Article I
Name and Purpose

A. 

Name

B. 

Principles and Goals of the Society 
  1. The principles of the Society are: Clinical Laboratory Science is the application of physical, chemical and biological principles to the performance of laboratory procedures. Clinical Laboratory Science encompasses research, development, teaching, supervision, and performance of these procedures and services. Clinical Laboratory Science is an independent profession which participates in health services. In order to be its responsibilities, the Society is committed to the task of achieving equal opportunities in all aspects of any inter-society  y whose objectives are directed in the profession of Clinical Laboratory Science in which the Society is represented. The Society is responsible for evaluating the prerequisites and for setting educational and other requirements for Clinical Laboratory Science. The Society will determine and implement these requirements by working with college and university faculties and certifying or licensing agencies. The Society will provide the opportunity to increase knowledge in scientific depth and in advances of the profession through continuing education. The Society will participate in the development of programs that evaluate and monitor the technical proficiency of the practitioners of Clinical Laboratory Science. The Society provides a forum available to all practitioners subscribing to the Code of Ethics of the American Society for Clinical Laboratory Science and is the voice of the profession of Clinical Laboratory Science. The Society concurs with the Code of Ethics of the American Medical Association. 
    2. The goals of the Society are: 
        To assure patients and their physicians as well as those persons concerned with health and research the highest quality laboratory service that  modern science affords; 
        To expand and improve its service; 
        To encourage intelligent and capable individuals to enter the educational path that leads to service in this profession; 
        To establish and maintain high standards for the profession and for the services performed by its practitioners; 
        To provide a forum for discussion of matters pertaining to the profession of Clinical Laboratory Science and for action thereon; 
        To promote programs of continuing education, research and development; 
        To represent the profession of Clinical Laboratory Science, to safeguard its standards, and to protect the professional interests of its members; 
        To evaluate constantly the role and function of Clinical Laboratory Science; 
        To interest candidates in choosing Clinical Laboratory Science as a career and to assist them in their evaluation of the profession of Clinical Laboratory Science; 
        To encourage devotion to professional service and to our country, respect for our fellow man, the rule of the majority, the needs of the minority, and the will of God. 

ARTICLE II 
Affiliation

ARTICLE III 
Code of Ethics

ARTICLE IV
District societies

A.

The name of each district society shall contain the word ‘‘the Pennsylvania Society for Clinical Laboratory Science’’ and shall further define or contain the name of its geographic area.

B. 

District society charter 
1. Individuals shall seek permission to organize a district society by submitting, on a form prepared by this Society, a petition to the chairman of the Board of Directors of this Society. The petition shall be accompanied by an application fee of $5.00, together with fourteen copies of the proposed codes of organization (articles of incorporation, constitution, bylaws, as applicable) and lists of names and addresses of all charter members and officers. After examination of the required documents by the Board of Directors and by the Bylaws Committee of this Society and approval by the Board of Directors, the Board of Directors shall report and bring recommendations for charter of the petitioning group to the House of Delegates for action at the next annual meeting. 
2. Revocation of charter 
3. A society whose charter has been revoked may apply for reinstatement. Application for reinstatement shall not be considered until all outstanding financial obligations of that society to this Society have been discharged. Application shall be made according to the procedure and requirements in these regulations for issuance of charter to a new district society.

C.

