CAHON Bylaws

ARTICLE I. NAME

This non-profit organization shall be known as the "CHINESE AMERICAN HEMATOLOGIST AND ONCOLOGIST NETWORK" (CAHON, hereafter referred to as the "Network")

ARTICLE II. MISSIONS

A. To foster communications amongst Chinese American medical professionals for the delivery of high-quality health care to patients with neoplastic and hematological diseases.
B. To promote medical information exchanges between the United States and China in the field of oncology and hematology.

ARTICLE III. MEMBERSHIP

Section 1. Membership Categories

The Network shall have the sole jurisdiction of the moral, ethical, and professional qualifications requisite for election to or termination of membership.

Membership are classified into the following categories:

A. Active Membership

A1. Board certified/eligible physicians in North America whose predominant interest and professional activities involve the diagnosis and treatment of patients with neoplastic and hematological diseases. These include Hematologists, Medical Oncologists, Surgical Oncologists, Radiation Oncologists, Gynecological Oncologists, Pediatric Oncologists and Pathologists.

A2.Rights of Active Members:
Active Members have the right to attend meetings.
Active Members are eligible to serve on all committees and the Board of Directors.
Active Members may vote and hold office in the Network.

B. Associate Membership

B1. Associate Membership is granted to fellows-in-training in the field of Hematology, Medical Oncology, Surgical Oncology, Radiation Oncology, Gynecological Oncology, Pediatric Oncology and Pathology.

B2. Rights of Associate Members:
Associate Members have the right to attend meetings.
Associate Members have the right to serve on all committees.
Associate Members may transfer to Active membership upon completion of their training.
Associate Members may vote and hold office in the Network.
Associate Members get discounted membership dues/fees.

C. Allied Membership

C1. Other Health Professionals who are actively involved in patient care, research, drug development in the field of neoplastic and hematological diseases, who are otherwise not included in the aforementioned categories can apply for Allied Membership. These include, but are not limited to medical directors or scientists at pharmaceutical companies, basic research scientists, epidemiologists, biostatisticians, public health specialists, and nurses in academic or private research institutions.

C2. Rights of Active-Allied Members:
Allied Members have the right to attend meetings.
Allied Members are eligible to serve on all committees.
Allied Members may not vote or hold office in the Network.

D. Lifetime Membership

D1. Active members who are willing to pay a large sum of membership dues as determined appropriate (generally 10 fold of the regular membership due) by the Board will be granted the lifetime membership.

D2. Lifetime members enjoy the same privileges as the active members.

Section 2. Application and Election to Membership

Any individual who falls into the above categories and share the core value of the Network may submit an application for membership. The application must be sponsored by an active member. Applications will be reviewed by Membership Committee for eligibility. Eligible members will be included in, and have access to membership directory. The full membership benefits and rights as outlined in each category will apply.

Section 3. Membership Dues/Fees

Unless otherwise specified, the dues shall be collected as specified, in the Section of Dues.

Section 4. Membership Discipline/Termination

Membership in the Network may be terminated for nonpayment of dues. In addition, any member may be disciplined for actions that violate the Network Bylaws, discredit the Network, or are otherwise inimical to the best interests of the Network. Such discipline may include, without limitation, censure, membership suspension or membership termination without the possibility of restitution.

ARTICLE IV. GENERAL MEETING

Section 1.

The Network shall hold general meetings at least once annually.

Section 2.

The Board of Directors may call for additional scientific and special meetings or in co-sponsorship with other organizations, public or private, in such manner and format as they deem appropriate to the pursuit and advancement of the purposes of the Network.

Section 3.

Proxies: The Board of Directors may establish rules and procedures requiring advance notice and validation of any proxies to be voted at membership.

ARTICLE V. OFFICERS

Section 1. Officers and Elections

The Network shall have an Administrative Office with the following officers elected at the inaugural meeting of this Network by the founding organizing committee members: a President, a President-elect, a General Secretary and a Treasurer. These Officers shall perform those duties usually associated with their offices and those duties outlined in these Bylaws.

