Fw: Sisters for Informed Choice--Constitution & Membership

[Guest guest]

From: " Pam Young (by way of ilena rose) " <sic42001@...>

Sent: Thursday, July 19, 2001 4:23 PM

Subject: Sisters for Informed Choice--Constitution & Membership

Dear Sisters:

I have created a pro-active group which is open to women who are suffering

>from implants and reconstruction. It doesn't matter what your geographical

location, you can still participate by filling out the application form and

returning it to me at the address below.

I hope to go nationally with this group so that we can work together to make

positive changes in the laws. The President of the group is my close friend,

. She has an MBA degree and is very supportive.

The group meets 6 times a year, but you can participate by email. I hope to

have a Web Page as soon as I can find someone to help me with it, so that it

links to similiar groups.

We will have a newsletter which will be published over the Internet, and

will have important tips on locating your medical records, applying for

Social Security Disability, filing complaints with your Medical Boards, and

making proposals for new laws.

This pro-active group will only work if each of you are willing to share

your knowledge and work together to bring true " informed choice " to women.

This will be my new email address: sic42001@....

Thank you, Pam Young

©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©

Sisters for Informed Choice (SIC)

Constitution & By-Laws

P.O. Box 32, Findlay, Ohio 45839

Email: sic42001@...

©©©Constitution©©©

(Adopted July 17, 2001)

Article 1. Name

The name of this non-profit organization shall be Sisters for Informed

Choice (SIC) and is a support group dedicated to all women injured by breast

implants & tissue transfers/flaps after mastectomy because of lack of

Informed Choices.

Article 2. Mission

The mission of the Sisters for Informed Choice shall be to: 1.) Educate its

membership and the public about the choices in breast health, specifically

augmentation and reconstruction with breast implants and tissue

transfers/flaps; 2.) Provide an open forum where women may openly speak

about their injuries and complications related to breast implants and breast

reconstructions after mastectomy; 3.) Establish a supportive, sharing, and

caring environment; 4.) Encourage participation in creating state and

federal laws, which offer more education and informed consent for women

concerned about breast health, specifically augmentation and reconstruction.

©©©By Laws©©©

Article 1. Membership

Section 1. Individual Requirements

Membership is open to women who have had or are planning to have breast

implants or breast reconstructive surgery, and their family and friends.

Membership is also open to women over the age of 10 years, who have a

genuine non-commercial interest in information about breast health,

specifically augmentation and reconstruction after mastectomy, and their

family and friends.

Section 2. Membership Application

All applications for membership shall be made on the organizationís official

application form and shall state his/her name, address, occupation, phone

number, and email address, and a statement of why they would like to become

a member. Minor children must have a parent or guardian signature of

approval. The application should be turned in to the Secretary/Treasurer who

will add the applicantís name to the membership.

Section 3. Resignation

Any member may withdraw from the Sisters for Informed Choice organization by

written resignation to the Secretary/Treasurer. Such resignation shall be

presented to the Board of Directors at the first meeting following the

receipt of resignation. The Board will then remove the name of the person

>from the membership.

Section 4. Discipline

In the case of charges against a member, a Grievance Committee shall report

its findings and recommendations to the Board of Directors. The Board shall

thereafter have the power by 2/3 vote of the Board, by secret ballot, to

suspend such member, or to put such member on probation, or recommend

expulsion from the organization.

Article 2. Meetings

Section 1. Regular Meetings

Meetings shall be held on the 2nd Tuesday of the month at 7:30 p.m. on a

bi-monthly basis beginning in January, each year. The President or presiding

officer at the prior regular meeting will designate meeting locations. The

regular meeting date may be altered or a scheduled regular meeting cancelled

upon orders of the President or Board of Directors. A notice of change in

meeting times and places should be sent to all members ten (10) days in

advance, whenever possible.

Section 2. Special Meetings

Special meetings of the membership may be called by the President and/or

upon written request of 2/3 of the membership. Such request shall state the

reason for the special meeting. Notice of special meetings shall be sent to

the membership ten (10) days in advance of the special meeting, whenever

possible.

