CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS

ARTICLE I. NAME

The name of this organization shall be the Colorado Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.

ARTICLE II. OBJECT

The object of the Colorado Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons is to promote and advance the science of oral and maxillofacial surgery; to promote unity and harmony among the members and to act as the official organ representing oral and maxillofacial surgery to the public, appropriate private and governmental agencies and health care organizations.

ARTICLE III. ORGANIZATION

The Society shall be a non-profit organization chartered under the laws of the State of Colorado. If at any time the Society is dissolved, its funds and property shall be distributed to the Education Fund of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons or a like fund.

ARTICLE IV. MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the Society shall consist of licensed members of the dental and /or medical profession who hold a current license and who have completed an accredited oral & maxillofacial surgery training program. Additional qualifications are defined under Article VIII, Qualifications of Membership.

ARTICLE V. GOVERNMENT

Elective officers shall be President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Delegate(s) and Alternate Delegate(s).

ARTICLE VI. AMENDMENTS

The Constitution and By-Laws of the Society may be amended by a three-fourths (3/4) affirmative vote of the Active and practicing Life members present at a duly constituted regular or special meeting. Copies of all proposed amendments must be mailed to all Active and practicing Life members fifteen business days prior to the date of the regular or special meeting.

ARTICLEV II. CLASSIFICATION OF MEMBERSHIP

The five categories of membership status shall be: 1) Applicants or Resident Applicants; 2) Provisional Members; 3) Active Members; 4) Life Members; 5) Retired.

ARTICLE VIII. QUALIFICATIONS OF MEMBERSHIP

Applicants: An applicant must attend at least one regular or special meeting of the Society, have satisfactorily submitted the appropriate application form and must have completed a personal interview with a member of the membership committee or their designee prior to his/her membership being voted upon. Under no circumstances shall the interview be conducted by an actual or pending employer, partner or practice associate. The applicant must be present at the time of membership consideration/voting unless previous notification of their absence has been provided to the Membership Committee. Any applicant who has fulfilled the above requirements must be presented to the membership for consideration within one year or re-application is required. A resident or fellow in their final or senior year of training in an accredited oral and maxillofacial surgery training program may begin the application process for membership in this society. Final action on such application shall not occur until satisfactory completion of said residency or fellowship is documented.

Provisional: Provisional membership shall be confined to those members who are in their first two years of membership and have not yet participated in the on- site Office Anesthesia Evaluation Program of this Society. The Provisional Member shall be solely responsible for insuring his or her participation in the Office Anesthesia Evaluation Program. Provisional Members who do not participate in the Office Anesthesia Program within two years of the date of initial membership acceptance shall be completely dropped from the Society and be required to resubmit the appropriate application and fees for membership.

Active: Active membership shall be restricted to those who are”Members”or “Fellows” of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons or those who meet the same qualifications of “Members” or “Fellows” and have participated in the on-site Office Anesthesia Evaluation Program of this Society in the prescribed manner. Reference: Bylaws, SECTION X. Definitions andProcedures

Life: An Active member may apply for this classification upon attaining the age of sixty-five years or meeting the requirements of Life membership in the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. While remaining in active practice, a Life member must adhere to the same requirements as Active members with the exception of dues payment however when participating he or she shall be required to pay appropriate fees for meetings or seminars when the same is required of Active members or any meeting fees to the extent that such fees or expenses are identified and included as part of the dues structure.

Retired:  Retired   membership   shall   be   restricted   to   those   who   are or were “Members” or “Fellows” of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons or those who have met the same qualifications of “Members” or “Fellows” and have completely retired from oral and maxillofacial surgery. Retired members shall pay no dues or assessments but he or she shall be required to pay similar registration and participation fees for meetings or seminars if required of active Life members. Retired members shall not be required to hold a current active license.

Relocation: AAOMS fellows or members relocating their primary site of practice to Colorado shall apply for membership in the Colorado Society in the same manner and shall be subject to the same requirements as any other applicant regardless of previous status in a different AAOMScomponent.

