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Bylaws

Amended September 2022



ARTICLE I

MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 — Boundaries

An applicant for membership must be a resident of the South Central Section (“SCS” or “Section”) at the time of application, which consists of the states of Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, the Republics of Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Mexico, Nicaragua, and Belize. Individuals who initially join the Section in which they practice, and then at a future date relocate to another section of the American Urological Association, Inc. (“AUA”), may retain membership in the South Central Section.

Section 2 — Member Categories

The Association membership shall include: Active Members, Associate Members, Allied Members, Senior Members, Honorary Members, Corresponding Members and Candidate Members.

Section 3 — Application Fees and Dues

All members except for Senior and Honorary members shall be assessed application fees and due in an amount determined by the Board of Directors.

  1. Any member who after appropriate notification does not pay membership dues shall cease to receive SCS publications and notices
Section 4 — Voting Status and Rights

Only Active and Senior members shall be eligible to vote. Active and Senior members who are elected to Honorary Membership shall retain their voting status. Only voting members are eligible to hold office. All members shall be entitled to receive the latest available copy of Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, and the Roster of Membership.

Section 5 — Election/Approval of Membership

All members shall be elected at the Annual Business Meeting. New members shall receive a certificate of membership from the Secretary, and the American Urological Association will be notified of their SCS membership.

Section 6 — Active Members

Requirements for Active members are as follows:

  1. Possession of a license to practice medicine and surgery in the State, Province or Country of the applicant’s practice.
  2. Membership in good standing in the American Urological Association, Inc. and practice in the geographical boundaries of the AUA.
  3. Possession of an M.D. or D.O. degree, or United States medical licensure equivalent, and completion of an ACGME accredited urology residency or equivalent accreditation organization or the certifying Board of Urology in the country where practicing.
  4. Limitation of practice to the specialty of Urology.
  5. Certification by the American Board of Urology (ABU), American Osteopathic Board of Surgery (AOBS), or the certifying Board of Urology in the country where practicing.
  6. If an Active Member becomes decertified by the ABU, or other certifying board, the member shall be automatically dropped for non-compliance with the Section Bylaws, pursuant to Expulsion and Reinstatement Policies.
Section 7 — Senior Members

Members are eligible for Senior Membership in both the SCS and the AUA if they have been Active members for 20 years in either the Section or the AUA and who are retired or are permanently disabled.

Section 8 — Associate Members

Requirements for Associate membership are the same as Active membership, except for Board certification.

  1. Candidate members eligible for Fast Track Associate Status:  Associate membership will be offered to all Candidate members who have passed the qualifying examination (Part I) of the American Board of Urology.
  2. Non-Members eligible for Associate Status:  Associate Membership is available to non-member urologists who are practicing within the geographic boundaries of the Section but are not certified by the American Board of Urology.

Doctors of Osteopathy who complete AOA-approved urology residency programs and are certified by the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery are eligible for Associate Member Status.

  1. Transfer to Active Membership. Associate Members who have passed the ABU certifying exam (Part II) will be transferred to Active Membership in the Section.
  2. If an Active Member fails to become re-certified as required by the ABU (or other certifying board), the Section will transfer the individual to Associate Member Status.
Section 9 — Allied Members

Allied membership is available to Non-Physician Scientists and is not usually available for physicians certified by medical boards. However, in exceptional instances, persons in related fields of medicine and science, who do not qualify for other categories of Association membership, may be considered for Allied Membership provided they have contributed significantly to the specialty of Urology. They shall be nominated by two Active or Senior members who shall furnish the Section Secretaries Committee with the curricula vitae and other pertinent information.

Section 10 — Honorary Members

Honorary members are those whom the Section wish to honor. They shall be nominated by the Past-Presidents Committee, approved by the Board of Directors and then elected at the annual business meeting. A two-thirds vote of the active and senior members present shall be necessary for election. They shall be exempt from all dues and assessments and shall enjoy all the privileges of active membership except the right to vote and hold office.

Section 11 — Corresponding Members

Corresponding Membership is available to urologists who practice in countries beyond the geographic boundaries of the AUA and wish to be a member of the SCS. The applicant shall be a member of the local or national urological organization in his/her country, and a letter of endorsement of that membership shall be submitted to the SCS with the application form. If a national organization does not exist within the applicant’s country, a waiver of this requirement may be considered by the Executive Committee. The applicant’s practice must be limited entirely to the specialty of urology. The applicant must be a graduate of an acceptable medical school who has received a Doctor of Medicine or equivalent degree. The applicant must be in practice for a minimum of two (2) years after completion of residency.

