Hello, 

Below are updated by-laws, please read over them, as you will be voting on them at the next upcoming CE Meeting!

Bylaws Of Central California Veterinary Medical Association, A California Nonprofit Corporation 

Article I Objectives:

This association, incorporated October 23, 1962 as Corporation Number C0440741, under the nonprofit laws of the State of California, shall be known as the Central California Veterinary Medical Association (its corporate name) with principal offices at 1639 N. Fresno Street, Fresno, CA 93703, in the county of Fresno, California. It shall have as its purposes for existence to maintain a structured organization to advance the practice of veterinary medicine, to promote harmony, cooperation, and cohesion among its members and with the community, to respond quickly and efficiently to important issues which affect the members, and to generate resources, financial and other wise, to maintain this association.

 Article II 

Directors Section 1. The Board of Directors shall have seven (7) members, elected for a term of one year. Section 2. Within forty-five (45) days after the annual meeting, the Board of Directors shall meet and elect officers. The elective officers of the Board shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, the delegate to the House of Delegates of the California Veterinary Medical Association, the Continuing Education Program Chairperson, and the Registered Veterinary Technician Representative. Section 3. In the event of a vacancy on the Board of Directors the remaining Directors shall govern the association. The seat may remain vacant or be filled by appointment by the remaining Board members. Section 4. The Board of Directors shall be the governing body of the association. Approval of expenditures, auditing of the Association’s books, and other actions by the board shall be performed as needed to assure the proper, prudent, and expeditious conduction of the Association’s business. Section 5. A quorum of three (3) Directors shall be required for the Board of Directors to conduct business. In the event of vacancies on the Board, the quorum shall be a majority of the Directors then remaining. 

Article III 

Duties of Officers Section 1. The President shall preside at all meetings and preserve order and decorum, appoint such special representatives and such committees as are necessary, and call special meetings of the Board when necessary. 

Section 2. The Vice-President, in the absence of the President, shall perform the duties of the President. The Vice-President shall otherwise assist upon the request of the President. 

Section 3. The Secretary shall keep minutes of all meetings; shall be responsible for correspondence of the association; maintain a permanent record of the minutes and correspondence and shall cause timely notice of meetings and programs to be sent to the membership. 

Section 4. The Treasurer shall receive and account for all monies received by the Association and make such disbursements as are approved by the Board of Directors. The Board will review all disbursements at monthly meetings. The Treasurer shall also maintain a permanent set of books, with the help of accounting services as necessary, which shall be available for review and audit by the Board and/or the Association. The Treasurer shall be responsible for the filing of any documents required by State or Federal laws. 

Section 5. The President and Vice-President shall serve as the Board of Director’s Executive Committee and shall address urgent matters that may arise that cannot be taken to the full Board in a timely manner. The Executive Committee shall submit to the Association membership the names of members to be candidates for the Board of Directors. Said names shall be submitted in writing prior to the annual meeting at which the election shall be held. 

Section 6. The Continuing Education Program Chairperson shall organize regular meetings for Association members containing content that advances the practice of veterinary medicine. 

Section 7. The Registered Veterinary Technician Representative shall be responsible for sending membership renewal notices, receiving membership dues and maintaining membership rosters, compiling and distributing the Association newsletters and notices to Association members, and assisting the Continuing Education Program Chairperson as needed during Association meetings. 

Article IV 

Committees Section 1. The President shall appoint such committees as are necessary to conduct the business of the Association. 

Article V 

Candidates for Membership Section 1. Members shall be veterinarians and registered veterinary technicians licensed by the State of California. Section 2. Associate members may be any individuals that are not California licensed veterinary professionals but who are engaged in any veterinary related field. Such members shall enjoy the privileges of active members except they shall not hold office, vote, or have any right, title, or interest in any of the assets of the Association. 

Article VI 

Dues Section 1. Annual dues shall be determined by the Board of Directors according to budget requirements and are payable in advance on annual basis. All members and associate members shall pay annual dues. Members in arrears in payment of dues shall lose all privileges in the Association. 

Article VII 

Elections Section 1. Association members shall be notified of upcoming elections prior to the nomination process. Nomination of directors shall be made not later than the regular meeting next preceding the annual meeting. In addition to these nominations by the Executive Committee, nominations may be made from the floor at this meeting. Names of all nominees shall be presented in the notice for the annual meeting. 

Section 2. Election shall be by ballot, which shall be counted by the Secretary and one additional Association member. In the event the Secretary is absent, another member of the Board of Directors shall be designated by the presiding officer to assist in the counting. All results of the election shall be recorded in the minutes.

 Article VIII 

Meetings Section 1. The annual meeting shall be held in September of each year. Business of the association including a Treasurer’s report and election of Directors shall be conducted at the annual meeting. 

Section 2. Installation of newly elected Directors shall take place prior to the closing of the annual meeting, and transfer of all records, assets, and holdings of the Association shall be made by October. 

Section 3. Regular monthly meetings shall be held at times and places designated by the Board of Directors or the President. 

Article IX

 Amend Bylaws Section 1. These bylaws may be amended or repealed in whole or in part and new bylaws adopted by the membership. 

Section 2. Whenever an amendment or new bylaw is adopted, it shall be copied in the Book of Minutes with the original bylaws, in the appropriate place. If any bylaw is repealed, the fact of repeal with the date of the meeting at which the repeal was enacted or written assent was filed shall be stated in the Book of Minutes.