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Medical College of Virginia Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University WOMEN IN MEDICINE & SCIENCE FACULTY ORGANIZATION

BYLAWS of the Organization

ARTICLE I: Purpose

1. To support and promote the career development of women faculty in the school of medicine.
2. To promote scientific and teaching excellence in women faculty of the school of medicine.
3. To facilitate affirmative action programs for women.
4. To increase the representation, participation and leadership of women in the organizational structure of the school of medicine and its standing committees.
5. To promote equity for women with regard to faculty status, salary, and promotion and tenure.
6. To promote the leadership skills, political connections, and academic policies required for success at the Medical College of Virginia Campus of Virginia Commonwealth University.
7. To facilitate communication and networking among women in medicine at the undergraduate, post-graduate, and faculty levels.
8. To provide mentorship and support for women housestaff, faculty, and medical and graduate students.
9. To eliminate sex discrimination and sexual harassment at all levels in the medical school.
10. To promote awareness, education, research and access with regard to women's health issues.
11. To sponsor and support high-quality faculty development opportunities for all faculty within the school of medicine.
12. To build a supportive community of women physicians and scientists, from both within and outside of academic health centers that will nurture the development of current and future women in medicine.

ARTICLE II: Membership

1. Membership in this organization is open to those who meet the qualifications for membership, pay the membership fees as determined by the organization, and comply with these bylaws.
2. There will be two categories of members:
   

   FULL MEMBERS:

   1. Full-time or part-time faculty of the School of Medicine

   ASSOCIATE MEMBERS:

   1. Medical and Graduate Students in the School of Medicine
   2. Physicians in post-graduate training programs at the Medical College of Virginia
   3. Alumni of the MCV School of Medicine and its post-graduate training programs.
   4. Retired faculty.
      
3. The annual dues for Full Members shall be $30. The annual dues for Associate Members (other than students) shall be $15. Student memberships shall be free.
4. Failure of any member to pay the annual dues shall be cause for termination of membership. Dues shall be payable by January 1st in order to maintain membership for that academic year.
5. The MCV Women in Medicine organization may reprimand or expel any member for conduct which is determined to be detrimental to the best interests of the organization. Such action shall require a two thirds majority vote of the executive council. The member against whom such action is taken shall be afforded the opportunity to be heard according to reasonable procedures established by the council.

ARTICLE III: Officers

1. The Officers of the organization shall be President, President-Elect, Immediate Past-President, Treasurer and Secretary. No person may be elected to more than one office concurrently. All officers must be Full Members of the organization.
2. Nominations for slates of officers shall be proposed by the nominating committee.
3. The officers shall be elected by ballot of the members. Term of office shall be one year with the right of renewal for one additional term.
4. Duties of the officers:

   Section 1. Past-President

   The duties of the Past-President shall include (1) serving as an advisor to the officers and the Executive Council (2) serving as a voting member of the Executive Council, and (3) serving as Chairperson of the Nominating Committee.

   Section 2. President

   The President shall manage and direct the overall functioning of the organization. The specific duties of the president shall include (1) serving as Chairperson of the Executive Council, (2) presiding at the general business portion of all meetings, (3) calling special meetings as needed, (4) appointing members to the Nominating Committee and to special ad hoc committees as needed, (5) filling any vacancy that arises on the Council with the approval of the Executive Council, (6) presenting an Annual report to the membership at the spring meeting with subsequent publication of this report in the Newsletter, and (7) assuring that incoming Officers and Chairpersons are properly oriented.

   Section 3. President-Elect

   The president-elect shall (1) serve as a voting member of the Executive Council and (2) assist the President and act in the President's absence.

   Section 4. Secretary

   The duties of the Secretary shall include (1) taking and keeping all minutes of the Executive Council and of the business portion of all general meetings, (2) keeping reports on file when appropriate, (3) handling the correspondence of the group, (4) notifying members of the Executive Council of meeting dates, and (5) maintaining the archives of the association.

   Section 5. Treasurer

   The duties of the Treasurer shall include (1) handling all funds of the organization, (2) paying all bills, (3) keeping accounts of all expenditures and receipts of the group, (4) making monthly status reports to the Executive Council, and (5) submitting an annual written report of the budget to the Executive Council and to the membership at the general spring meeting.

ARTICLE IV: Executive Council

1. The Executive Council will consist of the following:
   • The Officers of the organization
   • The Chairpersons of all the committees
   • Student Delegates (one elected representative from each medical school class)(4)
   • Housestaff Delegates (2 elected representatives)
   • Members at Large: 6 elected members at large
   • Ex-officio (non-voting) members of the Executive Council shall include the Women's Liaison Officer (WLO) to the AAMC, the Chair of the Committee on the Status of Women and Minorities, and the Associate Dean for Faculty Development and Instructional Design.
2. All members of the Executive Council, except as noted, are entitled to vote on matters that come before the council.

ARTICLE V: Committees of the organization

1. Membership on committees is open to all members, regardless of membership status. However, all committee chairs shall be Full Members of the organization. Committee chairs are appointed by the president and serve a one-year term of office. Chairs may be relieved of their positions at the discretion of the president, with concurrence of the Executive Council. Committee members shall be entitled to vote on matters that come before the committee.
   1. Membership Committee: This committee shall maintain the roster of members, and recruit new members.
   2. Newsletter Committee: This committee shall write, edit, publish and circulate our organizational newsletter.
   3. Nominating Committee: This committee shall recruit potential candidates to serve as officers of the organization.
   4. Professional Development and Programming Committee: This committee shall plan and direct any yearly activities, including professional development functions, the annual meeting, and any others as decided upon by the executive council.
   5. Student Liaison Committee: This committee shall be responsible for activities concerning the student body.
   6. Housestaff Liaison Committee: This committee shall be responsible for activities concerning the women in training programs at MCV.
2. At any later date and time, the executive council may vote to establish new committees or abolish old committees in ways that further the best interests of the organization.

ARTICLE VI: Meetings

1. Meetings shall be scheduled at the discretion of the Executive Council. There shall be no less than six meetings per year.
2. All meetings shall be open to all organization members and their guests. The dates will be published in advance in the organization's newsletter.

ARTICLE VII: Elections

1. Nominees for Officers and Members-at-Large of the Executive Council will be solicited in the spring of every even-numbered year. Candidates will be presented to the general membership by ballot in the spring of every even numbered year. . Elections will be held by mailed ballot to all female faculty in the school of medicine. Ballots shall include a deadline date for validity. Three to six weeks shall be allowed between the mailing of ballots and the determination of election results. Terms of office shall begin on September 1 following the election.
2. The organization will, through the Dean of Students, request that each student class elect a delegate. Student elections for delegates to WIMFO will take place during the annual election of class officers.

ARTICLE VIII: Amendment of the Bylaws

An amendment of these bylaws may be proposed by majority vote of the Executive Council, or by written petition of 20 or more members in good standing. The proposed amendments, with an attached ballot, shall be sent by mail to all members in good standing. Approval shall require an affirmative vote by a majority of the members voting. At least three weeks shall be allowed between the mailing of the ballots and the determination of the election results. Proposed amendments will be considered by the organization within the same academic year if submitted by April 1 of that year. Bylaws amendments may be added to the election ballots in even-numbered years.

ARTICLE IX: Ratification of these bylaws

These bylaws shall become effective when approved by a majority of the organization's members voting. Bylaws shall be given to all new members of the Executive Council on a yearly basis. Changes in the bylaws should be considered by the Executive Council before submission to the general membership.