Leading

Bylaws & Constitution

← Back

Bylaws – Article XVII – Miscellaneous

ARTICLE XVII

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

Miscellaneous

Section 1. Amendments

  1. The Board of Governors may amend the Bylaws at any of its recognized meetings upon the affirmative vote of at least twelve (12) members of the Board, provided that the amendment or amendments shall have been:
    1. Presented to the Board of Governors in writing and introduced at a meeting of the Board of Governors held at least seventy-five (75) days prior to the next recognized meeting of the Board of Governors.
    2. Published in an Official Publication of the Association or, in the absence of such publication, mailed or electronically transmitted to each member of the Association, not less than sixty (60) days prior to the recognized meeting of the Board of Governors at which time final action is to be taken.
  2. If a petition in opposition to the proposed amendment, signed by at least ten (10) Active Members of the Association, is filed at least five (5) days prior to the recognized meeting of the Board of Governors at which final action is to be taken, the Association President shall convene a special meeting of the Board of Governors which shall be open to all members of the Association.
    1. At this meeting the Board shall receive the testimony of all persons choosing to speak in opposition to, or in favor of, the proposed amendment.
    2. At the conclusion of the meeting, and in the absence of a material change in the proposed amendment, the Board shall vote upon the proposed amendment and, if at least twelve (12) members of the Board cast affirmative votes, the Bylaws shall then be so amended.
    3. If, at the conclusion of the meeting, a material change in the proposed amendment has been made, the Board shall publish such revised version of the proposed amendment an Official Publication of the Association, or in the absence of such publication, mail or electronically transmit same to each member of the Association not less than sixty (60) days prior to a meeting of the Board of Governors called for the purpose of taking final action on said amendments.
    4. A petition in opposition, as set forth above, to the revised version of the proposed amendment shall be entertained by the Board of Governors only if the Board, in the exercise of its discretion, determines that circumstances so warrant.
    5. At the special meeting the Board of Governors shall vote upon the revised version of the proposed amendment and, if at least twelve (12) members of the Board cast affirmative votes, the Bylaws shall then be so amended.

Section 2. Code of Ethics

  1. The Code of Ethics of the Association shall maintain a Code of Veterinary Ethics.
  2. If any conflict exists between the Association’s Code of Veterinary Ethics and that maintained by the AVMA, the Association’s Code of Veterinary Ethics shall control.

Section 3. Parliamentary Procedure

The current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, when not in conflict with the Articles of Incorporation, Constitution, or Bylaws of the Association, shall be the guide for parliamentary procedure at all meetings of the Association and any other committees or groups within the Association.

 

An affirmative vote by at least ten (10) members of the Board of Governors shall be required to rescind or amend a prior Board motion.

Section 4. Official Publication

The California Veterinarian and the CVMA Weekly shall be the Official Publications of the Association.

Section 5. Awards

  1. CVMA Lifetime Achievement Award
    1. This is the highest Association award to recognize a member of the Association who has contributed to the advancement of veterinary medicine and organized veterinary medicine.  It recognizes veterinarians who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in the building of a strong local and/or state association and who have contributed significantly to veterinary medicine in California.
    2. Candidate(s) may be nominated by any individual, committee or organization, and be reviewed and selected by the Ways & Means/Presidents Council. The selected candidate(s) will be forwarded to the Board of Governors for final approval.  The vote shall be done by secret ballot.
    3. To qualify for this award, nominees must first be a Distinguished Life Member.
  2. The choice of recipients for an award(s) shall require an affirmative vote by at least twelve (12) members of the Board of Governors.