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BY - LAWS
OF THE SOUTHWEST ASSOCIATION
OF
HISPANIC AMERICAN PHYSICIANS

A TEXAS NOT-FOR-PROFIT ORGANIZATION

ARTICLE I
NAME

The name of the Society shall be the Southwest Association of Hispanic American Physicians.

ARTICLE II
OBJECTIVES

The purpose of this organization is to join those physicians of the Southwest of the United States of America and Mexico who have a common interest for social, educational and cultural reasons.

ARTICLE III
DEFINITIONS

Hispanic American Physicians:  Those physicians regardless of sex, color, race or religion who identify themselves with dual cultures, Hispanic and American.

Educational: The study of teaching and learning process. This purpose can be accomplished by maintaining medical education presentation and holding an annual medical meeting.

Social & Community Assistance: Friendly gathering for the purpose of exchanging ideas. Participate in the needs of the Hispanic-American Community.

Cultural: Socially transmitted behavior patterns and characteristics of a group of people. We can achieve our cultural goals by maintaining our Hispanic language and traditions in our American environment.

ARTICLE IV
TYPES OF MEMBERSHIP

Section 1

This Society shall consist of those individuals holding a degree of Doctor of Medicine of Osteopathy and who are legally licensed and registered to practice medicine in their community. Eligibility shall be decided by the Membership Committee.

Section 2

The Society shall consist of active, charter, candidate, honorary and emeritus members.

Section 3
Active Members

Qualified physicians who are engaged in active practice of medicine and have paid  their annual dues.  Local members are expected to attend 50% of the General Membership meeting throughout the year and register for the annual medical meeting. They shall have full voting rights.

Section 4
Charter Members

Original members who participated in the initiation of this Society and continue their status as either active or honorary members.

Section 5
Candidate Members

House Staff physicians serving in an approved training program in their community. They will be non-paying and non-voting members.

Section 6
Honorary Members

A member of honorable standing who, because of age or other laudable reasons has reached a point of comparative inactivity in the practice of medicine. Members who qualify for this status must be nominated by the Executive Committee and must be approved by the General Assembly. Honorary members are entitled to the privileges derived from their membership, with voting rights when present. They will be exempt from payment and dues.

Section 7
Emeritus Members

Those physicians who, in the opinion of the Association, have achieved exceptional and distinguished merits within the medical field. They must be nominated and approved by the Executive Committee and then, presented for approval by the General Assembly. Such members will be exempt from payment of dues and will have full voting rights when present.

Section 8
Foreign Members

Those physicians who practice medicine in a country other than the United States of America. They will be required to pay a 25% of the Society membership dues. Those members are welcome to attend the general meetings and express their opinions. However, they will have no vote and they will not be eligible as officers of the Society.

Section 9
Membership Dues

Annual dues for the calendar year and all debts to the Society from the prior calendar year shall be paid no later than the 31st of March. Members with delinquent accounts by this date shall be notified in writing. If the account remains delinquent by the 30th of April, the member will automatically be removed from the Society.

Section 10
Application for Membership

Shall be filed with the Chairman of the Membership Committee. This application may be mailed by the prospective member on his/her own stationery and shall include a check payable for the amount corresponding to one (1) year dues. The prospective member will be presented to the Executive Committee and to the General Assembly at the next regular business meeting for acceptance. In the event of a denial by the Society, the fee will be refunded.

 

ARTICLE V
OFFICERS

Section 1

The officers of the Society shall be as Follows: President, President Elect, Treasurer and Secretary. Each officer shall serve for one (1) year term of office or until a successor has been duly elected or advanced to the next higher office, as provided in the Article V, Section 4 (Vacancy). Only members of the Society who are in good standing as provided by the Article V, are eligible to be nominated and elected to office.

Section 2
Election Procedure

There shall be a Nominating Committee organized in accordance with these by-laws. Its function will consist on the nomination of the officers, except the President, for the next one (1) year term. The Nominating Committee shall consist of five (5) active members, two(2) of which will be the immediate past two (2) presidents of the Society and three (3) other members, appointed by the floor. This committee will be elected by August of each year and it will present its recommended nominees at the next October business session. The Chairman of the Nominating Committee will be the immediate past president.

 

 

 

Section 4
Vacancy

Any vacancy occurring during the year among the officers of the Society by death or termination of membership in the Society shall be filled by appointees made by the President and approved by the General Assembly.

