Bylaws

 

Washington State Urology Society

 BYLAWS

Revised:  March 2008

 
ARTICLE I

NAME

The name of this organization of physicians shall be the Washington State Urology Society.

 
ARTICLE II

OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this society shall be to promote the ethical practice of urology in the best interest of the public and the medical profession, to continually improve the professional standards of urology, to study and evaluate all the economic aspects of this specialty, to promote cooperation between all the disciplines interested in urology and to advise all professional groups concerning urology. In addition, the objectives will include negotiation and representation for urologists of Washington State, at all levels of government and for all socioeconomic matters required.

MEMBERSHIP

The membership of this association shall consist of active members only. MEMBERS shall hold office, pay dues, and shall have voting privileges.

 Section 1         Application for membership in the Washington State Urology Society must be made upon forms provided by the secretary-treasurer. They must be received at least 30 days before the date of the next annual meeting. Membership in this society is a privilege and not a right.

 Section 2         An applicant for membership must be a resident of Washington                           State.     

                        Basic requirements for admission to the society shall be:

a.            An MD degree or equivalent from a medical school approved by                  the Council on Medical Education and Hospitals of the                         American Medical Association.

b.            Postgraduate urological training sufficient to qualify the applicant for the American Board of Urology.

c.            Limitation of applicant’s practice to 95% urology or associated research in communities over 100,000; 75% in smaller towns.

d.         Practicing in current locale for a minimum of one year prior to application.

e.         An applicant must be approved for membership by a majority of the active members present at the annual meeting (on written ballot), and upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee.

 Section 3         A physician who has been an active member of the Washington State Urology Society may, upon retiring or significantly reducing the amount of time devoted to practice, choose to become a Retired Member of the Society.  For this privilege, it will be suggested that they make a voluntary contribution of $50.00 per year to offset the cost of maintaining their membership. However, a previously-active member of the Society shall not be denied status as a Retired Member simply because they choose not to contribute financially. Retired members shall enjoy full membership benefits.

Section 4          Physicians involved in a urology residency in Washington State are eligible for membership in the Society as Resident Members. During the period of their residency, these physicians shall be charged no dues, but shall enjoy full membership benefits.

Section 5          Associate members must possess all qualifications of active members                         except residence in Washington State.

Section 6         Allied members are non-voting members who are involved in the delivery                         of urologic care.  This membership category includes physician                                   assistants, nurses, and medical assistants. 

                       Allied dues are 50% of the current active members dues.

Section 7         Resignation

Any member in good standing in this society may resign by submitting a letter of resignation to the secretary.  Resignation or suspension from the member’s county medical society shall automatically terminate membership in this society.  Membership also may be suspended or terminated by action of the Executive Committee for failure to pay dues or assessments for one year.

 

Section 1        

a.            Officers of the society shall be the president, president-elect, immediate past president, secretary-treasurer, and member-at-large. These five officers shall constitute the Executive Committee.

b.            These officers shall be nominated and elected according to procedures prescribed in these Bylaws.

c.            They shall continue in office until successors are duly elected, or for a period of two years.

d.            Vacancies in any office may be filled with a qualified active member, for the unexpired term, by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.

 

Section 2

 

                        President

a.            The president shall preside at all meetings of the society.

b.         The president shall appoint the following committees and designate their chairman:

1)             Nominating Committee consisting of three members. The most recent three immediate past presidents will make up this committee.

2)         Professional Relations and Care Committee.

3)         Such other committees as may be deemed necessary unless appointment is otherwise specified.

c.         The president may call meetings of the Executive Committee and time it may seem necessary.

d.         The president shall direct the attention of the Executive Committee to any violation of the Bylaws, and to matters of discipline of members.

 Section 3

                        President-elect

a.         The president-elect shall serve for the president during his absence.

b.         The president-elect shall attend all meetings of the Executive Committee.

c.         The president-elect shall perform any duties assigned to him by the president that do not conflict with the Bylaws of this society.

d.         The president-elect shall succeed automatically to the office of president upon completion of this term as president-elect.

Section 4

                        Past President

a.         The immediate past president shall attend all meetings of the Executive committee.

b.         The past president shall serve as a member of the Committee on Nominations.

c.         The past president shall assist the president in an advisory capacity.

