PREAMBLE

We the physicians of liaquat university of medical and health sciences, out of our conviction for our profession and motherland, do hereby proclaim the establishment of the Alumni Association of Physicians of liaquat university of medical and health sciences, so that collectively we all can: uphold ethical and moral values, engage in social and professional activities, support educational and intellectual pursuits, upgrade medical care and thus glorify our Association.

To this effect, we hereby set forth and enact the following laws governing the Association, which shall be binding on each and all of us in totality, until and unless properly amended by the provisions herein.  So help us God.  Amen.

Amended on the 5th day of October in the year two millennium and thirteen.

President        President-elect       Chair CABL Committee

THE CONSTITUTION

1. NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Alumni Association of Physicians of liaquat university of medical and health sciences of North America.  Hereafter, it will be referred to as LUHMS.”

2. AFFILIATIONS

The Association shall be an independent, not for profit, professional and educational organization incorporated in the United States of America, and shall have no substantial political affiliations or activities. It will function in association with APPNA (Association of physicians of Pakistani decent of North America) as a component society.

3. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

This Association is organized for educational and scientific purposes, including for such purposes, the making of distributions to organizations, which qualify as exempt organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Service Law).  The other aims shall be:

3.1 To foster scientific development and education in the field of medicine and delivery of better health care, without regard to race, color, creed, gender or age. 

3.2 To assist newly arriving Pakistani physicians in orientation and adjustment. 

3.3 To institute ways and means to cooperate with other medical organizations in North America. 

3.4 To encourage medical education and delivery of better health care in Pakistan specifically by arranging donations of medical literature, medical supplies, and by arranging lecture tours, medical conferences, and seminars in Pakistan. 

3.5 To participate in medical relief and other charitable activities both in Pakistan and in North America. 

3.6 To inform and educate decision makers and opinion making leaders in problems confronted by the medical community in general and Pakistani-American physicians in particular.

4. MEMBERSHIP

The membership of the Association shall be of the following categories:  Active, Associate, Honorary, Emeritus, Affiliate, Physician-in-Training and Student.  Unless otherwise specified in the Bylaws, Active members shall be entitled to all the privileges of the Association including the right to vote and hold office.

5. INTERNAL STRUCTURE AND ORGANIZATION

5.1 General Body 

5.1.1 It shall consist of duly registered members of the Association, according to the provisions provided herein. 

5.1.2 This will be the supreme authority of the Association wielding absolute power on the conduct of the affairs of the Association.  It, however, for the smoother running of its affairs, will delegate this authority to various components as outlined herein. 

5.1.3 All actions taken by an officer of a designated committee or officer of the Association may be approved, rejected, or amended by this body.

5.2 Board of Trustees 

5.2.1 It shall act as the overseer and custodian of the Association. 

5.2.2 It shall consist of active members of the Association elected as prescribed in the Bylaws. 

5.2.3 It shall have control of all the assets and property of the Association.

5.3 Council 

5.3.1 It shall be the legislative and policy-making body of the Association. 

5.3.2 It shall consist of elected officers of the Association. and the Chapters as described in the Bylaws. 

5.3.3 It shall fix the date and place of meetings. 

5.3.4 It shall create and authorize the standing committees, as recommended by the President. 

5.3.5 It may create and authorize special and Ad Hoc committees as and when needed. 

5.4 Executive Committee 

5.4.1 It shall consist of the President, President-elect, Immediate-past President, Secretary, and Treasurer. 

5.4.2 It shall keep an up-to-date directory of members. 

5.4.3 It shall be responsible for management of the affairs of the Association. 

5.4.4 It shall propose the annual budget and plans to the Council for approval.

5.5 Component Societies

Regional Chapters

5.5.2 Regional Chapters:  these “Chapters” shall consist of those societies, which hold recognition from Alumnus and consist of those physicians who have organized themselves in a regional chapter as defined in the Bylaws. 

