Fatima Jinnah Medical College Alumni Association.
Established in 1983
1st Amended and Approved in the year One Millennium and Ninty Nine.
Re-Amended on 7th day of July in the year Two Millennium and Six.
In the name of God, the beneficent, the merciful.
Preamble
We the graduates of Fatima Jinnah Medical College, out of our conviction for our profession, motherland, and alma mater do hereby proclaim the establishment of the Fatima Jinnah Medical College Alumni as a component society of the Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America. So that collectively we all can uphold ethical and moral values, engage in professional and social activities, support educational and intellectual pursuits, upgrade medical care and thus glorify our association.
To this effect, we hereby set forth and enact the following laws governing the association, which shall be binding on each and all of us in totality, until and unless properly amended by the provisions herein. So help us, God. Amen
THE CONSTITUTION
Article I: NAME
The name of this organization shall be Fatima Jinnah Medical College Alumni Association of North America (FJMC Alumni Association). Hereafter it will be referred to as the “Association”.
Article II: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
The association shall be a non-profit, non-political, professional, educational, humanitarian organization. The objective of this association shall be to bring the Fatima Jinnah Medical College graduates into one compact organization. The aims and objectives shall be:
1. To the advancement of medical science, elevation of standard of medical education, and the extension of medical knowledge in Pakistan, particularly at the Fatima Jinnah Medical College, Lahore, Pakistan.
2. To encourage medical education and delivery of better health care in Pakistan specifically by arranging for donation of medical literature, medical supplies, and by arranging lecture tours, medical conferences, and seminars in Pakistan.
3. To assist Pakistani physicians, especially the graduates of the Fatima Jinnah Medical College, in obtaining post graduate training in North America, and during their orientation and adjustment.
4. To promote delivery of health care in Pakistan.
5. To participate in medical relief and charitable activities in North America, Pakistan and other countries.
6. To guard and foster medical interest of member physicians and to interact with similar associations who would preserve, protect and enhance the image of the medical profession and Pakistani physicians.
7. To help Pakistani Americans in North America, develop pride in Pakistani culture, preserve and promote Pakistani heritage and values.
Article III: MEMBERSHIP
The membership of the association shall be of the following categories: Active, Students, Honorary, Emeritus and Affiliate. Unless otherwise specified in the bylaws, Active members shall be entitled to all the privileges of the association including the right to vote and hold office. Honorary, Affiliate and Emeritus members shall be entitled to all the privileges of the association but shall not vote or hold office therein.
Article IV: INTERNAL STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION
1. General Body: It shall consist of duly registered members of the Association according to the provisions provided herein. This will be the supreme authority of the Association wielding absolute power on the conduct of the affairs of the Association. It, however, for the smoother running of its affairs, may delegate this authority to various components as outlined herein. All actions taken by an officer or committee of the Association may be approved, rejected or amended by this body.
2. Board of Trustees: Shall act as the overseers of the Association. It shall consist of active members of the Association elected as prescribed in the bylaws.
3. Executive Council: Shall be the legislative and the executive body of the Association and shall consist of elected officers.
a. This council shall fix the date and place of meetings.
b. It shall create and authorize the appointment of standing committees and keep an up to date directory of members.
c. It shall control the management of the affairs of the Association and shall be responsible for proposing budget at annual meeting.
d. It shall have the total control of all the funds and property of the Association, except as limited by the bylaws, and shall act for the Association as a whole between sessions of the general body.
Article V: OFFICERS AND ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES
1. The officers of this Association shall be the President, the President-elect, Immediate Past President, the Secretary and the Treasurer.
2. The President, the President-elect, the Secretary and the Treasurer shall be elected by the general body, except as otherwise provided by the bylaws with respect to the filling of the vacancies.
3. There shall be two Representatives, elected by the general membership, as defined in the bylaws.
4. Each officer of the Association and the representatives shall maintain a physical residence in North America during their tenure.