Section 5
Qualifications of Officers

Officers must be physicians of the Active Membership at the time of nomination and election and must remain in good standing during their term of office. Failure to maintain such status shall immediately create a vacancy in the office involved.

Section 6
Procedure to Remove an Acting Officer

A Grievance Committee shall be named by the Executive Committee Consisting of two (2) members of the same, and three (3) members of the General Membership. This committee will give a recommendation to the Executive Committee, which in turn will make a final decision.

ARTICLE VI
DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS

Section 1
President

The President shall preside at the meetings of the Society, preserve order, regulate debates, sign certificates of membership, approve bills, announce the results of the elections and perform all the duties legitimately pertaining to this office. The president shall also nominate a slate of chairmen to the committees. These nominees shall be presented to the rest of the elected officers of the Executive Committee for consideration and approval. If not approved by these elected officers, the President shall select another chairman which again, will be presented to the rest of the elected officers for consideration and approval.

Section 2
President Elect

The President Elect shall preside over meetings in the absence of the President and will chair the By-Laws Committee. The President Elect shall become President of the Society on the year after he is elected.

 

Section 3
Secretary

The Secretary shall attest to all official acts requiring certification independent of the President. He shall keep in his custody the seal of the Society and affix to all documents and papers, as directed by the Society. He shall serve as Secretary in minutes of the meetings of the Society.

Section 4

Treasurer

It shall be the duty of the Treasurer to receive all money and funds belonging to this Society. He shall pay all bills from  property order by the Executive Committee. He shall collect all dues and assessments as promptly as possible. The treasurer shall provide the General Assembly with timely report of the financial status of the Society at each general staff meeting, as well as to each Executive Committee meeting.

 

ARTICLE VII
STANDING COMMITTEES

Section 1
Executive Committee

The Executive Committee shall be a Standing Committee that shall consist of the following members: President, (2) President Elect, (3) Immediate Past President, (4) Secretary (5) Treasurer and Chairman of the different Standing Committees. The President shall be the Chairman of the Executive Committee. The Immediate Past President shall act as the ADVISOR to the Committee.

1. Duties: The duties of the Executive Committee shall be :
1. To represent and to act on behalf of the Association, subject to such limitations as may be imposed by these by-laws.
2. To coordinate the activities and general policies of the Standing Committees.
3. To receive and act upon committee reports.
4. To provide for the preparation of all meetings, programs, either directly or through delegation to a Program Committee or other suitable agent.
5. To review the credentials of all applicants and to make recommendations for membership.
6. To report at each general staff meeting.
2. MEETINGS:
1. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once a month and maintain a permanent record of its proceedings and activities.
2. Any member of this Association, upon request and acceptance, may present to the Executive Committee any business he considers necessary: once this has been presented, he will be excused.

Section 2
Annual Medical Conference Committee

1. Composition:

The Annual Meeting shall consist of a chairman and at least three (3) active members.

2. Duties:

The duties of this committee shall consist of organizing the annual medical meeting. The chairman shall from inform and obtain final approval by the Executive Committee on any major issue related to this meeting and shall present a final financial and statistical report.

3. Meeting:

The chairman of this committee shall call meetings at least once a month or more frequently, if the considers this necessary.

Section 3
Summer Conference Committee

1. Composition:

The Summer Conference Committee shall consist of a Chairman and at least one other active member.

2. Duties:

The duties of this committee shall consist of organizing the Summer Medical Conference. The chairman shall inform and obtain final approval by the Executive Committee on any major issue related to this meeting and shall present a final financial and statistic report.

3. Meeting:

The Chairman of this committee shall call meetings on a regular basis as he considers it necessary.

The Chairman can be any member of the executive committee or any other Active Member.

Section 4
Social and Community Assistance Committee

1. Composition

The Chairman of this committee shall name at least one Active Member to assist him in his functions.

2. Duties:

The duties of the Social and Assistance Committee shall be:

1. Assist the Hispanic American community in a medical educational or any other way considered necessary and approved by the Executive Committee.
2. Shall be responsible for organizing the General Meetings and any other social and cultural activity of this Association.
3. The Chairman shall present to the Executive Committee a financial statement at the end of his term.

Section 5
Membership Committee

1. Composition:

The committee shall be formed by the Chairman and at least one more Active Member.

