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Charter of the University of Washington Premedical Chapter of the American Medical Student Association

 

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this organization shall be the American Medical Student Association, hereafter referred to as AMSA University of Washington Premedical Chapter.

ARTICLE II. PURPOSES

The purposes of this organization shall be:

  • To provide an environment in which aspiring members of the medical community may gain awareness of current and future health issues pertinent to today’s society. 
  • To assemble students in an atmosphere conducive to discussion of topics such as research and development, technology, ethics and economics.
  • To act as a liaison between medical interest groups such as AED and MEDS, while maintaining our focus on general health concerns and our community involvement.
  • To integrate our enthusiasm into community involvement by annually nominating a specific organization or current health care issue for individual focus.  These activities will include but not be limited to the raising of funds and awareness, and developing models for community involvement in the improvement of the overall standard of living.
  • To create an equal opportunity organization where all interested parties are eligible and encouraged to participate. 
  • To affect change in the medical education process and to make it more responsive to the needs of students and society.
  • To maintain its status as an independent organization.
  • To promote and maintain programs that enhance the quality of health care in the community.
  • To be financially independent and maintain a stable financial base.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

A. Eligibility
Registered students enrolled at the University of Washington who are either current affiliate members of national AMSA or in the process of applying to national AMSA, and have paid current chapter dues shall be considered active members of AMSA University of Washington Premedical Chapter.  All active members shall receive voting rights, while University of Washington faculty and non-registered students shall be classified as associate members and will not have voting privileges.  Members of the above named organization shall be accepted without discrimination on the basis of race, religion, national origin, disability, sex, sexual preference, age, creed, marital status, parental status or veteran’s status. Furthermore, it is understood that members of the above organization will not, at any time, engage in hazing.

B. Privilege of Membership
Members shall have the right to attend all meetings and participate in all Premedical AMSA-sponsored activities.

C. Dues
The national membership dues are currently set at $30/$50/$60/$70 for a one/two/three/four year membership. The local membership dues to AMSA University of Washington Premedical Chapter shall be determined by the local AMSA University of Washington Premedical Chapter officers.  Currently, local chapter dues are set at $25 but this is subject to change by ratification of the executive board.  Dues will be referred to the penalty for nonpayment in Article III, Section F.  All local members must be national members of AMSA.

D. Active Status
Members are responsible for attending 50% of all meetings.  

E. Revocation of Membership
Failure to comply with Article III, Section D, without having proper consent will result in active status revocation.

F. Financial Obligations
Penalty for non-payment: Any eligible member that fails to pay dues will lose membership status and benefits.

G. Committee Obligations
Active members are encouraged to establish separate action committees related to the medical field.   

H. Recommendations
Upon request, the AMSA University of Washington Premedical Chapter may write letters of recommendation to those in active status as stated in Article III, Section D.

 

ARTICLE IV. OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

A. Titles
The officers of the AMSA University of Washington Premedical Chapter’s executive board shall include:  Executive President, Executive Vice President, Secretary, VP of Public Relations, Treasurer, VP of Recruitment and Membership, and VP of Activities, with the flexibility to create new positions as the necessity presents itself.


B. Elections
Officers will be selected based on an electronic application that will be reviewed by the current executive members.  The top 3 applications for any one position will be chosen and presented electronically to the voting members.  Voting will take place over the last week of April classes (4/28-5/2) and the canditate for each position with the most votes will take office.  In the case of a tie, the executive committee will vote.  In the case of a tie within the executive committee, the Executive President (normally ex-officio) will vote to break the tie.  Training will begin after elections and will continue until June 1, at which point the new officers will take their official positions.


C. Eligibility
Any member of AMSA University of Washington Premedical Chapter shall be eligible for election provided that he/she:

  • Is a local and national member of UW Pre-medical AMSA at the time of the election.
  • Is a registered UW student at the time of the election.
  • Has carefully read and understood the responsibilities held by his/her prospective position.

D. Vacancies of Offices
If any office shall become vacant except for the presidency, the president shall, at the earliest possible date thereafter, order a special election for the purposes of filling such office. The member thus elected shall immediately enter his/her duties and shall hold office until the next regular election. The vice president would assume the role as acting president if the president were to leave.