ARTICLE IX. RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES

  1. Only Active and practicing Life members may have full voting privileges or hold office. Non-practicing Life members or Retired members may vote on consensus issues and serve on committees in an ex-officio or advisory capacity. Non- members of the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons may not vote on any matters pertaining directly to said association.
  2. Practicing Life members may be required to pay assessments. Life members and Retired members shall pay no dues or expenses except those incurred by participation in meetings and seminars.
  3. All members as of May 1970 shall be considered charter members in their respective classifications.
  4. Delegates and Alternate Delegates must meet the voting requirements of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons.
  5. Application forms for membership in the Society shall be available upon request from the Secretary-Treasurer. All applications for membership may be presented at any regular or special meeting of the Society. A three-fourths (3/4) affirmative vote by the Active and practicing Life members present shall be necessary to accept the applicant into membership. The vote shall be by ballot.
  6. Membership Appeals Process
  1. Should an application for membership be denied, the applicant is entitled to the right of appeal within ninety days to the Colorado Society. The Society must notify the applicant of the right to appeal. (candidate/applicant) If the candidate appeals, the Colorado Society shall convene an Appeals Committee or an appropriate body within the Society comprised of three members other than members of the Committee on Membership to evaluate the applicant within six months of receipt of the appeal. A detailed and documented evaluation of allegations made against the candidate shall be conducted by the Colorado Society’s peer review committee to determine the validity of said allegations. All members of the Colorado Society will be notified to submit written comment regarding the candidate to the peer review committee during the six-month evaluation period. After evaluation, should the allegations presented prove to be unsubstantiated, membership in the Colorado Society shall be granted. Should the appeals committee deny the appeal, a report (Colorado Society Notice of Appeal Form) shall be transmitted to the AAOMS Committee on Membership. The Colorado Society must notify the candidate at that time of his/her right to appeal to the AAOMS (Candidate Notice of AppealForm).
  2. The applicant whose appeal has been denied by the Society has the right to appeal this decision to an AAOMS national review committee. The candidate has ninety days to file a written appeal to the AAOMS Committee on Membership. Within six months, the AAOMS Committee on Membership shall establish a four member review committee composed of the Chairman of the AAOMS Committee on Membership as moderator, and three voting members: one member from the AAOMS Committee on Membership, one member from the Colorado Society’s Committee on Membership and a neutral arbitrator. The candidate may have an advisor present to assist and speak on his/her behalf. The proceedings shall be non-adversarial and not subject to cross-examination. A verbatim transcript shall be made of the national review committee meeting, the cost to be borne by the AAOMS. Copies of the transcript will be provided to the candidate upon request at his/her expense. All costs associated with the Society’s and the candidate’s representation during the appeals process will be borne by the Society and the candidate respectively.
  3. The AAOMS/State Review Committee will interview and evaluate the applicant and make the determination of the applicant’s eligibility. The decision of this committee will be binding on AAOMS and the Society.

ARTICLE X. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP

  1. A member may effect resignation from the Society at any time by giving written notice thereof to the Secretary.
  2. A member shall be automatically disqualified by failure to comply with Section 7 (Limitation of Practice) of the Code of Professional Conduct of the By-Laws of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons or by loss of his or her dental or medical license to practice within the State of Colorado or Federal Services.
  3. Delinquent members – a member who fails to pay his or her dues within three months from the date due following appropriate notification shall be subject to expulsion due to non-payment of dues. Upon expulsion, membership ceases and he or she shall have no claims against the Society. Members expelled for nonpayment of dues may reapply for membership, and, if accepted shall pay the delinquent dues plus the then annual dues and application fee.
  4. A member may be expelled from the Society on the basis of written charges showing action by the member to be detrimental to the interest and honor of the Society. Such charges shall have been investigated by the Committee on Professional Conduct and reviewed by the Executive Committee. Expulsion shall be solely by a three-fourths (3/4) affirmative vote of those Active and practicing Life members present at any regular or special meeting of the Society. Any member so expelled within thirty days of said expulsion shall have the right to file an appeal with the Executive Committee via registered mail. The Executive Committee in turn shall have thirty days from receipt of said appeal to respond to the appellant by registered mail stating its conclusions or method of further action. The right of a member to a fair hearing and due process shall at all times be honored. The decision of the Executive Committee during the appeal process shall be final and binding upon the Society as a whole.
  5. Any Associate, Active or Life member shall lose their respective classification of membership upon failure to continually meet the stated qualifications of said classification.

