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By Laws
The Society of Neurological Surgeons will have an executive council to be made up of the President, President-Elect, immediate Past President, Past Past President, Vice-President, Past Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, Historian, two Members-at-Large, the chair of the Program Committee and the annual meeting host.
Duties of the officers and members of the Council.
- Acting individually
- President: Will preside at all meetings of the Society and the Executive Council and other functions as appropriate.
- Vice President: Will preside in the absence of the President. Will serve as a member of the Executive Council during the term of office.
- Secretary: Will keep a record of all meetings, notify candidates of their election to membership, conduct the correspondence of the Society, and send written notice of meetings at least six months in advance. The Secretary will send copies of the annual meeting program to each member as early as possible prior to the meeting. The Secretary will notify the Society of any newly elected members in all categories. The Secretary serves as a member of the Executive Council during the term of office.
- Treasurer: Will collect and disburse the funds of the Society as authorized. The Treasurer will keep books and render an annual report to the Society. The Treasurer will notify all members of their assessments and dues and will notify the Executive Council of members who are arrears in their dues. The Treasurer will serve as a member of the Executive Council during the term of office.
- Historian: Will keep a record of the pertinent events pertaining to the Society as a whole and any special events in relation to individual members or groups. The Historian will be responsible for attending to the archives of the Society and other activities as deemed appropriate. The Historian will serve on the Executive Council.
- Members-at-Large: Two Members-at-Large will serve on the Executive Council for three year terms. A Member-at-Large should have been a member of the Society for at least three years prior to nomination. Nomination will be made by the Nominating Committee and approved by the Council at its interim meeting. Election is by majority vote at the annual meeting.
- The Council will:
- Arrange for all meetings of the Society.
- Meet at an interim time prior to the annual meeting to transact appropriate business.
- Have the power to drop from the role of Active members any who fail to pay dues for more than one year or are absent from two consecutive annual meetings without adequate reason.
- Levy assessments as seem necessary and advisable. Advise and direct the Treasurer in the management of the Society’s funds.
- Appropriate money or the necessary expenses of the meetings and for travel by the officers between meetings in fulfillment of their obligations.
Committees of the Society:
- Standing Committees:
- Curriculum Committee:
The Curriculum Committee will be comprised of the Chairman, appointed by the
President for a term of three years, and members appointed by the Chairman. The
charge of the committee will be to define the curriculum for neurosurgical
residency training, including didactic content, core competencies, procedures,
and methods for assessing educational outcome.
- Research Committee:
The Research Committee will be comprised of the Chairman, appointed by the
President for a term of three years, and members appointed by the Chairman.
The charge of the committee will be to define the scope of neurosurgical research,
and what research (type, and length of training) should encompass in the residency
training programs. It will facilitate awareness and funding for neurosurgical
research in translational areas, and educate the membership as to potential
funding opportunities.
- Match Committee:
The Match Committee will be comprised of a Chair, and two additional
members. The membership of the committee will be appointed by the Council
from the Active SNS membership. Terms of service on the committee will
be for two years with one renewal option for a maximum term of four years
- Committee on Accreditation of Subspecialty Training (CAST)
The Committee on Accreditation of Subspecialty Training (CAST) will be comprised
of a Chair, a Secretary/Treasurer, and three additional members. The
membership of CAST will be appointed by the Council from the Active SNS membership. Representation
on CAST by current or past members of the RRC for Neurological Surgery is desirable
so as to maintain familiarity with training programs and principles of the
accreditation process. Terms of service on CAST will be staggered among
the members and will be for two years with one renewal option for a maximum
term of four years
The Committee shall be responsible for accreditation of subspecialty training
fellowships in neurosurgery and for development and updating of subspecialty
training requirements. Additionally, this Committee shall have responsibility
for promulgating study and analysis of outcomes relative to neurosurgical subspecialty
training and when necessary developing and monitoring programs for a neurosurgery
fellowship match.
The organization, policies and procedures of CAST shall be in accordance with
Appendix 2.
- Research Update in Neuroscience for Neurosurgeons (RUNN) Committee
The RUNN Committee is comprised of a Chairman, appointed by the President,
and members appointed by the Chairman. It is charged with organizing
and executing the annual Research Update in Neuroscience for Neurosurgeons
course for Neurosurgery. The course will highlight discoveries in the
sciences which can potentially advance the practice of neurosurgery. The
review will also provide residents with the tools they need to get started
in clinical/laboratory research.