Section 12 — Candidate Members

Candidate Membership is established to extend Sectional educational and professional advantages to urological residents. The candidate must be practicing and studying within the geographic boundaries of the SCS. 

  1. ACGME. Medical Doctors (MD) or Doctors of Osteopathy (DO) enrolled in a urology residency program approved by the Residency Review Committee and ACGME are eligible for Candidate Membership; and after completing training and passing part 1 of the ABU qualifying examination are eligible for Associate Member status (Fast Track), Section G.1. Those who successfully pass all parts of the ABU qualifying examination are eligible for Active Member status, Section 6.
  2. AOA. Doctors of Osteopathy enrolled in an AOA-approved urology residency training program are eligible for candidate member status. DOs completing their training and passing the American Osteopathic Board of Surgery certifying examination are eligible for Associate Member status, Section 8.
Section 13 — Publication of Names

A report of new members by category admitted during the past twelve months shall be available to the membership on the SCS website.

Section 14 — Expulsion, Resignation and Reinstatement

Any member who has been expelled from the AUA shall automatically have his/her SCS membership terminated; and likewise, any member terminated by the SCS shall be terminated by the AUA. A member who has resigned or whose membership has been deleted for non-payment of dues, or for other reasons, may, after payment of any back dues owed, request reinstatement, subject to approval of both the Section and AUA Board of Directors.

Section 15 — Transfer of Membership

Active members of other Sections of the AUA who move to the geographic area of the South Central Section may apply for transfer of membership. After certification by the Secretary of the former Section and transfer of the applicants’ dossier, he/she will become an active member following approval by the SCS Secretary.

Section 16 — Membership Waiver

In special instances, the Board of Directors may waive a qualification or requirement and recommend for membership, a urologist whose position and achievement, in its opinion, warrants such action.