Duties, responsibilities and privileges of a district society 
    1. Each district society shall sustain its status of affiliation with this Society. 
          a. Each district society shall 
              (1) require its members to abide by the Code of Ethics of the ASCLS and of this Society; 
              (2) maintain its constitutional codes and conduct its affairs and activities in accord with the principles, policies and procedures of the ASCLS and of this Society; 
              (3) be responsible to this society when the best interests of this Society and the ASCLS are involved; 
              (4) be considered ‘‘active’’ if it holds at least three educational meetings, or the state annual meeting, and one Board Meeting during the course of the ASCLS-PA fiscal year (September 1-August 31). The Chapter President must submit written reports as requested by the ASCLS-PA President. The Chapter President or appointed alternate must attend at least one ASCLS-PA Board Meeting during the year and the annual House of Delegates. 
              (5) have two years of documented inability to meet the requirements outlined in Regulations Article- IV. C. 1. a(4) before being considered ‘‘inactive’’. 
        b. This Society shall dissolve the connection with the district society and the Society in the event of failure on the part of the district society to meet the requirements of this Society. 
        c. Each district society shall provide that a student district society may be organized by at least three student members of this Society, provided they have as an advisor a  professional member of this Society. 
    2. A district society shall provide for the types and qualifications and privileges of membership specified in the Bylaws of this Society and shall extend reciprocity of such membership to other district societies chartered by this Society. No individual possessing the qualifications for professional membership in the ASCLS may be accepted into membership, unless he becomes a member of this Society and the ASCLS. 
    3. A district society may establish within its own organizational structure special categories of membership for persons not eligible for membership in this Society. A district society shall require such members to abide by the Code of Ethics of the ASCLS and of this Society and shall regulate such membership, by means of its constitutional codes, in such a manner as to avoid conflict with or influence on the principles, policies and procedures of the district society, this Society, or the ASCLS. Such membership shall not be construed as membership in the ASCLS or in this Society. 
    4. A district society shall submit all proposed amendments of its constitutional codes to the Bylaws Committee of this Society for review and approval before adoption. When amendment of Bylaws or Regulations of this Society shall require revision of a district society constitutional codes, each district society shall be obligated to act to restore accord within two years after adoption of such amendment. When a complete revision of the Bylaws or Regulations of this Society shall have occurred, the grace period shall be three years and may be extended by direction of the House of Delegates. A district society may appeal an unfavorable decision of the Bylaws Committee to the Board of Directors of this Society. Upon adoption of amendments to district society codes, an official copy of the amended codes shall be transmitted to the Chairman of the Bylaws Committee of this Society and there placed on file. A district society shall furnish to the President of this Society all such information necessary to the organizational function of this Society as implied or expressed in the Bylaws and Regulations of this Society. 
 5. Within thirty days after the fact, a district society shall transmit the names and pertinent information of officers elected or committee chairmen appointed to positions in that district society.

ARTICLE V
Regional Councils 

A. 

This Society shall be included in Region II of the Regional Councils of the ASCLS.

B.

Structure and Organization 
1. The president and president-elect of this Society shall serve on the Regional Council, and, as ex officio members, all such persons resident in the State who serve the ASCLS in an elective or appointive capacity. 
2. Procedures for the nomination and election of the Regional Directors are stated in the Standard Operating Procedures of the ASCLS. 
 3. Any Regional Council member may appoint a professional or emeritus member resident within the Region as a replacement during an absence from a meeting.

ARTICLE VI 
Membership

A. 

Classes of membership

B.

Application for membership 
Individuals seeking membership in this Society shall furnish information defining their qualifications on application forms outlining the prerequisites for all classes. A graduate program shall be defined as any course of study subsequent to the receipt by the individual of an initial degree or certificate relevant to this profession. Applications shall bear the signature of a professional member of this Society. Applications shall be sent directly to the Executive Office of the ASCLS. Equivocal applications shall be referred to the Executive Office of the ASCLS either to a designated official of this Society or to the Membership Development Committee of the ASCLS. If disagreement ensues, the Judicial Committee of the ASCLS shall rule on the application.

C. 

