AMERICAN MEDICAL STUDENT ASSOCIATION Case Western Reserve University

Article I. Name
1. The name of this organization shall be the American Medical Student Association, hereafter referred to as AMSA.
2. This organization is a recognized premedical chapter of the national association of AMSA.

Article II. Statement of Purpose
The purpose of the organization shall be to:
a) Provide an environment that supports the creative ideas of premedical students
b) Promote, encourage, and maintain a cohesive relationship with the student and non-student organizations of Case Western Reserve University. (i.e. The Office of Student Life)
c) Serve as a forum for Case premedical students
d) Effect change to make the premedical education process more responsive to the needs of students
e) Maintain its status as an independent organization
f) Promote and maintain programs that improve the health quality and awareness in the community
g) Be financially independent and maintain a stable financial base
h) Continue to develop health care leadership
i) Provide a means of local outreach for the legislative ideas and concerns from the national governing body
j) Seek, develop, and provide membership services to the premedical community
k) Increase knowledge of health information among members and general public
l) Provide members with insight into the medical profession in various ways, via speakers, medical school interaction, related political topics, and hands-on opportunities.


Article III. Membership and Attendance
1. Membership in AMSA shall be restricted to undergraduate or graduate (non-medical) students of Case Western Reserve University (Case), Cleveland Institute of Art, and Cleveland Institute of Music. Membership may also be granted to students of neighboring schools throughout Northeast Ohio, including, but not limited to, Cleveland State University, John Carroll University, Baldwin-Wallace College, Hiram College, University of Akron, Youngstown State University, Cuyahoga Community College and Kent State University. Membership into our chapter from a neighboring college is at the sole discretion of the Co-Presidents, with guidance from the student advisers and executive board.
2. Students enrolled at Case, CIM, CIA, or any college/university in Greather Cleveland, who are current affiliate members of AMSA and have paid national dues, shall be considered active members.
3. Members of AMSA shall be accepted without discrimination based on age, color, gender, race, religion, national or ethnic origin, disability status, marital status, sexual preference, veteran status, or political affiliation.
4. Attendance and participation in meetings, events, and fundraisers shall be open to any interested party, including, but not limited to: undergraduate, graduate, and professional students, faculty, staff, alumni, members of the community, and any interested visitors.
5. To be considered an active member, a member must attend at least one general body meeting and one community service/non-meeting event per semester. In addition, the member must have paid national dues to AMSA. Active member status is required to list AMSA membership on applications for research programs, graduate schools, professional schools, and other applicable services.
6. This organization does not collect local dues, but requires its members to pay national dues to achieve active status. As of February 2008, premedical national dues were $35 per year, $55 for two years, $65 for three years and $75 for four years.
7. The secretary shall keep a record of attendance of all meetings and events for voting purposes. This attendance roster shall be kept in confidence within the Executive Board.

Article IV. Meetings
1. Within the first three weeks of the academic school year, the Co-Presidents shall call an organizational meeting at which time the members shall decide when and how often to have regular meetings.
2. The organization shall meet at least once per calendar month, September through April inclusive.
3. If it is the desire of the Co-Presidents, and with approval of at least half of the executive board present, to not meet as a general body in the month of December or January, such wish shall be granted. However, a meeting must be held at least once during the month not excluded. A meeting CANNOT be canceled for both months.
4. The time, date, and location of each meeting should be secured by the Co-Presidents at least two weeks in advance.
5. The Co-Presidents may call special meetings whenever deemed necessary.
6. Members of the Executive Board may ask a special meeting to discuss forthcoming or pertinent information and/or events of interest to the general body.

Article V. Leadership and Structure
Section I. Authority of the Executive Board
1. The Executive Board shall have the authority to make and execute any decision provided it does not violate this constitution, the constitution of the national American Medical Student Association, the rules or regulations of Case Western Reserve University, or any applicable city, county, state or federal law or regulation.
2. The Executive Board shall consist of two Co-Presidents, one Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary, Webmaster, AIDS Coordinator, Student Programming Director, Medical School Liaison, Recruitment Director, Community Health Director, one to three Publicity Director(s), and one or two HuMed Coordinator(s).
3. The Executive Board shall meet twice per month, based on a schedule predetermined at the beginning of the semester. It is suggested they should meet the first and third week of the month, however this can be changed at any time by the Co-Presidents. Conference calls can also be held in lieu of in-person meetings at the discretion of the Presidents.

