Prepare to Vote on Amendments to College Bylaws
ACOS will hold its annual business meeting on Thursday, September 22 during the 2016 Annual Clinical Assembly in Phoenix, Arizona to vote on several proposed amendments to the College’s bylaws. Members are encouraged to attend the business meeting for an update on the state of the College and the osteopathic surgical profession, and to vote on the following proposed bylaw changes.
(New bylaw language is highlighted and underlined in red; and language to be removed is struck through)
BYLAWS
OF THE AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC SURGEONS
Adopted at St. Louis, Missouri, October 28, 1957. Amended at
Denver, Colorado, October 30, 1961; Bal Harbour, Florida, October 29, 1962; New
York, New York, October 26, 1964; Houston, Texas, November 3, 1965; Denver,
Colorado, October 28, 1968; Chicago, Illinois, November 3, 1969; Houston,
Texas, October 28, 1970; St. Louis, Missouri, October 4, 1971; Atlanta, Georgia,
October 30, 1972; Los Angeles, California, October 8, 1973; Bal Harbour,
Florida, October 28, 1974; Washington, D.C., October 1, 1975; New Orleans,
Louisiana, October 19, 1976; Atlanta, Georgia, October 18, 1978; Las Vegas,
Nevada, October 8, 1979; Hollywood, Florida, October 13, 1980; Boston,
Massachusetts, October 19, 1981; San Francisco, California, October 25, 1982;
San Diego, California, October 29, 1985; Las Vegas, Nevada, September 29, 1986;
New York, New York, October 24, 1988; St. Louis, Missouri, September 18, 1989;
Los Angeles, California, October 29, 1990; Orlando, Florida, September 29,
1991; Chicago, Illinois, September 22, 1992; San Francisco, California,
November 1, 1993; Washington, D.C., Sept. 26, 1994; New Orleans, Louisiana, September
16, 1995; San Diego, California, October 19, 1996; Atlanta, Georgia, September
22, 1997; Chicago, Illinois, September 28, 1998; Seattle, Washington, October
4, 1999; Boston, Massachusetts, September 23, 2000; Palm Desert, California,
October 7, 2001; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, September 21, 2002; Chicago, Illinois,
September 20, 2003; New Orleans, Louisiana, September 16, 2006; Atlanta,
Georgia, September 13, 2011; Las Vegas, Nevada, November 14, 2013; and Boston,
Massachusetts, September 18, 2014, October 4, 2015.
ARTICLE I: NAME
This organization shall be known as the American College of
Osteopathic Surgeons and be incorporated as a nonprofit corporation exempt from
federal income tax under the Internal Revenue Code in the state of Missouri.
ARTICLE II: MISSION STATEMENT AND PURPOSE
The College's mission and purpose shall be established by the
Board of Governors.
ARTICLE III: MEMBERSHIP
Section
1-Classifications of Membership
1. Active Member
2. Resident Member
3. Student Member
4. Associate Member
5. Honorary Member
6. Retired Member
7. Life Member
8. Inactive Member
Section 2-Active
Member Requirements
Membership
applications are accepted from osteopathic surgeons trained in the surgical
specialties of otolaryngology-head and neck, general, general vascular,
neurological, obstetric/gynecological, ophthalmologic, orthopedic, plastic and
reconstructive, cardiovascular thoracic, and urological and from non-osteopathic surgeons practicing in the specialties
represented by ACOS. Applicants for membership shall meet the
requirements listed in the bylaws, which include, but are not limited to, the
following:
1. Be a graduate of an AOA Commission on
Osteopathic College Accreditation (COCA) accredited college of osteopathic
medicine or an LCME
accredited college of medicine and successfully complete a
surgical residency training program either approved by the American Osteopathic
Association or accredited by
ACGME.
2. Be and continue to be fully licensed to practice osteopathic medicine and surgery in the state in which he/she
practices.
