Urological Surgery Discipline Bylaws

Article I: Name

The name of the Organization is the Urological Discipline of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons.

Article II: Registered Address

The address shall be the registered office address of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons.

Article III: Objectives And Purposes

The objectives and purposes for which the Urological Discipline of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons is organized are - charitable, scientific and educational, including the following:

Section (a)

To encourage research, experiments, investigations and analyze diseases, abnormalities and other conditions of the genitourinary tract, their treatments and corrections, and to make the results known to physicians and the public.

Section (b)

To develop, and assist in developing, scientific methods for the diagnosis, prevention and treatment of such diseases and to make the results known to physicians and the public.

Section (c)

To benefit the general public by encouraging the study and maintaining the highest possible standards of education, practice, research and competency in urological practice.

Section (d)

To promote the publication of, and encourage contributions to, medical and scientific literature pertaining to urology.

Section (e)

To plan and provide a program of urological subjects and a panel of speakers for the annual meeting of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons and any other educational meetings throughout the year.

Section (f)

To encourage research projects in the field of Genito-Urinary diseases.

Section (g)

To encourage and promote training opportunities for those persons interested in becoming residents and trainees to Urology and Urological Surgery.

Section (h)

To stimulate interest in creating or developing a division of urology in osteopathic hospitals throughout the United States.

Section (i)

To suggest and establish a criteria of study of urology and urological surgery in osteopathic schools and colleges throughout the United States.

Section (j)

To establish an organization as authorized by the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons and to preserve the overall objectives, ideals and functions of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons.

Article IV: Dissolution

Upon the termination or dissolution of the Urological Discipline of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons, any surplus of property or assets remaining after all of the debts and obligations of the Urological Discipline have been paid and satisfied shall not, either directly or indirectly, enure to the benefit of any member of the Urological Discipline of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons or any other individual, but all such surplus shall be distributed and paid over to the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons, or to an organization or organizations which are exempt from federal income tax pursuant to the provisions of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

Article V: Classifications Of Membership

Section 1 - Classifications

The membership of the Urological Discipline of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons shall consist of all of the members of ACOS whose practice encompasses the discipline of urology and of the following categories of membership:
(a) Active Members
(b) Retired Members
(c) Life Members
(d) Inactive Members
(e) Associate Members
(f) Honorary Members
(g) Resident Members

Only Active, Retired, and Life Members shall be eligible for office and have the right to serve on committees and vote at any Business Meeting of the Urological Discipline of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons.

Section 2 - Active Members

Active membership in this organization shall be open only to active members of the ACOS whose training and experience encompasses the field of urology.

Section 3 - Retired Members

A Retired Member is any active or associate member of ACOS who has permanently retired from practice and does not qualify for Life or Inactive Membership.

Section 4 - Life Members

Any Active, Associate or Retired Member in good standing in the Urological Discipline of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons for at least twenty (20) years is eligible for Life Membership after reaching the age of Sixty (60).

Section 5 - Inactive Members

Inactive Members of the ACOS whose specialty is urology and are temporarily not in surgical practice shall be Inactive Members.

Section 6 - Associate Members

Associate Members of ACOS who are engaged in activities directly related to the practice of urology shall be Associate Members.

Section 7 - Honorary Members

Honorary Members may be persons outside the realm of the American Osteopathic Association or American College of Osteopathic Surgeons who have achieved outstanding prominence in a field of medicine related to Urology; or distinguished Urologists in this country and beyond the geographical boundaries of the Urological Discipline of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. Candidates shall be nominated by at least three Active or Life Members.
Honorary Members must be favorably considered by the Executive Committee and elected by a majority vote of the members present and voting at the annual business meeting.

Section 8 - Resident Members

Resident Members of the ACOS who are residents in good standing in a urological residency training program that is AOA approved or ACGME accredited shall be resident members of the discipline.

Article VI: Officers And Executive Committee

Section 1 - Officers

The officers of the Discipline shall be a Chair, Chair Elect, Past Chair, Secretary and Treasurer. At the annual member meeting of the Discipline, a Chair-elect, Secretary, and Treasurer shall be elected for a term of two (2) years, by the members. Election shall be by a majority of votes cast.

