Bylaws for the Resident and Associate Society of the American College of Surgeons

Name

The organization shall be called the Resident and Associate Society of the American College of Surgeons (RAS-ACS).

Purpose

The purpose of the RAS-ACS is to:

1. Identify future surgical leaders, capture their ideas, and assist them as they develop into the leaders the profession of surgery and the American College of Surgeons (ACS) will need.
2. Make the College's activities relevant to residents and young surgeons.
3. Provide representation for residents and young surgeons in organized surgery.
4. Provide a forum for discussion of common issues in graduate surgical education.
5. Educate residents and young surgeons about the ACS and the value of being a Fellow.

The RAS-ACS, an organization within the ACS, was formed to benefit the surgeons of the future through involvement in activities of the College.

Mission Statement

The RAS-ACS will serve to familiarize all young surgeons with the ACS and its programs and leadership, provide an avenue for participation in ACS affairs, foster development and use of leadership skills in organized surgery, and give opportunities for the opinions and concerns of young surgeons to be heard by the ACS leadership.

Membership

Membership in the RAS-ACS must either be participants as Resident Members or Associate Fellows of the College as defined by the Board of Reagents:

Resident Members are required to have the following qualifications:

1. Graduation from a medical school acceptable to the American College of Surgeons.
2. Current status as one of the following:
   1. A resident enrolled in an accredited training program focused on one of the following surgical specialties: colon-rectal surgery, gynecologic oncology, neurological surgery, obstetrics-gynecology, ophthalmic surgery, orthopaedic surgery, otorhinolaryngology, pediatric surgery, plastic surgery, general surgery, thoracic surgery, urology, or vascular surgery.
   2. A surgeon in a surgical research or surgical fellowship program acceptable to the American College of Surgeons.

Associate Fellows in the American College of Surgeons are required to meet the following qualifications:

1. Graduation from a medical school acceptable to the American College of Surgeons.
2. Completion of an accredited surgical residency in the United States or Canada.
3. A full and unrestricted license to practice medicine.
4. Current engagement in a second surgical residency, a research program, a fellowship or in a surgical specialty practice in the United States or Canada with time limits as determined by the American College of Surgeons.
5. Interest in pursuing professional excellence, as an individual surgeon and as a member of the surgical community.

Prospective members must complete an application form and pay annual membership dues. Resident Members will need the program director's signature endorsing the applicant's good standing in an accredited program.

Council of Representatives

The Council of Representatives will function as the administrative body for the RAS-ACS. The council will consist of three delegates from each local chapter. These three representatives should consist of one RAS-ACS member in general surgery and two RAS-ACS members in other surgical specialties. Where more than three RAS-ACS members are interested in representing a chapter, the executive council for the local Chapter of the American College of Surgeons will determine a means by which to appoint their three delegates.

All Council member terms will be for three years. The Council of Representatives will convene annually at the Clinical Congress. Each chapter should assist their appointed representatives in obtaining funding to attend the Clinical Congress and the Council of Representatives meeting.

In circumstances where the appointed delegate from a chapter is unable to attend the meeting or where a chapter has failed to appoint one or all of their representatives, any member of the RAS-ACS in good standing from that chapter may be seated at the Council of Representatives as a substitute representative. Substitute representatives may apply to their respective Chapter to obtain an appointment to a full three-year term. Prior to assuming additional positions on the Executive Committee or appointment to an Advisory Council, substitute representatives shall become a designated representatives by their local chapter.

In the event that a representative from a chapter relocates, (due to change in residency/fellowship program, completion of residency/fellowship, or other reason) he or she should contact the new chapter and attempt to become the representative for the new chapter. If that Chapter is already represented, then the individual will be allowed to continue the position on the Council of Representatives as an auxiliary member until the end of his or her term.

The Council of Representatives meeting will be conducted using the principles of Roberts Rules of Order and by definition a quorum will be considered all those present for the meeting. The Chair or his/her designee shall preside over the meeting and orderly conduct the business of the Council.

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee of the RAS-ACS will include the Officers, the immediate past Chair, and the at-large members. Officers of the RAS-ACS include the Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary. Officers will serve three successive one-year terms, with election to the position of Secretary that succeeds to the position of Vice-Chair and subsequently to Chair. Election to the position of Secretary will be held at the annual Clinical Congress during the Council of Representatives meeting. A nominating committee will be convened annually to select candidates for the position of secretary for the next year. The nominating committee shall consist of four members, the immediate past Chair, the current Chair, the Vice-Chair and Secretary.

