Bylaws - Society for Fetal Urology

The Society for Fetal Urology, hereafter referred to as the “Society,” has been established as an academic forum for members with an interest in clinical and research aspects of fetal and perinatal genitourinary diseases, emphasizing hydronephrosis. The purpose of this Society is to enhance the quality of physician training, research, and patient care in these areas.

The Society and its bylaws shall conform to the guidelines and bylaws of the AUA. Projects in the areas of internal government, legislation or public relations shall be undertaken only with the advice and consent of the AUA.

Article I – Name

The name of this organization shall be The Society for Fetal Urology.

Article II – Objectives

To improve the care of patients with fetal or perinatal urological problems, especially hydronephrosis by:
1. providing an opportunity for the exchange and dissemination of information in these areas;
2. stimulating clinical and basic laboratory research in these areas;
3. facilitating and improving residency and post-graduate education in these areas.
To be available as consultants to the AUA, American Board of Urology, AAP Section on Urology, Society of University Urologists, and the Journal of Urology on matters relating to fetal and perinatal urology, especially hydronephrosis.
To bring into membership in the Society urologists with a commitment to fetal and perinatal urology, especially hydronephrosis.
To solicit and encourage participation in Society activities by specialists in related disciplines with a commitment to fetal and perinatal urology, especially hydronephrosis.

Article III – Membership There shall be two categories of membership in the Society, full membership and associate membership. Full membership will require individuals to meet the following qualifications:

American Board of Urology certification or its foreign equivalent, or those candidates applying less than two years after having completed an approved urological residency, provided they become Board certified within the time specified by the Board to remain Board eligible.
Applicant should have demonstrated interest concerning any aspect of fetal and/or perinatal urology, especially hydronephrosis. Have a practice that is at least 80{7398ca83d8cdcd71385d02472d8ae14e5bd1376dfb98cd474804746384956fcb} pediatrics. Active participation in the ongoing clinical studies with the requirements being determined by a consensus of the majority of the membership.
Any exception to the above requirements may be considered by the Executive Committee after a special request is made by the Membership Committee.

Associate Membership will require individuals to meet the following qualifications:

Specific research interest, training or clinical practice that overlaps with pediatric urologic care of antenatal genitourinary abnormalities;
Work at an institution where there is a board certified urologist who is a member of the Society for Fetal Urology or associated with an active member in their area or 2 letters of recommendation from members in good standing if no active member is in their area;
Recommendation by a full member to the Secretary.

The membership application, obtained from the Secretary’s office shall be completed and returned thereto. After it is recorded, it shall be reviewed by the Secretary of the Society, then be presented to the Executive Committee for approval. The approved candidate shall be presented at the next biannual meeting for final approval by a vote of the membership.

Membership in the Society may be terminated by resignation, failure of payment of annual dues, or by the unanimous action of the Executive Committee for the Society for cause and with the right of appeal to the Executive Committee of the Society. The Secretary shall notify the member of the proposed action and shall notify the member of the final decision.

Article IV – Officers

The officers shall be elected by active members at the annual meeting. The officers of the Society shall consist of a President, a Vice-President (President-elect) and a Secretary-Treasurer.

Article V – Executive Committee of the Society

The Executive Committee shall consist of eight elected members of the Society: the President, the Secretary-Treasurer, the Past President, the Vice-President (President-elect), the Program Chairman who shall be the Vice-President (President-elect), and four Members-at-large, two of whom shall be chosen from the foreign membership.

One member of the Society shall be elected to serve as President for a period of one year. One member of the Society shall be elected to serve as the Vice-President. The Vice-President shall be the President-elect, who shall be elected one year in advance to succeed the President in office. One member of the Society shall be elected to serve as Secretary-Treasurer for a period of three years. Four members of the Society shall be elected to serve as Members-at-large of the Executive Committee for a period of three years with a maximum of five years(this should be staggered). Two international members will be chosen.

