The American Academy of Ophthalmology Board of Trustees recommended proposed amendments to its governance documents (Bylaws, Code of Ethics, Procedural Rules, etc) for consideration and adoption by its membership via official ballot and forwarded to the voting fellows and members after the Annual Business Meeting on Sunday, Nov. 11, 2007, at Ernest Morial Convention Center in New Orleans.
Section
Board of Trustees Explanation for Proposed Changes
Current Language & Proposed Changes
New language is underlined, and deleted words and phrases are indicated by strike through. Only the affected portions of the current documents are printed here.
Bylaws ¶ I.1.21.
It is recommended that the Academy Bylaws regarding the payment of dues be amended to allow for multiple year dues payments, at the discretion of the Board of Trustees.
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(b) Annual dues shall be established on the basis of the calendar year. The dues for a calendar year shall be payable on or before Jan. 1 of that year and shall be considered delinquent if not paid by the date determined by the Board of Trustees.At the discretion of the Board of Trustees, specified classes of members shall have the option to prepay dues for multiple years.Assessments and fees shall be payable at the time or times determined by the Board of Trustees.
Bylaws ¶ I.1.11.
In order to appropriately identify all individuals who are not ophthalmologists under a single member category, combining the Associate member and Research Scientist class of membership will simplify our membership categories and alleviate any confusion for nonophthalmologists interested in applying for membership.
1.11. Associate Members. A person who holds a degree of Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathy, or Doctor of Veterinary Medicineor Doctor of Philosophy in science, and who is not an ophthalmologist but is engaged in a field allied with or in a basic science related to ophthalmologyor engaged in full-time research in a science related to ophthalmology, or a person who, in the judgment of the Board of Trustees, has made significant contributions to ophthalmology, shall be eligible for nomination to receive an invitation for membership as an Associate Member. A person thought to be an eligible candidate for invitation may be nominated by two (2) Active or Life Fellows or Members, on the form prescribed by the Board of Trustees. If the Board of Trustees, in its sole discretion, determines that the candidate should be invited for membership as an Associate Member, an acceptance form prescribed by the Board of Trustees shall be furnished to the candidate.A certification attesting to the person's continued satisfaction of all the requirements for eligibility for nomination to membership in that class shall be required annually.
1.16. Research Scientist Member. A person who holds a degree of Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathy, Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or Doctor of Philosophy in science, and who is not an ophthalmologist, but is engaged in full-time research in a science related to ophthalmology, shall be eligible for nomination to receive an invitation for membership as a Research Scientist Member. A person thought to be an eligible candidate for invitation may be nominated by two (2) Active or Life Fellows or Members, on the form prescribed by the Board of Trustees. If the Board of Trustees, in its sole discretion, determines that the candidate should be invited for membership as an Research Scientist Member, an acceptance form prescribed by the Board of Trustees shall be furnished to the candidate.A certification attesting to the person's continued satisfaction of all the requirements for eligibility for nomination to membership in that class shall be required annually.
Bylaws ¶ VI.6.02.
The following change to the Academy’s Bylaws will make all trustees participate as a member of the Executive Committee at some point during their Board of Trustees tenure.
6.02. Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall be composed of:
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(d) theone or more Trustees-at-Large most senior in service who hashave not previously served on the Executive Committee,with assignments being made to ensure that each Trustee-at-Large serves on the Executive Committee one time during his or her term;
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Bylaws ¶ III.3.02., 3.03. & 3.04.
The following change will make all references to the Academy’s Foundation’s consistent in the Bylaws.
3.02. Composition of the Board of Trustees. The Board of Trustees shall be composed of:
... (e) the Chair of the EyeCare AmericaAcademy Foundation Advisory Board; ...
3.03. Terms.
… (e) The Chair of the EyeCare AmericaAcademy Foundation Advisory Boardshall serve on the Board of Trustees for one (1) full term of three (3) years, or for such shorter term as the person serves as Chair of the EyeCare AmericaAcademy Foundation Advisory Board, andshall be eligible for one additional three (3) year term.
3.04. Duties and Responsibilities of Trustees.
(a) The Past President serving on the Board of Trustees, the Chair of the Council, the Vice Chair of the Council, the Chair of the EyeCare AmericaAcademy Foundation Advisory Board, and each Public Trustee shall have all of the duties and responsibilities as Trustees prescribed by these Bylaws and that the President or the Board of Trustees may determine.
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(c) Each Trustee shall be entitled to one (1) vote on all matters coming before the Board of Trustees, except as the contrary is provided in the Procedural Rules, and except further that only the Elected Officers, the Appointed Officers, the Past President serving on the Board of Trustees, the Trustees-at-Large, and the Chair and Vice Chair of the Council, and the Chair of the EyeCare AmericaAcademy Foundation Advisory Boardshall be entitled to vote on matters involving matters of governance, rules, or procedures of the Academy or matters described in Section 5.03.
