Bylaws

Article I: Name

The name of this organization shall be the District of Columbia Academy of Physician Assistants herein referred to as DCAPA.

Article II: Purpose, Vision, Mission

The purpose of the DCAPA is to provide its members with an organization in which to promote the advancement of the physician assistant profession and the health care of the residents of the District of Columbia and the greater metropolitan area.

Section 1: DCAPA'S vision is to foster an atmosphere that will enhance patient accessibility to health care by promoting physicians assistants as full members of the worldwide medical community.

Section 2: DCAPA'S mission is to enhance the health and well being of the people of the District of Columbia and the greater metropolitan area through the promotion, protection, and representation of the physician assistant profession.

Section 3: The DCAPA will endeavor to provide the general membership of the organization with a forum for informal assembly regarding the issues that relate to physician assistants of the District of Columbia and the greater metropolitan area.

Section 4: The DCAPA will endeavor to develop and maintain a speakers bureau and job bank.

Section 5: The DCAPA will endeavor to facilitate mutual assistance and support of physician assistants, health professionals, and health services by organizing and disseminating health care information through forums, panels, and other similar programs concerning the delivery and quality of health care services within the District of Columbia and the greater metropolitan area.

Article III: Membership

The DCAPA shall be representative of physician assistants, students, and other interested individuals primarily within the District of Columbia, but also the greater metropolitan area, the nation and the world, who meet the specified bylaws and requirements specified by the Board of Directors.

Section 1: Membership categories are (a) Fellow, (b) Student, (c) Physician, (d) Associate, (e) Affiliate, (f) Honorary members and other such members as may be recognized by the Board of Directors of the DCAPA

Section 2: A Fellow member is a graduate of an accredited physician assistant program and is also a fellow member of the AAPA. He or she shall have the privilege of the floor and be entitled to vote and hold office.

Section 3: A Student member is a person enrolled in an ARC-PA accredited program. Student members shall be entitled to the privilege of the floor but have no vote or hold any office except for their elected Student representatives. There will be two Student Representatives one student from The George Washington University Physician Assistant Program and the other from the Howard University Physician Assistant Program. Each shall be elected by his or her peers and enjoy all rights and privileges including formal vote except in matters relating to the AAPA.

Section 4: A Physician member is a U.S.-licensed physician. He or she shall have the privilege of the floor but shall not be entitled to vote or hold office.

Section 5: An Associate member is a graduate of an accredited physician assistant program but is not a member of the AAPA. Associate members can have the floor but may not vote or participate in issues relating to the AAPA such as voting for delegates, submitting resolutions, or representing the chapter in the AAPA HOD.

Section 6: An Affiliate member is a person who is ineligible for any of the above categories and wishes to associate with the organization and is approved by the Board of Directors. Affiliate members shall be entitled to the privilege of the floor but shall not be entitled to vote of hold office.

Section 7: An Honorary member is a person who has rendered distinguished service to the physician assistant profession and /or the DCAPA Such member shall be nominated by an active academy member and approved by the Board of Directors. He or she shall be entitled to the privilege of the floor but shall not be entitled to vote or hold office. An Honorary member shall be exempt from paying dues.

Section 8: All applications for membership shall be in writing or via electronic submission on an application form provided by this organization. All applications shall be approved or rejected by the organization's Board of Directors. Each member shall be issued a certificate of membership in such form as may be determined by the Board of Directors. No applicant shall be denied on the basis of gender, sexual orientation, age, race, disability, creed, color, or national origin.

Section 9: Annual dues, late fees, and assessments shall be established and approved by the Board of Directors for each class of membership. The Board of Directors may offer complimentary membership for financial or personal hardship on a case-by-case basis.

Section 10: AAPA members who belong to more than one constituent organization may vote on AAPA issues in only one constituent organization.

Article IV: Discipline

Section 1: The DCAPA holds its members to the AAPA Guidelines for Ethical Conduct for the Physician Assistant Profession.

Section 2: Any member who is under sentence of suspension or expulsion shall not be entitled to any of the rights or benefits of the organization or be permitted to take part in any of the proceedings until he or she has been reinstated.

Section 3: Any member who has been censured, suspended, or expelled by the Board of Directors may appeal, in writing, such action within six months after the Board of Directors gives notice, in writing.

Section 4: A committee chair, not part of the executive board, shall arrange for an impartial, three-person panel to hear the appeal. The panel shall consist of fellow members who are not holding a chairmanship or board office. The chair shall designate a time and place for the hearing of the appeal, and after giving the appellant and representatives reasonable opportunity to be heard, shall, by majority vote, either, sustain or reverse such censure, suspension, or expulsion. The decision of the panel will be final.

