ARTICLE I
Name:The name of the Society shall be the Western Society for Clinical Investigation.
ARTICLE II
Object:Section 1.The object of this society shall be the cultivation and enrichment of medical research in the Western United State and Western Canada.
Section2.LIMITATION:This Society is organized and operated exclusively for scientific and educational purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code.No substantial part of the activities of this Society shall consist of carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Society shall not participate nor intervene in any political campaign (including the publishing or distribution of statements) onbehalf of any candidate for office.
ARTICLE III
SECTION 1 – TYPES OF MEMBERS:
There shall be three types of members – Active, Inactive/Emeritus and Corresponding.
SECTION 2 – ELIGIBILITY OF MEMBERS:
A.Active Members:Any duly qualified person on the territory concerned who has accomplished and is conducting original investigation in the clinical or allied sciences of medicine and who enjoys an unimpeachable moral standing in his profession is eligible to active membership.Age at time of application shall not be restrictive.
B.Inactive or Emeritus Members:Any member either over of the age of 65 or disabled and unable to continue their professional careers may become an emeritus or inactive member, respectively, upon application and approval of the Council.
C.Corresponding Members:Members who take up residence outside of the western United States and Western Canada may become corresponding members upon request.
D.No member who has reached the age of 45 shall be eligible for election as Secretary-Treasury or a member of the Council.The election of a member to the office of President-elect shall be restricted to those who have not reached the age of 49, and the election to President of the Society should be limited to those who have not attained the age of 50 on the state of the annual meeting during their tenure.
SECTION 3 – OBLIGATIONS OF MEMBERS:
A.Active Members:Active members assume no obligation to participate in the annual meetings of the Society, but must register at those meetings attended.Members who do not attend meetings or who are no longer active in clinical research, are expected to submit their resignation in writing to the Secretary.Active members may vote in motions before the House and may propose the election of new members.In addition, active members are eligible to become officers and Council members of the Society provided they meet the criteria stated in section 2D above.They may present papers at meetings and discuss papers on the floor of the House.Active members shall pay dues as are determined by the Council of the Society.
B.Inactive or Emeritus Members:May sponsor new members for election, may introduce papers to be read by non-members, and may discuss papers from the floor of the House.Such members may not present papers the meetings of the Society, may not initiate motions on the floor of the House, and may not vote on such motions. They shall pay no dues.
C.Corresponding Members: Will be without vote but are entitled to all other privileges of the Society.They shall pay regular dues.
SECTION 4 – NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS:
Nominations to all forms of membership may be made in writing to the Secretary before the annual deadline stipulated by the Council.Nominations must be signed by two members.Nominations must be accompanied by a statement of the qualifications of the nominee, a list of professional positions and publications, and a list of active grant support.All names thus placed in nomination prior to each annual meeting shall be considered by the Council, which shall vote upon the qualifications of the candidates and elect approved nominees to the membership. Each institution will be allowed a single vote for each nominee.
SECTION 5 – EXPLUSION:
Membership can be forfeited for reasons mentioned especially or not mentioned in the Constitution, after consideration of the Council, by a three-fourths vote of the total membership.The vote shall be by secret ballot at any annual meeting or by mail.
ARTICLE IV
Officers:Officers of the Society shall be a President, President-elect, Secretary-Treasurer and immediate past President, all to be elected annually except the Secretary-Treasurer, who shall serve for three years.In addition, a single Councilor from each western academic health science centers shall be elected to serve for a 3-year term.All officers are ineligible for re-election in the same office except the Secretary-Treasurer.Additional Councilors may be re-elected to fill vacancies created by a resignation of Councilor(s).Officers are to be nominated by a committee of three appointed by the President.The Council will pass on the qualifications of the nominees submitted by the committee, and make recommendations to the general membership for their ratification at the general meeting.Officers and Councilors shall be elected from active members.
ARTICLE V
Duty of Officers:The duties of the President, President-elect, immediate Past President and Secretary-Treasurer shall be those usually assigned to the offices.The President shall also appoint such committees as are necessary for the functioning of the Society, including the selection of distinguished and the awardee of the Mayo Soley Award.The President shall also appoint an auditing committee to review the books of the Secretary-Treasurer and give approval at the Council meeting.
ARTICLE VI
Council:The Council shall consist of the President, President-elect, Secretary-Treasurer, immediate past President, and a single Councilor from each western region academic health science centers.A majority of the Council shall constitute a quorum.It shall be the duty of the Council to supervise the affairs of the Society, make all the arrangements for the annual meeting, and to consider all nominations for membership.
ARTICLE VII
Meetings:The Society shall hold one general meting in a city to be chosen by the Council.
ARTICLE VIII
Quorum:Any number of members at the appointed time of the annual meeting shall constitute a quorum.
ARTICLE IX
Annual Dues:The annual dues of the Society shall be such as the Council shall fix from time to time.The non-payment of dues for three consecutive years carries with it the forfeiture of membership.
ARTICLE X
Amendments to the Constitution:Amendments to the Constitution must be proposed in writing by five members and submitted to the Council for consideration, which body will then present amendments to the Society at the annual meeting.The amendment must be acted upon at the succeeding annual meeting, notices of which shall contain an announcement of the proposed amendment and such amendments shall require an affirmative vote of three-fourths of those present for their adoption.
AMENDMENT I:The Mayo Soley Award.From time to time, the Western Society for Clinical Investigation will award a medal for outstanding research work to a worthy investigator of the West.The medal shall be known as the Mayo H. Soley Award.The details of the selection are left to the Council.
AMENDMENT II: Councilors:The members of the Councilors shall be increased by two members to a total of eight.One of the additional Councilors shall be the outgoing President who shall serve a term of one year immediately following his Presidency. In addition, a single Councilor from each western academic health science centers shall be elected to serve for a 3-year term.
ARTICLE XI
Dedication:The property of the Society is irrevocably dedicated to the scientific and educational purposes and no part of the net income or assets of this Society shall ever inure to the benefit of any councilor, officer or member thereof, or to the benefit of any private person..Upon the dissolution or winding up the Society, its assets shall be distributed to a non-profit fund, foundation, orcorporation which is organized and operated exclusively for scientific or educational purposes and which has established its tax exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.