ARTICLE II

DUTIES OF OFFICERS

Section 1 — President
  1. The President shall arrange for and preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and of the scientific and business sessions of the Section.
  2. He/She shall call special meetings of the Board of Directors.
  3. The President shall direct to the attention of the Board of Directors any violations of the Bylaws and matters requiring discipline of members.
  4. He/She shall receive reports of the Standing and Special Committees and make recommendations.
  5. He/She shall appoint the committees as specified in Article IV — Standing committees.
  6. He/She shall appoint any other committees that are needed to carry out the business of the Section.
  7. At the conclusion of the meeting at which he/she assumes the office of President, he/she shall call a meeting of the program committee to discuss the format for the next annual scientific program.
  8. Shall chair the nominating committee the year following his/her presidency.
  9. He/She shall propose budgetary recommendations to the Board of Directors annually when received from the Treasurer for operations of the Section designating the monetary needs for “operations”.
Section 2 — President-Elect
  1. The President-Elect shall assist the President in the performance of his/her duties and in the absence of the President, shall preside. In the event of the Presidents’ death, resignation, or removal, the President-Elect shall succeed in the office of the President for the unexpired term. His/Her successor as President-Elect shall be selected at the next annual business meeting.
  2. During his/her year as President-Elect, he/she will be organizing his/her committees in order to make the appointments early after assuming office as the President, since the place of meeting will have been selected.
  3. President-Elect shall serve as Chair of the Program Committee.
Section 3 — Secretary
  1. The term of office shall be four years or until his/her successor assumes the office.  The Secretary can serve one term in office only.
  2. The Secretary shall attend all meetings of the Society and shall keep minutes of their respective proceedings in an appropriate book, which shall be preserved by his/her successors as a permanent record of the organization.
  3. He/She shall employ, with the approval of the Board of Directors, such secretarial assistance as is necessary.
  4. He/She shall be responsible for the maintenance of an alphabetical list showing the actual standing of all members, their applications, addresses and a roster of attendance at the annual meeting.
  5. He/She shall be responsible for the publication and distribution of newsletters at such intervals as is agreed upon by him and the President.
  6. He/She shall be responsible for notification of the annual meeting to all members at least six months before the meeting.
  7. He/She will ensure publication of a newsletter at least 30 days prior to the meeting, with information about the program that would be of interest.
  8. He/She shall obtain the names of all committee members from the President within sixty (60) days after the annual meeting and confirm their obligation in writing.
  9. He/She shall report to the Chair of the Nominating Committee before the annual meeting as to vacancies which will occur in the offices of representative and alternate to the American Urological Association, Inc. and other vacancies in the Section offices.
  10. He/She shall report to the Secretary of the American Urological Association Inc., the names of members of the Section who have been recommended by the Board of Directors for membership in that organization and our representative and alternate on the Board of Directors of the American Urological Association, Inc., if there is a change. He/She shall report to the Secretary of the American Urological Association, Inc., the names of all newly elected members of the Section and of all officers, directors, and representatives and alternates to various AUA committees requiring such Section representation.
  11. He/She shall prepare, with the President, and circulate among the members at least ten (10) days in advance, an agenda for all meetings of the Executive Committee and Board of Directors.
  12. He/She shall be responsible for the approval of membership candidates for all membership categories with the exception of candidates for Active and Associate membership which are approved by the AUA Section Secretaries/Membership Council. He/She shall also be responsible for the approval of membership transfers.
Section 4 — Treasurer
  1. The term of office shall be four years or until his/her successor assumes the office. The treasurer can serve one term in office only.
  2. He/She shall keep an accurate record of all property of the Section.
  3. He/She shall be bonded for twenty thousand dollars ($20,000). The bond shall be held by the Executive Secretary. He/She shall arrange the same bond for all who handle monies of the Section.
  4. He/She shall demand and receive all funds due to the society together with all the bequests and donations.
  5. He/She shall keep in a general ledger an alphabetical list of all members showing the financial status of each.
  6. He/She shall report delinquent members promptly to the Secretary and to the Board of Directors.
  7. He/She shall have an annual audit of the Section’s financial records including the records of the Local Arrangements Committee prepared by a Certified Public Accountant.
  8. A report of the above audit will be presented to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting.
  9. The Treasurer shall prepare with the assistance of the Executive Director, Chair of Arrangements Committee, and Chair of Program Committee, a budget of all monies to be received and disbursed in connection with the annual meeting. The budget will be subject to review and approved by the President or in his/her absence, the President-Elect, or in his/her absence the Secretary. All annual meeting receipts and disbursements shall be made by the Treasurer in accordance with the approved budget.
  10. He/She shall receive advice from the Executive Director and annually provide the President with over-all budgetary recommendations for the Section including the needs for the annual meetings as specified in Article II, Section 4.
  11. He/She shall authorize the purchase of securities in accordance with the Guidelines for Investments for the Section upon authorization by the Investment Committee or an Investment Advisor if duly appointed by the Boards of Directors.
  12. He/She shall authorize the purchase of securities in accordance with the Guidelines for Investments for the Section upon authorization by the Investment Committee or an Investment Advisor if fully appointed by the Boards of Directors.
  13. He/She shall provide periodic reports no more often than quarterly concerning the Investment Portfolios of the Section to the Investment Committee with the assistance by the investment advisor if appointed by the Board of Directors. Reports will include comparisons to appropriate comparable indices (bench marks).
  14. He/She shall receive recommendations from the Investment Committee concerning selection of Investment Advisors for submission to the Board of Directors.
Section 5 — Executive Director

The Executive Director shall be the assistant of the Secretary and the Treasurer to carry out the routine duties of the office under the direction of the Secretary and the Treasurer such as, but not limited to, the following:

  1. Mailing of all annual dues and notices to the membership and reminding those in arrears individually.
  2. Publication of the yearly roster, attending to the new addresses for each changing year.
  3. Attend to the details of sending out applications to the new members, such information when received to be mailed to the Secretary’s office.
  4. Answer all inquires that the Secretary or the Treasurer can place with the necessary suggestions.
  5. Arrange for the publication of programs and mail same.
  6. Be present at meetings of the Board of Directors to take down all pertinent data covering the Board of Directors meeting and arrange for presentation at the Business Session.
  7. Publication and distribution of all Newsletters and communications required of Executive Officers.
  8. Shall assist local arrangements committee acting as annual meeting planner.
  9. Budgetary recommendations for operations of the Section shall be submitted to the Treasurer for consideration for the President and Board of Directors.
  10. The Investment Committee will be assisted in its periodic meetings and responsibilities.
Section 6 — Historian
  1. The Historian, as official biographer of the South Central Section AUA, Inc. shall prepare an accurate history of the association and shall keep records of changes in the association pertinent to its history. He/She shall present an annual report to the Board of Directors and to the association at the annual business meeting when requested by the President.
  2. He/She shall prepare for publication any historical issue relative to the association and present to the Board of Directors.
  3. Funds required for these purposes shall be voted on by the Board of Directors.
Section 7 — National Board of Directors Representative

The duly elected National Board of Directors Representative will represent the South Central Section on the Board of Directors of the American Urological Association, Inc. He/She will become liaison officer for the Section in the National organization.

