TSA Bylaws
ARTICLE 3 - OFFICERS, DELEGATES, AND DIRECTORS
3.0 OFFICERS
The Officers of the Society shall be a President, Immediate Past President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer, Speaker of the House of Delegates, and Vice Speaker of the House of Delegates.
3.01 Eligibility
Only Active members in good standing shall be eligible for election to the aforesaid positions. Service in an office does not preclude the election to the same or other office.
3.02 Election
All officers except the President and Immediate Past President shall be elected, in the manner provided by Article 5.5 in these Bylaws.
3.03 Term
The term of office shall be for one year starting at the close of the Annual Session of the House of Delegates except for the Speaker and Vice-Speaker of the House of Delegates whose terms of office shall be for three years starting at the close of the Annual Session of the House of Delegates.
3.04 Duties
The duties of the elected officers are as follows:
3.041 President
The President shall:
Endeavor to efficiently administer the affairs of this Society during his or her term of office;
Attempt in all ways possible to contribute to the welfare of the public through the medical specialty of anesthesiology, further the aims and activities of this Society to the fullest extent, and perform such other services as custom, necessity and parliamentary usage require;
Counsel with the officers, district directors, committee members and other individuals on matters pertaining to the improvements of this Society;
Appoint all committees, except as otherwise provided in these Bylaws;
Serve as ex-officio member of all committees of this Society;
Participate ex-officio and with the right to vote in sessions of the House of Delegates;
Deliver an address at his or her inauguration;
Deliver a report to the House of Delegates at the close of the term in office; and
Perform such other duties as are provided in these Bylaws.
3.042 Immediate Past President
The Immediate Past President shall serve in an advisory capacity to the Board of Directors. He or she should be considered for appointment to the Judicial Committee.
3.043 President-Elect
The President-Elect shall assist the President in the administration of the affairs of the Society and if, for any reason, the President is unable to fulfill his or her duties, whether it be because of illness, death, resignation, or unwillingness to serve, the President-Elect shall preside for the remainder of that term, after which he or she shall serve as President for the year for which elected.
3.044 Secretary
The Secretary shall:
Serve as the official correspondent of this Society with the American Society of Anesthesiologists;
Maintain a current roster of all members of this Society, classified according to categories of membership;
Forward appropriate forms to applicants for membership in this Society, and to active resident members of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, who have transferred the location of their principal professional activity to the jurisdiction of this Society;
Certify for membership those applicants for Medical Student Membership who come from a medical or osteopathic school without an anesthesiology department;
Certify all applicants who have been accepted for membership in this Society;
Notify the Executive Office of The American Society of Anesthesiologists the name and category of membership of each new member accepted into this Society, the name and new category of each member of this Society changing status, the name and category of individuals whose membership in this Society has been terminated and the reasons for said termination, and any change made in any elective office of this Society;
Forward to the Executive Office of the American Society of Anesthesiologists by January 15th of each year, a report showing as of December 31st of the preceding year:
3.0441 The roster of membership classified as to categories of membership,
3.0442 The names and categories of membership of all new members accepted by this Society during the preceding year,
3.0443 All membership category changes occurring during the preceding year,
3.0444 All terminations of membership in this Society during the preceding year, together with the reason for termination, and
3.0445 The names of the officers of this Society;
Forward to the Executive Office of the American Society of Anesthesiologists at least sixty days prior to each annual session of that Society, a list of authorized delegates and alternate delegates who will represent this Society in the House of Delegates of The American Society of Anesthesiologists;
Notify the Director of each District, on or before January 20th of each year, the number of delegates to which that District is entitled for that year;
Supervise and handle the secretarial material of this Society, and act as corporate secretary in so far as the execution of official documents or institution of official actions may be required;
Serve as recording secretary of the Board of Directors and the House of Delegates of this Society and provide certified credentials to members of the House of Delegates; and
Perform such other duties as are provided in these Bylaws.
