Constitution and AAVIO Bylaws Constitution:
Article 1
Name
Section 1:
This association will be known as American Association of Veterinarians of Indian Origin (AAVIO).
Section 2:
The association shall be organized and shall be operated as a non-profit organization as set forth in the section 501 (c) 6 of Internal Revenue Code 1954, as amended.
Article 2
Objectives
Section 1: The objectives of the association shall be
- To promote goodwill, cooperation and fellowship amongst graduates of Indian Veterinary colleges and or graduates veterinarians of Indian Descent
- To promote and preserve the interest of its members and to seek protection of their rights and privileges
- To promote and maintain ethical standards of the veterinary profession, conduct educational seminars, forums, panels, lectures and other similar programs
- To promote professional advancement and enlarge public understanding of the nature of veterinary medical profession.
Article 3
Membership
Section 1: Membership of this association shall consists of the following
A – General membership
The general membership otherwise known as active membership shall consist of graduates of veterinary medicine from India or veterinary graduates of Indian descent living in North America who agrees to abide by the principles of veterinary medical ethics, constitution and bylaws of this association.
B – Student membership
Graduate veterinarian from India or of Indian descent enrolled in a veterinary school in North America or veterinarian of Indian origin in the process of getting the license to practice veterinary medicine.
C – Life membership
Graduate veterinarian from India or Indian descent who has paid their life membership dues as set forth by General Body.
D – Honorary membership
- Veterinarians who have been active members in good standing for 5 years until their retirement and now have no direct income from veterinary Profession.
- Any person who has made an outstanding contribution to the Association.
Article 4
Officers
Section 1:
The officers shall be President, President Elect, secretary, treasurer, Past President and four board members.
The eligibility, tenure, duties and methods of election or appointment of the officers shall be described in by laws.
Article 5
Officers of the Association
Section 1:
The management and operation of AAVI shall be vested in the elected officers who shall meet at such times and place as determined by the president or by majority of the board members. Elected officers may participate in the meeting via conference call.
Article 6
Meetings
Section 1:
There shall be at least 1 general body meeting each year. Every 2 years when new members are elected, they will get introduced and will take oath in general body meeting. Location will be decided by the board, conveyed in accordance with bylaws.
Section 2:
A special meeting/business meeting of the general body shall be called by the president when in his/her opinion the necessity exists, or on a written request signed by simple majority of the members, but the subjects to be discussed at the said meeting shall be set forth in the said request and at least 2 weeks written notice of the date, time and place and the subject shall be given to each member of the association. No business other than that specified in the written notice shall be transacted at such meeting. During this meeting business will be conducted by a simple majority of the attending general body members.
Section 3:
The minutes of the each regular and special meeting shall be prepared by secretary and read and approved by the officers at the next meeting.
Section 4:
The president will hold meeting at need basis.
Section 5:
Quorum Call
20 % of the voting members must be present to make a quorum for General Body meeting while 5 or more of the elected officers have to be present to make quorum for board members meeting.
Article 7
Amendments
Section 1:
The constitution, Bylaws and code of ethics may be amended at a General Body meeting provided that the Quorum is present. The proposed change(s) must be mailed /emailed by the secretary or another officer designated by the president, to their most current address of all the active members, at least one month prior to the date of the meeting. An absentee ballot will also be sent along with the proposed change(s). The deadline for the receipt of the absentee ballot shall be at least one week before the general body meeting. (It is the responsibility of each member to keep his/her contact information current with the secretary).
The amendments will be debated with opinion for and against expressed. The AAVI Board shall decide the protocol of the debate. After the debate has ended, any member who has not already cast his/her vote (absentee vote) will get the opportunity to cast the vote. After the votes have been cast, they will be tabulated and results declared. An affirmative vote of more than 50 % of the members who voted will be needed to make any amendment.
Section 2:
The amendments adopted under the provisions set forth in this article shall immediately become part of the constitution and bylaws.
AAVIO Bylaws:
Article 1
Officers
Section 1:
The corporate officers will be President, President Elect, Secretary, Treasurer and 4 board members.
Section 2:
In the event of death, resignation or vote of no confidence of the president, President Elect shall immediately assume responsibilities and execute duties of the president’s office for reminder if the term.
Section 3:
In the event of death, resignation or vote of no confidence of the President Elect, New President Elect will be elected by board members in 30 days and assume duties for remainder of the term.