5.5.2.1 Only one regional chapter will be recognized from one geographic area. 

6. OFFICERS AND ELECTED REPRESENTATIVES

6.1 The officers of this Association shall be the President, the President-elect, the Immediate-past President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer. 

6.2 The President-elect, the Secretary, and the Treasurer shall be elected by the general body, except as otherwise provided by the Bylaws with respect to the filling of vacancies. 

6.3 Councilors shall be the elected officers of those Component Societies that have received recognition from the Association.  Only one councilor shall represent any one Component society. 

6.4 Each officer of the Association and councilor shall maintain physical residence in North America during his/her tenure.

7. FINANCES

7.1 Funds for meeting and expenses of the Association activities shall be financed by annual dues, special assessments, and voluntary contributions. 

7.2 Annual membership dues and assessments shall be fixed by the Council and approved by the general body. 

7.3 The financial status of the Association shall be presented by the Treasurer to the general membership at its annual meeting. 

7.4 No part of the net earnings of the Association shall inure to the benefit or be distributed to its members, trustees, officers, or private persons, except that the corporation shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered.  No substantial part of the activities of the Association shall be the carrying on of propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Association shall not campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office.  However, APPNA can lobby for the issues pertaining to the membership.  Notwithstanding any other provision of these activities, the Association shall not carry on any other activities not permitted to be carried on (a) by an association exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Code or (b) by an association whose contributions are deductible under Section 170(c)(2) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Code.

8. BYLAWS

8.1 The Association shall adopt Bylaws for the conduct of its affairs in harmony with this Constitution. 

8.2 The Bylaws may not restrict or alter any provison defined in this Constitution. 

8.3 Robert’s Rules of Order shall be adopted for the conduct of the meetings.

9. AMENDMENTS

9.1 Amendments to this Constitution can be initiated by  

9.1.1  5% of Active members of the Association in good standing. 

9.1.2 Majority of Council members. 

9.1.3 Majority of Board of Trustees. 

9.2 The amendments thus initiated shall be referred to the Constitution and Bylaws Committee, which shall report to the council within 120 days and/or 30 days before the next meeting, with their recommendations. 

9.3 The Council will accept, reject or amend these proposals at the first meeting after receiving them.  At least two-thirds of the councilors must accept an amendment for it to be sent to the General Body. 

9.4 These amendments will be circulated to the general body members at least 30 days in advance of the annual general body meeting. 

9.5 The amendments rejected by the Council shall be returned to the proposer who may resubmit it with 5% signatures of active members of the Association in good standing in which case these amendments shall be circulated to the general membership 30 days prior to the annual meeting and will be presented to the general body for a vote. 

9.6 An amendment shall be approved only when it receives more than 50% of votes of total active membership. 

9.7 If an amendment fails to be acted upon in general body meeting for lack of quorum, a mail ballot shall be sent using all means within four weeks to the general membership.  The membership should respond prior to the set deadline.  The amendment shall become effective immediately upon adoption.

10. DISSOLUTION

10.1 No proposal for dissolution of the Association shall be considered unless recommended by the majority of the trustees and discussed at the next meeting of the Council and after four (4) weeks’ notice in writing has been given to each member in good standing.  The Association shall not be dissolved if 5% or more of the members in good standing or majority of the Trustees dissent. 

10.2 Upon dissolution of the Association, the Board of Trustees shall, after paying or making provision for payment of all of the liabilities of the Association, dispose of all of the assets of the Association exclusively for the purposes of the Association in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, religious, or scientific purposes as shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Code), as the Board of Trustees shall determine.  Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of by the Court of Common Pleas of the county in which the principal office of the Association is then located, exclusively for such purposes or such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes. 

BYLAWS

11. ADDRESS

The Council shall fix the address of the Association.

