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Constitution and Bylaws
Constitution
Article I – Name The name of this
organization shall be: the AMERICAN ASSOCIATION OF ENDOCRINE SURGEONS. Article II – Objects The objects of
this Association shall be (1) advancement of the science and art of endocrine
surgery, and (2) maintenance of high standards in the practice and art of
endocrine surgery. Article III – Membership 1.
Membership
in this Association shall be limited to surgeons of good professional standing,
who have a major interest and devote significant portions of their practice or
research to endocrine surgery, and who are certified by the American Board of
Surgeons or its equivalent in Canada, Central America, Mexico, South
America. In addition, membership shall
be limited to fellows of the American College of Surgeons or its international
equivalent. 1b) The Candidates for active membership would
have attended at least one annual meeting of the American Association of
Endocrine Surgeons prior to their application 1c) The Candidates for active membership should
be able to provide evidence of special interest in endocrine surgery 1d) The candidates who are applying for active
membership, who have completed their Endocrine Surgical Fellowship should be in
practice at least for one year with special emphasis in endocrine operative
surgery 2.
There
shall be four types of members: Active, Senior, Honorary, and Corresponding. 3.
Active
members shall consist of original charter members and all members subsequently
elected until they become eligible for senior membership. The number of active members shall not be
limited. 4.
Senior
members shall consist of active members who have reached the age of 65 years or
who have retired from active practice.
Senior members shall have all the responsibilities and privileges of
active members, excepting those regarding attendance at meetings. 5.
Honorary
members shall consist of individuals who have made outstanding contributions to
the discipline of endocrine surgery. They shall have no voting privileges, are
not eligible for election as officers, and are not subject to assessment for
dues. 6.
Corresponding
members shall consist of individuals who meet all the same qualifications in
their respective countries as active members.
They shall have no voting privileges, are not eligible for election as
officers, shall not have attendance requirements, but may be subject to dues at
a reduced amount. Article IV – Annual Meeting An annual assembly
of the Association shall be held in accordance with the bylaws. Abstracts for consideration for presentation
must be authored or sponsored by a member. Article V – Officers, Council 1.
Officers
of the Association shall consist of a president, president-elect, a vice
president, a secretary-treasurer, and a recorder; all to be elected as provided
in the bylaws. 2.
There
shall be a council of the Association consisting of the officers, the three
immediate past presidents and six council members. Article VI – Alterations, Repeal The Association
may alter or repeal any article of this Constitution by a three-fourths
affirmative vote of members present at the annual assembly, provided a copy of
the proposed change has been delivered to each voting member 60 days in advance
of the assembly meeting. BYLAWS Article I – Election of New Members 1.
Physicians
fulfilling constitutional membership requirements who reside in the United
States, Canada, Central America, Mexico or South America may be eligible for
active membership. 2.
Application
forms for active or corresponding membership shall be available only by request
of a member and shall be provided by the secretary-treasurer. Completed application forms signed by the
proposed member, one sponsor, and two endorses shall be delivered to the
secretary-treasurer at least four months before the annual
assembly. Completed applications shall
be reviewed by council, which has the right to accept or reject any application
for membership in the Association. Names
of prospective members recommended for election by the council shall be
submitted to membership at the annual assembly.
Election shall be made by secret ballot, by a three-fourths affirmative
vote of the members present. A
prospective member who fails to be elected at one meeting may be considered at
the next two annual meetings of the Association. If election fails a third time, the
prospective member’s application may be resubmitted after a two year interval. 3.
Prospective
members for honorary membership shall be proposed in writing to the council
through the secretary-treasurer.
Prospective members approved by the council will be elected by
three-quarters affirmative vote of the council and officers present. 4.
Active
members in good standing who subsequently take up practice in geographic areas
outside of the United States, Canada, Central America, Mexico, South America
shall be changed to corresponding members of the Association. 1.
The
president, president-elect, and vice president of the Association shall be
elected for terms of one year each. The
secretary-treasurer and recorder shall be elected for three year terms. 2.
The
president shall preside at council meetings and the annual assembly. The
president shall appoint members to all standing and ad hoc committees and shall
serve as an ex-officio member of each.
Successors to vacated offices of the Association shall be appointed by
the president until the position is filled at the next annual meeting. The
president shall prepare an address to the annual assembly of the Association. 3.
The
president-elect, in the absence or incapacity of the president, shall perform
the duties of the president’s office. In
the absence or incapacity of both the president and the president-elect, the
chair shall be assumed by the vice president. 4.
The
secretary-treasurer shall keep minutes of the meetings of the Association and
the council, receive and care for all records belonging to the Association, and
conduct the correspondence of the Association. This office will issue to all
members a written report of the preceding year’s transactions to be read to the
council and membership at the annual assembly.
The secretary-treasurer will prepare an annual report for audit. The recorder shall receive the manuscripts
and edition of the discussions. The
recorder shall be custodian for the transactions of the Association. 5.
Council
members shall be elected for three-year terms, with two councilors being
elected annually so as to provide overlapping terms. 1.
Standing
committees of the Association shall consist of the membership committee
(composed of the council), publication and program committee, and education and
research committee. 2.
The
nominating committee shall consist of the president and two immediate past
presidents. The most senior past
president is chairman of the committee. 3.
Other
committees may be designated by the president with advice of the council. 4.
All
committees shall be chaired by members appointed by the president with the
advice of the council. 1.
An
assembly of the Association shall be held at the time and place determined by
the council. During
the annual assembly, there shall be an executive session of the membership. The business of the Association shall be
conducted at this time. The report of
the nominating committee shall be presented to the membership during the
executive session. Nominations may be
made from the floor. Officers of the
Association and council members shall be elected by majority vote of the active
and senior membership during the executive session. 3.
Any active member who is absent from three
consecutive annual assembly meetings without adequate explanation of this
absence made in writing to the secretary-treasurer, shall be dropped from
membership in the Association by vote of the council. Membership may be reinstated by vote of the
council. 4.
Any
member of the Association may invite one or more guests to attend the annual
assembly. 1.
Dues
and assessments shall be levied by the council and approved by the membership
at the annual assembly. 2.
Any
member whose dues remain unpaid for period of 1 year shall be dropped from
membership, provided that notification of such a lapse beginning at least 3
months prior to its effective date. The
member may be reinstated following payment of the dues in arrears on approval
of the council. 3.
Senior
members are not required to pay dues. 1.
Resignations
of members otherwise in good standing shall be accepted by majority vote of the
council. 2.
Charges
of unprofessional or unethical conduct against any member of the Association
must be submitted in writing to council.
The council’s concurrence or disallowance of the charges shall be
presented to the membership at the annual assembly executive session. A three-fourths affirmative vote of the
members present shall be required for expulsion. Article VII – Quorum 1.
A
minimum of 30 members shall constitute a quorum at the annual assembly to
effect changes in the constitution and bylaws of the Association, to make
assessments, to authorize appropriations or expenditures of money other than
those required in the routine business of the Association, to elect officers,
and members, and to expel members. 2.
For
the transaction of other business, the members present at any annual assembly
shall constitute a quorum. Article VIII – Alterations, Repeal Bylaws may be
altered or appealed at the annual assembly by a two-thirds affirmative vote of
the members present. Article IX – Procedure Proceedings of the
Association shall be conducted under Robert’s Rules of Order.
Article II –
Officers, Councilors
Article III –
Committees
Article IV – Meetings
Article V – Fees, Dues
Article VI – Resignations, Expulsions