Bylaws of the International Society Of Ophthalmic Pathology, Inc.
Chapter I - Membership
Section 1 - Regular members shall consist of those who possess (a) the degree of Doctor of Medicine or its international equivalent, and a minimum of four (4) years of training and experience in ophthalmology and/or pathology, or ophthalmic pathology and who have demonstrated an interest in research and teaching or (b) a doctorate or its international equivalent in veterinary medicine or in an allied biologic science and training, experience, and interests in his field equivalent to those required of Doctors of Medicine. Regular members shall retain such membership by payment of the annual dues as determined by the By-Laws of the Society.
Section 2 - Junior Members shall consist of those who possess the degree of Doctor of Medicine, or its international equivalent, and who are actively engaged in formal training in ophthalmic pathology. Junior Membership shall be limited to the period of formal training not to exceed five (5) years, at which time this membership shall automatically terminate.
Section 3 - Associate Members shall consist of those who possess the degree of Doctor of Medicine, or its international equivalent, who are not engaged in ophthalmic pathology, but who have
demonstrated an active interest in ophthalmic pathology, all as shall be determined by the Executive Committee. They will maintain associate membership by payment of the annual dues as determined by the By-Laws of the Society.
Section 4 - Honorary Members shall consist of persons distinguished for eminent service to medicine and especially to the cause of ophthalmic pathology and to the Society. Other distinguished scientists and physicians with contributions to ophthalmic pathology may be nominated by the Nominating Committee and voted on by the membership for election to honorary membership. Honorary members shall enjoy all rights, benefits and privileges in the Society in perpetuity without payment of dues.
Section 5 - All categories of membership hold equal voting rights and other privileges on a member by member basis.
Section 6 - Membership in all categories is obtained through formal application and is subject to approval by the Executive Committee or its designate. Action of the Executive Committee and a 2/3 vote of the membership attending an announced annual meeting may terminate the membership of any individual in any categories of membership with return of the current year's dues to that terminated member. Such action may be appealed to the membership at large.
Section 7 - The official roster, which shall consist of names, addresses and telephone numbers of all members in each category with currently paid-up dues shall be issued to all members of each category annually.
Chapter II - Dues
Section 1- The annual membership dues of the Society shall be fixed by the Council, shall be payable in advance. Members delinquent in payment of dues for two years may be dropped from membership at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
Section 2 - Junior and Associate Members shall pay nominal dues determined by each Division. Honorary Members will be exempt from dues. Junior, Associate, and Honorary, Members may not vote or hold office in the Society but may be appointed to committees.
Chapter III - Election and Tenure of Officers and Councillors
Section 1 - The officers shall be elected by the International Council to serve the following terms:
a. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected for a term of four (4) years.
b. All other officers shall be elected for terms of four (4) years.
c. The term of each office shall commence on the first day of the second month following the adjournment of the meeting at which the officer was elected provided, however, that should it be
necessary to prevent an unoccupied office an officer shall serve until his successor is elected and qualified.
d. The President-elect at the conclusion of his term shall become President.
e. A Vice-President may succeed himself/herself in office without limitation.
f. The Secretary-Treasurer may succeed himself/herself without limitation.
g. No person shall simultaneously hold two (2) offices.
Section 2 - Should any office other than that of President or that of President-elect become vacant, the office shall be filled by the Executive Committee for the remainder of the term. If the office of President shall become vacant, the President-elect shall there-upon become President for the unexpired term, provided that such service shall not affect such person becoming President upon adjournment of the next regular meeting of the Council. In the event that the office of President becomes vacant at a time when the office of President-elect is also vacant, the Executive Committee shall fill the office of President for the remainder of the term.
Section 3 - Each Councillor shall serve for a term of not less than two (2) years from the date of his selection and thereafter until his/her successor shall be selected and qualified.
