GCSICP BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I 

The name of the organization is The Gulf Coast Chapter of the Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals and shall be chartered by the SICP.

ARTICLE II
Mission/Vision Statement

The Gulf Coast Chapter of the Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals is a not-for-profit organization that promotes and encourages participation of the invasive cardiovascular professional in his/her professional organization. Participation and support of the SICP will serve to enhance the perception of professionalism and high quality of care delivered to patients undergoing procedures in Cardiac Catheterization Laboratories. The Gulf Coast Chapter is committed to providing educational and networking opportunities to all members and cardiovascular professionals and to serve those needs in the regional community.

ARTICLE III
Membership

All membership rules of the National Society of Invasive Cardiovascular Professionals apply for membership of the Gulf Coast Chapter.

Section 1. Categories

a. All members must be members of the National Society and meet the membership criteria, whether Active, Fellowship, or Student.
b. Membership is complimentary to all invasive professional in the Gulf Coast Region.
c. Members must be registered as members in the Gulf Coast Chapter.

Section 2. Qualifications

Any Cardiac Catheterization professional who endorses the mission of the SICP and the Gulf Coast Chapter of the SICP, agrees to abide by its' bylaws, and meets criteria for membership of the SICP is eligible for membership.

Section 3. Rights and Benefits

Members shall have the rights conferred by this Section 3 and no other rights. Members shall have benefits in accordance with the SICP Bylaws.

All members who are members of the National Society and meet the voting benefits stated by the National Society and are registered members of the Regional Chapter will have voting rights.

Section 4. Application and Acceptance

SICP members that register with the Chapter shall be considered Chapter Members.

Section 5. Membership Renewal, Fees, Dues

Current membership of the SICP is required for Chapter membership. Chapter membership is complimentary.

Section 6. Voting Rights

All members who meet the SICP requirements for voting rights and are registered members of the Chapter shall be entitled to one vote.

Section 7. Termination of Membership

Termination of membership of the SICP results in automatic termination of Chapter membership.

ARTICLE V
Dues

Section 1. Dues

a. No membership dues will be required at the chapter level.
b. SICP membership dues will be accepted at the chapter level. Meeting fees will be collected at each educational offering/meeting to cover incidental costs of the chapter. CVT students who are members of the SICP and registered as a member of the chapter are not charged meeting fees.
c. Meeting fees are:
1. $5.00 - registered chapter member
2. $10.00 - non-member attendees

ARTICLE V
Membership Meetings

Section 1. Annual Meeting

a. The annual meeting of the Gulf Coast Chapter will be held to elect officers.

Section 2. Special Meetings

Special meetings may be called at any time by the Chair, by a majority of the Officers, or upon written request of 15 percent of members. All special meeting requests must be made in accordance with the SICP Bylaws.

Section 3. Notice of Members' Meetings

All notices of members' meetings shall be given in not less than ten or no more than ninety days. The notice shall specify the place, date, and time of the meeting. The notice shall state the general nature of the meeting.

Section 4. Manner of Giving Notice

Notice may be given personally, by mail, fax, telephone, or email.

Section 5. Quorum

A quorum shall be 5 percent of Chapter members present at a duly called or held meeting. No business shall be transacted without a quorum.

Section 6. Adjourned meeting

Meetings may be adjourned by vote of the majority.

Section 7. Voting

Each Chapter member shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to a vote.

Section 8. Member Action by Written Ballot Without a Meeting

Any action that may be taken at any meeting may be taken without a meeting if the written ballot of every Chapter member is solicited. All written ballot action shall be in accordance with the SICP Bylaws.

Section 9. Record Date of Member Notice, Voting, and Giving Consents

Determination of members entitled to notice of any meeting, to vote at any meeting, to cast written ballots, or otherwise exercise any membership rights, shall be in accordance with the SICP Bylaws.

Section 10. Proxies

Every Chapter member entitled to vote on any manner shall have the right to submit a proxy vote either in writing or by email to the Secretary. The form of the proxy will specify approval, disapproval, or abstain.

ARTICLE VI
Board of Directors

Section 1. Number, Powers, Qualifications.

