BYLAWS 0F THE ASSOCIATION OF INDIAN NEUROLOGISTS IN AMERICA (AINA)

Amendments Approved by AINA Membership April 24, 2023

ARTICLE I

NAME AND OBJECTIVES

Section 1:  The name of the organization will be the Association of Indian Neurologists in America (AINA).

Mission

To advance the art and science of neurology and promote the best possible care for patients with adult and childhood onset neurological disorders in the USA, India and other countries by:

 

ARTICLE II

 

Section 1:  Inurnment of Income. No part of the net earnings of the association shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to, its members, directors, officers or other private persons except that the Association shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of its exempt purposes .

Section 2:  Operational Limitations. Under Clause 2 Sections 170(c) (2) and 2055(a) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954  (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue law or present or future Illinois law).

Section 3:  Dissolution Clause. Upon the dissolution of the  Association the Executive Committee shall, after paying or making provisions for the payment of all the liabilities of the Association, dispose of all the assets of the Association exclusively for the purposes of the Association in such manner, or to such organization or organizations organized and operated as an exempt organization or organizations under Sections, 501(a) and 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provisions of any future United States Internal Revenue law or present or future Illinois law) as the Executive Committee shall determine.  Any of such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the Circuit Court of the county in which the principal office of the Association is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organizations as said court shall determine which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.

 

Section 4:  Legislative or Political Activities.  No substantial part of the activities of the Association shall be the carrying on of the propaganda or otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Association shall not otherwise attempting to influence legislation, and the Association shall not participate in or intervene in (including the publishing of statements) any political campaign on behalf of any candidate for public office .

Section 5:  Purposes. Said Association is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes with the meaning of section 501(c) (3) of the code.

  

ARTICLE III

ADMINISTRATION

 

The management of the Association will be vested in the Executive Committee which will be composed of the officers (President, President-elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and immediate Past President) and four members. The officers of the Association have authority to make interim decisions if such are judged necessary by the President before the next meeting of the Executive Committee, at which time they must be ratified.

Section 1:  The President-elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and members at-large of the Executive Committee will be nominated by the nominating committee, and elected from the active membership by a majority of the active members present at the annual business meeting. Elections will be held every two years. The President cannot be elected for two consecutive terms. All members at- large of the Executive Committee may be elected for no more than two consecutive terms. Terms of office will begin and end at the time of the annual business meeting which will take place during the annual meeting of the Association.

Section 2:  The President will be the Executive Officer of the Association. He/she will be an ex officio member of all committees (except the nominating committee) and Chairman of the Executive Committee with the right to vote. He/she will preside over all meetings of the Association on and of the Executive Committee.

Section 3:  The President-elect will perform the duties of the president during his/her absence of a temporary nature. In the event that the president ceases to serve, the president-elect will assume the duties for the president for the remainder of his/her term.

Section 4:  The secretary will be the custodian of records. He/she will keep a record of all proceedings of the Association and an updated list of all members and their membership status and will perform such other duties as may be delegated to him/her by the president and the Executive Committee.

Section 5:  The Treasurer will be in charge of all financial matters of the Association. Annual accounts will be provided to all members for approval at the annual business meeting. The Treasurer will file appropriate returns (if necessary) with the Internal Revenue Service in order to maintain the tax-free not-for-profit status AINA.

 

Section 6:  The Executive Committee may elect by majority vote a member to its body in case of resignation, transfer, or death of a member of the Executive Committee who shall serve until the next election.

Section 7:  The Executive Committee will have the following functions:

Section 8:  Any active member in good standing for more than one year will be eligible for active office.

 

ARTICLE IV

MEMBERSHIP

The specific classification of members of the AINA will be as follows:

Section 1:  Active Members shall hold MD, DO, PhD (or equivalent), have accredited training in Neurology, Neuroscience or Neurosurgery and have an active interest in activities of the Association. Any such individual may apply for active membership will abide by the article of incorporation and by-laws of the Association. Upon payment of annual dues for the then current year, the applicant will be admitted to the active membership, upon recommendation of the Membership Committees and approved by the Executive Committee.