3. Shall practice ethically and be recognized in the
community as a surgeon.
4. Shall fulfill the requirements for continuing surgical
education as established by the Board of Governors.
5. Be a member in good standing of the AOA
6. Shall meet any other requirements as determined by the
Board of Governors.
7. All new active members are required to be present at
an annual meeting of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons to
participate in a membership induction ceremony at the ACOS Ceremonial Conclave
within three years. If the new active member fails to attend any of these three
(3) annual meetings of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons for
induction, the membership will be dropped, but may be reinstated by the
Membership Committee at the request of the former member. The reinstatement is
effective after the former member attends the next annual meeting and
participates in the induction ceremony.
8. The application processes shall be established by the
Board of Governors.
9. Shall agree to abide by the bylaws, rules, and
regulations of ACOS and the AOA Code of Ethics.
Section 3-Resident
Member Requirements
Resident member applications are accepted from resident physicians
who have commenced training in an AOA or ACGME accredited surgical training
program, including the OGME 1 internship year. Applicants must satisfy the
following requirements:
An applicant shall meet the following requirements:
1.
Be a graduate of a COCA accredited college of osteopathic medicine or an LCME accredited college of medicine.
2.
Be and continue to be a resident physician in good standing in an
AOA-approved or ACGME
accredited internship or surgical residency training program.
internship or a surgical training program
that is AOA-approved or ACGME-accredited.
3. Be and continue to be a member in good
standing of the American Osteopathic Association. Shall agree to abide by the bylaws, rules,
and regulations of ACOS and the AOA Code of Ethics.
4.
The application process shall be established by the Board of Governors.
Section 4-Student
Member Requirements
An applicant shall be and continue to be enrolled in a COCA accredited
college of osteopathic medicine. The applicant shall agree to abide by the
bylaws, rules, and regulations of ACOS and the AOA Code of Ethics. The
application process shall be established by the Board of Governors.
Section 5-Associate Member
Requirements
Associate
Membership shall be available to any nonsurgical osteopathic and allopathic
physician. An applicant shall meet the following requirements:
1. Shall be a member in good standing of the
American Osteopathic Association or AMA recognized national medical specialty
society.
2. Shall agree to abide by the bylaws, rules,
and regulations of ACOS and the AOA Code of Ethics.
The application process shall be established by the Board of
Governors.
Associate Membership shall be available to any nonsurgical
osteopathic and allopathic physician, or an advanced practice provider
currently employed by an ACOS member, who support the mission and objectives of
the ACOS. An applicant shall meet the following requirements:
1. If a physician, he/she shall be a member in
good standing of the American Osteopathic Association or a national medical
specialty society seated in the AMA House of Delegates.
2. If an advanced practice provider, he/she
shall be a member in good standing with the national specialty society for
their specialty (ANA, AAPA, NACNS, etc).
3. Shall meet any other requirements as
determined by the Board of Governors.
4. The application processes shall be
established by the Board of Governors.
5. Shall agree to abide by the bylaws, rules,
and regulations of ACOS and the AOA Code of Ethics.
Section 6-Honorary
Member Requirements
Honorary Membership may be granted to any person who has
contributed substantially to the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons and
to the osteopathic medical profession upon the unanimous vote of the Board of
Governors. The applicant shall agree to abide by the bylaws, rules, and
regulations of ACOS and the AOA Code of Ethics.
The application process shall be established by the Board of
Governors.
Section 7-Retired
Member Requirements
Retired Membership may be granted to any Active or Associate
Member who has permanently retired from practice and does not qualify for Life
or Inactive Membership. Retired Members and Retired Associate members shall not be obligated to satisfy the requirements for continuing
surgical education, attendance at annual meetings of ACOS, and licensure to
practice osteopathic medicine and surgery in the state in which they reside.
The applicant shall agree to abide by the bylaws, rules, and regulations of
ACOS and the AOA Code of Ethics.