The Board of Directors of the chapter shall consist of a Chair, Chair Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Committee Chairs. Candidates for office must be members in good standing of the National Society. All officer duties will be in accordance with the National Society. All elections and voting will be in accordance with the National Society.

Section 1. Term of Office

a. Each Director shall hold office for two (2) years or until their successors are elected and qualified.
b. Elections for Chair-elect and Secretary will be on alternating years with Treasurer.
c. The term of office shall begin with the annual meeting (January)
d. Directors shall be eligible only for two (2) consecutive terms in the same office.

Section 2. Meetings

The Board of Directors shall hold an annual meeting in conjunction with the annual membership meeting. Regular meetings shall be held at such times and places determined by the Officers. Special meeting of Officers may be called by the Chair or any other two Officers.

Section 3. Notice

Notice may be given personally, by mail, fax, telephone, or email.

Section 4. Quorum

Four Board of Directors members constitutes at quorum.

Section 6. Action Without a Meeting

Any action required or permitted to be taken by the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting if a majority (3) consent. Notice of action shall be given to each board member personally, by mail, fax, telephone, or email by the Secretary.

Section 7. Vacancies

In the event a vacancy occurs, the vacancy shall be filled in the following manner.
a. Chair: The Chair-elect shall assume the office
b. Chair-elect: The Chair shall appoint a current Officer to fill the position.
c. The Directors may appoint replacements for all other vacancies to the balance of the unexpired terms.

Section 8. Removal of Directors

Officers and Committee Chairs may be subject to removal by a majority vote of the Officers at a special meeting called for tinder Article V. Section 2 for violating the bylaws of the SICP or Chapter, misconduct or neglect of duty in office, or behavior injurious to the image of the Chapter. No such action shall be taken against any Officer or Committee Chair until he/she has been advised of specific charge and afforded a full hearing before the Officers. Officers or Committee Chairs expelled from office shall be ineligible to serve as Officers or Committee Chairs at any future time.

ARTICLE VII
Officers

Section 1. Chapter Chair
The Chapter chair shall generally supervise and control all business and affairs of the Chapter, subject to control of the governance committee. The Chair shall:
a. Preside at all meetings of the membership and the governance committee
b. Appoint all standing and ad-hoc committee chairpersons
c. Serve as an ex officio member of all committees
The Chair will perform and all duties incident to the office and such duties as may be assigned by the governance committee. The Chair shall have power to sign contracts as approved by the governance committee.

Section 2. Chair-elect
The Chair-elect shall be familiar with the duties of the Chair and shall succeed to the office of chair at the expiration of the Chair’s term of office.

Section 3. Secretary

The Secretary shall keep all minutes of membership and Board of Director meetings and in general perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary and other such duties prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Section 4. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall supervise all funds of the Chapter and perform other such duties prescribed by the Board of Directors.

Section 5. Vacancies

See Article VI, Section 7

ARTICLE VIII
Committees

Standing or Special Committees shall have the power to act only in intervals between meetings of the Board and shall at all times be subject to the control of the Board of Directors. If the Board of Directors does not act, the Committees shall establish rules and regulations for meetings and shall meet at such times as is deemed necessary. No act of a Committee shall be valid unless approved by the vote or written consent of a majority of its' members. Committees shall keep regular minutes of proceedings and report the same to the Board of Directors as required by the Board. All Committees act solely in an advisory capacity to the Board of Directors.

Section 1. Standing Committees

Standing committees of the chapter are:
a. Education and Program - The chair of Education and Program committee is responsible for arranging all educational offerings of the chapter, scheduling vendor sponsors, and ensuring that each program offers a minimum of 1 CEU.
b. Membership - The chair of the Membership committee is responsible for maintaining and increasing membership, maintain the membership roster, and communicate with the national office concerning membership issues.

Section 2. Special Committees

The Board of Director on an as needed basis may establish special Committees. Special Committees shall be established for a special purpose and shall be terminated after the Committee serves its stated purpose.

Section 3. Membership

The Chairperson of each Committee shall be appointed by the Chair. All other members may be appointed by the Committee Chairperson.

