Bylaws of the American Association of Fujian Medical University Alumni
Officially Approved on January 8th, 2000
First revised version approved on February 9th, 2004
(章程中文版)
Article I. Name
The English name of this organization shall be “The American Association of Fujian Medical University Alumni, Inc.”, henceforth referred to as the “AAFMUA.” The organization was officially registered in the state of New York on October 19, 1999.
Article II. Mission
The AAFMUA is a non-profit, non-political organization. The mission of the AAFMUA is to (1) unite Fujian Medical University (formerly named Fujian Medical College) alumni in North America, promote friendship, exchange information, help each other and all benefit from the organization; (2) encourage the alumni to serve their local communities and Chinese communities with their skills; (3) keep in contact with our home university and home province, and make contributions to the development of Fujian Medical University (FMU) as well as medical education, scientific research and public health in Fujian province; and (4) establish contact with other alumni associations or academic organizations in America, learn from each other and support each other.
Article III. Membership
Section 1. Regular Members
Regular members are those who used to study or work at FMU or its affiliated hospitals and currently live in North America. They shall agree with the bylaws and pay annual membership fee, which makes them eligible for all rights and benefits of the membership for one year.
Section 2. Lifetime Members
Lifetime members are those who used to study or work at FMU or its affiliated hospitals and currently live in North America. They shall agree with the bylaws and pay the lifetime membership fee, which makes them eligible for all rights and benefits of the membership for their lifetime.
Section 3. Membership Fee
The amount of membership fee shall be determined by the AAFMUA. The membership fee is mainly used for office supplies, communication, mail, and the activities sponsored by AAFMUA. In addition to the membership fee, AAFMUA welcomes donations from members and non-members as an alternative financial source. All incomes will be made public in a timely fashion to members and donations will be acknowledged at the AAFMUA homepage on the Internet.
Article IV. The Working Committee of AAFMUA
The Working Committee of AAFMUA serves as an administrative unit to provide the leadership for all major activities in support of the mission of the AAFMUA. The Working Committee shall be composed of a president, two to four vice presidents, a secretary-general, and the leaders of subcommittees and divisions of AAFMUA. The President of the AAFMUA is also the head of the Working Committee.
Section 1. Responsibilities of the Working Committee
A. The Working Committee shall be responsible for the establishment, amendment and interpretation of the AAFMUA bylaws. Any amendments of the bylaws must be approved by more than 1/2 of the Working Committee members before they become effective. The Working Committee also oversees the election of the AAFMUA leaders.
B. The President of the AAFMUA shall submit progress reports and suggestions to the Working Committee on a regular basis. The Working Committee evaluates the work of AAFMUA president as well as the subcommittees and divisions annually. When the AAFMUA president has severe dereliction of duty, the Working Committee has the authority to dismiss the president from the position. However, the motion for dismissal shall be initiated by at least four members, and approved by more than 2/3 of the Working Committee members.
C. The term for a Working Committee member is two years, and there is no limit on the number of terms a member may serve. In principle, the selection of the Working Committee members should reflect the geographic distribution of alumni as well as the number of members from each graduate class.
D. When a Working Committee member is unable to fulfill the responsibilities or duties for a prolonged period of time, he/she should resign. The working committee shall provide sufficient information and appropriate communication channels to the members from remote areas, allowing them to participate in the decision-making process.
Article V. Organizational Structure of AAFMUA
Section 1. President and Vice President of AAFMUA
The President of AAFMUA is the head of administration as well as the legal representative of the AAFMUA. The president, with the assistance of vice presidents and secretary-general, carries out the daily operation of the organization. For important issues or events, the president should discuss and consult with the vice presidents and secretary-general before a final decision is made. In the special event that the president is unable to head the AAFMUA, the vice president(s) may take over the duties of the president temporarily.
President of AAFMUA is nominated by general members of the organization and determined by its working committee through a voting process. Elected President appoints Vice Presidents and Secretary-General. The term for a president and vice presidents is two years. The President may be re-elected.
Section 2. Secretary-General
The secretary-general coordinates the AAFMUA activities, and is authorized for press release from the AAFMUA. The secretary-general shall be appointed by the AAFMUA president. The term of a secretary-general is two years.
Section 3. Divisions and Subcommittees
The leaders of the AAFMUA divisions and subcommittees are in charge of the function of each division or subcommittee where they work and shall be appointed by the AAFMUA president. The term of a division head is two years.
