INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CHINESE PATHOLOGISTS

BYLAWS

 ARTICLE I

 NAME, OBJECT AND INCORPORATION

 SECTION 1

     This Association shall be known as the "International Association of Chinese Pathologists".

 SECTION 2

     The object is to promote educational, cultural and research exchange among Chinese pathologists world-wide.

 SECTION 3

     This Association shall be incorporated as a non-profit organisation under the laws of the State.

 ARTICLE II

MEMBERSHIP

 SECTION 1

     The Association shall consist of Active, Associate, Junior, Emeritus, and Honorary members.

 SECTION 2

    ACTIVE members shall be duly qualified Doctors of Medicine, Doctors of Osteopathy, or Doctors of Veterinary Medicine whose work involves pathology. Candidates for active membership in the Association may be proposed by any active member at regular meetings, provided such candidate has already completed and submitted the Association's membership application to the Secretary. Application forms of candidates will be sent to members sixty days prior to the meeting. Such candidacy shall be voted on by mail or in person at the next regular meeting. Election shall be by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at the annual meeting. Each Active member shall have one vote in Association affairs and may hold office. The active member shall pay membership due annually. Membership will be automatically cancelled if the member fails to pay dues for three consecutive years.

SECTION 3

    ASSOCIATE members shall be non-medical graduates of recognised scientific institutions who have made such contributions to any of the sciences related to pathology. These membership will be considered and voted at the annual meeting. Physicians in good standing in medical fields other than pathology will also be considered. Associate members shall pay the regular dues and have all the privileges of Active members except those of voting and holding office. Proposal, application and election shall be similar to that of Active members.

SECTION 4

    Residents in training may apply for JUNIOR membership. They are not eligible to vote or to hold office. The dues are exempted.

SECTION 5

    EMERITUS members shall have the same qualifications as Active members except that these are individuals who have retired from the practice of, but maintained their interest in pathology. Emeritus members may be proposed and elected by a vote of two-thirds of the members. They may not vote or hold office, and their dues will be waived.

 SECTION 6

    HONORARY members shall have distinguished themselves by research or personal sacrifice in the course of scientific medicine to warrant their election by the Association. They shall be elected by a vote of two-thirds of the members and have all the privileges of Active members except those of voting and holding office. They shall be exempt from paying dues.

SECTION 7

    Expulsion of members - A member may be expelled from the Association for non-compliance with the Bylaws of this Association, its Code of Ethics or for conducts unbecoming a professional. In no case shall a member be expelled without a suitable hearing. A two-thirds majority vote of the entire membership of the Association shall be necessary for the expulsion of a member.

SECTION 8

    In the interest of promoting the welfare of junior pathologists, the executive officers of the Association have decided to establish three additional categories of memberships. These are contributing members (with donations up to $99), sustaining members (with donations between $100 and $499), and sponsoring members (with donations more than $500).

 ARTICLE III

 OFFICES

SECTION 1

    The officers shall include the President, President-elect, and Secretary-Treasurer who shall each be elected bi-annually at the annual meeting and shall hold office for two years starting July first or until the election of their successors.

    A Nominating Committee shall be appointed by the President, consisting of at least three members of the Association.

    The duties of the Nominating Committee shall be to nominate one candidate from the members of the Association for each of the offices of President-elect and Secretary-Treasurer. Nominations from any members to the Nominating Committee are encouraged.

SECTION 2

    Regional Co-ordinators will be appointed by the President, whose duties include, but not limited to recruiting new members and serving as liaisons between members in the regions and the President.

 ARTICLE IV

 EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

SECTION 1

    There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the President, the President-elect, the Secretary-Treasurer, and the immediate past President. This committee shall arrange the scientific and social programs for each meeting, and shall perform such other duties as shall be delegated to it by the Association. The Executive Committee shall act in lieu of the usual standing committee, and shall have the power to administer and conduct the affairs of the Association between regular meetings of the Association. All actions of the Executive Committee shall be reported and be subject to the approval of the Association at its next business meeting, or by mail or telephone vote. 

ARTICLE V 

MEETINGS 

SECTION 1

    The regular annual meeting of the Association shall be held on Sunday evening before the official annual meeting of the US and Canadian Academy or Pathology. Members are encouraged to wear the Association badge to initiate an early acquaintance and continuing friendship.

SECTION 2

    Special meetings may be called at any time by the President or by the Executive Committee. 

ARTICLE VI 

DUES 

SECTION 1

    The annual dues shall be US$20 for Active and Associate members, payable at the annual meeting or by mail. If the dues are not paid by this time, the Secretary-Treasurer shall notify each member of the delinquency. Membership shall be forfeited if payment is not made for three consecutive years.

ARTICLE VI 

EXPENDITURES 

SECTION 1 

    No expense shall be incurred by this Association except with the approval of the Executive Committee or upon a majority vote of all members present at any meeting.

SECTION 2

    No money shall be paid out of the treasury of the Association except on a draft drawn by the Secretary-Treasurer and endorsed by the President, unless authority is otherwise delegated by the Executive Committee. 

ARTICLE VIII 

SECTION 1

     "Robert's Rule of Order" latest version, shall govern the conduct of all meetings.

 ARTICLE IX 

CODE OF ETHICS 

    The Association adopts as part of its regulations, binding upon all its members, the Code of Ethics of the American Medical Association. 

ARTICLE X 

GUESTS 

    Medical and/or non-medical personnel will be welcome as guests or participants to the scientific portion of each meeting through invitation by the Executive Committee, but shall be excluded from the business meetings.

 ARTICLE XI 

QUORUM 

    A quorum for the conduct of the business affairs of the Association shall consist of ten active members.

ARTICLE XII 

AMENDMENTS 

    These Bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of the Association by two-thirds of the entire voting membership present at the annual meeting.

Amended on 14th March, 1993.

AMENDMENT 1: 

REORGANIZATION OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

    The Office of Secretary-Treasurer is split into two officers - Secretary and Treasurer - in order to accommodate one more member to serve in the Executive Committee.  The new Executive Committee includes the President, the President-Elect, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and the Immediate Past President.  A nominating Committee appointed by the President will nominate either the Secretary or the Treasurer to be the next President-Elect.

Amended on March 23rd, 2003 (Washington, D.C., U.S.A.)

AMENDMENT 2: 

CREATION OF THE OFFICE OF EXECUTIVE VICE PRESIDENT

    There will be a new voluntary IACP Office titled the Executive Vice President (EVP).  The responsibilities of the EVP include bookkeeping, society archives and facilitation of all IACP activities as directed by the Executive Committee and the President.  The EVP will be a member of the Executive Committee, and will be nominated and elected in the same way as other IACP officers described in the Bylaws.  All Active Members of IACP are eligible candidates for this office.  The term of the EVP office is 6 years (the first term staring on July 1, 2004), and the EVP office holder may be re-elected for a second term once.

Amended on March 7th, 2004 (Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada)

AMENDMENT 3: 

CHANGE THE TERM OF OFFICE OF

PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT-ELECT, SECRETARY AND TREASURER

FROM TWO YEARS TO ONE YEAR

    Effective 7/1/05, the term of office of President, President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer shall be changed from two (2) years to one (1) year.

    This measure is to increase the opportunity for willing, capable and committed members to serve in IACP leadership.

Amended on February 27th, 2005 (San Antonio, TX, U.S.A.)