Section 5

                        Secretary-Treasurer

a.         The secretary-treasurer shall remain in office for two years.

b.         The secretary-treasurer shall receive and give prompt attention to correspondence and keep accurate records of the same

c.         The secretary-treasurer shall be furnished with, and keep in his/her possession, copies of all letters or other documents pertaining to the business of the society—sent to, or received by, officers of the society.

d.         The secretary-treasurer shall obtain copies of all correspondence and records of the proceedings of all committees so that he may have in his possession a record of all the business and activities of the society.

e.         The secretary-treasurer shall keep an accurate list of :

                                          1)         Members

            2)         Nominations for membership

                                          3)         Members suspended or expelled

            f.          The secretary-treasurer shall receive applications for membership and shall send copies of them, when completed.

      g.         The secretary-treasurer shall send notices of regular, annual and special meetings of the society to all members. These notices are to   be sent at least three weeks in advance of these meetings, unless special circumstances make this  impossible.

h.         The secretary-treasurer shall arrange for the business sessions of the society and meetings of the Executive Committee, and keep the minutes and all records of such meetings.

            i.          The secretary-treasurer shall be an ex-officio member of all committees, standing and special.

      j.          The secretary-treasurer shall obtain each year a financial statement which he will send to the president.

      k.         The secretary-treasurer shall be the custodian of the assets of the society.

      l.          The secretary-treasurer shall keep, or cause to be kept, true and accurate accounts of all financial transactions of the society.

m.        The secretary-treasurer shall keep a cash book and bank accounts in the name of the society. Payments shall be made             only by checks drawn on the accounts of the society.

      n.         The secretary-treasurer shall keep a journal, ledger and an alphabetical list showing the financial standing of all members.

      o.         The secretary-treasurer shall make all books available to the Auditing Committee.  

      p.         The secretary-treasurer shall send to all members, each year, bills for the succeeding year’s dues.

      q.         The secretary-treasurer shall collect the annual dues from eachmember.

       r.         The secretary-treasurer shall collect all assessments levied on members.

      s.         The secretary-treasurer shall prepare a list of members in arrears and present this list to the Executive Committee for its action.

 

        t.          The secretary-treasurer shall be privileged to expend such funds of the society as are essential to its conduct without special authorization by the Executive Committee. For such                 expenditures, they shall present bills or vouchers.

      u.         If an executive secretary is employed, this person shall be the assistant to the secretary-treasurer and shall carry out the routine duties of the office under the direction of the                             secretary-treasurer.

        v.         The secretary-treasurer shall appoint a temporary chairman in the absence of both president and president-elect.

Section 6

                        Member-At-Large

a.         Shall be elected for two years.

b.         Member-At-Large Members shall attend all meetings of the Executive Committee

c.         Member-At-Large Members shall perform duties assigned to him/her by the president that do not conflict with the Bylaws of the society.

Section 7

                        Executive Committee

a.         The Executive Committee shall consist of the president, president-elect, immediate past president, secretary-treasurer, Washington State Urology Society Managers (WSUSM) President, and one or more members-at-large, at the discretion of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall have charge of the administration of the society.  The WSUSM President is a non-voting position within the Executive Board.

b.         Three members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

c.        Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the president, or upon request of eight active members.

d.        Notices of special meetings of the Executive Committee must be sent to each member of the Executive Committee at least two weeks, if possible, before the time set. Notice shall be prepared and sent by the secretary-treasurer. He will state the exact business to be transacted at such meetings.

e.         The Executive Committee will meet before the Annual Meeting to consider matters that should come before members of the Annual Meeting.

 
ARTICLE V

MEETINGS

Section 1         The Annual Meeting of the society shall be held at such time and place as the president-elect, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall elect.

 Section 2         At all annual and special meetings, 25% of the active membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. A majority present and voting shall elect. Voting shall be by show of hands unless written ballot is requested.

Section 3         At the Annual Business Meeting of the society, the order of business                            shall be:

a.         Reading of the minutes of the previous meeting. This may be dispensed with only by a 2/3 vote

b.         Reports of:

1)         Secretary-Treasurer

                                        2)         Professional Relations and Care Committee

3)         Other committee reports 

c.         Unfinished business

d.         Report of Nominations Committee

e.         Nominations from the floor

f.          Election of officers

g.         Installation of officers

h.         Adjournment

ARTICLE VI

FEES & DUES

Section 1         The annual dues set by the Executive Committee and approved by the majority of the active members shall be payable on July 1 of each year.

a. Special assessments may be made by the Executive Committee when deemed advisable. When possible this will be with the approval of the active members at the Annual Meeting or at a special meeting.

b. Registration fees of the Annual Meeting maybe adjusted as necessary by the Executive Committee.

 Section 2Arrears

a.         The fiscal year of the society shall begin July 1. The annual dues are payable in advance. Any members who, after dues notification, have not paid their dues by the stated deadline shall be dropped from the roll of the society.

 ARTICLE VII

 

AMENDMENTS

 Section 1         Proposed amendments and general Articles shall be sent in writing to the secretary-treasurer at least 90 days before the Annual Meeting. They may be reviewed by the Executive Committee. A written copy of the proposed amendments shall be sent to each active member at least 30 days before the Annual Meeting. They may be adopted by a 2/3 vote of the active members voting.

ARTICLE VIII

QUESTIONS OF PARLIAMENTARY ORDER

 Section 1         All questions of parliamentary order not provided for in these Bylaws shall be determined by parliamentary usage as contained in ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER.

Rev. 3/13/2008