  1. He/She shall attend all Executive Committee meetings of the National Society and will transmit to and report all instructions and mandates from the Section in the National Board of Directors meeting.
  2. He/She shall render an annual report of the proceedings of the Section’s Board of Directors meeting and he/she shall advise the President of the Section as to all transactions concerning the Section which transpire at interval meetings of the Executive meeting of the AUA.
  3. He/She shall be reimbursed by the Section for expenses to special meetings of the American Urological Association Board of Directors when not covered by the parent organization.
  4. He/She shall be a member ex-officio of the Section Board of Directors.
  5. The representative to the Board of Directors shall be elected for terms of two years and be limited to the maximum of two terms, alternates will be elected. He/She will be elected at the annual meeting in odd number years and will take office at the next annual meeting of the American Urological Association, Inc.
  6. He/She must be an active member of the Section and also a member of the American Urological Association, Inc.
Section 8 — Term of Office

All officers shall hold office for one year, or until their successors are elected except as otherwise indicated herein.  The Secretary and Treasurer will not change office the same year.

Section 9 — Office Vacancies
  1. Vacancies in office must be filled by the Board of Directors for the unexpired term except should the office of President become vacant, the President-Elect would automatically succeed the President. No one, however, will hold two elective offices at the same time.
  2. In case of a vacancy where there has been an alternate selected, the alternate shall serve until the next annual meeting at which time a new delegate shall be elected to complete the term.

ARTICLE III

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1

The Board of Directors, herein afterward known as the Board, shall consist of the Officers, and one (1) Director from each state or territory of the Section consisting of Arkansas, Colorado, Kansas, Missouri, Nebraska, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, The Republic of Mexico, and Central America, excluding Panama, shall each have a duly elected member on the Board of Directors. (Past-Presidents will be ex-officio members without vote.) Members recognized by the AUA as part of the Young Leadership Development Program will serve as ex-officio members of the Board of Directors, without vote, for a period of three years.

Section 2 — Executive Committee

The Executive Committee of the Board of Directors consisting of the President as Chair, immediate Past-President, President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer, shall have responsibility for the interim business of the Section. All actions taken by the committee are subject to acceptance or rejection by the Board of Directors.

Section 3 — Duties

The Board of Directors shall have charge of the administration of the corporation. They will meet during the annual meeting of the Section and during the national meeting when possible.

Section 4 — Quorum

Seven members of the Board of Directors shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 5 — Election and Term of Office

The elected members of the Board of Directors shall hold office for two years and may be elected to a second term. The election of members of the various states or geographical areas will be scheduled so that two or three new members will be elected each year.

Section 6 — Time and Place of Annual Meeting

The Board of Directors shall select the time and place of the annual meeting.

Section 7 — Reports

The Board of Directors shall receive reports from standing and special committees and make recommendations.

Section 8 — Amendments

The Board of Directors shall make recommendations for amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws when necessary to better conduct the Section.

Section 9 — Special Meetings

Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called upon request of the majority of its members or the President.

Section 10 — Annual Meeting of the Board of Directors

The time of the annual meeting or the Board of Directors shall be set by the President who will preside and may be on the day preceding the annual meeting of the Section and also on the days during the annual meeting.

ARTICLE IV

STANDING COMMITTEES

The newly elected President shall appoint from the active and senior members the following standing committees within sixty (60 days) following the annual meeting. The terms of office of the committee members will be staggered. A member may not continuously serve on a particular committee for more than six (6) years. He/She may serve on the same committee after a two (2) year hiatus.

