GCAV

Constitution of the Greater Columbia Association of Veterinarians

Article I. Title

The association shall be known as the Greater Columbia Association of Veterinarians (G.C.A.V.).

Article II. Organization

Section 1         The association shall be operated as a not-for-profit organization.

Section 2         The term of the organization shall be perpetual. However, in the event of dissolution, property owned by the organization shall be dedicated to the South Carolina Association of Veterinarians.

Section 3         The association shall not be operated for profit and no part of the net earnings shall inure to the benefit of any member or private individual.

Section 4         The objectives of the G.C.A.V. shall be to advance veterinary medicine, to promote animal welfare and public health, and to encourage fellowship amongst local veterinarians.

Article III. Objectives

Section 1         The objectives of the association shall be to:

  1. Advance the science and art of veterinary medicine, including its relationship to public health and agriculture.
  2. Actively encourage and assist in continuing veterinary medical education.

 

Article IV. Membership

Section 1         Members in the association shall be graduates of colleges and schools of veterinary medicine who meet the qualifications specified in the by-laws.

Section 2         Other Members: The by-laws may provide for and specify the qualifications for other members of the association.

Article V. Officers

Section1          The officers of the association shall be the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Information Technology Officer. The officers shall perform such duties as prescribed in the by-laws.

Section 2         Each officer shall be elected at the regular October meeting and serve for a term of one year, beginning January 1.

Article VI. Executive Committee

Section 1         The executive Committee shall include the officers and the Immediate Past-President of the association and shall have charge of the property and financial affairs of the association and shall perform duties prescribed by the by-laws.

Article VII. Amendments

Section 1         The constitution may be amended at a regularly scheduled meeting by two-thirds majority of the votes cast, providing:

  1. The proposed amendment(s) shall have been mailed/e-mailed to the membership at least sixty (60) days prior to the meeting at which action is requested.
  2. The proposed amendment(s) shall have been read to the membership at a regularly scheduled meeting at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting at which action is requested.

 

 

 

 

 

By-Laws of the Greater Columbia Association of Veterinarians

Article I. Membership

Section 1         Members shall have privileges of the Association, including participation in educational meetings, voting and holding office.

Section 2         Qualified persons (Article IV-Constitution) may become a member of the Association by:

  1. A request for membership directed to the secretary of the association with payment of annual dues and
  2. By submission of at least one letter of recommendation from an association member.
  3. In response to payment of due and receipt of the letter of recommendation, new members shall receive a membership packet including but not limited to the Constitution and By-laws of the organization.

Section 3         Other members

  1. The executive committee, after consideration to length of service and contribution to the veterinary profession, may elect life members from the membership to have all the privileges of membership without payment of due or the payment of assessed educational fees.
  2. The association, by vote of the majority of the membership may elect an honorary membership to a non-veterinarian who shall have made outstanding contributions to the objectives of the association, with all rights of the association, except voting, without payment of due or educational fees.

Section 4         Dues

  1. Dues for members shall be payable on January 1 of each year and shall be $150.00 per annum.
  2. Dues not paid by the end of the third meeting of the year will be considered late. A $25.00 late fee will be assessed in these cases.
  3. Retired members of the G.C.A.V. will pay a discounted fee of $75.00 for dues.
  4. Late fees will be assessed as for the general membership dues.
  5. All new Veterinary graduates shall attend the GCAV meetings the remainder of the year at no charge.
  6. Students that are performing an externship with a GCAV member may attend the meeting free of charge during that time period.
  7. Nonmember veterinarians may attend the GCAV meeting as long as they sign up in advance.  The charge for each meeting and dinner is $50.

Section 5         Assessed Educational Fees

The executive committee may, in case of financial need, assess each member an educational fee to defray costs of continuing veterinary medical education programs.

 

Section 6         Delinquent Members

  1. A member shall be delinquent when dues are not paid by April 1 of the calendar year for which they are payable or
  2. A member shall be delinquent when assessed educational fees are not paid within three (3) months of the assessment.
  3. Delinquent members are not entitled to the privileges of the association.
  4. Members delinquent for nine (9) months shall be dropped from the membership roster.
  5. Delinquent members shall not be eligible to receive any continuing education credit from the beginning of the calendar year following the last fully paid dues and educational fees, if applicable.

Section 7         Re-Instatement

  1. A membership that has lapsed for failure to pay dues may be automatically reinstated upon receipt of all delinquent dues.

 

Article II. Officers

Section 1         Election of Officers

  1. The executive committee shall act as nominating committee with the immediate past president as chairman.
  2. The committee shall present, one month prior to the election meeting, a slate of at least one nominee from the voting membership for the offices of Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Information Technology Officer. Consent of the nominees shall be obtained prior to the submission of the slate to the membership.
  3. Additionally, nominees are present and consent to serve.
  4. Election of officers shall be held at the October meeting of the association.
  5. The term of office for each officer shall be twelve (12) months, beginning January 1.
  6. Each officer may serve a maximum of two (2) successive terms in any one office.
  7. Vacancies in an office may be filled by special election as determined by the executive committee.

 

Section 2         The President shall:

  1. Preside over all meetings of the association.
  2. Administer the affairs of the association in accordance with the terms of the Constitution and by-laws.
  3. Appoint members to committees and serve as ex-officio member of each committee.
  4. Convene special meetings of the association as needed.
  5. Preside over the executive committee except when it is in session as a nominating committee.
  6. Transfer duties and knowledge pertaining to the position to his/her successor
  7. Serve as a member of the executive committee
  8. Be exempt from payment of annual membership dues while in office.

