NORTH CAROLINA MEDICAL GENETICS ASSOCIATION
Article I
Organization
Section 1: The name of this organization shall be the North Carolina Medical Genetics Association.
Section 2: The North Carolina Medical Genetics Association is organized and operated exclusively for educational purposes.
Section 3: The North Carolina Medical Genetics Association aims
1) To promote the provision of quality and comprehensive genetic services to the citizens of North Carolina,
2) To promote the sharing of information with our membership, and
3) To advocate for genetic education.
Article II
Membership and Dues
Section 1: There will be a voting membership.
Section 2: Voting privileges will be shared by those individuals that are recognized by the American Board of Medical Genetics and/or the American Board of Genetic Counseling as Active candidate status or Board certified and/or who are involved in the delivery of clinical genetics services to the citizens of North Carolina, involved in the training of the providers of genetic services, and/or provide service through clinically oriented research.
Section 3: Each member shall pay annual dues as determined by the voting membership. Annual dues payment is a requirement for voting privileges. Lifetime membership will be available to individuals who are 65 years of age or older and have a history of providing genetic services in the state of North Carolina. Both registration and annual dues will be waived for these individuals. Graduate students in a genetics-related field are considered honorary members who are not required to pay dues and are not considered voting members.
Article III
Meetings
Section 1: The Association will meet regularly (at least semiannually), rotating among the Genetic Centers in the state. The host center is responsible for meeting arrangements.
Section 2: The fall meeting of the Association will include a business meeting.
Section 3: Business conducted during the business meeting shall be approved by a simple majority of the voting membership present at the meeting. With the exception of voting for the election of officers, members may vote on issues in absentia by requesting a ballot from the Secretary no later than one week after the business meeting.
Section 4: Special meetings may be called by the officers, with notice of meetings sent two weeks in advance.
Article IV
Officers
Section 1: The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers.
Section 2: Officers include a President, Vice President, Secretary, and Immediate Past President.
Section 3: The officers shall be elected by the voting members for a one-year term (Fall meeting-Fall meeting).
Section 4: The President shall preside at the meetings. The Vice President shall function in such a manner as to become prepared to assume the role as President. The Secretary’s duties include recording and distributing minutes of business meetings, distributing committee meeting minutes, acting as a conduit for voting and keeping financial records. The Immediate Past President shall serve on the Executive Committee for one year post-tenure.
Article V
Committees
Section 1: Five committees shall function as an integral part of the Association.
Biochemical and Genetic Screening Committee:
Committee membership includes all individuals interested in biochemical genetic disorders-both laboratory (including newborn screening) and clinical. Duties/mission:
1) To enhance the diagnosis, management and monitoring of biochemical genetic disorders
2) To facilitate the communication among Genetics Centers.
Cytogenetics Committee:
Committee membership includes all individuals interested in cytogenetic disorders-both laboratory and clinical. Duties/mission:
1) To share information about cytogenetic disorders and techniques
2) To facilitate the communication among Genetics Centers.
Molecular Genetics Committee:
Committee membership includes all individuals interested in disorders diagnosed through molecular techniques. Duties/mission:
1) To share information about molecular disorders and diagnostic techniques
2) To facilitate the communication among Genetics Centers.
Clinical Genetics Committee:
Committee membership includes all individuals who provide diagnosis and management of individuals with genetic conditions. Duties/mission: 1) To share information about access to clinical genetics services in North Carolina and 2) To educate each other about clinical genetics issues, particularly the care of patients in the North Carolina medical Genetics Centers.
Genetic Counseling Committee:
Committee membership includes all individuals who provide genetic counseling services in North Carolina. Duties/mission:
1) To discuss difficult genetic counseling scenarios
2) To discuss current and ongoing research,
3) To identify local resources and
4) To formulate action plans in accordance with our mission.
Section 2: Each subcommittee may keep minutes of their meetings and distribute these to the membership through the Secretary.
Article VI
Audit
The books and accounts of the Association will be reviewed annually by the officers.
Article VII
Amendments
Amendments shall be approved by a simple majority of the voting membership. Thirty days’ notice of such a vote is required. The voting may be done by mail or through an anonymous voting program through the Secretary.
Article VIII
Upon Dissolution
Upon dissolution of the Association, remaining assets are to be given charitably to the Genetic Counseling Graduate Program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro for uses deemed appropriate by its current Director and Co-Director.
If the Genetic Counseling Graduate Program at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro is no longer in operation upon the dissolution of the NCMGA organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, or corresponding section of any future federal tax code, or shall be distributed to the federal government, or to a state or local government, for a public purpose. Any such assets not disposed of shall be disposed of by a court of competent jurisdiction in the county in which the principal office of the organization is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said Court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
Approved: 1983
Revised: March 12, 1990.
REVISED: March 2003
Revised: January 2006
Revised and approved by vote: November 5, 2007
Revised and approved by online vote: February 27, 2015