12. COMPOSITIO.

12.1.3  Any number of members of the Association may join together to form a regional chapter. 

12.1.4 All members of an alumni association, regional chapter will not be required to be members of the Association.  However, for official  recognition in the Council, it is essential that a chapter must have at least 25 members in good standing who are also active members of the Association. 

12.1.4.1 There will be one chapter from one geographical (contiguous counties) area. 

12.1.4.2 There will be one chapter from one given metropolitan area. 

12.1.4.3 There will be one chapter from one given state except when thel chapter is approval by the council. 

12.1.4.4 The additional chapter should represent contiguous counties.

12.1.5 In their involvement in the affairs of the Association, however, it is essential that they register with the Council giving those details of their articles of incorporation, of membership, and the names and addresses of officers.  All their financial dealings and bookkeeping will be through the Association’s office and accountant. 

12.1.6 The Council may withdraw recognition of any chapter whenever it finds that it  has materially breached any of the  provisions of the Constitution or Bylaws of this Association or has failed to function within the expressed spirit and purpose of this Association to such an extent that withdrawal of recognition is in the best
interest of this Association.  They shall be afforded an opportunity to be heard pursuant to such reasonable procedures as the Council shall provide. The final action taken by the Council shall be presented at the next annual meeting for approval by the general body. 

12.1 The component chapters elections should be in concert with APPNA election.

12.3.2 They may hold their functions in collaboration with APPNA.
 12.3.5 They shall submit their annual financial and audit reports and will answer all queries related to these matters.
 .

13. MEMBERSHIP

13.1 As used in these Bylaws, except as otherwise herein expressly qualified, the term “physician” means person graduated from a recognized medical, dental section of liaquat university of medical and health sciences. 

13.2 There shall be no discrimination on the basis of religion, gender, race, or ethnic origin. 

13.3 Membership will be confirmed by the President-elect of the Association. 

13.4 Membership year shall be from January 1 to December 31. 

13.5 Membership in the Association will be suspended for a criminal conviction by a court of law or a disciplinary action by a board of Medical Examiner resulting in revocation of medical licensure. 

13.5.1   Suspended membership may be reinstated by the Board of Trustees at the recommendation of the Council on  dismissal of charges and/or the disciplinary action. 

13.6 Active Members 

13.6.1 Active membership shall be open to anyone who has graduated from liaquat university of medical and health sciences 

13.6.3 Active members shall be either annual dues-paying members and residing in North America or Lifetime members. 

13.6.3.1 Any active member of the Association, on payment of fifteen (15) years of current annual dues in one lump sum or in installments, making full payment within one year may apply for Lifetime membership in the Association.  

13.6.4 Executive Council may exempt dues of any active member, when in their opinion payment of such dues is hardship upon a member.

13.7.3 They will have no right to vote or hold office in the Association. 

13.7.4 However, they may become a voting member by paying full annual dues.

13.8 Emeritus Members:   

Retired physicians may apply for emeritus membership.  Shall be dues exempt, shall have no vote, and shall hold no office.  They may, however, be appointed as members of committees or task forces, etc.

13.9 Honorary Members:   

The Association may elect as an honorary member any person distinguished for services or attainments in medicine or the allied sciences, or who has rendered other services of unusual value to the Association or humanity.  Shall be dues exempt, shall have no vote, and shall hold no office.  They may, however, be appointed as members of committees or task forces, etc.

13.10 Associate Members:   

The Association may elect to give Associate membership to persons engaged in human sciences and health care related services other than medicine. 

13.10.1 Associate members may serve on committees or task forces of the Association and participate in all of its activities. 

13.10.2 They shall not have the right to vote or hold any office in the Association. 

13.10.3 The dues for the associate members shall be equal to twenty percent (20%) of the annual dues.

13.12 Affiliate Membership:  Physicians who are not of Pakistani descent and reside in North America may apply for affiliate membership.  They shall pay 50% of the annual dues, shall have no vote, and shall hold no office.  They may, however, be appointed as members of committees or task forces.

