ACOEP Student Chapter LECOM - Bradenton
ARTICLE I: Organization Name The name of this organization will be the American College of Osteopathic Emergency Physicians Student Chapter. This will be officially abbreviated, the “ACOEP Student Chapter” or ACOEP-SC. ARTICLE II: Objective 1. Contribute to the welfare and education of osteopathic medical students in the area of emergency medicine; 2. Represent all osteopathic medical students pursuing a career in Emergency Medicine; 3. Promote the establishment of quality Emergency Medicine postgraduate programs; 4. Familiarize its members with the purpose and ideals of emergency medicine; 5. Establish lines of communication with other student organizations; 6. Provide information on higher education and research opportunities in the field of emergency medicine, 7. Inform the student population, to the field of emergency medicine. 8. Serve as a liaison between the local emergency medicine chapters and the ACOEP. ARTICLE III: Membership Membership in the ACOEP Student Chapter will be through local chapters established at osteopathic medical schools accredited by the American Osteopathic Association (AOA). The qualifications for eligibility and conditions of suspension will be set forth in the Bylaws. ARTICLE IV Governing Body All business of the ACOEP Student Chapter will be conducted by the Student Chapter Board of Directors. The Student Chapter Board of Directors will consist of the National officers-including committee chairs, Presidents of each local chapter, and the President of the ACOEP. Individual past officers will serve as voting members of the Board for the period of one year. Further requirements of the Board of Directors will be set forth in the Bylaws. In the event that a local chapter can’t be represented by its current president, arrangements can be made for that vote to be delegated to another representative from that Chapter prior to the formal meeting of the Board of Directors. ARTICLE V Rules of Order Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised will govern the parliamentary procedures of the ACOEP Student Chapter in all cases, where applicable, and where not inconsistent with the Constitution and Bylaws. ARTICLE VI Amendments to the Constitution Section 1. Any five (5) or more members of the ACOEP Student Chapter may propose an amendment to this Constitution by submitting the change to the Student Chapter Board of Directors at least sixty (60) days prior to any meeting of the Board of Directors. Section 2. Copies of such proposed amendments will be provided to all constituent chapters of the ACOEP Student Chapter at least thirty (30) days prior to the next scheduled meeting at which the proposed amendment is to be voted upon. Section 3. A vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Board of Directors will be required to pass an amendment. ACOEP Student Chapter LECOM - Bradenton
ARTICLE I Membership Full membership will be open to any currently enrolled osteopathic medical student or physician faculty member in good standing at an AOA accredited osteopathic medical school. Any other non-physician, allied health professional, staff member, or student (e.g. Physician Assistant Student, Nurse Practitioner Student) directly associated with a local college of osteopathic medicine may be granted “associate” membership. ARTICLE II Discrimination Neither the National Chapter or any of its constituent chapters may refuse membership on the basis of race, religion, color, sex, national origin, sexual preference, handicapped status, marital status, political persuasion or creed. ARTICLE III Student Chapter National Board of Directors Section 1. The Student Chapter Board of Directors will have the power to conduct the business of the national organization as long as it is not in conflict with the Constitution and Bylaws or the directives of the ACOEP. Section 2. The Student Chapter Board will meet at the request of the National President, or any two (2) other Board members. Notification will be made at least seven (7) days prior to the meeting. Section 3. The Student Chapter Board of Directors meeting should be held in conjunction with the annual AOA Convention and Scientific Assembly, when financially feasible. Section 4. Each constituent chapter that has received a charter as prescribed by Article VI of these Bylaws will be entitled to one voting position. The local chapter President or his/her appointed alternative delegate will be responsible for casting this vote. IN ALL INSTANCES, each chapter will have a maximum of one voting member. Section 5. All official members of the ACOEP Student Chapter, as described in Article I of these Bylaws will have the right to address the Student Chapter Board of Directors upon recognition by the ACOEP-SC President. This recognition will entitle the member to make and second motions and participate in debate. Section 6. A simple majority of votes will constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Section 7. The order of business of the Student Chapter Board of Directors will be determined by the ACOEP-SC President and will be distributed at the commencement of the annual meeting. The order of business will only be changed by vote of at least