Section 1 — Committee on Arrangements
  1. A Chair of the Committee on Arrangements will be appointed by the President. This chairperson will have the power to appoint all local chairpersons and committee members.
  2. A Committee on Arrangements shall make all necessary arrangements for the annual meeting and entertainment of the Section at such place as selected by the Board of Directors.
  3. The Chair of the Committee on Arrangements shall aid the Executive Director and Treasurer in preparing the budget of the annual meeting. All annual meeting receipts and disbursements shall be made by the Treasurer in accordance with the approved budget.
  4. All expenditures must be authorized in advance by the Chairperson of the committee.
  5. The annual meeting is expected to be self-sustaining.
Section 2 — Program Committee
  1. The Program Committee will consist of the President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President, Treasurer, and Secretary. The President-Elect will act as Chair.
  2. It shall arrange the scientific program for the annual meeting and select titles of the papers best suited for the program.
  3. It shall be the prerogative of the Committee to invite any guest speaker from outside the Section whom they feel would contribute to the program.
  4. Shall aid the Executive Director and Treasurer in preparing the budget of the annual meeting.
Section 3 — Bylaws Committee
  1. The Bylaws Committee shall be composed of the Secretary and three other members. One member to be appointed each year by the President to serve for a term of three years. In order to form the committee, the first three appointments shall be for 1, 2, and 3 years. The President must appoint the chairperson of the committee who will serve for a term of three years.
  2. The chairperson will represent the South Central Section on the Bylaws Committee of the AUA, Inc.
  3. The Bylaws Committee shall become familiar with the activities of the association and the efficacy of the articles of corporation and bylaws. It shall make a yearly report to the Executive Committee which shall include any recommended amendments.
  4. The members may succeed themselves.
Section 4 — History Committee
  1. This committee will consist of the Historian and one other member, appointed by the President and allowed to succeed themselves for an indefinite period.
  2. This committee shall report the names and a short biography of the members who have died in the preceding year in the program of the meeting, and their names will be read at the annual meeting.
  3. This committee shall prepare an accurate history of the Section and shall keep record of changes in the Association pertinent to its history.
  4. They shall report to the Board of Directors at the annual meeting.
Section 5 — Past-Presidents Committee
  1. This committee shall be composed of all Past-Presidents of the Section and shall have as its chair the immediate Past-President.
  2. It shall nominate candidates for possible election as honorary members of the Section.
  3. It shall investigate, study and make such recommendations to the Board of Directors as seem fitting and proper in order to further the avowed aims of the organization.
Section 6 — Health Policy Council
  1. The Health Policy Council shall study and advise the Section on matters pertaining to health policy activities.
  2. The Committee shall consist of the Chair who shall be elected by the membership for a three year term and one member and one alternate from each State in the Section who shall be appointed by the President for three year terms at the direction of the state urological organizations. If there is no active state organization, the President may appoint his/her choice for both member and alternate from that state. The Chair will act as a liaison between the AACU and the South Central Section, AUA, Inc.
  3. The Chair will represent the Section on the Public Policy Council of the AUA.
Section 7 — Investment Committee
  1. The Investment Committee shall consist of the Treasurer and four other members with staggered terms, as appointed by the President in order to provide continuing advice to the Treasurer, the President, and the Boards of Directors in accordance with the Bylaws and the Guidelines of Investments. The Chair will be specified by the President.
  2. Members will be appointed for a three year staggered term. Members may succeed themselves.
  3. The members will review the investment portfolio and aid the Treasurer in preparing a report to the Officers.
  4. The Investment Committee will use the guidelines for the SCS, AUA as a resource for evaluating investment allocation and performances.
  5. The Committee will serve to recommend the selection and retention of the Investment Advisor.
  6. The Committee will receive periodic reports, not to exceed quarterly, concerning the investment portfolios of the Section.

ARTICLE V

MEETINGS

Section 1 — Time and Place

The annual meeting of the Section shall be held at such a time and place as the Board of Directors shall designate and they shall arrange the meeting place for future meetings.

Section 2 — Requirements for Attendance

Attendance at the meeting will be limited to those wearing the badge of appropriate registration. Registration is limited to Doctors of Medicine and participants in the program.

Section 3 — Special Meetings

A special meeting may be called at any time by the President or a majority of the Board of Directors or upon written request of twenty-five (25) members, at a convenient time and place to be designated by the Board of Directors, notice of which meeting shall be sent by mail to each member at least fifteen (15) days prior, stating the place, date, hour, and special business for which the meeting is called, and no other business shall be considered and enacted except that stated in the call for the meeting.

Section 4 — Quorum

At all stated and special meetings, twenty-five (25) members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 5 — Rules of Order of Business Meeting

Rules of Order of the annual business meeting of the Section. Sturgis Standard Code of Parliamentary procedure shall govern all procedures. At the business session the order of business shall be:

  1. Reading of minutes of previous meeting.
  2. Report of the Secretary.
  3. Report of the Treasurer.
  4. Report of the Board of Directors.
  5. Report of the Committee on Arrangements and Program.
  6. Report of the National Board of Directors.
  7. Report of the Aids and Grants Committee.
  8. Report of the Historian.
  9. Unfinished business.
  10. New business and resolutions.
  11. Report of the Nominating Committee.
  12. Election of officers.

