Revised 8/00

WHEREAS

Clinical Biochemistry concerns the application of the science of chemistry to the understanding of the human in health and disease, and

The clinical biochemist is entrusted with the management and operation of laboratories in a Hospital, Medical School or a Medical Research Institute, and

The interaction of the clinical biochemist with the physician results in the more effective utilization of the data secured by these laboratories, and

The clinical biochemist through his research activities furthers the understanding of the disease process in the human, and

There is need for providing an academic environment for the training of clinical biochemists at the highest professional and technical level, and

In the interest of the public, these activities require the services of specialists expert in the field of clinical biochemistry.

IT HAS BECOME NECESSARY

To form a professional organization dedicated to the fostering of these principles and to this end this Constitution is adopted.

Article 1: Name

1.        The name of this association is the National Academy of Clinical Biochemistry, referred to herein as the Academy.

2.        The Academy shall be the Academy of the American Association for Clinical Chemistry (AACC).

Article 2: Membership

1. The membership of the Academy shall consist of Fellows, Associate Fellows, Honorary Fellows, and Emeritus Fellows.

2. Membership in the Academy as Fellow or Associate Fellow shall require concurrent membership in AACC.

3. An individual may be admitted as a Fellow to the Academy by majority vote of the Executive Committee if any one of the qualifications listed herein is met:

(a) An individual who has been certified by the American Board of Clinical Chemistry, or possesses an equivalent Board certification and who is actively participating in the research, education or service of clinical biochemistry may be admitted as a Fellow. By research is meant publications in peer reviewed journals; by education is meant teaching in an accredited institution; and by service is meant participation in patient care.

(b) An individual who has a doctorate degree and is active in the research, education and practice of either clinical biochemistry or an allied discipline may be admitted as an Associate Fellow of the Academy.

An associate fellow may enjoy all the rights and privileges of a fellow except that he/she may not hold national office, vote in a national election, or vote on proposed constitutional changes.

4. An individual who has an earned doctorate degree and at least ten (10) years of post doctoral experience in clinical biochemistry and who has distinguished achievements in research, education, or service in clinical biochemistry and who is recognized for outstanding contributions to the field of clinical biochemistry may, upon a 2/3 affirmative vote by the Board of Directors, be extended an invitation to membership as a Fellow of the Academy.

5. An individual distinguished in the field of clinical biochemistry may be elected an Honorary Fellow by unanimous vote of the Board of Directors. An honorary fellow may enjoy all the rights and privileges of a fellow except that he/she may not hold national office, vote in a national election, or vote on proposed constitutional changes, nor is he/she required to pay dues.

6. An individual who has been a Fellow of the Academy for at least ten years and who has retired, may, upon the request of such member, become an Emeritus Fellow. He or she shall enjoy the rights and privileges of Fellow as before, except that he may not serve on the Board of Directors nor as an officer of the Academy.

7. The rights and privileges of Fellows, wherever stated in the Constitution or its bylaws, shall apply only to Fellows in good standing. Only Fellows in good standing shall have any right, title, or interest in the property and funds of the Academy.

8. Only Fellows, Emeritus Fellows, and Honorary Fellows may use the designation "FACB" after their names.

9. A member in good standing may resign from the membership by submitting a resignation, in writing, to the Secretary of the Academy prior to the first day of the fiscal year of resignation.

A member will be notified of forfeiture of membership by the Treasurer, for failure to pay dues 180 days after the beginning of the year for which payment is due.

In the event that a former member desires reinstatement to membership, an application must be submitted.

10. The Secretary of the Academy shall publish, at least every other year a list of the members of the Academy in good standing. Each Fellow's listing shall include his or her current professional affiliation.

11. Formal charges against a member which recommend termination of membership, must be in writing, signed by two members, and filed with the Secretary. Copies of the charges must be promptly sent by the Secretary to the member so charged via certified mail and to the members of the Board of Directors. At the next regular meeting of the Board of Directors at a date later than 30 days after the mailing of the charges, the Board shall decide upon this disposition. A member charged shall have the right to file a reply to the charges, but not later than ten days before they are to be considered by the Board. He or she shall also have the right to appear at the meeting of the Board in his or her own defense. Regardless of the decision, he or she shall receive written notification of the disposition of the charges. Revocation of membership shall carry with it loss of all rights and privileges as a member. The former member may not reapply for membership until three years have elapsed from the time of the decision. A two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors shall be necessary for revocation of membership or for re-admission.