One member of the Society shall be elected to serve as President for a period of one year. One member of the Society shall be elected to serve as the Vice-President. The Vice-President shall be the President-elect, who shall be elected one year in advance to succeed the President in office. One member of the Society shall be elected to serve as Secretary-Treasurer for a period of three years. Three members of the Society shall be elected to serve as a Members-at-large of the Executive Committee for a period of three years (this should be staggered). One member shall be chosen from the foreign membership. The past President, following his/her year of serving as past President shall become the Chairman of the Nominating Committee to serve one additional year. The Chairman of the Nominating Committee will recommend two additional members from the membership to serve.

In the event that an elected member of the Executive Committee shall resign before the end of his/her term, or otherwise be unable to complete it, the President, in consultation with the remaining Executive Committee members, shall have the power to select and appoint a Society member to fill this vacancy for the balance of this term. The especially elected member will be eligible for reelection.

In the event that the President shall resign before the end of his/her term or otherwise be unable to complete it, the remaining Executive Committee members shall elect one from among themselves to assume this position for the balance of the term. The Executive Committee member who fills such a vacancy shall be eligible for election to one full term as Society President.

Section I – Meeting of the Executive Committee

There shall be two scheduled meetings of the Executive Committee which take place just prior to the biannual meetings. Additional meetings may be called at the discretion of the Chairman of the Executive Committee.

Place: The date, time, and place shall be selected by the Executive Committee.
Quorum: Simple majority shall be considered a quorum.
Attendance: All officers and elected members of the Executive Committee are expected to attend all meetings of the Executive Committee. Chairmen of committees may be invited when a committee report is due.

Section II – Duties of the Executive Committee

To conduct the affairs of the Society during the interim between the biannual meetings.
Review all applications for memberships submitted by the Secretary and accept or reject said applications.
Review proposed amendments and policy changes for presentation at the biannual meeting. Recommendation for action shall be determined and presented to the entire membership for a vote at the biannual meeting.
Review the format of the Scientific Session for the biannual meeting.
Select the date, time and place for the biannual meeting.
Fill by appointment any vacancy in office except the President and President Elect.
Determine the amount of initiation fee and dues for all types of membership.
Serve as the scientific review committee for data collected, distributed and published for the Society activities.

Article VI – Meetings The Society shall meet biannually. The meetings shall be held in conjunction with the annual meetings of the American Urological Association and American Academy of Pediatrics, Section on Urology. Additional meetings may be held as determined by the Executive Committee. At each meeting, approximately one half of the meeting will be involved with research and clinical topics respectively.

Article VII – Committees

The President shall appoint, at his or her discretion, the following committees annually and designate one member to serve as Chairman:

Nominating Committee – the Nominating Committee shall consist of the former Past President and two members to be elected from the membership at the biannual meetings. The Past President shall serve as Chairman of the Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall submit a slate of candidates for each vacated office at the biannual meetings. Nomination may be made from the floor. Election will be by majority vote at the biannual meetings.
Program Committee – the President-elect shall function as the Program Chairman for the biannual meetings. This Committee is charged with the plans and preparations of the biannual meetings.
Membership Committee – the Secretary-Treasurer shall obtain all pertinent data and make all investigations needed concerning an applicant to ensure sufficient basis for approval of membership. Members should be approved by the Executive Committee prior to each biannual meeting. At each biannual meeting, the Secretary-Treasurer will present new applicants for vote.

Article VIII – Dues

The fiscal year will begin on January first. Annual dues, as determined by the Executive Committee and approved by the membership, shall be payable prior to the Spring meeting of the American Urological Association. Dues will be determined by the Executive Committee and are separate from fees at the biannual meetings. The registration fee at the biannual meetings will also be determined by the Executive Committee.

Article IX – Amendments

Any member of the Society may originate a proposed change in the By-laws of the Society or an amendment thereto at the time of the annual fall meeting of the Society. The proposal will be considered by the Executive Committee. If it is not found at variance with the objectives of the Society, the proposal shall be circulated to the members of the Society at least one month before the next meeting. It shall then be placed on the agenda for consideration. All proposals require majority approval by the Society membership for implementation.

Article X – Parliamentary Authority

“Robert’s Rules of Order, Revised” shall be the parliamentary authority for all proceedings of the Society.