Section 4 - Should the qualifications of any Councillor to serve on the Council be challenged by any member of the Society, such challenge shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary accompanied by evidence in writing in support of the grounds of such challenge, and the President after the Secretary shall report to this person such challenge shall make a ruling supporting or rejecting such challenge which ruling shall be final and binding on all persons and should the ruling support the challenger, the member challenged shall cease to be a member of the Council as of the date of the ruling.
Chapter IV - Duties of Officers, Council and Executive Committee
Section 1- The Council shall formulate policies and shall authorize disbursements of the Society's funds, except that the endowed funds of the Society shall be spent only after specific authorization by a two-thirds majority vote of the voting members present at a general business meeting of the Society or of those voting when polled by correspondence. The Council shall have authority to act for the Society in all matters except those otherwise specifically provided for in the Constitution or Bylaws.
Section 2 - The Executive Committee, in addition to other duties provided for in the Constitution or Bylaws, shall prepare a budget for the approval of the Council and shall make necessary adjustments according to circumstances, provided, however, that the changes are within the framework of the general policies determined by the Council.
Section 3 - The President shall appoint such committees as are necessary for the proper administration of the Society's affairs.
Section 4 - The Secretary-Treasurer shall maintain a central office for the transaction of the business of the Society and for the housing of its documents. This person shall submit to the Executive Committee and to the Council a report of all transactions.
Section 5 - The Secretary-Treasurer shall collect dues and other funds, disperse monies, and submit to the Executive Committee a financial statement which shall be kept permanently. This person shall also submit an estimated annual budget to the Executive Committee.
Chapter V - Committees
Section 1- The Executive Committee of the Society shall consist of the President, the President-Elect, the Secretary-Treasurer, the immediate past President, the Local Arrangement Chairperson and the Program Committee Chairperson.
Section 2 - The Nominating Committee shall consist of at least three members and shall be appointed for a one year term by the President.
Section 3 - The Program Committee shall consist of no less than three and no more than nine members. Appointments to the committee will be by the current President at least two years before the forthcoming International meeting. The President should exercise careful attention to maintain a balance between committee members representing different interests in ophthalmic pathology. The Program Committee Chairperson will be nominated by the Nominating Committee. In event of the Program Committee Chairperson's resignation or death, the President will designate an acting chairperson from within the Program Committee. The Program Committee Chairperson will be responsible for the theme, planning, selection and invitation of speakers for the scientific program at the Meeting.
Section 4 - Operating Committees: The President shall appoint such other operating committees as deemed necessary to carry out the policies, programs and projects of the Society as determined by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.
Chapter VI - Meetings
Section 1- The Council shall select the location of the International Meetings.
Section 2 - The Executive Committee shall appoint an Organizing Committee for each International Meeting to include representatives of the host country.
Section 3 - The President of the Society shall be the President for the International Meeting.
Section 4 - The Organizing Committee for each International Meeting shall:
a. Select the specific subjects and the invited speakers.
b. Approve the budget.
c. Appoint a local arrangements committee.
d. Appoint such other committees as it deems appropriate.
Section 5 - The program of each International Meeting shall include scientific sessions and exhibits, the regular meeting of the Executive Committee, the regular meeting of the Council, the general business meeting of the Society, the scientific sessions and if deemed appropriate exhibits.
Section 6 - Registration, course, and other fees collected from Meetings shall be spent in accordance with the budget approved by the Organizing Committee. At the conclusion of any such Meeting or meetings, the Organizing Committee shall meet to receive a full financial statement. Any surplus funds will be distributed appropriately in such manner, in such amounts, and to such recipients as shall be determined by the Organizing Committee in its uncontrolled discretion provided that any transfer of funds of the Society must be controlled by the limitations set forth in Article VII of the Constitution of the Society as amended at the Meeting at which this amendment to the Bylaws is presented, said Article from any Meeting or other meetings effected under its auspices, subject, however, to negotiation with the Organizing Committee and the restrictions and provisions of the said Article IX.
Section 7 - At any regular or special meeting of the Council, each Councillor shall be entitled to vote in person or by written proxy held by a member of the Council present at such meeting.