Starting at the second annual meeting of this Network, a President-elect shall be elected annually to serve one (1) year as President-elect prior to succeeding to the office of the President. The President-elect will be nominated by the Board of Directors and will be voted by all eligible members of this Network. The President-elect will need the re-confirmation by the Board of Directors before taking office.

Eligibility of President candidate: two (2) years membership except for the first two (2) years from the inception of the Network.

Section 2. Term

The elected officers’ terms commence at the conclusion of the annual General Meeting at which the election results are received by the members.

Both the President and the President-elect shall serve a one (1) year term. The President cannot be reelected to serve additional terms in the same office within two years after retiring from the previous term.

The outgoing President shall be known as the Immediate Past President and shall serve on the Board of Directors upon the conclusion of the term as President.

Section 3. Duties

A. The President will be the chief executive officer of the Network and will have the general powers and duties of supervision and management, including authorization to expend money within limits set by the Board. The President will have the authority to negotiate and execute agreements on behalf of the Network, when so authorized by the Board.

B. The President will preside over regular meetings of the Network.

C. The President will appoint vice presidents, all Committee Chairs after discussion and approval from the Board.

D. The President or the treasurer may sign checks, provided that the rules and regulations governing financial transaction have been set-forth and approved by the Board of Directors.

E. The President may ask any elected or appointed officer of the Network to attend meetings or functions as his/her representative.

F. The President’s office shall be responsible for a written report to the Board of Directors at the mid-term and at the conclusion of the full term, respectively. The report shall summarize the overall operation and financial status of the Network.

G. The President-elect shall perform the duties of the President in the absence or incapacity of the President. The President-elect shall automatically succeed to the office of the President at the conclusion of the President’s term.

Section 4

The Treasurer and the General Secretary shall be co-nominated by the President and Board-Chair each year and confirmed by a two-third majority vote of the board members. The Treasurer reports to the Board of Directors and the General Secretary reports to the President. Treasurer and General Secretary can continue to serve if re-elected.

The record of all financial transactions must be made available from the treasurer to the Board of Directors on a bimonthly basis.

The function of General Secretary is to assist the President, among other duties, to sign and distribute legal documents such as membership certificates, continuing medical education certificates.

ARTICLE VI. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Section 1. Composition

The Board of Directors starts with nine (9) founding organizing committee members and shall eventually consist of a total of fifteen (15) Directors, including three (3) elected Network officers (president, president-elect, and the immediate past-president). One chair and one chair-elect will be elected from the founding organizing committee members at the inaugural Network meeting. Starting at the second annual meeting of this Network, a Board Chair-elect shall be elected annually to serve one (1) year as Board Chair-elect prior to succeeding to the office of the Board Chair.
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Section 2. Duties

The duties of the Board of Directors are to carry out the objectives of the Network as stated in these Bylaws, including but not limited to:

A. Approve, amend and interpret the Bylaws.

B. Nominate Presidential candidates and be responsible for the election of the President-elect and the re-confirmation before taking office.

C. Elect Board of Directors and the Board Chair-elect as well as for the re-confirmation of Board Chair-elect before taking office.

D. Approve President’s operational plan and annual report as well as the annual budget.

E. Set forth specific financial rules from time to time to regulate the financial transaction of the Network.

F. Create special committees from the membership of the Board of Directors of the Network to act on specific matters, when necessary.

G. Report all of its activities to the General Meeting.

H. Exercise final authority over and shall manage the business and financial affairs of the Network, including, but not limited to, the acquisition, management, control and disposition of property and the authorization of all contracts on its behalf; the Board of Directors may delegate portions of such authority to the Executive Committee.

Section 3. Execution of duties

Each director including the Chair of the Board of Directors shall hold one vote. Unless otherwise specified in the Bylaws, duties will be executed based on a two third majority vote.

Section 4. Term and Election

A. Term

The term of the Chair and Chair-elect shall be only one (1) year. The Chair cannot be reelected to serve additional terms in the same office within two years after retiring from the previous term.
The term of the Directors should be three (3) years for the maximum of two (2) full terms.

