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Constitution and Bylaws

PREAMBLE

Whereas the need exists for cohesive action on the part of the physicians, dentists and medical scientists who are graduates of medical schools and colleges affiliated with Osmania University and residing in the United States of America, it is hereby resolved that a non-profit organization be formed to maintain the identity of the said group of people, and to provide a forum for scientific, educational, cultural, charitable and social interaction among its members and other Osmania Medical Associations.

ARTICLE I - NAME

  1. The name of the Association shall be; Osmania University Medical Alumni Association of America Inc here in referred to as OUMA.
  2. OUMA shall maintain its office in the place designated by the Executive Committee of the Association.

ARTICLE II- OBJECTIVE

  1. To bring together physicians and dentists who are graduates of medical schools and colleges affiliated with Osmania University.
  2. The Association is organized exclusively for scientific educational, cultural and charitable purposes.
  3. To assist students of medicine, dentistry, and physicians and dentists of Osmania University to obtain scientific training in the United States.
  4. To conduct seminars and other educational programs to acquaint members about new scientific developments in the field of human medicine.
  5. To support and foster the availability of medical assistance to indigent people in the United States and India.
  6. To make contributions to other organizations (that qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501 c(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law).

ARTICLE III -RESTRICTIOINS AND DISSOLUTION

Section 3.1 Restrictions

No part of the net earning of the assets of the Association shall be used for the benefit of or be distributable to its members, officers or other private persons except that the Association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in Article II hereof The Association shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by a corporation exempt from Federal Income Tax under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Law or (b) by a corporation, contributions to which are deductible under section 170 of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue Law.

Section 3.2 Dissolution

Upon the dissolution of the Association, the Board of Trustees in conjunction with the Executive Committee shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all liabilities to the Association, dispose of all the assets of the association exclusively for the purposes of such associations or organizations, organized exclusively for charitable, religious, cultural or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 or the corresponding provisions of any Future United States Revenue Law. Any of such assets not in the jurisdiction of the state in which the principle office of the Association is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organizations as said court shall determine to be organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP

Section 4.1 General

Membership in OUMA shall be open to physicians and dentists who are graduates of medical schools or colleges that are affiliated with Osmania University or Kakatiya University and are residing in the United States.

Section 4.2 Categories of Membership

  1. Active Members: Physicians and dentists who are graduates of medical schools affiliated with Osmania University or Kakatiya University and are in private or academic practice in the United States.
  2. Associate Members: Associate members shall be graduates of schools associated with Osmania University or Kakatiya University engaged in professions or careers in the human sciences other than medicine and dentistry.
  3. Other Members: The Board Of Trustees and the Executive Committee may from time to time create special categories (e.g. Retired, Honorary, Distinguished) of membership.

Active members are:

  1. Annual dues paying members
  2. Patron (Life) members

Only Active members will have the right to vote on Association matters as provided herein.

Only active members can serve on a committee or be an officer.

Section 4.3 Qualification

Any person as set forth in Section 4.1 may attain membership in OUMA, provided that the applicant:

  1. Subscribes to the objectives of OUMA, abides by bylaws, rules and regulations, pays the prescribed dues and submits an application in the prescribed form.
  2. Receives the approval for membership by the Executive committee.

Section 4.4 Revocation

  1. Membership may be revoked of any member for deliberate violation of the Constitution and bylaws of the OUMA
  2. The President, with the approval of the Executive Committee, shall appoint a hearing committee, consisting of at least three active members, for investigation and recommendations regarding the revocation of the membership in question.
  3. The hearing committee shall follow normally accepted due process mechanisms and shall then submit its recommendations to the Executive Committee.
  4. The Executive Committee shall decide by two-thirds majority vote if the recommendations of the hearing committee should be accepted.

Section 4.5 Impeachment

  1. If any of the elected or appointed members misuses his/her office or is guilty of misconduct or violates the objectives of the Constitution and Bylaws for personal gain or misappropriates the funds of OUMA or falls foul of the law resulting in civil or criminal offense and conviction, he/she shall be liable for impeachment and/or forfeiture of their position immediately. Further, The Executive Committee is authorized to remove such person temporarily from the position held in the Association until the final results of the investigation are known.
  2. An impeachment procedure may be initiated by a signed petition from two thirds of the Executive Committee.
  3. After impeachment procedure is initiated, the Executive Committee shall appoint a hearing committee to investigate the allegation.
  4. An impeachment can be effected only if three fourths of the Executive Committee agrees on reasons for the impeachment by voting affirmatively.

