Women Faculty Group Bylaws

Article I

Name

The organization will be called the Mount Sinai School of Medicine Women Faculty Group (hereinafter "Women Faculty Group").

Article II

Mission Statement

The Women Faculty Group has been established to address issues of concern to the women faculty members of Mount Sinai School of Medicine including pay equity, discrimination, participation by women on decision-making bodies at Mount Sinai, limitations on career advancement, parenting and schedule flexibility issues, and the underlying sexism that informs these issues. To fulfill its mission, the Women Faculty Group will provide a platform from which appropriate action may be taken to promote positions endorsed by the membership and will provide a forum for mutual support, networking, education, and discussion.

Article III

Membership

A. Membership in the Women Faculty Group is open to all interested members of the faculty of Mount Sinai School of Medicine. Annual membership dues are $100 for faculty members with annual salaries greater than or equal to $60,000, and $50 forfaculty members with annual salaries less than $60,000. There is no meeting attendance requirement for membership.

B. There will be no fewer than four meetings a year of the general membership. Notification to members of meetings of the general membership and the meeting agenda will be made by mail no later than two weeks prior to the date of the meeting.

C. Except for votes for election of officers and votes to amend these bylaws, a vote of the general membership will be binding if mmade by the majority of those members voting.

Article IV

Officers

Officers of the Women Faculty Group will be a President, a Vice President, Finance, and a Vice President, Operations.

Article V

Elections of Officers

A. The President, Vice President, Finance, and Vice President, Operations, will serve two-year terms, commencing on July 1 and ending on June 30.

B. There will be no limitations on the number of terms a faculty member may serve in any elected position.

C. Elections of officers will take place in May of each year.

D. Candidates for elected positions will be from the general membership. The membership will be informed of the consenting candidates no later than one month prior to officer elections in May.

E. Officer elections will be determined by a plurality of those eligible to vote and voting and will be by mailed written ballot.

Article VI

Duties of Officers

A. The President will preside at all meetings of the general membership, serve as chair of the Executive Committee, appoint the chairs of all other standing committees (except for the Finance Committee), sign all checks with the Vice President, Finance, serve as an ex officio member of all committees, and appoint members to fill officer and Executive Committee vacancies (which appointments will stand until June 30 of the next election year).

B. The Vice President, Finance, will serve as a member of the Executive Committee, serve as chair of the Finance Committee, appoint members to fill Finance Committee vacancies, sign all checks with the President, and assume the duties of President in the event of the President’s unavailability, absence or resignation. As chair of the Finance Committee, the Vice President, Finance, will collect all dues and other payments of any kind made to the Women Faculty Group and will keep an accurate record of receipts and payments.

C. The Vice President, Operations, will record all proceedings of the meetings of the general membership, maintain the official minute books of the proceedings of all committees, and assume the duties of Vice President, Finance, in the event of the Vice President, Finance’s unavailability, absence, or resignation.

Article VII

Committees

A. There will be the following standing committees: Executive Committee, Elections Committee, Finance Committee, Governance Committee, Health Policy Committee, Mutual Support and Networking Committee, Professional Development and Education Committee, and Voluntary Faculty Committee.

B. Subject to approval by the Executive Committee and any express limitations described in these bylaws, the chairs of standing committees will select the members of such committees.

C. The President or Vice President, Finance, may appoint ad hoc committees to address specific issues of concern.

D. No committee may have fewer than three members.

E. At any committee meeting, the presence of a majority of the members will constitute a quorum for the purposes of doing business.

F. All committees will keep minutes of committee proceedings and will submit copies of these minutes to the Vice President, Operations. Committees will be required to report on activities and decisions at meetings of the general membership.

G. Executive Committee

The Executive Committee will consist of eight members, the President, the Vice President, Finance, the Vice President, Operations, the Women’s Liaison officer of Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and four additional members. Of the four additional members, two will be basic scientists and two will be clinicians. The four additional members will be elected for two-year terms in the same manner and at the same time as officers are elected.
The President will serve as chair of the Executive Committee and will preside at all meetings.
The Executive Committee will meet no fewer than six times a year at dates and times specified by the President.
The Executive Committee will represent the general membership, will determine the date and times of meetings of the general membership, and will transact any business of the general membership that requires action between general membership meetings. The Executive Committee will have such additional duties as may be assigned to it from time to time by the general membership or by these bylaws.

H. Finance Committee

The Finance Committee will consist of seven members, the President, the Vice President, Finance, the Vice President, Operations, and four additional members. Of the four additional members, two will be basic scientists and two will be clinicians. The four additional members will be elected for two-year terms in the same manner and at the same time as officers are elected.
The Vice President, Finance, will serve as chair of the Finance Committee and will preside at all meetings.
The Finance Committee will meet no fewer than three times a year at dates and at times specified by the Vice President, Finance.
The Finance Committee will have responsibility for all financial affairs of the Women Faculty Group, including, but not limited to, setting the annual budget (in consultation with committee chairs), the establishment of financial protocols, collections of monies from whatever source (dues, donations, sponsorship, etc.), and authorization of all significant expenditures. The Finance Committee will have such additional duties as may be assigned to it from time to time by the general membership or by these bylaws.

Article VIII

Amendment

These bylaws may be amended or new bylaws may be adopted at any time by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members voting, such vote to be conducted by mail.

Amended: 7/13/95