Articles of Incorporation
ARTICLE I
The name of the corporation is THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE SURGERY OF TRAUMA.
Article II
The period of duration of the corporation is perpetual.
ARTICLE III
The address of the initial Registered Office of the corporation in the State of Illinois is 115 S. LaSalle Street, in the City of Chicago, 60603, County of Cook; and the name if its initial Registered Agent at said address is Paul G. Gebhard.
ARTICLE IV
The first board of directors of the corporation, called the "Board of Managers",
Shall be eleven (11) In number, their names and address being as follows:
Dr. William R, Drucker
Department of Surgery
University of Rochester School of Medicine
601 Elmwood Avenue
Rochester, New York 14620
Dr. Roger T. Sherman
Department of South Surgery
University of Florida
Tampa, Florida 33620
Dr. Leonard F. Peltier
Arizona Medical Center
Tucson, Arizona 85724
Dr. Robert W. Gillespie
5625 "O' Street
Lincoln, Nebraska 68510
Dr. John A. Boswick, Jr.
University of Colorado
4200 East Ninth Avenue, Box C-309
Denver, Colorado 80262
Dr. Alexander J. Walt
Wayne State University
540 E. Canfield
Detroit, Michigan 48201
Dr. Joseph D. Farrington
Box 153
Key Colony Beach, Florida 33051
Dr. John Davis
University Vermont-College of Medicine
Given Building
Burlington, Vermont 05401
Dr. William Blaisdell
San Francisco General Hospital
1001 Potreo
San Francisco, California 94110
Dr. David S. Mulder
Montreal General Hospital
1650 Cedar Avenue, Room 633
Montreal, Quebec, Canada M3G1A4
Dr. Basil A. Pruitt, Jr.
US Army Institute of Surgical Research
Brooke Army Medical Center
Fort Sam Houston, Texas 78234
ARTICLE V
The purpose of this Association shall be to furnish leadership and to foster advances in the surgery of trauma; to afford a forum for the exchange of knowledge pertaining to research, practice and training in the Surgery of Trauma; to stimulate investigation and teaching in the methods of preventing, correcting and treating injuries from all types of accidents; to enhance the study and practice of Surgery of Trauma by establishing lectureships, scholarships, foundations, and appropriate evaluation procedures in the surgery of trauma where appropriate; to afford recognition to those who have contributed to the Surgery of Trauma be extending to them membership in the Association; to do and engage in any and all lawful activities that may be incidental or reasonably related to any of the foregoing purposes; and to have and exercise all powers and authority now or hereafter conferred upon not for profit corporations under the laws of the State of Illinois. Surgery of Trauma is that field of medicine which includes investigation, care and rehabilitation of the injured patient.
Notwithstanding the forgoing or any other provisions of these Articles of Incorporation, the corporation shall not at nay time engage in a regular business of a kind ordinarily carried on for profit; nor shall any parts of its net earnings or assets inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to , any member, director, officer, or other private person, except that the corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make other payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth above; nor shall it carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on by an organization exempt from Federal income tax under Section 501 ( c) 3) of the Internal Revenue code of 1954 (the "Code") or the corresponding provision of any future United States revenue statue, as amended from time to time, nor shall it engage in the practice of medicine or render any of the services of a licensed physician.
In the event of the dissolution of the corporation, the Board of Directors shall, after paying or making provision for the payment of all of the liabilities of the corporation, distribute all of the remaining assets to such organization or organizations organized and operated for one or more of the purposes contained in these Articles as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501(c )(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, as the Board of managers shall determine.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the incorporators have here unto set their hands this 20th day of June 1978.
PAUL GEBHARD
WILLIAM F. WALSH Incorporators
W. E. WHITTINGTON, IV
By-Laws
ARTICLE I MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. There shall be five (5) classes of membership in the Association: Active Fellows, Contributing Scientists, Honorary Fellows, Inactive Fellows, and Founding Fellows.
SECTION 2. Membership in the Association is a privilege, not a right, and it is contingent upon continuing compliance with the By-Laws of the Association.
SECTION 3. Active Fellows
SECTION 3.1. A person is qualified to be an Active Fellow if he/she (a) is a legally qualified practicing physician who is aFellow of the American College of Surgeons or a /Fellow of an equivalent international surgical college and active in the field of trauma, burns, surgical critical care, or related surgical specialties. Applicants must meet criteria as established by the AAST Board of Managers. Members previously classified as Corresponding Fellows would automatically become Active Fellows.