Section 8 - Without the holding of a meeting, questions to be decided by the Council or the Executive Committee, as the case may be, by the President and a majority of votes cast by such ballots and submitted to the Secretary to be received within sixty (60) days after the submission of the ballots shall be decisive.
Chapter VII - Voting
Section 1 - A quorum for voting shall not be specified except on matters involving the Constitution and By-Laws. Members present at any previously announced official meeting of the Society shall be considered representative of the group. Such official meetings shall be announced in writing to the entire membership.
Section 2 - Members may vote by proxy and a simple majority of votes shall govern on issues other than amendments to the Bylaws, which require a majority of two-thirds. Voting may be conducted by mail ballot of all members at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
Chapter VIII - Committees
Section 1 - The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of the three (3) persons. When required this committee shall nominate the President Elect, Secretary-Treasurer, at each international meetings of the society recognizing that nominations may also be made from the floor.
Section 2 - The President shall appoint a Scientific Program Committee which will plan and execute the forthcoming International Meetings.
Section 3 - The President may, upon his or her own initiative, and shall upon authorization of the Council, create and appoint such committees as are deemed necessary for the operation of the Society.
Chapter IX - Amendments to the Bylaws
The Bylaws may be amended by the approval of two-thirds of the whole members of the Society voting thereon by mail ballot on a form to be prepared by the Secretary-Treasurer and mailed to each member eligible to vote and after being marked by such member shall be returned to the Secretary-Treasurer so that it will be received by him/her not later than sixty (60) days after being mailed by the Secretary-Treasurer, provided, however, that no proposed amendment shall be submitted for adoption unless and until it shall have been first reviewed by the Executive Committee and then approved by the Council, whose approval and a statement of the reasons therefore together with a copy of the substance of the proposed amendment shall accompany each ballot when it is mailed to each member eligible to vote. The By-Laws may also be modified, amended or eliminated by a two-thirds majority of attendants at an annual meeting or two-thirds majority of respondents to a mail ballot, provided that the membership at large be informed of the specific changes proposed at least two months prior to said meeting or ballot.
Section 1 - Regular members shall consist of those who possess (a) the degree of Doctor of Medicine or its international equivalent, and a minimum of four (4) years of training and experience in ophthalmology and/or pathology, or ophthalmic pathology and who have demonstrated an interest in research and teaching or (b) a doctorate or its international equivalent in veterinary medicine or in an allied biologic science and training, experience, and interests in his field equivalent to those required of Doctors of Medicine. Regular members shall retain such membership by payment of the annual dues as determined by the By-Laws of the Society.
Section 2 - Junior Members shall consist of those who possess the degree of Doctor of Medicine, or its international equivalent, and who are actively engaged in formal training in ophthalmic pathology. Junior Membership shall be limited to the period of formal training not to exceed five (5) years, at which time this membership shall automatically terminate.
Section 3 - Associate Members shall consist of those who possess the degree of Doctor of Medicine, or its international equivalent, who are not engaged in ophthalmic pathology, but who have
demonstrated an active interest in ophthalmic pathology, all as shall be determined by the Executive Committee. They will maintain associate membership by payment of the annual dues as determined by the By-Laws of the Society.
Section 4 - Honorary Members shall consist of persons distinguished for eminent service to medicine and especially to the cause of ophthalmic pathology and to the Society. Other distinguished scientists and physicians with contributions to ophthalmic pathology may be nominated by the Nominating Committee and voted on by the membership for election to honorary membership. Honorary members shall enjoy all rights, benefits and privileges in the Society in perpetuity without payment of dues.
Section 5 - All categories of membership hold equal voting rights and other privileges on a member by member basis.
Section 6 - Membership in all categories is obtained through formal application and is subject to approval by the Executive Committee or its designate. Action of the Executive Committee and a 2/3 vote of the membership attending an announced annual meeting may terminate the membership of any individual in any categories of membership with return of the current year's dues to that terminated member. Such action may be appealed to the membership at large.
