BYLAWS

of the

Indiana Academy of Dermatology

Adopted May 2, 2007

ARTICLE I

Name and Registered Office

The name of this organization is the Indiana Academy of Dermatology (IAD). The Indiana Academy of Dermatology shall have a continuously maintained office in the state of Indiana.

ARTICLE II

Objective

The objectives of the Indiana Academy of Dermatology are to encourage the advancement of dermatology and dermatologic surgery in Indiana, to promote high ethical standards and excellence in patient care, to facilitate continuing medical education and fraternal relations among its members, and to participate in activities to further the welfare of the medical profession, our communities, and the patients we serve.

ARTICLE III

Membership

Section 1.  There shall be six classes of members: 1) fellows, 2) associates, 3) retired, 4) graduate students 5) adjunct and 6) honorary members.

Section 2. Qualifications for membership are as follows:

(a)  Fellows. Members in this class shall be limited to physicians duly licensed in the State of Indiana, whose practice or professional activities are limited to dermatology and dermatologic surgery. A fellow must have been certified by the American Board of Dermatology. Fellows shall pay dues and assessments, and have full membership rights, including the right to participate in discussions, to vote, to hold office, and to serve on committees.
 

(b)  Associates. Associates shall be limited to physicians duly licensed in the State of Indiana who have demonstrated a serious interest in dermatology. This will generally be evident by having studied sufficiently at an Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) accredited institution, and to be qualified to take the examination of the American Board of Dermatology. Associate members shall pay dues and assessments, and enjoy all privileges of Fellows, except that they shall not hold elective office.

Election to Membership

(a)   An applicant for membership shall complete an official Indiana Academy of Dermatology membership application form, endorsed by one Fellow of the Indiana Academy of Dermatology. The application must be approved by a majority of the Board of Directors present during the meeting at which the application is voted on. Approval or disapproval of an application shall be reported by the Board of Directors to the applicant within 60 days after the meeting at which such action was taken.

(b)   Honorary members may be proposed by the Board of Directors at any membership meeting of the society. Election shall require an affirmative vote of 25% of the Fellows present.

ARTICLE V

Termination of Membership

(a)   Any member in good standing may tender his/her resignation in a written communication to the Secretary, which shall be read at the next meeting.  The resignation shall be effective on the date the communication was received by the Secretary.

(b)   Any member who has failed to pay dues for a period of six months after initial billing without adequate explanation therefore shall be declared not in good standing. Written notice of this change in status shall be sent by the Secretary to the member. He/she shall then be ineligible to participate in the discussion of regular business, to vote, or to hold office. Failure to pay dues for a period of twelve months from the date of initial billing without adequate explanation thereof shall result in termination of membership, and written notice of this change of status shall be sent by the Secretary to the member. Upon payment of delinquent dues and assessments, a member may be reinstated at any regular meeting by affirmative vote of a majority of the Board of Directors.

(c)   The Board of Directors may vote at a regular or special meeting to censure, suspend for an indefinite period, or expel any member when such action is deemed to be in the best interest of the Indiana Academy of Dermatology. However, before such action shall be taken, due notice in writing shall be sent by registered mail to the member at least fourteen days prior to the date of the proposed meeting, at which time he/she may appear before the Board of Directors to defend him/herself and appeal. The voting on a motion to censure, suspend, or expel, shall be by affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Board of Directors for the motion to pass.

ARTICLE VI

Officers

(a)   Officers. The officers of the Indiana Academy of Dermatology shall be President and Secretary-Treasurer.  The Secretary-Treasurer shall be nominated by the chairperson of the Nominating Committee, and shall be approved by the majority of the Board of Directors present at a regularly scheduled Board meeting.  The out-going Secretary-Treasurer shall automatically succeed to the office of President following his/her term as Secretary-Treasurer.

(b)   Election. Election of officers shall take place at the May membership meeting of the Indiana Academy of Dermatology every other year, at which the chair of the Nominating Committee shall read the list of proposed candidates. Additional nominations may then be made from the floor. The voting on all candidates shall be by voice vote, unless a closed ballot is requested by a majority of Board of Directors members present. An affirmative vote of greater than 50% of the assembled membership and representing a quorum of at least 50% of those present shall be necessary for election.

(c)   Term of Office. The term of office of all elective officers shall normally be for two years. They shall enter upon their duties at the close of the May membership meeting of the Indiana Academy of Dermatology at which they shall have been elected.