Section 2 - Chair

The Chair-elect shall succeed to the office of Chair at the end of the annual member meeting of the Discipline. The Chair shall be the principal elective officer of the Discipline, and shall preside at all meetings of the Discipline and of the Executive Committee. He/she shall be a voting governor of the ACOS Board, an ex officio member of all discipline committees, and shall execute all duties delegated to him/her by the Executive Committee. He/she also shall communicate to the College and to the Board of Governors regarding the state of the Discipline and may make suggestions to promote its welfare. The discipline chair shall serve no more than one term of two years.

Section 3 - Past Chair

The Chair shall become the Past Chair of the Discipline at the end of the annual member meeting of the Discipline. The Past Chair shall preside at all meetings of the Discipline and of the Executive Committee in the event of the temporary disability or absence from meetings of the Chair and Chair-elect. He/She shall have such other duties as the Chair or the Executive Committee may assign. In the event of the death or resignation of the Chair and the Chair-elect, or if the Chair and Chair-elect shall for any reason be unable or unqualified to serve, the Secretary shall fill the office of the Chair until the next meeting of the Discipline, at which time a Chair-elect and Chair shall be elected.

Section 4 - Chair-elect

A Chair-elect shall preside at all meetings of the Discipline and of the Executive Committee in the event of the temporary disability or absence from meetings of the Chair, and shall execute all duties delegated to him/her by the Chair or the Executive Committee. He/she shall succeed to the office of Chair as provided for in Section 2. In the event of the death or resignation of the Chair-elect, the office shall remain vacant until the next meeting of the Discipline, at which time a Chair-elect shall be elected. In the event of the death or resignation of the Chair or if the Chair shall for any reason be unable or unqualified to serve, the Chair-elect shall fill the office of Chair during the balance of the Chair's term and then automatically succeed to office as provided in Section 2.

Section 5 - Secretary

The Secretary shall ensure the accurate recording and maintenance of proceedings of meetings of the Discipline and the Executive Committee, shall ensure that accurate records are kept of all members, and perform such other duties as legally required or otherwise prescribed by the Executive Committee. Any of the duties of the Secretary may, by action of the Executive Committee, be assigned to the ACOS staff. In the event of the death or resignation of the Secretary, the Chair shall appoint a member of the Discipline to the office for the balance of the unexpired term.

Section 6 - Treasurer

The Treasurer shall oversee: the Discipline's funds and financial records; the timely collection of members' dues and/or assessments; the establishment of appropriate accounting procedures for the handling of the Discipline's funds; the preparation of an annual budget for approval by the Executive Committee; the performance of an annual review of the financial statements prepared by the ACOS staff; and, further shall report on the financial condition of the Discipline at the annual members meeting, and at other times as called upon by the Chair. Any of the duties of the Treasurer may, by action of the Executive Committee, be assigned to the ACOS staff. In the event of the death or resignation of the Treasurer, the Chair shall appoint a member of the Discipline to the office for the balance of the unexpired term.

Article VII: Executive Committee

Section 1 - Authority and Responsibility

The Executive Committee shall have supervision, control, and direction of the affairs of the Discipline; shall determine its policies or changes therein within the limits of the College bylaws and policies; shall actively pursue its purposes and shall have discretion in the disbursement of its funds. It may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as shall be deemed advisable, and may, in the execution of the power granted, appoint such agents as it may consider necessary.

Section 2 - Composition and Election

The Executive Committee shall be composed of the officers of the Discipline and the Governor, who is not an officer. The election of the discipline officers and a Governor shall be held at an annual business meeting of the discipline at which there is a quorum by a majority vote of the voting members who are in attendance. A Governor shall be elected for a term of two (2) years not to exceed a total of three (3) consecutive terms or four (4) consecutive terms provided one term is as discipline chair. Only members who hold the FACOS title and who are currently in active surgical practice or have been in active surgical practice in the last three (3) years may be elected as discipline officers and Governors. In order to be eligible to be elected by the discipline as a chair, a member shall have served as an discipline continuing education program chair or discipline continuing education co-chair. A Discipline officer and governor may not be a member of an American Osteopathic Association specialty certifying board.