The application process shall be established by the Board of
Governors.
Section 8-Life Member
Requirements
Life Membership shall be
granted to any Active, Associate, or Retired Member who, during the year, will
have reached the age of sixty (60) and will have been a member for twenty (20)
years. The applicant shall agree to abide by the bylaws, rules, and regulations
of ACOS and the AOA Code of Ethics.
The application process shall be established by the Board of
Governors.
Section 9-Inactive
Member Requirements
A member who is temporarily not in surgical practice may apply to
be an Inactive Member.
The application process shall be established by the Board of
Governors.
The Inactive Member shall notify the Executive Director Chief Executive Officer if he/she has returned to active surgical
practice.
Section 10-Revocation of
Membership
The Board of Governors shall exercise complete authority in regard
to the membership of all members in the College.
Membership may be denied, suspended, or terminated for any
violation of the bylaws, code of ethics, or any lawful rule or practice duly
adopted by the College or any other conduct prejudicial to the interests of the
College. Denial, suspension, or termination shall be by three-fourths vote of
the Board of Governors present, provided that a statement of the charges
shall have been sent via certified or registered mail to the last recorded
address of the member at least thirty (30) days before final action is taken
thereon. This statement shall be accompanied by a notice of the time and place
of the meeting of the Board of Governors at which the charges shall be
considered, and the member shall have the opportunity to appear in person and
to present any defense to such charges before action is taken thereon. The
member may present evidence, call and examine witnesses, and/or submit a
written statement. A written decision shall be sent by registered or certified
mail within thirty (30) days of the Board of Governors meeting.
The following shall be considered to be conduct or conclusive
evidence of conduct prejudicial to the interests of the College and inconsistent
with its purposes:
1.
Conviction of a
felony involving moral turpitude or any crime relating to or arising out of
the practice of medicine, or which involves a claim of dishonesty,
misrepresentation, fraud or moral turpitude.
2.
Limitation or
termination of any right associated with the practice of medicine in any state,
province, or country, including the imposition of any requirement for
surveillance, supervision, or review, by reason of violation of a medical
practice act or other statute or governmental regulation. Disciplinary action
by or entry into a consent order with any medical licensing authority, or
voluntary surrender of license.
3.
Improper
financial dealings, including the direct or indirect division of fees with
other
physicians,
and the payment or acceptance of rebates of fees for services or appliances.
4. Participating in the deception of a patient
as to the identity of an operating surgeon.
5. Performance of unjustified surgery.
6. Grossly immoral, dishonorable, unethical,
or unprofessional conduct.
7. The performance of surgical operations when
the responsibility for diagnosis and/or
care of the patient is delegated to
another who is not qualified.
8. Failure or refusal to cooperate reasonably
with an investigation by the College of a
disciplinary matter.
Any member who has been suspended or expelled from the College may
request reinstatement of his/her membership status. The process for
reinstatement shall be established by the Board of Governors.
Section
11-Reinstatement of Member Who Has Resigned
The process for reinstatement of a member who has resigned shall
be determined by the Board of Governors.
ARTICLE IV: FELLOW OF THE
AMERICAN COLLEGE OF OSTEOPATHIC SURGEONS (FACOS)
The title of "Fellow of the American College of Osteopathic
Surgeons (FACOS)" may be conferred on Members, Associate Members, Honorary
Members, Retired Members, and Life Members of the College. The honored FACOS
title is an earned award, in recognition of activities performed to advance
osteopathic medicine and surgery.
In order for the title of FACOS to be conferred, an approved
applicant is required to be inducted at the Ceremonial Conclave held during the
annual meeting of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons.
The eligibility requirements, the application and induction
process, and the process for reinstatement of the designation when a member
resigns, is suspended or is terminated from membership shall be established by
the Board of Governors.
ARTICLE V: MEMBER AWARDS
Section 1-Orel F. Martin
Medal
The Orel F. Martin Medal may be
conferred on a member who has made outstanding contributions to the College or
to the profession.