SECTION 3.2. Active Fellows may vote, serve on committees, hold office, serve on the Board of Managers, and attend all functions of the Association.
SECTION 4. Contributing Scientists.
SECTION 4.1. A non-surgeon may be elected as a Contributing Scientist if he/she holds an advanced degree in a scientific field related to trauma care or research, and has gained national or international recognition for contributions to the science and/or practice of injury and trauma care. Applicants must meet all criteria as established by the AAST Board of Managers
SECTION 4.2. Contributing Scientists shall not hold office, or serve on the Board of Managers. They may vote, serve on committees and attend all functions of the Association.
SECTION 5. Honorary Fellows.
SECTION 5.1. Honorary Fellows shall be individuals whom the Association deems worthy of special honor because of notable contributions to the field of trauma or because of longstanding service and commitment to the Association.
SECTION 5.2. Honorary Fellows shall not vote, hold office, or serve on the Board of Managers. They may serve on committees and attend all functions of the Association.
SECTION 6. Inactive Fellows.
SECTION 6.1. Active Fellows who are no longer in active practice or are unable to pay dues for reasons acceptable to the Membership Committee and the Board of Managers shall be transferred to Inactive Fellowship.
SECTION 6.2. Inactive Fellows shall not vote, serve on committees, hold office, or serve on the Board of Managers. They may attend all functions of the Association.
SECTION 6.3. Inactive Fellows will be reviewed each year by the Membership Committee, and any Inactive Fellow who no longer meets the criteria for Inactive Fellows shall either be returned to Active Fellowship or dropped from membership by action of the Board of Managers
SECTION 7. Founding Fellows.
SECTION 7.1. Founding Fellows are those surgeons who on June 14, 1938 organized the Association in its unincorporated form in San Francisco, California, and in addition to being Active or Inactive Fellows, are designated Founding Fellows.
SECTION 8. Election of Active Fellows, Honorary Fellows, and Contributing Scientists.
SECTION 8.1. To be a candidate for Active Fellowship, Honorary Fellowship, or Contributing Scientist, a person shall meet all the qualifications for the desired class of membership and shall be sponsored by three (3) Active Fellows. An Active Fellow shall not sponsor more than three (3) candidates for Active Fellowship in any one (1) year.
SECTION 8.2. Each candidate for Active Fellowship, , Honorary Fellowship, or Contributing Scientist shall submit documents in support of their application as determined by the Board of Managers. All application documents shall be submitted by a date designated by the Chair of the Membership Committee.
SECTION 8.3. The Membership Committee shall consider all candidates and shall make a recommendation to the Board of Managers on whether candidates shall be nominated for Active Fellowship, Honorary Fellowship, or as Contributing Scientist. The Board of Managers shall review the recommendation of the Membership Committee and shall make nominations, if any, for Active Fellowship, Honorary Fellowship, and Contributing Scientist membership at the Annual Business Meeting.
SECTION 8.4. Active Fellows, Honorary Fellows and Contributing Scientists shall be elected by the Fellows from the nominations of the Board of Managers. A three-quarters affirmative vote of the voting fellows present at an Annual Business Meeting shall be required for election.
SECTION 9. The Association shall present to each new Fellow a certificate of membership signed by the President and Secretary-Treasurer at the Annual meeting following his/her election to membership. If a new member fails to attend the Association's meeting after the election to membership, his/her membership shall be withheld until the following year. If he/she fails to attend two (2) consecutive meetings immediately following his/her election to membership without a valid excuse approved by the Board of Managers, his/her membership shall be forfeited. Membership shall become effective when the initiation fees and dues for the year after election have been paid and the certificate of membership has been presented.
ARTICLE II OFFICERS
SECTION 1. The officers of the Association shall be the President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Secretary-Treasurer-Elect and Recorder.
SECTION 2. The President, President-Elect, Vice-President, and Secretary-Treasurer-Elect shall serve one 1) year terms commencing at the close of the Annual Business Meeting during which they succeeded or were elected to office and terminating at the close of the following Annual Business Meeting. At the conclusion of those terms, the President-Elect will become President and the Secretary-Treasurer-Elect will become the Secretary-Treasurer. The Secretary-Treasurer and Recorder shall serve a three (3) year term commencing at the close of the Annual Business Meeting during which they succeeded or were elected to office and terminating at the close of the third following Annual Business Meeting.
