Somali Medical Association
Article I
Corporate Name
•
The name of this Corporation is Somali Medical Association of North America.
The name of this Corporation is Somali Medical Association of North America.Article II
Corporate
•The purpose of the SMA is to provide leadership and to promote the interests of Somali physicians in the United States. The boards will govern SMA: (a) Board of Directors for executive functions of SMA which is powered with supervisory and legislative functions. The duties and powers of each Board will be discussed in these bylaw aforementioned purposes and powers, SMA shall carry out the purposes of article II.
The purpose of the SMA is to provide leadership and to promote the interests of Somali physicians in the United States. The boards will govern SMA: (a) Board of Directors for executive functions of SMA which is powered with supervisory and legislative functions. The duties and powers of each Board will be discussed in these bylaw aforementioned purposes and powers, SMA shall carry out the purposes of article II.Article II:
Purpose
It shall:
•Disseminate state of the art medical knowledge to members
Disseminate state of the art medical knowledge to members•Promote professional bonds with health care providers in Somalia
Promote professional bonds with health care providers in Somalia•Form local chapters in each and every State of the USA as well as the worldwide
Form local chapters in each and every State of the USA as well as the worldwide•Support and guide Somali students studying in the field of medicine and allied fields in the USA and Somalia
Support and guide Somali students studying in the field of medicine and allied fields in the USA and Somalia•Attempt to provide free medical assistance to needy Somalis in USA
Attempt to provide free medical assistance to needy Somalis in USA•Disseminate medical knowledge to all its members as well as other medical professionals by means of journals, meetings, and continuing medical education (CME) activities.
Disseminate medical knowledge to all its members as well as other medical professionals by means of journals, meetings, and continuing medical education (CME) activities.•Let’s brainstorm for more ????
Let’s brainstorm for more ???? Article III
Membership
Types of membership include Active, Associate, Honorary, and Auxiliary.
•Active members: These members are in medical and allied health fields in the U.S. All active members must be Somalis or of Somali descent and are entitled to vote. The retired active members can maintain their status completely and will pay a membership fee half of those in active practice.
Active members: These members are in medical and allied health fields in the U.S. All active members must be Somalis or of Somali descent and are entitled to vote. The retired active members can maintain their status completely and will pay a membership fee half of those in active practice. •Associate members: These members are in training and are not yet licensed to practice or hold license in countries other than the USA.
Associate members: These members are in training and are not yet licensed to practice or hold license in countries other than the USA. •Honorary members: Any individuals, who have distinguished themselves by doing recognizable work for the Somali community anywhere in the world, can be appointed as an honorary member of the organization, irrespective of their nationality. These members cannot vote or hold office but can become consultants on different committees.
Honorary members: Any individuals, who have distinguished themselves by doing recognizable work for the Somali community anywhere in the world, can be appointed as an honorary member of the organization, irrespective of their nationality. These members cannot vote or hold office but can become consultants on different committees.•Auxiliary members: This membership group consists of individuals whose goals and purposes are to assist the Somali Medical Association in pursuing its objectives. There is no membership fee for this category. They cannot vote or hold office.
Auxiliary members: This membership group consists of individuals whose goals and purposes are to assist the Somali Medical Association in pursuing its objectives. There is no membership fee for this category. They cannot vote or hold office. ARTICLE IV
Termination of Membership
•Resignation: A member’s resignation should be forwarded to the Recording Secretary of SMA who in turn will take it to the meeting of the Board for discussion. The Board may inquire about the reason for resignation if this was not stated in the letter of resignation.
Resignation: A member’s resignation should be forwarded to the Recording Secretary of SMA who in turn will take it to the meeting of the Board for discussion. The Board may inquire about the reason for resignation if this was not stated in the letter of resignation.•A membership can be terminated for any of the following reasons:
A membership can be terminated for any of the following reasons:oIf the governing body of any state revokes the member’s license where he/she practices or has the right to practice.
If the governing body of any state revokes the member’s license where he/she practices or has the right to practice.oIf the member is convicted of any crime in any state.
If the member is convicted of any crime in any state.•If the member is convicted of moral turpitude: The Board will evaluate each individual case and will notify the member in writing by certified mail. The member has thirty days from the date of Board’s letter to appeal. Upon initiation of appeal, supportive documents should be delivered to the Board. The Board will decide on the case. The decision of the Board will be final and will be submitted to the member in writing by certified mail.
If the member is convicted of moral turpitude: The Board will evaluate each individual case and will notify the member in writing by certified mail. The member has thirty days from the date of Board’s letter to appeal. Upon initiation of appeal, supportive documents should be delivered to the Board. The Board will decide on the case. The decision of the Board will be final and will be submitted to the member in writing by certified mail.•If the member fails to pay membership fees for a period of a more than one year.
If the member fails to pay membership fees for a period of a more than one year. ARTICLE V
Board of Directors
•Unless otherwise specified in this bylaw, the officers of the SMA manage the daily affairs of the SMA. These officers include President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. These officers form the Executive Board of Directors and will be elected for a two-year term.
Unless otherwise specified in this bylaw, the officers of the SMA manage the daily affairs of the SMA. These officers include President, Vice President, Treasurer, and Secretary. These officers form the Executive Board of Directors and will be elected for a two-year term. Duties of the Officers:
The President:
•Shall be responsible for the business of the Association. Will be in constant contact with the executive officers of the Board of Trustees and speaks for the Board of Directors.
