AAIO Constitution

ARTICLE I — Name

The name of this Association shall be ASSOCIATION OF ASIAN INDIANS IN OPHTHALMOLOGY (hereinafter referred to as "Association").

This Association exists as a nonprofit organization for the preservation, advancement and promulgation of ophthalmology in the United States of America and Canada.  It is formed of and by the Asian Indians in the field of ophthalmology and related branches.

ARTICLE II — Purposes

This Association is organized exclusively for Asian Indians in Ophthalmology and related branches in the United States of American and Canada for the following purposes:
To encourage the continuing education of ophthalmologists.

To encourage the highest of standards and professional and ethical conduct in medical practice and research.

To serve as the voice of Asian Indians in the field of ophthalmology on issues pertinent to the delivery of quality ophthalmology services to the public.

To promote training, education and research in ophthalmology.

ARTICLE III —Membership

Section 1. Composition.

The members of this Association shall be doctors of medicine specializing in ophthalmology and scientists and other personnel in the field of ophthalmology who are Asian Indians by heritage or affinity and who are of good moral character and possess high ethical standards.

Section 2. Classification.

Active: Practicing ophthalmologists, scientists and other personnel in the field of ophthalmology who qualify under Section 1 who are residing in the United States or it protectorates, or in Canada.

Honorary: Any individual who has been selected by the membership in recognition of outstanding contributions and exceptional services to the public or to the Association in the field of Ophthalmology.  Honorary members shall enjoy all the privileges of membership except the right to vote or to hold office and they shall be exempt from paying dues.

ARTICLE IV — Management

The management and control of the affairs of the Society shall be vested in the Board of Governors, which shall consist of the elected officers, and an executive committee.

ARTICLE V — Officers, Executive Committee

The management and control of the affairs of the Society shall be vested in the Board of Governors, which shall consist of the elected officers, and an executive committee.
ARTICLE V —Officers, Executive Committee

Section 1. Elected Officers. 

The elected officers of this Association shall consist of the President, Vice-President and Secretary-Treasurer, who shall be elected by the general membership at the Annual Meeting or by ballot and shall hold office for a total of two years following their election.

Section 2. Board of Trustees. 

There shall be a total of nine (9) members who shall be elected by the general membership at the annual meeting. For the first year, three (3) members shall be elected to hold office for one year, three elected to hold office for three years.

ARTICLE VI — Duties of Officers

Section 1. President. 

The President shall be the chief executive of the Association and shall perform all duties incident to the Office of the President. He shall make appointments to all standing committees, and shall discharge the usual duties of a presiding officer. He shall preside over all the general membership meetings of the Society and and over all meetings of the Board of Governors. He will be the official spokesman for the Association.

Section 2. Vice-President. 

The Vice President shall perform all the duties of the President in his absence or indisposition.

Section 3. Secretary-Treasurer.

The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all meetings of the Society and the Board of Governors , and shall perform all duties assigned to him by the President. He shall perform all duties incident to the office of secretary including maintenance of an up-to-date membership roll. He shall send out notices of all meetings in accordance with the Constitution and By-Laws. he shall receive and be the custodian of the funds of the Association. He shall present to the Board of Governors a proposed budget for the ensuing year which shall be approved and ratified by said Board. He shall see to it that membership dues are collected.

Section 4. Board of Trustees. 

The Board of Trustees shall interpret the Constitution and By-Laws of this Society and will advise the President regarding the policy matters of the Society.

ARTICLE VII — Meetings; Notices of Meetings, Quorum

Section 1. General Membership Meetings.

One general membership meeting to be known as the "Annual Meeting," shall be held each year, the time and place to be determined by the site of the annual meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology

Section 2. Meetings of elected officers. 

The annual meeting shall be held immediately following the annual membership meeting. Special meetings may be called by the President at such times as he may deem necessary to carry out business and other affairs of the Association.

Section 3. Scientific Meeting. 

From time to time a scientific meeting may be organized in conjunction with the "Annual Meeting" or separately.

Section 4. Notices.

Written notice of the annual membership meeting shall be mailed by the Secretary to each member at least thirty (30) days prior to the meeting.

With the exception of the annual meeting of the elected officers immediately following the annual membership meeting and for which no notice is required, notices of special meetings of the Executive Committee shall be mailed by the Secretary at least 30 days prior to the meeting date.

Section 5. Quorum.

Those members present in person at the membership meeting shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business.

With respect to the elected officers, 50 percent of the members of the Executive Committee present in person shall constitute a quorum.

ARTICLE VIII — Committees

Section 1. Standing Committees.

The following may be the Standing Committees of the Association, who shall be appointed by the President for a period of two (2) years:

Finance and Budget
Membership
Education
Nominations and Elections
Program Committee
Constitution and By-Laws Committee
Section 2. Special Committees.
Special committees may be created by the President, which shall be dissolved by him upon completion of their functions.

ARTICLE IX — Dues

The annual dues shall be decided by the Executive Committee and shall be reviewed periodically.

ARTICLE X — Voting

Except as otherwise provided herein, a simple majority vote shall be sufficient client for the passage of a motion and election of officers.

ARTICLE XI — Parliamentary Procedures

All parliamentary proceedings at the general membership meetings, meetings of the Executive Committee, and all committees, shall be governed by Robert's Rules of Order, Revised, except where otherwise provided in the Constitution and By-Laws.

ARTICLE XII — Amendments

This Constitution and By-Laws may be amended by (1) a majority vote of the general membership, or (2) by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Governors.