Bylaws

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A. CATEGORIES OF MEMBERSHIP

Active — An individual interested in male reproductive health. This category pays full dues and has voting privileges. These members must also fulfill the membership criteria as outlined in Section IIIB.

Resident/Fellow/Postdoctoral Student — A resident or fellow currently in training or a postdoctoral student. This category has waived dues and has no voting privileges. These members must also fulfill the membership criteria as outlined in Section IIIB.

Senior/Honorary — 10 years of SSMR membership and 62 years of age or retired; OR permanently disabled. This category pays reduced dues and has voting privileges. These members must also fulfill the membership criteria as outlined in Section IIIB.

B. NOMINATIONS FOR NEW MEMBERS

1. The Membership Committee will review membership applications and approve new members on a rolling basis.
2. Credentials and requirements for membership. Members in any of the categories in Section IIIA must also fulfill one of the following criteria:
   1.  At least 20% of clinical practice or research effort must be in the area of infertility. Or
   2. Must have at least three months of basic or clinical training in male reproductive surgery or medicine. Or
   3. Must have demonstrated an interest in male reproduction by attending three meetings of the Society for the Study of Male Reproduction or by attending two SSMR meetings and a subject oriented seminar dealing with infertility sponsored by the AUA. These should be completed within a five year period. Or
   4. Resident/Fellow/Postdoctoral Student must submit letter of attestation of current training status by current Program Director or Preceptor.

A. POSITIONS

There will be positions of President, Vice President (President Elect), Secretary, and Treasurer.

B. DUTIES OF EACH OFFICER

1. President — The President presides over the business meeting. The President is to act for the Society in cases of emergency. The President is to represent the Society publicly speaking for it and negotiating for it with the advice of the Executive Committee. The President is to appoint the Auditing Committee.
2. Vice President — The Vice President is the President Elect and is to succeed the President in cases of vacancy and to appoint the Secretary as acting Vice President in that instance.
3. Secretary — The Secretary is to maintain: all correspondence, the minutes of each meeting, a file of reports from committee chairmen, and membership rolls.
4. Treasurer — The Treasurer is to assess and collect dues. The Treasurer is to recommend the appropriate level of dues, to maintain the budget, to facilitate the annual audit and to make disbursements as deemed necessary by the Executive Committee.

C. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Election of officers will occur online with voting via the SSMR web site prior to the Annual Scientific Meeting. Nominees for officers will be chosen by the Nominating Committee. Each year, one Member-at-Large will be elected. On alternate years either the secretary or treasurer will be elected for a two year term as secretary or treasurer. In the event of a tie in the voting, an email message will be sent to SSMR members announcing the tie. The email will also announce that the election will be extended by one week, at which time the results for that race will be tallied.

D. PROGRESSION OF OFFICERS

The progression of officers will be Treasurer for 2 years to vice president (President-Elect) for one year to President for one year to Past President. After two years the Secretary will progress to vice-president (President-Elect) for one year to President for one year to Past President. The progression of Secretary and Treasurer will occur in alternate years. The Past President will remain on the Executive Committee for two years.

E. VACANCIES

Any vacancy occurring in the board of directors or any directorship shall be filled by the board of directors. A director elected or appointed, as the case may be, to fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his or her predecessor in office.

A. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

1. Composition — An Executive Committee will be composed of the President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, the two immediate Past Presidents, and two Members-at-Large.
   1. Members-at Large are chosen by voting at the annual business meeting. Two nominees will have been generated by the Nominating Committee. The terms will be two (2) for a limit of one (1) term. One of the Members-at-Large will be elected each year.
   2. Program Chairman — The Program Chairman is to be appointed by the President and in conjunction with the Executive Committee will be in charge of organizing the annual scientific program. The term will be for one (one) year.
   3. Director of Development — The Director of Development will be appointed by the President and may be reappointed annually. He/She will be in charge of development and fundraising.
   4. Director of Traveling Fellowship — The Director of the Traveling Fellowship will be the most senior Member-at-Large who has just rotated off from their term. He/She will be in charge of the traveling fellowship program and coordination with the SMS contacts for this program. There term will be for one year.

B. AUDITING COMMITTEE

The auditing committee will consist of two members named by the President. One member will be appointed as Chair by the President. Their duties shall be to annually audit the books. They may, with the permission of the Executive Committee, authorize external auditing as deemed necessary. The term will be one year.

C. NOMINATING COMMITTEE

The Nominating Committee should be chaired by the Vice President and include two Members-at Large appointed by the President. Nominations for the Members-at-Large and the Secretary/Treasurer will be solicited from the members and selected by the Nominating Committee.

D. MEMBERSHIP COMMITTEE

The Membership Committee will be chaired by the Secretary and include two members-at-large (a one-year term to begin after the annual meeting) selected by the Secretary in consultation with the Executive Committee. Responsibilities include, reviewing and approving applications on a rolling basis, working with the Management Company to maintain current members and to solicit new members.

E. DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE

The Development Committee will be chaired by the Director of Development. He/She, along with the Management Company, and any other SSMR members he/she chooses, will work closely with industry and the AUA to seek our continued financial support for the functions and missions of the SSMR.

F. PROGRAM COMMITTEE

The program committee will consist of the Program Chair and the President. Responsibilities include creating a program for the annual meeting. Topics, lecture titles and speakers need to be proposed and approved by the Executive Committee.

G. TRAVELING FELLOWSHIP COMMITTEE

The traveling fellowship committee will consist of the Traveling Fellowship Director as well as the most senior Member-at-Large on the Executive Committee. Responsibilities include soliciting applications, selecting finalists, creating schedule of events for fellows and designate writing assignments.

H. COMMUNICATION/WEBSITE

This Committee will be comprised of a Chairperson who is appointed by the Board of Directors and 3 – 4 committee members. One Committee Member will be early career member 10 years or less from training. The committee will be responsible for monthly update emails, newsletters and website content updates. The committee will work under the direction of the Chairperson. The Chairperson has the discretion to implement additional subcommittees of the Communication/Website Committee as needed. The term for the Chairperson is two years. Committee Members are two years, renewable once.

A. FORMAT OF BUSINESS MEETING

The minutes of the previous business meeting will be presented and voted on. The Treasurer will give a report. The election of officers and new members will take place and business will be transacted. All other business meeting items requiring approval will require approval, by vote, of the majority of those present.

B. SCIENTIFIC MEETING

The contents of the scientific meeting will be determined by the Program Chairman and Executive Committee.

C. REQUIREMENTS FOR MAINTENANCE OF MEMBERSHIP

Members absent from 3 consecutive meetings without an acceptable reason will lose membership at the discretion of the Executive Committee.

D. PAYMENT OF DUES

Attendance at the annual meeting will not be allowed unless dues are paid up to date by individual members. Membership will be canceled if dues are not paid.

E. ATTENDANCE AT MEETINGS

Both members and non-members may attend the annual educational meeting without charge. Non-members will be asked to leave before the business meeting takes place.