FLORIDA SOCIETY OF THORACIC  & CARDIOVASCULAR SURGEONS

 BYLAWS

Proposed Changes, February 2004 (Changes are in bold) 

                                                            ARTICLE I - Members 

Section 1.  The membership of this Society shall consist of five classes of members, to wit:

 a.         Active members 

b.         Associate members 

c.         Inactive members

d.           Senior members

e.         Honorary members

 f.          Allied Health Professional members

 As hereinafter defined:

 Section 2.  Active Members 

a.         Qualifications: eligible for active membership shall be those surgeons who:  1) Are certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery.  2)  Have established themselves in the specialized practice of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery for a minimum of two (2) years in the state of Florida.  3)  The Founders Group consists of all surgeons licensed and registered to practice in the state of Florida on or prior to November 30, 1967, and who were certified by the American Board of Thoracic Surgery, or were active in the practice of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery in the state of Florida for five (5) years or longer. 

 

b.         Acceptance:  Each application for an active membership in this Society shall be passed upon by the Membership Committee.  Upon recommendation of the Membership Committee and with approval of the Council, each application shall be submitted to a vote of the Active and Senior members present at the annual business meeting of the Society, and acceptance of an applicant into Active Membership shall require the favorable vote of a majority of the Active and Senior Members present and voting.

 c.         Number of Active Members:  There shall be no numerical limit.   

d.         Notice of Election of Candidates:  At least one month prior to the date of the annual meeting of the Society, the Secretary shall furnish to each Active and Senior Member a list of the candidates whose applications have been favorably passed on by the Membership Committee.

 

e.        Application Form:  The form of application for Active Membership shall be furnished by the Secretary upon request by the applicant.

 

f.          Notice of Election to Active Membership:  Every newly elected member shall be furnished by the Secretary with an official notice of his election, a copy of the Constitution and Bylaws, and a certificate of membership signed by the President, the Secretary, and the Chairman of the Membership Committee, bearing the seal of the Society.

 

g.         Resignation:  An Active Member may resign from the Society at any time by tendering a resignation in writing and paying in full any dues or obligations owing to the Society at the time.  No portion of the dues is returnable.

 

h.         Lapse of Membership:  The membership of the Active Member shall lapse if he fails to pay any dues or assessments within one year after notice thereof.  Ill health or other justifiable reason, when considered appropriate by the Council, may excuse a member from this requirement.  The Secretary/Treasurer shall notify the member of pending lapse of membership by letter.  No membership shall be considered to have lapsed without prior action of the Council.

 

i.          Reinstatement:  A member whose membership has lapsed may apply for reinstatement by filing a written statement with the Council and addressed to the Secretary, within thirty (30) days following the receipt of notice of such lapse of membership, stating the reasons why such membership should be reinstated and requesting reinstatement of such membership.  A member may be reinstated upon payment of his arrears by action of the Council.  Written notice of such reinstatement shall be furnished to the member by the Secretary.

 

j.          Unethical Conduct:  A member of this Society shall conduct his relationships with patients, fellow physicians, and the public at large -specifically including the communications media- in a manner consistent with the Principles of Medical Ethics of the American Medical Association.  Interpretation of these principles as they apply to members of this Society shall be provided by the Medical Ethics Committee.

 

k.         Expulsion:  Unethical conduct by a member of the Society shall be grounds for open censure, probation, suspension, or expulsion from membership to be determined by majority vote of the Council.  Charges of unethical conduct must be submitted in writing to the Council.  The Council shall act on the complaint at its next regularly scheduled meeting.  The accused member shall have the right to appear, to hear and answer the charges brought against him. 

Section 3.  Associate Members 

a.         Qualifications:  Individuals who have: (1) completed training in an approved thoracic and cardiovascular residency program; (2) are in the process of acquiring certification; and (3) are licensed to practice in the State of Florida shall be eligible for Associate membership in the Society.  Associate membership may be maintained until the American Board of Thoracic Surgery certificate is issued at which time a transfer to Active membership will be made.  After five years, Associate Members unable to achieve Active membership status will be moved to the non-member category.

b.         Rights and Duties:  Associate Members shall possess all the rights and privileges of Active Members, except they shall not be eligible for election to office or to the Council nor can they vote.  Their membership dues are levied annually at a lesser amount than Active membership dues.  (See Article IV - Fees and Dues.)

c.         The rules hereinafter set forth in Section 2, (b) through (k) with regard to Active Members are hereby made applicable to Associate Members. 