Section 4. Term of Office

The Chairperson and each member of a standing Committee shall serve until the next annual election of officers and until his/her successor is appointed, or until such Committee is terminated, or until he/she is removed, resigns, ceases to be a member of the organization or otherwise ceases to be a member of the Society, or otherwise ceases to qualify as a Chairperson or member, as the case may be, of the Committee.

Section 5. Vacancies

Vacancies on any Committee may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by appointment by the Chairperson or Chair subject to the Chair's approval.

Section 6. Quorum

Each Committee shall meet as often as is necessary to perform it's duties at such times and places as directed by it's Chairperson. A majority of the members of a Committee shall constitute a quorum and the act of a majority present at a meeting shall be the act of the Committee.

ARTICLE IX
General Provisions

Section 1. Fiscal Affairs

The fiscal year of the Chapter shall be the twelve-month period as may be established by resolution of the Board of Directors.

Section 2. Contracts

The Board of Directors may authorize any officer or officers to enter into any contract or execute and deliver any instrument in the name of and in behalf of the Chapter and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.

Section 3. Books and Records

a. Inspection Rights
Members of the Chapter shall have such inspection rights and rights to copy organization records, subject to the rights of the organization, as are permitted by law and the bylaws. Any member may:
1. Inspect and copy the records of members' names and addresses and voting rights during usual business hours on five days prior written demand, stating the purpose for which the inspection rights are requested and
2. Obtain from the Secretary of the Chapter, on written demand and on the tender or the secretary's usual chargers for such a list, a list or names and addresses of members who are entitled to vote, and their voting rights, as of the most recent record date for which that list has been compiled, or as of a date specified by the member after the date of demand. The demand shall state the purpose for which the list is requested. List of members shall not be sold by any individual requesting such lists or transmitted in any form to a third party.

b. Maintenance and Inspection of Articles and Bylaws
The Chapter shall keep at the Secretary's disposal the original or a copy of the Articles and Bylaws as amended to date, which shall be open to inspection by the members as reasonable times during usual business hours.

c. Maintenance and Inspection of Other Records
The accounting books, records and minutes of proceedings of the members and the Board of Directors, and any Committees of the Board of Directors shall be kept at such place or places designated by the Board of Directors, or in the absence of such designation, with the Secretary. The minutes shall be kept in written or typed form or any other form capable of being converted into written, typed, or printed form/ The minutes and accounting books and records shall be open to inspection on the written demand of any members, at any reasonable time during usual business hours, for a purpose reasonably related to the member's interests as a member.

d. Inspection by Directors
Every Director shall have the absolute right at any reasonable time to inspect all books, records, and documents of every kind. This inspection by a Director may be made in person or by an agent or attorney, and the right of inspection includes the right to copy and make extracts of documents.

Section 4. Checks, Drafts, Etc.

All checks, drafts, or orders for the payment of money, notes, or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Chapter shall be signed by such officer or officers as from time to time may be determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 5. Deposits

All funds of the Chapter shall be deposited to the credit of the Chapter in such banks or depositories determined by the Board of Directors.

Section 6, Gifts and Contributions

The Board of Directors may accept on behalf of the Chapter, any contribution, gift, bequest, or device for general purpose or for any special purpose of the Chapter.

Section 7. Annual Report

The Chapter shall provide the National Society and each member of the Chapter an annual report of the previous fiscal year within ninety days of the next annual meeting, which report shall contain the following information in reasonable detail:

1. The assets and liabilities during the fiscal year
2. The principal changes in assets and liabilities during the fiscal year
3. The revenue or receipts of the Chapter, both unrestricted and restricted to particular purposes for the fiscal year
4. The expenses or disbursements of the Chapter for both general and restricted purposes during the fiscal year

Section 8. Affiliation

The Chapter may join or affiliate with other national, state, or local organizations upon approval by the National Society and the registered members.

ARTICLE X
Amendments

In addition to authority of the Board of Directors to amend or repeal these bylaws, they may be amended by a majority of all members of this Chapter.