ARTICLE XI. DUES AND ASSESSMENTS

Annual dues and any assessments shall be recommended by the Executive Committee or arise from the voting membership upon motion duly made and seconded however enactment shall require a three-fourths (3/4) vote of Active and practicing Life members at a regular or special meeting of the Society.

BY-LAWS

SECTION I. Elected Officers

The following officers shall be elected from the current Active and practicing Life members of the Society: President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Delegate(s), Alternate-Delegate(s), and Member-at-Large.

SECTIONII. Nominations

The Nominating Committee shall consist of the two immediate past-presidents of the Society plus one Active member who is not an officer and has been a member of the Society for five years or less. This person shall be appointed by the Executive Committee. Should either of the two past-presidents be unable to serve, he or she shall be succeeded by the next prior past-president until the position is filled. This committee shall submit the slate of nominations at the first regular or special meeting after 1 January of each year for the appropriate officers to be elected at that time.   Nominations may be made and accepted from the floor at this meeting providing the nominees are appropriately qualified. The Member-at-Large shall be nominated from the floor at the first regular or special meeting after 1 January each year. If there are no nominations, the position shall remain vacant. The nominee shall be a member of the Society for at least two years and in good standing; previous officers may be elected but must have been out of office for at least four years.

SECTION III. Elections

Election of officers shall occur at the first regular or special meeting of the Society held after 1 January of each year although installation of said officers shall not occur until the next designated annual meeting. The regular election of the President, Vice-President and Secretary-Treasurer shall occur in odd numbered years while the Delegate(s) and Alternate-Delegate(s) shall be elected in even numbered years.

SECTION IV. Tenure

The terms of office for President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Delegate(s) and Alternate-Delegate(s) shall be for two successive annual meetings. The term of a Member-at-Large shall be for one year from election. No elected officer except the Delegate(s) and Alternate Delegate(s) may succeed him or herself for two consecutive terms.

SECTION V. Vacancies

In the event of vacancy in any elective office for any reason with the exception of President, the President with the affirmation of the Executive Committee shall appoint a successor to the vacant office for the unexpired term remaining. Such appointment shall not preclude election to a successive full term of office.