The Chair is the spokesperson for the RAS-ACS, providing a voice for the Society with the Board of Regents and College leadership. The Chair is responsible for the oversight of the direction of the organization and fostering the ideals identified in the purpose statement of the Society. The Chair shall preside at all meetings of the RAS-ACS. The Chair shall attend the Board of Regents meetings to act as a liaison between the Board of Regents and the RAS-ACS. The Chair shall also appoint members to special and standing committees of the Society as needed.

The Vice-Chair shall assist in the performance of the duties of the Chair as the Chair may direct. In the absence or inability to act of the Chair, the Vice-Chair shall perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chair. In conjunction with the Chair, the Vice-Chair shall be invited to attend all meetings of the Board of Regents, except executive sessions. The Vice-Chair shall succeed to the position of Chair at the conclusion of the one-year term.

The Secretary shall oversee the minutes of the meetings of the RAS-ACS. The Secretary shall be responsible for ensuring that the participants at the Council of Representatives meeting are properly identified and associated with the proper chapter. The Secretary shall be responsible for coordinating the notification of the chapters with Substitute Representatives the interest of these members in becoming a designated representative. The secretary shall be responsible for the tabulation and reporting of the results of election of new Executive Committee members. The Secretary shall also perform other duties as may from time to time be assigned by the Chair. The position of secretary shall succeed to the position of Vice-Chair at the conclusion of the one-year term.

The at-large members of the Executive Committee and alternates shall be elected by their specialty caucuses at the annual Council of Representatives meeting during the Clinical Congress. There will be 12 at-large members (one from each specialty) and each shall serve a three-year term. Alternates may complete a vacant term and serve an additional full term.

The at-large members shall act as a liaison between the Executive Committee and the members of the RAS-ACS and assist with general assigned subjects as directed by the Chair. They shall, upon request of the Chair, render reports on activities pertaining to the College in their specialty areas.

In the event that a member of the Executive Committee relocates, (due to change in residency/fellowship program, completion of residency/fellowship, or other reason) they will continue in their position on the Executive Committee for the duration of their term regardless of their Chapter affiliation. Their election to the Executive Committee was by the specialty caucuses and this constituency remains unchanged.

The Executive Committee shall meet during the Clinical Congress and as needed throughout the year. Meetings held outside of regular College meetings can be held by phone or electronic methods.

Representatives to the Advisory Council

Under the direction of the at-large members of the Executive Committee, each specialty caucus will select one representative to the specialty advisory council. The Advisory Council Representative will serve a term of two years. The Representative will attend their respective semiannual Advisory Council meetings to represent the RAS-ACS and act as liaisons between the Advisory Council and the RAS-ACS.

The Advisory Council Representatives will provide a written report of RAS-ACS activities to their respective Advisory Council at the Clinical Congress. In addition, at the Clinical Congress, the Advisory Council representative will provide to the RAS-ACS Executive Committee a written report of Advisory Council activities.

Meetings

The RAS-ACS shall hold an annual meeting at a time and place designated by the Executive Committee in conjunction with the Clinical Congress.

1. The RAS-ACS shall hold an Executive Committee meeting. Attendance shall include members of the Executive Committee and other invited guests to include advisory council representatives, standing committee chairs, RAS-ACS members who are appointed to other College committees, and other individuals as determined by the Chair.
2. The RAS-ACS will hold a Council of Representatives meeting open to all members of the RAS-ACS as described above.
3. The RAS-ACS will organize and convene a symposium with appropriate programming for both the membership of the RAS-ACS and the ACS in general.

Standing Committees

The standing committees of the RAS-ACS shall include the Membership committee, the Communications committee, the Issues committee, the Education committee and such other committees and councils as the Executive Committee may from time to time appoint.

A chair, elected annually at the Council of Representatives meeting, will lead each committee. The members of each respective committee will elect the chair. The chair will be responsible for organizing and leading meetings of their committee. The chair of each of the standing committees will be elected at the annual meeting and will be eligible for reelection annually. Each chair will submit an annual written report to the RAS-ACS Executive Committee and attend the Executive Committee meeting at the Clinical Congress. Participation in the standing committees is open to any member of the Council of Representatives and others appointed at the discretion of the Chair. The standing committees shall meet during the annual meeting of the RAS-ACS and as needed throughout the year. Meetings held outside of regular College meetings can be held by phone or electronic methods.

Specialty Caucus

Each specialty caucus will meet during the annual Council of Representatives meeting. The specialty caucuses will elect one Representative to the Advisory Council to serve for the coming year. Each caucus elects one at-large member and an alternate to the RAS-ACS Executive Committee. The specialty caucuses also serve to identify issues of particular importance to their respective fields of surgery.

Amendment of Bylaws

The RAS-ACS Bylaws may be amended by a majority vote of the members of the RAS-ACS Executive Committee at any regular or special meeting.

About the RAS-ACS

Online June 24, 2004