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Bylaws of the Animal Clinical Chemistry Division

ARTICLE I. Name and Purpose

Section 1. The name of this organization shall be the Division of Animal Clinical Chemistry of the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (formerly AACC).

Section 2. The purpose of the Division of Animal Clinical Chemistry (hereafter referred to as DACC) shall be to further and promote the professional and public interest by encouraging the study, advancing the science, and improving the practice of animal clinical pathology.

ARTICLE II. Goals and Objectives

The overall goals and objectives of the DACC will be to provide a forum dedicated to the communication of information, both written and oral, among members of the division and of the ADLM.

ARTICLE III. Methods and Activities

In order to accomplish the general goals and objectives of the DACC, a variety of activities will be pursued.

1. Education Workshops, seminars, symposia, and other programs at regional and national meetings will be sponsored to enhance the knowledge of clinical pathology of nonhuman species.

2. Communication Provide a forum for the dissemination of information about methods of analysis, optimization of reagent systems, reference ranges for different species, the appropriate selection of animal models, etc.

3. Publication Promote and sponsor scientific notes, communications, research papers, monographs, etc. relevant to identification and interpretation of clinical pathology changes in various nonhuman species.

4. Research The Division will encourage research in specialized areas of animal clinical pathology by promoting the development of methods to detect specific target organ and cellular alterations.

5. Consultation Maintain a liaison with federal and state regulatory agencies and other professional societies with related interests to provide expertise to these organizations.

6. Professional Support -Provide a mechanism to establish training sessions and support certification procedures.

ARTICLE IV. Membership

Section 1. Membership in the DACC shall be open to all members or affiliates of the ADLM who indicate in writing to the Secretary of the DACC their wish to join the Division or check the appropriate box on the annual ADLM dues statement, and who pay the annual dues established by the Division.

Section 2. Privileges of membership in the DACC shall be established by the Executive Committee and may include, but are not restricted to, reduced registration fees at symposia, workshops, and other meetings (e.g. regional) held apart from the national meetings of the ADLM.

Section 3. Only members who are in good standing shall have any right, title, or interest in the property and funds of the DACC.

Section 4. Only members may hold Division or committee office, or may vote in elections of the DACC. Only members may represent the DACC in professional matters.

Section 5. Any member may resign by so indicating in writing to the secretary of the DACC. No refund of Division dues shall be forthcoming.

Article V. Officers, Elections, and Vacancies

Section 1. Officers.

Officers of the DACC shall be members of the ADLM and members of the DACC, and shall consist of the Chair, Chair-elect, Chair-past, Secretary and Treasurer.

Section 2. Terms of Office.

The term of office shall be one year for the Chair, Chair-elect, Chair-past; and, two years for Secretary and Treasurer. Terms of office shall be by the calendar year, beginning on January 1 and ending on December 31. The Secretary and Treasurer shall not be elected for more than two continuous terms. The Secretary and Treasurer will be elected in alternate years. Chair-elect will be elected every year and will serve as Chair for the subsequent year.

Section 3. Elections.

Elections shall be by secret mail ballot or by secret online ballot according to a schedule set forth by the Executive Committee. Candidates, who have agreed to serve prior to having their names placed on the ballot, will be approved by the Executive Committee upon recommendation of the Nominating Committee. Nominees receiving a plurality of votes will be elected. A ballot showing the positions to be filled, the nominees for each office, and a provision for write-in votes, will be distributed by the DIVISION Secretary. The ballot count shall be certified by the DIVISION Secretary and up to two non-candidates of the Secretary’s choosing. The Secretary will then report the results to the DIVISION Chair, who will notify the nominees. In the event of a tie vote, the election for that office will be decided by secret ballot of the Executive Committee. The Secretary will notify the Executive Committee, the membership, and the National Office of election results.

Section 4. Vacancies.

a.) Removal of Officers. Any officer who is grossly negligent in fulfilling his or her duties as described in these by-laws and is given a no-confidence vote by the majority of the total Executive Committee, shall be summarily removed from office. The vacancy shall be filled at the next scheduled ballot for officers. In the interim, the Chair may appoint a qualified Member as temporary officer, to discharge the duties of that office until January 1st following the next regularly scheduled election, subject to the approval of a majority of the Executive Committee.

b.) An officer may be impeached following a petition from at least 20 members by, first, a majority vote by the Executive Committee, and second, a ballot vote by the Membership. A two-thirds majority of the votes cast is required to effect the removal from office of one of the elected officers.

c.) In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chair-Elect, the Nominating Committee will transmit within sixty (60) days of the vacancy to the Secretary, a list of nominees for election to the office of Chair-Elect. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chair, the standing Chair-Elect will succeed the Chair for the remainder of the unexpired term and for their scheduled elected term. The Executive Committee would then appoint a qualified Member to discharge the duties of the vacated Chair-Elect until that position is filled by a regular election. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Secretary or Treasurer, or among the elected Members of the Nominating Committee, the Executive Committee shall appoint a qualified Member to discharge the duties of that office for the remainder of the term of the Office vacated. In the event of a vacancy in the office of Chair-past, the Executive Committee shall appoint an active member for the remainder of the term.