Section II. Term of Officers of the Executive Board
1. The Officers of the Executive Board shall hold office from 1 May to 30 April. In the event that a Executive Board position is vacated, created, or otherwise becomes available after 1 May, the term of that position shall start at the date the current Executive Board elects that officer, but shall terminate no later than the following 30 April.
2. In the event that an office is not filled at general elections, the incoming Co-Presidents shall appoint an individual to fill this position for purposes of reporting to USG and national AMSA only. Special elections must be held at the earliest available date to rectify the situation.
3. If one or both of the Co-Presidents is/are unable to fulfill an obligation to the organization and complete the full duration of the term for which the Co-President(s) was/were elected, the order of succession shall be as follows: (1) Vice-President, (2) Treasurer, (3) Secretary, (4) AIDS Coordinator. The position vacated by an officer undertaking the duties and position of the Co-President shall be filled by the process of Special Elections outlined in Article V.II of the constitution.

Section III. Responsibilities of all Executive Board Officers
1. All Officers of the Executive Board are required to attend all meetings, dedicate time each semester to planning of events, and participate in at least one fundraising/community service activity per semester.
2. In addition to this, officers shall promote AMSA at all times, keep the Co-Presidents informed of their activities and projects, and maintain National AMSA membership.
3. All members of the Executive Board shall have a say in all executive decisions at Executive meetings and have the right to introduce any ideas to the Board at any time. No position shall have exclusive status of activity introduction, but rather a joint effort across the executive board
4. Members of the Executive Board may not miss more than three consecutive or four total (executive and general body) meetings in a semester. Upon reaching this limit, any member of the Executive Board may call for their resignation and the Co-Presidents shall call a special election to replace said officer. An excuse of absence should be delivered to the Co-Presidents within 48 hours of a meeting or event.
5. Any executive member may call for impeachment proceedings against any officer, whose performance is deemed unsatisfactory (ex., not attending events). A written call for impeachment must be submitted to a member of the executive board, at which time the Co-Presidents shall call a (special) meeting to discuss the officer’s performance and vote on the impeachment. The meeting must be announced to members of the executive body at least one business day in advance. The officer in question shall be given sufficient time and opportunity to defend their performance, if desired. A two-thirds majority of executive board members present at the special meeting (excluding the officer facing recall) is required to remove the officer from their position. The member facing recall is not entitled to know the individual voting of the members, but is entitled to notice of the recall proceedings, at which time the member facing recall shall have the right to honorably resign from their position if they so choose.
6. Any member of the Executive Board may honorably resign from their position during the year, given they make a written announcement to the Co-Presidents at least one week in advance of their last date in office. The Co-Presidents must present the decision at a meeting of the executive board, but do not have to release the letter if said officer does not wish it to be made public. The Co-Presidents are responsible for calling a (special) meeting to fill the vacancy and must ask the secretary to announce the vacancy to the general body.

Section IV. Positions of the Executive Board
1. Student Adviser(s)
• Attend board meetings at his/her discretion (or request by the Co-Presidents) to provide guidance to the executive board on programming, legislation, and organizational matters.
• Serve as the liaison between the national office, premedical regional director and the local chapter.
• While ultimate authority is given to the Co-Presidents, adviser(s) have the right to present any desired information to the Executive Board or General Body
• Position is only granted to the Immediate Past President(s), during his/her/their consecutive years after the end of the presidential tenure
• Can only serve in position as long as a new President is not set to end his or her tenure and desires to serve in advisory role
• Responsible for organizing and/or chairing at least one significant project or program each semester
• Adviser(s) must reside near campus and be able to attend general body meetings, executive board meetings, and other organizational events
• Responsible for developing themes and goals for organization at the beginning of each semester in collaboration with the Co-Presidents.
• If Co-Presidents are not in attendance, leads meeting with the Vice-President
• Since the position is designed to serve as a council to the Executive Board on advancing the organization, the advisers are NOT permitted to vote on project or finance measures by the Board, but may vote on personnel issues affecting the Board; Advisory role keeps position in an independent role. Ex-officio member of the Executive Board.