3.045 Treasurer
The Treasurer shall:
Act as the official custodian of all monies, securities and valuable papers of this Society as the Board of Directors may require, and supervise their deposit in banking institutions;
Prepare each year a budget of anticipated income and expenditures for the succeeding fiscal year of this Society. The fiscal year of this Society shall be from January 1 to December 31;
Be responsible for a detailed accounting of all receipts and disbursements of this Society;
Pay all authorized obligations of this Society by vouchers signed in his or her official capacity;
Submit at each meeting of the Board of Directors and of the House of Delegates a report concerning the financial transactions of this Society, the funds in his or her care, and actions taken as Treasurer; and
Perform such other duties as are provided in these Bylaws.
3.046 Assistant Treasurer
The Assistant Treasurer shall:
Assist the Treasurer in the performance of his or her duties; and
Perform the duties of the Treasurer when requested by the Treasurer to do so, and when the Treasurer is unable to act.
In the event that a vacancy occurs in the office of Treasurer, the Assistant Treasurer shall become Treasurer for the unexpired term.
If a vacancy occurs in the office of Assistant Treasurer, it may be filled by a vote of the Executive Committee.
The voting privileges of the Assistant Treasurer are the same as for other members of the House of Delegates.
3.047 Speaker of the House of Delegates
The Speaker of the House of Delegates shall:
Preside at meetings of the House of Delegates of this Society;
Serve as official parliamentarian of this Society; and
Serve as a member of the Bylaws Committee of this Society;
Assist the President in maintaining the continuity of on-going programs of the Society;
Address the House of Delegates at the opening session of all meetings, limiting his or her address to matters of conduct and procedure in the House.
The Speaker is entitled to vote when the vote is by written ballot. In all other cases he or she shall have the right to vote only in case of a tie vote.
3.048 Vice-Speaker of the House of Delegates
The Vice Speaker of the House of Delegates shall:
Assist the Speaker in the performance of his or her duties; and
Perform the duties of the Speaker when requested by the Speaker to do so, and when the Speaker is unable to act.
In the event that a vacancy occurs in the office of Speaker, the Vice-Speaker shall become Speaker of the House of Delegates.
His or her voting privileges are the same as for other members of the House of Delegates.
He or she shall also serve as a member of the Committee on Bylaws.
3.05 Vacancies
Vacancies in the offices of President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, Assistant Treasurer and Vice-Speaker of the House of Delegates shall be filled by a vote of the Executive Committee. If the term of a member appointed by the Executive Committee to be Vice-Speaker of the House of Delegates does not end at the close of the next meeting of the House of Delegates, the House shall confirm the appointment of the Vice-Speaker. In the event that the appointment of the Vice-Speaker is unconfirmed, the House of Delegates shall elect a Vice-Speaker to fill the unexpired term.
3.1 DELEGATES TO THE HOUSE OF DELEGATES OF THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS
3.11 Election
The House of Delegates shall elect Delegates and Alternates Delegates (the Delegation) at an Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates to serve in the House of Delegates of The American Society of Anesthesiologists. Election shall be by a majority vote of the voting members present.
3.12 Term
Delegates shall be elected for a three year term and Alternates Delegates for a one year term except for Delegate, Place 4, who shall be the person holding the office of ASA Alternate Director. Their terms shall begin at the close of the next annual ASA House of Delegates meeting following their election, except for the addition of new delegates whose term shall begin at their election.
3.13 Duties
Duties of the Delegates are outlined in the Bylaws of The American Society of Anesthesiologists.
3.14 Expenses
Expenses incurred by Delegates and Alternate Delegates due to participation in the American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting will be paid in accordance with policies and procedures established by the Board of Directors of this Society.
3.2 DIRECTOR AND ALTERNATE DIRECTOR TO THE AMERICAN SOCIETY OF ANESTHESIOLOGISTS
3.21 Election
The Society’s House of Delegates shall elect a Director and an Alternate Director at an Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates to serve on the Board of Directors of the American Society of Anesthesiologists for a term of three years. Election is by a majority vote of the voting members present.
3.22 Term
The term of office shall be for three years beginning at the end of every third Annual Meeting of the American Society of Anesthesiologists.
3.23 Duties
The Director shall represent this Society on the Board of Directors and the House of Delegates of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, as official representative of District 19 of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, which is composed of the State of Texas.
The Director shall attend all meetings of the Board of Directors and the House of Delegates of the American Society of Anesthesiologists or make certain that this Society is represented thereat.
