REPORT OF COUNCIL ON CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS
CCB Report 6-A-06
Subject: Elimination of One-Year Waiting Period for Emeritus Membership
Presented by: Ira Bell III, MD, Chair
Referred to: Reference Committee on Financial and Organizational Affairs
TMA Bylaws say that the House of Delegates, upon nomination by the Board of Councilors and approval by the county medical society to which the member belongs, may elect to the status of emeritus membership any TMA member who has rendered exceptional and distinguished service to scientific or organized medicine. The nomination must be held by the Board of Councilors for a period of one year before the house can act on the nomination.
In actuality, the county society nominates the TMA member, and the Board of Councilors approves the nomination before submitting the nomination to the house. The purpose of a waiting period is to give members an opportunity to object to the nomination. This requirement may have been necessary in the past when communication was not as instantaneous as it is today. In addition, because the designation is being requested by a member society and the Board of Councilors, this kind of membership vetting already has occurred, making the one-year waiting period redundant. The board reports that no nomination has been challenged.
The council recommends a bylaws amendment to eliminate the waiting period and rearrange language to accurately reflect the nomination and approval process.
Recommendation 1 : Amend Chapter 1, Membership, Section 1.202, Emeritus, as follows:
Upon nomination of the Board of Councilors and the approval of the by the county medical society to which the member belongs and approval by the Board of Councilors , the House of Delegates may elect to the status of emeritus membership any association member who has rendered exceptional and distinguished service to scientific or organized medicine. Such nomination shall be held by the Board of Councilors for a period of one year before recommendation is made to the House of Delegates. A two-thirds majority of the house shall be required for election. The distinction thus conferred may not be removed except by action of the House of Delegates upon recommendation by the Board of Councilors.
TMA House of Delegates: TexMed 2006
Last Updated On
June 24, 2010
Originally Published On
March 23, 2010