Section 2-Charles L. Ballinger Distinguished Osteopathic Surgeon Award
This award may be conferred on a member who is a surgeon in
recognition of outstanding accomplishments and leadership in the field of
surgery.
Section 3-Award
Eligibility Requirements and Selection Process
The eligibility requirements and selection processes for awards
shall be determined by the Board of Governors.
Section 4- Other Awards
Other awards may be presented or proposed as circumstances may warrant or dictate upon approval by the Board of Governors.
ARTICLE VI: DUES
Section 1-Dues
Rates
Dues and special assessments shall be determined by the Board of
Governors.
Section
2-Delinquent Dues
The process for termination and reinstatement of membership for
failure to pay dues or special assessments shall be determined by the Board of
Governors.
ARTICLE VII: OFFICERS
Section 1-Officers
The officers of this organization shall be a President, Past
President, President-elect, Secretary-Treasurer, and Executive Director Chief Executive Officer. At the last regular board meeting of the current, sitting board during the annual meeting of the College, a President-elect and
Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected from the Board of Governors for a term of
one (1) year, by members of the Board. Election shall be by a majority of votes
cast.
Section 2-President
The President-elect
shall succeed to the office of President at the last meeting of the Board held
at the annual meeting of the College. The President shall be the principal
elective officer of the College, and shall preside at all meetings of the
College, of the Board of Governors, and of the Executive Committee. He/she
shall be an ex officio member of all committees and shall execute all duties
delegated to him/her by the Board of Governors and the Executive Committee.
He/she shall also communicate to the College and to the Board of Governors
regarding the state of the College and may make suggestions to promote its
welfare.
Section 3-Past
President
The President shall become the Past President of the College at
the last meeting of the Board held at the annual meeting of the College. The
Past President shall preside at all meetings of the College, of the Board of
Governors, and of the Executive Committee in the event of the temporary
disability or absence from meetings of the President and President-elect. He/she
shall have such other duties as the President or the Board may assign. In the
event of the death or resignation of the President and the President-elect, or
if the President and President-elect shall for any reason be unable or
unqualified to serve, the Secretary-Treasurer shall fill the office of the
President until the next meeting of the Board of Governors, at which time a
President-elect and President shall be elected.
Section
4-President-elect
A President-elect shall preside at all meetings of the College, of
the Board of Governors, and of the Executive Committee in the event of the
temporary disability or absence from meetings of the President, and shall
execute all duties delegated to him/her by the President or the Board of
Governors. He/she shall succeed to the office of President as provided for in
Section 2. In the event of the death or resignation of the President-elect, the
office shall remain vacant until the next meeting of the Board of Governors, at
which time a President-elect shall be elected. In the event of the death or
resignation of the President or if the President shall for any reason be unable
or unqualified to serve, the President-elect shall fill the office of President
during the balance of the President's term and then automatically succeed to
office as provided in Section 2.
Section
5-Secretary-Treasurer
The Secretary-Treasurer shall oversee: the College's funds and
financial records; the timely collection of members' dues and/or assessments;
the establishment of appropriate accounting procedures for the handling of the
College's funds; the preparation of an annual budget for approval by the Board;
the performance of an annual audit by a certified public accountant; and,
further shall report on the financial condition of the College at all meetings
of the Board of Governors, the annual members meeting, and at other times as
called upon by the President. The Secretary-Treasurer shall ensure the accurate
recording and maintenance of proceedings of meetings of the College and the
Board of Governors, shall ensure that accurate records are kept of all members,
and perform such other duties as legally required or otherwise prescribed by
the Board of Governors. Any of the duties of the Secretary-Treasurer may, by
action of the Board of Governors, be assigned to the Executive Director Chief Executive Officer. Upon completion of his/her term as
Secretary-Treasurer, he/she shall complete any unexpired portion of his/her
elected term as Governor. In the event of the death or resignation of the
Secretary-Treasurer, the President shall appoint a member of the Board of
Governors to the office for the balance of the unexpired term.