SECTION 3. Election of Officers
SECTION 3.1. No Fellow shall serve two (2) consecutive terms in the same office except under special extenuating circumstances as determined by the Board of Managers.
SECTION 3.2. At the Annual Business Meeting the Nominating Committee shall nominate a candidate for each office which will become vacant. Additional nominations may be made from the floor.
SECTION 3.3. The voting members present at the Annual Business Meeting shall elect the officers from the nominees by majority vote.
SECTION 3.4. Any officer or agent may be removed by majority vote of the Board of Managers whenever in its judgment the best interest of the Association would be served thereby.
SECTION 3.5. In the event of the death, resignation, incapacity or removal of the President-Elect, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Recorder, or Secretary-Treasurer-Elect, the Nominating Committee in place at the last Annual Business Meeting shall be reconvened to select a nominee for the vacant office. The Board of Managers may elect the nominee to office, by majority vote, to serve the remainder of the term of the office which is vacant.
SECTION 4. The President (a) shall preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Board of Managers and shall serve as the chief executive officer of the Association, (b) shall appoint members to all committees, and create ad hoc committees not otherwise provided for in these By-Laws, (c) shall deliver an address at the Annual Scientific Meeting, (d) shall choose a speaker to deliver the Fitts lecture at the Annual Meeting and (e) shall act for the Association in the event of any contingency not covered by the bylaws, (f) shall assume other specific responsibilities as determined by the Board of Managers.
SECTION 5. The President-Elect (a) shall preside at meetings of the Association and Board of Managers in the absence of the President or upon request of the President, (b) shall assume the duties of the President in the event of death, resignation, or incapacity of the President, (c) shall succeed to the Presidency at the close of the Annual Business Meeting the year following his/her election to the office of President-Elect, and (d) shall assume other specific responsibilities as determined by the Board of Managers
SECTION 6. The Vice-President shall preside at meetings of the Association and Board of Managers in the absence of the President and President-Elect or upon their request or incapacity to serve, and shall assume other specific responsibilities as determined by the Board of Managers
SECTION 7. The Secretary-Treasurer shall oversee the corporate and financial records of the organization, contract and oversee audits of the financial books, keep a record of all formal meetings of the Association, provide an annual financial report at the Annual Business Meeting, shall sign all contracts of the Association and keep a record of all contracts and participate in all meetings and calls as requested by the President. The Secretary-Treasurer shall also assume other specific responsibilities as determined by the Board of Managers :
SECTION 8. The Recorder shall be Chair of the Program Committee, which shall prepare a scientific program for the Annual Meeting and instructions to speakers, shall receive all scientific papers presented to the Association, and shall assume other specific responsibilities as determined by the Board of Managers
SECTION 9. The Secretary-Treasurer-Elect (a) shall function as the Secretary-Treasurer at meetings of the Association and Board of Managers in the absence or upon request of the Secretary-Treasurer, (b) shall assume the duties of the Secretary-Treasurer in the event of death, resignation, removal or incapacity of the Secretary-Treasurer, ( c) shall succeed to the Secretary-Treasurer position at the close of the Annual Business Meeting the year following his/her election to the office of Secretary-Treasurer-Elect, (d) shall attend all meetings of the Board of Managers as an ex-officio member but shall not vote, and (e) shall assume other specific responsibilities as determined by the Board of Managers
ARTICLE III THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS ("MANAGERS")
SECTION 1. Except as otherwise provided, the board of directors, called "Board of managers Managers", generally shall be thirteen (13) in number, but the Secretary-Treasurer-Elect shall be an additional ex-officio non-voting member of the Board. The voting managers shall be the President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Recorder, three (3) most recent Past-Presidents, four (4) Managers-at-Large (one of which will be the Critical Care Manager) and the Editor of the Journal of Trauma.
SECTON 1.1 The Executive Committee of the Association, to which the Board may delegate some of its authority, shall be: President, President-Elect, Vice President, Recorder, Secretary-Treasurer and Immediate Past President.
SECTION 2. Each Past-President shall serve a three (3) year term on the Board of Managers immediately after completing his/her term as President.
SECTION 3. Managers-at-Large.