E. Duties of the Executive Board Officers

The President shall:

  • Preside at all meetings when available. 
  • Appoint committees and serve as ex-officio (non-voting) of said action committees.
  • Assist the Treasurer in the preparation of a budget for his/her term of office by June 1.
  • Carry out assignments and instructions to the office of the president.
  • Serve as a chapter delegate to the Premedical Caucus at AMSA's National Annual Convention each March (or select a surrogate if he/she chooses not to attend).

The Vice President shall:
    Aide the president.

  • In case of the absence or disability of the President, assume the duties of the president.
  • Oversee the coordination of all projects.

The Secretary shall:

  • Keep a written record of all meetings (general membership meetings, executive, etc.) in order to provide the chapter with a record of issues discussed, problems posed, ideas raised and of the people who participated in the group discussion for benefit of the chapter and its members.
  • Send out meeting notifications.
  • In case of absence, have a substitute appointed that day by any member of the executive committee.

Public Relations:

  • Facilitate the creation and utilization of action committees.
  • Act as liaison to other premed organizations including AED and MEDS.
  • Respond to all public inquiries including the AMSA University of Washington Premedical Chapter discussion board and email account.

The Treasurer shall:

  • Present a budget and a tentative schedule of suggested fundraising activities for the finance of the chapter with approval needed by the president and the executive committee to the membership by June 1.
  • See to the day-to-day expenditures of the chapter.
  • Make sure the chapter does not assess any liabilities.
  • Oversee the fund-raising committee on behalf of the chapter.
  • See to the best of his/her abilities that money used on behalf of the chapter is used wisely and in a manner that suits the purposes of the chapter.

Recruitment Coordinator:

  • Actively recruit new members from the student body.
  • Distribute national AMSA information and recruitment material.
  • Recruit prospective guest speakers.
  • Distribute AMSA University of Washington Premedical Chapter information and publications.

The Sergeant-at-Arms shall:

  • See to it that all activities taken by the chapter are in accordance with the bylaws of the constitution.
  • See to it that all members are given the chance to speak and to be heard at general membership meetings.
  • Supervise elections and see that they are carried out as set forth in the bylaws in a fair and just manner.
  • Keep a list of active members as per Article III.

F. Removal of Officers
A two-thirds vote can remove officers from office.

G. Voting Powers of Officers
Officers retain voting rights. However, the President often votes only in case of a tie.

H. Duties of the Action Committee Chair Members
Attend all action committee chair meetings and hold the position in the best interest of the organization.

I. Removal of Action Committee Chair Members
Any action committee chair members can be removed of his/her title if the executive board comes to a vote of two-thirds or greater. A replacement will be appointed immediately.

J. Election of Action Committee Chair Members
Out going action committee chair members will choose candidates to fill positions, who will then be interviewed by executive board members. All candidates can be denied the position. The executive board can then continue to search for another action committee chair member. 

ARTICLE V. MEETINGS

A. Time and Place

  • No less than four general membership meetings shall be held from September through April.
  • The place and hour are to be determined by the executive board.   

B. Types of Meetings
The various meetings of the organization, as defined in the bylaws, include:

  • General membership.
    • Discussion Panels.
      • Discussion topics shall include, but not be limited to publications from The New England Journal of Medicine and The New York Times and other topics of interest from the member constituency.   
      • All discussion panel topic information shall be provided to the general membership at least one week before the panel convenes.
    • Speaker Presentations.
  • Annual election meetings.
    • Last regular meeting in April.
  • Special meetings.
  • Executive Board meetings.

C. Quorum
Quorum for general membership, annual election and special meetings shall be those active members present, provided proper notice is given, as defined in the bylaws. Quorum for executive board meetings shall consist of 50 percent of the voting members.

ARTICLE VI. FINANCES

The president and treasurer only shall control all finances. There must be a budget each year as proposed by Article IV, section E. All funds must be spent on organizational purposes only. The transfer of power of controlling all funds shall be done one week after the new officer has been appointed.

ARTICLE VII. ACTION COMMITTEES

Action committee chairs must have a written report of action committee progress by the last general membership meeting of each quarter.  The following must be presented in the committee reports:
    Action committee name.