Qualifications for membership 
    1. The professional member shall possess one of the following: 
        a. a degree at the graduate level in science, education or administration together with activity in the field of clinical laboratory science; 
        b. a baccalaureate degree from an accredited college or university with: 
            (1) a major in clinical laboratory science or a related science, both of which include accredited, approved or licensed clinical training; OR 
            (2) certification in one of the specialties by certifying bodies recognized by the ASCLS; OR 
            (3) two years of experience in the practice of clinical laboratory science, at least one year of which is subsequent to the degree provided that the degree is in biology, chemistry or science related to clinical laboratory science. 
        c. certification as a Clinical Laboratory Scientist by certifying bodies recognized by the ASCLS. 
        d. affiliate or associate membership in the ASCLS at the time of the Bylaws Revision of 1968, provided that membership is renewed within ninety days; and further provided that professional membership so granted is continuously maintained. 
        e. a certificate attesting completion of a structured program in clinical laboratory science approved by agencies recognized by the ASCLS. Recognized agencies include: nationally recognized accrediting or certifying agencies which are recognized subject to standards acceptable to ASCLS; agencies recognized by the Council on Postsecondary Accreditation or agencies recognized by organizations holding membership in the International Association of Medical Laboratory Technologists; branches of the military services with laboratory training programs of no less than 12 months duration; or governmental licensing or certifying boards within the United States of America and its possessions having requirements comparable to the foregoing. 
        f. alternative qualifications  include: 
            (1) five years’ experience in clinical laboratory science immediately prior to application for professional membership; 
           (2) associate membership in good standing of this Society the year immediately prior to June 4, 1977. The list of associate members for the year prior to June 24, 1977 shall be kept in the files of the ASCLS Executive Office in perpetuity. 
2. The collaborative member shall possess 
        a. an earned degree in the field of education from an accredited college or university with an interest in the field of Clinical Laboratory Science; OR 
        b. such other qualifications as are defined  in the ASCLS Standard Operating Procedures. (Alternate qualifications include: an active interest in supporting the purposes and goals of this Society by those individuals in industry, education, government, and health services [to include clinical laboratory sciences] who are not eligible for professional membership in this Society.) 
3. The emeritus member shall be an individual who has retired from gainful employment and who has been an associate member or a professional member of this Society for a total of fifteen years, five years of which must have been consecutive, and one year of which must have been in the professional membership category immediately preceding application. 
4. The student member shall be enrolled in one of the following: 
        a. a structured program of training conducted by agencies recognized by the ASCLS; 
        b. a program recognized by the ASCLS at an accredited college or university. Recognized agencies include: schools of clinical  laboratory science approved by the Council on Medical Education of the AMA or by the Education Committee of the ASCLS; accredited academic institutions that offer graduate programs or programs which include clinical training and lead to associate or baccalaureate degrees; branches of the military services with laboratory training programs of no less than twelve months duration. 
5. The honorary member shall be an individual elected to membership by the House of Delegates in recognition of outstanding service or contribution to the field of laboratory medicine. Honorary membership shall not exceed one percent of the total professional membership of this Society. Election to honorary membership shall require majority vote of the House of Delegates.

D. 

Privileges of membership The qualifications for voting, holding office, and serving on any board or committee are defined in appropriate sections of the Bylaws and Regulations of this Society.

E.

Place of membership. 
This Society shall follow the format prescribed in the Standard Operating Procedures of the ASCLS.

F. 

Expulsion of membership

G.

Reinstatement of an expelled member will be conducted by the ASCLS.

ARTICLE VII
Dues

A. 

Annual dues for membership in this Society shall become effective July 1, 1987: 
Professional member $10.00 
Collaborative member  NONE 
Emeritus member  NONE 
Student member   NONE 
Honorary member  NONE 
 *Dues exception: Dues for professional members working as full-time volunteer employees and receiving only stipends or subsistence pay from a non-profit welfare or medical service program are $2.50 per year for the duration of such employment.

B. 

The annual dues of this Society shall be added to the dues of the ASCLS and the total shall be remitted to the Executive Office of that society. The Executive Office shall retain the appropriate amount for membership in the ASCLS and shall remit the remainder to the treasurer of this Society monthly.

C. 

The membership anniversary date shall be the same as that of the ASCLS. Annual dues shall be paid on a yearly basis.

D. 

A member delinquent in paying annual dues for more than sixty days following the anniversary date shall forfeit all membership privileges. Upon payment of dues at any time within the month, the individual's membership shall be renewed, the anniversary date shall remain unchanged, and the membership considered continuous.

Article VIII
Meetings 

A.

Annual meeting

B. 

Time and place of annual meeting. 
Notice of the annual meeting shall be printed in the official publication and sent to all members of this Society at least thirty days in advance of the meeting.

C. 

Other meetings 
Notice of special meetings shall be sent to the members of this Society at least ten days prior to the meeting. The requirement for such written notice may be waived by majority vote of the Board of Directors when a conference call meeting or voting by mail, fax, electronic bulletin board or other means as current communication technology allows is deemed necessary and/or advisable. Be it noted that all Board members must be polled when seeking to obtain this waiver, even after majority vote is obtained.

Article IX
House of Delegates

A. 

Power of the House of Delegates

B. 

The Chairman of the Credentials Committee and the treasurer of this Society shall define the procedure and transmit instructions necessary to constitute official lists of delegates to the meetings of the House of Delegates. Such official lists shall include the names and addresses: 
1. of the president and president-elect of the district societies (or their alternates); 
2. of the delegates designated by each district society, and of their alternates; 
3. of student delegates designated by each district society, and of their alternates; 
4. of the members of the current Board of Directors of this Society; and 
5. of past presidents who exercise the privilege of sitting with their district society's delegation as non-voting members of the House. 
The official lists shall further indicate the chairman and co-chairman, and their alternates, of each district society delegation. From the official lists, the Credentials Committee shall certify the members of the House of Delegates, except in unusual circumstances, when the Credentials Committee shall conduct certification of members as directed by the president of this Society.

