The Burmese Medical Association of North America

Burmese Medical Association of North America
	Our Mission is to provide humanitarian assistance, mainly through promoting and maintaining the health and wellbeing of "all" peoples of Burma (Myanmar), especially the underprivileged, irrespective of their religion, ethnicity, political affiliation; and to enhance the medical knowledge of doctors who are in practice or training inside the country, as well as, doctors in transition who are outside the country, while maintaining the unique cultures and traditions of "all" peoples of Burma (Myanmar).

Contents		Bylaws

BMA-NA Bylaws BMA-NA H&E FUND BYLAWS 2006-2008 Officers Board of Directors List of Mentors Previous Meetings		Preamble Article I. PURPOSES Article II. CATEGORY OF MEMBERSHIP Article III ORGANIZATION OF THE ASSOCIATION Part A. GENERAL Section 1. ASSOCIATION YEAR Section 2. DUES Part B. OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION Section 1. PRESIDENT Section 2. PRESIDENT-ELECT Section 3. SECRETARY-TREASURER Section 4. ELECTION OF OFFICERS Article IV. MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION Section 1. Section 2. RULES OF ORDER Section 3. VOTING Article V. COMMITTEE Part A. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE Section 1. COMPOSITION Section 2. DUTIES Section3. MEETINGS, REPORTS and RECOMMENDATIONS Part B. BOARD OF DIRECTORS Section 1. COMPOSITION Section 2. DUTIES Part C. NOMINATING COMMITTEE Section 1. COMPOSITION Section 2. DUTIES Section 3. MEETINGS, REPORTS and RECOMMENDATIONS Part D. CREATION OF ADDITIONAL STANDING COMMITTEES Part E. SPECIAL COMMITTEES Article VI. FINANCE Part A. COMPOSITION and SOURCES Section 1. GENERAL FUNDS Section 2. DESIGNATED FUND Part B. USES Section 1. GENERAL FUND Section 2. DESIGNATED FUND Part C. Section 1. ACCOUNTING Section 2. TRANSFER TO DESIGNATED ACCOUNT Section 3. FINANCIAL AUDIT Article VII. AMENDMENTS Article VIII. ADOPTION PREAMBLE The Burmese Medical Association of North America is a non-profit organization in the United States and Canada, consisting of professional medical doctors and allied health care personnel who have had part or all of their basic educational training in Burma (now called Myanmar). Membership is also extended to dentists and allied health care personnel who received their training outside Burma, that are relatives or families of someone of Burmese heritage. It is organized under the law of the United States of America, and incorporated in the State of Illinois. The members of Burmese Medical Association of North America have delegated to the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors and duties and responsibilities as outlined in these bylaws in order to execute its interests. For the purpose of these Bylaws, unless the context requires a different interpretation: "the Association" shall mean Burmese Medical Association of North America. "Burmese" shall mean people of, or from, the country of what was formerly known as Union of Burma, recently changed as Union of Myanmar. "Medical" shall mean the professional field of medicine. "Non-Physician Medical Profession" shall mean those who are in training, or work in the allied health care profession. "Burma" and "Myanmar" shall be used to imply the same country. "Physician" shall mean professional medical doctors who are in the process of, or who are currently in, training or those who are engaged in research, teaching, administration, organized medical practice as well as those who have retired from any of the above. [ top ] ARTICLE I. PURPOSES The purposes of the BMA, acting through its duly appointed Executive Committee and the Board of Directors and in accordance with these Bylaws shall be: To foster the individual and group interests of the BMA members through a recognized unified organization. To organize for a periodic reunion of its members. To improve a better social and professional understanding among its members. To coordinate and cooperate in the promotion of medical education among the members. To assist and guide physicians and other health care professions from Burma who just arrive to America in areas but not limited to preparation for regulatory professional examination and job placement. Arrange for professional help to the people of Burma in areas but not limited to sending a team of medical professionals to go to Burma, allocate professional instrumentation, text books, magazines and periodical journals. [ top ] ARTICLE II CATEGORY OF MEMBERSHIP 1. Active members are those physicians, dentists and allied health care personnel who pay full membership due. 2. Associate members are those physicians, dentists trainees or allied health care personnel who pays associate membership due. Only active members have voting privileges. [ top ] ARTICLE III ORGANIZATION OF THE ASSOCIATION PART A. GENERAL SECTION 1. ASSOCIATION YEAR For the purpose of these Bylaws, the association year shall mean twelve (12) months from the date of election of its officers. [ top ] SECTION 2. DUES Annual dues shall be paid to the secretary-treasurer in the amount fixed by the Association by a majority vote of those present at the time of the vote at its general meeting. [ top ] PART B. OFFICERS OF THE ASSOCIATION The officers of the Association shall be the President, the President-Elect, the