2. Duties:

The duties of the Membership Committee will consist of:

1. Inviting physicians who may be candidates for membership.
2. Evaluating the credentials of the candidate and presenting them to the executive committee.
3. Maintaining a current roster of the members of the Society and their membership status, this roster shall be at hand at all meetings.
4. Develop Member’s Benefits.
3. Meetings:

The Membership Committee shall meet quarterly or more often as the Chairman considers it necessary.

Section 6
By-Laws Committee

1. Composition:

The Chairman of the By-Laws Committee shall be the President Elect of the Association and the IMMEDIATE PAST PRESIDENT OF THE SOCIETY.

2. Duties:

To review the By-Laws of the Association as needed and present them for approval to the Executive Committee and to the General Membership.

3. Meetings:

The By-Laws Committee shall meet as often as the Chairman considers it necessary.

Section 7
Public Relations Committee

1. Composition:

The Public Relations Committee shall be formed by the Chairman and at least one (1) Active Member.

2. Duties:

The duties of the Public Relations Committee shall consist of:

1. Promoting the interest of the active membership by publishing a periodical newsletter and any other way he considers adequate.
2. Representing the Association to the media or any other organization who requests our cooperation.
3. Meeting:

The Public Relations Committee shall meet quarterly or more often as the Chairman considers it necessary.

Section 8
General Affairs Committee

1. Composition:

The Co-Chairman of the General Affairs Committee shall be the immediate Past President and the President, together with any Active Members as appointed by the Co-Chairman.

2. Duties:

To monitor the events of the local community that may affect the interest of the membership and to recommend the Executive Committee a course of action.

3. Meetings:

The General Affairs Committee shall meet as needed as the Co-Chairman considers it necessary.

Section 9
Scholarship, Medical Education and Awards Committee

1. Composition:

A Chairman of the Scholarship and Medical Education Committee and at least one more Active Member appointed by the Chairman, shall compose this committee.

2. Duties:

The duties of the Scholarship and Medical Education Committee shall consistof:

1. Researching the possibility of assigning the Scholarship Fund to an appropriate candidate or candidates.
2. Reviewing the applications of the candidates for scholarship and presenting them to the Executive Committee for final approval.
3. Meetings:

The Scholarship and Medical Education Committee shall meet quarterly or more often as the Chairman considers it necessary.

1. All matters regarding presentation of awards shall be conducted by the Committee, in agreement with the Executive Committee.

 

ARTICLE VIII
MEETINGS

Section 1
General Meetings

There shall be at least six (6) general meetings held each year. The meetings shall  take place at such places and times designated by the Executive Committee. This selected place of meetings and times may be changed as necessary.

Section 2
Special Meetings

A special meeting may be called at any time by the President, and it shall be his duty to call such a meeting upon the written request of 20% of the active membership.

Section 3
Quorum

Twenty five percent (25%) of active members at any regular meeting shall constitute a quorum. For expulsion of a member, fifty percent (50%) vote of the active membership is required. IN CASE QUORUM IS NOT REACHED AT A GIVEN MEETING, THEN A MAIL VOTE WIL BE REQUESTED BY THE SECRETARY.

Section 4
Disciplinary Action

For expulsion of a member, fifty percent (50%) vote of the active membership is required. Any member subjected to disciplinary action will be afforded the benefits of the due process. An Adhoc Ethics Committee will be appointed by the Executive Committee to investigate any violation by a member of the Society.

Section 5

Alleged violation shall be presented in writing to the Executive Committee who will then proceed to appoint an Adhoc Ethics Committee.

Section 6

The Adhoc Ethics Committee will review the merits of the complaint and afford the member the benefits of a due process. The recommendation will be presented to the Executive Committee.

Section 7
Invited Guests

A member in good standing may invite any person to open meetings of the Society and this person shall be introduced to the President, and then by the President to the Society. The President may invite such person to participate in the discussion, but invited guests will not have voting rights.

Section 8
Order of Business

In regular business meetings of the Society, The Following order should be followed:

1. Reading of the minutes of the last meeting.
2. Report of the Treasurer
3. Report of the Secretary
4. Report of the Standing Committees
5. Report of Special Committees
6. Old Business
7. New Business
8. Adjournment

ARTICLE IX
SEAL AND CERTIFICATE OF MEMBERSHIP

This Society shall have a distinct seal and every member is entitle to a certificate of membership signed by the President and the Secretary.