two-thirds (2/3) of those voting. Section 8. The Student Chapter Board of Directors will meet during the annual fall meeting of the ACOEP and at such times as may be determined. The fall meeting and date will coincide with the AOA Convention and Scientific Assembly. Section 9. Special meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the constituent chapters. Each chapter will be given notice by mail within thirty (30) days and not more than sixty (60) days after notice has been sent to the local Presidents. Section 10. Each local chapter will report the names and contact information of all newly elected local chapter executive officers to the ACOEP-SC President before the conclusion of the current academic year. Section 11. Each local chapter will be responsible for providing the ACOEP-SC Secretary with a summary of events/local chapter activities and current membership numbers, to be included the biannual “Emergent” newsletter publication. Section 12. The Student Chapter Board of Directors will try to meet annually, in person, at the ACOEP Spring Seminar and at the fall AOA Convention in conjunction with the ACOEP national meetings. Additionally, they will have at a minimum quarterly teleconference communications. Section 13. The Student Chapter Board of Directors can vote to remove or add any board or committee member with a simple 2/3 majority vote by the officers. Board or committee members will be subject for removal if they fail to attend 2/3 of the official Board meetings or fail to fulfill their duties as described in Article IV. ARTICLE IV Responsibilities of National Officers Section 1. President A. The President of the ACOEP Student Chapter shall act as the Chair of the Board of Directors and shall preside over all national Board and officer meetings. B. The President shall serve as the Student Chapter representative to the ACOEP Board and attend all ACOEP Board meetings. C. He or she will be expected to appoint and oversee the various committees, carry out the objectives of the ACOEP Student Chapter. D. The President shall convene quarterly ACOEP-Student Chapter officer meetings, set the agenda and oversee officer and committee chair (s) projects and responsibilities. E. The President shall work closely with the ACOEP Executive Director, the ACOEP President and the ACOEP Student Chapter officers. F. The President shall work with the Treasurer to set the ACOEP Student Chapter budget. G. The President shall contact the local chapter officers, through the ACOEP-SC Vice-President, quarterly with update information and items of interest. Section 2. Vice President A. The Vice-President of the ACOEP Student Chapter will be an ex-officio member to committees and will receive their reports twice yearly. B. Shall assist the committee chair (s) in following out their objectives as described in Sections 5-7. C. The Vice-President shall coordinate with the local chapters and disseminate information between the ACOEP Student Chapter and the local chapters. D. In the absence of the President, the Vice President of the Student Chapter will act as the Interim Chair and perform the duties of that office. Section 3. Secretary A. The Secretary of the ACOEP Student Chapter shall be responsible for the accurate recording of ACOEP Student Chapter proceedings. He or she will provide minutes of the Student Chapter Board of Directors meetings within thirty (30) days of the completion of the meeting to Board members, local chapters, the ACOEP national office and all other interested parties. B. The Secretary shall be responsible for the biannual publication of the Emergent newsletter. This includes, but is not limited to, compiling all articles and local chapter summaries, formatting, editing and publishing of the newsletter. Section 4. Treasurer A. The Treasurer of the ACOEP Student Chapter shall work with the ACOEP-SC President and the ACOEP Executive Director to establish and maintain the ACOEP-SC budget. B. The Treasurer shall work with the PR Committee to coordinate fundraising activities for the ACOEP-SC. Section 5. Constitution and Bylaws Committee Chair (s) A. The Constitution and Bylaws Committee Chair(s) shall be responsible for annual review and revision of the ACOEP-SC constitution and bylaws. B. The chair(s) shall submit any changes to the constitution and bylaws to the ACOEP-SC President by September 1st of each year. C. The chair(s) shall assure all meetings are run by Roberts Rules and uphold the ACOEP-SC constitution and bylaws. Section 6. Convention Committee Chair (s) A. The Convention Committee Chair (s) shall organize and coordinate educational and social events for the national ACOEP-SC meetings. B. The chair(s) shall work with the PR Committee Chair (s) to increase student, resident and physician awareness of the ACOEP-SC meetings and events. C. The chair(s) shall work with the GME Committee Chair (s) to coordinate student/resident events at the national meetings. D. The chair(s) shall work with the Treasurer to coordinate funding of national meeting events and speakers. E. The chair(s) shall provide the ACOEP-SC President quarterly updates. Section 7. GME Committee Chair (s) A. The GME Committee Chair (s) shall work closely with the ACOEP Resident