ARTICLE V - ANNUAL CONVENTION

Section 5.1 Purpose

The Annual Convention shall serve as the Annual Meeting of the General Body and shall be held at the time designated by the Executive Committee, provided, however, that the Executive Committee shall call for a meeting of the General Body not less than 30 days before the meeting.

Section 5.2 Selection of the Site and Time

The Convention site and the exact date shall be selected in advance. The selection must be approved by the Executive Committee.

Section 5.3 Organization

The Executive Committee may appoint a Convention Chairman and Co-Chairman to organize the Annual Convention.

Section 5.4 Special Meetings

  1. The President may as he/she deems necessary or the Secretary shall, at written request of at least 20% of the voting members or of the majority of the Executive Committee, issue a call for a special meeting of the General Body.
  2. A quorum for any meeting of the General Body shall consist of 50% of the members registered for the meeting.

ARTICLE VI- ORGANIZATION OF THE CORPORATE BODY

Section 6.1 Components of the Corporate Body

The Corporation shall be made up of the General Body, Executive Committee and the Board of Trustees.

Section 6.2 General Body

  1. The General Body shall consist of dues paying and voting members as set forth in paragraph "D" of this section.
  2. Members shall be notified of all General Body meetings by mail at least 30 days before each general Body meeting.
  3. The National Convention and the General Body meetings shall be open to all members.
  4. Attendance at the General Body meeting of 50% of registered for the meeting constitutes a quorum.

Section 6.3 Executive committee

The Executive Committee shall provide leadership arid execute policies as approved by the General Body.

  1. The Executive Committee shall be made up of the President, President Elect, immediate Past President, Secretary, Treasurer and five Regional Directors, at least one from each region (Northeast, Southeast. Midwest, and West, and Southwest). The Executive Committee shall have the authority to act for and on behalf of the Corporation in the recess of the General Body.
  2. Contracts, deeds, documents and instruments shall be executed by the President and attested by the Secretary or the Treasurer unless the Executive Committee shall in particular situation designate another procedure for their execution.
  3. Checks, note, drafts and demands for money shall be signed by the officer or officers designated from time to time by the Executive Committee. In the event no designation is made by the Executive Committee, checks, notes, drafts and demands for money may be signed by any two officers.
  4. Only active members of the Organization as described by Article IV shall be eligible for nomination and election to these offices.
  5. The Executive Committee shall meet in person or over the telephone (teleconference) three times a year. One such meeting shall occur during the Annual Convention and will constitute the Annual Meeting of the executive committee.
    1. Special meetings. The President may as he/she deems necessary or the Secretary shall at the written request of majority of members of the Executive Committee issue a call for a Special Meeting of the Executive Committee.
    2. Notice of every meeting of the Executive Committee except the Annual Meeting, for which no notice shall be required, shall be given by the Secretary to each member of the Executive Committee not less than seven but more than thirty days prior to the meeting. All such notices shall be by the Secretary and shall specify the place, date and time for the meeting.
  6. A quorum for any meeting of the Executive Committee shall consist of at least 50% of the executive Committee officers eligible to vote at such a meeting.

Section 6.4 Board of Trustees

The Board of Trustees shall keep residual ultimate authority in the OUMA for ensuring its fiscal welfare and stability. It will not interfere with regular operations of the OUMA, which will remain as provided for in the Constitution and Bylaws document. It will be involved in long range planning. In case of crisis, it shall act as mediator, to resolve the dispute and its decision then would be binding. It will be the Custodian of all the assets of the OUMA and will be the caretaker body at the time of dissolution.

  1. The Board of Trustees shall be made up of seven persons as follows:
    1. Three Trustees shall be from the past Presidents of the OUMA.
    2. Four Trustees shall be elected from active members.
  2. A trustee's term shall be for three years.
  3. Chairman of the Board of Trustees will be elected by and from the Board of Trustees.
  4. Chairman of the Board of Trustees will be the Ex-Officio member of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE VII -- DUTIES OF OFFICERS

The term of office will be two years.