SECTION 3.1. The Managers-at-Large, including the Critical Care Manager-at-Large shall serve a three (3) year term commencing at the close of the Annual Meeting at which they were elected and terminating at the close of the third succeeding Annual Meeting. Managers-at-Large shall be eligible for re-election.
SECTION 3.2. If the term of a Manager-at-Large will expire at the close of an Annual Meeting, the Nominating committee shall nominate one Active Fellow for such Manager-at-Large position, including the Critical Care Manager-at-Large, at the Annual Meeting, and additional nominations may be made from the floor. The voting members present at the Annual Business Meeting shall elect each Manager-at-Large from among the nominees by majority vote.
SECTION 4. In the event of the death, resignation or incapacity of a Manager-at-Large, the Nominating Committee shall be reconvened to select a nominee for the vacant position. In the event of the death, resignation or incapacity of any Past-President, the Nomination Committee, at its option may select an additional Manager-at-Large to complete the term of the Past-President on the Board or may leave such position vacant. The Board of Managers may elect the nominee, if any, to office to serve the remainder of the term of the position which is vacant.
SECTION 5. Duties of the Board of Managers.
SECTION 5.1. The Board of Managers (a) shall manage the affairs of the Association and determine its policies and procedures, (b) may invite any member of the Association to participate in its deliberations at any meeting, (c) shall receive and consider the reports of committees and review their activities, (d) shall nominate candidates for Honorary Fellowship to be voted upon by the voting Fellows of the Association at the Annual Business Meeting (e) shall accept, reject, or defer an application for fellowship in the Association, (f) shall determine initiation fees for new Fellows, and the annual dues of Fellows and their method of payment, subject to subsequent approval by the Association fellowship, (e) shall review and approve the annual budget for the Association, and (f) shall review and approve initiatives, programs, expenditures and other Association business as they deem appropriate
SECTION 5.2. The Board of Managers shall appoint and may dismiss the Editor of The Journal of Trauma, Injury, Infection, and Critical Care and shall be responsible for the Journal's financial activities. The Editor will be appointed for a term of five (5) years. The Board of Managers at its discretion may re-appoint the Editor for two (2) additional five (5) year terms. Prior to appointment of a new Editor, the President and President-Elect will appoint a search committee from the Association Active Fellowship to select worthy candidates to propose to the Board of Managers for final appointment.
SECTION 5.3. The Board of Managers may, at its discretion, contract with an Executive Director for the Association to perform or delegate such functions as the Board of Managers deems appropriate.
SECTION 5.4. The Board of Managers may create new standing committees.
SECTION 6. Any Manager may call a meeting of the Board of Managers by giving thirty (30) days notice thereof, which notice requirement may be waived by the unanimous consent of the Board of Managers.
ARTICLE IV STANDING COMMITTEES
SECTION 1. Program Committee.
SECTION 1.1. The Program Committee shall be responsible for the format and content of the Annual Scientific Program.
SECTION 1.2. The Program Committee shall consist of the President, President-Elect, Secretary-Treasurer, Editor of the Journal of Trauma, Recorder, the Critical Care Committee Chair, and not less than three (3) additional members who shall each serve a three (3) year term with one (1) such new member each year. The Recorder shall serve as Chair.
SECTION 2. Membership Committee.
SECTION 2.1. The Membership Committee shall consider all completed applications for membership, shall recommend candidates for Active Fellowship, Honorary Fellowship, Contributing Scientist, and Inactive Fellowship to the Board of Managers, and shall review all Inactive Fellows annually and make recommendations concerning their continued eligibility for Inactive status to the Board of Managers.
SECTION 2.2. The Membership Committee shall consist of the President-Elect, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, the Critical Care Manager-at-Large and the three (3) other Managers-at-Large. The President-Elect shall serve as Chair.
SECTION 3. Nominating Committee.
SECTION 3.1. At the Annual Business Meeting or as needed the Nominating Committee may make nominations for any of the following offices (a) President-Elect, (b) Recorder, (c) Managers-at-Large and Critical Care Manager-at-Large, and (d) Secretary-Treasurer-Elect.
SECTION 3.2. The Nominating Committee shall consist of the three (3) immediate Past-Presidents, the President, and the President-Elect. The most senior Past-President shall serve as the Chair.
SECTION 4. Scholarship and Awards Committee.