The Director shall report to the Board of Directors of this Society, immediately following each meeting of the Board of Directors or the House of Delegates of the American Society of Anesthesiologists, the actions taken, and recommendations made at such meeting; and
Each year by an appropriate time, the Director shall make available to the ASA President-Elect and First Vice President a list of TSA members who are willing to serve on the many committees of the ASA.
The Director shall perform such other duties as provided in these Bylaws.
The Alternate Director, in addition to his or her other duties, shall serve as Delegate, Place 4 in the ASA House of Delegates.
The Director and Alternate Director will perform such other duties as necessary to fulfill their duties as liaisons between this Society and the American Society of Anesthesiologists, as assigned by the Board of Directors and Executive Committee of this Society.
3.24 Expenses
3.241 Expenses incurred by the Director and Alternate Director due to participation in the American Society of Anesthesiologists Annual Meeting will be paid in accordance with policies and procedures established by the Board of Directors of this Society.
3.242 Expenses incurred by the Alternate Director due to attendance of the interim and annual meetings of the Board of Directors of the American Society of Anesthesiologists will be paid in accordance with policies and procedures established by the Board of Directors of this Society.
3.243 In the event that the ASA no longer funds the Director’s expenses to attend the ASA Board of Directors meetings, said expenses will be paid in accordance with policies and procedures established by the Board of Directors of this Society.
3.25 Vacancies
If for any reason the ASA Director or ASA Alternate Director becomes unable or unwilling to perform the functions of the office, or is removed from office, or moves from the jurisdiction of the body which elected him or her to office, or is elected to higher office, such office shall be declared vacant.
Vacancies in office shall be filled in the following manner:
3.251 ASA Director
The ASA Alternate Director shall become the Director for the unexpired term.
3.252 ASA Alternate Director
If a vacancy exists at the Alternate Director position, it shall be filled by a vote of the Board of Directors. If the term of the member appointed by the Board of Directors to be the Alternate Director does not end at the close of the next meeting of the House of Delegates, the House shall confirm the appointment of the Alternate Director. In the event that the appointment of the Alternate Director is unconfirmed, the House of Delegates shall elect an Alternate Director to fill the unexpired term.
3.3 IMPEACHMENT
Any officer or other elected or appointed official of this Society may be impeached and removed from office for good cause.
3.31 Charges
All charges of impeachment shall be in writing and directed to the Board of Directors of this Society. All charges shall be in detail and signed by at least twenty-five (25) voting members of this Society, who agree in writing to substantiate their statements with documentary proof or to appear personally to substantiate said statements.
3.32 Notice
The Secretary of the Society shall mail a copy of the charges of impeachment to the accused official and file a copy thereof with the Judicial Committee of this Society.
3.33 Investigation
The Judicial Committee shall make such investigation and conduct such hearings as it deems advisable and appropriate and shall afford the accused official the opportunity to present evidence and witnesses in his or her own behalf. Such official may be represented by an advocate, who must be an Active member of the ASA, if he or she desires.
During the investigation, the accused officer will continue to serve the Society as provided in Article 3.04 of these Bylaws.
3.34 Recommendations
The Judicial Committee shall report its recommendations to the Board of Directors within thirty days after completion of its investigation.
3.35 Hearing
The Board of Directors has sole power to try all impeachment proceedings.
When the President is the accused official, the Speaker of the House of Delegates shall preside.
Within thirty days after receipt of the recommendations of the Judicial Committee, the Board of Directors shall set a time and place for a hearing on the charges of impeachment.
The Secretary of the Society shall give the accused official at least fifteen days notice of the date, time and place of the hearing
At the hearing the accused official shall have the opportunity to speak and to present documents and witnesses and may be represented by legal counsel.
Should the accused official fail to appear at the hearing, the Board of Directors may consider the matter on the basis of the charges, the report from the Judicial Committee, documentation, written statements of the official involved, and such other investigation as it deems necessary or proper.
3.36 Decision
If three-fourths of the entire membership of the Board of Directors, by secret ballot, finds that just and sufficient cause for impeachment has been presented, the charges shall be considered to have been sustained.
3.37 Effect
If impeachment charges are sustained, any elected or appointed position held by the accused official in this Society shall thereupon become vacant; and
Disciplinary action may be taken in accordance with the provisions of Section 1.10 of these Bylaws.