Chapter to improve student/resident relations. B. The chair(s) shall work with the Communications Officer to provide update information on residency programs and contact information for the ACOEP-SC website. C. The chair(s) shall work with the Convention Committee Chair (s) to coordinate student/resident interaction at national meetings. D. The chair(s) shall provide the ACOEP-SC President with quarterly updates. Section 8. PR Committee A. The PR Committee shall work closely with the Communications Officer to increase student and physician awareness of the ACOEP-SC. B. The chair(s) shall work with the Treasurer to coordinate fundraising events. C. The chair(s) shall work closely with the Convention Committee chair (s) to increase student and physician awareness of national ACOEP-SC events and meetings. D. The chair(s) shall be responsible for maintaining current ACOEP-SC technology and communication mediums including, but not limited to, the ACOEP-SC website, articles for the “Emergent”, and tri-fold informational brochures. E. The chair(s) shall provide the ACOEP-SC President with quarterly updates. ARTICLE V National Elections Section 1. Only active members currently enrolled in an AOA-accredited school of osteopathic medicine will be eligible to hold office in the ACOEP Student Chapter. Associate members are not eligible to hold a national office. Section 2. The election of the National Officers will be during the annual Student Chapter Board of Directors meeting held in conjunction with the AOA’s Annual Convention and Scientific Seminar. Section 3. A. Prior to the election of officers, time will be allotted for statements from the nominees or their representative caucus. B. Voting will be by secret ballot and the candidate receiving a simple majority of the votes cast will be elected. If more than one candidate has the same number of votes, and it is a greater number than the other candidates, run-off elections will take place until one candidate is elected. C. Candidates will be allowed to trickle down and run for other positions if they are not elected to the higher position. D. If positions remain unfilled or there are no nominees/candidates for board or committee positions, these positions may be filled by ACOEP-SC Presidential appointment. ARTICLE VI Local Chapters Section 1. Any group of three (3) or more students at an AOA accredited osteopathic medical school may petition for a local chapter charter within the ACOEP Student Chapter. Section 2. There will not be more than one such chapter at any osteopathic medical school. Section 3. Each chapter will enjoy equal rights and representation within the Student Chapter Board of Directors as set by the Bylaws. Section 4. Upon approval by the Student Chapter Board of Directors, a charter will be granted to the petitioning chapter. Section 5. Each chapter will follow the Constitution and Bylaws of the ACOEP Student Chapter as set forth by the Student Chapter Board of Directors. Section 6. Each local chapter will elect as officers, a president, vice-president, secretary, treasurer and National Liaison Officer. The local president will represent his/her respective chapter on the Student Chapter Board of Directors. Any officer may hold more than one position, at the discretion of his or her constituency. However, he/she cannot hold more than two offices and be responsible for conducting all business of the local chapter. Associate members may not hold any of the local chapters’ offices described herein. However, associate members may hold any other office created by the local chapter in accordance with Art. 6, Sec.11. Section 7. The outgoing president, as well as other local officers, will be required to work closely with the newly elected officers to ensure a smooth transition of both knowledge and workings of the ACOEP-SC and the local chapter for a period mutually agreed upon by the incoming and outgoing officers. It is suggested that, when possible, the incoming and outgoing officers attend the next scheduled national convention together. If the new Board member is unable to attend the next scheduled Board meeting following the election, the preceding Board member for the chapter shall serve in his/her place. Section 8. The presence of two of the four local chapter officers is required to conduct business. A simple majority of members present at the meeting is required to pass proposals. Meetings should be announced at least two (2) days prior to the meeting date. Officers’ meetings may be scheduled as needed without advance notice and will remain open to all interested members. Section 9. Each local chapter will have the ability to write individual rules and regulations specific to their local organization. This allows individual chapters to meet their particular needs, which may have not been addressed by the ACOEP-SC Constitution and Bylaws. Local chapter rules and regulations will be affected at the local level only, and will be consistent with the ACOEP-SC Constitution and Bylaws herein. Furthermore, local chapters must submit their rules and regulations to the ACOEP-SC Board for approval. In all cases, the ACOEP-SC Constitution and Bylaws will supersede any and all local chapter rules and regulations. |
