KENDALL COUNTY MEDICAL SOCIETY
BYLAWS
A. To be bound by, and comply with all provisions of this county Society’s Bylaws, the Texas Medical Association (TMA) Constitution and Bylaws, and the American Medical Association (AMA) Principles of Medical Ethics in relationships with members of the county Society, the Association, and the public.
B. To be subject to disciplinary action (including expulsion, probation, or censure) in accordance with the Association’s disciplinary procedures for:
1. Violation of the constitutions and Bylaws of TMA, the county Society, or both;
2. Violation of the AMA Principles of Medical Ethics;
3. Criminal conduct and/or
4. Any other unethical or unprofessional conduct likely to deceive, defraud, or injure the public.
SECTION 2. QUALIFICATIONS. This component county medical Society shall judge the qualifications of applicants having due regard to the fact that only through a component county society may a physician become a member of the Texas Medical Association. All applicants for membership shall meet the qualifications established by the TMA Constitution and Bylaws. All members shall be licensed to practice in the state of Texas.
SECTION 3. RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES.
A. Rights. All members shall be equally privileged to attend all meetings. Members may take part in the proceedings of the Society so long as they conform to this Constitution and Bylaws, including payment of dues.
B. Limitations. Active, Life, Retired Honorary and Emeritus members shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership as outlined in this Constitution and Bylaws, except where specific exceptions are provided.
C. Effect of Disciplinary Action. A member who has been disciplined by probation or expulsion, and in whose case no appeals are pending, shall be denied participation in any of the proceedings of the Society and shall not be eligible to hold any office until the disciplinary sanction has been lifted.
SECTION 4. MEMBERSHIP CLASSIFICATIONS. The following shall constitute the categories of membership in the Society.
A. Active Members. Every physician who meets the qualifications described in Section 1 of this chapter and elsewhere in the TMA Constitution and Bylaws shall be eligible for Active membership. The acceptance of the privileges of Active membership carries with it the obligation and privilege to assume the duties of any office to which the member may be elected or appointed by the county Society and the Texas Medical Association.
B. Retired Members.
1. Qualifications. A physician member who has retired from the Active practice of medicine, upon recommendation of the Executive Board, may be nominated by the Society as a Retired member. A physician shall be in good fiscal standing with the Society at the time of nomination to the Retired status.
2. Dues Obligation. When a physician, who in the preceding year was in good fiscal standing, is nominated for Retired membership, payment of dues will not be required for the year in which the physician’s name is presented to the society, provided the nomination is received by the Texas Medical Association prior to April 1.
3. Applicability to Special Situations. A physician member of another state medical Society, who has established residence in Texas and is fully retired from medical practice, may be elected to retired membership. Dues shall not be required of a physician elected to Retired membership who, at the time of retirement, was a member in good standing on another state medical Society.
4. Rights and Privileges. Retired members shall be entitled to all privileges of membership, except the right to vote or hold elective position.
C. Life Members.
1. Qualifications. A physician member in good fiscal standing who has been a dues paying member of organized medicine for 35 years, of which 25 years must have been dues paying years in the Texas Medical Association and who has reached a point of comparative inactivity, as determined by the county medical Society, upon recommendation of the Executive Board may be elected by the Society as a life member.
2. Dues obligation. Life members shall pay no dues. When a physician who in the preceding year was in good fiscal standing, is nominated for life membership, payment of dues will not be required for the year in which the physician is nominated if the nominee’s name is received by the Texas Medical Association prior to April 1.
3. Rights and privileges. Life members shall be entitled to all of the privileges of membership except the right to vote or hold elective positions.
D. Honorary Members.
1. Qualifications. A physician member of honorable standing who has reached a point of comparative inactivity in the practice of medicine as determined by the county medical society and who has rendered outstanding service to organized medicine and made noteworthy contributions to scientific medicine, may be nominated by the society upon recommendation of the Board of Censors and after review and approval by the TMA Board of Councilors, may be elected to honorary membership by the House of Delegates. Physicians shall be in good fiscal standing with the county medical society at the time of nomination.
2. Dues obligation. When a physician, who in the preceding year was in good fiscal standing, is nominated for honorary membership, payment of dues will not be required for the year in which the physician’s name is presented to the House of Delegates, provided the nomination is received by the Texas Medical Association prior to April 1.
