CHARTER OF THE RUTGERS UNIVERSITY PREMEDICAL CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this organization shall be the American Medical Student Association, hereafter referred to as AMSA Rutgers University Premed Chapter.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSES
The purposes of this Organization shall be:
A. To provide an environment that supports the creative ideas of physicians-in-training.
B. To promote, encourage, and maintain a cohesive relationship with the students and non-student organizations at Rutgers University
C. To serve as a forum for discussion of health issues and develop a policy agenda for physicians-in-training.
D. To effect change to make the medical education process more responsive to the needs of students and society.
E. To maintain its status as an independent organization.
F. To maintain its primary identity as an organization for physicians-in-training.
G. To promote and maintain programs that enhance the quality of health care in the community.
H. To continue to develop health care leadership.
I. To seek, develop, and provide membership services to the physicians-in-training community.
J. To increase knowledge of health information among members and the general public.
K. To periodically re-evaluate the above purposes and ensure that they are carried out in proper fashion.
ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP
A. Eligibility
Membership shall be open to all Rutgers University students and MUST comply with federal laws prohibiting discrimination on the basis of race, sex, handicap, age, sexual orientation or political and religious affiliation. Compliance with these laws means that membership, benefits, and the elections of officers will not be made on the basis of these factors.
B. Privilege of Membership
Members shall have the right to attend all meetings, and participate in all Premed AMSA sponsored activities. “Special Events” are for active members only.
C. Dues
The dues for membership in AMSA Rutgers University Premed Chapter shall be determined by the officers of Rutgers University. Local Chapter dues shall be five dollars per semester and are subject to change by the execuative committee.
D. Active Status
Members are responsible to attend all meetings. Only in the case of an emergency, test or a class, shall a member be absent. If a member has class on all dates set for the meeting, they can still be active only if they are active in their respective committee. Active members must attend 75% of all meetings. Inactive status will apply to those that dont fulfill the previous requirement.
E. Committee Obligations
Active members must represent their committee they signed up for in a way that satisfies their committee chair.
ARTICLE IV. DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS
A. Titles
The minimum number of Officers of the above named organization shall be President, Vice President and Treasurer. Officers of the primary organization shall be only Rutgers College students or Rutgers College affiliates (i.e., College of Pharmacy, Mason Gross School of the Arts, School of Business and College of Engineering), unless the organization is chartered at more than one undergraduate college, in which case, officers may be from any undergraduate college.
B. Nominations and Eligibility
1. The method of nominations from the floor and self-nominations shall be used to nominate all candidates for the following academic year: the officers nominated shall include the President, Vice President and Treasurer.
2. The officers will preside over the election and will tabulate the results unless incumbent officer is a candidate and in such cases he/she shall not tabulate the results.
3. Nominations for officers should be made at the meeting prior to elections
4. No student should hold more than one office on the Executive Board at the same time.
5. If, after the close of nominations, there are no candidates for a given office, the present Executive Boards shall appoint an individual to fill the present vacancy with the present membership's approval within three weeks of the elections.
6. Voter eligibility shall be determined by the most current membership list on file with the Student Activities Office, at the time of elections. Membership list updates or additions submitted less than 30 working days prior to the date of the election are valid for such election.
C. Elections
The officers may be nominated and elected by ballot at the second-to-last regular meeting held in March. A majority vote of the members present shall be necessary to elect. When there is only one nominee for an office, there may be a vocal vote. All new officers shall take office immediately at the close of the meeting in which they are selected and will be responsible for the last meeting in April.
D. Vacancies of Officers
If any office shall become vacant except for the Presidency, the President shall, at the earliest possible date thereafter, order a special election for the purposes of filling such office. The member thus elected shall immediately enter his/her duties and shall hold office until next regular election. The Vice President would assume the role as acting President if the President were to leave.
E. Duties of the Officers
1. The President
A. Will be responsible for organizing and running all organization meetings.
B. Be responsible for all actions of the organization and shall serve as the offical representative of the organization.
C. Assist the Treasurer in the preparation of a budget for his/her term of office by
Mid-February.