SECTION VI. Duties of Elected Officers

  1. President: The President shall call, preside at and conduct all regular and special meetings of the Society. He or she shall, with the affirmation of the Executive Committee, appoint the chairperson(s) of all standing committees and such other committees as the Society shall authorize from time to time. He or she shall perform such other duties as usually pertain to the office of president. The President shall serve as an ex-officio member of the Committee on Professional Conduct when called upon to do so. In the case of death, resignation or removal from office, the President shall be succeeded in order by the Vice-President and Secretary-Treasurer to complete the unexpired term however this shall not prevent his or her successor from an additional consecutive full term of this office.
  2. Vice-President: The Vice-President shall be responsible for scheduling and coordinating the arrangements for all regular and special meetings of the Society. He or she shall bring to the Society for consideration and approval recommendations as to appropriate locations, times and programs of all proposed regular meetings. The Vice-President shall preside at and conduct all regular and special meetings of the Society in the absence of the President. The Vice-President may succeed to the office of President with re-election at the second annual meeting following his or her installation as Vice-President or if a vacancy in the office of President should occur. The Vice-President shall act as the Vice-Chairman of the Committee on Anesthesia.
  3. Secretary-Treasurer: The Secretary-Treasurer shall maintain appropriate past and current records and documents of the Society, record and distribute minutes of all regular and special meetings. He or she shall conduct official correspondence on behalf of the Society or its membership as indicated. He or she shall maintain a current membership roster of the Society at all times. The Secretary-Treasurer shall conduct the financial and business affairs of the Society in a timely and prudent fashion including but not limited to billing for and receiving monies due, maintaining bank accounts, satisfying debts incurred and providing accountability for these activities. All disbursements or deposits on behalf of the Society may be on his or her signature only however access to all Society assets by the President and Vice-President shall be assured. He or she shall cause to be presented an oral and written report accurately reflecting the financial activities and status of the Society at each regular meeting. He or she with the support of the Executive Committee shall prepare and distribute announcements, agendas, minutes, proposed amendments and such material as required by the Society to conduct its affairs. The Secretary-Treasurer may succeed to the office of Vice-President with re-election at the second annual meeting following his or her installation as Secretary-Treasurer or if a vacancy in the office of Vice-President should occur. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be the vice-chairman of the Committee on Membership.
  4. Delegate(s): The Delegate(s) shall endeavor to attend all regular and special meetings of this Society. He or she shall attend all regular and special business sessions of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. The Delegate(s) or his/her designate(s) shall represent and participate on behalf of this Society in the affairs of this region, A.A.O.M.S. District and the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. He or she shall endeavor to inform the Executive Committee and the membership as to any pertinent information or activity relative to this Society and its welfare. If for any reason this office is vacated before the elected term is expired, the Alternate Delegate(s) shall automatically succeed to this office and complete the unexpired term.
  5. Alternate-Delegate(s): The Alternate-Delegate(s) shall endeavor to attend all regular and special meetings of this Society. He or she shall attend all regular and special business sessions of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. The Alternate-Delegate(s) shall succeed to the office of Delegate(s) without election unless he or she declines such succession. If for any reason this office is vacated before the elected term is expired, the President shall fill this office by appointment for the unexpired term. An Alternate-Delegate shall be vice-chairman of the Committee on Governmental Affairs.
  6. Member-at-Large: The Member-at-Large shall endeavor to attend all regular and special meetings of this Society. He or she shall be available to represent and participate on behalf of this Society in the affairs of this region. The Member-at- Large shall act as liaison between the general membership and the Executive Committee. He or she shall be a member of the Budget and Finance Committee.

SECTION VII. Executive Committee

  1. Composition and Tenure: The Executive Committee shall be composed of the President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Delegate(s), immediate past-President and one Member-at-Large of the Society. Their terms of office shall correspond to the terms of their respective elected offices or for the Member-at-Large, one year from election. The Executive Committee shall be considered duly installed upon installation to their respective elective offices.
  2. Powers: The Executive Committee shall be the day to day managing body of this Society, vested and charged with the power to conduct all business of this Society subject to the laws of the State of Colorado, the Articles of Incorporation, this Constitution and By-Laws and due diligence and prudence. They shall have the power to establish Rules and Regulations consistent with this Constitution and By-Laws to govern this Society’s procedure and conduct.
  3. Duties: The Executive Committee shall conduct all business of the Society during the interval between regular and special meetings. The Executive Committee shall appoint Delegates and/or Alternate-Delegates to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons regular or special meetings when such elected officers cannot attend. The Executive Committee shall act as the official representatives of this Society when such need arises. They shall perform such duties and functions as alluded to elsewhere in this document.
  4. Meetings: The Executive Committee shall meet at least twice per calendar year separate and apart from regular or special meetings of the Society as a whole. A majority of the committee shall be present to constitute a quorum. Business shall be conducted by a majority vote of the quorum present. Special meetings may be called at any time by the President or a majority of the members of the committee. Due notice of any meeting of the Executive Committee shall be given to each member of the committee and any interested or directly involved party at least ten business days prior to the date of any called meeting.
  5. Officers: The President and Secretary-Treasurer of the Society shall act as the Chairman and Secretary of the Executive Committee respectively. If either or both are absent or are deemed by the majority to have conflict of interest the respective office or offices shall be elected by majority vote from the quorum present for such meeting.

SECTION VIII. Committees

The standing committees of the Society shall correspond as closely as practical to the same or like committees of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons. Special committees from time to time may be appointed by the President, the Executive Committee by majority vote or at the direction of a majority of the voting membership at a duly constituted meeting as needs arise.