Section 7 - The official roster, which shall consist of names, addresses and telephone numbers of all members in each category with currently paid-up dues shall be issued to all members of each category annually.
Chapter II - Dues
Section 1- The annual membership dues of the Society shall be fixed by the Council, shall be payable in advance. Members delinquent in payment of dues for two years may be dropped from membership at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
Section 2 - Junior and Associate Members shall pay nominal dues determined by each Division. Honorary Members will be exempt from dues. Junior, Associate, and Honorary, Members may not vote or hold office in the Society but may be appointed to committees.
Chapter III - Election and Tenure of Officers and Councillors
Section 1 - The officers shall be elected by the International Council to serve the following terms:
a. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected for a term of four (4) years.
b. All other officers shall be elected for terms of four (4) years.
c. The term of each office shall commence on the first day of the second month following the adjournment of the meeting at which the officer was elected provided, however, that should it be
necessary to prevent an unoccupied office an officer shall serve until his successor is elected and qualified.
d. The President-elect at the conclusion of his term shall become President.
e. A Vice-President may succeed himself/herself in office without limitation.
f. The Secretary-Treasurer may succeed himself/herself without limitation.
g. No person shall simultaneously hold two (2) offices.
Section 2 - Should any office other than that of President or that of President-elect become vacant, the office shall be filled by the Executive Committee for the remainder of the term. If the office of President shall become vacant, the President-elect shall there-upon become President for the unexpired term, provided that such service shall not affect such person becoming President upon adjournment of the next regular meeting of the Council. In the event that the office of President becomes vacant at a time when the office of President-elect is also vacant, the Executive Committee shall fill the office of President for the remainder of the term.
Section 3 - Each Councillor shall serve for a term of not less than two (2) years from the date of his selection and thereafter until his/her successor shall be selected and qualified.
Section 4 - Should the qualifications of any Councillor to serve on the Council be challenged by any member of the Society, such challenge shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary accompanied by evidence in writing in support of the grounds of such challenge, and the President after the Secretary shall report to this person such challenge shall make a ruling supporting or rejecting such challenge which ruling shall be final and binding on all persons and should the ruling support the challenger, the member challenged shall cease to be a member of the Council as of the date of the ruling.
Chapter IV - Duties of Officers, Council and Executive Committee
Section 1- The Council shall formulate policies and shall authorize disbursements of the Society's funds, except that the endowed funds of the Society shall be spent only after specific authorization by a two-thirds majority vote of the voting members present at a general business meeting of the Society or of those voting when polled by correspondence. The Council shall have authority to act for the Society in all matters except those otherwise specifically provided for in the Constitution or Bylaws.
Section 2 - The Executive Committee, in addition to other duties provided for in the Constitution or Bylaws, shall prepare a budget for the approval of the Council and shall make necessary adjustments according to circumstances, provided, however, that the changes are within the framework of the general policies determined by the Council.
Section 3 - The President shall appoint such committees as are necessary for the proper administration of the Society's affairs.
Section 4 - The Secretary-Treasurer shall maintain a central office for the transaction of the business of the Society and for the housing of its documents. This person shall submit to the Executive Committee and to the Council a report of all transactions.
Section 5 - The Secretary-Treasurer shall collect dues and other funds, disperse monies, and submit to the Executive Committee a financial statement which shall be kept permanently. This person shall also submit an estimated annual budget to the Executive Committee.
Chapter V - Committees
Section 1- The Executive Committee of the Society shall consist of the President, the President-Elect, the Secretary-Treasurer, the immediate past President, the Local Arrangement Chairperson and the Program Committee Chairperson.
Section 2 - The Nominating Committee shall consist of at least three members and shall be appointed for a one year term by the President.
Section 3 - The Program Committee shall consist of no less than three and no more than nine members. Appointments to the committee will be by the current President at least two years before the forthcoming International meeting. The President should exercise careful attention to maintain a balance between committee members representing different interests in ophthalmic pathology. The Program Committee Chairperson will be nominated by the Nominating Committee. In event of the Program Committee Chairperson's resignation or death, the President will designate an acting chairperson from within the Program Committee. The Program Committee Chairperson will be responsible for the theme, planning, selection and invitation of speakers for the scientific program at the Meeting.