Article VI. Committees

Section 1. There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the Chair, Chair-elect, Chair-past, Secretary, and Treasurer and other member(s) of the DACC specifically invited by the Chair to attend (a) meeting(s) of the Executive Committee. The Chair of the Division shall be the Chair of the Executive Committee. Except as otherwise specified herein, the Executive Committee shall be empowered to manage all of the affairs and assets, including finances, of the DACC. The Executive Committee shall meet at least three times a year: one meeting will be held in conjunction with the national ADLM meeting. Further, it shall meet either at the call of the Chair or upon request of a quorum of the committee. A quorum shall consist of the majority of the members.

Section 2. A Nominating Committee will be elected. This committee will consist of four members. One member will be elected each year for a four-year term. The member in the fourth year of his/her term will serve as Chair. Members of this committee are not eligible for immediate reelection upon completion of a four-year term. The Nominating Committee will not nominate their members for election except in extraordinary circumstances when there are no suitable candidates willing to serve.

Section 3. Standing Committees of the Division Shall include:

a. Scientific Program and Long Range Planning Committee

b. Regulatory Affairs Committee

c. Awards Committee

d. Membership Committee

Section 4. The Executive Committee may appoint any other ad hoc committees as may prove necessary to address Executive Committee charges. Each of these committees shall continue until dissolved by the Executive Committee.

Section 5. The Executive Committee shall require all Committees to provide status reports at Executive Committee meetings.

Article VII. Finances

Section 1. The fiscal year of the DACC shall correspond to the calendar year.

Section 2. Members shall pay annual dues, the amount of which shall be set yearly by the Executive Committee in accordance with the Bylaws of the ADLM.

Article VIII. Meetings

Section 1. The DACC shall hold professional, scientific, and/or technical sessions at the national ADLM meeting, and other meetings when approved by the DACC Executive Committee and appropriate ADLM committees.

Section 2. An annual business meeting for the general membership will be held at the national ADLM meeting each year. Business requiring vote of the membership shall be conducted at this meeting. Business to be voted on at the General Business Meeting shall be passed if approved by a plurality of votes cast. If a quorum is not present, or in other special circumstances, voting by the membership may be conducted by mail or electronic ballot.

Section 3. Five percent of the Members of the DACC shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business at a General Business Meeting.

Section 4. Special meetings of the DACC may be called by the Executive Committee, if notice is given to the membership in writing or by publication in an official organ of the ADLM at least eight weeks in advance. If business is to be conducted at such a meeting, the specific nature of the business is to be made public as well as the outcome of decisions reached at such a meeting.

Article IX. Papers

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall be responsible for the selection of papers to be presented at meetings of the DACC. It may delegate this authority to the Scientific Program and Long Range Planning Committee or to another committee that has been created for this purpose.

Section 2. The rules for presentation of papers before meetings of the DACC shall be outlined in the bylaws and Regulations of the ADLM.

Article X. Dissolution

Section 1. Upon dissolution of the DACC any assets of the Division remaining thereafter shall be transferred to the Association for Diagnostics & Laboratory Medicine (formerly AACC) so long as that organization is exempt under section 501(c) (3) of the IRS Code of 1954 as amended or under such successor provisions of the code as may be in effect at that time.

Section 2. The ADLM may direct the dissolution of the DACC. In this event, the Executive Committee shall notify the membership by mail (surface or electronic as required) and be responsible for carrying out the transfer of assets to the ADLM.

Section 3. The Executive Committee, following a two‑thirds majority of votes cast by the DACC membership and by unanimous vote of the Executive Committee, shall notify the ADLM of dissolution of the Division, and shall subsequently transfer all assets to the ADLM.

ARTICLE XI. Adoption of and Amendments to the Bylaws

Section 1. Amendments to the Bylaws shall be proposed by a majority of the Executive Committee or by petition to the Executive Committee by at least ten (10) percent of the Members of the Division, or by a duly passed motion at any official business meeting.

Section 2. Adoption of, and amendments to, the Bylaws shall require approval by two‑thirds of the votes cast by mail or electronic ballot. Written notice of the proposed amendments must be made available to the Division Members no later than thirty (30) days prior to the date on which the ballots are to be counted. Ballots shall be collected, verified and tabulated under the supervision of the Chair‑Elect and the Secretary. If a proposed amendment does not receive the required number of votes within 30 days after the proposed amendment is mailed, then such proposal shall lapse.

Section 3. These Bylaws shall become effective at the time of their adoption.