CONSTITUTION
Constitution 2017 (57.0 KiB)
ARTICLE I
Name and Headquarters
The name of this constituent organization of the Aerospace Medical Association shall be:
SPACE MEDICINE ASSOCIATION OF THE AEROSPACE MEDICAL ASSOCIATION
The Headquarters of the Space Medicine Association of the Aerospace Medical Association shall be the place where the Secretary has his/her office.
ARTICLE II
Objective
The Space Medicine Association of the Aerospace Medical Association is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes, including for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or the corresponding section of any future federal tax code. The objective of the organization shall be:
To advance the science and art of the aerospace life sciences and engineering sciences related to thereof, with special reference to problems existing in the space environment, by:
A. Stimulating investigation and study,
B. Disseminating pertinent knowledge and information,
C. Establishing and maintaining cooperation between the biological and other science and engineering disciplines concerned with space medicine.
ARTICLE III
Membership
This organization shall be limited to individual membership as defined by the By-Laws.
ARTICLE IV
Officers
Officers in the Space Medicine Association of the Aerospace Medical Association shall consist of the President; the President-Elect, the Secretary, the Treasurer; the Historian and the six (6) Members-at-large. Respective duties are set forth in the By-Laws.
ARTICLE V
Meetings
The Space Medicine Association of the Aerospace Medical Association shall have at least one general meeting annually at the time and place of the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association. The Executive Committee shall also meet at least once annually, prior to the general meeting, and at the site and time of the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association.
ARTICLE VI
Committees
There shall be the following Standing Committees:
A. Executive Committee
B. Nominating Committee
C. Awards Committee
The Executive Committee may establish other committees for specific purposes.
ARTICLE VII
Funds
Funds shall consist of the annual dues and application fees collected from each member. Said funds shall be used primarily for covering administrative expenses during the ensuing year, and any other purpose determined by the Executive Committee. No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the Constitution of the Space Medicine Association of the Aerospace Medical Association, Article II. No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be the carrying on of propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the organization shall not participate in, or intervene in (including the publishing or distribution of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office. Notwithstanding any other provision of this document, the organization shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or (b) by an organization, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 (c) (2) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code.
ARTICLE VIII
Dissolution
If the Space Medicine Association of the Aerospace Medical Association should dissolve, upon dissolution of organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
ARTICLE IX
Amendments
This Constitution may be amended at any Annual Meeting of the Space Medicine Association of the Aerospace Medical Association by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of those voting members present. If a voting member is unable to attend the Annual Meeting, the voter may mail the vote to the Secretary so that it will be received before the Annual Meeting. This Constitution may also be amended by mail ballot by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the eligible members returning their ballot. In both cases, the proposed amendment(s) must be made available to all members at least sixty (60) days prior to the vote counting date. This last requirement may be waived by a voice vote at the Annual Meeting, and by a counting of a show of hands of eligible voting members if the vote appears to be in contest.
BY-LAWS
ARTICLE I
Membership
Section A. Qualification and Acceptance for Membership
-
Qualification for membership is:
Be a member of the Aerospace Medical Association. -
Application for membership
Application for membership must be written upon the prescribed form and accompanied by the full amount of the membership and application fees. The applicant shall forward the application to the Secretary. -
Acceptance for membership
Upon receipt of an application, the Secretary will review the application and if in order, accept the applicant for membership. -
Emeritus membership
If a member of the Association becomes an Emeritus member of the Aerospace Medical Association, then he/she shall also be eligible for a similar status in the Space Medicine Association of the Aerospace Medical Association upon request. Once granted Emeritus lifetime status within the Association, a member cannot hold office or vote and no longer is required to pay any dues. The member must be fully retired, greater than 65 years old, and a member of the Space Medicine Association for over 20 years. -
Honorary membership
A member is designated as an Honorary lifetime member of the Space Medicine Association only by a special proclamation by the President. The Honorary member cannot hold office or vote and will not pay any dues. - Student membership
A student member must be enrolled as a full-time student in an accredited college or university, medical school or osteopathic school or be in the process of serving an internship, residency or fellowship. A student member may still hold office and vote, but will pay reduced dues as set forth by the Executive Committee. - Lifetime membership< A Lifetime member must continue to be in good standing as a member of the Aerospace Medical association. A Lifetime member may hold office and vote, but will pay a onetime membership fee as set forth by the Executive Committee./li>
ARTICLE II
Officers
Section A. Officers
The Officers shall consist of the President, the President-elect, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Historian and the six (6) Members-at-large. Elected Officers shall be elected by the membership by majority vote.
Section B. President
The President shall normally serve for one (1) year, from one Annual Meeting to the next. The President shall preside at all meetings and shall serve as Chairman of the Executive Committee.
Section C. President-Elect
The President-elect shall be elected annually and will serve for one (1) year. The President-Elect shall automatically succeed to the office of the President annually (except as in Section G). The President-elect shall be the Chair of the Nominating Committee. He/she shall become familiar with the duties of the President and shall perform such other functions as the President may designate. In the event the President is unable to act, the President-elect shall act as President for the period of such incapacity. If a sitting President is unable to complete their term for any reason, then the President-elect shall become the President for the remainder of the affected term and then shall serve the following year of their normal term in sequence.
