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WISCONSIN SOCIETY OF PATHOLOGISTS, INC.
Amended 10/95
CHAPTER I: CODE OF
ETHICS
The professional conduct of the members of the Wisconsin
Society of Pathologists shall be governed by the ethical directives and
principles adopted by the American Medical or Osteopathic Associations, the
applicable Wisconsin and Federal laws, and the appropriate provisions of these
By-Laws.
CHAPTER II: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1 - Application for Membership:
(a) Election for membership shall be by a majority of the
Board of Directors after review of the application by the Board of Censors, and
the approval of the application by the Board of Censors.
(b) Candidates for Active, Associate or Resident Membership
shall apply in writing to the Secretary on the Society's approved application
form. The Secretary furnishes the applicant the application form. The
Secretary shall also furnish a current copy of the By-Laws of the Society. The
completed application shall be promptly forwarded by the Secretary to the
Chairman of the Board of Censors. The Board of Censors shall review each
application individually. The Board of Censors shall act on the application
promptly after receipt. At the next meeting of the Board of Directors, the
Chairman of the Board of Censors shall present the name of the recommended
candidate for vote. A majority vote shall be required for election to
membership. If, however, the action of the Board of Censors is unfavorable the
application shall be referred directly to the Board of Directors. Said Board
shall approve, defer or reject the applicant.
Section 2 - Membership Classification
(a) ACTIVE: The
candidate shall be a graduate of an approved medical school, or school of
osteopathic medicine. The candidate shall be Board Certified in anatomic
pathology or clinical pathology by the American Board of Pathology or the
American Osteopathic Board of Pathology. Active members as of January 1, 1986
shall be considered Active members upon approval of these By-Laws. Active
members may vote, hold office and be appointed to committees.
(b) RESIDENT MEMBERS: Those
physician graduates of an approved medical school, or school of osteopathy who
are residents in training programs certified by the Liaison Committee on
Graduate Medical Education may apply for Resident Membership. Resident members
may vote, serve on committees and hold office. Resident Membership dues shall
be set by the Board of Directors. Resident Membership automatically terminates
the year following training in Pathology, or after a total of six (6) years of
training, whichever occurs first. The Board of Directors may extend this
period in individual cases for good cause. Resident members shall transfer to
Active Membership within the designated time or their name shall be deleted from
the role.
(c) HONORARY MEMBERS:
A candidate for Honorary Membership may be proposed to the Board of Directors
by an Active Member of the Society. Upon approval of the Board, the name of
such candidate shall be published in the official notification at the next
special or annual meeting and shall be proposed for vote. Election to Honorary
Membership shall require a 2/3 affirmative vote of the members present and
voting. Honorary Members shall not pay dues nor hold office. They may vote
and serve on committees.
(d) ASSOCIATE MEMBERS: M.D.
or D.O. Physicians, or non-M.D. scientists in a field allied to Pathology who
do not otherwise fulfill the criteria for Active Membership may be recommended
by the Board of Directors and approved by a 2/3 affirmative vote of the members
present and voting at a special or annual meeting. Associate Members will pay
dues as set by the Board of Directors and may serve on committees, but may not
vote nor hold office.
CHAPTER III: TENURE OF
MEMBERSHIP
(a) Membership shall be automatically renewable from year to
year following payment of annual dues
(b) The Board of Directors shall have the right to censure a
member for due cause.
(c) The Society shall have the right, by a 2/3 vote of the
members present, to censure or expel any member for any due cause. An expelled
member shall not be permitted to apply as a new member for a period of at least
twelve (12) months from the date of expulsion.
(d) Resignation of a member shall be submitted in writing to
the Secretary
CHAPTER IV: MEETINGS OF
MEMBERS
Section 1. The
Society shall hold an annual meeting in the Fall of each year for the purpose
of electing Officers, Censors and representatives to other organizations, the
setting of dues and transaction of such other business as may be properly
brought before it. The exact date, time and place of such annual meeting shall
be fixed by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Special
meetings of the Society may be called by the President or upon the written
petition of any fifteen (15) voting members.
Section 3. SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS
(a) The Board of Directors will determine the frequency of
place and content of scientific meetings. Such meetings will be held with
sufficient frequency to implement the objectives of the Society.
(b) The scientific meetings of the Society shall be open to
all physicians, technologists, students and interested allied workers, and
shall present to the members the current technology and innovative use of the
tools and knowledge that is available to the specialty of pathology.
