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Bylaws – Article XV and Article XVI – Funds and Association, and Committees

ARTICLE XV & ARTICLE XVI

(CVMA Bylaws – Current to January 2022)
(Proposed/to be adopted in April 2022)

ARTICLE XV

Association Dues

Section 1

  1. The Board of Governors shall fix the annual assessment of the dues and payment schedules for membership in the Association.
  2. Life, Distinguished Life, Honorary, Leave of Absence and Student Members shall be exempt from the payment of all dues.
  3. If dues are not paid in accordance with the policy established by the Board of Governors, membership shall terminate.

Section 2

The Board of Governors, at its regular meeting or a special meeting called for that purpose, may initiate action to assess Association members for funds, over and above any dues paid, for special needs and purposes.  Such assessment shall be approved by the affirmative mail vote of a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the voting members of the Association.

Section 3

  1. There shall be a fund, known as the Reserve Fund, in which a minimum of 25%, and a goal of 50%, of the CVMA’s liquid assets shall be maintained in reserves.  The reserves allocation will be based on the Association’s current operating budget.

  2. The Reserve Fund shall be used only for purposes and in such amounts as shall have been authorized previously by the Board of Governors.  Such expenditure shall require an affirmative vote by at least twelve (12) members of the Board.

ARTICLE XVI

Committees

Section 1

There shall be a Committee that shall be responsible for promoting, identifying and electing leaders for the Association known as the Leadership Development Committee.

 

Using appropriate Association resources, the Leadership Development Committee shall educate Association members about service in the Association, maintain a database of potential leaders and accept applicants for the At-Large Board of Governors positions, and make attempts to ensure professional diversity.

 

Members of the Leadership Development Committee should have experience in leadership, an ability to recognize leadership qualities and a commitment to helping the Association develop and select outstanding leaders.

 

  1. The Leadership Development Committee shall be composed of seven (7) CVMA member veterinarians.
    1. Chair – immediate past-president of the CVMA
    2. Three (3) members – elected by the Board of Governors
    3. Three (3) members – elected by the House of Delegates
  2. With the exception of the chair who serves a one-year term, members of the Leadership Development Committee shall be appointed for no more than two (2) terms of three (3) years each and these terms shall be staggered so that no more than two (2) members shall be replaced each year (unless a member resigns mid-term).
  3. Initial appointments of the Leadership Development Committee shall include:
    1. Three (3) members elected by the Board of Governors – initial term staggered at one (1), two (2), and three (3) years
    2. Three (3) members elected by the House of Delegates – initial term staggered at one (1), two (2), and three (3) years
  4. No more than one (1) member of the Leadership Development Committee shall be elected from the same geographic district by the Board of Governors. No more than one (1) member of the Leadership Development Committee shall be elected from the same geographic district by the House of Delegates.
  5. Leadership Development Committee members must not be currently serving on the Board of Governors, except for the Immediate Past-President. Leadership Development Committee members will not be eligible to serve as an At-Large Member on the Board of Governors for three (3) years following their term on the Leadership Development Committee.
  6. Members of the Leadership Development Committee can be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Board of Governors or the House of Delegates.

Section 2

  1. In addition to the House of Delegates and the Leadership Development Committee, there shall be standing committees of the Association.
  2. Committees will consist of those outlined in the Association’s Policy Manual and may be changed from time to time by an affirmative vote of at least twelve (12) members of the Board of Governors.
  3. Unless otherwise specifically provided:
    1.  All appointments to standing and special committees shall be at the direction of the President.
    2. Each committee shall report directly to the Board of Governors.
      1. Committees shall have term limits unless otherwise specified in the Bylaws.
        1. Members shall be appointed to one (1) three-year term, with an option to be appointed to an additional three-year term.
        2. After serving two (2) consecutive terms, a one-year break is required before a person may be appointed to the same committee.
        3. The members of the committee shall continue in their positions until their successors are appointed.
  4. Each committee may file a written report with the Executive Director before the semi-annual joint meetings of the Board of Governors and House of Delegates.
  5. A member of any committee may file a written minority report with the Board of Governors providing that member has advised the other members of the committee of the intent to do so.
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Section 3

The Chair of each standing committee shall have the right to appoint sub-committees which shall function in an advisory capacity only.

Section 4

The Association President shall appoint the members, designate the Chair, and regulate the size of the various standing committees, subject to the approval of the Board of Governors, and in accordance with the following:

    1. The Finance Committee shall be chaired by the Treasurer.
    2. Veterinarians and Registered Veterinary Technicians shall be required to be members of the Association in order to be eligible for appointment.