The American Academy of Ophthalmology Board of Trustees recommends the following proposed amendments to the Academy Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws and Procedural Rules for consideration and adoption by voting fellows and members via official mail ballot to be forwarded to the voting fellows and members after the 2009 Annual Business Meeting on Sunday, Oct. 25, at the Moscone Center in San Francisco. 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. An explanation of the nature or reasons for the proposed changes precedes the segment.

Board of Trustees Statement: Modifying the definition of Associate members and removing the “not an ophthalmologist” language will give the Membership Advisory Committee more latitude to make decisions on Associate member applications on a case-by-case basis.

Bylaws

1.11. Associate Members. A person who holds a degree of Doctor of Medicine, Doctor of Osteopathy, or Doctor of Veterinary Medicine or 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 ophthalmology, or a person who, in the judgment of the Board of Trustees, has made significant contributions to ophthalmology or engaged in full-time research in a science related 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.

Board of Trustees Statement: It is recommended that the Academy Bylaws regarding the term of the editor be amended to allow the Academy to retain a strong and talented editor for up to 12 years.

Bylaws

4.02. Terms of Office.

(e) The Editor shall serve as an Appointed Officer for one (1) full term of one (1) year, or until a successor is appointed, and shall be eligible for re-appointment to the same Office by the Board of Trustees for additional, successive terms of one (1) year each, with a maximum of eight (8) a maximum of three (3) terms of four (4) years each. Any person who has served as Editor for one or more terms of one year may be appointed for one or more four (4) year terms, provided that his or her total service as Editor does not exceed twelve (12) years.