Bylaws
Hua Tuo Society of Pathology, Inc.
(华佗病理学会)
ARTICLE 1
INCORPORATION, PURPOSES AND MISSION
SECTION 1. Incorporation and Purposes. Hua Tuo Society of Pathology (HTSP), Inc., named in honor of a legendary ancient Chinese physician Hua Tuo (华佗), is organized under the "General Not for Profit Corporation Act" of the State of Florida, United States, exclusively for educational, scientific and charitable purposes in accordance with Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
SECTION 2. Mission. The primary mission of the HTSP is to improve educational opportunities and professional skills of practicing pathologists of Chinese ethnicity by promoting communication, friendship and cultural exchange, and by advancing the science and practice of pathology and laboratory medicine. The Society serves its members through:
• Enhancement of professional communication
• Excellence in education
• Promotion of academic and practice collaboration
• Advocacy on training and job opportunity
 

ARTICLE 2
CLASSES, QUALIFICATIONS AND RIGHTS OF MEMBERS
SECTION 1. Classes of Member. The Society shall have the following classes of member: (a) Regular member, (b) Associate member, and (c) Affiliate member. Only one class of membership may be held at any one time by any member of the Society.
SECTION 2. Regular Member. Any person who is a legally qualified physician and whose practice, at the time of application for membership, is devoted in major portion to pathology in the North America; who holds one or more of the primary certificates, i.e., anatomic and/or clinical pathology, of the American Board of Pathology; or who has passed either the anatomic or clinical pathology portion of the American Board of Pathology examinations or the equivalent thereof in the country in which the person practices; shall be eligible for membership as a Regular Member. Regular Members shall have the general right to vote regarding the overall affairs of the Society, including changes to its Bylaws and Articles of the Incorporation; and to vote for, or to serve as, officers of the Society.
SECTION 3. Associate Member. Any person who is a legally qualified physician actively engaging in training for a career in pathology in a training program accredited by the Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education or approved by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada as resident or fellow. Associate Members shall have the general right to vote regarding the overall affairs of the Society, including changes to its Bylaws and Articles of the Incorporation; and to vote for officers of the Society.
SECTION 4. Affiliate Member. Practicing pathologists outside the North America who (a) holds an equivalent credential thereof in the country or region in which the person practices, and (b) holds membership in an appropriate existing medical or scientific association in the country or region in which the person practices shall be eligible for membership as an Affiliate Member. Affiliate Members shall have the same rights as Regular Members.
SECTION 5. Special Circumstances. Any person who has special qualifications and interests deemed desirable to the Society may, upon recommendation of the Membership Committee, be eligible for any appropriate category of membership.

ARTICLE 3
MEMBERSHIP
SECTION 1. Application and Election. A vote of two-thirds of the Executive Committee members shall be necessary for approval of application for membership, for change in class of membership, and for appointment of members in various committees.
SECTION 2. Dues. The amount of dues to be paid by various classes of member shall be recommended by the Executive Committee.
SECTION 3. Resignation. Resignation of a member shall be valid only if a signed request is submitted to the Secretary of the Society. Such resignation shall not relieve the member’s responsibility to pay outstanding due to the Society.
SECTION 4. Suspension and Termination. A member who has not paid dues or any other monetary amounts for which the member is obligated within the required period of time shall be suspended and thereafter terminated for continued failure to pay in a timely manner. Membership may be reinstated upon full payment of the monetary amounts owed by the former member.
SECTION 5. Expulsion. A member may be expelled by a vote of two-thirds of the Executive Committee, provided that prior written notice has been given to the member that such action is contemplated and that the member is entitled to a hearing before the Executive Committee. The provisions of this section shall not apply to the suspension or termination of a member for nonpayment of dues or other obligations as provided in Section 4 of this Article.
 

ARTICLE 4
OFFICES
SECTION 1. Executive Committee. The Executive Committee of the Society shall include the President, President-Elect, two Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer, and Member at Large. The Executive Committee shall govern the activities of the Society and shall be responsible for its fiscal viability and for achieving the mission of the Society. All members of the Committee shall have a duty of loyalty and care to the Society, which includes preparation for, attendance at and participation in all regularly and specially scheduled meetings of the Committee.
SECTION 2. Nominating Committee. The Nominating Committee shall include at least three members of the Society appointed by the Executive Committee. The duties of the Nominating Committee shall be to identify qualified candidates from the members of the Society to replace members in the Executive Committee who complete their term of office.
SECTION 3. Other Committees. The Society shall organize various subcommittees to conduct the activities of the Society. The Chairs and Co-Chairs of the subcommittees shall be appointed by the President based on the recommendation by the Executive Committee. The subcommittee members shall also be appointed by the President based on the recommendation by the subcommittee Chairs, Co-Chairs, or the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE 5
DUTIES OF OFFICERS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
SECTION 1. The President. The President of the Society shall be the principal executive officer and the official spokesperson of the Society, and shall preside at all meetings of the Society. The President shall perform all duties usually incident to the office of President and such other duties as may be assigned to the President by the Executive Committee. The President shall also make all appointments to standing or ad hoc committees, commissions, and other subgroups of the Society, including the Editors of the official publications of the Society, and shall designate all official delegates and representatives to outside groups, subject to approval by the Executive Committee.
SECTION 2. The President-Elect. The President-Elect shall perform any and all duties assigned by the President or by the Executive Committee. In the absence or incapacity of the President, the President-Elect shall perform the duties of the President. The President-Elect shall assure continuity of the business of the Society and shall recommend appointments for committees, commissions, and other groups to take effect upon the President-Elect assuming the office of the President.
SECTION 3. The Vice President. The Vice President shall perform any and all duties assigned by the President or by the Executive Committee. In the absence or incapacity of the President and the President-Elect, the Vice President shall discharge the functions of the President.
SECTION 4. The Secretary. The Secretary is appointed by the President. The Secretary shall perform all duties usually incident to the office of the Secretary and such other duties as may be assigned by the President or by the Executive Committee. The Secretary shall be responsible for the accuracy of minutes and other official documents of the Executive Committee.
SECTION 5. The Treasurer. The Treasurer is appointed by the President. The Treasurer shall perform all duties usually incident to the office of Treasurer and such other duties as may be assigned by the President or by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall oversee the funds of the Society, its financial policies and the preparation of an annual budget for approval by the Executive Committee. The Treasurer shall also provide a complete financial report at the annual business meeting of the Society.
SECTION 6. Member at Large.

