BYLAWS

ARTICLE I - NAME

This Society shall be known as The Chicago Gynecological Society.

ARTICLE II - OBJECT

The object of this Society shall be to advance and promote the study and practice of Obstetrics and Gynecology.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Categories

Membership of the Chicago Gynecological Society shall consist of Active, Honorary, Life, Non-Resident, and Associate Members.

Section 2. Active Fellows

1. Active Fellows must reside in the State of Illinois or Northwest, Indiana.
2. To be eligible for Fellowship, a candidate must be a diplomate of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, or of the American Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, or a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists with equivalent qualifications as assessed by the Advisory Council. Individuals with a doctorate degree other than M.D. and who are engaged in teaching, research or practice in any discipline directly related to Obstetrics and Gynecology as assessed by the Advisory Council, shall also be eligible for Fellowship.
3. Each candidate for Active Fellowship shall be proposed by a Fellow in good standing and sponsored by at least two other Fellows. Fellows proposing and sponsoring may be Active, Non-Resident, or Life Fellows.
4. The candidate first must be voted upon by the Advisory Council. If a candidate is acted upon unfavorably by the Advisory Council, the proposers may withdraw the name, if they so desire. In the event that the vote of an adverse vote by the Advisory Council, the application shall be reviewed at a joint meeting of the Advisory Council and of the Executive Committee. A two-thirds favorable vote of those present shall be necessary for nomination. Subsequently, the proposers may withdraw the candidate’s application, if the vote is unfavorable. The candidates shall be voted upon at the next regular meeting of the Society. Fellows of the Society shall be notified of the candidates at least two weeks prior to the meeting. Affirmative vote of the majority of the Fellows present at a meeting of the Society constitutes election of the candidate to Fellowship.
5. A physician who has provided outstanding services to the Society or to the specialty and fulfilled all other requirements for membership may be recommended for Active Fellowship by the Advisory Council.
6. In order to complete Active Fellowship requirements, the initiation fee and dues for the current year must be paid within thirty days of the applicant’s election.
7. The initiation fee shall be determined by the Society at its Annual Meeting. The Executive Committee shall recommend to the Society the fee for the following year.
8. In order to be eligible for office, an Active Fellow must attend fifty (50%) percent of the Society’s meetings during each year of the previous two (2) year period.

Section 3. Honorary Fellows

Upon recommendations of the Advisory Council, the Society may elect to Honorary Fellowship distinguished physicians or scientists by three-quarters vote of those present and voting. Honorary Fellows shall be exempt from assessments and dues and shall enjoy the privileges usually accorded honorary members.

Section 4. Life Fellows

1. Life Fellows shall be achieved automatically when a member reaches the age of 65 or older and has been a member of the Society for 10 or more years. A Fellow requesting Life Fellowship should notify the Secretary/Treasurer of the Society to formalize this status.
   
2. Life Fellows shall be exempt from assessment and dues.

Section 5. Non-Resident Fellows

1. A Non-Resident Fellow shall be defined as one who practices outside the State of Illinois or Lake County, Indiana. Regulations applying to Active Fellows shall apply to Non-Resident Fellows.
2. The initiation fee for Non-Resident Fellows shall be determined by the Society at its annual meeting. The Executive Committee shall recommend to the Society the fee for the following year. Non-Resident Fellows shall have the privilege of franchise, however, may not hold office.

Section 6. Associate Fellows

1. Associate Fellows must reside in Illinois or Northwestern, Indiana.
2. To be eligible for Associate Fellowship a candidate must be in training in an approved residency in obstetrics and gynecology, in an apporived fellowship in one of the subspecialties in obstetrics and gynecology, or be actively seeking board certification following successful completion of an approved residency and/or fellowship in one of the subspecialties in obestetrics and gynecology.
3. The rules for election to Associate Fellowship are the same as those for Active Fellowship.
4. In order to complete Asscoiate Fellowship requirements, the inititation fee and dues for the current year must be paid within thirty days of the applicant’s election.
5. The initiation fee shall be determined by the Society at its Annual Meeting. The Executive Committee shall recommend to the Society the fee for the following year.
6. Associate Fellows shall not have franchise and may not hold office.
7. An Associate Fellow may, and is encouraged, to request promotion to Fellowship by providing evidence of being a diplomat of the American Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, the Osteopathic Board of Obstetrics and Gynecology, a Fellow of the American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, or a foreign college with equivalent qualifications. The request for promotion to Fellowship must be initiated by the Asscoiate Fellow seeking promotion and shall be approved by the Executive Committee and voted upon by a majority vote of the Active, Non-Resident and Life Fellows present and voting at a business meeting of the Society.

Section 7. Ethics

The principles of Ethics of this Society shall be those established by the American Medical Association.