- Program Committee:
The Program Committee will consist of three members. One will be appointed
by the President each year to serve three years and be chair during the third
year. The committee will be responsible for the entire program of the
annual meeting. Final approval of the program rests with the Executive
Council.
The Program Committee will work in close cooperation with the host and allocate
an appropriate amount of time on the program for presentations by members of
the host organization.
- Membership Committee:
The Membership Committee will consist of three members. One will be
appointed by the President each year to serve three years and be chair during
the third year. The Membership Committee will seek out candidates in
all categories for membership in the Society. The committee will accumulate
essential information about each proposed member and the Chairman will attend
the interim meeting to recommend to the Council individuals whom the Committee
considers worthy of membership. Each individual proposed must be approved by
the Council at its interim meeting before submission to the membership of the
Society as a whole for vote. Race, creed, color, sex and religious preferences
will not be factors for determining membership at any time. The outgoing
committee chair shall send curricula vitae and photos of newly elected members
to the Historian.
- Nominating Advisory Committee:
The Nominating Committee will consist of five active members. One member
will be elected by majority vote at the annual meeting each year to serve for
three years, serving as chair of the committee in the third year. The
immediate Past-Past President, and the Past-President will also be ex-officio
voting members of the committee. The Council will propose the slate for the
Nominating Committee.
Any member can make recommendations to the Nominating Committee for consideration
prior to the interim council meeting. The Nominating Committee will submit
its recommendation for all offices at the interim meeting of the Council for
consideration and approval prior to presentation to the membership at the annual
meeting
- Undergraduate Education Committee:
The Undergraduate Education Committee will consist of a Chairman, appointed
by the President for a term of three years, and members appointed by the Chairman.
The charge of the committee will be to define the scope of undergraduate education
in Neurological Surgery, to promote the integration of education in Neurological
Surgery in medical school curricula, and to stimulate interest in Neurological
Surgery in medical students.
- Constitution and Bylaws Committee:
The Bylaws Committee will consist of the immediate Past-President of the Society,
and the Secretary of the Society. The Bylaws Committee will review the
Constitution and Bylaws of the Society annually, and make recommendations to
the Council regarding any necessary changes.
- Audit Committee:
The Audit Committee will consist of two members: The Member-at-Large
will serve as Chairman, and one member, not a member of the Council, will be
appointed by the President each year to serve two years. The Audit Committee
will conduct an review of the finances of the Society each year, and report
their findings to the Council at its annual meeting. An audit will be
performed by an accounting firm on a regular basis, at the discretion of the
Audit Committee.
- Endowments and Gifts Committee:
The Endowments and Gifts Committee will be comprised of the President and
Treasurer of the Society, and the Member at Large of the Executive Council
of the Society. Each will serve for the duration of their terms in these
positions. The committee will be responsible for management of the gifts and
endowment(s). The Committee will also will be responsible for interactions
with current and potential donors. The Committee will appoint specific subcommittees
to carry out the goals of the individual gifts and endowments. The Committee
will be responsible for developing guidelines for endowment and award management
to assure that both of these activities are in agreement with the wishes of
the donors and the aims of the Society. The guidelines for the management
of each endowment and gift must be approved by the Council.
The organization, policies and procedures of individual gifts and endowments
shall be in accordance with Appendix 1
- Distinguished Service Award Committee:
The Distinguished Award Committee will consist of the three immediate past
Presidents of the Society (Past-President, Past-Past-President, and Past-Past-Past-President). At
the interim winter meeting of the Council, the Committee will nominate a minimum
of three candidates whose service to the Society, or to the field of Neurological
Surgery, has been exceptional.
- Future Sites Committee:
The Future Sites Committee will consist of the Vice-President (Chair), President-Elect,
Secretary and Treasurer. The Committee will solicit proposal from the
membership, and make recommendations to the Council regarding future meetings
of the Society, such that sites for the annual meeting are planned a minimum
of five years in advance.
- Task Force and Mission Committees
The President or Council may establish ad hoc task force and mission committees
as set forth in Article VIII sections 4-5. These committees shall
have both a documented charge, and date of expected termination.
