Constitution

                      

DRAFT

       

CONSTITUTION OF THE

AMERICAN VETERINARY EPIDEMIOLOGY SOCIETY

 

Article 1- Name

Section1. The name of the Society shall be the American Veterinary Epidemiology Society, Inc.

 

Section2. The Society shall be a not-for-profit organization in fact, and its officers shall comply with the laws of the state of Kentucky , USA.

 

Article II- Purpose

The mission of the AVES is to improve animal and human health through veterinary education, providing recognition of outstanding veterinary epidemiologists, student support, support for veterinary epidemiology endowments, consulting service, and other activities as decided by the Board of Directors.  This mission is accomplished by:

 

  1. Annually select one or more outstanding veterinary epidemiologists to receive the K.F. Meyer/James H. Steele Gold Headed Cane Award in recognition of their career contributions to animal and human health.

  2. Annually, select one or more Honorary Diplomates to be presented diplomas at the annual meeting of the American Veterinary Medical Society in recognition of their career contributions to animal and human health.

  3. Sustaining the AVES and it’s programs through the solicitation of tax exempt donations.

  4. Disseminate quality scientific information on veterinary epidemiology through scientific symposia and other means.

  5. Support outstanding students of veterinary epidemiology through awards and other means.

  6. Providing consulting assistance to entities and countries that are in need of veterinary epidemiological expertise to help prevent, control, manage and/or eradicate zoonotic diseases.

  7. Supporting other activities to improve the health and welfare of man and animals throughout the world.

 

Article III- Officers

The officers of the Society shall be President, Vice-president, and Secretary/Treasurer. The officers along with the Immediate past president shall constitute the Executive Committee.

 

Article IV- Executive Board

Section 1. The Executive Board shall constitute the administrative body of the Society and shall perform duties as may be prescribed by the Bylaws.

Section 2. The Executive Board shall consist of the President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Immediate Past President, Secretary-Treasurer, and at least three (3 to not more than 9) Board members.

 

Article VI- Membership

Section1. There are currently two membership classifications in the AVES.  Those receiving the Gold-Headed Cane or the Honorary Diploma  become life members with no dues requirements.  They are as follows:

 

·       K.F. Meyer/James H. Steele Gold-Headed Cane recipients

·       AVES Honorary Diploma recipients

 

Article VII- Meetings

The meetings of the Society shall be annual and as needed as determined by the Executive Board.  The main meeting shall be held during the annual meeting of the American Veterinary Medical Association.  

 

Article VIII- Dissolution

In the event of the termination and dissolution of the Society, the remaining assets will be distributed by the Executive Board to the James H. Steele endowments at the University of Texas School of Public Health which qualifies under Section 501 (c) (6) or Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954.

 

Article IX- Amendments

This Constitution may be amended by a majority vote of the general membership.