Article 3: Officers

1. The Officers shall be: a President, who shall serve for one year; a President Elect, who shall serve for one year and then shall become President; a Secretary, who shall serve for three years, and a Treasurer, who shall serve for three years.

2. In the event that a President cannot complete his or her term of office, the President Elect shall become President and shall serve until he or she has completed the full term for which he or she was elected.

3. In the event that a President Elect can not complete his or her term of office, his or her duties shall be assigned to a member of the Board of Directors by a majority vote of the Board, but the member designated shall not succeed to the Presidency; at that next regular election, both a President and President Elect shall be elected. If time does not permit the Nominating Committee to prepare a ballot in the normal manner, a special election shall be held.

Article 4: Board of Directors

1. The Board of Directors shall consist of the Officers, six members, and the immediate Past President; the eight members shall serve for three-year terms, with two members elected each year. The past president shall serve for one year immediately following his or her term as President.

2. The President shall serve as Chair of the Board of Directors.

3. The Board shall meet at the time of the annual meeting of the Academy and at such other times as directed by the President.

4. The Board of Directors shall report on the financial and other affairs of the Academy at the annual meeting of the Academy.

Article 5: Committees

1. The Standing Committees shall be:
Education and Scientific Affairs
Executive (Article 11)
Finance (Article 6)

2. The President may create such Ad Hoc Committees as he or she deems appropriate.

3. Appointment of all committee Chairs shall be by the President with the approval of the Board of Directors, except that the composition of the Executive and Finance Committees shall be as stated in the Constitution and Bylaws. The Committee Chairs shall choose their own committee members and submit the list for approval by the Executive Committee.

4. Members of the committees shall be drawn from the Fellows, Emeritus Fellows, and Associate Fellows of the Academy in good standing.

5. The Duties of the committees shall be those indicated by their titles or those additional duties assigned by the President or by the Board.

6. Appointments to all committees shall be on an annual basis, and there shall be no limitations concerning reappointment other than that the member must remain in good standing in the Academy unless otherwise specified in the Constitution and Bylaws.

Article 6: Finances

1. The Finance Committee shall consist of the President Elect, the Treasurer, and three Fellows of the Academy approved by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall serve as the Chair of the Finance Committee.

2. The Fiscal year shall be from January 1st to December 31st and shall be uniform throughout the Academy, its committees and its constitutive bodies.

3. The duties of the Finance Committee shall be to prepare budgets for action upon by the Board of Directors, to audit the receipt and disbursement of funds, and to advise the Board of Directors on fiscal matters.

4. The amount of the annual dues shall be recommended by the Finance Committee but the Board of Directors shall be empowered to set the amount. In the event that the Academy creates Sections, the Board of Directors shall be empowered to remit a portion of the dues to the sections.

5. Checks and warrants must be signed by the Treasurer. No checks for more than $1,000 may be disbursed without the approval of the Finance Committee.

6. Surety bonds shall be furnished by each person signing checks or warrants and the amount of the bond shall be set by the Finance Committee and approved by the Board of Directors; the Academy shall pay the cost of the bonding.

7. In the event of lawful dissolution of the Academy, after payment of all just debts and obligations of the Academy, the net assets of the Academy shall be given to one or more organizations devoted to the objectives and activities similar to those of the Academy and designated by the Board of Directors, and the records shall be preserved in accordance with the laws of the State of incorporation.

Article 7: Publications

1. The Academy shall own and copyright, in whole or part, all of its publications.

Article 8: Elections and Vacancies in Office

1. A Nominating Committee shall be elected by the Academy membership, and shall consist of six Fellows. Three Fellows shall be elected each year and shall serve a two year term. The candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall serve as Chair of the Committee in the second year of his or her term.

2. The duties of the Nominating Committee shall be to nominate two candidates for each office of the Academy and for each position on the Board of Directors that is to be acted upon, and six candidates for the Nominating Committee. No member of the Nominating Committee may be nominated for any office during his or her term on the Nominating Committee. Acceptances by each candidate shall be secured prior to inclusion on the ballot.

3. The outgoing Nominating Committee shall report to the President of the Academy the results of the balloting, whereupon it will be succeeded by the incoming Nominating Committee.