Secretary-Treasurer, and four (4) officers. Each officer shall hold the office for a duration of two (2) year term. [ top ] SECTION 1. PRESIDENT The president shall: (a) call, preside, and be responsible for the agenda of all general meetings of the Association and the Executive Committee. (b) serve as Chairman of the Executive Committee. (c) represent the views, policies, needs and grievances of the members of the Association to the appropriate outsiders. (d) be the spokesperson for the Association in its external professional and public relations. [ top ] SECTION 2. PRESIDENT-ELECT The President-Elect shall: (a) assume all the duties and have the authority of the President in the event of the President's temporary inability to perform due to illness, absence or unavailability for any reason. (b) automatically succeed the President when the latter fails to serve for any reason. (c) be automatically nominated for the post of President at the next election of officers of the Association. [ top ] SECTION 3. SECRETARY-TREASURER The Secretary-Treasurer shall: (a) keep accurate and complete minutes of all general conventions and Executive Committee meetings and provide a report of yearly attendance at the annual meeting. (b) collect and be custodian of membership dues, and special funds, and make disbursement authorized by the Executive Committee, or the Board of Directors. (c) be responsible for the financial accounting of the Association. [ top ] SECTION 4. ELECTION OF OFFICERS PART A. NOMINATION Nomination for officers of the Association and member-at-large of the Executive Committee shall be presented by the Nominating Committee at its convention. At that convention, nominations may be received from the floor. Election shall be by a majority vote of those voting members eligible to vote and present at the convention at the time the vote is taken. PART B. REMOVAL from OFFICE The Board of Directors may by a two-thirds majority vote recommend removal of any officer or member of the Association for conduct detrimental to the interests of the association, or, if illness makes him/her incapable of fulfilling the duties of his/her office. Removal may be effected by a majority votes of the active members. The officer or member involved shall be afforded the opportunity to speak on his/her own behalf prior to any vote on his/her removal. [ top ] ARTICLE IV. MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION SECTION 1. The Association shall hold a convention at least once every two (2) years at which the officers, member-at-large, and the Board of Directors for the next term shall be elected. Notice of the convention time and place shall be sent to all members of the Association not later than six (6) months in advance. [ top ] SECTION 2. RULES OF ORDER Wherever it does not conflict with these Bylaws, the currently revised Roberts' Rules of Order shall govern all meetings. [ top ] SECTION 3. VOTING Any individual, who is an active member of the Association and attends the meeting, shall be entitled to only one (1) vote. [ top ] ARTICLE V. COMMITTEE PART A. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SECTION 1. COMPOSITION The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the association, and four (4) members-at-large from the active members of the Association. The four (4) members-at-large shall be elected each representing the region of the United States, hereby designated as EAST, CENTRAL, WEST, AND CANADA. [ top ] SECTION 2. DUTIES The duties of the Executive Committee shall be: (a) to act, without requirement of subsequent approval, on behalf of the members of the Association in all matters between general convention-meetings of the Association, subject only to any limitation imposed by these Bylaws. (b) to execute all issues and interests of the members of the Association as outlined in the Purposes of the Association. (c) to implement any mandate as directed by members of the Association during its general convention. (d) to ensure that the members are kept abreast of the information of pertinent interest to the members through frequent bulletins or periodical publications. (e) to implement special and specific programs towards assisting Burma at the advice and as recommended by the Board of Directors, from time to time. [ top ] SECTION 3. MEETINGS, REPORTS and RECOMMENDATIONS The Executive Committee shall meet to transact pending business as frequently as the need arises but not less than once a year. The Secretary-Treasurer will maintain minutes of all meetings. Highlights of the meeting shall be transmitted to members through written bulletin or periodical. [ top ] PART B. BOARD OF DIRECTORS [ top ] SECTION 1. COMPOSITION The Board of Directors shall consist of four (4) members duly elected by the members at each regular convention. The member shall be elected to reflect a representation from the various regions of the United States and Canada. Additionally, all Past Presidents shall be automatically elected as members of the Board. A Chairman shall be elected amongst one of the elected members. The immediate Past President shall be the first nominee as Chairman of the Board. [ top ] SECTION 2. DUTIES The duties of the Board of Directors shall be: (a) to act as a Trustee of the Association. (b) to oversee the function of the Executive Committee and initiate