C. 

The districts shall be: 
    District I (Lehigh Valley), which shall include the counties of Berks, Carbon, Lehigh, Monroe, Schuylkill and Northampton. 
    District II (Northcentral), which shall include the counties of Bradford, Cameron, Clinton, Lycoming, Montour, Potter, Sullivan, Tioga and Union. 
    District III (Northeast), which shall include the counties of Columbia,  Lackawanna, Luzerne, Pike, Susquehanna, Wayne and Wyoming. 
    District IV (Northwest), which shall include the  counties of Clarion, Crawford, Elk, Erie, Forrest, Jefferson, McKean, Mercer, Venango and Warren. 
    District V (Southcentral), which shall include the counties of Beford, Blair, Cambria, Centre, Clearfield, Fulton, Huntingdon, Indiana, Mifflin and Somerset. 
    District VI (Southeast), which shall  include the counties of Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia. 
    District VII (Southwest), which shall include the counties of Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Fayette, Greene, Lawrence, Washington and Westmoreland. 
    District VIII (Susquehanna), which shall include the counties of Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Juniata, Lancaster, Lebanon, Northumberland, Perry, Snyder and York. 
        1. The seat of an official delegate absent from a meeting of the House of Delegates may be filled by a properly certified alternate, chosen by the chairman of the delegation, or in his absence by the co-chairman. In the absence of both chairman and co-chairman, and at the request of the professional members of that district society, the president of this Society shall be empowered to act to complete the delegation with properly certified members of that district society. 
        2. The size of a district society delegation shall be based on the number of professional and emeritus members of this Society who reside in each district plus one student member. 
            a. The membership chairman shall, on the thirtieth day prior to the opening of the Annual Meeting of the House of Delegates, close the official membership files and shall record the number of professional members in each district society as of that day. Within one week, the president of each district society shall be notified by the membership chairman of the number of delegates to be designated by that society. 
            b. A member who has transferred membership from one district society to another shall be counted as a professional member of the district society in which the name is listed on the day the professional membership file is closed by the membership chairman.

D. 

Meetings of the House of Delegates. Any member of this Society is eligible to attend the annual meeting of the House of Delegates. The privilege of the floor shall be granted to a non-delegate by consent of the House. The privilege of the floor of the House of Delegates shall be granted automatically to past presidents of this Society seated as non-voting members of the House of Delegates.

E.

Terms of service of members of the House of Delegates

Article X
Officers

A.

Duties of the Officers 
    1. The president shall be the chief executive of this Society and shall preside at all meetings of the Board of Directors and at the House of Delegates; shall be an ex-officio member of all committees except nominations and elections committee; shall appoint all appointive committees, and, with the approval of the Board of Directors, shall appoint such ad hoc committees as are needed. 
    2. The president-elect shall become familiar with the duties of the office of president while in office. In the event of a vacancy in the office of president, the president-elect shall become president. 
    3. The secretary shall act as secretary at all meetings of the Board of Directors and the House of Delegates, and shall keep in permanent form, a record of all minutes taken at all official meetings; shall send copies of the minutes within 30 days after meetings to Board members, committee chairmen, district society presidents, and the editor of the official publication; shall conduct such correspondence as shall be authorized by the Board of Directors and the House of Delegates or as requested by the president; shall submit to the Executive Office of the ASCLS the names and addresses of the president, president-elect, delegates and alternates representing this Society at all meetings of the House of Delegates of that society, according to instructions received from the ASCLS; shall deliver to the next secretary all Society properties within one month after expiration of the term of office. 
    4. The treasurer shall assure the receipt and expenditure of funds in accordance with directives of the Board of Directors and 
        a. have the accounts audited every two years or at the end of the term of office by a public accountant at the Society's expense, or by an auditing committee appointed by the president from the profession membership; 
        b. submit a statement of all receipts and  expenditures to the Board of Directors and House of Delegates; 
        c. file the proper IRS forms annually; 
        d. deliver all records following the last audited report all cash on hand to the next treasurer at the end of the term of office; and 
        e. be an ex-officio member of the Finance Committee.