Section 6-Executive Director Chief Executive Officer
The Board of Governors shall
employ an Executive
Director Chief Executive
Officer whose term of employment, title, salary, and benefits shall be determined by the Board. The Chief Executive Officer Executive Director shall be directly responsible to the Board and be the chief executive
and operating officer of the College. He/she shall have the responsibility for
the management and direction of all operations, programs, activities, and
affairs of the College, including employment and the determination of
compensation of members of the staff and supporting personnel, functioning
within the framework of policy, budget, aims, and programs as determined by the
Board. He/she shall have such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board.
He/she shall not be entitled to vote.
Section 7-Bonding
At the direction of the Board of Governors, any officer or
employee of the College shall furnish, at the expense of the College, a
fidelity bond in such sum as the Board shall prescribe.
ARTICLE VIII: BOARD
OF GOVERNORS
Section 1-Authority
and Responsibility
The Board of Governors shall have supervision, control, and
direction of the affairs of the College; shall determine its policies or
changes therein within the limits of the Statutes of Missouri, the Corporate
Charter, and College bylaws; shall actively pursue its purposes and shall have
discretion in the disbursement of its funds. It may adopt such rules and
regulations for the conduct of its business as shall be deemed advisable, and
may, in the execution of the power granted, appoint such agents as it may
consider necessary.
Section
2-Policies and Procedures Manual
The Board of Governors shall maintain and revise as necessary a
Policies and Procedures Manual for the College. The purpose of this manual
shall be to provide a single reference with concise statements of the duties
and responsibilities of the Board, committees, officers, members, and staff.
All policies as determined by the Board shall be contained in the manual.
Copies of the manual shall be made available to the Governors and Discipline
Chairs, and to other members on request.
Section 3-Composition and Election
The Board of Governors
shall be composed of the chair of each surgical discipline, five members
elected as a governor by the General Surgery Discipline, one other member
elected as a governor by each of the other surgical disciplines, and one
Residents Section representative. Only members of the College who hold the
FACOS title and who are currently in active surgical practice or have been in
active surgical practice in the last three (3) years may be elected as
Governors except that a resident member shall represent the Residents Section.
Each surgical
discipline shall have a nominating committee consisting three (3) members of
that discipline, with one member designated as the chair. No current member of
the nominating committee is eligible for election as a discipline officer or as
a governor. The nominating committee shall present a slate of nominees to the Chief Executive Officer Executive Director one hundred twenty (120) days prior to
the election for distribution to the discipline membership. The election of the
discipline officers and Governors shall be held at an annual business meeting
of each surgical discipline at which there is a quorum by a majority vote of
the voting members who are in attendance.
The Governors shall be
elected for a term of three (3) years not to exceed a total of two (2) consecutive terms. Discipline
chairs shall serve a two (2) year term. The Residents Section
representative shall serve a one-year term and be eligible to be reelected.
Governors, upon election by their discipline, and the Residents Section
representative shall be seated at the last meeting of the Board during the
annual meeting of the College, following installation of the new President, and
they shall continue in office until the expiration of their term, unless they
resign, are removed, or are otherwise unable to fulfill an unexpired term. When
a Governor is elected to an officer position, they maintain their Governor seat
until such a time as they finish their term as Governor, move up in an officer
position, or complete their officer responsibilities, whichever is greater.
A member currently serving
on the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery’s Board of Directors is ineligible
to serve as a Governor on the ACOS Board of Governors.
Section 4-Absences
Any member of the Board unable to attend a meeting shall, in a
letter or email addressed to the Executive Director Chief
Executive Officer, state
the reason for his/her absence. If a member of the Board is absent from two (2)
consecutive meetings for reasons which the Board has failed to declare to be
sufficient, his/her resignation shall be deemed to have been tendered and
accepted.
