Bylaws
CALIFORNIA ASSOCIATION OF ADMISSIONS MANAGEMENT(CAHAM)
ARTICLE I - NAME
A. Name:
The name of this organization shall be the California Association of Healthcare Admission Management (CAHAM).
B. Primary Purpose:
The primary purpose of CAHAM is to operate a Professional Association within the meaning of Section 23701e of the California Revenue and Taxation Code.
This organization does not contemplate pecuniary gain or profit to the members thereof and is organized for nonprofit purposes.
Develop, encourage and implement programs for the purpose of furthering the education and increasing the knowledge of members and others in healthcare admissions management.
Notwithstanding any of the above statements of purposes and powers, this association shall not, except to an insubstantial degree, engage in any activities or exercise any powers that are not in furtherance of the specific purpose of the association.
ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP
A. Definition:
There shall be three categories of membership in the organization: Active Membership, Business Partnership and Honorary Membership.
Active Membership: Persons having responsibility for managing, training or consulting within the healthcare access continuum and other healthcare professionals interested in patient access services. These members are entitled to one (1) vote, serve as a members of a committee, and when also certified, hold office or service as a Chair of a committee in accordance with these Bylaws.
Honorary Membership: Limited to a retired person who has demonstrated dedicated service to the Association or the patient access services area. Upon approval by the Board of Directors, these members shall be exempt from dues and shall not be entitled to vote or hold office, nor serve as a committee Chair, but may serve as a committee member.
Business Partner Membership: Individuals working with business who service the healthcare industry with particular relevance to patient access services. These members are not allowed to vote or hold office, but may serve as committee members.
B. Conditions of Membership:
1. Membership shall not be transferable or assignable from individual to individual.
2. The Board of Directors may confer the status of life member, honorary member, privileged member, et al , upon individual may be recognized for their outstanding contributions and meritorious services to the organization.
C. Dues/Fees:
1. Annual dues shall be for a calendar year in an amount to be established by the Board of Directors.
ARTICLE III - VOTING
A. Eligibility:
Each eligible member shall be entitled to one vote on each issue submitted for a vote. Proxy voting shall not be permitted.
B. Mail Votes:
1. Voting shall be cast in person or by mail on an appropriate ballot.
2. A system of mailing the ballots and receiving of the mail votes shall be designated to maintain the security and secrecy of the ballots and votes.
3. Ballots must be mailed to the members at least (30) days prior to the deadline. The ballots must be returned by the members postmarked at least (10) days prior to the deadline at which time such votes are counted.
4. All ballots shall be kept for 30 days after the results are announced in the event that recounts are required.
C. Majority:
All matters, except as otherwise specified in these by-laws, shall require a simple majority of those voting.
D. Quorum:
1. A simple majority of the members voting by mail on an appropriate ballot or in person during the meeting shall constitute a quorum.
2. There shall be no quorum requirements to convene an annual or special meeting of the membership.
3. The President or a majority of the Board of Directors shall be required to convene a meeting of the Board. A majority of those present at such a Board of Directors meeting shall be required for the passage of any business.
ARTICLE IV - MEETINGS
A. Meetings:
The Annual Meeting of the Association shall be held each year at a site determined by the Board of Directors. There is no quorum for meetings of the Association. Resolutions to be submitted to the Active Membership for vote will require a majority vote of all Active Members in attendance and voting.
B. Special Meetings:
Special meetings of the Association may be called at any time by the President, or in his/her absence by the Vice President or Secretary, on the written request of a majority of members of the Association. Ten (10) days notice of any special meeting must be given to the members of the Association, and the notice must state the subject of the meeting.
ARTICLE V - BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A.Composition of the Board of Directors:
1. The officers of the Association shall be President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.
2. Ex officio members of the Board of Directors shall constitute the Executive Directors and the Advisory Board Chairperson.
3. Increases in the number of Directors shall be by a majority vote of all members of the Board of Directors.
4. The offices of the association shall be proposed by a nomination committee or by submission of an application to run by an Active Member. The election of officers shall take place at the associations meeting with a majority of membership voting.
ARTICLE VI - POWERS DUTIES OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
A. Powers Duties:
The Board of Directors shall have supervisor, control and direction of the affairs of the association, shall determine its policies or changes therein within the limits of the bylaws, shall actively prosecute its purposes and shall have discretion in the disbursement of its funds. It may adopt such rules and regulations for the conduct of its business as shall be deemed advisable and may, in the execution of the powers granted, appoint such agents, as it may consider necessary.
Responsibilities of the Executive Officers:
1. PRESIDENT: Shall be responsible for conducting the business of the Association and shall preside at all meetings of the Association and Board of Directors. He/She shall appoint all Committee chairperson with the approval of the Board of Directors, shall appoint Ad-Hoc committees. He/She will consult with the Board of Directors and keep them fully informed so that the programs and activities of the Association may be coordinated and accomplished as well as communicated to the membership. He/She will oversee the operational and strategic management of the Association, and in general, perform all duties incident of the office of President.
