Georgia Society of Dermatology and Dermatologic Surgery

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Dermatology and Dermatologists

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GSDDS History

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Bylaws

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Rem Reifler MD Memorial Lectureship

Donald C. Abele, MD Award

GSDDS Bylaws

ARTICLE I
NAME AND LOCATION

Section 1
The name of this Society shall be:

GEORGIA SOCIETY OF DERMATOLOGY AND DERMATOLOGIC SURGERY

Section 2
The office of the Society shall be that of the current management of the organization.

ARTICLE II
OBJECTIVES

The objectives of this Society shall be to promote the highest possible standards of clinical practice, education, and research in dermatologic medicine and surgery and related disciplines; to promote the public interest relating to dermatology; to advocate on behalf of dermatology and high-quality patient care; and to provide a forum for the discussion of medical and practice-related problems.

ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP

Section 1
Qualification:

Members shall be licensed physicians who are certified by the American Board of Dermatology or the American Osteopathic Board of Dermatology or who have completed three years of a dermatology residency accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education. (ACGME)

Section 2
Membership Categories:

Regular Membership
Regular members shall be dermatologists practicing in the state of Georgia.
Regular members are eligible to vote and to hold office in the society.
Regular members shall be dues-paying members.

Senior Membership
Senior membership shall be available to members who are 65 or older and in partial or full retirement from the practice of dermatology.
Senior members are eligible to vote and to hold office in the society.
Senior members shall not pay dues.

Associate Membership
Associate members shall be

Dermatologists outside the state of Georgia.
Dermatologists in the state of Georgia who are not currently engaged in the practice of medicine.

Associate members are neither eligible to vote nor hold office in the society.
Associate members shall be dues-paying members.

Honorary Membership:
The Executive Committee and a ¾ vote of members present and voting may confer honorary membership on any distinguished person who has made an exceptional contribution to the Society upon recommendation.
Honorary members are neither eligible to vote nor hold office in the society.
Honorary members shall not pay dues.

Affiliate Membership
Affiliate membership shall be available to physicians in allied disciplines who have a special interest in dermatology.
Affiliate members are neither eligible to vote nor hold office in the society.
Affiliate members shall be dues-paying members.

Resident Membership
Resident members include any physician currently enrolled in a dermatology residency-training program in the State of Georgia which is approved by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical education. Once residency is completed, formal application as an active member of the society will be made according to Article III Section 4.
Resident members are neither eligible to vote nor hold office in the society.
Resident members shall not pay dues.

Section 3
Election to Membership:
An applicant shall submit a completed application to the Secretary. Upon review of the application, the Executive Committee shall by a majority vote approve the applicant for provisional membership until their full membership status is voted on by the membership.

Provisional members are neither eligible to vote nor hold office in the society.

Election to membership requires ¾ vote of members present and voting.

Section 4
Resignation and Reinstatement:
A member may resign his or her membership at any time by written notice to the Secretary. To be reinstated, a member shall request reinstatement to the Secretary. If the member was in good standing at the time of his/her resignation, a new application is not necessary. Executive Committee shall by a majority vote approve the applicant for provisional membership until their full membership status is voted on by the membership.

Section 5
Discipline and Removal:
Members shall abide by the bylaws, policies and administrative regulations, and the Code of Ethics of the American Academy of Dermatology. (September 1992-Appended) Members may be disciplined for infractions as outlined in Article IV, Section 7 and Section 8 of the Bylaws of the American Academy of Dermatology (1989 update).

Members may be terminated by a majority vote when:

The individual no longer satisfies all current eligibility requirements.
The individual violates the bylaws, policies and standing rules or code of ethics.
The continuation of the affiliation would reflect adversely on the Society.

ARTICLE IV
DUES AND ASSESSMENTS

Section 1
The fiscal year shall coincide with the calendar year.

Section 2
Changes to the annual dues assessment shall be approved by a 2/3 affirmative vote of the regular members present and voting at any duly called meeting provided written notice of proposed changes have been made available to the members thirty (30) days before such meeting

Section 3
Assessments may be levied on the members of the Society from time to time upon the recommendation of the Executive Committee and the affirmative vote of a majority of the membership.

ARTICLE V
OFFICERS

Section 1
Officers:
The officers shall be President, Secretary and Treasurer. These officers shall perform the duties prescribed by these bylaws, administrative regulations and by the parliamentary authority adopted by the Society.

Section 2
Qualification for Office:
Any regular member in good standing shall be eligible for nomination and election to any elective office of this Society.

Section 3
Nomination and Election of Officers:
The Nominating committee shall prepare and submit to the members nominations for Secretary or Treasurer of the Society in alternating years. Nominations may be made from the floor.

Section 4
Term of Office:
Each elected officer shall take office immediately upon installation and shall serve for a term of two (2) years as Secretary or Treasurer. In alternating years, the Secretary and Treasurer will succeed to the position of president. The President shall serve for a term of one (1) year. Each officer shall serve until a successor is installed. Each elected officer shall serve concurrently as a member of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VI
MEETINGS

Section 1
The annual meeting shall be at a location and date determined by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.

Section 2
Written notice of the annual meeting shall be mailed, emailed or faxed to the last known address or number of each member not less than 60 days before the date of the meeting.

Section 3
Voting:
At all business meetings of this society, each regular member shall have one (1) vote. A majority vote of those regular members present and voting shall govern.

Section 4
Voting by Mail:
Proposals to be offered to the members for a mail vote shall first be approved by the Executive Committee. On any mail vote a majority of those voting shall determine the action.

Section 5
Quorum of members:
A quorum shall consist of 10% of the regular members. The Executive committee shall implement all actions taken by said members.

Section 6
Cancellation of Meetings:
The Executive Committee may cancel the annual meeting for significant cause.

Section 7
The President or the Executive Committee may call special meetings. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call. A meeting may also be called if requested by 10% of the membership.

ARTICLE VII
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, Secretary, and Treasurer and the two (2) previous past Presidents and one Resident Member. The committee shall be the governing body of this Society. They will supervise, control, and direct the affairs of the Society; shall actively pursue its objectives and supervise the disbursement of its funds; and shall be responsible for the interpretation of these bylaws. They may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as shall be deemed advisable. The executive committee shall be subject to the will and orders of the Society and none of its acts shall conflict with action(s) taken by the Society. The President shall preside over the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VIII
STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Section 1
The Nominating Committee shall consist of the past presidents for the previous three (3) years. The chairman shall be the immediate past-president.

The nominating committee shall nominate a candidate for Secretary or Treasurer on alternating years. These nominations shall be made known to the membership at least 24 hours prior to the annual business meeting.

Section 2
Creation and Dissolution of Committees: Such other committees, standing or special, shall be appointed by the President as the Society or the Executive Committee shall from time to time deem necessary to carry on the work of the Society. The president shall monitor actions of the committees and shall recommend to the membership the creation, dissolution and consolidation of these bodies. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except the nominating committee.

ARTICLE IX
PARLIAMENTARY AUTHORITY

The rules contained in the current edition of Davis Rules of Order shall govern the conduct of meetings of the Society in all cases to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with the bylaws and any special rules the Society may adopt.

ARTICLE X
AMENDMENTS

Amendments to or repeal of these bylaws shall be approved by a 2/3 affirmative vote of the regular members present and voting at any duly called meeting provided written notice of proposed changes have been made available to the members thirty (30) days before such meeting.

ARTICLE XI
DISSOLUTION

On dissolution of the society, any funds remaining shall be distributed to one or more regularly organized and qualified charitable, educational, scientific or philanthropic organization to be selected by the majority vote of the membership.

Bylaws last amended November 24, 2019.