14. DUES AND ASSESSMENTS

14.1 Annual Dues: 

14.1.1 Shall be determined by the Council. 

14.1.2  The term of annual dues will be the calendar year.

14.2 Arrears: 

14.2.1 Any member whose dues are not paid by March 31st will be considered in arrears and will not be eligible to hold office in the Association that year.

14.3 Assessments:  The Council may from time to time make special assessments.

15.GENERAL BODY MEETINGS

15.1 Determination of Time and Place: 

15.1.1 During each annual session the Association may hold one or more General Body meetings. 

15.1.2 The number and times of these General Body meetings shall be determined by the Council. 

15.1.3 One annual meeting shall be arranged by the Council each year. 

15.1.4 Such meeting shall be presided over by the President, or in his/her absence, the President-elect.

15.2 Actions: 

15.2.1 At any General Body meeting of this Association, the membership may direct the Council to appoint committees or commissions for scientific, cultural, and social investigations of special interest and importance to the profession and the public. 

15.2.2 Such investigations and reports shall not become official actions or expressions of this Association until so approved by the Council.

15.3 Quorum: 

15.3.1 Twenty (20) percent of the voting members registered at the annual meeting constitutes the quorum for that meeting. Once the quorum is established the business of the meeting shall continue and all action at the meeting shall be binding, even if the quorum for that  session is not present at later times in the meeting. 

15.3.2 Presence of at least 50% of the voting membership registered at the annual meeting will constitute the required quorum to reject an action taken by the Council or the BOT. 

15.3.3 Once quorum requirements are met, a simple majority of those present will be required for adoption of a
 resolution. 

15.3.4 In cases of overriding of a Council or BOT action and when a referendum is being conducted, a majority of 2/3 of those voting will be considered affirmative.

16. BOARD OF TRUSTEES (BOT)

16.1 Composition:   

The Board shall be composed of five (5) members of the Association.  

16.1.1   All trustees shall reside in North America during their term of office. 

16.1.2   No trustee shall hold any office or represent any component society in the Council during his/her trusteeship. 

16.1.3   Any trustee may, however, be involved in any committee of the Association and may chair only a special committee at the request of the Council and/or the Board.

16.2 Qualifications: 

16.2.1 Should have been an active member for five (5) consecutive years or total of at least eight (8) years. 

16.2.2   Should have held an office in a component society, APPNA or chaired an APPNA standing committee. 

16.2.3   A trustee will not be eligible to hold office for one year after finishing the term of trusteeship.

16.3 Term of Office: 

16.3.1   Each member of the Board shall act as a trustee for five (5) years. 

16.3.2   The terms of the trustees will be staggered so that one Trustee’s term expires each year and is replaced. 

16.3.3   No trustee shall be re-elected to the Board at the end of second term.

16.4 Election:  At least one month before the Annual Session of the Association each year, the Executive Council shall submit three (3) names to the Board for consideration for election to the Board.  The Board shall elect from amongst these three (3) members to fill any vacancies on the Board that year.  Should the Board reject all three names submitted by the Council, the Council will submit another three new names and repeat the process until the replacement is acceptable by the Board.

16.5  Officers: 

16.5.1 The officers of the Board shall be a chairman and a secretary. 

16.5.2 Each shall be elected for one (1) year from amongst the trustees at the annual meeting. 

16.5.3 Each of these two officers may be re-elected for as many terms as the Board may desire. 

16.5.4 The Chairman shall be the spokesman and the presiding officer of the Board and the secretary shall act as the recording officer. 

16.5.5 The Chair will only vote if there is a tie.

16.6 Meetings: 

16.6.1 The Board shall meet at least twice and one of them at the time and place of the annual session of the Association. 

16.6.2 It may hold any number of such meetings as the trustees may determine. 

16.6.3 The Board may be called into session by the Chairman on his/her own or upon the request of the other trustees or when a petition is filed or appears to be filed for dissolution of the Association. 