2. Co-Presidents
• Have equal responsibility and equal power. The President with the last name that comes first alphabetically will be listed as President on USG forms. This is strictly a formality and does not denote any power difference within the respective office.
• Prepare agendas for both general body meetings and executive meetings.
• Assist the treasurer in the preparation of a budget for the following year succeeding his/her term of office by 1 April for the national budget and by the required dates, in accordance with the Undergraduate Student Government of Case Western Reserve University, for the local chapter’s budget.
• Serve as an ex-officio (non-voting) member of the Executive Board.
• Responsible for holding at least one general body meeting per month.
• Delegate leader responsibilities throughout the exec board and general body
• Work with one another to ensure AMSA leaders are fulfilling their duties and if any officers need support on projects, planning, or coordination.
• Oversee events and programs, assisting event leaders
• Develops themes and goals for each semester in collaboration with Student Adviser(s), if any are currently in such role
• Apply for local project grants, or delegate task to other exec members.
• When no student adviser is active, must take responsibility to keep in contact with all local, regional, and national offices of AMSA to ensure up-to-date information on the chapter’s events and status.
• Work in cooperation with other student groups and community leaders to establish collaboration for AMSA projects, events, and initiatives.
• Be responsible for securing rooms for meetings and events.
• Arrange for any necessities at meetings, including food, drinks, flyers, speakers, etc.
• Approval of group’s events, projects, and meetings
• Schedules MCAT rooms for The Princeton Review and Kaplan, or appoints assignments to other Board member


3. Vice-President
• Once Co-Presidents approve projects, must oversee the interworking of each project, ensuring its successful completion.
• Reports to the Co-Presidents on any delays or advancements on a project
• Introduces project ideas to the executive board, with collaboration from other officers
• Submits proposals of projects from the general body members to the Co-Presidents for approval at executive meetings
• When both Co-Presidents are not in attendance, must preside over general body or executive board meeting
• Collaborates with Medical School Liaison and Student Programming Director on Annual Medical School Fair


4. Treasurer
• Attend every board meeting to give treasury updates.
• Assist the co-presidents in the preparation of a budget for the following year succeeding his/her term of office by 1 April for the national budget and by the required dates, in accordance with the Undergraduate Student Government of Case Western Reserve University, for the local chapter’s budget.
• Balance organization’s accounts and track expenditures.
• Approve expenditures and reimburse member expenditures.
• Apply for funding from USG each semester.
• Report any new expenditures or income sources to the Co-Presidents to balance a consistent budget together

5. Secretary
• Attend every board and general meeting to maintain detailed minutes.
• Work with Co-Presidents to schedule meetings.
• Maintain a list of paid and active members.
• Send detailed minutes to the general and executive members after each meeting in a timely and organized fashion.

6. AIDS Coordinator
• Attend every board meeting
• Liaison to AIDS Taskforce of Greater Cleveland
• Works as liaison to Student Global AIDS Campaign at Case
• Promotes projects that increase AIDS awareness and education
• Proposes educational endeavors and outreach programs, in collaboration with local organizations
• Collaborates with SGAC on AMSA’s involvement with World AIDS Day on December 1 and Youth AIDS Day in February
• Serves as chief planner and organizer for the club’s participation in the Global AIDS Week of Action
• Reports to the Vice-President on the status of any events or programs
• Delivers updates to the general body and executive body at meetings on the status of any projects or programs.

7. Publicity Director(s)
• Attend board meetings at discretion, unless directed by the Presidents
• Prepare flyers for meetings and events and as needed.
• Maintain relations with other groups.
• Distribute flyers or signs across campus, with aid from other members.
• Post flyers on photos.case.edu
• Organize and oversee Facebook Events for meetings and programming
• Chalking and painting for events are recommended, weather permitting

8. Medical School Liaison
• Attend executive board and general body meetings to give updates.
• Stay in regular contact with the Case SOM AMSA chapter
• Develop events in collaboration with the SOM chapter
• Meets with SOM chapter’s officers to discuss such collaboration
• Coordinates the mentorship program between undergraduates and medical students
• Report to the executive board on project ideas to gain approval for collaboration
• Collaborates with Vice-President and Student Programming Director on Annual Medical School Fair

9. Student Programming Director
• Attend every board meeting to give updates to the executive body
• Creates and proposes ideas of interest to specific classes, namely underclassmen and upperclassmen as separate categories.
• Works with Kaplan and The Princeton Review on establishing programs such as MCAT Clinic, free practice exams, medical school clinics, etc
• Collaborates with Medical School Liaison and Vice-President on Annual Medical School Fair


10. Recruitment Director
• Attend every board meeting to give updates
• Responsible for overseeing all tables at recruitment drives, mainly student activities fair in the fall, volunteer fair in the winter, and prospective student fair in the spring
• Oversees ordering recruitment materials from the National Office, including annual packet of pamphlets, posters, The New Physician Magazines, and other handouts
• Creates strategies to increase campus awareness regarding the organization
• Plans activities and events geared toward increasing membership within the national organization


