Society Requirements
Society Membership
All practitioners who are eligible for membership in the Academy must first join the Academy in order to be eligible for
membership in any Society.
Active Status
To remain an active Academy Society, a minimum of 20 active Academy members must be paid members of the Society as of
December of each year.
Associate Members
Physicians, allied health professionals, and others who share a professional interest in the Society's activities and meet the following criteria:
They are non-voting members and cannot hold office. An application for Associate membership must be completed by a sponsoring Active Society member and submitted to the Academy. The Academy staff will notify the Society Chair when a Society Associate application is received for his/her review. The name and place of employment of all Associate member nominees will be published in the quarterly publication, The Academician. Each nominee will be accepted into membership unless, within 30 days after publication, a member of the Society for which the nominee is seeking membership, based upon information and belief, advises the Society in writing that the nominee does not qualify for membership. The Society will immediately submit the objection to the Academy Board of Directors for consideration and a decision as to if the nominee can be considered for Society membership. The Academy staff will contact accepted Society Associate members and will request payment of the $20 processing fee and $25 annual dues payment. Thereafter, annual dues will be the same as those charged to Active members. The number of Associate members can never exceed the total number of Active Society members. Society officers will be responsible for reviewing all requests for disciplining or expelling Society members. Membership status of an Associate member can be withdrawn by a two-thirds vote of those Active Society members voting at the Society's Annual Business Meeting. A statement of the charges must be mailed to the last recorded address of the Associate member at least 30 days before any vote is taken. The member shall be given the opportunity to defend such charges at the next Society Annual Business Meeting prior to a vote being taken. If the member wishes to defend himself/herself against the charges, he/she must notify the Society Chairman in writing at least 15 days prior to the next Society Annual Business Meeting.
Annual Reports
Each active Society will submit a yearly activity report to the Societies Council, and submit a full copy of their annual report to the Academy Executive Director by the end of the fiscal year. Each report should include information on the number of active members, an analysis of the year's projects including financial information, successes from the previous year as well as areas of improvement, and plans for future Society activities. The report should be completed by the outgoing or continuing Society Chairman.
Society Dues
Society members must pay yearly dues as determined by the Academy Board of Directors. The dues generated from Society membership are used exclusively to support Society activities. Half of the Societies' dues are for operation of the Scientific Societies Council and other administrative functions. The other half of the Societies' dues goes directly into the Societies' budgets. The money in the Societies' budgets may be used for activities that will meet the Societies' expressed goals and objectives. Funds for additional or special projects that a Society would like to do must be requested in writing to the Academy Board of Directors at least thirty (30) days prior to the next Board meeting. Society dues notification will be part of the regular Academy dues renewal notice. Funds collected, but not spent, will revert to the Academy's general funds at the end of the fiscal year.
Society Elections
Elections will occur every two years. All Society election of officers must take place during the summer. Nominations should be made and finalized at the Academy Annual Meeting during the election year. All new officers begin their term of office in December, the beginning of the Academy fiscal year. All officers serve a two (2) year term in the same office and may not serve consecutive terms. This process took effect beginning with the 1994 elections.
In the event of a vacancy in the offices of Chairman, Vice Chairman, or Secretary-Treasurer, the Nominating Committee appoints a person from the Active membership of the Society to fill the vacancy until the next election.
It is recommended that each Society have a Nominating Committee that is prepared to present a slate of officers to the Active membership of the Society at the Annual Meeting. The Nominating Committee should consist of the immediate past chair, the chair and another Active Society member(s). The process by which the person at-large is chosen shall be determined by each Society.
Society Officers
Chairman
The primary responsibility of the Society Chairman is to ensure the Society is working toward the goals and objectives as outlined in this handbook. He/she is responsible for coordinating all Society activities, including meetings, conference calls, special Society projects, and Symposium. He/she appoints committee chairs and oversees the overall activities of any committee established by the Society. Along with the Secretary-Treasurer, he/she shall oversee the financial records of the
Society.
Vice Chairman
The Vice Chairman works closely with the Chairman and performs all duties of the Chairman at meetings and conference calls in the absence of the Chairman. He/she acts as the Program Chairman for the Society's portion of the Academy Annual Meeting and Scientific Symposium, and should be encouraged to work with the Academy Program Chairman.
Secretary-Treasurer
The Secretary-Treasurer is responsible for the minutes of all meetings and conference calls of the Society. He/she will notify committee members of meetings and conference calls. Along with the Society Chairman, he/she will oversee all financial records of the Society.
Society officers, as such, receive no salary for their services. Reimbursement may be allowed for those expenses properly incurred in connection with Society duties.
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