Section 3 - Vacancies and Removal

A member of the Executive Committee may resign at any time by giving written notice to the ACOS Executive Director. Such resignation will take effect at the time specified therein or at the time of acceptance as determined by the Chair or the Executive Committee. For just and reasonable cause, any member of the Executive Committee may be removed by a three fourths vote of the Executive Committee members present at any meeting at which three-fourths of all of the Executive Committee members are present. Any vacancies of a Governor(s) that also is not the discipline chair, shall be filled by an appointment by the chair of the discipline. This appointee shall serve until the next regularly scheduled meeting of the discipline when an election shall be held to fill the vacancy for the remainder of the unexpired term.

Section 4 - Executive Committee Meetings

The Executive Committee shall have regular meetings at the time and place of the annual meeting of the Discipline. The Executive Committee also shall meet upon the call of the Chair or a majority of the members of the Executive Committee. The times and places of the meetings shall be determined by the Executive Committee. Notice of all meetings of the Executive Committee shall be sent by mail to each member of the Executive Committee not more than eight (8) weeks and not less than two (2) weeks in advance of each meeting. A majority of the whole Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Executive Committee.

During its annual meeting the Executive Committee shall:

1. Receive and act upon reports of Discipline committees;
2. Transact such other business as has been delegated to it or might be considered by it in the best interest of the Discipline and the welfare of the Membership; and
3. Serve as the Finance Committee of the Discipline and have general supervision and direction of the financial policies and affairs of the Discipline.

Any action taken by the Executive Committee may be voted upon by mail or electronic facsimile transceiver provided that all members of the Executive Committee consent and no less than a majority of the entire Executive Committee vote in favor of the issue presented in order for approval.

Section 5 - Compensation

Members shall not receive any compensation for their service on the Executive Committee.

Article VIII: Committees

Standing Committees

All Standing Committees, except the Nominating Committee, shall be appointed by the Chair-elect at the annual member meeting subject to approval by the Executive Committee. The appointments shall become effective when the Chair elect assumes the office of Chair.

All Standing Committees shall report all activities and make appropriate recommendations to the Executive Committee at least annually and shall present reports to the Membership at the Annual Business Meeting when requested to do so.

The Standing Committees of the Urological Discipline of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons shall be:

By-Laws Committee
Education Committee
Grants and Aids Committee
Special Awards Committee
Nominating Committee

Section 1 - Bylaws Committee

The Bylaws Committee shall consist of at least three (3) members of the Discipline, one of whom shall be designated Chair. The Chair of this committee shall be Parliamentarian for the Discipline. It shall be the duty of this committee to study and recommend improvements in the bylaws of the Discipline. This committee shall submit written reports and recommendations to the Executive Committee. Recommendations to the Executive Committee of the Urological Discipline for changes in these documents shall be acted upon by the membership at the discipline's Annual Business Meeting.

Section 2 - Education Committee

The Education Committee shall consist of the ACA Program Chairs amd Mid Year Meeting Program Chairs for the current year and two years in the future, and one member shall serve as chair. It shall be the duty of this committee to plan the educational programs of the Discipline.

Section 3 - Grants and Aids Committee

The Grants and Aids Committee shall consist of five (5) members of the Discipline to study, evaluate, and procure funds for the scientific and educational segments of the Annual Meeting of the Urological Discipline of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons.

Section 4 - Special Awards Committee

This Committee shall consist of five (5) members of the Discipline who shall be appointed annually. The duties of this committee shall include the search for, consideration of, and nomination of candidates worthy to be recipients of special awards and citations from this Urological Discipline of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. The intent and purpose of the various awards, as well as the particular qualifications of the individuals nominated, shall be determined when each award is established. The announcement and presentation of the Urological Discipline honors shall be during the Annual Meeting.

(a) C. Conte Call Award
(b) The finalist for the Residents Essay Contest
(c) Robert Sherman Trust Award
(d) Poster Session Awards

Section 5 - Nominating Committee

The Nominating Committee shall consist of three (3) members of the Discipline, the chair, chair elect, and past chair.