4. Ten percent of the membership, by petition in writing, may nominate additional candidates, specifying the terms of office, and the names shall appear on the ballot, provided that the Chair of the Nominating Committee receives the signed petitions and the written acceptance of the candidate at least 30 days before the scheduled date for the mailing of the ballots to members.

5. To appear on a ballot, a nominee must fulfill any qualifications for the office of his or her candidacy stated elsewhere in the Constitution and its Bylaws.

6. The Secretary is responsible to ensure the ballot is properly prepared and distributed, and that the tabulation of votes is properly conducted. The ballots shall specify the office and the term of office for each position to be filled, shall contain provision for write-in candidates, and for each position, shall have the order of names assigned randomly.

7. The ballots shall be distributed no more than eight, nor less than four months before the new officers take office. The President of the Academy shall determine whether the election shall be conducted by paper ballot or by electronic ballot, so long as the authenticity of the vote and the secrecy of the ballot are preserved. The ballot count shall be certified by the Secretary and at least one member of the Academy selected by the President. The process and the records may be reviewed by any member of the Academy. Such review must be requested in writing and will be allowed only at the Academy office in Washington, D.C., and must take place no later than 30 days following the announcement of the election results.

8. The Secretary of the Academy shall provide the Nominating Committee with a list of members eligible to serve.

9. Vacancies in any of the offices of the Academy or on the Board of Directors shall be filled as provided elsewhere in the Constitution and its Bylaws, but where not provided for, the Board of Directors shall fill the vacancy for the unexpired portion of the term, but the person appointed must qualify for the position in accordance with the Constitution and its Bylaws. With respect to the Nominating Committee, vacancies shall be filled by persons having the next highest scores in the most recent balloting for the Nominating Committee.

10. Officers of the Academy and members of the Board of Directors shall assume office at the beginning of the fiscal year, except as provided otherwise in the Constitution and its Bylaws.

Article 9: Meetings

1.     The annual meeting of the Academy shall be at the time and place determined by the Board of Directors, and the members of the Academy shall be notified of the time and place of the meeting. The annual meeting shall include a general business meeting of the membership at which the ranking officer of the Academy shall preside. The agenda of the meeting shall be made available prior to the meeting and the annual meeting shall receive the report of each officer and standing committee chair.

2. Any member who indicates in writing to the chairperson of the meeting that he wishes to speak at the meeting on any point of business, new or old, shall be allotted time by the Chair.

3. The conduct of the business meetings of the Academy, its committees and its constitutive bodies shall be in accordance with Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, except when they are inconsistent with the Constitution and its Bylaws or any published rules of order of the Academy.

4. The presiding officer of a meeting may appoint a parliamentarian.

Article 10: Amendments

1.     Amendments to this Constitution and its Bylaws, in whole or in part, may be proposed either by majority vote of all members of the Board of Directors or by petition to the Board of Directors signed by at least ten percent of the Fellows of the Academy. A proposed amendment to the Constitution and its Bylaws must specify a time for it to become effective, if adopted.

2. No later than at the time of the distribution of the next election ballot, or at such other time as the Board of Directors shall specify, the Secretary of the Academy shall distribute a ballot containing the proposed Bylaws change to each Fellow of the Academy; accompanying the ballot shall be a statement in support of and a statement in opposition to the proposed amendment. The ballot count shall be certified by the Secretary and at least one member of the Academy selected by the President. The process and the records may be reviewed by any member of the Academy. Such review must be requested in writing, and will be allowed only at the Academy office in Washingtno, D.C., and must take place no later than 30 days following the announcement of the election results. A proposed amendment shall become effective, at the time specified, upon receiving affirmative votes of two-thirds of those Fellows of the Academy who cast ballots.

3. When these bylaws require action or communication by "mail" or by "letter," equivalent forms of communication such as electronic mail or facsimile shall be permitted when such alternative means of communication serve the purpose intended by the bylaws requirement.

Article 11: Executive Committee

1.     The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, President Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Past President. The President shall serve as the Chair of the Executive Committee.

2. The Executive Committee shall act on behalf of the Board on matters affecting the Academy between Board meetings. All actions of the Executive Committee must be ratified by the Board of Directors.

3. Meetings of the Executive Committee may be called by the President or by petition of no less than 3 members of the Executive Committee.

4. For purposes of conducting business, a quorum shall consist of 3 members of the Executive Committee.

Revision Dates:

4/76:4/81:4/84:2/86:11/87:4/90:7/91:4/95:7/98:8/00:9/03:7/05:10/05.

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