D. Appoint committees and serve as a non-voting member of those committees.
2. The Vice-President
A. Serve in the absence of the President.
B. Assist the President and coordinate the efforts of the organization’s committees.
3. The Treasurer
A. Shall present a budget approved by the President and the Executive Committee to the membership by Mid-February.
B. Shall see the day-to-day expenditures of the club.
C. Shall make sure the club does not assess any liabilities.
D. Shall oversee the Fund-raising Committee on behalf of the club.
E. Shall see to the best of his/her abilities the money used on behalf of the club is used wisely and in a manner that suits the purposes of the club.
F. Submit books to the Students Accounts Activities Office as required per college.
4. The Secretary:
A. Shall keep a written record for all meetings (General Membership Meetings, Executive, etc.) in order to provide the club with a record of issues discussed, problems posed, ideas raised, and of the people who participated in the group discussion for benefit of the club and its members.
B. Shall recite or re-summarize the record of minutes for approval by the membership.
C. The minutes recorded are “open” to all members.
D. In case of absence, a substitute shall be appointed that day by any member of the executive committee.
5. The Sergeant of Arms:
A. Shall call all meetings to order, and shall at the end of each meting adjourn said meeting.
B. Shall see to it that all activities taken by the club are in accordance with bylaws of the Constitution.
C. Shall see to it that all members are given the chance to speak and to be heard at general membership meetings.
D. Shall supervise elections and will see to it that they are carried out as set forth in by laws in a fair and just manner, unless Sergeant of Arms is a candidate in such election.
F. Removal of Officers
Officers can be removed from office by majority of 2/3 vote.
G. Executive Board
The Executive Board shall consist of the above named officers and the advisors. The advisor is a non-voting member. It shall be the responsibility of the Executive Board to supervise the nomination and election process.
ARTICLE V. MEETINGS
A. Time and Place
At least four general membership meetings shall be held per semester, the place and hour to be determined by the officers.
B. Types of Meetings
The various meetings of organization, as defined in the Bylaws, include:
1. General membership
2. Annual election meeting
3. Special meetings
4. Officer meetings
C. Quorum
Quorum for AMSA when the membership is less than 50 members is 50% plus 1. Membership greater than 50 is 26 members or 25% plus 1, whichever is greater.
ARTICLE VI. FINANCES
Rutgers College requires that all monies (including but not limited to dues, donations, and student fee allocations) of student organizations registered at Rutgers College and receiving more than 50% of its funding from Rutgers College must keep its funds in Rutgers College Student Fund Accounting Office. Otherwise, all monies must be maintained in an account at one of the residential undergraduate colleges where it is registered. Organizations must hold their funds at only one college.
The following officers: President and Treasurer, shall be the only authorized people to withdraw funds.
ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES
Committee chairs must have a written report of committee progress by each general membership meeting.
A. The following must be presented in the committee reports:
1. Committee name
2. Committee chairperson name
3. A list of people that helped your committee complete each goal
4. A list of goals accomplished since last meeting
5. A list of goals that were not completed, and explain why and what action ill be taken
6. A list of goals you plan to accomplish by the next meeting.
7. Indicate any announcements that need to be made at the general meeting
B. The Executive Committee must present a calendar of annual goals at the beginning of the year to the general members
C. Fund-raising Committee must seek projects to finance the club.
D. Publication Committee must promote and publicize the club.
E. Projects/Activities Committee will work closely with the Vice-President and must present a tentative calendar of suggested activities.
F. The following committees shall run in the best interest of the club:
1. Fundraising.
2. Public Relations.
3. Child & Adolescent Health.
4. AIDS.
5. Community Health
6. General Health
7. Any other newly formed committees
G. New committees can be appointed at any one of the Executive Committees.
H. The Fundraising and Public Relations Committee will be headed by one individual and the AIDS, Child and Adolescent Health, Community Health, and General Health will be headed by two individuals. These officers will be elected to office by the same procedures are described in Article IV, Sections B, C, and D.
ARTICLE VIII. ADVISOR
The advisor of AMSA Rutgers University Premed Chapter shall be a non-voting member of the executive committee. He/she must have a sincere interest and commitment for the welfare of the club. The advisor must be a full-time faculty or staff member of Rutgers University. Advisor must have the rank of instructor or above.
ARTICLE IX. ECOLOGICAL CLAUSE
The organization shall remain responsible for the ecological consequences of its actions and take steps to insure that any of the actions of this organization shall not further adversely affect the environment. All posters and other paraphernalia used to advertise activities will be removed from the area to which they were affixed after the expiration of said activities.