The particular standing committees of this Society shall be:

  1. Committee on Anesthesia – Vice President vice-chairman
  2. Committee on Budget and Finance
  3. Committee on Governmental Affairs – an Alternate Delegate vice-chairman
  4. Committee on Health Care Programs – Immediate Past President vice-chairman
  5. Committee on Membership – Secretary-Treasurer vice-chairman
  6. Nominating Committee
  7. Committee on Professional Conduct – President ex-officio
  8. Committee on Public Information
  9. By-Laws Committee

SECTION IX. Organization and Operation

  1. Business year: The fiscal year of this Society shall correspond to the calendar year. Annual dues shall be payable after 1 January of each year and considered due at the first regular or special meeting after 1 January. Dues shall be considered delinquent if not paid within three months of proper notification.
  2. Annual Meeting: The annual meeting for the purposes of installing elected officers, determining terms of elected officers and conducting such other business as may be indicated shall be designated by the Executive Committee and appropriately announced by the Secretary-Treasurer to the membership. Generally, this meeting will be held mid-year prior to the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons annual meeting. Variation in the exact yearly time of this meeting thereby altering the exact terms of some elected officers is recognized however this shall not occur to the detriment or the abuse of the Society or its members.
  3. Notification:    All classifications of membership including applicants received shall be notified of any regular or special meeting of the Society by the Secretary-Treasurer at least fifteen business days prior to said meeting. No general membership meeting of the Society may be convened on shorter notice for the purpose of conducting official business regardless of quorum present.
  4. Quorum: A quorum to conduct the business of this Society at a regular or special meeting shall be twenty-five percent of the total Active and/or practicing Life members as determined by the Committee on Membership.
  5. Parliamentary Authority: The Sturgis Standard Code of Parliamentary Procedure shall be the authority for all activities of the Society not otherwise governed by the Constitution, By-Laws, customs or traditions of the Society. The President or other presiding officer of any annual, regular or special meeting of the Society or Executive Committee may designate a parliamentarian to rule on matters of procedure.
  6. The members of the Colorado Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons shall be governed in ethical matters by the Code of Professional Conduct of the American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons and Official Advisory Opinions of AAOMS unless such are in direct conflict with the current Constitution or By-Laws of this Society.

SECTION X. Definitions and Procedures

  1. DENTISTRY is defined as the evaluation, diagnosis, prevention and/or treatment (non-surgical, surgical or related procedures) of diseases, disorders and/or conditions of the oral cavity, maxillofacial area and/or the adjacent and associated structures and their impact on the human body, provided by a dentist, within the scope of his/her education, training and experience, in accordance with the ethics of the profession and applicable law. (Adopted by the ADA House of Delegates in1997)
  2. ORAL AND MAXILLOFACIAL SURGERY is the specialty of dentistry which includes the diagnosis, surgical and adjunctive treatment of diseases, injuries and defects involving both the functional and esthetic aspects of the hard and soft tissues of the oral and maxillofacial region. (Adopted by the ADA House of Delegates in 1953 with the last amendment adopted in October 1990)
  3. Office Anesthesia Evaluation Program is defined as an initial on-site evaluation to obtain membership in this society and subsequent on-site re-evaluation at least every five (5) years or as required by applicable Colorado and/or federal regulations. The evaluation protocol shall be based upon appropriate AAOMS guidelines and materials.
  4. Relocating to Colorado: any and all oral & maxillofacial surgeons relocating to Colorado regardless of membership status in AAOMS or any associated component desiring membership in this society shall fulfill all application and membership requirements currently required of all other applicants.

Adopted as amended January 1990. Amended 19 July 1992, Steamboat Springs

Amended 16 January 1993, Denver

Amended 14 January 1995, Denver

Amended 16 January 1999, Denver

Amended 31 July 2000, Aspen

Amended 17 January 2004, Denver Amended May 2005 Special E-Meeting Reviewed/Current October 2009