ARTICLE 6
ELECTION, TERM OF OFFICE, ASSUMPTION OF DUTIES AND VACANCIES
SECTION 1. Election. Election may take place either by voting by members present at the annual business meeting or by ballots emailed to the members. All new Executive Committee officers are elected by majority vote of the members. The list of nominees running for offices shall be prepared by the Nominating Committee, reviewed and approved by the Executive Committee, and published to the members at least seventy-two (72) hours before the annual business meeting. Nominations from members for the Executive Committee or other positions shall be made thirty (30) days prior to the annual business meeting, by submitting to the President in writing. Nominations from the floor shall not be accepted.
SECTION 2. Term of Office. The term of office for the Executive Committee members shall be two (2) years, except for the President and the President-Elect whose terms shall be only one (1) year. A member may serve two full terms of different offices, either consecutively or discontinuously. The terms of subcommittee Chairs shall be determined at the willingness of the individuals, or at the discretion of the President or the Executive Committee.
SECTION 3. Assumption of Duties. The President-Elect shall be inducted into office as President, and the President shall automatically become the Immediate Past-President at the annual business meeting. The Immediate Past-President may be included in the Executive Committee, or appointed as a non-voting consultant eligible to attend Executive Committee meetings, at the willingness of the individual or at the discretion of the Executive Committee. Other elected officers of the Executive Committee and all other committees of the Society shall assume their duties immediately following the election.
SECTION 4. Vacancies. The President. If the President dies, resigns, becomes incapacitated, or is removed from office by vote of the Executive Committee, the President-Elect shall immediately become President, completing the remaining term of the President, as well as serving the llowing year as President.
The President-Elect. If the President-Elect dies, resigns, becomes incapacitated, or is removed from office by vote of the Executive Committee, or succeeds to the remaining term of the President, one Vice President shall immediately become President-Elect, completing the remaining term of the President-Elect and remaining eligible to be elected as the President-Elect for a full term at the next annual business meeting.
The Vice President. If any one of the two Vice Presidents dies, resigns, becomes incapacitated, or is removed from office by vote of the Executive Committee, or succeeds to the remaining term of the President-Elect, the office of the Vice President may remain vacant or be filled for the remaining term by a member elected by the Executive Committee or chosen by the President with the consent of the Executive Committee. If a new Vice President is appointed, he/she shall serve until next annual business meeting.
If both the President and the President-Elect die, resign, become incapacitated, or are removed from office by vote of the Executive Committee, one Vice President shall succeed to the remaining term of the President and shall serve one additional full term as President, until a duly elected President-Elect is eligible to succeed to the Presidency. The Executive Committee may appoint other officers as needed until next annual business meeting, at which time the President-Elect and the Vice President shall be elected.
Positions other than the President, the President-Elect and the Vice President. Vacancies occurring by resignation, death, incapacity or removal of the Secretary or Treasurer shall be filled by appointment by the President with the consent of the Executive Committee until next scheduled election.

ARTICLE 7
MEETINGS, QUORUM, AND VOTING
SECTION 1. The Executive Committee Meetings. The Executive Committee shall meet before the annual business meeting of the Society, held in conjunction with the annual meeting of the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology. Special meetings may be called at any time by the President or by a two-thirds majority of the committee members.
Quorum. A quorum consists of the majority (two-thirds) of the Committee members, present in person, or by audio link, for the purpose of conducting the business of the Society.
Voting. The majority (two-thirds) of the votes of the Committee members, present in person, or by audio link, shall be necessary for the adoption of any matter voted on (unless otherwise specified).
SECTION 2. Member Meetings. The regular annual meeting of the Society shall be held in an evening during the United States and Canadian Academy of Pathology annual meeting. Special meetings may be called by the President, the Executive Committee, or by petition signed by no fewer than one-tenth of the members. Notice of the time and place of the meetings shall be made available to all members at least twenty (20) days prior to the meetings.
Quorum. A quorum for any meetings shall consist of those members who are present in person.
Voting. The majority (two-thirds) of the votes by members present in person at a meeting or by ballots emailed to the members shall be necessary for the adoption of any matter voted on unless otherwise specified.

ARTICLE 8
CODE OF ETHICS
The Society shall adopt the Code of Ethics of the American Medical Association as part of its regulations.

ARTICLE 9
AMENDMENTS TO BYLAWS
These Bylaws may be amended at the annual business meeting or any special meeting of the Society by the affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present, or by ballots emailed to members, provided that the amendments shall have been considered and approved by the Executive Committee, that the notice of the meeting shall contain a notice of intention to amend the Bylaws, and that proposed amendments are made available to all members at the meeting or in the emails.
(Amended on February 12, 2006, Atlanta, Georgia, USA)