16.6.3.1 The purpose of such special session shall be stated in the notice of call and no other business shall be transacted. 

16.6.4 A resolution shall be introduced to the Board by a Trustee.

16.7 Powers and Duties 

16.7.1 As the overseers of the Association, the Board shall be the only authority to receive and discuss a proposal of dissolution of the Association. 

16.7.1.1 The recommendation of the Board, both the majority and minority views in case of dissent be presented by the Chairman or the Secretary of the Board at the next annual or emergency meeting of the Association. 

16.7.1.2 In the event of dissolution as prescribed under Article 11.0 of the Constitution, the Board shall be the sole body to disperse the assets of the Association. 

16.7.1.3 If four (4) trustees dissent with the majority decision of the general membership, they may, after dispersing the assets retain the papers of incorporation and may revive the Association.

16.7.2 The Board of Trustees shall oversee long-range and strategic planning for the Association. 

16.7.3 The Board of Trustees shall receive quarterly reports of the Association’s accounts. 

16.7.4 Any expenses over ten thousand (10,000) dollars, which has not been budgeted has to be approved by the BOT. 

16.7.5 The BOT should present the report of the asset management committee. 

16.7.6 The BOT will appoint the Ethics and Grievance Committee.

17. COUNCIL

17.1 Composition: 

17.1.1 The Council shall be composed of officers of the Association

17.2 Officers: 

17.2.1 The officers of the Council shall be the President, President-elect, Immediate Past President, Secretary, and Treasurer of the Association.

17.3 Meetings: 

17.3.1 The Council shall meet at least three (3) times a year. 

17.3.2 It may hold special meetings when called by the President or by the petition of 25% of the Council members. 

17.3.2.1 At special meetings the only subject discussed shall be the one for which the meeting was called.

17.4 Quorum:
17.4.1 A quorum of the Council shall consist of one-third (1/3) of the council eligible to vote provided that such a quorum does include at least three (3) officers of the Association.

17.5 Powers and Duties: 

17.5.1 As the legislative body of this Association, the Council shall have the power and authority to adopt, institute, and carry out such methods and measures as it may deem to be in the best interest of the Association including but not limited to following: 

17.5.2 It shall adopt rules and regulations for its own governance and for the administration of the affairs of the Association. 

17.5.3 The newly elected council shall have the authority to approve the appointment of committees, regular or special, from among its members or those not members of the Council. 

17.5.4 All such committees shall report to the Council and their members may participate in debate upon their committees’ reports, whether or not members of the Council.

17.6 Resolutions: 

17.6.1 Each resolution introduced in the Council shall be introduced by a member of the Council. 

17.6.2 It may be referred to the proper reference committee before action is taken thereon.

18. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

18.1 Qualifications of Officers: 

18.1.1 All officers of the Association shall have been members in good standing for three (3) consecutive years prior to being considered for an office. 

18.1.2 All officers shall reside in North America during their term of office.

18.2 President: 

18.2.1The President shall be the general executive officer of the Association. 

18.2.2 He/she shall preside at all meetings of the Association. 

18.2.3 He/she shall deliver the President’s Address. 

18.2.4 He/she shall appoint necessary standing and special committee chairs with the consultation of other members
of the Executive Committee. 

18.2.5 He/she will fill vacancies thereon. 

18.2.6 He/she shall be the presiding officer of the Council with the right to vote therein.

18.2.7 He/she shall perform such other duties as are imposed upon him/her by the Constitution and Bylaws of this Association.18.2.8 The President will serve a term of office for one (1) year.

18.2.9 He/she will hold the office of Immediate-Past President at the conclusion of his/her term as President. 18.3 President-elect:18.3.1 The President-elect shall act for the President in his/her absence or disability.

18.3.2 Should the office of President become vacant, the President-elect shall succeed to the Presidency for the un-expired term.

18.3.3 The President-elect shall be a member of the Council with the right to vote therein.18.3.4 The President-elect shall verify the membership and component societies.  