2. VICE PRESIDENT: In the absence of the President, or during the incapacity of the President, all duties shall be performed by the vice president. The vice president will perform such duties as may be assigned by the President including but not limited to the educational conference coordinator and liaison to all Board Members.
3. SECRETARY: The Secretary shall keep minutes of all Association related meetings, carry out all orders, votes and resolutions of the Association and shall perform such other duties as are incident to the office of Secretary and/or duties delegated by resolution of the Board of Directors. The secretary must be knowledgeable in Parliamentary Procedure and assure that such protocol is followed in all meetings of the Association, Board of Directors, and any related subcommittees. He/She will ensure that all copies of minutes are provided to the President and other officers of the Board of Directors as appropriate. The Secretary shall maintain the Association Policy and Procedure Manual in addition to the by-laws while ensuing compliance by membership and Board of Directors. He/She will main all documents, books, and photographs related to the Association.
4. TREASURER: The treasurer shall keep account of all monies received and expended for the use of the Association. All transactions are subject to the approval of the President and must be in accordance with the budget adopted by the Board of Directors. He/She shall review the financial status on a regular basis and report quarterly to the Board of Directors an annually to membership. Books and record of the Association shall be audited annually an independent Certified Public Accountant appointed by the President. The Treasurer will chair financial sub-committee meetings as appropriate.
C. Responsibilities of the Board Officers:
1. PUBLICATION CHAIRPERSON-PUBLIC RELATIONS: The Publication Chairperson will develop and maintain formal publications of the Association for the membership at large including the monthly Hotline. He/she will direct advertising solicitation for the abovementioned publications. He/She will encourage the membership to provide articles and news for publication in the quarterly journal. He/She will be responsible for the selection and focus of each issue, soliciting articles, writing articles, and reviewing books for the reference column.
2. EDUCATION CHAIRPERSON: The Education Chairperson shall direct all educational endeavors, enhance and promote educational opportunities and assure that the educational events meet the required quality standard. He/She shall issue appropriate credits for continued education as necessary. He/She will ensure that the Associated adheres to AAM and BRN rules and regulations for continued education.
3. ADVISORY CHAIRPERSON: The Advisory Board Chairperson shall serve the President and Board of Directors, in a consulting capacity as a source of information, insight, and expertise in areas not necessarily represented on the Board of Directors. The Advisory Board Chairperson or committee need not be an admissions manager.
D. Terms of Office:
Each of the elective Officers and Members of the Board shall be elected for and serve a term of three (3) years. Their term of office shall commence at the election and continue immediately after installation. They shall remain in office until expiration of their term of office, unless they resign and become ineligible due to change in profession or other reasons. An Officer or Director may serve more than (1) term.
E. Board of Directors Vacancies:
If any member of the Board of Directors shall for any reason, fail to perform or be unable to perform the duties of his/her office, the remaining Board of Directs may declare the office vacated by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the full Board. If a member has been adjudged to have violation. In either event, the Board of Directors, by a majority vote of said Board, shall elect a successor to fill the unexpired term of the said office.
ARTICLE VI - STANDING COMMITTEES
A.Adhoc Chairpersons and Other Committees, Rules, Term of Appointment;
1.The President shall have the authority to appoint special committees relative to the objective of CAHAM.
2. Their term of all committee membership shall expire at the time so designed by the Board of Directors.
3. The chairperson of each committee may adopt rules for its own government consistent with these By-laws or with rules adopted by the Board of Directors.
Under these By-laws, the Board of Directors may enter into a contract or executive and deliver any instrument in the name of and on behalf of the Association, and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances.
ARTICLE VIII - AMENDMENTS
The By-laws of the Association may be changed, amended, or repealed by simple majority of the members casting their ballots at the annual meeting, or during special meeting called, for that purpose or by mail vote on an appropriate ballot.
ARTICLE IX - INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS OR DIRECTORS
Indemnification of the Board of Directors or any person who may serve or has served at the request of the Association or by its election s Director or Officer, shall be indemnified by the Association against expenses actually necessarily incurred by them in connection with the defense or settlement of any action, suit, or proceeding in which they or any of them are made parties or a party by reason of having been an officer, except in relation to matters in which they shall be adjudged in such action, suit, or proceeding to be liable for misconduct in the performance of duty in such matters that shall be settled by agreement predicated n the existence of liability.
ARTICLE X DISSOLUTION
The Association shall use its funds only to accomplish the objectives and purposes specified in these by-laws, and no part of said funds shall insure, or be distributed to the members of the association upon dissolution of the association, any funds remaining shall be distributed to one or more regularly organized and qualified charitable, educational, scientific, or philanthropic organizations to be selected by the Board of Directors.
Approved:
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President
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Treasurer