Section D. Secretary
The Secretary shall be elected and hold office for a period of two (2) years. The Secretary shall have duties usually performed by a Secretary, and shall perform the duties as directed by the President and the Executive Committee.
Section E. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be elected and hold office for a period of two (2) years. The Treasurer shall have duties usually performed by a Treasurer and shall perform the duties as directed by the President and the Executive Committee.
Section F. Members-at-large
Two (2) Members-at-large shall be elected by general ballot each year. They will serve for terms of three (3) years and have duties as assigned as members of the Executive Committee.
Section G. Historian
The Historian shall be appointed by the Executive Committee and hold Office for a period of five (5) years. The Historian shall be responsible for maintaining the history and augmenting the archives of the Organization.
Section H. Inability to Continue in Office
If the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Historian, or any Member-at-large is unable to continue in the duties of the respective Office, the Executive Committee will appoint someone from the membership to serve out the term of that Officer. If the President-elect is unable to continue in the duties of the Office, the Executive Committee will appoint someone from the membership to serve out the remainder of the term as President-elect. However, in this case the President-elect will not automatically succeed to the Office of the President. In this case, a new President and a President-elect will be elected on the next general ballot.
ARTICLE III
Committees
Section A. Executive Committee
The Executive Committee will consist of the President, President-elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, the three immediate Past Presidents, and the six (6) Members-at-large. The Executive Committee will meet at least once annually at the call of the President. The President may call additional meetings.
Section B. Nominating Committee
The President-elect shall form a committee of at least three (3) members and serve as the Committee Chair. The nominations will be processed as described in Article VI, Sections A and B, of these By-Laws.
Section C. Awards Committee
The President shall appoint at least three (3) members of the Association to the Awards
Committee, naming one (1) of these appointees to be the Committee Chair. The Awards
Committee shall meet annually to consider recipients for the awards offered by the Space
Medicine Association. Subcommittees may be named at the discretion of the Chairman of the Awards Committee to consider the individual awards and scholarships and to make recommendations to the Executive Committee.
Section D. Other Committees
The Executive Committee may create additional committees for specific purposes. Any such Committee must have a defined tasking, reporting relationship and specified term of operation.
ARTICLE IV
Fiscal Obligations Of Membership
Section A. Membership Dues
1. All members shall be current members of the Aerospace Medical Association.
2. Membership dues will be set by the Executive Committee and are payable annually and should generally accompany the returned ballot.
3. Only those members whose dues are current will be eligible to vote.
Section B. Inactive Members and Delinquencies
Members whose dues are not paid for at least two (2) years are considered inactive. Inactive members are not eligible to vote. Members who are inactive for three (3) consecutive years will be considered delinquent and could be removed from membership by decision of the Executive Committee.
Section C. Reinstatement
Any member who has become inactive or delinquent, but has not yet been dropped from the membership list, may be reinstated upon payment of dues for the current year. Any member dropped from membership for non-payment of dues may be reinstated upon payment of dues for the current year plus the application fee. In each of the previous scenarios, the member may only be reinstated if he/she is also a currently paid up member of the Aerospace Medical Association.
Section D. Application Fee
Each new applicant for membership, or a previously dropped member wishing to be reinstated, must pay a new member fee. The new member fee will be set by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE V
Awards
Section A. Space Medicine Association Lifetime Achievement Award
The Space Medicine Association Lifetime Achievement Award will be presented each year to an individual for dedication and outstanding contributions in advancing the frontiers of Space Medicine, and/or for sustained contributions to furthering the goals of the Space Medicine Association. The individual does not have to be a member of the Space Medicine Association of the Aerospace Medical Association. The recipient of the Award will be selected by the Awards Committee. Nominations for this Award can only be made by the members of the Executive Committee, Past Presidents of the Space Medicine Association and by former recipients of the Award who are active members of the Space Medicine Association. The nominations will be submitted to the Lifetime Achievement Award Committee composed of Space Medicine Association officers and members at least thirty (30) days before the Annual Meeting who will select the recipient by a majority vote. The Award will be presented at the Annual Business Meeting of the Space Medicine Association.
Section B. Space Medicine Association Young Investigator Award
The Space Medicine Association Jeffrey Myers Young Investigator Award will be presented to a young investigator who is the first or primary author of an outstanding presentation (slide or poster), in the area of Aerospace Medicine with an emphasis on Space Medicine, presented at the current Annual Scientific Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association. In addition to being the first or primary author, the young investigator must be presenting at the Annual Scientific Meeting for the first time. The individual does not have to be a member of the Space Medicine Association of the Aerospace Medical Association. The Young Investigator Award Committee will nominate the candidates and select the recipient. The Young Investigator Award will be presented at the Annual Business Meeting of the Space Medicine Association.
Section C. Space Medicine Association Award for Journal Publication
The Space Medicine Association Award for Journal Publication will be presented to an individual who is the first or primary author of an outstanding article on space medicine published in the official journal of the Aerospace Medical Association, Aviation Space and Environmental Medicine, during the previous calendar year. The author is not required to be a member of the Space Medicine Association. The Journal Awards Committee composed of Space Medicine Association officers and members will select the recipient by a majority vote. The award will be presented at the Annual Business Meeting of the Space Medicine Association.