Section
5-Vacancies and Removal
A member of the Board may resign at any time by giving written
notice to the Executive
Director Chief Executive Officer. Such resignation will take effect at the
time specified therein or at the time of acceptance as determined by the
President or the Board.
For just and reasonable cause, any member of the Board may be
removed by a two-thirds vote of the Discipline members voting by mail ballot or by ¾ vote of the seated Board of
Governors.
Any vacancies on the
Board shall be filled by an appointment by the chair of the respective
discipline, or if the discipline does not have officers, the chair of the
nominating committee of the discipline. Any vacancy resulting from the
Residents Section representative shall be filled by the Residents Section
governing council. This appointee shall serve until the next regularly
scheduled meeting of the discipline or Residents Section when an election shall
be held to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Section 6-Board
Meetings
The Board shall have regular meetings at the time and place of the
annual meeting of the College and a mid-year meeting. The Board also shall meet
upon the call of the President or a majority of the members of the Board. The
times and places of the meetings shall be determined by the Board. Notice of
all meetings of the Board shall be given to each member of the Board not more
than eight (8) weeks and not less than two (2) weeks in advance of each meeting,
using any reasonable means, including but not limited to personal notice or
notice by telephone, electronic mail, facsimile, or regular mail. A majority of
the whole Board shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board. Any
Governor may participate in a meeting of the Board by means of a conference
telephone or similar telecommunications device which allows all persons
participating in the meeting to hear each other, and such participation in a
meeting shall be deemed presence in person at the meeting.
Section 7-Voting by
Mail or Electronic Facsimile
Any action may be taken by the Board without a meeting if a
written consent is signed by all of the Governors. Written consents may be by
any means, including electronic mail or facsimile. Any vote that receives less
than unanimous written consent must be ratified at the next Board meeting to be
effective.
Section
8-Compensation
Members shall not receive any compensation for their service on
the Board.
ARTICLE IX: EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee of the College shall consist of the
President, Past President, President-elect, Secretary-Treasurer, and one (1)
Member-at-large appointed by the President from the Board of Governors. The
Executive Committee shall have the authority to act on behalf of the Board of Governors
between meetings of the Board, reporting any action(s) taken at the next
meeting of the Board. The Executive Committee shall hold a mid-year meeting at
a time and place determined by a majority of the members of the Executive
Committee and at the call of the President or at the request in writing
submitted to the Executive Director of three (3) or more members of the
Executive Committee. Four (4) members of the Executive Committee shall
constitute a quorum.
During its mid-year meeting the Executive Committee shall:
1.
Receive and act
upon reports of standing committees as required by the bylaws of the College,
and of special committees as directed by the Board of Governors or the
President of the College.
2.
Transact such
other business as has been delegated to it or might be considered by it in the
best interest of the College and the welfare of the Membership.
3.
Serve as the
Finance Committee of the College and have general supervision and direction of supervise and direct the
financial policies and affairs of the College.
Any action may be taken
by the Executive Committee without a meeting if a written consent is signed by
all of the executive committee members. Written consents may be signed and
returned by any means, including but not limited to electronic mail, or facsimile, or
text message. Any
electronic vote that receives less than unanimous written consent must be
ratified at the next Board meeting to be effective.
ARTICLE X: MEMBER MEETINGS
Section 1-Annual Member
Meeting
There shall be an annual member meeting at a time and place to be
determined by the Board. Special member meetings shall be held at the call of
the President.
Notice of a member meeting
shall be given by any reasonable means (including electronic or regular mail or
posting in an ACOS newsletter) not less than thirty (30) days and not more than
ninety (90) days prior to the meeting.
Section 2-Quorum
Fifty (50) voting members shall constitute a quorum at a member
meeting.
