BYLAWS FOR THE ARIZONA CHAPTER OF THE AMERICAN PHYSIOLOGICAL SOCIETY
ARTICLE 1: NAME
The name of the Chapter is The Arizona Physiological Society and
hereafter will be referred to as the “Society”.
ARTICLE II: PURPOSE
The purpose of the Society is to promote the discipline of
physiology; advance physiological research and teaching; facilitate
teaching and research forums for students and young investigators, and
to encourage interaction and fellowship among individuals interested in
the physiological sciences and related fields within the state of
Arizona. The organization is organized for scientific purposes under
section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section
of any future federal tax code.
ARTICLE III: PRINCIPAL OFFICE
The Society will conduct the secretarial and financial functions of
the Chapter within the administrative offices of the Department of
Physiology at the University of Arizona until the Executive Committee
deems it necessary to relocate to a different location.
ARTICLE IV: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1: The Society shall consist of Regular, Post-Doctoral
Trainees and Graduate Student Members, and of Undergraduate Student
Members, and Emeriti.
Section 2: A regular member is one who possesses an earned
degree in the biological or cognate sciences and who has conducted
physiological research and/or assumed teaching responsibilities in these
areas within the state of Arizona. All Members who are current with
their dues’ payment have the privilege of voting on Society matters.
Section 3: Regular and emeritus members of the American
Physiological Society (APS) shall be eligible for membership in the
Arizona Physiological Society without review and upon payment of dues.
Section 4: Membership in the Society shall be open to all
persons interested in physiology and/or biophysics independent of
National or international affiliation.
Section 5: A Post-Doctoral Trainee Member is one who possesses
a doctoral degree in the biological or cognate sciences and is engaged
in an approved institutional training program to enhance research
competency. Post-Doctoral Trainee Members have the privilege of voting
on society matters. If a member of APS, the individual is automatically
eligible to become a member of the Society without review and upon
payment of dues. If not a member of APS, the individual is to submit a
letter of intent to the Membership Committee with a complete curriculum
vitae and a certifying letter from either the departmental program
director or a faculty member who is a Regular Member of the Society.
Section 6: A Graduate Student Member is one who possesses a
B.S. or M.S. degree or equivalent in the biological or cognate sciences
and is enrolled in an approved education program to secure an advanced
degree in the biological or cognate sciences. Graduate Student Members
have the privilege of voting on society matters. Any APS Graduate
Student Member is eligible for membership without review and upon
payment of dues. If not a member of APS, the individual is to submit a
letter of intent to the Membership Committee with a complete curriculum
vitae and a certifying letter from either the departmental program
director or their faculty advisor.
Section 7: An Undergraduate Student Member is one with an
interest in physiology who is pursuing a B.S. or equivalent degree in
the biological or cognate sciences. To become eligible for membership,
the individual is to submit a letter of intent to the Membership
Committee with details of their educational experiences and a
endorsement letter from either a responsible departmental official or
regular member or officer of the Society. No individual can remain in
this category longer than five years without reapplying.
Section 8: An Emeritus Member meets the requirements of, and
retains the same privileges as, a Regular Member but pays a reduced fee
if that person (1) has reached the age of 65 and is retired from regular
employment or (2) has been forced to retire because of illness or
disability.
Section 9: The Membership Committee may initiate action to
remove members who do not adequately respond to charges of
misrepresentation of eligibility for membership within the Society. The
Chairperson of the Membership Committee will forward a recommendation to
the President for discussion at the next annual meeting. A member will
be removed from the Society if two-thirds of the voting membership
approve.
ARTICLE V: DUES
Section 1: The annual dues for members with or without voting
privileges shall be determined by the Executive Committee. They are to
be paid in full at the time of the annual meeting and are not
refundable.
Section 2: Any member whose dues are two years in arrears
shall cease to be an active member of the Society. Payment of dues will
allow reinstatement of an active membership status.
ARTICLE VI GOVERANCE
Section 1: The governance of the Society shall reside in an
Executive Committee.
Section 2: The officers of the Executive Committee shall be a
President, President-Elect, Secretary-Treasurer, a Post-Doctoral
Trainee, and a Graduate Student Representative.
