Texas Family Physician Volume 52 No.2

The TAFP Bylaws last revision was December 2000. The proposed amendments to the Bylaws are submitted in accordance with the TAFP Bylaws, Chapter XIV, Amendment of Bylaws. An affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members present and voting at the annual business meeting shall constitute adoption. If you would like to receive a complete copy of the TAFP Bylaws contact the TAFP office @512-329-8666.

1. Bylaws Changes in Regard to Adding the Vision and Mission Statement

In light of the recent approval of the vision and mission statement, the following changes are recommended. The Committee requested that between Chapter II and III that the Bylaws insert two new Chapters to accommodate the Vision and Mission Statements:

CHAPTER III: Vision Statement

“The Texas Academy of Family Physicians is dedicated to the well-being of the people of Texas through family physicians who commit to the delivery of quality, compassionate healthcare.”

CHAPTER IV: Mission Statement

“The Mission of the Texas Academy of Family Physicians is to equip family physicians to improve the health of patients and their families, and to advance and represent the Specialty of Family Practice.”
(Note: this change will renumber each subsequent chapter in the Bylaws)

Recommendation of the Bylaws Committee: FOR

Action of the Board of Directors: The Board of Directors recommended adoption of this proposed Amendment to the TAFP at the July 29, 2000 meeting.

2. Change the wording of Objectives to Goals

The Bylaws Committee reviewed the purposes and objectives that were sent to the committee by the Executive Committee and decided for consistency purposes that the word objective be changed to goals. Two additional goals and purposes were also added.

CHAPTER V: GOALS AND PURPOSES

To support the vision and mission statement the goals of this organization include:

To establish, maintain and promote an organization of family physicians.
To promote and maintain the highest professional standards of family medicine.
To promote public awareness of family medicine.
To promote the science and art of medicine and surgery.
To preserve the right of the patient to choose a physician.
To preserve the right of the family physician to engage in medical and surgical procedures for which he/she is qualified by training, expertise, and/or demonstrated ability.
To provide and assist in providing CME courses for family physicians and general practitioners, and to encourage participation in such training.
To ensure availability of high quality family practice residency programs to provide competent family physicians for every Texas citizen.
To encourage men and women to choose family practice and assist them in achieving this goal.
To assure the responsibility of public advocacy in health related matters.
To promote and improve the public health.
To serve as a public advocate for our members.

Recommendation of the Bylaws Committee: FOR

Action of the Board of Directors: The Board of Directors recommended adoption of this proposed Amendment to the TAFP at the July 29, 2000 meeting.

3. Quorum for Commission and Committee Meetings

The Bylaws committee discussed the issue of what constitutes a quorum on a Commission and Committee. It is has been stated that a quorum is when 50% of the members of that commission/committee are present, then a quorum exists. The committee discussed that there have been times on several committees, especially the Bylaws when only three members can come to the meeting. The committee recommended the addition of a new line of text under CHAPTER X, STANDING COMMITTEES, General Definition to state:

CHAPTER X, STANDING COMMITTEES

SECTION 1 General Definition–The President will appoint, subject to the approval of the Board, a Bylaws Committee, a Nominating Committee, and a Finance Committee. The Board of Directors shall determine the composition of these bodies and their function shall be established in other sections of these bylaws, and shall be determined by the Board of Directors and published in the “Manual of In-House Statements.” In addition, the Board of Directors may appoint such additional committees, or similar organizational entities known as commissions/committees to assist the Board of Directors as it deems appropriate. The composition and functions of such additional committees, or organizational entities shall be as determined by the Board of Directors and published.

Three active members of the committee/commission will constitute a quorum for any Committees/Commission.

The President subject to Board approval shall appoint the chairperson of the committee. No member may serve as chairperson of any specific committee for more than three (3) years and members of committees are not considered officers. Resident or student members may be appointed to committee membership for a one (1) year term but not to exceed three (3) appointments to the same committee.