Section 4:
In the event of death, resignation or vote of no confidence of the secretary, New secretary will be elected by board members in 30 days and assume duties for remainder of the term.
Section 5:
In the event of death, resignation or vote of no confidence of the treasurer, President will take over duties of the treasurer for remaining term.
Section 6:
In the event of death, resignation or vote of no confidence of the board members, New board members will be elected by the board in 30 days and assume duties for remainder of the term.
Section 7:
The office bearers will take office on January 1st after election by ballots.
Article 2
The President
Section 1:
The president shall be the chief executive of the association.
Section 2:
The term of the president shall be two years commencing January 1st of the calendar year.
Section 3:
Duties of the office:
- The president shall preside at all meetings of the association. In his absence the President Elect shall preside at the meetings.
- The president shall only vote in case of a tie vote.
- Present President shall appoint all regular and special committees and will be ex-officio member of all committees.
- President along with the treasurer shall have the authority to approve the payment of any bills and signs the checks of the association. If treasurer is unable to assume his duties, the president shall be empowered to dispense funds.
Section 4:
In the event of an emergency, not provided for in this constitution and bylaws, present president shall hold office until his successor has been elected and installed.
Article 3
The President Elect
Section 1:
The President Elect shall assist the president and fulfill the president’s duties in his/her absence. He/she shall automatically succeed to the office of the president at the end of the president’s term.
Article 4
The Secretary
Section 1:
Duties of the office:
A
Secretary shall prepare the announcement for the meetings and send them to the membership.
B
Secretary shall keep the minutes of the proceedings, and read the meeting minutes in the next meeting. The members shall approve the minutes as they are read.
C
The secretary shall coordinate the work of different committees of the association and consolidate their reports for presentation to the general body.
D
The secretary shall execute other responsibilities as and when asked to by the president.
Article 5
The Treasurer
Section 1:
Duties of the office:
A
The treasurer shall maintain the accounts of the association.
B
The treasurer shall receive the membership dues and provide receipts to the members.
C
The treasurer along with the president shall maintain the bank account and sign checks disbursing the association funds. The only other person authorized to sign the association checks is the president.
D
The treasurer shall present a fiscal report at the association’s annual report in December of each year.
E
The treasurer shall be responsible for the audits of the association accounts and in cooperation with the president, shall prepare and submit and all IRS documents as and when necessary.
F
At the end of his/her term, the treasurer must hand over all the accounts and financial authorities regarding AAVI to the newly elected treasurer within 2 weeks.
Article 6
Past President
Past president remains board member for the term.
Article 7
Members of the board
Section 1
The members of the board shall have no executive powers or responsibilities. They will vote at the board meetings on the issues presented by the president.
Section 2
The term of the board members shall be two years commencing January 1st of the calendar year.
Article 8
Membership dues
Section 1:
The membership dues for the members of the association shall be determined by the board.
Section 2:
Honorary membership shall be awarded by the association with full rights and privileges without any dues and voted by majority vote of the board members.
Section 3:
The dues of the active annual members for the following year shall be paid by 31st of December of the calendar year. Reminders must be send by October 15 of the preceding year.
Section 4:
Only new membership shall be prorated if became after June 1st of that year.
Article 9
Election of the board members
Section 1:
The president should hold the office for two years.
Immediately Past president stays as a board member for that term.
President Elect automatically succeeds the office of the president for the next year.
Other executive and board members will be elected every 2 years by voting by ballots via mail, email or Fax.
Section 2:
Election will take place every 2 years by method of Ballot voting.
Ballots will be sent out by end of October and new board will be elected by December of that year.
Section 3:
Election Committee
The board shall appoint 3 past presidents to the on the election committee.
The board will call for nomination for other executive and board members.
Election committee will receive the ballot votes, tabulate and inform the results to the board.
Section 4:
Eligibility to vote
All life members are eligible to vote.
For active members to be eligible to vote for board member election, dues must have been paid by June 30th of that calendar year.
Article 10
Committees
Section 1:
The president may appoint the following committees
- Membership/Auxiliary Liaison
- Public relations
- Cultural activities
- Professional activities
- Nomination
- Awards
- Program
- Advisory
Section 2:
The president, at his or her discretion, may form additional committees.
Article 11
Fiscal year
Section 1:
The fiscal year of the association shall be from Jan 1st to Dec 31st.
Article 12
Awards
Section 1:
Awards are recognition given by AAVIO shall be approved by the board.