(d)   Duties. The officers shall have the authority and shall perform the duties customarily appertaining to their respective offices, and such other authority and duties as shall be in conformity with these bylaws. It shall be the obligation of retiring officers to transfer all records and property of the Indiana Academy of Dermatology into the possession of their successors as soon as appropriate.

(e)   Removal from Office. The Indiana Academy of Dermatology may vote at a regular or special meeting to remove any officer from office when action is deemed to be in the best interest of the organization. However, before such action shall be taken, due notice shall be sent by registered mail to the officer at least fourteen days prior to the date of the proposed meeting, at which time he/she may appear to defend him/herself and appeal. The voting on a motion to remove from office shall be by ballot, and an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members of the Academy present shall be required for the motion to pass.

(f)     Vacancies. In the event of a vacancy occurring in the office of the President, the Secretary-Treasurer shall assume the vacant office immediately and shall serve for the unexpired term. Other vacancies occurring between any membership meeting of the Academy may be filled by appointment of the Board of Directors for the unexpired term. Service in office to fill a vacancy shall not preclude candidacy for the same or other elective office in the following term.

ARTICLE VII

Dues and Assessments

(a)   Annual Dues. The annual dues shall be in an amount determined by the Board of Directors, and any increase in the amount will be determined and voted on by the Board of Directors. Dues are payable when billed, generally at the start of each year.

(b)   The Academy shall have the power to levy an assessment on each member with a ballot vote of the membership. The passage is dependent upon majority of votes received.

(c)   The Board of Directors shall have the authority, at its discretion, to absolve from the payment of dues and assessments any member in good standing.

(d)   No part of earnings or assets will inure to the benefit of any individual, other than reimbursements for expenses incurred on the Indiana Academy of Dermatology’s behalf.

ARTICLE VIII

Committees

(a)   Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall consist of the President, who shall be the chairperson, the Secretary-Treasurer, the two most recent Past Presidents, and two members at-large. The Board of Directors shall also include the chair of each permanent committee and any ad hoc committees as deemed necessary. The Past Presidents shall serve on the Board of Directors during the two successive terms after their own. One past president will rotate off every two years, with the most recent Past President taking his/her place. All Past Presidents may participate ex-officio in Board of Directors meetings, but shall not retain voting privileges, unless they are one of the two most recent Past Presidents. The two at- large Board members shall be elected to staggered four-year terms. Appointments to committees shall be voted on by a quorum of Board members. The President shall discuss plans for the ensuing year at the first meeting of the Board of Directors following election. The Board of Directors shall confer at regular intervals to advise the President in the formulation of general policy; to transact necessary interim business; and to transmit recommendations to the Indiana Academy of Dermatology in order that the meetings may be unencumbered by administrative details. The Board of Directors shall also perform such duties as may be in conformity with these bylaws. Should the Indiana Academy of Dermatology disband, it is the Board of Directors task to see that all significant assets be transferred to the American Academy of Dermatology.

(b)   Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall consist of a Chair and up to three members in good standing. It shall be the duty of this committee to present nominees for elected office to the Board of Directors. Proposed nominations may be submitted to the Nominating Committee in writing by any member of the Indiana Academy of Dermatology. The Chair of the Nominating Committee shall submit all nominees for elected office to the membership before election takes place.

(c)   Government Affairs and Advocacy Committee. The Government Affairs and Advocacy Committee shall consist of a Chair and up to three members in good standing. It shall be the duty of this committee to work with the Indiana Academy of Dermatology Legislative Coordinator on state legislative issues and advocacy as well as work with the grassroots efforts for the state of Indiana in conjunction with the American Academy of Dermatology and the Indiana State Medical Association. This committee will monitor legislation that impacts the practice of dermatology or dermatologic surgery and will serve as advocates before the legislature or state board of medical examiners.

(d)   AAD Affairs and Liaison Committee.  The AAD Affairs and Liaison Committee shall consist of a Chair and up to three members in good standing.  It shall be the duty of this committee to work with the American Academy of Dermatology Advisory Board as an advocate for local dermatology-related issues and to report to the Indiana Academy of Dermatology about national issues that impact the practice of dermatology or dermatologic surgery. 

(e)   Ad Hoc Committees.  Each Ad Hoc Committee shall consist of a Chair and as many members deemed necessary for the committee to function properly.  The life of the committee will be determined by the Board of Directors.