Article VI: FINANCES
1. Annual dues, special assessments, and voluntary contributions shall finance funds for meetings and expenses of the Association activities.
2. Annual membership dues and assessments shall be fixes by the Council and approved by the general body.
3. The Treasurer shall present the financial status of the Association to the general membership at its annual meeting.
4. No part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit of or be distributable to, its members, trustees, officers, or private persons, except that the Association shall be authorized to pay reasonable compensation for the services rendered.
Article VII: BYLAWS
1. The Association shall adopt Bylaws for the conduct of its affairs, in harmony with this constitution.
2. The Bylaws may not restrict or alter any proviso defined in this constitution.
3. Robert’s Rule of Order shall be adopted for the conduct of the meetings.
Article VIII: AMENDMENTS
1. Amendments to this constitution may be initiated by either one of these:
* 10 members of the Association in good standing.
* Executive council.
* Board of trustees.
2. The amendments thus initiated shall be referred to the Constitution and Bylaws Committee, which shall report to the council in 120 days with their recommendation.
3. The council will accept, reject or amend these proposals at the first meeting after receiving them. At least two thirds of the councilors must accept an amendment for it to be sent to the General Body.
4. The amendment will be circulated to the general members at least 30 days in advance of the annual general body meeting.
5. The amendment rejected by the council shall be returned to the proposer who may resubmit it with 5 additional signatures in which case these amendments shall be circulated to the general membership 30 days prior to the annual meeting and will be presented to the general body for vote.
6. An amendment shall be approved only when it received 50% of votes of total active membership.
7. If an amendment fails to be acted upon in general body meeting for lack of quorum, a mailed ballot shall be sent to the general membership. The amendment shall become effective immediately upon adoption.
Article IX: DISSOLUTION
1. No proposal for dissolution of the Association shall be considered unless recommended by the majority of the trustees and discussed at the next meeting of the council and after four week’s notice in writing has been given to each member in good standing. The Association shall not be dissolved if 5% or more of the members in good standing or majority of the trustees dissent.
2. Upon the dissolution of the Association, the Board of Trustees shall, after paying off all of the liabilities of the Association, dispose of all the assets of the Association for the purposes of in such manner, or to such organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious or scientific purposes.
BYLAWS
Chapter I: ADDRESS
In the absence of a principal office the address of the Association shall be the location and physical address of the president of the Association.
Chapter II: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Active Member: To be eligible for active membership in the Association a physician must hold a valid permanent license in North America or in the country where she is practicing, or in Pakistan, or must be engaged in academic teaching, research or administration, or be enrolled in a post graduate training program and must comply with all the provisions of this Association.
Physicians-in-Training may become active members if they hold a license to practice medicine, surgery or dentistry in their respective state, province or country.
The categories of the active members shall include the following:
o Annual dues paying member:
o Lifetime member: Any active member of the Association, on payment of 10 years of current annual dues in one lump sum. Life members shall be exempt from paying registration fees at meetings of the Association held in the Continental United States and Canada.
o Active Members-Dues Exempt: Physician in Training: The Association may admit to membership physicians still in training and who do not have a permanent license to practice medicine, surgery or dentistry in their respective state, province or country. Candidates for election to Physician-in-Training membership shall provide written proof of being in an approved training program. Such members shall have all the privileges of active membership except the right to hold office.
Section 2. Emeritus Members: Shall be dues exempt, shall have no vote
and shall hold no office. They may however be appointed as members of committees or task force, etc.
Section 3. Honorary Members: The Association may elect as an honorary member any person distinguished for services or attainments in medicine or the allied sciences, or who has rendered other services of unusual value to the Association or humanity. They shall be dues exempt, shall have no vote and hold no office.
Section 4. Affiliate Members: The Association may elect to affiliate membership lay persons or professionals in areas of endeavor, which are related to medicine. Affiliate members may serve on/or chair committees or task force of the Association and participate in all of its activities, but shall not have the right to vote or hold any office in the Association. The dues for the affiliate members shall be equal to 50% of the annual dues.