Section 7.1 President

The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Association and shall perform all duties incident to the office of the President and such other duties as may be designated by the Executive Committee. He/she shall preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Executive Committee. He/she shall make such appointments as are required or authorized by the constitution and by the Executive Committee. He/she may sign with the Secretary or any other proper officer of the Association authorized by the Executive Committee, any deeds, mortgages, bonds, contracts or other instruments which the Executive Committee has authorized to be executed, except in cases where the signing and execution thereof shall be expressly delegated by the Executive Committee to some other agent of the Association. He/she shall designate all official delegates and representatives to other organizations; necessary to further the Association's objectives and he/ she may discontinue any such committee when its purpose has been served or its purpose is no loner desirable or attainable, in constitution with the Executive Committee. The President and members of the Executive Committee would be jointly responsible to the General Body and shall be responsible to one another.

Section 7.2 President Elect

The President Elect shall assists the President and fulfill his/her duties in his/her absence or as needed. He/she shall automatically succeed to the office of the President at the end of the term and shall perform such other duties as he/she is assigned by the President.

Section 7.3 Past President

THE PAST PRESIDENT SHALL:

  1. Become Chairman of the Nomination Committee (see Article IX) and Election Officer.

Section 7.4 Secretary

THE SECRETARY SHALL:

  1. Keep an account of all the minutes of all meetings;
  2. Maintain an updated list of all members of the OUMA;
  3. Issue an agenda of all regular and special meetings after consultation with the Executive Committee;
  4. Keep a copy of all official correspondence of and to the organization, including newsletters and program brochures for the activities of the organization and reports submitted by the Committee's Chairpersons;
  5. Keep an attendance record of all meetings of the organization;
  6. Be custodian of the Constitution, Bylaws and amendments to, of the organization;
  7. Notify the committee members of their appointments and their assigned duties;
  8. See that all books, reports, statements, certificates and other documents and records required by law to he maintained are properly kept and filed;
  9. Perform such duties and exercise such other powers as may be assigned by the Executive Committee in the same capacity;
  10. Be a member of the Executive Committee in the same capacity;
  11. Be responsible for transferring all the records of the organization within thirty days after the Annual Meeting to the incoming Secretary; and
  12. Keep a list of authorized delegates for the current year.

Section 7.5 Treasurer

  1. Unless otherwise directed by the Executive Committee, The Treasurer will be the sole fiscal officer of the Organization and the only authorized person empowered to have custody of the monetary assets of the Organization.
  2. Be responsible for issuing notice and collection of all dues and deposit the same in such banks or trust companies as the Executive Committee may designate. He/she will be in charge of all the accounts of the Association.
  3. Have custody of all accounts, receipts and disbursements, which shall be open at all reasonable times to inspection by the Executive Committee.
  4. Submit a financial report to the Executive Committee at its Annual Meeting and at regularly held Executive Committee meetings. If the executive Committee requires, he/she shall give a bond with such surety and in such amount as the Executive Committee may designate;
  5. Perform such other duties and exercise such other powers and duties incident to the office of the Treasurer and as may be assigned by the Executive Committee or required by law;
  6. Transfer to the next Treasurer within thirty days of the assumption of office by the latter, all accounts of the Organization.
  7. File all income tax returns with the IRS for the year in which the office was held.

ARTICE VIII - GENERAL BODY MEETINGS AND AGENDA

  1. Robert's Rules of order shall govern all meetings of this Association in all cases where they are applicable, except where they are inconsistent with the Constitution and Bylaws of OUMA.
  2. The Executive Committee will recommend the agenda of the General Body meeting and the special meeting.
  3. Any member who wishes to bring new business matters before the General Body meeting shall submit such business in writing to the Secretary at least seven days prior to the General Body for the Executive Committee's decision on whether to include it in the agenda.
  4. Items not placed on the agenda by the Executive Committee for consideration at the General Body meeting may only be placed on the agenda during the General Body meeting only with the affirmative vote of at least a majority of the active voting members present.
  5. Time shall be provided at each meeting for members to introduce a question, which, when approved by the majority, would be placed on the agenda for future discussion during the same meeting or subsequent meetings.

ARTICLE IX - COMMITTEES

Section 9.1 Committee Nomenclature

STANDING COMMITTEES:

The term of each Standing Committee shall be two years. The following shall be the standing committees:

  1. Constitution and Bylaws Committee
  2. Nomination Committee
  3. Charitable Foundation
  4. CME

Section 9.2 Committee Chair

The term of office of each Committee Chair will be two years. It can be renewed by reappointment by the President and the Executive Committee. The Chair of each committee shall be appointed by the President. The President shall be ex-officio member of all the committees, except the Nomination Committee.