The Nominating Committee shall meet and present to the ACOS Executive Director a list of nominees of members in good standing in the Urological Discipline for the following offices and representative positions 120 days prior to the annual meeting for publication and distribution to the membership 30 days in advance of the meeting:

(1) One (1) Nominee for Chair-Elect
(2) One (1) Nominee for Secretary
(3) One (1) Nominee for Treasurer
(4) One (1) Nominee for Historian
(5) One (1) Nominee for future Program Chair for the ACA and for the Mid Year Meeting
(6) One (1) Nominee for ACOS Governor when a term of a Urological Discipline Governor will expire or there is a vacancy.

Section 6 - Special Committees

The Chair-elect at the discipline annual meeting or at a subsequent time during his term as Chair, also may appoint and discharge other committees, subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.

Article IX: Historian

The Historian, as official biographer of the Urological Discipline of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons, shall prepare an accurate history of the Urological Discipline of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons and shall keep records of changes in the Urological Discipline of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons pertinent to its history. He shall present an annual report to the Executive Committee and to the Urological Discipline of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons at the Annual Business Meeting, when requested by the Chair. He shall prepare for publication any historical issue relative to the Urological Discipline of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons and present it to the Chair. Funds required for these purposes shall be voted upon by the Executive Committee.

Article X: Meetings

Section 1

The Annual Business Meeting of the Urological Discipline shall be held at such a time and place as designated by the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. The Mid-Year Meeting shall become an official meeting of the Urological Discipline of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons. The time and place shall be designated by the Executive Committee of the Urological Discipline of the American College of Osteopathic Surgeons.

Section 2

Official notice of the time, place and agenda of the Annual Business Meeting shall be sent to each member at least thirty (30) days before the meeting. Fifty (50) voting members shall constitute a quorum at the annual business meeting.

Section 3

The transaction of business at all stated and specific meetings shall be by a simple majority of those in attendance at the meeting.

Section 4 - Order of Business

The Order of Business at the Annual Business Meeting of the Urological Discipline shall be:

Approval of the minutes of the previous meeting
Reports of officers and historian
a. Chair
b. Secretary
c. Treasurer
d. Historian
The following written reports of Standing Committees shall be available to the membership at the Annual Business Meeting:
a. By-Laws Committee
b. Education Committee
c. Grants and Aids Committee
d. Special Awards Committee
Reports of Special Committees (when requested)
Old Business
New Business
Report of the Nominating Committee
Election of officers and representatives of the Urological Discipline. These include the Chair-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, Future Program Chairs and any ACOS governor(s).
Adjournment

Article XI: Resident Papers

Titles and abstracts of papers to be read by the residents at the Annual Meeting must be filed with the Program Chair at least thirty (30) days before the opening date of the Annual Meeting. Any paper previously presented before a scientific society or published shall not be read at the Annual Meeting of the Urological Discipline except with the specific approval of the Education Committee. All cases reported in papers presented before the Urological Discipline shall be distinguished by the name of the hospital or in some other fashion which will insure subsequent recognition of the case. The presentation of papers shall be limited to ten (10) minutes. When arranging for special papers or symposia, the Education Committee shall be permitted to extend the time limit of papers, if it is for the best interest of the program. Discussions shall be limited to one dissertation of not more than five (5) minutes for each person per paper.

Article XII: Dues And Assessments

The fiscal year of the Urological Discipline shall date from July 1 - June 30.

The annual dues shall be set each year by the membership upon the recommendations of the Executive Committee. Special assessments for specific reasons may be voted by the Urological Discipline in the same manner.

Article XIII: Discipline

All matters of discipline shall be directed to the ACOS Ethics Committee for investigation, deliberation, and recommendation to the ACOS Board.

Article XIV: Amendments

These By-Laws may be amended by a majority vote of the Active, Life, and Retired Members present and voting at any Annual Meeting. The proposed amendment (s) shall be presented to the ACOS Executive Director at least 120 days in advance of the official meeting so than publication and distribution can be accomplished with the notice of the meeting at which such action is to be taken and shall be sent out to the members so as to be received at least thirty (30) days in advance of the meeting. All amendments must be in conformance with ACOS Bylaws and are not to be in effect until ratified by the ACOS Board of Governors.

Article XV: Rules Of Order

Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern the proceedings of the Urological Discipline unless otherwise provided for in these By-Laws.

Urological Discipline Bylaws - as approved by the Board of Governors - March 2014