Article V: Meetings of Members

Section 1: The annual membership meeting shall be held at a date, time, and place to be set by the Board of Directors and shall be held for the purpose of transacting such business as may properly come before said meeting. All meetings are open to the public unless otherwise specified.

Section 2: The date, time, and location of each meeting shall be posted on the DCAPA website in advance of the meetings. Special meetings of the organization may be called by the President and/or by order of a simple majority of the Board of Directors.

Section 3: A special meeting of the organization may be requested by a majority of Fellow members.

Section 4: Each Fellow member and Student representative is entitled to one vote on meeting motions.

Section 5: The presence of five (5) voting members shall constitute a quorum.

Article VI: Board of Directors

Section 1: The Board of Directors shall consist of President, President Elect, Vice President, Immediate Past President, Secretary/Treasurer or Secretary and Treasurer, Director-at-large, Chief Delegate to AAPA House of Delegates, but at least seven board members, of which two will be students, one student from The George Washington University Physician Assistant Program and one student from Howard University Physician Assistant Program, and other such officers as the bylaws may provide.

Section 2: Each Board officer of the organization shall be a Fellow member in good standing with the AAPA for the duration of his or her term.

Section 3: The Board of Directors shall control and manage the affairs of the organization.

Section 4: The Board of Directors shall hold meetings on a regular basis, but no less than four each calendar year, at such times and places as may be designated by the president.

Section 5: The Board's officers shall have a one-year term of office. Any officer may resign at any time. Such resignation shall be in writing to the board and shall take effect at the time specified therein.

Section 6: In the event of a vacancy the Board of Directors, at any meeting thereof, may appoint such additional officers with such title, authority, and duties as it may deem advisable until the following elections. The Board will set the amount of any compensation for additional officers or office personnel and will have the right to remove or replace any appointees at the Board's discretion.

Section 7: Any officer may be removed from office, for cause, at anytime by the affirmative vote of a majority of the Board provided that the affected officer shall have been given written notice of the charges and offered an opportunity to appear and be heard on the matter before the Board of Directors takes final action.

Section 8: The officer may appeal such action, in writing, within six months after notice of removal is given and the board has taken action to remove the officer. The Board of Directors shall designate a time and place for the hearing of the appeal. After giving the officer and representative's reasonable opportunity to be heard, the Board of Directors shall, by a majority vote either sustain or reverse the removal of the officer. The decision of the Board of Directors shall be final.

Section 9: All properties will be given to incoming officers at the time they take office at the January Board of Directors meeting.

Section 10: The Treasurer's records shall be audited every year upon leaving office. The Board of Directors will determine the method of audit.

Article VII: Election of the Board of Directors and AAPA Delegates

Section 1: The Elections Committee shall establish rules and regulations governing the elections.

Section 2: The offices to be filled are the Board of Directors and the AAPA delegates.

Section 3: The President Elect shall automatically succeed the preceding President as President of the organization and the outgoing President shall remain as a voting member of the Board for one year as the Immediate Past President.

Section 4: Eligible voters include Fellow members and the Student Representatives.

Section 5: The election of officers and two AAPA delegates shall be conducted at the November meeting.

Section 6: The elected officers shall take office on January first.

Section 7: The term of the delegates to the AAPA House of Delegates shall begin on July 15th.

Article VIII: Duties of Officers

Section 1: The President shall preside at all business meetings of the organization and of the Board of Directors. At the general membership meetings, the President shall make a full report of the activities of the organization since the last membership meeting. He or she shall coordinate agendas for future meetings, preside at meetings and maintain order, and set up forums for discussion. He or she shall appoint all standing committees and designate their chairs, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.

Section 2: The Vice President shall assume the duties of the President during meetings in his or her absence. The Vice President will organize and conduct, with the assistance of the Secretary, the annual elections and be chair of the Elections Committee.

Section 3: The President Elect, in the absence of both the President and Vice President, shall assume the duties of the President during meetings. In the case of the vacancy, resignation or removal of the President, the President Elect shall immediately begin his or her term.

Section 4: The Immediate Past President shall attend board meetings and shall perform such duties as may be designated by the President. He or she should also act as mentor for the President and President Elect.

Section 5: The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings of the organization, be responsible for all organization communications, assist the Vice President on elections, and notify all members of all meetings.

Section 6: The Treasurer shall maintain accurate records of the financial status of the organization. The President must co-sign all checks over $500.00.

Section 7: The Director-at-large shall serve as liaison between the board and all standing committees and shall submit a report at each Board of Directors' meeting.

Section 8: The Student Representatives shall act as a liaison between the Board of Directors and all student members of the organization. The Student Representatives shall assist in conducting affairs of the organization as designated by the President. He or she shall encourage student participation and involvement on all the organization committees, teams, and/or projects.