Endowment and gifts policies:
The Society of Neurological Surgeons is organized for public educational and
charitable purposes, and in keeping with its stated goals, the Society of Neurological
Surgeons will accept gifts and endowments that promote the aims of the Society. The
gift policies of the Society will operate within the stipulations of Section
501 ( c ) (3) of the Internal Revenue Service Code.
- The Society will encourage and facilitate gifts and donations
that are consistent with the aims of the Society.
- The treasurer will keep the accounts of such gifts and endowments and provide
a yearly status report to the council and the membership. Unless specifically
specified by the donors, such gifts will be accounted separately from the
operating funds of the Society, though the funds can be merged for investment
purposes. Management of these funds will be committed to preservation
and growth of the principal amounts
- Organization, policies and procedures for individual awards will be as stipulated
in Appendix 1.
Method of Procedure in Executive Session:
The usual parliamentary rules governing deliberative bodies will govern the workings of this Society. The members present will constitute a quorum unless otherwise specified. The Society of Neurological Surgeons will be a continuing one and the rules governing it will carry over.
- Call to order by presiding officer.
- Reading of minutes of the last previous meeting.
- Discussion and action of any old business from the previous year.
- Election of new members. The Chair of the Membership Committee will present the nominations for Active membership which have been approved by the Council. Election will be by an affirmative vote of three-quarters of the members present.
- Discussion of new business with appropriate action.
- Election of officers and the new member of the Nominating Committee. The slate proposed by the Nominating Committee and the Council will be presented. Nominations may be permitted from the floor.
- Adjournment.
Methods of voting in Executive session.
All questions before the Society will be determined by a majority vote of those present unless otherwise specified. Voting will be by hand, voice, or secret ballot as designated by the presiding officer. The decision of the presiding officer to conduct a "hand" or "voice" vote may be over-ruled by a majority vote of those present.
Duties and privileges of members.
- Active Members:
To attend the annual meeting, to vote, to participate in the meeting program,
to take part in discussions, to pay dues, to serve on committees and to hold
office.
- Senior Members:
Senior members will have all the duties and privileges of Active members
except that they will not be required to attend meetings. A Senior member
will continue to pay dues until retirement from active surgical practice at
which time dues can be suspended upon approval by the Council. Senior
members may not hold elected office except as Historian. Since the President-Elect
automatically succeeds to the office of the President, election to the office
of President-Elect must occur before the individual reaches the age of 64. Senior
members have the right to vote, serve on appointed committees (except the Nominating
Committee), present papers, and enter into all discussions.
- Inactive Members:
Inactive members will not be required to attend meetings or pay dues. Inactive
members cannot hold any office or vote.
- Honorary Members:
Following approval of nomination by the Council, and election by the membership
of the Society as a whole, the member must attend one annual meeting of the
Society within three (3) calendar years of nomination for their status as Honorary
members to become permanent. Honorary members cannot hold active office
or vote and will not be required to pay annual dues.
Committees and individual appointments authorized by the Society.
- Elected: Nominating Committee
- Appointment by the President:
- Program Committee
- Membership Committee
- Audit Committee
- Appointment by the Executive Council:
- Substitutes for officers unable to function.
- Membership on the American Board of Neurological Surgery, as vacancies arise.
- Membership on the Board of Governors of the American College of Surgeons.
- Other committees authorized by the Council of the Society.
- Other ad hoc committees as appointed by the President.
In view of the Society’s special interest in graduate and post-graduate education in neurological surgery and its allied sciences, the Society may invite as guests to the annual meeting all neurosurgical program directors who are not members of the Society. Unless such individuals are specifically invited by a member, meeting expenses will be the responsibility of the guest.
Each member of the Society will be limited to one guest per meeting. The Secretary of the Society and the host should be notified about the guest by the inviting member at least 30 days in advance of the meeting. The unexpected presence in this country of notable persons might be an occasional exception to this bylaw. The inviting member is responsible to the Society for the guest’s expenses.
Methods of Amending Bylaws:
Any article of the bylaws may be amended at any annual meeting by a three-quarters affirmative vote of the members present, providing that each member has been furnished with a copy of the proposal at least two months prior to the meeting. It will be the duty of the member making the proposal to furnish the Secretary with a copy of this proposed change to allow sufficient time for this to occur. Any alteration of the bylaws is to become effective as soon as an affirmative vote is recorded.
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