Section 4 - Operating Committees: The President shall appoint such other operating committees as deemed necessary to carry out the policies, programs and projects of the Society as determined by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.
Chapter VI - Meetings
Section 1- The Council shall select the location of the International Meetings.
Section 2 - The Executive Committee shall appoint an Organizing Committee for each International Meeting to include representatives of the host country.
Section 3 - The President of the Society shall be the President for the International Meeting.
Section 4 - The Organizing Committee for each International Meeting shall:
a. Select the specific subjects and the invited speakers.
b. Approve the budget.
c. Appoint a local arrangements committee.
d. Appoint such other committees as it deems appropriate.
Section 5 - The program of each International Meeting shall include scientific sessions and exhibits, the regular meeting of the Executive Committee, the regular meeting of the Council, the general business meeting of the Society, the scientific sessions and if deemed appropriate exhibits.
Section 6 - Registration, course, and other fees collected from Meetings shall be spent in accordance with the budget approved by the Organizing Committee. At the conclusion of any such Meeting or meetings, the Organizing Committee shall meet to receive a full financial statement. Any surplus funds will be distributed appropriately in such manner, in such amounts, and to such recipients as shall be determined by the Organizing Committee in its uncontrolled discretion provided that any transfer of funds of the Society must be controlled by the limitations set forth in Article VII of the Constitution of the Society as amended at the Meeting at which this amendment to the Bylaws is presented, said Article from any Meeting or other meetings effected under its auspices, subject, however, to negotiation with the Organizing Committee and the restrictions and provisions of the said Article IX.
Section 7 - At any regular or special meeting of the Council, each Councillor shall be entitled to vote in person or by written proxy held by a member of the Council present at such meeting.
Section 8 - Without the holding of a meeting, questions to be decided by the Council or the Executive Committee, as the case may be, by the President and a majority of votes cast by such ballots and submitted to the Secretary to be received within sixty (60) days after the submission of the ballots shall be decisive.
Chapter VII - Voting
Section 1 - A quorum for voting shall not be specified except on matters involving the Constitution and By-Laws. Members present at any previously announced official meeting of the Society shall be considered representative of the group. Such official meetings shall be announced in writing to the entire membership.
Section 2 - Members may vote by proxy and a simple majority of votes shall govern on issues other than amendments to the Bylaws, which require a majority of two-thirds. Voting may be conducted by mail ballot of all members at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
Chapter VIII - Committees
Section 1 - The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee consisting of the three (3) persons. When required this committee shall nominate the President Elect, Secretary-Treasurer, at each international meetings of the society recognizing that nominations may also be made from the floor.
Section 2 - The President shall appoint a Scientific Program Committee which will plan and execute the forthcoming International Meetings.
Section 3 - The President may, upon his or her own initiative, and shall upon authorization of the Council, create and appoint such committees as are deemed necessary for the operation of the Society.
Chapter IX - Amendments to the Bylaws
The Bylaws may be amended by the approval of two-thirds of the whole members of the Society voting thereon by mail ballot on a form to be prepared by the Secretary-Treasurer and mailed to each member eligible to vote and after being marked by such member shall be returned to the Secretary-Treasurer so that it will be received by him/her not later than sixty (60) days after being mailed by the Secretary-Treasurer, provided, however, that no proposed amendment shall be submitted for adoption unless and until it shall have been first reviewed by the Executive Committee and then approved by the Council, whose approval and a statement of the reasons therefore together with a copy of the substance of the proposed amendment shall accompany each ballot when it is mailed to each member eligible to vote. The By-Laws may also be modified, amended or eliminated by a two-thirds majority of attendants at an annual meeting or two-thirds majority of respondents to a mail ballot, provided that the membership at large be informed of the specific changes proposed at least two months prior to said meeting or ballot.