Section D. Space Medicine Association Jeffrey R. Davis Scholarship
The Space Medicine Association Scholarship sponsored by Jeffrey R. Davis will be awarded each year to a college, medical school, residency, or fellowship student. The purpose of the Scholarship is to encourage students who have demonstrated academic achievement and shown an interest in Space Biology and Medical Operations to further pursue a career in Space Medicine. The eligibility for application is established by the Space Medicine Association Executive Committee and the recipient is chosen by the Jeffery R. Davis Scholarship Committee composed of Space Medicine Association officers and members. The scholarship will be presented at the Annual Business Meeting of the Space Medicine Association.
Section E. Space Medicine Association Wyle Scholarship
The Space Medicine Association Wyle Scholarship is established in honor of Bob Ellis and in gratitude to the long-standing support of Wyle Laboratories. The Scholarship will be awarded each year to an applicant in one of the disciplines supporting space medicine, such as biomedical engineering, spaceflight physiology, human factors research, or nursing. The purpose of the Scholarship is to encourage interest in space biology and medical operations by individuals in these disciplines and to encourage those individuals to further pursue a career in or in support of space medicine. The eligibility for application is established by the Space Medicine Association Executive Committee and the recipient is chosen by the Wyle Scholarship Committee composed of Space Medicine Association officers and members. The Scholarship will be presented at the Annual Business Meeting of the Space Medicine Association.
Section E. Space Medicine Association President’s Achievement Award
The President’s Achievement Award will be presented each year for contributions to space medicine and/or contributions to the Space Medicine Association. The recipient does not have to be a member of the Space Medicine Association. The Award is selected by the President of the Space Medicine Association without involvement by the Awards Committee or the Executive Committee. The Award will be presented at the Annual Business Meeting of the Space Medicine Association.
Section F. Space Medicine Association Jeffrey P. Sutton Scientific Achievement Award
The Space Medicine Association Jeffrey P. Sutton Scientific Achievement Award will be presented each year for outstanding contributions in advancing the frontiers of science and research in the field of space medicine. The award recognizes an accomplished individual or team for distinguished scientific and/or technical achievements that advance the field of space medicine. Highly meritorious contributions may be in the life or physical sciences, medicine, engineering, or related fields, with demonstrable evidence of significant scholarship, innovation, and impact for space medicine. The recipient does not have to be a member of the Space Medicine Association. Nominations for this Award will be solicited from the membership and can be made by any of the members of the Space Medicine Association. The nominations will be submitted to the Awards Committee at least four months before the Annual Meeting. The Awards Committee will nominate the candidate to the Executive Committee who will approve the recipient by a majority vote. The Award will be presented at the Annual Business Meeting of the Space Medicine Association.
ARTICLE VI
Election Procedures
Section A. Nominations
The Nominating Committee will nominate at least two (2) candidates for each available Office. The nominees will be contacted by the Nominating Committee to determine their willingness to serve. The slate of nominees shall be approved by the President. After approval, the Chair of the Nominating Committee will inform the Secretary so that the ballot may be set.
Section B. Ballots
The Secretary will prepare the ballots, which will list for each office the candidates selected by the Nominating Committee and one (1) blank line will be included for write-in candidates. The ballots will be made available to all eligible voting members of the Space Medicine Association not later than seven days before the beginning of the Annual Scientific Meeting. The completed mailed ballots must be received by the Secretary or designee two days prior to the beginning of the Annual Scientific Meeting of the Aerospace Medical Association. If electronic mail is used, the ballots must be received by the Secretary or designee not later than two days prior to the Annual Business Meeting of the Space Medicine Association. The election results will be announced at the Annual Business Meeting of the Space Medicine Association. In the event that further evaluation of the ballots should be necessary, the ballots will be maintained by the Secretary for at least thirty (30) days following the Annual Meeting, after which time they may be destroyed. Any further evaluation of the ballots will be by the outgoing President.
ARTICLE VII
Amendments
Proposed amendments to the By-Laws may be made by a two-thirds (2/3) vote (9 or more) of the entire Executive Committee (14 members). Such proposed amendments to the By-Laws must remain consistent with the current Constitution or if inconsistent, coordinated amendments to the Constitution must be proposed to the membership and accepted prior to the By-Laws amendments being enacted.
ARTICLE VIII
Space Medicine Association Endowed Fund
The Space Medicine Association will form an agreement with the Aerospace Medical Association Foundation to manage the Space Medicine Association Endowed Fund with the goal of maximizing the return and minimizing the risk of the fund’s assets to enhance the capability of the Space Medicine Association to provide awards and scholarships and to support educational activities. The Endowed Fund will include any donations designated for education or scholarship, all dues from lifetime members and any other funds so designated by the Space Medicine Association Executive Committee. Withdrawals from the fund will be used only to support Space Medicine Association awards and scholarships and will not exceed 5% of the fund value per year.