Bylaws

AMERICAN ASSOCIATION FOR THE SURGERY OF TRAUMA BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I MEMBERSHIP 

SECTION 1. There shall be six (6) classes of membership in the Association:  Active Fellows, Contributing Scientists, Associate Fellows, 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 they (a) are a legally qualified practicing physician who is a Fellow 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 they hold 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.  Associate Fellow

SECTION 5.1. A person is qualified to be an Associate Fellow if they have a medical degree.    Applicants must meet criteria as established by the AAST Board of Managers. 

SECTION 5.2. Associate 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. Honorary Fellows

SECTION 6.1. Honorary Fellows shall be individuals whom the Association deems worthy of special honor because of notable contributions to the field of acute care surgery. 

SECTION 6.2. 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 7. Inactive Fellows

SECTION 7.1. 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 7.2. 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 7.3. 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 8. Founding Fellows

SECTION  8.1. 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 9. Election of Active Fellows, Honorary Fellows, Contributing Scientists, and Associate Fellows

SECTION 9.1. 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 9.2. Each candidate for Active Fellowship, Honorary Fellowship, Contributing Scientist, or Associate Fellowship 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 9.3. 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, Contributing Scientist, or Associate Fellowship.  The Board of Managers shall review the recommendation of the Membership Committee and shall make nominations, if any, for Active Fellowship, Honorary Fellowship, Contributing Scientist, and Associate membership at the Annual Business Meeting. 

SECTION 9.4. Active Fellows, Honorary Fellows, Contributing Scientists and Associate Fellows 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 10. The Association shall present to each new Fellow a certificate of membership signed by the President and Secretary-Treasurer at the Annual Meeting following their election to membership.  If a new member fails to attend the Association’s meeting after the election to membership, their membership shall be withheld until the following year.  If they fail to attend two (2) consecutive meetings immediately following their election to membership without a valid excuse approved by the Board of Managers, their 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, and Program Chair/Recorder.

SECTION 2. The President, President-Elect, and Vice-President, and  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. The Secretary-Treasurer and Program Chair/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, Program Chair/Recorder, , 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 their 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 Program Chair/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.

 

ARTICLE III THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS (“MANAGERS”)

SECTION 1. Except as otherwise provided, the board of directors, called “Board of Managers”, generally shall be thirteen (13) in number.  The voting managers shall be the President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Program Chair/Recorder, three (3) most recent Past-Presidents, and five (5) Managers-at-Large (two of whom will be the Critical Care Manager and the Acute Care Surgery Manager).

SECTION 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, Program Chair/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 their term as President.

SECTION 3.  Managers-at-Large

SECTION 3.1. The Managers-at-Large, including the Critical Care Manager-at-Large and the Acute Care Surgery 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 and the Acute Care Surgery 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 Active Fellows, Contributing Scientists and Associate Members 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-in-Chief of The Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery and shall be responsible for the Journal’s financial activities.  The Editor-in-Chief will be appointed for a term of five (5) years.  The Board of Managers at its discretion may re-appoint the Editor for one (1) additional five (5) year term.  The Editor-in-Chief may not serve more than ten (10) years.  Prior to appointment of a new Editor-in-Chief, 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 Manager shall appoint and may dismiss the Editor-in-Chief of Trauma Surgery and Acute Care Open and shall be responsible for the Journal’s financial activities.  The Editor-in-Chief shall be appointed for a term of five (5) years.  The Board of Managers at its discretion may re-appoint the Editor-in-Chief for one (1) additional five (5) year term.  The Editor may not serve more than ten (10) years.  Prior to appointment of a new Editor-in-Chief, 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 5.4. 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 5.5. 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-in-Chief of the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery, Editor-in-Chief of Trauma Surgery and Acute Care Open, Program Chair/Recorder, the Critical Care Committee Chair, Acute Care Surgery Committee Chair, Communications 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 Program Chair/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, Associate Fellowship 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, Acute Care Surgery 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) Vice President, (c) Program Chair/Recorder, (d) Secretary-Treasurer, and (e) Managers-at-Large including Critical Care Manager-at-Large and Acute Care Surgery Manager-at-Large.

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, Awards and Development Committee

SECTION 4.1. The duties of the Scholarship, Awards and Development 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, International Paper Award, Resident Awards, Critical Care Award and Associate Member Best Oral Paper Award at the Annual Meeting.  

SECTION 4.2. The Scholarship,  Awards and Development Committee shall consist of the President-Elect, the Vice-President, the Secretary-Treasurer, and the Managers-at-Large including the Critical Care and Acute Care Surgery Managers-at-Large who shall serve for their three (3) year term of office, and one member appointed for a three (3) year term who is not a member of the Board of Managers 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.

 

ARTICLE V OPERATING COMMITTEES

SECTION 5. The AAST Board of Managers will determine the purpose, structure, title and longevity of each operating committee yearly.  The AAST Board of Managers must approve all new operating committees by a majority vote.  All operating committees that are to be disbanded will complete their term at the end of the Annual Meeting.

SECTION 5.1 No operating committee member can serve longer than six (6) consecutive years on one committee. 

SECTION 5.2. The Critical Care Manager-at-Large will be the Chair of the Critical Care Committee, if there is an operating Critical Care Committee.  As such, they will serve a three (3) year term.  The Chair of the Critical Care Operating Committee (Critical Care Manager-at-Large) shall be a member of the Membership Committee, Scholarship, Awards and Development Committee and the Program Committee.

SECTION 5.3 The Acute Care Surgery Manager-at-Large will be the Chair of the Acute Care Surgery Committee, if there is an operating Acute Care Surgery Committee. As such, they will serve a three (3) year term.  The Chair of the Acute Care Surgery Operating Committee (Acute Care Surgery Manager-at-Large) shall be a member of the Membership Committee, Scholarship, Awards and Development Committee and the Program Committee.

SECTION 6. Ad Hoc Committees

SECTION 6.1. 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 and may be renewed for an additional (2) years at the discretion of the President, after which it will be automatically disbanded or transitioned to an operating committee.

                                           

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 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: Reports by the Association Officers

1. Reports by the Association Officers
2. Report of Minutes of the Board of Managers
3. Report by the Program Chair/Recorder
4. Report by the Editor of the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery
5. Report by Editor of Trauma Surgery and Acute Care Open
6. Reports by Committee Chairs
7. Election of Members
8. Unfinished Business
9. New Business
10. Report by Nominating Committee Chair
11. Election of Officers and Managers-at-Large
12. Installation of President and Presentation of President-Elect
13. 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.  Associate Fellows shall pay a fee as determined by the AAST Board of Managers.  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.  Senior status members have the option to pay the member rate for the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery.  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 they fail to pay their dues within three (3) months thereafter, they 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.  Honorary members can elect to pay a reduced rate for the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery.  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.  Inactive members can elect to pay a reduced rate for the Journal of Trauma and Acute Care Surgery. 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.