appropriate action where necessary as outlined in Article III, Section 4-B. (c) shall have the sole authority to appropriate financial designated accounts of the Association as well as funds designated for Burma. The Board's final decision shall be transmitted in writing to the Executive Committee for implementations. [ top ] PART C. NOMINATING COMMITTEE [ top ] SECTION 1. COMPOSITION The Nominating Committee shall consist of the immediate Past President and two-thirds of its members from active members of active medical associations and one-third of its members from active members who do not have existing medical organizations. [ top ] SECTION 2. DUTIES The Committee shall present at the Association convention one or more nominees for the office of the President, President-Elect, Secretary-Treasurer and four (4) officers-at-large on the Executive Committee. The Committee shall also nominate four (4) members for Director of the Board. The nomination from the floor of the convention, which are duly seconded, shall be accepted as voted on as if the nominee had been nominated by the Nominating Committee. [ top ] SECTION 3. MEETINGS, REPORTS and RECOMMENDATIONS The Nominating Committee shall meet as often as necessary to accomplish its purpose. PART D. CREATION OF ADDITIONAL STANDING COMMITTEES The Executive Committee may, by resolution and upon approval of the Board of Directors, without amendment of these Bylaws, establish other standing Sub-committees to perform one or more Association functions. In the same manner, the Executive Committee may, by resolution and upon approval of the Board of Directors, dissolve or rearrange committee structure, duties or composition as needed, to better perform the Association functions. [ top ] PART E. SPECIAL COMMITTEES Special committees may be created and their chairman and members shall be appointed by the President of the Association as required. Such committees shall limit their activities to the purposes for which they were appointed, and shall report to the Executive Committee. [ top ] ARTICLE VI. FINANCE PART A. COMPOSITION and SOURCES SECTION 1. GENERAL FUNDS This will be derived from the annual membership fees, the amount of which shall be fixed by the members of the Association during its convention. [ top ] SECTION 2. DESIGNATED FUND This will derived from individual or group donations, gifts, endowment, and any other source other than the membership fees. [ top ] PART B. USES SECTION 1. GENERAL FUND The general fund may be used for the expenses incurred for the functional operation of the Association and other worthwhile issues and items inside the United States of America and Canada, as determined by the Executive Committee. [ top ] SECTION 2. DESIGNATED FUND The designated fund shall be used exclusively for issues as specified by a donor or endowment, as well as in assisting medical and professional aid to Burma, as determined and upon approval of the Board of Directors. [ top ] PART C SECTION 1. ACCOUNTING There shall be separate accounting required for general and designated funds. In the same manner, banking for the two (2) accounts shall be separate and shall not be co-mingled. [ top ] SECTION 2. TRANSFER TO DESIGNATED ACCOUNT At the annual meeting of the Association, the members by a vote may direct the transfer of the general fund to the designated fund. Funds from the designated fund, however, shall not be transferred to general account. [ top ] SECTION 3. FINANCIAL AUDIT Financial audit of the Association shall be carried out by a certified public accountant from time to time but not less than once every year, or as directed by the Board of Directors. The findings of such an audit shall be made available to all members of the Association. [ top ] ARTICLE VII. AMENDMENTS All proposed amendments of these Bylaws initiated by the members of the Association shall be referred to the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall report on them either favorable or unfavorable at the next annual convention of th Association. Voting on such amendments shall conducted by mail vote submitted to the members during the first two (2) weeks following the meeting. Ballots with signature of the voter must be returned to the Secretary-Treasurer within two (2) weeks from the mailing date in order to be valid. Passage shall require a seventy-five percent (75%) affirmative vote of those voting provided fifty percent (50%) of the active members vote. Amendments or revisions thus passed shall be effective when approved by the Board of Directors. The Executive Committee shall have the power to adopt such amendments to the Bylaws as are, in the Committee's judgment, technical or legal modifications or clarification, reorganization or numbering, or errors of grammar expression. Such amendments shall become effective immediately and shall become permanent if not disapproved by the Board of Directors of Members of the Association during the next annual convention. [ top ] ARTICLE VIII. ADOPTION These Bylaws shall be made effective upon approval by the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors, contingent upon ratification by the members at the next convention to be adopted as a permanent Bylaws. Parkash Singh Talwar, M.D. President Tin Hla, M.D. Secretary [ top ]

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