 

Section 3         The Vice-President shall:

  1. Succeed the President
  2. Be chairman of the Membership Committee
  3. Be an ex-officio member of the presidentially appointed committees
  4. Be program chairman
  5. Perform the duties of the president in the absence of the president
  6. Transfer duties and knowledge pertaining to the position to his/her successor
  7. Serve as a member of the executive committee
  8. Be exempt from payment of annual membership dues while in office

 

Section 4         The Immediate Past-President

  1. Serve as a member of the executive committee
  2. Serve as chairman of the executive committee when it is meeting as a nominating committee
  3. Transfer duties and knowledge pertaining to the position to his/her successor
  4. Serve as the association parliamentarian.

 

Section 5         The Secretary shall:

  1. Maintain the general record of the association
  2. Attend all business meetings of the association and executive committee and report the business transactions
  3. Maintain a roster of all members of the association
  4. Supervise the tabulation of votes cast in elections
  5. Notify, by March 1, each member whose dues are not paid
  6. Notify, after three (3) months, each member who has not paid assessed educational fees
  7. Notify delinquent members after nine (9) months that they are being dropped from the membership roster
  8. Transfer duties and knowledge pertaining to the position to his/her successor
  9. Serve as a member of the executive board
  10. Conduct the correspondence of the association
  11. Notify all members of the date, time, and location of each meeting no later than seven (7) days prior to the meeting
  12. Be exempt from payment of annual membership dues while in office.
  13. Keep an attendance log and provide an end of the year summary for each member in accordance with the CE licensing requirements
  14. Maintain continuing education credit approval with the State of South Carolina Board of Veterinary Medical Examiners

 

Section 6         The Treasurer shall:

  1. Maintain all financial records of the association
  2. Maintain records of payment of dues and assessments
  3. Act as custodian of the association assets and be responsible to deposit association monies in federally insured banks
  4. Pay all debts incurred by the association as directed by the executive committee
  5. Prepare an annual audit of the association financial transactions and properties
  6. Prepare an annual report, for the record, as a not-for-profit association
  7. Serve as a member of the executive committee
  8. Transfer all fund, properties, and records to his/her successor
  9. Inform the executive committee when a member is delinquent, as indicated in Article I, Section 5 of the by-laws
  10. Be exempt from payment of annual membership dues while in office

 

Section 7         The Information Technology Officer shall:

  1. Maintain and update the G.C.A.V. website including, but not limited to:
    1. Post monthly meeting information on the website as it is scheduled by the vice president
    2. Current members and photographs if available
    3. Recent announcements
    4. Links, calendar and documents (e.g. G.C.A.V. Constitution)
  2. Maintain and update G.C.A.V. social media (e.g. Facebook, Twitter, etc.) as agreed upon by the executive committee.
  3. Keep the executive committee up to date with expenses associated with the G.C.A.V. website and
  4. Provide billing associated with the G.C.A.V. website or other expenses to the treasurer in a timely manner for on time payment
  5. Serve as a member of the executive committee
  6. Transfer duties and knowledge pertaining to the position to his/her successor
  7. Be exempt from payment of annual membership dues while in office

 

Article III. Executive Committee

Section 1         The executive committee shall:

  1. Consist of the officers of the association and the immediate past-president
  2. Serve as the administrative body of the association with the duty and responsibility to administer the association in accordance with the wishes of the membership
  3. Serve as nominating committee in preparing a slate of officers for the association
  4. Act on questions of qualification for membership

 

Section2          Four members of the executive committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

 

Section 3         The executive committee shall meet at least quarterly or as needed to conduct all business transactions and develop plans and agendas for association meetings and programs.

 

Article IV. Meetings

Section1          G.C.A.V. Meetings shall be held monthly on the 4th Tuesday evening of each month except for June and November.  Considering the holidays the December meeting is held the first evening of the month. Each location is designated by the vice president

 

Section2          Business may be conducted at each meeting, as needed, with election of officers to be held in October of each year.

 

Section 3         The number of voting members present shall constitute a quorum.

 

Section 4         Business meetings shall be conducted in accordance with Robert’s Rules of Order

 

Section 5         Special meetings of the G.C.A.V. may be called by the president when, in his or her opinion, the necessity exits. No business other than that specified for the special meeting shall be conducted.

 

Section 6         Continuing Education

  1. The G.C.A.V. shall provide a minimum of 9 hours of continuing education to occur during the monthly meetings, except June, August and December.
  2. The fee for monthly CE shall be $50.00/hour for non-members
  3. Additional continuing education programs (beyond 9 hours) may be provided by the G.C.A.V. as desired by the membership with additional fees applicable if deemed necessary to defray costs.

 

Article V. Committees

Section 1         The association shall establish committees as deemed necessary by the president.

 

Section 2         Committee Membership

  1. Any active member may serve on a standing committee. The president shall appoint all committee members.
  2. At least one (1) member of the executive committee shall serve on each committee.

 

Section 3         Committee Chairman

  1. When the chairmanship of a standing committee is not specified in the by-laws, the president shall make the appointment.

 

Section 4         Community Liaison Committee

  1. The purpose of the committee is to address animal welfare and animal control issues, as well as, address concerns of the G.C.A.V. and its interaction with animal support and protection groups.
  2. This committee was established in July of 2001 and was “in the early stages of development”

 

Article VI. Amendments

Section 1         The by-laws may be amended as prescribed in Article VII of the constitution.