SECTION 4.1. The duties of the Scholarship and Awards Committee shall be established by committee, subject to approval by the Board of Managers, and shall include making recommendations to the Board for scholarship awards, and selecting the Canizaro Award at the Annual Meeting.
SECTION 4.2. The Scholarship and Awards Committee shall consist of the President-Elect, the Vice-President, the Secretary-Treasurer, and the Managers-at-Large including the Critical Care Manager-at-Large who shall serve for their three (3) year term of office, and one member appointed annually who is not a member of the Board of Managers. All actions of the Scholarship and Awards Committee are subject to approval of the Board Managers. The President-Elect shall serve as Chair.
SECTION 5. Critical Care Committee.
SECTION 5.1. The duties of the committee shall be established by the committee, subject to approval by the Board of Managers, Duties shall include responsibility for the format and content of the critical care portion of the Annual Scientific Program, and recommending to the Board of Managers candidates for positions as officers and committee members of the Association.
SECTION 5.2. The Critical Care Manager-at-Large will be the Chair of the Critical Care Committee and will serve a three (3) year term. The other members of the Critical Care Committee shall be appointed by the President and will consist of (a) six (6) members who are Active Fellows, each of whom shall serve a three (3) year term with two (2) new members each year. The Chair of the Critical Care Committee (Critical Care Manager-at-Large) shall be a member of the Membership Committee, Scholarship and Awards Committee and the Program Committee.
SECTION 6. Committee on Prevention.
SECTION 6.1. The duties of this committee will shall be established by the committee, subject to approval by the Board of Managers.
SECTION 6.2. The Committee on Prevention will be appointed from the roster of Active Fellows by the President and will include the Chair, who will serve a three (3) year term, and six (6) members who shall each serve a three (3) year term, with two (2) new members each year.
SECTION 7. Committee on Injury Assessment and Outcome.
SECTION 7.1. The duties of this committee shall be established by the committe, subject to approval by the Board of Managers.
SECTION 7.2. The Committee on Injury Assessment and Outcome will be appointed from the roster of Active Fellows by the President and will include the Chair, who will serve a three (3) year term, and six (6) members who shall each serve a three (3) year term, with two (2) new members each year.
SECTION 8. Multi-Institutional Trials Committee.
SECTION 8.1. The duties of the Committee shall be established by the committee, subject to approval by the Board of Managers. Duties shall include oversight of the activities of the multi-institutional trials consortium and the development of multi-institutional research protocols.
SECTION 8.2: The Multi-Institutional Trials Committee will be appointed from the roster of Active Fellows by the President and will include the Chair who will serve a three- (3) year term and six (6) members who shall each serve a three- (3) year term with two (2) new members each year.
SECTION 8.3: The Multi-Institutional Trials Consortium shall consist of Active Fellows of the association representing institutions that are committed to conduct multi-institutional clinical trials. Institutional qualification for membership in the Consortium will be determined by the Multi-Institutional Trials Committee subject to approval by the Board of Managers, and each institution so qualified must be approved by the Multi-Institutional Trials Committee. Continued participation in the Consortium will be contingent upon (1) periodic review of the institution's performance relative to their commitment, and (2) maintenance of the qualifications as set forth by the Multi-Institutional Trials Committee.
SECTION 9. Committee on Publications and Communication
SECTION 9.1 The duties of the committee shall be established by the committee, subject to approval by the Board of Managers.
SECTION 9.2 The Committee on Publications and Communication shall consist of a Chair appointed by the President for three (3) years, the immediate Past-President, and at least five (5) members appointed by the President for three (3) year terms
SECTION 10. Acute Care Surgery Committee
SECTION 10.1. The duties of the committee shall be established by the Board of Managers and will include: managing and overseeing all functions and operations of the Association related to postgraduate training in trauma, surgical critical care, and emergency surgery.
SECTION 10.2. The Acute Care Surgery Committee shall consist of a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman, and at least six members appointed by the President. The Chairman, Vice-Chairman, and all committee members shall serve 3 year terms.
SECTION 11. Military Liaison Committee
SECTION 11.1. The Military Liaison Committee shall be appointed annually. The duties of this committee shall be established committee, subject to approval by the Board of Managers. .
SECTION 11.2. The Military Liaison Committee will be appointed from the roster of Active Fellows by the President and will include the Chair, who will serve a three (3) year term and six (6) members who shall serve a three (3) year terms, with two (2) new members each year.