B.

An officer of this Society may be nominated for a different office and is entitled to continue in office until election to a different office is made official, whereupon resignation from the original office is necessary.

C. 

The election of officers by the House of Delegates shall be conducted by the Elections Committee. Election shall be by ballot and a majority of votes cast shall elect. If no candidate for an office receives a majority of the votes on the first ballot, the candidate with the lowest number of votes shall be eliminated and balloting shall continue until a candidate  receives a majority of the votes cast. In the event of a tie, the election shall be determined by lot. 
    1. An official list of candidates and their qualifications shall be sent to each professional member of this Society not less than thirty days before the date of the next annual meting. 
    2. Nominations may be made from the floor. The written permission and qualifications of all persons nominated from the floor shall be presented to the House of Delegates at the time such nominations are made.

D. 

Terms of office 
    1. The term of office for the president of this Society shall be one year. 
    2. The president-elect shall be elected for a term of one year. Except in the event of a vacancy in the office of president, the president-elect shall serve for one year and then automatically succeed to the office of president. 
    3. The secretary shall be elected for a term of two years and shall not serve in this office for more than two consecutive full terms. 
    4. The treasurer shall be elected for a term of two years, or until the successor is elected and qualified for office, and shall not serve in this office for more than two consecutive full terms. 
    5. The term of office of any officer of this Society shall begin on July first with the exception of the treasurer which shall be from September 1 to August 31 inclusive.

E. 

Filling of vacancies 
    1. A vacancy in the office of president shall be filled by the president-elect for the remainder of the unexpired term. The office of president-elect shall remain vacant until the next annual meeting when the House of Delegates shall elect a president-elect for a term of one year 
    2. A vacancy in the office of president-elect, except to fill a vacancy in the office of president, shall remain vacant until the next annual meeting when the House of Delegates shall elect a president and a president-elect. 
    3. In the event of simultaneous removal during their terms of office of both  the president and the president-elect, the immediate past president shall become the president of this Society for the remainder of the unexpired term of president. The office of  president-elect shall remain vacant until the next annual meting when the House of Delegates shall elect both a president and a president-elect. 
    4. A vacancy in the office of either a secretary or treasurer shall be filled by the Board of Directors who shall elect the replacement by majority vote to serve until the next annual meeting. In the selection of a candidate to fill a vacancy, the Board shall first consider the candidates from the slate of nominees for that office in the preceding election. At the next annual meeting, the House of Delegates shall fill the unexpired term of office by election.

ARTICLE XI 
Board of Directors

A.

The yearly business of this Society is the responsibility of the Board of Directors. All business transacted by the Board of Directors shall be reported to the House of Delegates at the next annual meeting. 
    1. There shall be at least two meetings of the Board of Directors. One meeting shall be in the Fall and one meeting within two weeks prior to the annual meeting. The time and place of such meetings to be designated by the chairman. There shall be additional meetings as the business of the Society shall require. 
    2. A member of the Board of Directors may be appointed by the president to serve as an ex officio member of one or more appointive committees as appropriate or necessary for the purpose of liaison and communication. 
    3. The chairman of the ASCLS-PA Student Forum shall be a voting member of the Board.

B. 

The president of this Society shall serve as chairman of the Board of Directors and the secretary shall serve as a secretary to the Board. In the absence of the president, the president-elect shall assume the chairmanship.

C. 

Election to the Board of Directors 
    1. The elected members of the Board of Directors shall be nominated and elected in the manner described by the Regulations of this Society for nominations and elections of officers. 
2. The term of office of a member elected to the Board of Directors shall begin on July first. The term of office shall be three years. An elected member of the Board of Directors shall serve no more than six years or two consecutive full terms as an elected member. After serving six years, a minimum of one year must elapse before a member is eligible to be re-elected to the Board of Directors. 
3. In the event of a vacancy among the elected members to the Board of Directors, the president of this Society shall appoint a successor to serve until the next annual meeting and give first consideration to appointment of one of the candidates from the most recent slate of nominees for Board of Directors. At the next annual meeting the vacancy shall be filled by election of the House of Delegates to fill unexpired term. In the event of a vacancy in the position of immediate past president on the Board of Directors, the president shall appoint a past president to fill the unexpired term.

D. 

Quorum

E. 

Executive secretary. 
The executive secretary shall perform duties as defined by the Board of Directors of this Society.

