Society for the History of Medicine and the Health Professions
(Revised February 2020)
The purpose of this organization shall be:
Annual membership shall be open to any person interested in the above stated purposes.
The officers shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary and a Treasurer.
An Executive Committee, comprised of the officers, shall manage the affairs of the organization between Board and general meetings. It may fill, by appointment, any vacancies occurring in any office to finish an unexpired term.
General meetings shall be held at least once each year at a time and place to be determined by the Executive Committee of the Board of Directors.
Members present at a meeting shall constitute a quorum. A majority shall constitute a quorum of the Executive Committee.
The constitution may be amended at a general meeting of the organization by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present on recommendation of the Board of Directors.
Upon the dissolution of this organization, after paying or adequately providing for debts and obligations of the organization, the remaining assets shall be distributed to the Historical Research Center’s Foundation Fund. If the Library should dissolve, then the remaining assets of the Society for the History of Medicine and the Health Professions will be distributed to an appropriate Arkansas organization that is operated exclusively for charitable educational purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization under section 501( c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, directors, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distribution in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article II of the Constitution. No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of lobbying, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of these articles, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law.)
The President shall preside at all meetings, including Board meetings, and perform other duties connected with the office. The President may appoint such committees as are deemed advisable, to serve for such purposes and periods of time as the President may designate. The President shall be responsible for arranging the program at the annual meeting and other meetings.
The Vice-President shall be charged with maintaining and enlarging the membership of the organization.
The Secretary shall record attendance, take minutes at meetings, keep a list of members, and notify them of the time and place of meetings.
The Treasurer shall maintain the financial records of the organization and see that receipts are issued for contributions. The Treasurer shall report to the membership at the annual meeting and file a fiscal report with the minutes of the meeting.
Elected officers are President, Vice-President, and Secretary.
Elected officers shall serve a two year term, but no more than two consecutive terms. Nominees for the office of President, Vice-President, and Secretary shall be presented for the vote of the membership at an annual meeting.
The Director of the Historical Research Center shall serve ex officio as Treasurer, without vote, and shall received membership dues and gifts on behalf of the Society.
The Board of Directors shall be elected by a majority vote at the annual meeting except for the Director of the UAMS Library and the Treasurer (Head of the Historical Research Center), who serve ex officio without vote, and the Immediate Past President who is automatically a member of the Board.
All directors except the student shall serve overlapping three year terms. However, the student member of the Board serves a one year term, and can be nominated for a second year.
In summary, one or two new directors with three year terms and one student with a one year term shall be elected each year. Officers will be elected every two years.
Committees shall be created as required by direction of the Executive Committee. The President shall appoint members of all committees, the appointments to be confirmed by a majority of the Executive Committee.
A Nominating Committee shall be composed of at least three (3) members of the Board of Directors.
Annual membership contributions shall be received from any person who supports the purposes of the Associates in accordance with the following schedule:
Student Membership Contribution $ 5.00
Contributing Membership Contribution $ 15.00
Family Membership Contribution $ 25.00
Sustaining Membership Contribution $ 100.00
Patron Membership Contribution $ 200.00
Benefactor Membership Contribution $ 500.00
Life Membership Contribution $ 1000.00
Permanent Membership Contribution $ 2500.00
Charter Membership - Those who were members by 30 September 1982.
Honorary Life Membership - Those elected by vote of the membership at any general meeting upon nomination by the Board of Directors.
Expenditures of funds from the Society will be made by the Director of the Historical Research Center in accordance with the established budgetary procedures of the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences Library and in consultation with the Board of Directors of the Society.
Non-monetary contributions must meet the standards set by a screening committee appointed by the President of the Society.
Appropriate fees for registration and related expenses shall be collected as necessary.
The latest edition of Roberts Rules of Order Newly Revised governs the order of business at meetings unless inconsistent with the bylaws of the organization.
Amendments to the bylaws must be approved by a majority vote of those members attending the annual membership meeting.
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