Section 9: The Chief Delegate shall represent the DCAPA in the House of Delegates at the annual AAPA convention, propose legislation to the HOD as directed by the Board, report HOD-related business to the board, and act on AAPA resolutions in concert with the board.

Article IX: Committees

There shall be such committees as may be specified by the Board of Directors with such authority and responsibility as may be delegated by the Board of Directors or specified in the bylaws. There shall be the following Standing Committees: a) Membership, b) Legislative, c) Elections, d) Continuing Medical Education (CME), e) Public Relations, and f) Student Affairs.

Section 1: The members of each standing committee shall serve for a term of one year, commencing on January First. All committee chairpersons shall be appointed by the President, and shall be subject to removal by the President. Each committee shall be responsible to the President and the Board of Directors.

Section 2: Each standing committee shall be responsible for the performance of the duties and functions delegated to it by the Board of Directors and/or President.

Section 3: Standing committees shall hold regular meetings and shall make reports to the Board of Directors as requested by the President.

Section 4: The President shall appoint special (ad hoc) committees with the concurrence of the Board of Directors for such special tasks as circumstances warrant.

Article X: Duties of the Standing Committees

Section 1: The Membership Committee shall encourage and promote the increase of DCAPA membership by coordinating the recruitment, retention, and development of the organization's members through various activities in the community.

Section 2: The Legislative Committee shall monitor current legislation and policies that have an effect on DCAPA and when necessary coordinate the proactive lobbying for improved quality and standards for PAs practicing in DC and the greater metropolitan area and encourage the membership to take a role in the legislative process.

Section 3: The Elections Committee shall prepare a slate of candidates to fill positions on the Board of Directors and the AAPA House of Delegates. The committee shall establish rules and regulations governing the elections. The committee shall conduct the elections in the manner discussed in Article VII, Section 5.

Section 4: The Continuing Medical Education Committee shall coordinate the planning of CME conferences for the DCAPA. It shall notify the members of upcoming CME events and actively pursue sponsorship for CME events. The CME committee shall be in charge of coordinating the notification of the membership of upcoming CME events and of actively pursuing other fund-raising avenues for holding conferences, such as encouraging local pharmaceutical companies to become sponsors and exhibitors.

Section 5: The Public Relations Committee shall review and determine content of DCAPA communications with the constituency and outside organizations (i.e. email blasts, newsletter, website, etc.), coordinate production, content, and updating of the website, and coordinate with the treasurer and association manager to oversee all advertising and advertising requests submitted by outside organizations.

Section 6: The Student Affairs Committee shall set up communication with the George Washington University and Howard University Physician Assistant programs and report students' activities and concerns to the Board of Directors.

Section 7: Standing committees shall hold regular meetings and shall make reports to the Board as requested by the President.

Article XI: Finance

Section 1: The fiscal year shall be determined by a resolution of the Board of Directors.

Section 2: The Board of Directors shall determine the amount of annual dues, late fees, and assessments, as well as the manner of payment, periodically.

Section 3: Annual dues will be payable on the anniversary of initial or renewal membership. There will be a one-time assessment for students' dues, which will be valid throughout their time in a PA program.

Section 4: Any member whose dues, late fees, or assessments are unpaid at the time of any meeting shall be ineligible to vote or hold office. The Board of Directors may establish procedures and policies with regard to nonpayment of dues, fees, and assessments as they become due.

Article XII: Parliamentary Authority

Section 1: The current edition of Sturgis-Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure shall be the parliamentary authority for all matters of procedures not specifically covered by these bylaws.

Section 2: This constituent organization is part of the parent organization AAPA. As such, the organization and its members are required to meet all provisions outlined in the AAPA'S constitution, bylaws, and charter policy. This organization will not write or pass any bylaws and/or policies in conflict with AAPA bylaws and/or policies. This organization will uphold the principles, purposes, and philosophy for which the AAPA was founded. If the organization is unable to uphold the principles and purposes, or passes conflicting bylaws and/or policies, it must work through AAPA to change the philosophy by altering the organization's constitution and bylaws.

Article XIII: Ethics and Judicial Affairs

Section 1: The Board of Directors shall serve as the judicial body of the organization.

Section 2: The Board of Directors will create policy defining and implementing the organization's Code of Ethics.

Article XIV: Amendment of Bylaws

Section 1: Minor edits to these bylaws may be made by the majority vote of the organization's Board of Directors.

Section 2: Major amendments to these bylaws may be made at any regular or special meeting of the membership by a majority vote of all voting members present or by proxy.

Section 3: Written notification shall be made to all membership prior to voting on any proposed amendment to the bylaws.

Article XV: Dissolution of the Organization

In the event of dissolution, the remaining monies will be disbursed in the following manner: monies will be evenly distributed to the PA scholarship programs at The George Washington University and Howard University.