ARTICLE XII 
Representation to the 
President's Council of the ASCLS 

A.

When the President’s Council of the ASCLS functions as a part of the House of Delegates, the president and  president- elect of this Society who held such office on January 1 of the current year (or in the event of a vacancy having occurred and having been filled in the interim, of the constitutionally defined successor), (or their alternates) shall serve as representatives of this Society. When the President’s Council of the ASCLS meets in Annual Assembly, as it functions as a section of that society between Annual Meetings of the House of Delegates, the president and president-elect (or their alternates) of this Society who will hold such office on July 1 of the current year shall serve a representatives of this Society.

ARTICLE XIII
Representation to the House of Delegates of the ASCLS 

A. 

All persons interested in serving as a delegate to the ASCLS Annual Meeting will submit their names in writing to the ASCLS-PA President no later than April 1 of the calendar year in which the meeting is planned. 

B. 

At the House of Delegates, additional names may be added to the roster of delegates.

C.

All delegates to the ASCLS-PA meeting will be provided with a ballot with the candidate names. An alternative to the written ballot would be to place the names on a blackboard or other temporary surface.

D.

Candidates for delegate should be present in the gallery of the House or on the floor of the House, if they are serving as a delegate to ASCLS-PA. They will be introduced by the Speaker of the House. If unable to attend, their name and chapter affiliation will be announced.

E.

The speaker will instruct the ASCLS-PA House of Delegates to cast their ballots for the ASCLS delegates needed for the year.

F.

The delegate candidates with the highest number of votes will serve as delegates. The three (3) highest below this group will serve as alternates.

G.

No person may serve as delegate more than two years in a row, unless the number of delegate candidates is not sufficient to fill the available delegate slots. In addition, each candidate must have attended at least 50% of the ASCLS-PA Board Meetings in the current year to be eligible.  The ASCLS-PA secretary will be responsible for maintaining a book with the delegate service records. Delegates must take off one year after serving two before again being eligible to serve.

H.

Stipends for delegates and alternates will be determined by the ASCLS-PA Board. Stipends for all delegates will be paid no later than September 1 following the meeting, upon receipt of reports from delegates and proof of attendance from the alternates. This latter may be a form letter provided to the alternates which is signed by the ASCLS-PA president on site of the ASCLS meeting.

I.

One student delegate and alternate to the ASCLS House of Delegates shall be elected by the student membership. In the event the delegate and alternate are not elected or cannot attend the ASCLS Annual Meeting, the president shall appoint a student delegate and alternate.

ARTICLE XIV 
Committees 

A. 

Elective committees 
1. Nominations and election of nominees for the Bylaws Committee and the Nominations and Elections Committee shall be conducted in the manner prescribed by the Regulations of this Society for the nomination  and election of officers. 
        a. The Bylaws Committee shall consist of three professional members, one elected annually, each member to serve a three year term. The chairman shall be appointed from the elected members by the president, with approval of the Board of Directors. This committee shall: 
            (1) function to examine and consider changes in the constitutional codes of this Society and its district societies; 
            (2) be authorized to reject proposed changes to the constitutional codes of this Society and its district societies, provided full justification of rejection is returned to the proponent. The proponent has the prerogative to require the Bylaws Committee to refer the rejection to the Board of Directors of this Society for decision; 
            (3) prepare suggested modifications to the Standard Operating Procedures of the ASCLS, and with approval of the Board of Directors of this Society, shall submit the modifications in writing to the Board of Directors of that society; 
            (4) prepare amendments to the Bylaws of the ASCLS, and, upon approval of the Board of Directors of this Society of such amendments, shall submit three (3) copies  in context to the Chairman of the Bylaws Committee of that society no less than seven months in advance of the next Annual Meeting of the ASCLS; 
            (5) perform such additional duties as are defined in the Bylaws and Regulations of this Society. 
        b. The Nominations and Elections Committee shall be composed of one professional member elected from each district society. Each member shall serve for a term of one year, and may serve two consecutive full terms. The chairman shall be appointed by the president from the elected members. No officer, director, elected or appointed representative of this Society shall be a member of the Nominations and Elections Committee. Duties of this Committee shall include: 
            (1) notification to the president of each district society, on or before January first, of all elected persons whose terms expire on July first; 
            (2) notification to district societies and professional members of this Society that nominations are in order and solicitation of their co-operation in obtaining qualified candidates; 
            (3) initiation of direct contact with qualified persons to be nominees, in the event of an insufficient number of nominations to complete the slate; 
            (4) verification that nominees possess those qualifications prescribed by the Bylaws or Regulations of this Society for a specific elected position and that such nominees agree to candidacy; 
            (5) publication of the slate of at least two nominees for each office, together with the qualifications of such nominees, no less than thirty days before the next annual meeting; 
            (6) preparation of a ballot for election by the House of Delegates at the annual meeting; 
            (7) conduct elections of the House of Delegates following instructions prepared by the president. 
2. Filling of vacancies 
        a. when vacancy occurs on the Bylaws Committee, the president of this Society shall appoint a qualified person to serve until the next annual meeting when an individual shall be elected to serve the unexpired term. The president shall give first consideration to the candidate for committee membership on the most recent slate. 
        b. when a vacancy occurs on the Nominations and Elections Committee, the district society president concerned shall appoint a qualified person to serve the remainder of the unexpired term. The president shall give first consideration to the candidates for committee membership to the most recent slate.