18.4 Secretary:

18.4.1 The Secretary shall be an active member of the Association.

18.4.2 He/she shall be the recording officer of the Council and the General Body.

18.4.3 He/she shall also discharge the following duties:

18.4.3.1 He/she shall supervise all arrangements for the holding of each meeting in compliance with the Constitution and Bylaws and instructions of the Council.

18.4.3.2 He/she shall send out all official notices of meetings, committee appointments, certificates of election to office and special committee assignments.

18.4.3.3 He/she shall receive and transmit to the Council the annual and other reports of officers and committees.

18.4.3.4 He/she shall institute and correlate each new activity of the Association under the supervision of the Council.

18.4.3.5 He/she shall perform such other duties as are imposed upon him/her by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association.  

18.5 Treasurer:

18.5.1 The Treasurer shall be the manager of all recurring funds of the Association.

18.5.2 He/she shall be accountable, through the Council, to the Association.

18.5.3 He/she shall also discharge the following duties:

18.5.3.1 Collect all annual membership dues, assessments, donations and such monies as may be due to the Association.

18.5.3.2 Keep membership records and issue membership certificates.

18.5.3.3 He/she shall deposit all funds received in an approved depository and disburse them upon order of the Council.

18.5.4 The Board of Trustees shall cause an annual audit of  accounts.

18.5.5 He/she shall render a report to the Council reviewing the Association funds and imparting recommendations for the advancement of the Association’s interest at each meeting of the Council.

18.5.6 He/she shall present the annual report at the annual general meeting of the Association.18.5.7 He/she shall perform such other duties as are imposed upon him/her by the Constitution and Bylaws of the Association.  

18.6 Term of Office:  

Except as herein provided, officers shall take office on January 1 of each year and serve until December 31.  

19. COMMITTEES OF THE ASSOCIATION

Standing Committees of the Association shall be appointed by the President with the advice of the Executive Council. 

:  

1. Nominations and Election Committee
2. Publications Committee
3. Committee for Liaison with Professional Organizations
4. Any other committee deemed necessary by the President of the Council.
5. LONG RANGE PLANNING COMMITTEE
6. CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS COMMITTEE
7. REFERENDUM

23.1 Referendum at Association Meeting:  At any general or special meeting of this Association, the General Body shall, by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the voting members present, order a general referendum upon any question pertinent to the purposes and objectives of the Association, provided, however, that a quorum at such general or special meeting shall consist of not less than one-third (1/3) of voting members of the Association who are in good standing.

23.2 The General body meeting of this Association can be called for a specific purpose by a petition to the Council signed by one-fourth (1/4) of the active members in good standing. 2

4. SEAL

The seal of the Association shall be a common seal. The power to change or renew the seal shall rest jointly with the Council and the BOT.   

25. EMERGENCY

When prompt speech or action is imperative, authority to speak or act in the name of this Association is vested in the Executive body.  

26. DEFINITION OF SESSION AND MEETING

26.1 Session: A session shall mean all meetings at any one call.  

26.2 Meeting: A meeting shall mean each separate convention at any one session.  

27. AMENDMENTS

These Bylaws may be amended in accordance with the following procedure:  

27.1   An amendment may be proposed by a majority of members of the Council or Board of Trustees by submitting such proposal to the Constitution and Bylaws Committee.

27.2   The Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall submit its recommendations to the requisitioning body at least thirty (30) days before any Council or Board meeting.

27.3  Adoption of the amendment shall require the affirmative vote of 50% of the Council and the Board members eligible to vote and present at the said meeting of the Council, irrespective whether the Council or the Board initiated the request.27.4   The amendment(s) approved by both the Council and the Board shall be presented to the general membership thirty (30) days before the next annual meeting for their approval.

27.4.1 The procedure for this action will be as described in 9.7.

and of interest to members of the Association and review articles and/or medical research papers.