Section 4. Inactive Members 

a.         A physician who is not in active practice, or who is not in a position to pay dues and assessments, and who has been an active member of the Society, may be elected to inactive membership upon the approval of the Council. 

b.         Inactive members shall have all the rights and privileges of active members, except they shall not vote or hold office. 

Section 5.  Senior Members 

a.         Qualifications:  Any Active Member who has been an Active Member of the Society continuously from the time of his election shall, upon reaching the age of sixty-five (65) years, be eligible for Senior Member status.  To be transferred to Senior Member status, eligible members must request the transfer by sending a written request to the Secretary/Treasurer at least thirty (30) days prior to the Society's Annual Meeting.  All requests will be considered at the Society's Annual Meeting.

 

b.         Rights and Duties:  Senior Members shall possess all the rights and privileges of Active Members, except that they shall not be eligible for election to office or to the Council.  They shall not be subject to dues or assessments and their attendance at the annual meetings shall be optional.

 

c.         The rules hereinafter set forth regarding resignation and expulsion of Active Members are hereby made applicable to Senior Members. 

Section 6.  Honorary Members 

a.         Qualifications:  Honorary Membership shall be reserved for such distinguished persons who have achieved prominence in the field of thoracic and cardiovascular surgery, and who have made contributions to the Florida Society of Thoracic & Cardiovascular Surgeons.  Honorary Members shall be selected by the unanimous recommendation of the Council.  Honorary members need not be licensed and practicing in the state of Florida.

 

Section 7.  Allied Health Professional Members

 

a.         Qualifications:  Any allied health professional that is employed in the field of cardiovascular and thoracic surgery in the State of Florida and who is nominated by an Active member of the Society. (i.e. – Administrators, Billing Managers, P.A,’s and Nurses.)

 

b.         Application:  Application form may be obtained from the Society office and submitted for membership with a $50 application fee which will cover the dues for the remainder of the current dues year.

 

c.         Dues:  Annual dues will be $50.00 per member.

 

d.         Allied Health Professional Members shall have all the rights and privileges of active members, except they shall not vote or hold office. 

e.         The rules hereinafter set forth in Section 2, (g) through (k) with regard to Active Members are hereby made applicable to Allied Health Professionals Members. 

                                                               ARTICLE II - Officers

Section 1.  Nomination and Election:  Nominations for the Officers and Councilors shall be made by the Nominating Committee.  Nominations for any office may be made from the floor.  A majority vote of the members present and voting shall elect.  Officers and Councilors shall be elected at the annual meeting. Vacancies in any office except that of the President shall be filled by action of the Council for the unexpired term. 

Section 2.  President:  Shall serve a two (2) year term of office.  The President shall preside at the annual meeting and at meetings of the Council.  He shall appoint members to the standing committees and to such other committees as he deems necessary. 

Section 3.  Secretary-Treasurer:  Shall serve a two (2) year term of office, and in the event the President is incapable of acting, the Secretary/Treasurer shall assume the duties of President.  The Secretary/Treasurer will also perform the following duties: 

a.         Have charge of all papers and archives and property of the Society.

b.         Record and correct minutes of the meetings of the Society and the Council, and distribute them by mail to the membership.

c.         Forward to the Chairman of the Membership Committee applications for membership in the Society.

d.         Publish annually a list of Officers of the Society, their current addresses, and the committee appointments.

e.         Issue all notices of meetings and notifications of election to membership.

f.          Collect and receive and record all dues and assessments of the Society, together with all other funds due to the Society, and to be accountable therefore to the Council.  To Deposit the funds of the Society in its name in such depositories as shall be named by the Council.

g.         Render an annual statement, itemizing the receipts and disbursements of his office after such statement has been presented to the Council.

h.         Mail to each member a bill for his annual dues and assessments and to notify those members who are in arrears.

i.          Mail to each member on June 1^st  of each year a copy of the minutes of the annual meeting. 

Section 4.  In the event the Secretary/Treasurer shall be unable for any reason to carry out the function of his office, the President may assume these duties, including the signing of checks, until the duly elected Secretary/Treasurer is able to resume his duties of office, or the Council acts to fill the unexpired term as per Article II, Section 1 of these bylaws. 

