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GNOPS Bylaws and Constitution Changes
APPROVED Wednesday, May 7, 2008 at the GNOPS General Membership Meeting at Restaurant August
Constitution
OF THE
GREATER NEW ORLEANS PEDIATRIC SOCIETY
Article I
Name and Objectives
Section 1. The name of this organization shall be The Greater New Orleans Pediatric Society.
Section 2. The objectives of this organization are:
(a) To bring Pediatricians of the Greater New Orleans Area into association with each other for their mutual advantage.
(b) To stimulate interest in and further the study of Pediatrics.
(c) To uphold and to augment standards of Pediatric practice.
(d) To improve the health status of children in this community through education and service projects.
Article II
Membership
Section 1. Active and Associate Membership shall be restricted to qualified physicians practicing in the Greater New Orleans area. There shall be four (4) classes of membership. (1) Active members shall be those whose full time endeavors are limited to the practice or teaching of Pediatrics. (2) Associate membership may be extended to other physicians interested in Pediatrics. (3) Affiliate membership may be extended to physicians in residencies or fellowships in Pediatrics. (4) Honorary membership may be extended to those who have distinguished themselves in Pediatrics including those who have practiced Pediatrics for more than 30 years and are 65 years of age or older.
Section 2. Proposals for Membership.
(a) Written application on the Official Form of the Society must be submitted for approval to the Executive Committee.
(b) The names of all applicants approved by the Executive Committee shall be announced at each meeting of the Society.
(c) Written objections by Active members of the Society to applicant for membership should be filed with the President who shall submit these to the Executive Committee for final action.
(d) Successful candidates shall be notified after their elections, and official recognition of all new members shall be made at the next meeting.
Section 3. Forfeiture of Membership.
(a) Membership shall lapse upon non-payment of annual dues thirty days after
mailing of a second notice of dues owed if dues have not been paid in full. Reinstatement shall be at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
(b) Any conduct ethically or socially violating the standards of accepted medical practice shall be brought before the Executive Committee prior to any action by the membership on such charges. Any accused member shall be notified of the charges by the Secretary in writing, and given ample opportunity for defense.
(c) Two-thirds vote of the entire membership in writing shall be required before expulsion from the Society.
Article III
Officers
The officers shall be a President, Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. All officers shall be Active Members elected by Active Members at the Biennal Business Meeting.
The Vice-President shall be designated President-Elect for the ensuing year, and takes office as President at the end of the Annual Biennial Business Meeting one year following his or her election. The officers shall take over duties of their respective offices immediately following the Annual Biennial Meeting at which they were elected and serve for one year.
Article IV
Finances
Section 1. The Society shall be maintained and shall accomplish its objectives through funds derived from membership dues, from contributions and by other methods as shall be approved by the Executive Committee.
Section 2. Neither this Society, nor any of its officers, nor the personnel of any Committee, may contract any debts, which with existing debts, shall exceed in amount the funds in the General Fund. A special instrument of agreement may authorize any committee to collect and disburse funds for a stated purpose, providing the committee makes itself financially responsible, and it is clearly stated that the General Fund is not involved.
Article V
Amendments
This constitution may be amended by a three-fourths vote of the membership present at any meeting. Such amendment, however, must be proposed in writing at a previous meeting of the Society and a copy of said amendment must be mailed to each member prior to the meeting at which it is to be voted upon.
By-Laws
Article I
Meetings
Section 1. The Society shall have at least four dinner-business, or dinner-scientific, meetings annually; these meetings will not be held in summer months (June, July, and August). The last regular meeting before summer shall be designated the Biennal Business Meeting. Special meetings may be called by the Executive Committee.
Section 2. Twenty Active members shall constitute a quorum for transaction of business at any meeting of the Society.
Section 3. At the Biennal Business Meeting, reports shall be made by all officers. Full reports must be made by the President, Secretary, and Treasurer.
Article II
Election of Officers
Section 1. At the regular meeting of the Society preceding the Biennal Business Meeting, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee which shall offer nominations for the elective offices of the Society. Nominations for offices from the general membership may be submitted in writing to the Nominating Committee within 30 days.
Section 2. Only Active members, whose annual dues are fully paid, are eligible for election to any office, or are entitled to vote.
Section 3. Election shall be by written ballot for contested offices.
Section 4. The President and Vice-President may not succeed themselves in their respective offices.
Article III
Duties of Officers
Section 1. The duties of the President, Vice-President, and Treasurer shall be those usually performed by such offices.
Section 2. The Secretary shall keep a careful record of the proceedings of each meeting and shall mail notices of meetings to each member.
Article IV
Committees
Section 1. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President (Chairman), Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and immediate Past President. Additionally, the President shall appoint representatives of Ochsner, Tulane and LSU Pediatric Departments, Children’s Hospital and the Office of Public Health as members of the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall have immediate charge and control of all matters of the Society and shall pass upon all matters requiring attention between regular meetings. Five members shall constitute a quorum for the Executive Committee
Section 2. The Nominating Committee shall consist of the President, who will serve as chairman, and the three (3) immediate past presidents of the Society. The Nominating Committee shall submit nominees for elective office in accordance with Article II of these by-laws.
Article V
Finances
Section 1. The fiscal year shall begin January first.
Section 2. Annual dues for Active and Affiliate members shall be determined annually by the Executive Committee. These dues will be due January first. The dues for Associate Members shall be the same as for active members. Honorary members are exempt from dues.
Section 3. No Person shall be in good standing or qualified to exercise any privilege of membership when in default.
Article VI
Parliamentary Procedure
Robert's Rules of Order (revised) shall govern procedures in all cases not inconsistent with these By-Laws.
Article VII
Amendments
By-Laws may be amended at any regular meeting in the same manner as the Constitution of the
Society.