Section 2:  Associate Members will be physicians or neuroscientists in training and otherwise who share an interest in the activities of the Association.  Associate members will abide by the article of incorporation and the bylaws of the Association. Where applicable, applicants will identify the institution at which they are in training. Upon payment of annual dues for the then current year, the applicant will be admitted to Associate Membership, upon recommendation by the Membership Committee, and approved by the Executive Committee.

Section 3:  Honorary Members: Honorary membership may be given to any person with a record of distinguished service to the field of clinical neurology and who shares interest in the activities of the Association. This will be accomplished by a nomination from the Membership Committee followed by two-thirds affirmative vote of the membership present at the annual business meeting. 

Section 4:  Senior Members. Shall be fully retired active members who have been in good standing for at least one year. They will have all the privileges of active members except their annual dues would be waived.

Section 5:  Auxiliary Members. The spouse or significant others of members.  They will not be eligible to vote or hold office.

Section 6:  Life Members.  Shall be those who meet all of the requirements of Active membership and pay one time fees fixed by the Executive Committee.  

Section 7:  Membership Dues

COMMITTEES

 

Section 1:  Standing Committees will be:

 

ARTICLE VI

MEETINGS

 

Section 1:  The Association shall hold at least one general body meeting a year.

Section 2:  The annual meeting shall be held at the time and place designated by the Executive Committee. A notice of each annual meeting shall be mailed to members by the Secretary at least 45 (Forty Five) days prior to the meeting.

Section 3:  The annual meeting shall consist of an educational and a social program and the annual business meeting.

Section 4:  Fifteen active members of the Association shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of business at annual or special meetings.

Section 5:  A special meeting of members may be called at the direction of the Executive Committee by a majority of vote. Written notice shall be mailed to all members one month prior to the called meeting. No business shall lie transacted except that stated in the notice.

Section 6:  Special meetings of the Executive Committee may be held without written notice at such place and such times as shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Executive Committee, provided at least 7 days notice is given to all Committee members.

Section 7: AINA encourages the formation of chapters with various sub-specialties of Neurology. These chapters will be headed by members of those specialties and should report to the EC. Chapter members are encouraged to become AINA members. Individual chapters will be responsible for raising monies in support of their activities and organizing chapter meetings. Funds collected by these chapters will be deposited in AINA accounts and will be available for the activities of these chapters.  AINA EC will review requests for forming various special-interest groups within AINA. Individuals heading such groups will seek permission from the EC before planning such groups and provide periodic updates to the EC. If approved by the EC, AINA may provide funds and other support.

 

ARTICLE VII

AMENDMENTS

 

Section 1:  These bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the membership present at the annual business meetings.

A constitution/Bylaws committee with at least three members appointed by the Executive Committee will submit the proposals of amendments to the Executive Committee for approval. After approval by the Executive Committee, the proposed amendments will be circulated to other members of AINA, at least 30 days before the annual business meeting at which time they will be voted upon.

 

ARTICLE VIII

ROBERT’S RULES OF ORDER

Section 1:  Applicability: the rules contained in the edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, Newly Revised, in effect at the time of any meeting of the Association, will govern the conduct of meetings of the Association in all cases where they are applicable in which they are consistent with the Constitution of the Association and the laws of the state of Illinois.

 

ARTICLE IX

FISCAL YEAR

The fiscal year of the Association shall be coincident with the calendar year.

 

ARTICLE X

The Executive Committee may accept on behalf of the Association any contribution, gift, bequest, or devise for the general purposes or for any special purpose of the association.

 

 

ARTICLE XI

AINA SECTIONS

Proposals for formation of sections of subspecialties may be made and approved by majority votes at the annual meeting. Each section shall have at least a Chairman and a Secretary nominated at the time of formation of the section. The chairman or his designee shall present a report of activities at the AINA annual meetings. All members of the sections shall be AINA members. The sections may select sites and dates of their meetings.