B.

Appointive committees 
    1. Standing committees. With the exception of the Membership Development, the Leadership Development, and the Planning and Scope Committee, each committee shall consist of three members appointed by the president, one member annually, each member to serve a three year term, and the chairman appointed by the president. The following classes of members shall serve on these committees: professional, collaborative,  student and emeritus. These committees will work with the corresponding committees of the ASCLS. 
        a. Areas of activity of the Education Committee shall include teaching methods and aids, continuing education with Tek-Trek. 
        b. Areas of activity of the Government Liaison Committee include state and local legislation. 
        c. Areas of activity of the Professional, Personnel and Public Relations Committee include public image, membership services, communications media, and personnel development and employment security. 
        d. Areas of activity of the Career Recruitment Committee include student  recruitment and professional reactivation. 
        e. The Membership Development Committee shall be composed of nine members: a chairman appointed by the president of this Society and eight district society chairmen, one from each district society, appointed by their respective district society presidents. The chairman shall serve a three year term, and may be reappointed. (Appointment confirmed by next two presidents.) Areas of activity include recruitment of new members and reactivation of lapsed members. 
        f. Areas of activity of the Continuing Education Assistanceship Committee shall be to assist members of  ASCLS-PA in their pursuit of continuing education in the field of Medical Technology for the purpose of maintaining or upgrading their present position in Medical Technology. 
        g. The Planning and Scope Committee shall be composed of five members: the president-elect, past president and three professional or emeritus members appointed by the president. The chair of the committee shall be the president-elect. Each appointed  member shall serve a three year term, one member appointed annually. Areas of activity include projecting the needs and defining the objectives for future activities and the growth of the Society. 
        h. The Leadership Development Committee shall be composed of the immediate past presidents of each chapter, with the state president-elect acting as chair. Areas of activity of the Leadership Development Committee include mentoring and fostering involvement of all members for leadership roles, especially on the state level. 
2. Administrative committees 
        a. The Awards Committee shall be composed of one member from each active district society, appointed by the respective district society, to serve a term of one year. The chair of the committee shall be appointed by the ASCLS-PA President to serve a term of one year. All members shall not serve for more than three (3) consecutive terms. 
        b. The president shall appoint annually the members of the Credentials Committee from the professional or emeritus members of this Society necessary to complete the assignment of the committee, and shall appoint the chairman. This committee shall be responsible for the methods and procedures to certify and tally delegates and alternates for the Annual Meeting. It shall perform such additional functions and duties as are defined or implied in the Bylaws and Regulations of this Society. 
        c. The Finance Committee shall be composed of the president-elect, immediate and past treasurer, three professional, emeritus or collaborative members appointed by the president, one member annually, each member to serve a three year term, and the chairman appointed by the president. The president-elect shall serve during his/her term. The chairman must be a professional or emeritus member. The current treasurer serves as an ad hoc committee member. Duties of the committee include preparation of the annual budget and study of ways and means of meeting allotments established in the budget. 
        d. The Annual Meeting Committee shall be appointed by the district society responsible for presenting the Annual Meeting, and shall include a minimum of Exhibits, Program, Finance and Registration. The duties of these committees are found in the Annual Meeting Handbook. 
        e. Meeting Advisory Committee shall be composed of the Annual Meeting General  Chairmen from the past four years, the Program Chairmen from the past four years, the chairs of each committee for the upcoming meeting, and a representative from industry who does not have to be a member of ASCLS-PA. Representatives shall be distributed over the state geographical area. The committee shall meet a minimum of twice per year, including the Summer Leadership meeting and Annual Spring meeting. 
    3. Sub-committees The chairman of an appointive committee, with the concurrence of the committee members and the knowledge and approval of the president of this Society, may appoint chairmen to sub-committees.

