The New York State Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc.

District III

Bylaws

Article I. Purpose

1. The purpose of this Society shall conform to that of the New York State Society of Anesthesiologists, Inc (NYSSA) as it pertains to District III.

Article II. Membership

1. Membership shall be restricted to members of the NYSSA who primarily practice anesthesiology in the New York counties of the Bronx, Westchester, Rockland, Orange and Putnam.
2. Categories of membership shall correspond to those of the NYSSA with the additional category of member in good standing which shall be restricted to dues paying members.

Article III. Officers

1. The officers shall be a president, vice-president, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer, a director and alternate director to the NYSSA and delegates and alternate delegates to the NYSSA House of Delegates. The offices of assistant secretary and treasurer may be combined.
2. Officers can only be elected from members in good standing. Nominations for officer may be received from a nominating committee and from any member in good standing.
3. The president, vice president, secretary, assistant secretary and treasurer shall serve for three years. The director, alternate director, delegates and alternate delegates shall serve according to the bylaws of the NYSSA. The officers, with the exception of the delegates and alternate delegates shall be elected for no more than two consecutive terms.   No limit shall be placed on the number of terms that delegates and alternate delegates to the NYSSA shall serve.
4. Should the office of president be vacated during the term of office, the duties will be assumed by the vice president.  The residual of the vacated term will not count as a term of presidential office.
5. If vacancies occur in the offices of vice president, secretary, assistant secretary or treasurer, the executive committee of District III may appoint a temporary replacement for the unexpired term of office. The residual of the vacated term will not count toward the limitation of serving more than two consecutive terms of office.
6. Election of officers and delegates shall be by secret ballot if the office is contested. Voting is restricted to members in good standing whether present in person at the annual business meeting or by proxy received 72 hours prior to the meeting. Nominations via proxy must be received one week prior to the elections.
7. All elected offices will be assumed on January 1st of the year immediately after the annual business meeting of District III.

Article IV. Duties of Officers

1. The administrative authority of District III shall be vested in the president. He/she shall preside at all meetings, call special meetings and appoint all committees as he/she shall deem necessary or as requested by a majority of members in good standing at any general business meeting.
2. The vice president shall assist the president as necessary.
3. The secretary, assistant secretary and treasurer shall perform duties consistent with these offices. The secretary and assistant secretary are responsible for the organization of four proscribed meetings annually in addition to a meeting of the delegates and alternate delegates prior to the PostGraduate Assembly. The treasurer will make an annual report of the finances of the District at the annual business meeting and supply other financial information as deemed necessary by the president.
4. The district director, alternate director, delegates and alternate delegates shall function as prescribed in the bylaws of the NYSSA, representing the interests of the membership of District III to the best of their ability.  Members functioning as delegates to the NYSSA House of Delegates when instructed by the majority members of the district at the annual meeting will be obligated to vote as instructed on the first ballot. Directors and delegates will have the obligation of keeping the membership informed of developments of importance to the District.

Article V. Committees

1. The categories are standing, special and executive.
2. The standing committees shall be the nominating committee and the committee on education, each composed of no less than three members in good standing. The nominating committee will propose at least one nomination for all vacant offices. The secretary and assistant secretary will serve on the committee on education and organize at least four meetings annually. The terms of office of both committees will last until the next election of the president.
3. Special committees shall be composed of not less than two members in good standing. They shall be appointed by the president and their terms of office shall be at the discretion of the president.
4. The executive committee shall consist of the president, vice president, secretary, assistant secretary, treasurer, director and alternate director. The duties of the committee shall be to act as trustees of District III and to direct expenditure of the funds of the District on any action taken. In addition, the District Director is required to write an annual report of District activities to the NYSSA Board of Directors.

Article VI. Meetings

1. The categories of meetings are annual, scientific, and special. A minimum of four meetings will be held annually.
2. There shall be a meeting in the fall prior to the annual meeting of the NYSSA that shall be designated as the annual meeting of District III. Binding secret ballots may be taken during the annual meeting by members in good standing.
3. Additional meetings shall be designated as scientific meetings during which information of interest may be discussed but no binding votes may be taken.  A speaker from outside the District will be invited to address one meeting.  A District member will conduct one meeting and the 3rd meeting may be held as a research forum for young investigators.
4. A special meeting shall be called by the president within one month after written petition by ten District members in good standing. The petition shall clearly state the reason(s) for calling the special meeting. Binding secret ballots may be taken during a special meeting.
5. The secretary shall send notification of all meetings electronically or by writing at least 15 days in advance of the meeting. Proxy notices shall be attached and the member instructed to return same at least 72 hours prior to the meeting. It is the responsibility of District members to ensure that a current electronic and postal address is on file with the NYSSA and the secretary.
6. A quorum for any meeting shall consist of at least 10 members in good standing, either present or by proxy.

Article VII. Dues and Assessments

1. With the approval of the majority of members in good standing present at an annual or special meeting, an assessment and/or dues may be levied on the active and resident members of District III to defray expenses of the District.
2. Upon failure to pay a properly authorized dues or assessment within six months of the end of the NYSSA annual meeting, upon proper notification, the member shall be removed from the category of member in good standing.
3. Upon payment of all past dues, a member may be reinstated as per the direction of the president.

Article VIII. Amendment

1. Proposed amendments must be submitted to the president in sufficient time for distribution by the secretary to the entire membership prior to the District meeting.
2. The bylaws may be amended by a 2/3 majority vote of those members in good standing, present and voting or by proxy.

Updated October 2006.
Bylaws Committee		Elizabeth A. M. Frost M.D.
		Vilma Joseph-Turner M.D., M.P.H.