                                                               ARTICLE III - Council

Section l. Composition of the Council:  The Council shall consist of the President, Secretary/Treasurer, Immediate Past President, and ten (10) Councilors-At-Large elected by the membership of the Society. 

Section 2.  Term of Office:  The term of each Councilor-At Large shall be three years.  One new Councilor shall be elected each year to replace the retiring member.  If a vacancy occurs during the year, an additional Councilor shall be elected by the Council to fill the vacant term. 

Section 3.  Nomination and Election:  The procedure for nomination and election shall be the same as for Officers, as set forth in Article II, Section 1 of the bylaws.

Section 4.  Duties of the Council:  The Council shall be the governing board of the Society.  Its duties shall be those set forth in Article III, Section 2 of the Constitution and in the various articles of the bylaws.  A majority vote of the Council is required to pass all measures set before it.  The Council members present and voting shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE IV - Committees 

Section 1.  Standing Committees:  The standing committees of the Society shall be: 

a.         Nominating Committee

b.         Membership Committee

c.         Program Committee

d.         Legislative Policy Committee

e.         Bylaws Committee 

Section 2.  Nominating Committee:  The Nominating Committee shall consist of the Council, with the Immediate Past President serving as Chairman.  This committee shall prepare a slate of nominees for officers and Councilors and shall report at the annual business meeting of the Society. 

Section 3.  Membership Committee: The Membership Committee shall consist of two Co-Chairmen and two committee members in addition to the President, Past President and Secretary/Treasurer. The Co-Chairmen and committee members will be appointed each year by the President. The Committee shall consider all applications for membership and report their recommendations to the Council.  The Co-Chairs of the Membership Committee shall be members of the Council. 

Section 4.  Program Committee:  The Program Committee shall consist of a Chairman and two members in addition to the President, Past President and Secretary/Treasurer. The Chairman and committee members shall be appointed by the President. The committee shall be responsible for coordination of industry support for the Annual and Summer meetings as well as recommendations to the council regarding the format and agenda for those meetings. 

Section 5.  Legislative Policy Committee:  The Legislative Policy Committee shall consist of a Chairman, and FMA Representative, an ACC Representative, one committee member-at-large (all appointed by the President) in addition to the President, Past President and Secretary/Treasurer. The committee will be responsible for society representation and decisions on legislative issues as well representation at the FMA and ACC meetings. 

Section 6.   Bylaws Committee:  The By-Laws committee shall consist of the Council, with the Immediate Past President serving as Chairman. 

Section 7.  Committee Vacancies:  Any vacancy occurring in the above committees shall be filled by appointment by the President and the appointee shall serve until the termination of the next annual meeting. 

                                                              ARTICLE V - Meetings

Section 1.  The Society shall hold an annual scientific and business meeting.  Special meetings of the Council or special business meetings of the Society may be called at the discretion of the President. 

Section 2.  All reports read before the Society shall be deposited with the Secretary at the time of their presentation. 

Section 3.  The Council shall meet before the meeting of the Society at a time and place designated by the President.  The Chairmen of the Standing Committees shall report to the Council.

Section 4.  The order of procedure at the business meeting of the Society shall be: 

a.         Reading of the minutes of the previous annual meeting.

b.         Report of the Secretary/Treasurer.

c.         Report of Standing Committees.

d.         Report of the Membership Committee.

e.         Election of new members.

f.          Unfinished business.

g.         New business.

h.         Report of the Nominating Committee.

i.          Election of Officers.

j.          Adjournment. 

                                                         ARTICLE VI - Fees and Dues 

Section 1.  The fiscal year of the Society shall date from July 1 of each year. 

Section 2.  The application fee for applicants shall be $50.00.  The annual dues for Active Members shall be $250.00.  The annual dues for Associate Members shall be $200.00. The annual dues for Allied Health Professional Members shall be $50.00. 

Section 3.  Active Members may be subject to assessment from time to time as the Council may decide. 

Section 4.  Senior and Honorary Members shall be exempt from all dues and assessments. 

Section 5.  Bills shall be rendered by the Secretary/Treasurer within 30 days prior to the beginning of the fiscal year, which is July 1^st , and shall be payable within 90 days. 

                                                         ARTICLE VII - Rules of Order 

Section 1.  Any questions of order not provided by these bylaws shall be determined by parliamentary usage as contained in Robert's Rules of Order (Revised). 

                                                          ARTICLE VIII - Amendments