  • Action committee chair members.
  • A list of goals accomplished since the last report.   
  • A list of people who helped your committee complete each goal.
  • A list of goals that were not completed, and an explanation of why and what action will be taken.
  • A list of goals the action committee plans to accomplish by the next report.   
  • Indication of any announcements that need to be made at the general meeting.

A. The executive board must present a calendar of annual action committee goals at the beginning of the year to general members.
B. The executive board can appoint new action committees at any time.

ARTICLE VIII. ADVISOR

The advisor of AMSA University of Washington Premedical Chapter shall be a non-voting member of the executive board. He/she must have a sincere interest and commitment to the welfare of the chapter. The advisor must be a faculty or staff member of the University of Washington.

ARTICLE IX. EXTERNAL AFFILIATIONS

The AMSA University of Washington Premedical Chapter is affiliated with the national AMSA.  AMSA University of Washington Premedical Chapter is governed by national AMSA bylaws and its own.  AMSA University of Washington Premedical Chapter is free to govern itself under the guidelines set forth.  AMSA University of Washington Premedical Chapter will meet with national AMSA once a year at the Annual Convention.

ARTICLE X. AMENDMENTS

This constitution may be amended at any general membership meeting of the organization by a two-thirds vote of the active members present, provided that the amendment proposed had been submitted in writing to the President and posted in a conspicuous location for at least two weeks prior to the meeting. All amendments, additions and/or deletions to the constitution of AMSA University of Washington Premedical Chapter shall be adopted only after a vote of two-thirds of the active members present. Additional articles and amendments may be included only if they are in consonance with the University of Washington and national AMSA regulations and policies. These must be filed with the University of Washington Office of Student Affairs and the national AMSA office within one week of adoption.

ARTICLE XI. DISSOLUTION

In case of dissolution of the above named organization, all unspent University of Washington funds shall remain the property of AMSA University of Washington Premedical Chapter. All privately obtained funds shall be donated to a non-profit organization.

 

 

               

 

BYLAWS OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON PREMEDICAL CHAPTER

 

ARTICLE I. FEES AND DUES

AMSA University of Washington Premedical Chapter shall levy local dues, which shall be set at $5 per quarter.  This sum shall be levied at the time each student joins and at the first general membership meeting of every quarter.  The privileges are outlined in the Constitution and Bylaws.

ARTICLE II. MEETINGS

A.  Ample notification shall be given to all members regarding meeting schedules.
B. The annual election meeting shall be held the first week in April and shall be executed by the President and Sergeant-at-Arms. Only active members may vote. Candidates receiving a simple majority of the votes shall be declared winner.
C. Any member of the executive board or any five members of the general membership can call special meetings. The purpose of any special meeting shall be stated in the announcements.
D. Executive board meetings:

  • The executive board shall be required to meet in the second week of each month.
  • The executive board shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Public Relations, Treasurer, Sergeant-at-Arms, Recruitment Coordinator and any other positions the chapter wishes to create.
  • Quorum at the executive board meetings shall consist of 50% of the executive board.

ARTICLE III. APPOINTED OFFICERS

At the request of the executive board, the chapter advisor shall be an affiliate member of AMSA University of Washington Premedical Chapter, and an ex-officio member of the executive board. The advisor shall oversee the executive board and general membership of the organization on matters relevant to these bylaws.

ARTICLE IV. ELECTIONS

Nominations shall be taken two weeks before election day by ballot and made public.  If the nominee chooses to accept the nomination, he/she will give a 5-minute speech on election day.  Active members may not nominate or second themselves. If only one name is submitted for a position, the vote may be taken vocally. In other events, names shall be written on ballots and counted immediately. Candidates receiving a simple majority of votes cast shall be declared winner.  Executive board members are not allowed to vote in elections, and only the President is allowed to break ties. The newly elected members of the executive board must meet with the previous executive board members for transition of chapter functions.

ARTICLE V. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE

The rules contained in the most recent edition of Robert's Rules of Order shall guide this organization in all cases that they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the bylaws and special rules of order the organization may adopt.

ARTICLE VI. AMENDMENTS OF BYLAWS

Amendments to these bylaws may be adopted at any general membership meeting of the organization by a majority vote, provided that the amendment proposed has been submitted in writing to the President and is made public at least two weeks prior to the meeting.

ARTICLE VII. REFUNDS

Membership dues will not be refunded under any circumstances.