Section 3. Voting

All members who are 18 years of age or older are eligible to vote. Voting

may be in person at meetings or by mail using Sisters for Informed Choice

official ballots. Mailed votes must be sent to the Secretary/Treasurer and

post-marked no later than the date of the voting meeting.

Section 4. Order of Business

Meetings shall follow parliamentary procedures outlined in ís Rules of

Order. The order of business at all regular and special meetings of the

membership and Board of Directors shall be as follows:

1. Reading of minutes of last regular and/or special meeting.

2. Reading of minutes of the last Board of Directors meeting.

3. Reports of officers and committees.

4. Unfinished business.

5. Elections.

6. New business.

7. Personal testimonies.

8. Collection of donations.

9. Adjournment.

Article 3. Board of Directors

Section 1. Authority

All affairs, business, government and general management of the organization

shall be vested in the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors consists

of the President, Vice President, Secretary/Treasurer and no more than two

committee heads. Because this is a womenís support group, only adult women

my serve as Board members. No medical doctors or plastic surgeons may serve

as a Board member.

Section 2. Meetings

The Board of Directors shall meet one hour before the regular meeting of the

membership at a time and place decided at the previous Board meeting or

decided by the President. A seven (7) day notice of the location of any

meeting of the Board shall be sent to each board member, whenever possible.

Article 4. Officers

Section 1. Presiding Officers

The President shall preside at all meetings of the membership and of the

Board of Directors. In the case of the absence of the President, the

Vice-President shall preside. The Secretary/Treasurer shall preside if both

President and Vice-President are absent. Because this is a womenís support

group, only adult women may serve as Officers.

Section 2. Duties of Secretary/Treasurer

The duties of the Secretary/Treasurer are as follows:

1. Have charge of the organizationís correspondence.

2. Issue notice of all meetings.

3. Keep & read minutes of all meetings of the organization.

4. Keep a record of attendance of members.

5. Maintain a file of personal testimonies.

6. Keep a ledger account of all funds received and expended.

7. Render an account of all receipts and disbursements.

8. Prepare an annual statement at the end of the year.

Section 3. Election

Officers shall be nominated at a regular meeting sixty days (60) prior to an

election meeting. All officers shall be elected for a term of one year

beginning in the month of July. All elections shall be by secret ballot. The

officers of the organization shall be elected by a majority of members who

participate in the voting.

Article 5. Committees

Section 1. Grievance Committee

The Board of Directors shall have the power to designate three (3) members

in good standing to serve as a Grievance Committee. The committee shall meet

within 30 days of a complaint to review grievances and send a written review

of their findings to the Board. The Board will discuss the committee

findings at the next regular Board meeting and will decide what actions to

be taken.

Article 6. Amendments

Section 1. Amending the Constitution or By Laws

To amend the Constitution and/or By Laws, the proposed amendments must be

presented in writing by at least three (3) members in good standing, to the

membership at any regular meeting. Upon presentation of the proposed

amendments, discussion may take place. Any voting on amendments to the

constitution and/or By-Laws, should take place no sooner than sixty (60)

days after the introduction of the proposed changes. A thirty-day (30)

notice must be given to all members, prior to the vote to change the

Constitution or By-Laws. At the meeting to vote on the changes, a 2/3

majority vote of the membership will be required to pass the amendment(s).

Article 7. Voluntary Dissolution

Section 1. Dissolution

A two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the membership is required to dissolve

the organization. All members must be informed fifteen (15) days in advance

of any meeting to dissolve the organization. Upon the adoption of

dissolution, a certificate shall be prepared on a form prescribed by law and

signed by any authorized officer. This form should be sent to appropriate

legal officials within 30 days of signing.

©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©©

Sisters for Informed Choice

Membership Application

P.O. Box 32, Findlay, Ohio 45839

Email: sic42001@...

Name________________________________________________________

Address______________________________________________________

Phone #______________________________________________________

Email Address_________________________________________________

Occupation____________________________________________________

Statement of Why You Want to be a Member:

____________________________________________________________

____________________________________________________________

Signature____________________________________________________

Signature of Parent/Guardian____________________________________

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_________________________________________________________________

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