Article XI – Duties of Officers

Duties of the Executive Committee of the Society:
1. members shall attend the biannual meetings of the Society and other meetings of the Executive Committee that may be held;
2. it shall act as consultant to the AUA, the AAP Section on Urology, the American Board of Urology and the Journal of Urology in matters relating to fetal and perinatal urology;
3. it shall determine the program for the biannual meetings of the Society; d.it shall serve as the scientific review committee.
  1. Duties of the President of the Society:
    1. he/she shall preside at the biannual meetings of the Society and meeting of the Executive Committee of the Society. In his/her absence, he/she shall assign this responsibility to another member of the Executive Committee;
    2. he/she shall appoint chairman and members to the standing committees of the Society. He/she may designate additional special committees as necessary and appoint their members;
    3. he/she shall receive the reports of all the standing and special committees;
    4. he/she shall be responsible for liaison with other scientific and professional Societies;
    5. he/she shall prepare an annual report to the Executive Committee;
    6. he/she shall be a member ex-officio of all standing and special committees of the Society and shall receive the reports of the special and action committees;
    7. he/she shall make an annual report, in writing, and whenever possible in person, of the activities of the Society to the American Urologic Association/AAP Section on Urology.
  2. Duties of the Secretary-Treasurer of the Society:
    1. he/she shall prepare an agenda for the biannual meetings of the Society and for meetings of the Executive Committee;
    2. he/she shall take the minutes of the annual meeting of the Society and meetings of the Executive Committee;
    3. he/she shall record requests for membership in the Society and completed applications received by the Executive Committee. He/she shall instruct applicants to process applications in accordance with instructions with the Society. He/she shall chair the Membership Committee. He/she shall be responsible for forwarding completed applications to the Executive Committee and notifying applicants of Committee action;
    4. he/she shall distribute an annual roster of the members of the Society, a copy of the minutes of the biannual meetings of the Society, a list of activities or information of interest to members of the Society, and the agenda for upcoming meetings;
    5. he/she shall contract for and arrange the various luncheons and dinner meetings of the Society and the meetings of the Society and the meetings of the Executive Committee of the Society;
    6. he/she shall notify members regarding their appointment to copies of such notification to the Executive Committee;
    7. he/she shall give due notice of all meetings of the Society and of the Executive Committee;
    8. he/she shall carry out such other duties as are assigned by the President of the Society;
    9. he/she shall be responsible for the collection of dues and shall make a financial report at each annual meeting.

Article XII – Quorum

A quorum for the biannual meetings of the Society shall consist of one fourth of the current Society enrollment.
A quorum for the meetings of the Executive Committee shall consist of three members.

Clauses

Notwithstanding any other provisions of these articles, the organization is organized exclusively for one or more of the purposes as specified in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, and shall not carry on any activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under IRC 501(c)(3) or corresponding provisions of any subsequent tax laws.
No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of any member, trustee, director, officer of the organization, or any private individual (except that reasonable compensation may be paid for services rendered to or for the organization), and no member, trustee, officer of the organization or any private individual shall be entitled to share in the distribution of any of the organization’s assets on dissolution of the organization.
No substantial part of the activities of the organization shall be carrying on propaganda, or otherwise attempting to influence legislation (except as otherwise provided by IRC 501(h)) or participating in, or intervening in (including the publication or distribution of statements), any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidates for public office.
In the event of dissolution, all of the remaining assets and property of the organization shall after payment of necessary expenses thereof be distributed to such organizations as shall qualify under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or corresponding provisions of any subsequent Federal tax laws, or to the Federal government or State or local government for a public purpose, subject to the approval of a Justice of the Supreme Court of the State of Connecticut.
In any taxable year in which the organization is a private foundation as described in IRC 509(a), the organization shall distribute its income for said period at such time and manner as not to subject it to tax under IRC 4942, and the organization shall not a) engage in any act of self-dealing as defined in IRC 4941(d), b) retain any excess business holdings as defined in IRC 4943(c), c) make any investments in such a manner as to subject the organization to tax under IRC 4944, or d) make any taxable expenditures as defined in IRC 4945(d) or corresponding provisions of any subsequent Federal tax laws.

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