Chapter 3: DUES AND ASSESSMENT
Section 1. Annual dues: Shall be determined by the council and approved by the General body. The term of annual dues will be the calendar year.
Section 2. Arrears: Any member whose dues are not paid by April 30th will be considered in arrears and will not be eligible to hold an office in the Association in that year.
Section 3. Assessments: The council may from time to time make Special assessments.
Chapter 4: GENERAL MEETINGS
Section 1. Determination of time and place: During each annual session the Association may hold one or more general meetings. The Council shall determine the number and time of these general meetings. The Council shall arrange one annual meeting each year. Such general meetings shall be presided over by the President, or, in his absence, the President-elect.
Section 2. Actions: At any general meetings of this Association, the membership may direct the Council to appoint committees for scientific, cultural and social investigation of special interest and importance to the profession and public. Such investigation and reports shall not become official actions or expressions of this Association until so approved by the Council.
Section 3. Quorum: Presence of 20% of the voting members of the Association shall constitute a quorum except in cases of a resolution to reject an action taken by the Council whence a presence of at least 50% of the voting membership will constitute the required quorum. A simple majority of those present will be required for adoption of a resolution except in cases of overriding of a council action, in which case a majority of 2/3 of those voting will be considered affirmative.
Chapter 5: BOARD OF TRUSTEES
Section 1. Composition: The Board shall be composed of five (5) members of the Association. All trustees shall reside in North America during their term of office. No trustee shall hold any office in the Council during her trusteeship. Any Trustee may, however, be involved in any committee of the Association at the request of the Council or the Board.
Section 2. Qualifications: (a) The Board shall consist of the five (5) immediate past presidents of the Association. (b) A Trustee will not be eligible to hold office in the executive Council for one year after finishing a term of trustee.
Section 3. Term of office: Each member of the Board shall act as a Trustee for five years. The term of the Trustees shall be staggered so that one Trustee’s term expires each year and is replaced by the out going Immediate Past President of the executive council.
Section 4. Officers: The officers of the Board shall be a chairperson and a secretary. The most senior member shall act as the chairperson and the second most senior member shall act as a secretary. The chairpersons shall be the spokesperson and the presiding officer of the Board and the secretary shall act as the recording officer.
Section 5. Meetings: The Board shall meet at least annually at the time and place of the annual session of the Association and may hold any number of such meetings as the trustees may determine. The Board may be called into session by the Chairperson on her own or upon the request of the other trustees or when a petition is filed for the dissolution of the Association. The purpose of such special session shall be stated in the notice of call and no other business shall be transacted.
Section 6. Powers and Duties: (a): As the overseer of the Association, the Board shall be the only authority to receive and discuss a proposal of dissolution of the Association. In the event of dissolution the Board shall be the only body to disperse the assets of the Association. If four trustees dissent with the majority of the general membership, they may, after dispersing the assets, desire to retain the papers of incorporation and may revive the Association. (b): The Board of Trustees shall oversee long-range and strategic planning for the Association and conduct ethics and grievance hearings. (c): The Board of Trustees shall receive quarterly reports of the Association’s accounts.
Chapter 6: EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Section 1. Composition: The council shall be composed of the officers of the Association and two Representatives, one from USA and one from Canada.
Section 2. Officers: Of the Council shall be the President, President-elect, Immediate Past President, Secretary and Treasurer of the Association.
Section 3. Meetings: The Council shall meet at least once annually. Special meetings of the Council may be called at any time by the President or on written petition of three members of the Executive Council. At special meetings the only subject discussed will be the one for which the meeting was called.
Section 4. Quorum: A quorum of the Council shall consist of four members or three officers.