Section 3-Voting
Privileges
Only active members, life members, and retired members in good
standing shall have the
privilege of a vote are eligible to vote at a member meeting.
Section 4-Voting By
Written Ballot
At the
discretion of the Board or the Executive Committee acting for the Board between
regularly-scheduled meetings of the Board, any action that may be taken at any
annual or special meeting of the members may be taken without a meeting if a
written ballot is delivered to every member entitled to vote on the matter by any reasonable means, including electronic mail, facsimile,
or regular mail. Voting by written ballot shall be permitted to the
fullest extent allowed by the section of the Missouri Nonprofit Corporation
Act, which is summarized as follows:
a.
The
ballot shall set forth each proposed action and shall provide an opportunity to
vote either for or against each proposed action.
b.
The
number of ballots received by ACOS must equal or exceed the quorum that would
have been required had there been a meeting (i.e., ACOS must receive a valid ballot from fifty (50) or more
voting members.)
c.
Unless
otherwise indicated in these bylaws, a majority of the affirmative votes cast
by ballot shall constitute the action of the members with respect to each
matter on the ballot.
d.
All
solicitations for votes by written ballot shall indicate the number of
responses needed to meet the quorum requirement, state the percentage of
approvals necessary to approve each matter, and specify the time by which a
ballot must be received by ACOS in order to be counted.
ARTICLE XI: SURGICAL
DISCIPLINES AND SECTIONS
Section
1-Establishment of Discipline
The Board of Governors may authorize and dissolve surgical
disciplines of the College for the study and advancement of any specialties of
osteopathic surgery and special sections.
A surgical specialty or section with adequate numerical
representation as determined by the Board shall submit to the Board of
Governors for approval the bylaws for the specialty discipline or section for approval. The bylaws shall be consistent with the
bylaws, policies, and procedures of the College. The administration of each
surgical discipline or section shall in no way conflict with the overall
objectives, ideals, and functions of the College. The officers of the
discipline shall include at least a chair and a chair elect to each serve terms
of two years.
Section
2-Discipline Membership
Membership in a surgical discipline shall be open to any member of
the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons practicing in that specialty.
Membership in a special section only may be
open to members of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons only. Membership privileges for a surgical discipline or section shall
be the same as those granted to members in
the College.
Section 3- Discipline Chair
In order to be eligible to be
elected by the discipline as a chair, a member shall be a Fellow (FACOS) and
have served as an ACOS discipline continuing education program chair or
discipline continuing education co-chair. The discipline chair shall serve no
more than one term of two years.
ARTICLE XII:
COMMITTEES
The following shall be the standing committees of this
organization and shall be appointed by the President-elect at the mid-year
meeting of the Board subject to approval by the Board of Governors. The
appointments shall become effective when the President-elect assumes the office
of President.
Section
1-Membership Committee
The Membership Committee shall consist of at least one Fellow
(FACOS) from each College discipline and one member who shall be a resident
member. The resident member shall be a nonvoting member of the committee. There
shall be a designated Chair and Vice Chair.
The Membership Committee shall meet at least twice each year for
consideration of applications for membership, and nominations or applications
for the title of Fellow. It and shall
report its recommendations to the Board of Governors.
Section 2-Bylaws Committee
The Bylaws Committee shall consist of at least three (3) members
of the Board of Governors, one of whom shall be designated Chair, and a
resident member. It shall be the duty of this committee to study and recommend improvements additions, deletions, improvements, or amendments to in the bylaws of the College.
Section 3-Ethics
Committee
The Ethics Committee shall
consist of Fellows (FACOS), with a minimum of five (5) members. The immediate
Past President shall be Chair and one member shall be designated Vice Chair.
The committee shall meet to consider all matters related to maintenance of high
ethical standards of practice by members in the College.
The Ethics Committee shall interpret the Code of Ethics of the
AOA, respond to all complaints regarding unethical conduct on the part of a
member, and make recommendations to the Board of Governors for action to
be taken dispensation by the Board.