C. 

Qualifications for membership and appointment of ad hoc committees shall be those which are listed in the Regulations of this Society for regular appointive committees.

ARTICLE XV
Publications 

A.

The official publication 
    1. The editor shall be a member of this  Society, well acquainted with the policies and functions of the Society, as well as qualified with the knowledge, skills and experience required for publication of a scientific journal. The editor may be an officer of this Society while serving a term of office. The editor shall be appointed by the president and approved by the Board of Directors and shall serve at the pleasure of the Board of Directors. The editor shall select such staff from the membership necessary to execute the publication. 
    2. The editor shall be responsible for printing summaries of the business of the Board of Directors meetings, the Annual Meetings, and Committee reports in the official publication.

B.

Other publications

ARTICLE XV 
Impeachment 

Impeachments may be initiated when a professional member of this Society shall file with the Board of Directors formal and specific charges against a particular person holding a position of trust in this Society. After investigation of the charges, the Board of Directors shall either exonerate the person charged or shall offer the individual the choice between resignation without further consideration and a hearing with defense. Impeachment proceedings shall suspend an official from discharge of duties and the functions shall be filled in the interim in a manner consistent with the provisions in the Bylaws and Regulations of this Society for filling a vacancy in the position. If the defendant chooses a hearing, notification of the hearing date shall be received at least sixty days prior to the hearing, together with a copy of the charges; and at the hearing be guaranteed the right to confront the accuser and to be represented by counsel. Upon conclusion of the hearing, the Board shall deliberate and form an opinion and shall report to the House of Delegates with a recommendation to exonerate or to withdraw the confidence of the House of Delegates.

ARTICLE XVII
Location

The registered Office of this Society shall be located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

ARTICLE XVIII
Fiscal Year

The fiscal year shall be from September 1 to August 31 inclusive.

ARTICLE XIX
Dissolution

A.

This corporation may be dissolved as hereafter prescribed: 
    1. The motion to dissolve shall be adopted by a two-thirds vote of the Board of Directors. 
    2. The recommendation of the Board of Directors, with justification, shall be submitted in writing to the members of this Society no less than 60 days prior  to the Annual Session of the House of Delegates. 
    3. Adoption of a motion to dissolve shall require a two-thirds vote to the accredited members of the House of Delegates certified as present by the Credentials Committee at the time of the vote.

B.

In the event of dissolution, the properties and assets then owned by the corporation shall be disbursed as follows: 
    1. There shall be final and full payment of all legal obligations without liability to any individual members. 
    2. The rest and residue of any property and assets of the corporation shall go to any appropriate designated charitable, scientific, or educational organizations or institutions or professional membership organizations recommended by the Board of Directors and approved by a two-thirds vote of the accredited members of the House of Delegates certified as present by the Credentials Committee at the time of the vote.

C.

In the event of dissolution, in no way shall any of the assets or property go to or be distributed to members, either for the reimbursement of any sums submitted, donated, or contributed by such members or for any other such private purposes.

ARTICLE XX
Parliamentary Authority

ARTICLE XXI
Amendments

A.

Modifications in the Society Regulations shall be made in the following manner: 
    1. A proposed modification of these Society Regulations may be submitted by a district society or by a group of three or more professional members of the Society. The modification shall be submitted in writing to the Board of Directors. 
    2. A proposed modification which has been approved by the Board of Directors after consultation with the Bylaws Committee, and which has been submitted to the members of this Society no less than thirty days prior to the annual meeting may be adopted by a majority vote of the accredited members of the House of Delegates certified as present by the Credentials Committee at the time of the vote. 
    3. A proposed modification which has not been approved by the Board of Directors or which has not been submitted to the members of the Society may be submitted in writing at the annual meeting. Such a modification shall require for adoption a two-thirds vote of the accredited members of the House of Delegates certified as present by the Credentials Committee at the time of the vote.

B.

Four copies of proposed amendment(s) shall be submitted in context to the chairman of the Bylaws Committee of this Society.