Section 9.3 Quorum

A majority of the members of any committee shall constitute a quorum for any meeting of the committee.

Section 9.4 Minutes of Committee Proceedings

Each committee shall submit the minutes of its meetings to the Secretary no later than fourteen days after the meeting.

Section 9.5 Constitution and Bylaws Committee

  1. The Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall consist of at least three members. The President Elect shall be the Chairman of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee.
  2. It will be the Committee's responsibility to review the Constitution and Bylaws at least once a year and endorse or suggest any amendments as needed for consideration by the Executive Committee and the General Body. In addition, the Committee should also review any amendment proposed by active members of the General Body and submit them with the Committee's recommendations and comments thereon to the Executive Committee at least thirty days prior to the Annual Meeting.

Section 9.6 Nomination Committee

  1. The Executive Committee shall appoint a Nomination Committee consisting of three members actively involved and familiar with the working of the Association
  2. The Past President, being a senior member of the Executive Committee will be the Chairman of the Committee unless otherwise determined by the Executive Committee.

Members of the committee would be:

  1. Past President (Chair)
  2. Two people from the General Body

The Committee shall be charged with the responsibilities:

To receive nominations for the following:

  1. President elect
  2. Secretary
  3. Treasurer
  4. Board of Trustees
  5. Regional Directors

To evaluate qualifications of the nominees for various positions according to the following guidelines:

  1. Standing in the community and the Association
  2. Commitment to the goals of OUMA
  3. Experience in the work of the OUMA. The President Elect should have served in the Association for two years.
  4. Willingness of the candidates to devote time and effort to the work of the Association
  5. To nominate suitable candidates by a majority vote in the committee.
  6. To present a slate of nominees at least six weeks before the Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE X - DUES

Section 10.1 Determination of Annual Dues

Annual dues will be determined by the Executive Committee and approved by the General Body during the Annual meeting.

ARTICLE XI - ELECTIONS

Section 11.1 Nominations

The Nominating Committee shall meet at least four months prior to the scheduled date of elections and shall call for nominations for officers.

Section 11.2 Announcement of the Slate of Candidates

  1. The Nomination Committee shall, not less than six weeks prior to the election, announce a slate of candidates for available positions.
  2. Any member in good standing can make alternative nominations to the Chairman of the Nominating Committee within two weeks of the announcement of the slate of candidates.

Section 11.3 The Election Process

  1. Elections will be conducted on the basis of one member, one vote. The Executive Committee will appoint a member as Election Officer to conduct the election. He/she may appoint one or more members to help conduct the election.
  2. Election will be by acclamation or by secret ballot when necessary.
  3. The Election Officer will be responsible to receive the ballots, to supervise their counting and tabulation, and declare the results. Ballots should be stored until the next election.
  4. If any member entitled to vote at a meeting of the General Body requests the appointment of inspectors, the presiding officer at said meeting shall appoint one or more inspectors who shall oversee the conduct of the election by the Chief Election Officer and his committee.

Section 11.4 Resignation or Death of Elected or Nominated Officials

Vacancies arising from death or resignation of elected official(s) should be filled by the President and confirmed by the Executive Committee at its next meeting. However, if similar circumstances arise after nomination, or if the nominee declines before the election, the Nominating committee will propose another candidate. In the case of death of the President Elect, the election should he conducted by mail ballot.

ARTICLE XII - AMENDMENTS AND ADOPTION

Section 12.1 Amendments

These Bylaws may be amended, repealed or altered in whole or in part by two thirds majority vote of any organized meeting of the General Body. Any voting member of OUMA can introduce the proposed amendment by any one of the following methods:

  1. Introduced in any General Body or Executive Committee meeting with at least ten signatures of voting members.
  2. Submitted at least three weeks before the commencement of the General Body Meeting to the Chairman of Bylaws Committee for consideration and discussion and presentation by the Committee chairman in subsequent meeting.

The amendment can only be voted on in the General Body meeting, where if approved by two-thirds majority, would be incorporated in the Constitution as an amendment.

Tax Exempt Status under 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code Tax ID# 52-1612092 received on 09/21/1995 from the Internal Revenue Service.

 


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The Mission of OGKMA is to bring together graduates of Osmania University - Osmania, Gandhi, and Kakatiya medical colleges and to function as a venue for charitable, educational and cultural activities that allow members to share common ideas and discuss concerns.