ARTICLE XI. AMENDMENT
Any member may propose an amendment to its constitution. A written copy of the proposed amendment shall be submitted to the Executive Board that shall give written notification to the membership at the meeting following the receipt of the proposed amendment. This constitution may be amended by a 2/3's vote of the membership, provided the amendment was submitted in writing at a previous regular meeting and notice was given to all members at least one week before the meeting on the constitutional amendment. The amendment will go into effect after it has been presented to and approved by the Student Activities Office where chartered.
ARTICLE XII. DISSOLUTION
In the event of dissolution of the above named organization, all unspent Rutgers University funds shall remain the property of Rutgers University. All privately obtained funds shall be donated to a non-profit organization.
BYLAWS OF THE RUTGERS UNIVERSITY PREMEDICAL CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE 1. MEETINGS
A. Notification by the Executive Committee and the Publicity Committee of meetings with ample time of notice.
B. General membership shall be held at the set locations.
C. Annual election meeting: The annual election meeting shall be held in March and shall be controlled by the President and the Sergeant at Arms. Only active members may vote. Candidates receiving a simple majority of the votes shall be declared victorious.
D. Special meetings can be called by any member of the Executive Board or any five members of the general membership. The purpose of any Special Meeting shall be stated in the announcements of the general meetings.
E. Executive Board Meetings:
1. The Executive Board shall be required to meet in the third week of each month.
2. The Executive Board shall consist of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Sergeant of Arms, and any other positions the positions the chapter wishes to create.
3. Quorum at the Executive Board Meetings shall consist of 50% plus 1of the voting members of the Executive Board.
ARTICLE II. ELECTIONS
Nominations shall be taken two weeks before election day by ballot and made public for everyone’s awareness. If the nominee chooses to accept the nomination he/she will be given a 5-minute speech period on the day of the election. The annual election meeting shall be held at the general membership meeting in March. Persons may no nominate or second themselves. If only one name is submitted for a position, the vote may be taken vocally. In other event, names shall be written on ballots immediately. Candidates receiving a simple majority of votes shall be declared winner. At least 2/3 proportions must be obtained to win a run-off. Executive Board members are not allowed to vote in elections, and only the President is allowed to break ties. The newly elected members of the Executive Board must meet with the previous Executive Board members for transitions of club functions.
ARTICLE III. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE
Questions of parliamentary procedures shall be decided in accordance with the forms laid down in Robert’s Rules of Order, latest edition. This organization shall abide by all applicable laws of the State of New Jersey and the United States. This organization shall abide to all applicable rules and regulations of the university and under the privileges as granted by the Office of Student Activities, Deans, and Dean of Students where chartered. This organization shall also abide by the rules and regulations of the Board of Governors, the University, and the Colleges as provided by the Board of Governors and Deans of the Colleges.
ARTICLE VI. AMENDMENTS OF BYLAWS
Amendments to these bylaws may be adopted at any General Membership of the Organization by a majority vote, provided that the amendments proposed has been submitted in writing to the President and is posted for at least two weeks prior to the meeting.
ARTICLE V11. RENEWAL DATE
Annual Constitution Renewal Date is March 10, 1995.
AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION OF THE RUTGERS UNIVERSITY PREMEDICAL CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION
ARTICLE I. MEETINGS
F. Executive board must attend all general and board meetings and can only miss one of each in the case of emergencies. The vice president must help and organize at least one activity for each committee.
G. Each committee must create and participate in one volunteer/meeting activity per semester for the school year in which they are holding.
ARTICLE II. ELECTIONS
A. If two candidates with to run together as co-presidents on the same ballot they need to submit one nomination before the deadline.
B. All nominations must be submitted by the deadline or the club members may not run for that term.
C. If there is no nomination for a position by the deadline, nominations may be accepted and voted on at the end of the elections. Nominations from two members are required.
D. If a candidate is not elected to a position in which he/she was nominated he/she may drop down and run for only one position for which was not previously voted.
E. In the event that no one is interested in a position, the President may appoint a person to the position.
ARTICLE III. ELIMINATION OF POSITIONS
A. The positions of secretary and Sergeant of Arms will be eliminated effective Fall 2002. The responsibilities of the secretary will fall under the responsibility of the Co-Presidents.
Charter of the Rutgers University Premedical Chapter of the American Medical Student Association