Section 3: The terms of office shall be two years for the
President, one year for the President-Elect, three years for the
Secretary-Treasurer, one year for the Post Doctoral Trainee, and one
year for the Graduate Student Representative. No individual can serve
without a break two consecutive terms in the same elected office, except
for the President Elect.
Section 4: The duties of the President are to call meetings of
the Executive Committee and the Society, select the keynote speaker,
serve as host for the annual meeting, and function as Chairperson of the
Nominating Committee. When necessary, the President will Chair the
Program Committee. The President-Elect is to serve as President in
his/her absence, function as Chairperson of the Program Committee, and
after one year, assumes the office of the presidency. The
Secretary-Treasurer will assume responsibility for all secretarial and
financial matters of the Society that include, but are not limited to,
the recording and reporting minutes of the annual meeting, serving as
Chairperson of the Membership Committee, the preparation and supervision
of a Society budget that has received Executive Committee approval, and
the filing of any income taxes.
Section 5: In no circumstance will the continuity of
governance be interrupted. In the event that the President-Elect is
unable to fulfill the duties of the President, the Immediate
Past-President will assume these responsibilities until a proper
election is scheduled.
ARTICLE VII: COMMITTEES
Section 1: The Nominating Committee shall consist of Regular
Members and at least one member from the Executive Committee with the
President serving as Chairperson. Their recommendations must be
cognizant of the bylaws listed in Section 3 of Article VI.
Section 2: The Program Committee shall consist of all members
of the Executive Committee with either the President-Elect or the
President serving as Chairperson.
Section 3: The Membership Committee shall consist of Regular
Members and at least one member from the Executive Committee with the
Secretary-Treasurer serving as Chairperson.
a. It is the responsibility of the Chairperson to recommend to
the Executive Committee the names of non-APS members who warrant
regular membership. This status is assured with majority votes.
The same procedure exists with the other membership categories.
Section 4: The Chairperson of any standing committee has the
authority to appoint members from the Society for a one year term to
assist in the functioning of the committee.
ARTICLE VIII: NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 1: Elections shall be conducted and finalized at the
annual meeting until such time when electronic balloting can be
implemented.
Section 2: It is the responsibility of the Nominations
Committee to seek nominations from the membership well in advance of the
annual meeting and to have candidates identified at the time when a call
for abstracts is announced.
Section 3: The list of nominees shall be presented in the form
of a ballot with officers being elected by majority vote.
a. At the inaugural election, voting will be for the offices of
President, Secretary-Treasurer, the Post-Doctoral Trainee, and for
the Graduate Student Representative. Eligibility will be determined
by APS membership and by procedures initiated by the Inaugural
Planning Committee.
ARTICLE IX: MEETINGS
Section 1: The Society shall schedule an annual meeting and
specify its location as recommended by the President and the Program
Committee, and approved by the Executive Committee.
Section 2: A business meeting for all members of the Society
shall be held at the annual meeting.
a. The business meeting will be conducted in accordance with
Roberts Rules of Order.
Section 3: The Executive Committee and the Program Committee
will schedule the annual meeting during the fall and winter months
within the facilities of the University of Arizona during the
developmental years and until such times when other institutions request
alternate sites.
ARTICLE X: QUORUM
Section 1: A quorum for the transaction of the business of the
Society shall be those members who are present at the meeting.
ARTICLE XI: DISSOLUTION
Section 1: Upon the dissolution of this organization, assets
shall be distributed to the American Physiological Society for one or
more exempt purposes within the meaning of section 501(c)(3) of the
Internal Revenue Service.
ARTICLE XII: AMENDMENTS
Section 1: Bylaws may be amended at any scheduled or special
meeting of the Society when two-thirds of the voting membership favor
approval.
Section 2: A notice of impending amendments must be sent to
the voting membership at least 30 days prior to a scheduled meeting.
ARTICLE XIII: REGULATIONS
Section 1: The Society shall be operated as a non-profit
organization.
ARTICLE XIV: GENERAL
Section 1: The Society shall function with a concern for
affirmative action, equal opportunity and organizational diversity for
all its members.
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