Section 4-Nominating
Committee
The Nominating Committee shall
consist of the five
discipline chairs and the immediate past
president who shall serve as committee chair but has no vote.
This committee shall present a slate of nominees to the Board for consideration
for election as the College officers.
The Nominating Committee shall
present a committee report to the Board on the last day of the annual meeting
of the Board containing the committee’s analysis of the leadership needs of the
College, the names of each nominee, the experience and qualifications of the
nominees, and the reasons the nominees can meet the leadership needs of the
College. Nominations
from the floor will be accepted only if the candidate has previously been
vetted by the Nominating Committee and has the support of two current members
of the Board of Governors. No current
member of the Nominating Committee is eligible for election as an officer.
Section 5-Ad hoc Committees
The President-elect, either at
the mid-year Board meeting, or at a subsequent time before or during his/her
term as President, also may appoint and discharge other committees, subject to
the approval of the Board of Governors.
ARTICLE XIII: CODE
OF ETHICS
American College of Osteopathic Surgeons subscribes to and adopts
the Code of Ethics of the American Osteopathic Association.
ARTICLE XIV: SEAL
The seal of the corporation shall be circular, one and
three-quarter inches in diameter, with the name of the corporation engraved
around the margin and the word "Seal" engraved across the center.
ARTICLE XV: RULES
OF ORDER
Meetings of the members, of the Board of Governors, and of the
Executive Committee of the College shall be governed by Robert's Rules of
Order-Newly Revised unless otherwise specified in these bylaws.
ARTICLE XVI: RECOGNITION
OF ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATIONS
Unless otherwise
required by applicable law, if any provision of these bylaws requires a notice
or communication to any member, governor, or committee member, or any record,
to be in writing, an electronic record or an electronic communication satisfies
the requirement. Similarly, unless
otherwise required by applicable law, if any provision of these bylaws requires
the signature or written consent or approval of a member, governor, or
committee member, an electronic signature or authenticated electronic
communication satisfies the requirement.
ARTICLE XVII:
DISSOLUTION
The College shall use its funds only to accomplish the objectives
and purposes specified in these bylaws, and no part of said funds shall inure,
or be distributed, to the members of the College. On dissolution of the College
any funds remaining shall be distributed to one or more regularly organized and
qualified charitable, educational, scientific or philanthropic organizations to
be determined by the Board of Governors.
ARTICLE XVIII:
INDEMNIFICATION
The College shall provide for indemnification by the College of
any and all individuals who were, now are, or shall be a Governor, officer,
employee, or member of any College committee against expenses actually and
necessarily incurred by them in connection with the defense of any action,
suit, or proceeding in which they or any of them are made parties, or a party,
by reason of having been governors, officers, employees, or members of College
committees, except in relation to matters as to which such governors, officers,
employees, or members of a College committee shall be adjudged in such action,
suit, or proceeding to be liable for negligence or willful misconduct in the
performance of duty and to such matters as shall be settled by agreement
predicated on the existence of such liability for negligence or willful
misconduct.
ARTICLE XIX: AMENDMENTS
Proposals to amend the bylaws
may be made at any time by a majority vote of the Board of Governors. In
addition, proposals to amend the bylaws may be made in a petition submitted to
the Executive Director Chief
Executive Officer, signed by at least
50 members eligible to vote and identifying no more than three signatories
authorized to speak and act for all petitioners. Amendments to these bylaws may
be voted on during the annual meeting by a majority vote of the members present
or by a majority vote taken by written ballot in accordance with Article X,
Section 4, provided that no proposition to amend shall be acted upon at a
meeting unless written notice thereof has been given to the members (which may
include notice published in an ACOS newsletter) not more than ninety (90) days and not less than thirty (30) days prior
to the annual meeting. These amendments will be effective upon approval by the
American Osteopathic Association.
- This webpage was updated 8/16/2016