Section 4. Non-members
may attend business meetings by invitation. They may be given the privilege of
the floor only at the request of the Society, or invitation of the President
Section 5. Voting by
proxy is not allowed.
Section 6. The
deliberation of the Society shall be governed by Parliamentary usages contained
in the applicable sections of Roberts Rules of Order, newly revised.
Section 7. Twenty
(20) Active members shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business at
the Annual or Special Meetings.
CHAPTER V:
RELATIONSHIPS TO OTHER ORGANIZATIONS
Section 1.
American Society of Clinical Pathologists
(a) The Society shall elect a Counselor and Alternate
Counselor of the American Society of Clinical Pathologists for staggered terms
of three (3) years each.
(b) The Counselor and Alternate Counselor shall be
ex-officio members of the Board of Directors of the Wisconsin Society of
Pathologists.
Section 2. College of American Pathologists
(a) In accordance with appropriate provisions of the
Constitution and By-Laws of the College of Pathologists, and of its House of
Delegates, the President of this Society shall appoint a Nominating Committee
composed of three Fellows of the College of American Pathologists residing in
Wisconsin and charge them to nominate candidates for the office of Delegate
from Wisconsin to the House of Delegates of the College of American
Pathologists.
(b) The election of such Delegates from Wisconsin will be
conducted by the College of American Pathologists.
(c) The Foreman of the Delegation and the Legislative
Keyman, if different, shall be ex-officio members to the Board of Directors of
the Wisconsin Society of Pathologists.
Section 3. State Medical Society of Wisconsin
(a) This Society will cooperate with the State Medical
Society of Wisconsin and its Section of Pathology.
(b) The Delegate and Alternate Delegate of the Section of
Pathology to the House of Delegates of the State Medical Society of Wisconsin
shall serve two year terms, and shall be ex-officio members of the Board of
Directors of the Wisconsin Society of Pathologists.
CHAPTER VI: OFFICERS
AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Section 1. President: The
President shall serve a one year term, shall preside at all meetings of the
Society and shall serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors. He/she shall
appoint the members and designate the Chairman of all standing and special
committees, unless otherwise provided.
With the approval of the Board he/she shall designate all
official Delegates and representatives to other groups unless otherwise
provided for in these By-Laws and shall perform all other duties required by
custom and Parliamentary procedure.
Section 2. President Elect: The President Elect shall be elected at the annual meeting of the year
preceding the year in which the term of the President expires. In the absence
or incapacity of both the President and Vice President, the President Elect or
Past President shall discharge the functions of the President.
Section 3. Vice President: The Vice President shall be elected for a one year term. In the
absence or incapacity of the President, the Vice President shall perform all of
the duties of the President.
Section 4. Secretary: The
Secretary shall be elected for a one year term, and shall keep a current record
of the Society and of the Board of Directors. He/she shall have actual custody
and care of Documents and Minutes of this Society. He/she shall prepare and
maintain a current Roster of the Membership and supply a true copy of same to
the Treasurer. He shall prepare and distribute official notification of all
meetings of the society, and shall periodically prepare and distribute to the
Membership communications outlining significant actions of the Board of
Directors. He/she may be elected for two additional one year terms.
Section 5. Treasurer:
The Treasurer shall be elected for a one year term, and have custody of all
funds of the Society. At each meeting of the Board of Directors he/she shall
account for all receipts and disbursements, and report the current financial
status of the Society. He/she shall serve without bond. He/she can be
re-elected for two additional one year terms.
Section 6. CAP Delegate: The Delegates from Wisconsin to the College of American Pathologists
shall serve as Official Representatives of this Society in the House of
Delegates of the College of American Pathologists. They shall truly represent
the best interests of the Society, and of the practice of pathology in the
deliberations of that body, and they shall report all significant actions of
the College of American Pathologists to the Board of Directors, and the
membership of the Society.
Section 7. ASCP Councilor: The Councilor and/or Alternate Councilor for Wisconsin to the American
Society of Clinical Pathologists shall attend all National and Regional
Meetings of the Advisory Counsel. They shall report to the membership of the
Society at each meeting, or otherwise upon decisions, deliberations,
communications and recommendations of the American Society of Clinical
Pathologists.