3. Rights and privileges. Honorary members shall have all the rights and privileges of membership except the right to vote or hold elective position and shall not be required to pay dues.
4. Retention of rights and privileges. A physician elected to honorary membership may retain the rights to vote, hold office or other elective positions, or serve as delegates or alternate delegates to the Association by immediately paying current dues in the same amount as required by active members. The decision to continue dues payment on a year-to-year basis shall be the option of the newly elected honorary member. However, once dues payment is discontinued, it may not be reinstated at a later date, and loss of the rights described in the above section shall occur.
E. EMERITUS MEMBERS
1. QUALIFICATIONS. Upon nomination by the TMA Board of Councilors and approval of this society, the House of Delegates may elect to the status of emeritus membership any member of this society who has given exceptional and distinguished service to scientific or organized medicine, or both. Such nominations will be held by the TMA Board of Councilors for a period of one year before recommendation is made to the House of Delegates. A two-thirds majority vote of the House of Delegates shall be required for election. The distinction thus conferred may not be removed except by action of the House of Delegates upon recommendation of the TMA Board of Councilors.
2. Dues obligation. Emeritus members are exempt from payment of dues. When a physician, who in the preceding year was in good standing, has been nominated for emeritus membership, payment of dues will not be required for the year in which the physician’s name is presented to the House of Delegates.
3. Rights and privileges. Members emeritus shall have all rights and privileges of membership.
CHAPTER II
ADMINISTRATION
SECTION 1. APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP.
A. General & Ethics Requirements A physician applying for membership shall fill out the appropriate application form as promulgated by the Texas Medical Association from time to time. The application form shall be submitted to the secretary of the Society, who shall retain the original application and forward a copy along with the dues to the TMA Membership Department. No physician may become a member of this county medical Society without also maintaining membership in the Texas Medical Association, since this county medical Society is a component organization of the Association.
A physician applying for active membership shall meet ethics orientation requirements as established or approved by the Board of Councilors before the application is accepted as complete. A physician applying for active membership shall be permitted to attend an approved ethics orientation program of any county medical Society, or at the discretion of the county medical Society, shall complete an approved program provided by the Texas Medical Association.
B. Notification of Society. Upon receipt of an application for Active Membership in the Society, all members of the Society may be notified of:
1. Name of the applicant,
2. The procedure by which written objections to the applicant’s membership may be directed to the Board of Censors, and
3. Such objections must be received 10 days from announcement at the meeting of the application.
C. Board of Censor’s Examination. Within 120 days from the date an application is completed, the Board of Censors shall complete its examination of the applicant’s qualifications, including an examination of the merits of any written objections received as provided above. The Board of Censors shall, in general, determine that the applicant is duly licensed to practice medicine according to Texas law, and eligible for the membership classification that is requested.
After investigation, the Board of Censors shall provide to the Executive Board its report on the applicant’s qualifications along with a recommendation for approval or disapproval of membership. The Executive board will approve or disapprove such membership within 90 days of application. The physician denied membership shall also, receive a copy of the final decision of the applicable executive board, including a statement of the basis of the decision.
D. Procedure on Recommendation for Disapproval of Application. If the Executive Board recommends disapproval of an application for membership, the applicant may request a hearing before the Executive Board. In such case, the Society shall follow the procedures set forth in the Hearings Procedures Manual. If the applicant fails to request a hearing, or after completion of a hearing, the Executive Board shall vote to either accept or deny the applicant for membership.
E. Reporting to Board of Councilors after Denial of Membership Application. When, after such hearing, or after the time for requesting such hearing has expired without a request for hearing, an application for membership has been denied on the basis of investigation which discloses unethical or unprofessional practices, the secretary-treasurer of the Society shall report promptly to the TMA Board of Councilors the name of the physician thus denied membership decision of the applicable executive board, including a statement of the basis of the decision.
F. Right of Appeal to Board of Councilors. If no action is taken on a completed application within the specified periods of time, the applicant may appeal to the TMA Board of Councilors. The applicant may appeal to the TMA Board of Councilors after the applicable executive board has conducted a hearing on the membership application and denied the application after the hearing.
G. Moratorium on Reapplication. When an application for membership is disapproved following the “Procedure on Recommendation for Disapproval of Application” set for the above, the physician may not re-apply to the Society for membership for a period of one year. Time shall be calculated as follows:
1. One year from the deadline to request a hearing before the applicable executive board when no hearing has been requested;
2. One year from the deadline to perfect an appeal to the TMA Board of Councilors following a hearing before the applicable executive board and rendition of judgment when no appeal has been perfected;
3. One year from the deadline to perfect an appeal to the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs following rendition of judgment by the TMA Board of Councilors when no appeal has been perfected;
4. One year following rendition of judgment by the AMA Council on Ethical and Judicial Affairs.
SECTION 2. TRANSFER OF MEMBERSHIP
A. Transfer to Another Society. A member of this Society, regardless of membership classification, who relocates from the jurisdiction of this Society to another county medical Society, shall notify the Society of the intent to transfer. Except as provided in Section C (Transfer of Retired and Life members), membership in this Society shall terminate six months after the date of relocation unless terminated sooner by acceptance for membership by another county medical Society. This Society shall notify the relocating member physician when termination of membership takes place.
B. Transfer From Another Society. A physician who relocates from the jurisdiction of another county medical Society to this Society, shall apply for membership according to the terms set forth in Section 1 of this Chapter, except that the
ethics orientation requirement shall not be required.
C. Transfer of Retired, Life, Honorary and Emeritus Members
1. Retired Members. Physicians who are Retired Members and those who are fully retired from the practice of medicine and who relocate from the jurisdiction of another county Society to this Society shall be granted the right to transfer to this Society, or may retain membership in the original Society. Such physicians who are members of this Society and who relocate to the jurisdiction of another county Society may retain membership in this Society.
2. Return to active status by Emeritus, Honorary, Life or Retired Members. An emeritus, honorary, life or retired member of another Society who has moved to the jurisdiction of this Society may return to active membership status only by returning to the jurisdiction of the original county Society, or by applying to active membership in this Society and complying with all requirements for membership. An emeritus, honorary, life or retired member of this Society who has moved to the jurisdiction of another county medical Society may return to active membership status only by returning to the jurisdiction of this Society, or applying for active membership in the new county medical Society and complying with all requirements for membership.
D. Membership in Contiguous County Medical Society
1. Membership in this Society. A physician in another contiguous county medical Society may apply for membership in this Society in the same manner and upon the same terms as a physician living within the jurisdiction of this Society. However, such physician must first obtain the permission of the county Society in the jurisdiction of which he or she resides and present evidence of such at the time of application.
2. Membership in Contiguous Society. A physician living within the jurisdiction of this Society may request permission to apply for membership in another contiguous county medical Society. If granted, this Society shall furnish evidence of permission to the physician.
3. Denial of Permission and Appeal. Permission for a physician to apply for membership in a contiguous county medical Society, and consideration of the application for membership received from a physician in a contiguous county medical Society, shall be denied only for a violation of the constitution and Bylaws of the Texas Medical Association or a county medical Society, a violation of the Principles of Medical Ethics of the American Medical Association, criminal conduct, or unprofessional conduct likely to deceive, defraud or injure the public. Should this request be denied, the physician shall have the right to appeal to the TMA Board of Councilors, which, on a majority vote, may permit the physician to apply for membership in an adjacent county medical Society.
4. Dual Membership Prohibited. A physician may not be a member of this Society and another county medical Society of the Texas Medical Association at the same time.
E. Charges against a relocating physician
1. Charges brought during relocation procedures. If charges are brought against a relocating member of this Society, arising from events occurring during membership in this Society, which could lead to a denial of membership, then this Society shall process the complaint according to these by laws and the Hearings Procedures Manual. If such charges are brought against a physician who is relocating from another Society, arising from events occurring during membership in that Society, all relocation procedures in this Society shall cease until such time as the complaint is resolved by that Society.
2. Charges brought after relocation. In the even that charges are brought after relocation to this Society is complete, this Society shall process the complaint according to these Bylaws and the Hearings Procedures Manual and notify the original Society of all circumstances of the charges and the secretary shall notify the Association of the transaction.
SECTION 3. PAYMENT OF DUES.
A. Amount. The dues shall be established annually by vote of this Society for the Fiscal year. These dues shall be returned if the applicant is not accepted formembership.
B. Deadline for Dues Payment. The annual dues of this Society and for the Texas Medical Association shall be payable on January 1st of each year.
C. Temporary Waiver or Reduction. The Society may grant a temporary waiver or reduction of Society and Association dues for physicians whom the Society believes are deserving due to financial hardship or disability. Such waiver or reduction will apply only to a single annual dues period; addition waivers or reductions may only be granted after complete review. The Society shall notify the Association of each action, providing such information as may be required by the TMA Committee on Membership.
D. Special Assessments. The Society may levy such per capita special assessments a deemed necessary to defray specific Society expenses. Such special assessments shall be collected and paid by members in the same manner as dues and shall carry the same penalty for nonpayment.
SECTION 4. DELINQUENCY.
A. Date of Delinquency. Members who have not paid dues by March 1st shall automatically be considered delinquent.
B. Loss of Privileges. A delinquent member shall not have the privileges of voting, holding office, or attending the annual session.
C. Reinstatement. A delinquent member may be reinstated as a member in good standing upon payment of unpaid dues, provided payment is made before April 1st of the same year in which the delinquency occurred. A delinquent member who has not been reinstated by April 1st will automatically be dropped from membership. Delinquency for non-payment of dues is not a disciplinary matter, hence, the provisions of the TMA Hearings Procedures Manual do not govern whether a member is considered delinquent. There is not right to a hearing on the question of delinquency for nonpayment of dues. However, a former member who forfeits membership may be reinstated as a member in good standing at any time during the same calendar year upon payment of current year dues.
SECTION 5. FISCAL YEAR. The fiscal year of this society shall be from January 1st to December 31st
SECTION 1. DESIGNATION. The officers of this Society shall be a President, Vice President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer. No member shall hold more than one office at the same time. These officers shall be elected by the county Society membership. Other officers may be elected as required, including the members of the Executive Board.
SECTION 2. TERM OF OFFICE. The term of office for all officers, except for the Board of Censors, shall be for the Association year. The secretary and treasurer may be extended up to three years.
SECTION 3. TIME OF ELECTIONS. Elections of officers of the Society shall be held during the last quarter or at the last meeting of the year if there is no meeting in the last quarter. A majority vote of all members present will be necessary for election.
SECTION 4. DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT. The President shall preside at meetings of the county Society and of the executive board of which he shall serve as chairman. The President of the county medical Society is the leader of the profession and its major spokesperson in the community. His/her primary responsibility is to give knowledgeable leadership to keep members informed about local, state, and national matters, which are important to the profession of medicine. He/she is responsible for the activities and programs of the county Society and signs letters and documents on its behalf. As President, he/she is to preside over county Society meetings and consequently, shall have some knowledge about parliamentary procedure. The President shall be responsible for seeing that the requirements of this constitution and Bylaws are followed. Additionally, he/she appoints committees to formulate and implement Society policy and goals.
SECTION 5. DUTIES OF THE VICE PRESIDENT. Preside at the meeting of the county Society in the absence of the President.
SECTION 6. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY. The Secretary shall:
(1) Maintain books, papers, and records of the Society including the charter and certificate of incorporation, if any;
(2) Maintain membership records;
(3) Promptly provide written notice to the Executive Vice President of the Association of the relief of any disqualification of membership suffered by any member. The Executive Vice President shall acknowledge receipt of such notice and inform the secretary of the steps to correct the members record;
(4) File an annual report, on forms provided by the Executive Vice President of the Association, showing the officers, delegates and members of the Society as of December 31st of the previous year. The report shall be transmitted to the Executive Vice President no later than February 1st of each year;
(5) Issue credentials to the county Society delegates to the House of Delegates;
(6) Notify all members of the Society upon receipt of an application for Active membership as provided in Chapter II; (at the next meeting)
(7) Serve as the authorized representative for the purpose of communications with the National Practitioner Data Bank;
(8) Report information in accordance with the Association’s Hearing Procedures Manual concerning the final resolution of all disciplinary actions at the county Society level resulting in expulsion, probation, or censure to the TMA Board of Councilors and the county Society’s own membership;
(9) Report annually to the TMA Board of Councilors the name of any physician denied membership when the application has been investigated and reflects questionable ethical or professional practices; and
(10) Perform such other duties as may be required by the Society.
SECTION 7. DUTIES OF THE TREASURER.
(1) Receive, receipt for, and make record of all moneys and property coming into possession of the county Society and supervise the expenditure of funds as authorized by the Society or its executive board;
(2) Forward to the Executive Vice President of the Association the names and annual dues of society members.
SECTION 8. BOARD OF CENSORS.
A General. The society shall form a board of censors of those members elected as provided in Section 1 of this Chapter.
B. Terms of office. The Board of Censors shall be composed of three members. The term of office of the censors shall be three years, and they shall be so elected that only one vacancy normally occurs each year.
C. Duties. The Board of Censors shall:
SECTION 9. DELEGATES TO THE ASSOCIATION.
A. Election and Term of Office. Delegates are elected by this Society for a term of two years and represent the Society in the TMA House of Delegates. The number of delegates shall be determined by the number of members on record 60 days prior to a session of the House of Delegates, and in accordance with the TAM Bylaws.
B. Credentials. The secretary shall issue each delegate credentials certifying his/her election and right to membership in the TMA House of Delegates. And delegate has the authority to sign over his/her credentials to the alternate delegate chosen by the Society.
C. Duties of Delegates. The delegate is expected to attend the Annual Session, the Interim Session, and any called special sessions of the House of Delegates. Following the meeting, the major actions of the House should be reported to the county Society.
SECTION 10. VACANCIES. Vacancies in the offices referred to in this Chapter shall be filled by the county Society President until the next annual election.
CHAPTER IV – EXECUTIVE BOARD
SECTION 1. COMPOSITION. This Society shall form an Executive Board composed of the President, Vice President, the Secretary and Treasurer.
SECTION 2. DUTIES. The Executive Board shall;
A. Transact the routine business of the Society;
B. Receive and act upon applications for membership as provided in Chapter II of these Bylaws;
C. Conduct disciplinary hearing as prescribed by the Hearing Procedures Manual of the TMA Board of Councilors and render a decision;
D. Refer to the county Society questions of policy;
E. Provide for and superintend the publication (name of Society’s publication) and all proceedings, transactions and memoirs of the Society. It shall have full discretionary powers to publish in whole or in abstract in submitted scientific paper, article, editorial, advertising or other material;
F. Perform such other duties as may be required by the Constitution and these Bylaws; and
G. Conduct all meetings in the absence of provisions to the contrary, under the procedures of Davis Rule of Order.
SECTION 3. MEETINGS. The Executive Board shall meet upon call of the President at such times and places as he/she may designate, and shall be called to meet upon demand of a majority of its members. Notice of all meetings of the Executive Board shall be sent by mail or other mode or transmittal to each member of the Executive Board at his/her last recorded address at least ten (10) days in advance of such meetings.
SECTION 4. QUORUM. A majority of the whole Executive Board shall constitute a quorum at any meeting of the Board. Any less number may adjourn from time to time until a quorum be present.
CHAPTER V – DISCIPLINARY PROCESS AND
RULES OF CONDUCT
SECTION 1. REFERRAL OF CHARGES. Complaints from the general public against
SECTION 2. DISCIPLINARY PRINCIPLES. All matters of a disciplinary nature, including hearings and proceedings that involve any member of this county Society, shall be conducted in accordance with the following principles:
A. To the maximum extent possible, all disciplinary matters should be handled and decided on a physician-to-physician peer basis and on the merits of the substantive issues involved instead of on procedural or technical grounds.
B. Due process for such disciplinary matters does not require a judicial court-type trial, hearing, or proceeding. What is required is fundamental fairness to the respondent member, consisting of adequate notice of the nature of each complaint or charge, adequate notice of any disciplinary hearing, adequate opportunity to be heard and to present a defense, and a fair an good faith proceeding.
C. Not being subject to strict judicial rules of procedure of evidence, all county Society boards and committees exercising any disciplinary authority or conducting any hearing relating to an application for membership described in the TMA Hearings Procedures Manual shall have reasonable discretion as to what to consider as relevant and material, in what form and manner to receive relevant and material items, and how much credibility and weight to give each item.
D. All hearings and proceedings that involve any member of this county Society shall be conducted in accordance with the TMA Hearings Procedures Manual.
SECTION 3. REPORTING RESULTS OF DISCIPLINARY ACTIONS.
