Bylaws
Of
ARIZONA SIKH MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
A nonprofit Corporation
ARTICLE I
Name
The name of the corporation shall be: Arizona Sikh Medial Association
ARTICLE II
Purposes
The purpose for which this Organization if formed are those set forth in its
Article of incorporation,
namely:
2.1 The organization is being organized for educational, scientific,
charitable and cultural reasons.
The purpose of the organization shall include all purposes making the distributions
of the
organization to qualify as a tax-exempt organization under section 501(C)3 of
the Internal
Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States
Internal
Revenue Law).
2.2 To promote the interests of Sikh Physicians, Dentists and Medical allied
personnel who reside in the state of Arizona.
2.3 To support Sikh Physicians, Dentists, Medical allied personnel, as well as other brilliant and deserving Sikh professionals pursuing their careers in those fields or any other fields in the state of Arizona.
2.4 To foster long-term associations and friendships among Sikh physicians, Dentists and Medical allied personnel and to promote medical and dental institutions and improve the delivery of services in the above fields in their homeland.
2.5 To arrange for periodic meeting of its members to exchange information, discuss policies, establish future courses of action, and from time to time consider amendments to the Constitution. The organization shall hold elections for the office bearers and consider other appropriate business at annual meeting.
2.6 The organization will make efforts to have educational programs during these annual meetings presented by the members of the organization or its guests.
2.7 The organization will help medical and dental graduates to establish practices in different parts of the country as well as help them to obtain adequate postgraduate training in the fields of their choices. The organization will also help medical allied personnel with career opportunities.
2.8 The organization will make every effort to advance Sikh culture.
ARTICLE III
Capital
The Association shall raise capital in the form of contributions
to the non-profit organization, and dues for different levels of membership.
Funds will also be raised by sponsoring events. The funds will be used to further
the purposes of the organization. No part of the earnings of the organization
shall be spent for the benefits of or be distributed to the members or other
private persons. Reimbursement of all proper expenses incurred by any of the
office holders or member of the organization shall be available only with prior
approval of the Executive Council and subject to available funds, and only when
such expenses were incurred to the benefit of the organization. The organization
shall not participate in any activities not permitted to be carried on by organization
exempt from federal income tax under Section 501 (C)3 of the Internal Revenue
Code of 1954 or an organization contributions to which are deductible under
section 170 (C)2 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.
ARTICLE IV
4.1 Membership
Membership will be restricted to professionals who ascribe to the philosophy
of sikhism and who are permanent legal residents of the United States, living
in the state of arizona. Members shall be required to pay membership dues. To
continue to be members, annual dues will be assessed to the membership from
time to time.
Membership Categories
A. Active members: Physicians, Dentists and allied medical personnel in active
practice of their profession.
B. Active associate members: Those who are in active residency of training programs with appropriate proof of training status.
C. Honorary members: This category of membership will be restricted to medical and dental students, retired physicians and dentists. They will not have a right to vote or hold an office.
D. Auxiliary Members: Spouses of members. They shall be non-voting members.
E. Guest Members: Non-medical personnel who want to promote the
purpose of the
organization. They shall be non-voting members.
4.2 General Body
The general body will consist of all active voting members in good standing.
There shall be at least one annual meeting of the general body every year. The
meeting will provide a forum for exchange of information, discussion of policies,
consideration of any amendments to the bylaws, holding of election of the officers
and members of the Executive Council, and transaction of all other business.
4.3 Elections and Voting
Election of officers and members of the Executive Council shall be held at the
annual meeting of
the general body. Voting will be limited to active voting members only, each
having one vote. Active voting members must have paid their annual dues before
the elections in order to be able to vote. Honorary members, Auxiliary members
and Guest members shall have no right to vote. The elections shall take place
in the form of a nominated slate of officers. At the time of the elections,
nominations will also be invited from the floor of the house. The elections
will be conducted by Elections Commission, appointed by the President, in case
voting is necessary. A voice vote or a secret ballot may be adopted as deemed
appropriate by the Executive Council. A majority vote will be sufficient to
elect an officer. All efforts will be made to make the election of the officers
unanimous.