Shall be responsible for the business of the Association. Will be in constant contact with the executive officers of the Board of Trustees and speaks for the Board of Directors.•Shall preside over meetings of the Board of Directors and the General Meetings of the members.
Shall preside over meetings of the Board of Directors and the General Meetings of the members.•Shall have the privilege of signing SMA checks in the absence of Treasurer.
Shall have the privilege of signing SMA checks in the absence of Treasurer.•Shall have the privilege of signing membership certificates and official correspondence
Shall have the privilege of signing membership certificates and official correspondence The Vice President:
•Shall assume the duties of the President in his/her absence.
Shall assume the duties of the President in his/her absence. •Shall take an active role in promotion of the Association’s goals and membership.
Shall take an active role in promotion of the Association’s goals and membership.The Treasurer:
•Shall sign all checks.
Shall sign all checks.•Shall prepare an annual budget for approval by the Board.
Shall prepare an annual budget for approval by the Board.•Shall prepare financial reports for the General Meeting of members and for publication in the Bulletin.
Shall prepare financial reports for the General Meeting of members and for publication in the Bulletin.•Shall file with IRS completed forms 990 and any other forms that are required by the law.
Shall file with IRS completed forms 990 and any other forms that are required by the law.•Shall be responsible for financial bookkeeping of the SMA. All members of the Board of Directors are expected to actively participate in daily functions of SMA.
Shall be responsible for financial bookkeeping of the SMA. All members of the Board of Directors are expected to actively participate in daily functions of SMA.The Secretary:
•Shall formalize the schedule of meetings of the Board of Directors.
Shall formalize the schedule of meetings of the Board of Directors.•Shall prepare agendas for these meetings and shall be responsible for record keeping of the daily activities of the SMA
Shall prepare agendas for these meetings and shall be responsible for record keeping of the daily activities of the SMA •Shall report the minutes of these meetings to the executive officers of the Board of Trustees.
Shall report the minutes of these meetings to the executive officers of the Board of Trustees.•Shall manage daily correspondence and keep record of any communications between members and the Board of Directors.
Shall manage daily correspondence and keep record of any communications between members and the Board of Directors.•Shall file any certificates required by federal or state law on behalf of the SMA.
Shall file any certificates required by federal or state law on behalf of the SMA.Election of the Officers
•SMA Executive Officers and Board of Directors Shall be
SMA Executive Officers and Board of Directors Shall beoElected from states with the highest number of members (see above).
Elected from states with the highest number of members (see above). oElected for a two-year term
Elected for a two-year termARTICLE VI
Vacancy in the Board of Directors
•Vacancies in the Board of Directors caused by any reason other than the removal of a Director by a vote of the membership shall be filled by a vote of the majority of the remaining Directors. Each person elected shall be a Director until that person or a successor is elected by the members at the next annual meeting.
Vacancies in the Board of Directors caused by any reason other than the removal of a Director by a vote of the membership shall be filled by a vote of the majority of the remaining Directors. Each person elected shall be a Director until that person or a successor is elected by the members at the next annual meeting.ARTICLE VII
Dismissal of a Board Member
•If a Board Member resigns
If a Board Member resigns•If a Board member’s membership is terminated for any reason
If a Board member’s membership is terminated for any reason•If a Board member is absent in three consecutive Board meeting with no justification
If a Board member is absent in three consecutive Board meeting with no justification•The Board of Directors, at its discretion and after consultation with the executive members, can dismiss that member, informing him in writing by certified mail. Before sending a dismissal letter, the Board shall send a certified letter to the member asking him/her for clarification. If a response is not received within the designated time, or if the response is not satisfactory, then the aforementioned dismissal letter is sent. Such a Board member shall have the right to appeal. Replacing the dismissed Board member will follow procedure discussed under Article V.
The Board of Directors, at its discretion and after consultation with the executive members, can dismiss that member, informing him in writing by certified mail. Before sending a dismissal letter, the Board shall send a certified letter to the member asking him/her for clarification. If a response is not received within the designated time, or if the response is not satisfactory, then the aforementioned dismissal letter is sent. Such a Board member shall have the right to appeal. Replacing the dismissed Board member will follow procedure discussed under Article V.ARTICLE VIII
Meetings
•The Board of Directors will meet at least once every four months. All matters of interest will be discussed and the Recording Secretary should take appropriate notes. The minutes should be presented at the beginning of the next meeting of the Board for approval. The minutes of these meetings should be forwarded to every member of the Executive Board of Directors.
The Board of Directors will meet at least once every four months. All matters of interest will be discussed and the Recording Secretary should take appropriate notes. The minutes should be presented at the beginning of the next meeting of the Board for approval. The minutes of these meetings should be forwarded to every member of the Executive Board of Directors.•The SMA shall have a biannual general meeting. The Board of Directors shall designate a time and. Members should be advised of the said information at least four months prior to the meeting.
The SMA shall have a biannual general meeting. The Board of Directors shall designate a time and. Members should be advised of the said information at least four months prior to the meeting. •The State Chapters can convene their annual meeting in conjunction with the Annual Membership Meeting of the SMA. However, this is not mandatory, and the chapters do have the right to convene their meetings in consideration of their own situations.
The State Chapters can convene their annual meeting in conjunction with the Annual Membership Meeting of the SMA. However, this is not mandatory, and the chapters do have the right to convene their meetings in consideration of their own situations. 