Section 8. Dues

1. The Executive Committee shall recommend to the Society the dues for the following year. The annual dues for each category shall be voted upon by the Society at its Annual Meeting.
2. Special assessments may be made by a two-thirds vote at any meeting, provided that the amount and purpose have been given to the members, in writing, two weeks before the meeting.

Section 9. Dinner Meetings

All members are encouraged to attend the dinner and scientific programs. The purpose of the program and meeting is to consider problems relevant to the specialty and to the Society, enjoy the intellectual interaction of fellow practitioners, and to have opportunities to hear learned speakers, papers, and scientific discussions.

Section 10. Loss of Membership

1. Any Fellow who shall be in arrears for dues or assessments for three months may, after sixty days notice, be dropped from membership by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.
2. The Executive Committee shall be empowered to relieve any Fellow of his or her fiscal and/or attendance obligations for what the Committee deems to be good and sufficient reason.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers

The Officers of this Society shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary-Treasurer,  an Immediate Past-President, who shall jointly constitute the Executive Committee of the Society. There shall be an Advisory Council as defined in Article VI.

Section 2. Nomination of Officers

The Advisory Council shall nominate candidates for, or fill vacancies in, the elective offices of the Society. At the Annual Meeting, nominations by Fellows may be entertained in addition to those of the Nominating Committee.

Section 3. Election

Officers of the Society shall be elected by ballot at the Annual Meetings. The Vice-President shall be elected for a term of one year. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected for a term of one year. Elected officers shall take office at the conclusion of the Annual meeting.

Section 4. Duties of Officers

A. President - 1) shall preside over meetings of the Executive Committee; 2) shall oversee the functions of the Society’s administrative staff, and 3) shall preside over the monthly meetings.

B. Vice President - 1) shall preside in the absence of the President, 2) shall perform such duties as requested by the President.

C. The Secretary-Treasurer shall review all minutes, records, collection of all fees and dues, and make appropriate payments of bills upon approval of the Executive Committee. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be bonded for an amount deemed appropriate by the Executive Committee, the premium of which shall be paid by the Society. He/she shall prepare an Annual report and submit a budget for the ensuing year. The annual Report of the Secretary-Treasurer shall be approved by the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE V - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee shall meet at least four times a year and upon call of the President or two members of the Committee. Four members shall constitute a quorum. It shall have entire control of the publications of the Society. It shall also act as Program Committee and Finance Committee of the Society.

A Program Committee shall consist of the Vice President and the Executive Committee. The duties of the Program Committee shall be to assist the Vice President in producing a program for the coming year. Meetings of the Program Committee shall be held at the request of the Vice President.

ARTICLE VI - ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Advisory Council shall consist of the five immediate past Presidents, each of whom shall serve for five (5) years. The President shall be a member, ex-officio, of the Advisory Council, except when the Advisory Council is sitting as the Nominating Committee.

In case of death or resignation, the President may appoint a member to fill the unexpired term.

The member who has served the longest time shall act as Chairman.

The Advisory Council shall act as the Membership Committee and shall make recommendations to the Executive Committee.

The Advisory Council shall be the Nominating Committee and shall present the slate of candidates in writing at the regular meeting preceding the Annual Meeting.

The Advisory Council shall meet at least three time during each year.

ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS

Section 1. Annual Meeting

The Annual Meeting of this Society shall be held on the during the month of September.

This meeting shall be devoted to the Annual Reports of the Secretary, Treasurer, Executive Committee, and Advisory Council, to the election of Officers, and to such programs as the outgoing President may elect.

Section 2. Regular Meetings

The regular meeting shall be held monthly except June, July, August, and December.

Section 3. Special Meetings

Special meetings may be called by the President or upon the written request of twenty Fellows to the President. At these meetings, only such business as specified in the notice shall be transacted.

Section 4. Quorum

Fifteen members shall constitute a quorum at all meetings.

ARTICLE VIII - ORDER OF BUSINESS

The Order of Business shall be as follows:

1.  Report of Cases
2.  Lectures, Papers, Discussions
3.  Voting on membership or policies when indicated
4.  The Order of Business in Executive Session shall be as follows:
5.  Reading of Minutes
6.  Reports of Committees and Officers
7.  Election of Members
8.  Unfinished Business
9.  New Business
10.  Adjournment

ARTICLE X - CONSTITUTION AND MEMBERSHIP LISTS

The Constitution and Membership Lists of the Society shall be published approximately every four (4) years.

ARTICLE XI - AMENDMENTS

The Constitution may be amended or revised by two-thirds vote of the Fellows present at a stated meeting, provided that notice of the proposed amendment has been given in writing at the preceding stated meeting and has been printed in the regular monthly announcement of the meeting at which the vote is to be taken.

ARTICLE XIII - MISCELLANEOUS

The deliberations of the Society shall be governed by Roberts’ Rules of Order, when not in conflict with this Constitution.