4.4 Quorum
A quorum for the general body meeting shall consists of at least 25% of active
members and a
majority vote shall be required for the passage of any issue.
4.5 Amendments
It will be necessary for 66% of voting members physically present to vote in
the affirmative to
pass any amendments to the bylaws.
4.6 Term of Office
In all cases, the term of office shall be one year, or as decided by the Executive
Council.
ARTICLE V
Officers
Officers of the organization shall be as follows:
5.1 President
The term of the President shall be one year. At the conclusion of the one-year
term, he/she
shall continue to be a member of the Executive Council for one additional year.
5.2 President - Elect
The term of the President-Elect shall be one year. The President-Elect shall
succeed the
President -Elect shall succeed the President at the annual meeting. In the event
of the inability of
the President to serve, the President-Elect shall serve as President in his
or her absence.
5.3 Executive-Secretary-Treasurer
The term of the Executive Secretary-Treasurer shall be one year. The Secretary-Treasurer
shall
be responsible for the day-to-day- working of the organization, management of
funds, as
authorized by the Executive council and communicating with members.
5.4. Executive-Secretary-Treasurer-Elect
The term of the Executive-Secretary-treasurer-Elect shall be one year. The Executive-
Secretary-Treasurer-Elect shall succeed to the office of the Executive-Secretary-Treasure
at the
annual meeting. In the event of the inability of the Executive-Secretary-Treasurer
to serve,
the Executive-Secretary-Treasurer-Elect shall serve in his or her absence.
ARTICLE VI
Executive Council
6.1 A controlling board shall be appointed to direct the work
of the organization and it shall be called the Executive Council. All powers
of the association shall be vested in the Executive Council, which shall be
subordinate only to the Constitution. Members of the Executive Council shall
consist of: President, President-Elect, Executive-Secretary-Treasurer, Executive-Secretary-
Treasurer-Elect and the immediate past President.
6.2 Meeting of the Executive Council
The Executive Council shall hold at least two meeting each year. One of these
meetings shall be
held at the time of the annual meeting of the general body. The President may
call special
meeting of the Council from time to time. The majority of the members of the
Executive
council shall constitute a quorum and a majority vote shall be required on all
issues.
6.3 Mid-term Vacancies
The Executive Council will fill all vacancies occurring in their body during
the middle of the
term to serve for the remainder of the term.
ARTICLE VIII
Rules of Order
The rules of parliamentary procedures, as specified in Robbert Rules of Order, shall govern the Executive Council and general body meeting of the organization.
ARTICLE VIII
Financial Powers of the Executive Council
The financial powers of the Executive Council shall be such that the Executive Secretary-Treasurer shall be obligated to carry out their will with regard to the collection and disbursement of all funds. A financial report shall be rendered at the annual meeting to all of the members of the organization.
ARTICLE IX
Amendments to the Constitution
The Constitution can be amended at any annual or special meeting of the general body to which proper notice has been given, for the meeting as well as for the proposed amendments. The amendment shall be adopted by at least two-thirds of the vote cast by the members of the general body by absentee ballot or physical presence.
ARTICLE X
Dissolution of the Organization
To dissolve the organization, a resolution in writing asking for such a dissolution shall be adopted by the Executive Council. The Executive Council shall then call a special meeting of the general body for the purpose of consideration and action upon such a resolution. At such a meeting, members presenting a majority of the members present will adopt a resolution. The executive Council shall take the necessary steps to wind up the affairs of the organization in accordance with the statutory requirements existing at the date such an action is taken. Upon dissolution of the organization, the Executive Council shall have to pay or make provisions for payment of all liabilities of the organization and dispose of all assets of the association exclusively for the purposes of the organization in such a manner or to such an organization or organization organized and created exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, and scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as a tax exempt organization or organizations under Section 501 (C)3 of the Internal Revenue laws as the Executive Council shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed shall be disposed by court of common say of the county in which the principal office of the association is then located, exclusively for such purposes or such organizations as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
ARTICLE XI
Schedule
This constitution shall be effective immediately upon adoption
by two-thirds of the voting members of the general body of the organization.
There upon, any previous existing constitution is superseded.