A. Division of Finance (DOF)
DOF shall be composed of two treasurers, one in charge of checking, and the other keeping accounts. DOF shall provide timely financial report to the AAFMUA president upon his/her request at any time. DOF shall submit annual financial reports in detail to the AAFMUA Working Committee, and the final report shall be made public to all members of the AAFMUA.
B. Division of Information Service (DOIS)
DOIS shall be responsible for preparing the AAFMUA documents and news releases, maintaining an archive of the AAFMUA, and updating the AAFMUA homepage on the Internet in a timely fashion. DOIS shall keep the records of all activities sponsored by the AAFMUA or its divisions, and of all documents and materials distributed. DOIS shall also be authorized to summarize and report the voting results of each election to all members.
C. Division of Membership (DOM)
DOM shall be responsible for collecting and updating member information, keeping up-to-date database of the AAFMUA members, as well as distributing the directory. Its responsibilities also includes recruiting new members, keeping regular contact with existing members, helping new alumni to contact others and find useful information, contacting the AAFMUA regional leaders on a regular basis, developing member services creatively, collecting opinions and feedback from the members, and recommending those outstanding alumni to the AAFMUA.
D. Division of Public Relations (DOPR)
DOPR shall be responsible for collecting, updating and keeping the information on individuals and organizations that have established relationships with the AAFMUA, and developing public relations mutually beneficial. DOPR may recommend to the AAFMUA president his/her endorsement in organizing the alumni to provide community services and seeking donations from the public.
E. Subcommittee for Scientific Research (SSR)
SSR shall be responsible for collecting and updating information on the members who are pursuing higher degrees or doing scientific research in the North America. SSR shall work to promote the contact and academic exchange among the AAFMUA members, and between the AAFMUA and FMU or other institutions in China.
F. Subcommittee for Clinical Medicine (SCM)
SCM shall be responsible for collecting and updating information on the members who are receiving clinical training or practicing clinical medicine in the U.S. SCM shall work to promote the connection and mutual support among the clinicians within the organization, and to encourage academic exchange between the AAFMUA and FMU or other Chinese institutions in medical education and public health.
Section 4. Properties of AAFMUA
All the data and materials of the AAFMUA divisions and subcommittees are legal properties of the AAFMUA. Each division and subcommittee head shall be required to hand them over to the new head when his/her term is finished.
Section 5. Special Committees
The AAFMUA president, vice presidents and secretary-general may establish a special provisional committee to coordinate relevant divisions and/or subcommittees for a special task when necessary.
Article VI. Member Meetings
The general member conference shall be organized by the AAFMUA. A regional branch or a graduate class may organize its own activities. In general, the expenses of each activity shall be the responsibility of the people who participate in the activity. A general conference may be called for the events of importance, such as a special anniversary. The president and the Working Committee shall decide time, place and theme of the meeting after consultation with the division heads and alumni, and the meeting notice should be sent to all members as soon as possible. General conference shall be presided over by the AAFMUA president. Every effort shall be exercised to make the meeting efficient in promoting association and friendship among the members.
Article VII. Regional Leaders and Branches
The regional leaders shall automatically be the Working Committee members. Each region may have one to three leaders based on the number of alumni in that region. There is no fixed term for a regional leader. Regional leaders help local members establish a closer connection to the AAFMUA. A regional branch of AAFMUA may be organized as the time comes.
Article VIII. Honorary Presidents and Advisors of the AAFMUA
Section 1. Honorary Presidents
A senior outstanding alumnus member or a non-alumnus individual who has made significant contributions to the AAFMUA may be recommended by a Working Committee member(s) for the title of Honorary President of the AAFMUA. The final decision for granting this title shall be made by the Working Committee. A senior outstanding alumnus refers to an FMU graduate who has made significant contributions to the development of FMU, to the public health in Fujian province, or to the advancement of medical research. Priority for nominating the Honorary Presidents shall be given to the members of the AAFMUA.
Section 2. Advisors of the AAFMUA
Based on the nomination by the Working Committee, the AAFMUA president may appoint those experienced senior members or non-member specialists as advisors to the AAFMUA. A former president, if not remaining in the Working Committee, may be appointed as an advisor. An advisor may submit his or her suggestions to the AAFMUA for the improvement of its work or service. The Working Committee may consult with the advisors before making an important decision.
(章程中文版)