11.  Legislative Affairs Director
• Works with the National AMSA Legislative Affairs Director on topics of concern to the national organization
• Presents local, state, and national legislative initiatives to the Exec Board and General Body on a timely and regular basis
• Oversees at least one major policy issue during each of AMSA’s themed weeks, including Global AIDS Week of Action, National Primary Care Week, National Public Health Week, and Cover the Uninsured Week
• Solicits local legislative leaders and bodies to appear on campus or be aware of concerns to AMSA members
• Works with the Case School of Medicine AMSA Legislative Affairs Director to build a stronger campus outreach program
• Closely works with other health-related groups, such as the Student Global AIDS Campaign, Global Medical Initiative, etc. on policy issues for the Case community
• Attend every Executive Board and General Body meeting to give updates on projects.


12. Community Health Director
• Attend general body meetings to give updates to the organization on community health initiatives
• He or she is not required to attend Executive Board Meetings, unless there is a need to discuss a project for organizational support. A report should be given to the co-presidents before each executive board meeting.
• Serve as the liaison between AMSA and the Cuyahoga County Department of Health
• Maintain a listing of contacts from area healthcare organizations, including the American Red Cross, American Cancer Society, The Cleveland Clinic Foundation, University Hospitals of Cleveland: Case Medical Center, Metro Health Medical Center, American Heart Association, Concordia Care, and Judson Park
• Focus on health policy initiatives at the local and state level and present them to the Executive Board
• Reports directly to the Executive Board on the status of all projects and initiatives.

2.In order to vote in the chapter’s annual election event, one must have achieved active status as described in Article III.IV. Active status will be determined based on attendance information kept by the organization’s secretary and member status obtained by the national office of AMSA. The requirement of national dues may be waived if the individual attended all general body meetings during both semesters. Active status must have been achieved for both semesters in order to be eligible to vote in the chapter’s elections. Active status, however, is not required in order to run for an elected position, solely for voting purposes only

Article VII. Authorization of Petty and Large Expenditures
1. The Treasurer or Co-Presidents can authorize expenditures of up to $50 or 10%, whichever is less, of the balance of the current treasury. The Executive Board is not required to approve petty expenditures.
2. The Treasurer and Co-Presidents must collectively agree to authorize expenditures exceeding $50 or 10% of the current treasury. The board must approve expenditures by a vote of 2/3 of all board members in attendance.
3. Expenditures must be pre-approved as described in Articles VI.1 and VI.2. The receipts must be submitted with a request for reimbursement to the Treasurer. If either of these conditions is not met, the Co-Presidents and Treasurer must agree before expenditures will be reimbursed.

Article VIII. Amendment of Constitution
1. Amendment of the constitution shall only be accomplished through a vote of 2/3 of the Executive Board present at the time of proposed ratification. This can be done through an online voting system or at an executive board meeting.
2. General body members may propose a change to the constitution through a written request to one of the Co-Presidents. The Presidents are then responsible for submitting the proposal to the executive board. The executive board must then vote on the resolution no less than ten days after the posted request. If the board approves the constitutional change by at least a two-thirds majority of attendees, it is then considered a successful ratification to the constitution.

IX. Dissolution
1. In the event of dissolution of AMSA, all unspent Case Western Reserve University funds shall remain the property of Case. All privately obtained funds shall be submitted to the National AMSA office.

Be it resolved that the Executive Board, with approval of a majority of constituents, enacts this constitution on the 1st day of May 2006.

Most Recent Ratification: 27 March 2008

Original Signatures Collected and Accepted on 24 April 2008

The Executive Board of the American Medical Student Association
at Case Western Reserve University:

Allison Weiss, Co-President

Debra Zauner, Co-President

Kyle Strodtbeck, Vice-President

Sowmya Gadiraju, Secretary
Robert Grueninger, Treasurer

Erica Svendsen, Student Programming Director

Jeff Shuster, Legislative Affairs Director

Yashar Niknafs, Recruitment Director

Jimmy Ibrahim, Medical School Liaison

Ryan Peters, AIDS Coordinator

Doug Voelker, Physician Shadowing Program Director

Rosalyn Gholston, Publicity Co-Chair
Susi Orra, Publicity Co-Chair

Jeannie Choi, Publicity Co-Chair