SECTION 12 Ad Hoc Committees
SECTION 12.1. Ad Hoc Committees dealing with programs and issues of contemporary importance to the Association may be appointed at the discretion of the Association President. Members of an Ad Hoc Committee and the Chair of the Committee shall be appointed by the President as necessary to fulfill the Committee's mandate. Each Ad Hoc Committee will remain in effect for two (2) years, after which it will be automatically disbanded. . An Ad Hoc Committee may be renewed for additional two (2) year terms at the discretion of the President.
ARTICLE V ANNUAL MEETING
SECTION 1. The Annual Meeting of the Association shall be held at the time and place designated by the Board of Managers in a written notice sent by mail to all members at least three (3) months prior to the date of the meeting. The Annual Meeting shall consist of a Scientific program, Annual Business Meeting, and Social program.
SECTION 2. All elections shall be held at the Annual Business Meeting.
SECTION 3. Papers and Publications.
SECTION 3.1. Members and guests offering papers for presentation at the Annual Meeting shall furnish the Recorder with titles, abstracts, manuscripts or other material in a format and at a time designated by the Recorder.
SECTION 3.2. The official publication of the Association will be the JOURNAL OF TRAUMA, INJURY, INFECTION, AND CRITICAL CARE.
SECTION 4. All meetings shall be conducted according to these By-Laws and parliamentary procedures according to the most recent edition of Roberts Rules of Order.
SECTION 5. The Annual Business Meeting shall include the following:.
A) Report of the Association Officers
B) Report of Minutes of the Board of Managers
C) Report of the Recorder
D) Report of THE JOURNAL OF TRAUMA
E) Committee Reports
F) Election of Members
G) Unfinished Business
H) New Business
I) Report of Nominating Committee
J) Election of Officers and Managers-at-Large
K) Installation of President and Presentation of President-Elect
L) Adjournment
ARTICLE VI DUES AND FEES
SECTION 1. The initiation fee for new members shall be determined by the Board of Managers.
SECTION 2. Annual dues for members and method of payment shall be determined by the Board of Managers subject to subsequent approval of the voting Fellows.
SECTION 3. The Secretary-Treasurer shall notify all members in arrears of dues.
SECTION 4. Guest fees for the Annual Meeting shall be determined by the Board of Managers.
SECTION 5. Active Fellows and Contributing Scientists shall pay an initiation fee, annual dues and assessments. Members who attain an age of 65 shall not be required to pay dues, although they must be up to date in all dues and assessments until the age of 65. However, such senior status members shall pay a registration fee in an amount determined by the Board of Managers for meetings they attend.
SECTION 5.1. Any member under the age of 65 whose dues are in arrears for two (2) years shall be notified by the Secretary-Treasurer in writing, and if he/she fails to pay his/her dues within three (3) months thereafter, he/she shall be dropped from membership, unless excused by the Board of Managers.
SECTION 6. Honorary Fellows shall not be required to pay an initiation fee or annual dues and assessments. They shall pay a registration fee in an amount determined by the Board of Managers for meetings they attend.
SECTION 7. Inactive Fellows shall not be required to pay annual dues or assessments. They shall pay a registration fee in an amount determined by the Board of Managers for meetings they attend.
SECTION 8. A special assessment may be recommended by the Board of Managers, and, if approved by a two-thirds affirmative vote of the voting members in attendance at an Annual Business Meeting, shall be levied on the Active Fellows and Contributing Scientist members of the Association.
ARTICLE VII RESIGNATIONS
SECTION 1. Any member may withdraw from the Association after fulfilling all obligations and then giving written notice of such intention to the Secretary-Treasurer. This notice shall be presented to the Board of Managers at the first meeting following its receipt. Resignation becomes effective upon approval by the Board of Managers.
ARTICLE VIII AMENDMENTS
SECTION 1. No part of the By-Laws may be amended, altered or repealed, except at a regular Annual Meeting of the Association in an Annual Business Meeting. The suggested amendment, alteration or repeal in the By-Laws must be sent to all voting members at least ninety (90) days prior to the Annual Meeting by e-mail, web posting, mail, or fax. The adoption of the suggested amendment, alteration or repeal shall be by vote of three-fourths of the voting members at the Annual Business Meeting.
Bylaws amended on October 2, 2009 during the 68th AAST Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania.