Bylaws

BYLAWS

of the

Advanced Practice Provider Professional Group (APP PG)

a professional group of the

American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM)

 

ARTICLE I – NAME AND PURPOSE

 

Section 1. Name

This Professional Group shall be known as the Advanced Practice Provider Professional Group (APP PG), a professional group of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM).

 

Section 2. Purpose

The purpose of the Advanced Practice Provider Professional Group shall be to establish an organized presence of Advanced Practice Providers and related professionals within the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM), generate a presentation track on APP topics at ASRM Scientific Congress & Expos, and encourage membership of APPs within ASRM.

 

ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership Qualifications

Full membership is extended to ALL current active members of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine who are interested in fostering the goals of the ASRM and the APP PG. Members may attend all general meetings, vote, and participate in subcommittees. Members serving on the Executive Board shall be an Advanced Practice Provider (Nurse Practitioner, Physician Associate, or Nurse Midwife). Members may be invited to represent the APP PG on ASRM committees.

            

Section 2. Revocation of Membership

The APP PG Executive Board, through the ASRM Board of Directors, shall have the power to issue a warning, censure, suspend for a stated period of time, or expel a member for failure to maintain the requirements for membership, for ethical violations, or for any other cause, which in its judgment, shall be deemed sufficient. Disciplinary actions shall be decided according to procedures established by the ASRM bylaws.

 

 

ARTICLE III - DUES

 

Section 1. Annual Dues

APP PG dues are paid in addition to annual dues of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. The APP PG dues payment covers membership in the APP PG. Membership benefits include, but are not limited to, the right to vote in annual and special elections, hold office, receive all official publications of the APP PG, and receive networking opportunities

 

Section 2. Prerequisites

Prospective members must have an active ASRM membership to be eligible to join APP PG.

 

Section 3. Default of Payment

Any member in default of payment of the ASRM or APP PG annual dues, except in case of waiver by the ASRM Executive Director/CEO, shall be suspended from all privileges of membership. If such default is not corrected within thirty days after due notice in writing, the membership of such members shall be revoked.

 

 

ARTICLE IV – OFFICERS

 

Section 1. Officers

The officers of the APP PG shall be Chair, Chair‑Elect, Vice Chair, Immediate Past Chair and Past Chair. The ASRM Executive Director/CEO will serve as an ex-officio member of the Executive Board. The Past Chairs shall remain members of the Executive Board for two terms after their term as Chair, thereby holding a position on the Executive Board for a total of five years. Officers shall be elected by and from the active membership. The number of offices may be increased or decreased by an amendment to these Bylaws, except that the officers currently serving in their offices will complete their terms before the amended changes are executed.

 

Section 2. Nomination and Election

Elections will be held every year for the position of Vice Chair. The Vice Chair will become the Chair-Elect after serving one-term.  The Chair-Elect will subsequently become the Chair in the year immediately following. The immediate Past Chair and Past Chair will remain on the board accordingly. Nominations for office will be open to the general APP membership, and appropriate timing for nominations will be announced. A ballot will be sent by e-mail prior to the annual business meeting so that the announcement and installation of newly elected officers can be made at the annual business meeting.

 

Section 3. Vacancy

Vacancies occurring in the elected offices of the APP PG shall be filled by appointment of the Executive Board. Vacancies in the appointed offices of the APP PG may be filled at the discretion of the Executive Board.

 

 
ARTICLE V – DUTIES OF OFFICERS

 

Section 1. Chair

The Chair shall be the principal executive officer of the APP PG and shall in general supervise and control all the administrative matters, business affairs of the organization, and serve as a primary liaison between the Society at large and the APP PG. The Chair shall implement policy as established by the Executive Board and the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. The Chair shall preside at all meetings of members and perform and discharge all duties incident to the office of the Chair and other such duties that may arise from the Executive Board of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine.  The Chair shall assist the Scientific Program Committee in the planning of scientific proposals for the ASRM Annual congress and postgraduate program. The Chair shall write the annual report of the APP PG submitted to the ASRM Executive Director/CEO and Board of Directors.

 

Section 2. Chair‑Elect

The Chair‑Elect shall become familiar with the duties of the Chair and shall automatically succeed to the Chair's position at the conclusion of the Chair's term of office. In instances where the Chair is not present, the Chair-Elect shall perform the duties normally performed by the Chair, or in cases where the Chair is unable to act. 

When so acting, the Chair‑Elect shall have all the powers and be subject to all the restrictions of the Chair. The Chair‑Elect shall also perform other duties as may be determined and assigned by the Executive Board. Such duties will include communication with the general membership and regular review of the APP PG social media. The Chair‑Elect shall assist in the planning of the scientific proposals for the ASRM Annual congress and postgraduate program.and assist the Chair as needed.

 

Section 3. Vice Chair

The Vice Chair shall oversee the Professional Development Committee and serve as the liaison between this committee and the Executive Board. The Vice Chair will assist in the writing of scientific proposals for the ASRM Annual congress and postgraduate program. Specifically, the vice chair will plan, and coordinate roundtables hosted by APP PG members at the ASRM annual Congress. The Vice Chair will oversee assigned activities of APP PG representatives on Society committees and will perform other duties as assigned by the Chair and/or Executive Board.


Section 4. Immediate Past Chair

The Immediate Past Chair will serve as the Chair of the Nominations Committee and assist the Executive Board as needed.


Section 5. Past Chair

The Past Chair will serve as the Bylaws Committee Chair and assist the Executive Board as needed.

 

ARTICLE VI – EXECUTIVE BOARD

 

Section 1. General Powers

The affairs of the Advanced Practice Provider Professional Group shall be managed by its Executive Board, made up of the Chair, Chair-Elect, Vice Chair, Immediate Past Chair, and Past Chair. The ASRM Executive Director/CEO will serve as an ex-officio member of the Executive Board.

 

Section 2. Regular Meetings

A regular meeting of the Executive Board shall be held without any other notice than these Bylaws, prior to the annual Congress of the members. The Executive Board may provide, by resolution, the time and place for holding additional regular meetings without other notice than such resolution. The Executive Board will have quarterly teleconferences to discuss business agenda items.  

 

Section 3. Notice

Notice of any special meeting of the Executive Board shall be given at least one month previously thereto by written notice delivered personally, by email, or sent by mail to each officer at his/her address as shown by the records of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. Any member of the Executive Board may waive notice of any meeting.

 

Section 4. Quorum

A majority of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of the board, but if less than a majority of the board is present at any meeting, a majority of the directors present may adjourn the meeting without further notice.

 

Section 5.  Emeritus and Ad Hoc Members

The Executive Board shall appoint Emeritus and/or Ad Hoc members to the Board based on their expertise, contribution, and value to the Executive Board, and they will become non-voting members of the Executive Board.  Emeritus and Ad Hoc members shall be appointed for a period of two years with reappointment as needed.

The Executive Board may also assign the above-mentioned Emeritus or Ad Hoc members to work with APP PG committees on as needed basis.

 

ARTICLE VII - MEMBER MEETINGS AND ELECTIONS

Section 1. Annual Business Meeting

An annual business meeting of the members shall be held virtually before the annual Congress of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine. The agenda will include progress, future plans, and suggestions for the execution of the goals and objectives of the APP PG, as well as announcements of newly elected officers and appointed committee chairs.

 

Section 2. Informal Action by Members

Any action required by law to be taken at a meeting of members, or any action that may be taken at a meeting of members, may be taken without a meeting if consent in majority vote, setting forth the action so taken, is signed by a majority of all members who return a request to vote with respect to the subject matter thereof.

 

Section 3. Quorum

The presence of 60 percent of those members in attendance and entitled to vote at any meeting of members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of any business at any meeting of members.

 
Section 4. Proxies

At any meeting of members, a member who is entitled to vote may vote by proxy executed in writing by the member or by his duly authorized attorney in fact. No proxy shall be valid after one month from the date of its execution, unless explicit authorization is provided in the proxy.

 

Section 5. Voting

At any meeting of members, every full member shall be entitled to vote. Except as otherwise provided by law, or these Bylaws, each full member of the record shall be entitled to vote where officers are to be elected by members. Such an election may be conducted by mail, email or in such a manner as the Executive Board shall determine. Election of officers will be conducted by secret ballot. Each full member shall be entitled to one vote on all matters contained in a written ballot.

 

ARTICLE VIII – STANDING COMMITTEES

 

Section 1. Executive Board

The Executive Board shall appoint Chairs of Standing Committees for a term of two years, and these Chairs may be reappointed once unless the position is a rotating position, e.g., Nominations Committee. Chairs of each Standing Committee shall be non-voting members of the Executive Board unless they are officers of the Board.

The Executive Board may also at its discretion appoint non-voting members such as Emeritus or Ad Hoc members to fill various group needs or to work with committees as needed.

 All Committee Chairs are expected to attend the regular business meetings of the APP PG to report on the activities of their respective committee.

Section 2. Nominations Committee

The Immediate Past Chair of the Executive Board along with 3-5 full members of the APP PG shall work with the Board to compile a list of potential officers and develop a ballot yearly. Members of the Nominations Committee will be solicited and appointed by the Nominations Committee Chair.

The committee will solicit nominees from the membership by mail/e-mail/fax/online so as to include all APP PG members approximately twelve (12) weeks prior to the annual business meeting.  Members may nominate themselves or others, and all nominees who have agreed to serve will be placed on the ballot.  A slate will be e-mailed to the ASRM approximately nine (9) weeks prior to the Annual Business Meeting.   Elections will be held by mail/e-mail/fax/online voting so as to include all APP PG members approximately seven (7) weeks prior to the APP PG annual business meeting and results will be announced at the APP PG annual business meeting.  Write–ins are allowed.  In the event that someone who does not wish to serve is elected by write-in ballot, then the person with the highest number of votes who is willing to serve shall be elected.

 

Section 3. Scientific Program Planning Committee

This committee supports the development of APP education. It involves planning and coordination of speakers and topics for ASRM Annual Congresses which includes APP PG pre-Congress courses, symposia, interactive sessions, and roundtable luncheons. The Committee Chair will submit all Scientific Program planning ideas to the Executive Board for review. The Committee will consist of a Chair and 3-5 full members of the APP PG.  

Section 4. Communications Committee

This committee oversees communications received from membership and promotes strategies to engage with membership.  This committee will assertively promote the benefits of participating in the APP PG.

 

Section 5. Bylaws Committee

The Bylaws Committee shall consider and recommend any changes or amendments to the Bylaws that may be considered necessary or advisable. The Bylaws should be formally reviewed by the Committee annually with a recommendation for no change or suggested changes submitted in writing to the Board of Directors for consideration. The Past Chair shall be the Chair of the Bylaws Committee for the year immediately succeeding their term as Chair of APP.

 

Section 6. Ad Hoc Committees

 Ad hoc committees may be created by the Executive Board as necessary and may serve for a one- to three-year term. Ad Hoc Committees are not standing committees and may be created for temporary purposes and disbanded if no longer needed.

 

Section 7. Vacancies

When a non-rotating, standing committee Chair position is vacated prior to the end of the term, the Executive Committee will select a new Chair from the other committee members to serve out the term of the resigning Chair. In addition, the Executive Committee will appoint another committee member from the APP PG membership to keep that standing committee whole. The new member will serve the balance of the existing term plus 2 years.

ARTICLE IX – AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS

 

Section 1.  Bylaws

These Bylaws may be altered, amended, or repealed and new Bylaws may be adopted. Such action must be taken following presentation and approval by the Executive Board of APP PG, ASRM Board of Directors and a majority of the voting members of APP PG. Bylaws will be electronically mailed to the active members and approval by a majority of the voting members.  At least 30 days written notice of the intention to alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws must be given to each voting member of the Executive Board prior to their discussion and vote. At least 30 days written notice of the intention to alter, amend or repeal the Bylaws must be given to each voting member of APP PG prior to their discussion and vote by electronic ballot.  Approval must be by a simple majority of those members voting at the time of the annual business meeting of APP PG or by electronic ballot. 

 

ARTICLE X – OPERATIONS

Section 1. APP PG Operations

 APP PG will operate in accordance with the ASRM Affiliate Societies, Professional Groups, and Special Interest Groups Policies and Procedures, as amended. In conjunction therewith, ASRM will provide certain management and operational assistance to APP PG.

 
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Bylaws established August 2022.