Recommendation of the Bylaws Committee: FOR

Action of the Board of Directors: The Board of Directors recommended adoption of this proposed Amendment to the TAFP at the July 29, 2000 meeting.

4. Student Voting Privileges on Board of Directors

There exists a conflict between the parts of the Bylaws dealing with students. Based on the actions of the Interim Session 1999 the following changes are needed:

CLASSES OF MEMBERSHIP AND ELECTION

SECTION 7: Student Members - Any student enrolled in a Texas school of medicine or osteopathy, approved by an appropriate United States accrediting institution as defined by the AAFP’s Commission on Education, may be elected to Student membership in the same manner as an active member. Election to Student membership shall terminate upon graduation from medical school. Student members may not hold office in the Academy, but shall have the privilege of the floor of the Assembly. However, one student may be elected to the Board of Directors.

Recommendation of the Bylaws Committee: FOR

Action of the Board of Directors: The Board of Directors recommended adoption of this proposed Amendment to the TAFP at the July 29, 2000 meeting.

5. Additional Responsibility of the Nominating Committee

The Board of Directors approved at Interim Session the additional responsibilities of the Nominating Committee to include the evaluation of performance of officers and delegates. This change requires a bylaws change. The Bylaws recommends the following addition to the responsibilities of the Nominating Committee.

Nominating Committee -

a) This committee shall consist of nine (9) members; each with terms of three years.

b) One third (1/3) of the members shall be appointed annually.

c) Two (2) members will be appointed by the President-Elect and the other elected by the Board of Directors.

d) The chairperson shall be elected by the committee, from the committee’s membership.

e) The purpose of this committee shall be to:

1) Represent nominations for the office of President-Elect, Vice President, Treasurer, one (1) Delegate and one (1) Alternate Delegate to the Congress of the AAFP.

2) Review the nominations of Directors and Alternate Directors from component chapters.

3) Make recommendations to the President regarding appointments to the AAFP, Texas and American Medical Associations, other state committees and commissions, and any other appointments which may be requested.

4) Evaluate the job performance and attendance of elected TAFP officers and delegates.

Recommendation of the Bylaws Committee: FOR

Action of the Board of Directors: The Board of Directors recommended adoption of this proposed Amendment to the TAFP at the July 29, 2000 meeting.

6. Two Residents Members to the TAFP Board of Directors

In a Board of Directors meeting in 1998, the Board elected to have two Resident Directors and two Resident Alternate Directors and 1 Student Director and 1 Student Alternate Director. This action has not been carried out and the Bylaws committee recommends that following change in the Bylaws.

CHAPTER IX, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
SUB-CHAPTER I - Policy and Procedure
SECTION 1- The control and administration of the Academy shall be vested in a Board of Directors, hereinafter called the Board. The Board shall be composed of the Academy President, Vice President, President-Elect, Treasurer, Parliamentarian, Immediate Past President, Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the AAFP, Coordinator of Preceptorship Programs, and a representative/s from each component chapter, depending on the component chapter size.

The component representative/s shall be the Director or in his/her absence the Alternate Director or in their absence a credentialed member from the component chapter.

The Nominating Committee may nominate one (1) Student Director and one (1) Student Alternate Director as well as two (2) Resident Directors and two (2) Resident Alternate Directors to serve on the Board. (These nominations will be recommended by the Section on Resident Physicians and Section on Medical Students.) They shall be nominated to serve a one (1) year term and may be re-nominated to serve additional terms; however, their term shall terminate upon graduation from medical school or completion of residency or extended training. They shall be nominated from among the student and resident membership of the Academy, respectively. A duly elected student or resident director may vote and have the privilege of the floor similar to the Directors from component chapters, but may not be named chair of a committee or hold office in the Academy.

Recommendation of the Bylaws Committee: FOR

Action of the Board of Directors: The Board of Directors recommended adoption of this proposed Amendment to the TAFP at the July 29, 2000 meeting.