Section 8. Board of Directors: The Board of Directors shall be the policy-making
and administrative body of the Society during the interim between the regular,
annual or special business meetings, and shall be empowered to enter into
contracts and authorize such expenditures as may be necessary to carry on the
affairs of the Society. It's actions shall be governed by the Articles of
Incorporation and By-Laws and all actions of the Board of Directors shall be
subject to review by the members of the Society. The President shall prepare a
condensed report of the activities of the Board and the Society to be presented
at the Annual Business Meeting. The Board of Directors shall meet in regular
session prior to the Annual Meeting of the Society and shall receive reports of
all Officers, Committees and Representatives. It shall hold at least one
interim meeting and shall convene at other times as may be
appropriate. It may meet on the call of the President, or
upon written petition of any three (3) members of the Board. Any six (6)
members of the Board shall constitute a quorum for conducting the business of
the Society. The date, time and place of all Board meetings shall be set by
the President.
Section 9. Executive Secretary: An Executive Secretary may, at the discretion of
the Board, be employed to provide Administrative services to the Officers
and/or the Board of Directors.
CHAPTER VII: COMMITTEES
Section 1. Board of Censors: The Board of Censors shall receive, consider and enact upon all
applications for membership in accordance with these By-Laws. They shall
receive and consider judicially and without bias complaints on the conduct of
any members, and shall present a report with a recommendation in the matter to
the Board of Directors, which in turn shall submit its conclusions and
recommendations to the Society at the next Annual or Special Meeting.
The Board of Censors may nominate members for election to
Honorary Membership status.
Members of the Board of Censors shall be voting members of
the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Standing Committees: Standing Committees shall be appointed by the
President and to be composed of not less than three (3) members. The Chairman
of the following Standing Committees shall be voting members of the Board of
Directors.
(a) Legislative Committee: The Legislative Committee shall
keep the Society informed of any contemplated legislation affecting the
practice of pathology.
(b) Public Relations Committee: The Public Relations
Committee shall be charged with enhancing the professional recognition of the
pathologists and the role of pathology and patient care and medical research.
It shall initiate and circulate releases from the Society to the Lay Press,
Professional and Scientific Publications, radio and television media. It shall
assist in the preparation of, and lend publication support to programs and
activities of the various committees of the Society. It shall provide liaison
with committees of national organizations to promote the above goals.
(c) Scientific Program Committee: The Scientific Program
Committee will arrange for the presentation of instructive seminars, lectures
or other scientific programs in pathology and related sciences for the
membership of the Society. It shall arrange for the preservation of the
transactions of such meetings.
(d) Professional Affairs Committee: The Professional Affairs
Committee shall concern itself with the professional affairs and relationships
within the practice of pathology. The Committee will report its activities to
the Board of Directors together with appropriate recommendations.
(e) Nominating Committee: The Nominating Committee shall
consist of the three immediate Past Presidents, with the most senior past
president serving as chair. This committee shall be charged with the
preparation of a slate of nominees for each elective office vacant or to be
vacated, and shall present this report at the Annual Meeting.
Section 3. The
President shall appoint additional Special Committees as the need may require.
Section 4. Members
of Committees shall serve during the tenure of the President who made their
appointments, or until their successors are appointed. No more than one-half
(1/2) of the membership of Standing Committees may be changed during a single
year of presidential tenure.
CHAPTER VIII: FINANCES
Section 1. Finances
of the Society shall be provided primarily by membership dues set at each
Annual Meeting. Honorary Members are exempt from payment of dues.
Section 2. Special
Assessments may only be levied on the recommendation of the Board of Directors.
Written notification of the proposed assessment and its purpose shall be
provided to the membership at least thirty (30) days before the meeting at
which the assessment is to be presented. Majority vote shall be required for
approval.
Section 3. The
Fiscal Year of the Society shall begin July 1, and end June 30.
Section 4. The Funds
of the Society shall be expended by the Treasurer at the direction of the Board
of Directors for necessary expenditures.
Section 5. Dues
shall become payable at the beginning of the Society's fiscal year. If dues
are unpaid at the end of one year from date due, a final dues notice shall be
sent with the second year's dues notice. If unpaid after ninety (90) days of
the final dues notice, the member shall be dropped.
Section 6. Any
member dropped for nonpayment of dues or assessments may be reinstated at the
discretion of the Board of Directors upon payment in full of each deficiency.
CHAPTER IX: AMENDMENT
These By-laws may be amended by majority vote of members
present and voting at any meeting. Written prior presentation of the proposed
amendments shall be received by the membership at least thirty (30) days before
the meeting at which the amendments are voted upon.
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