Section 5. Powers and Duties: As the legislative body of the Association, the Council shall have the power and authority to adopt, institute and carry out such methods and measures as it may deem to be in the best interest of the Association including but not limited to: (a) It shall adopt rules and regulations for its own government and for the administration of the affairs of the Association. (b) It shall have the authority to appoint committees, standing or special, from among its members or those not members of the council. Such committees shall report to the Council and their members may participate in debate upon their committees’ reports, whether or not members of the Council. (c) It shall approve each action and resolution in the name of this Association before the same shall become effective.
Section 6. Representation of the Association: Members of the Council will be the official representatives of the Association on all formal and official functions both in Pakistan and in North America. In case fewer members are required to be present on these occasions, orders of seniority for the composition of a delegation shall be as follows: President, President elect, Secretary, Treasurer, the Immediate Past President, one of the Representatives or an appointee of the President.
Section 7. Resolutions: Each resolution introduced in the Council shall be introduced by a Councilor. The President may refer it to the proper reference committee before an action is taken thereon.
Chapter 7: OFFICERS
Section 1. Qualifications of the Officers: All officers of the Association shall have been members in good standing for two consecutive years prior to being considered for an office, unless there is no other suitable candidate. All members of the Executive Council must be members of the parent organization, APPNA.
Section 2. President: The President shall be the general executive officer of the Association. She shall preside at all meetings of the Association and shall deliver the President’s address. She shall appoint necessary committees when not otherwise provided for, and fill vacancies thereon. The President will serve the term of office for one year. She will hold the office of Immediate Past President at the conclusion of her term as President.
Section 3. President-Elect: The President-Elect shall act for the President in her absence or disability. Should the office of President become vacant, the President-Elect shall succeed to the Presidency for the unexpired term.
Section 4. Secretary: The Secretary shall be the recording officer of the executive council and the general body. She shall also discharge the following duties: (a) She shall supervise all arrangements for the holding of each meeting in compliance with the Constitution and Bylaws and instructions of the Executive Council. (b) She shall send out all official notices of the meetings, committee appointments, certificates of election to the office and special committee assignments. (c) She shall receive and transmit to the Executive Council the annual and other reports of officers and committees. (d) She shall institute and correlate each new activity of the Association under the supervision of the Council. (e) She shall perform such other duties as are imposed upon her by the Association.
Section 5. Treasurer: The Treasurer shall be the custodian of all the invested funds and the securities under the direction and control of the Executive Council of the Association. She shall be accountable through the Council to the Association. She shall also discharge the following duties: (a) Collect all annual membership dues, assessments, donations and such Monies as may be due to the Association and keep membership records. (b) She shall deposit all funds received in an approved depository and disburse them upon the order of the Executive Council. (c) She shall present the annual report at the annual general meeting of the Association. (d) She shall perform such other duties as are imposed upon her by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association.
Section 6. Term of Office: Except as herein provided, officers shall take office on January 1 of each year and serve until December 31 of that year.
Chapter 8: COMMITTEES OF THE ASSOCIATION
The President with the advice of the Executive Council shall appoint standing Committees of the Association. (See Appendix A for the composition and functions of the committees).
A. Nominations and Election Committee
B. Publications Committee
C. Finance Committee
D. Membership Committee
E. Constitution and Bylaws Committee
F. Committee for Social Welfare Projects
G. Local Host Committee
H. Any other committee deemed necessary by the President.
Chapter 9: ELECTION
Section 1. Nominations: The nominating committee shall seek nominations from the general membership at least two (2) months before the annual meeting. After considering the nominations so received, the nominating committee will submit a slate of candidates for various officers of the Association and two (2) Representatives, to all members at least one (1) month before the annual meeting, along with a short resume of the candidate. There shall be at least one nominee for each position. For an officer of the Association, other candidates who have received at least three (3) nominations from those members who have been in good standing for at least two (2) years, shall be included on the ballot in addition to the nominee of the nomination committee.
Section 2. Elections: Election of the Executive council will be held by secret ballot during the general body meeting. No Nominations will be accepted from the floor except as otherwise indicated below in section #3.
