, then moves into the Chair role.
If both resign at the same time: A full election is held. Candidates say whether they're willing to serve as Chair, Co-Chair, or either. The requirement to serve as Co-Chair before Chair is waived for that cycle. The member with the second-highest number of votes becomes Co-Chair. CAST staff cover both roles during the nomination and election process.
If a Chair or Co-Chair can't fulfill their responsibilities, CAST leadership may start a conversation about transition or replacement. The process then follows the resignation rules above.
CAST needs the following from every workgroup member at the start of your involvement:
Your profile is used for your workgroup listing, CAST communications, and any publication or event materials you contribute to. Submit to CAST staff at onboarding — not when content is already due.
The CAST InfoHub is the member portal for Organizational Primary Contacts and Work Group Representatives. It gives you access to your membership records, organization information, billing, and member resources in one place.
Access the InfoHub: Log in to the InfoHub →
First-time users need to create an account using the email address associated with your CAST membership or organizational record. If you're unsure which email is on file, contact membership@cast-science.org.
View and update your personal contact information and member profile. As an Organizational Primary Contact, you also have access to your organization's record — including contact information, mailing and billing addresses, and related contacts — under the "Related Businesses" and "Related Contacts" subtabs.
View your account balance, review open invoices, access billing history, set up AutoPay, download invoices, and submit payments online.
The InfoHub also includes a resources area with:
As a Work Group Representative, you can use the portal to stay informed about work group activities and maintain your organization's engagement with CAST programs and initiatives.
If you believe you should have access to edit organizational information but don't see the option, contact membership@cast-science.org to request the necessary permissions.
Representative Members are appointed by CAST organizational members and serve as their organization's liaison to CAST. Legacy Members are former Board members who stay engaged after their Board service — they bring experience and mentorship but do not represent any organization. Legacy Member votes are capped at 33% of total votes in any decision.
Contact CAST staff — in some cases participation across workgroups is possible depending on your organization's membership and your availability.
Missing four consecutive meetings without notifying CAST staff may result in being designated inactive. Inactive members cannot vote and do not count toward quorum. If you have a known recurring conflict, notify CAST staff — you can remain active by staying engaged through materials and correspondence.
Representative Members are generally encouraged to serve three-year terms, but there is no fixed term requirement as long as both the member and their organization wish to continue and the member remains actively engaged.
Attendance is strongly encouraged — the Annual Meeting business session serves as the official workgroup meeting for that month — but it is not mandatory. A virtual participation option is generally available.
A simple majority of active workgroup members. Members who abstain count toward quorum but not vote totals. Members who have not completed onboarding or who missed four consecutive meetings without communication are inactive and do not count toward quorum.
If quorum is not reached during the meeting, CAST staff distribute a virtual vote by email to all eligible members. The vote remains open until quorum is achieved, with weekly reminders.
Yes, but their votes are capped at 33% of total votes counted. If Legacy Member votes exceed that threshold, enough are removed to bring the total into compliance.
Proposals can come from workgroup members or external stakeholders, but they must be reviewed and voted on by the relevant workgroup. Contact CAST staff first — they will guide you through the process.
The workgroup can vote to recommend the proposal for Board review, recommend it contingent on specified revisions, return it with requested revisions for resubmission, or decline to recommend it.
You must first serve a full one-year term as Co-Chair. To become Co-Chair, nominate yourself (or be nominated) during the November nomination period. Elections are held in December, with new terms beginning in January. Only Representative Members are eligible.
Yes — a maximum of 3 full Co-Chair/Chair cycles. Exceptions may be granted if no eligible and willing candidates are found after reasonable recruitment efforts.
The Co-Chair immediately assumes the Chair position. A new nomination and election cycle is then held to elect a replacement Co-Chair. The new Chair completes the remainder of the original Chair's term before beginning their own full one-year term.