ARTICLE VI

NOMINATING COMMITTEE

Section 1 — Membership of Committee

The Nominating Committee shall consist of five members; the three most recent Past-Presidents and two active members in good standing in the Section, who shall serve one year.

  1. The three most recent Past-Presidents shall assume this duty automatically. If there is a Past-President not in attendance at the meeting or that needs to recuse himself/herself, the fourth most recent Past-President will serve to break a tie if needed.
  2. One member shall be a member of and nominated by the Board of Directors and will be elected by the Association if he/she receives the majority vote of those present and voting at the annual business meeting. The member elected by the Board of Directors must be from a different geographic location than the three Past-Presidents serving on the committee.
  3. Two or more active or senior members in good standing shall be nominated from the floor during the business meeting. The member who receives the greatest number of votes of the members present and voting shall be declared elected a member of the Nominating Committee. The member elected by the membership during the business meeting must be from a different geographic location than the three Past-Presidents and Board of Directors representative serving on the committee.
  4. The Chair of this Committee shall be the most immediate Past-President.
Section 2 — Duties of the Committee

Members and alternates that automatically serve as Section representatives on AUA Committees are to be elected by the Section. It shall be the duty of the Nominating Committee to meet and present to the Section at its annual business session a slate of nominees of active members in good standing in the Section for the following positions:

  1. One candidate for President-Elect.
  2. One candidate each for Secretary and Treasurer when necessary.
  3. Candidates for members of the Section Board of Directors as provided in the constitution.
  4. The Nominating Committee will select for election by the Section the following positions for standing committees of the American Urological Association:
    1. One candidate for Bylaws Committee who is the Chair of the South Central Section Bylaws Committee every two years.
    2. Three candidates for Editorial Committee every four years.
    3. One candidate for Board of Directors of the AUA, Inc. every two years.
    4. One candidate for Historian.
    5. One candidate for alternate Executive Committee every two years.
    6. One candidate for Nominating Committee every two years not to be an elected member of the AUA, Inc.
    7. One candidate for alternate Nominating Committee every two years not to be an elected member of AUA, Inc.
    8. One candidate for Research Committee and an alternate in odd numbered years for a four year term-to serve two years as alternate and two years as a representative.
  5. The American Urological Association Judicial Council candidate shall be chosen in the following manner:

The Nominating Committee will recommend three (3) names to the President of the American Urological Association, Inc.  One candidate will be chosen by the President of the AUA to serve. The candidate must be a Past President of the South Central Section.  The term of office is four years.

Section 3 — Vacancies on Committees

Vacancies or absences on the Nominating Committee shall be filled by the President.

Section 4 — Report of Committee, Nominations, Voting, and Installation

The report of the Nominating Committee shall be called for by the President at the proper place designated for it under Article V, Section 8 of these Bylaws.

  1. The slate, having been read, the President shall then ask for other nominations from the floor for all elective offices.
  2. Candidates for office must be elected by a majority vote of the members present and voting.
  3. The newly elected officers shall then be installed.

ARTICLE VII

DUES

Section 1 — Annual Dues and Fees

The initiation fee and annual dues shall be established by the Board of Directors.

Section 2 — Special Assessments

It shall require a majority vote of the members present and voting at the annual meeting to levy a special assessment.

Section 3 — Collection of Dues and Fees
  1. On December first, the Executive Director shall mail to each member, a notice of his/her dues for the coming year. A member not having paid his/her dues by April first, shall be in arrears and may, at the discretion of the Board of Directors, be suspended from membership if not paid up within one year.
  2. Registrants at the annual meeting failing to pay the registration fee shall be automatically suspended from membership. Exceptions would be senior and honorary members and spouses who elect to attend the meeting.  The senior and honorary members and spouses will not be required to pay full registration fees. There will be a social registration fee for those senior and honorary members attending.
  3. A member suspended for nonpayment of dues or assessments, may be reinstated by vote of the Board of Directors upon payment of all dues and assessments in arrears and the reinstatement fee as determined by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VIII

AMENDMENTS

Section 1 — Requirements for Amending

A quorum being present, these Bylaws may be amended by two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at the annual meeting, provided that the proposed changes shall have been provided to the membership on the notice for the meeting at which time such action is to be taken, at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.

Section 2 — Bylaws Committee

The Bylaws Committee shall, from time to time, suggest changes in the Bylaws.

ARTICLE IX

FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year shall begin February 1st and end January 31st of the following year.