Section 3. All candidates, who are running for a position in the Executive Council, must be present. If for some reason they cannot attend the annual general body meeting their name will be withdrawn from the slate. Only in this case the nominating committee shall seek for another nomination from the floor.
Chapter 10. VACANCIES
Section 1. An office of the Association will be declared vacant by the Council if an officer resigns or leaves North America for a period of more than four (4) months without pre arrangement with the Council, or becomes unable to carry out the duties of the office for reasons of health or otherwise.
Section 2. Should the office of the President become vacant, the President-Elect shall succeed to the Presidency for the unexpired term.
Section 3. The vacancy of the President-Elect will be filled in the following manner: If it happens within six (6) months of the term of this office, the vacancy will be filled by a special election directed by the President. If the duration of the vacancy is less than six (6) months, the vacancy shall remain vacant till the next election time, when the nominating committee will seek nomination for both the President and the President-Elect for the next term.
Section 4. The vacant office of the Past President shall remain vacant till
the end of that term.
Section 5. Vacancy of the position of the Secretary or the Treasurer shall be filled by election from among the members of the Council.
Section 6. Council from amongst the members of the Association will fill the vacant post of the Councilor-at-Large.
Chapter 11. AMENDMENTS
These bylaws may be amended with the following procedure:
(a) An amendment may be proposed by any member of the Executive Council or Board of Trustees by submitting such proposal to the Constitution and Bylaws committee.
(b) The Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall submit to the Executive Council any amendments submitted to it along with its recommendations and comments.
(c) Adoption of the amendment shall require the affirmative vote of 50% of the Executive Council members eligible to vote and present at said meeting of the Council.
(d) The amendment thus approved shall be presented at the next annual meeting of the Association and shall be approved by 50% vote in its favor. The notice for such amendment will be sent out at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting. If there is lack of quorum at the general body meeting, it shall be put to vote by mail with a clear statement that a non response within thirty (30) days of mailing of the ballot shall be counted as a yes vote.
Appendix A
A. Nominations and Election Committee
1. This committee shall develop rules and regulations for and conduct elections for the Association in accordance with the Constitution and Bylaws.
2. Throughout the year, the committee will seek out and evaluate and help develop future leaders of the Association.
3. The committee shall be composed of members appointed by the President, to serve a term of one year.
4. This committee will verify the qualifications of all prospective nominees according to the constitution and bylaws.
B. Publications Committee
1. This committee will be responsible for all publications of the Association including newsletter, directory, and other publications that the Executive Council may decide to publish.
2. The committee will develop mechanisms and raise funds to support the publication of the Association so that they become at least a budget neutral project.
C. Finance Committee
1. The committee shall develop policy and procedure regarding the financial affairs of the Association.
2. The committee will be responsible for the overall budget of the Association.
3. The committee shall oversee all the financial activities of the Association, including all the expenses.
4. The committee shall present a quarterly report of all the financial activities of the Association.
D. Membership Committee
1. The membership committee shall be responsible for the development of programs for enrollment and retention of members.
2. The committee will develop a membership benefit package to make membership in the Association attractive to potential members.
3. The committee will study the needs and desires of the members and potential members and make appropriate recommendations to the Executive Council.
E. Constitution and Bylaws Committee
1. The committee will be responsible for reviewing and developing recommendations to the Constitution and Bylaws to keep the organizational structure and function responsive to the current needs.
2. The chairperson of this committee will serve as a resource person to the Association for parliamentary procedure.
F. Committee for Social Welfare Projects
1. This committee will raise funds and material goods for charitable purposes following the accepted methods used by various national and international organizations.
2. The committee will disburse the funds or material goods to the needy individuals, institutions and organizations according to the availability under the guideline provided by the Executive Council.
3. It will develop rules and regulations for its own governance, which will be approved by the Executive Council.
G. Local Host Committee
1. This committee will assist the officers in the local arrangements for the Association annual meetings.