B. Elections

Elections shall be such that the Chair-elect of the Board of the Directors and four (4) Directors shall be elected each year starting at the second annual meeting of the Network. The number of directors to be elected each year shall be determined by the Board but not to exceed the total of 15 members.

B1. Directorship
Director candidates shall be co-nominated by at least three members from the Board of Directors. The Directors must be elected by the full board unanimously.

B2. Board Chair and Chair-elect
One chair and one chair-elect will be elected from the founding organizing committee members at the inaugural Network meeting. Starting at the second annual meeting of this Network, a Board Chair-elect shall be elected annually to serve one (1) year as Board Chair-elect prior to succeeding to the office of the Board Chair. Chair-elect of the Directors are elected among the directors by the unanimous votes of the Directors. No one shall hold both posts of the President of the Network and the Chairman of the Board of Directors simultaneously. In the event that a candidate wins the election for both posts, the candidate must choose one or the other to serve.

Section 5. Vacancies

A. When the Board of Directors fails to elect new members of the directors, the Director’s position shall remain vacant until the next election.

B. In the event that the Board Chair is unable to serve, chair-elect will serve for the remaining term of the Chair.

Section 6. Budget and Audit

A. The financial operations of the Network shall be guided by a budget which shall be initiated by the President and forwarded to the Finance Committee. After consideration by this committee, the budget shall be presented to the Board of Directors for approval by a two-third majority vote.

B. An audit of the Network’s accounts will be made annually by a certified public accountant. It will be presented to the Board of Directors and a copy will be made available, upon request, to any members of the Network.

Section 7. Meetings

A. The Board of Directors shall hold quarterly meetings, including a meeting prior to the Annual Meeting and shall meet at such times and places as may be designated by the Board of Directors.

B. The President and the Board Chair of the Network may call special meetings of the Board of Directors at any time and must call a special meeting at the written request of any three (3) members thereof.

C. The Chair of the Board of Directors shall give written notice of the time and place of regular or special meetings to each Director not less than seven (7) days prior thereto.

D. A two third majority of the members of the Board of Directors shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business unless otherwise specified in these Bylaws.

E. Any one or more members of the Board of Directors or any committee thereof may participate in a meeting of the Board of Directors or such committee by means of a conference telephone or similar communications equipment allowing all persons participating in the meeting to hear each other at the same time. Participation by such means shall constitute presence in person at a meeting.

Section 8. Disciplinary action

A. The Board of Directors is responsible for conducting on hearings of allegations of detrimental conduct to the Network by any members of the Network.

B. The Board of Directors shall recommend appropriate disciplinary actions, including but not limited to written warning, revocation of voting privileges and dismissal from the Network, in its best judgment for the purpose of maintaining the highest professional standard of the Network as stated in these Bylaws.

ARTICLE VII. COMMITTEES

Section 1. Standing Committees

The network shall contain the following standing committees. Subject to the decision of the Board of Directors, deletions and addition of standing committees may occur annually.

Academic Affairs Committee
Clinical Affairs committee
Events and Education Committee
Membership Committee
Publication Committee
Public Relation Committee
Finance Committee
Business Advisor(s)
Legal Advisor(s)

Section 2. Committee members

Committee chairs and relevant advisors shall be appointed by the President. The members of each committee shall be appointed by the chair of the committee.

ARTICLE VIII. DUES

Section 1. The annual membership dues shall be such sum as approved by the Board of Directors with a two-thirds majority vote.

Section 2. The annual membership dues shall be due and payable in the amount as fixed, on and before May 15th of each year. Such payments shall be made to “the Treasurer of CAHON”.

Section 3. Any members in arrears of dues for more than two years shall automatically forfeit the rights and privileges of his or her membership.

ARTICLE IX. ADVISORY COUNCIL

The Advisory Council shall consist of up to ten individuals approved by a two-third majority of the Board of Directors, to serve a three-year term. The term may be renewed after approval by the Board of Directors. The Advisory Council will be chaired each year by the Immediate-Past President. The Council is an advisory body which serves as a forum for open discussion of ongoing projects, future policies and planning of the Network. Resolutions of the Advisory council shall be presented to the Board of Directors for consideration.