A. Information to be Reported to the Board of Councilors. Information concerning the final resolution of all disciplinary actions by this Society resulting in expulsion, probation, or censure shall be communicated by the Secretary of this Society to the TMA Board of Councilors. Such information shall consist only of the respondent member’s name, the charges or complaints, and the final resolution or other status, including disciplinary action taken and appropriate dates.
B. Information to be Reported to the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners. The Society shall report information concerning the final resolution of all disciplinary actions resulting in expulsion or probation to the Texas State Board of Medical Examiners. The Secretary shall report the respondent members name, the charges or complaints, and the final resolution, and the results and circumstances of such disciplinary action.
C. Information to be Reported to the National Practitioner Data Bank. Information concerning the final resolution of all disciplinary actions by this Society resulting in expulsion probation shall be communicated by the Secretary of this Society to the National Practitioner Data Bank. The Society shall report such information as the National Practitioner Data Bank shall require as published from time to time.
SECTION 4. EFFECT OF DISCIPLINE ON MEMBERSHIP. Members placed on probation or expelled under the provisions of these Bylaws and those of TMA will be denied all privileges of the Society and the Texas Medical Association through the effective period of their probation or non-membership. Loss of membership privileges shall commence after final resolution of any appeals.
SECTION 5. DISCIPLINARY RESPONSIBILITIES OF MEMBERS. Members
notified of the referral of charges against them in accordance with the Hearing Procedures Manual shall respond to the appropriate investigating committee/board within a reasonable time, or show good cause why a response is not possible. Members summoned before an investigating committee/board in accordance with the Hearings Procedures Manual shall comply with such summons or show good cause why compliance is not possible. When a reason for non-response or non-compliance is offered, the appropriate investigating committee/board shall determine whether such reason is acceptable and may take further action under the Hearings Procedures Manual. Failure to respond to the appropriate investigating committee/board shall constitute a violation of the Bylaws of the Society and independent grounds for disciplinary action.
SECTION 6. PROHIBITED PRACTICES.
A. No Fee Schedule. No official actions shall be taken by the Society establishing a fixed schedule of fees for the medical, surgical, and special services of its members.
B. Fee Splitting. It shall be considered unprofessional and unethical to engage in the practice commonly known as fee-splitting in any of its forms as defined by the TMA Board of Councilors.
CHAPTER VI – MEETINGS
SECTION 1. GENERAL. The Society meet upon call of the President at such times
and places and he/she may designate, and shall be called to meet upon demand of a majority of its members.
SECTION 2. NOTICE. Notice of all meetings of the Society shall be sent by mail or
other mode of transmittal to each member of the Society at his/her last recorded address at least ten (10) days in advance of such meetings.
SECTION 3. QUORUM. Three (3) members at any meeting of the Society shall
constitute a quorum, and in case there be less than this number, the President or other presiding officer may adjourn the meeting from time to time until a quorum is present.
SECTION 4. PARLIAMENTARY PROCEDURE. All meetings shall be conducted under the procedures of Dr. James E. Davis’ Rules of Order.
SECTION 5. ORDER OF BUSINESS. The order of business at meetings shall be as
follows:
A. Call to order.
B. Disposition of minutes of previous meetings.
C. Reports of officers.
D. Reports of boards and standing committees.
E. Reports of ad hoc and special committees.
F. Unfinished business.
G. New business.
H. Announcements.
I. Adjournment.
SECTION 6. BUSINESS MEETING. At least one meeting during each year shall be set apart for discussion of the business affairs of the Society.
SECTION 7. MAIL VOTE. Whenever, in the judgment of the President (or Executive
Board), any question shall arise which it believes should be put to the vote of the
Active membership and when it deems it inexpedient to call a special meeting for
such purpose, the President (or Executive Board) may, unless otherwise required by
these Bylaws, submit such a matter to the membership in writing by mail for vote and decision, and the question this presented shall be determined according to a majority of the votes received by mail within ten (10) days after submission to the membership, provided that in each case votes of at least fifty percent (50%) of members shall be received. Any and all action taken in pursuance of a majority mail vote in each such case shall be binding upon the Society as would action taken at a duly called Meeting.
CHAPTER VII – AMENDMENTS
These Bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of this Society by a majority vote of the members present constituting a quorum after the amendment has lain on the table at least one day.
CHAPTER VIII – EFFECT OF CONSTITUTION
The Constitution of this Society shall be deemed to be a Bylaw for purposes of the Texas Non-Profit Corporation Act.