Published: March 29, 2016

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO ACADEMY BYLAWS Academy Bylaws: Proposed amendments

The proposed amendments to the Nominating Committee are to extend the term of service from two years to three years for all elected Nominating Committee Members, and to add four more elected members (two each Academic and Private Practice) to allow for staggered terms and easier transition of new Members as each learns how to become a productive member of the committee (i.e. four roll off each year); this would increase the number of elected Members from eight to 12.


The proposed amendments to the Nominating Committee are to extend the term of service from two years to three years for all elected Nominating Committee Members, and to add four more elected members (two each Academic and Private Practice) to allow for staggered terms and easier transition of new Members as each learns how to become a productive member of the committee (i.e. four roll off each year); this would increase the number of elected Members from eight to 12.

Note: Former text to be removed is shown as struck. New language is shown as underscored.

Article VI Committees and Coordinators

Section 6.03. Nominating Committee

There shall be a Nominating Committee consisting of the Immediate Past President, who shall be Chair, the Chair of the Board of Governors, and eight twelve (12) Voting Fellows or Members of the Academy who are not members of the Board of Directors.  Four of the latter eight twelve (12) members of this committee shall be elected from eight voting Fellows or Members nominated by the Nominating Committee annually, and shall serve a two three (3) year term.  Four of the eight nominees shall be primarily in private practice and shall run against each other for the two positions reserved for private practice designees and the other four nominees shall be academicians who shall run against each other for the two positions reserved for academicians.   In this manner, two seats on the Nominating Committee shall be filled by private practitioners and two seats will be filled by academicians each year.  Elected members of the Nominating Committee shall be ineligible for a second term until three years have elapsed following the close of their first term.  Voting for the election of Nominating Committee members shall not be cumulative.  Additionally, the Chair of the Ethics Committee shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Nominating Committee without vote.  The Nominating Committee shall determine what offices, positions on the Board of Directors, and positions on any committees (including positions on the Nominating Committee) shall become vacant to be filled by election of the membership and shall publicize that information.  The Committee shall have the power to nominate individuals for those positions and shall accept other nominations submitted by petition(s) signed by at least one percent of the voting Fellows and Members, which percentage shall be certified by the Secretary-Treasurer based on the prior year’s membership records.  The Nominating Committee shall assure that there are at least two nominees for each position which shall become vacant, provided, however, that the Nominating Committee need not assure that there are at least two nominees for a position where an incumbent is being nominated to serve an additional term.  In odd years, the Nominating Committee shall select two nominees for President-elect who are academicians, and in even numbered years, the Committee shall select two nominees for President-elect who are private practitioners.  In no instance shall any member of the Nominating Committee be nominated for any Academy position while he or she serves on the Nominating Committee.  In any solicitation of the voting Fellows and Members, all nominees shall be listed in alphabetical order with notation of the source of nomination.

The proposed language change to Section 2.07. Life Fellow/Life Members of the AAO-HNS Bylaws will serve to more clearly define what constitutes a “life member.” The current language defines a life member as any physician who has been a Fellow or Member of the Academy for 35 years. The new proposed language defines a life member as any physician who has held continuous membership with the Academy for a minimum of 35 years, and is fully retired from the practice of medicine. All current life fellow/life members would be grandfathered in and not be impacted by this change. In addition, should a physician who is fully retired and is doing humanitarian work by seeing patients, the physician is still considered “fully retired” for the purposes of the definition.

Article II Membership

Section 2.07. Life Fellow/Life Member

A Life Fellow/Life Member is any Any physician who has held continuous membership with the Academy as been a Fellow or Member for a minimum of 35 years, and fully retired from the practice of medicine. The member must provide written notification to the Executive Vice President/CEO requesting this status change and include a copy of his/her medical malpractice tail insurance coverage or acknowledgement of retirement from his/her medical licensing board for this class of membership to be considered for final approval by the AAO-HNS Board. of the Academy, or its predecessors-in-interest in good standing for thirty-five (35) years shall automatically become a Life Fellow or Life Member; provided, however, that years as a Member of the Academy prior to becoming a Fellow shall be counted in determining whether one qualifies as a Life Fellow.   A Life Fellow or Life Member need not have an active license to practice medicine.

 

 


More from April 2016 - Vol. 35, No. 03