STUDENT VETERINARY EMERGENCY AND
CRITICAL CARE SOCIETY CONSTITUTION AND BYLAWS

ARTICLE I : ORGANIZATION

• Section 1: Name

  This organization will hereafter be known as the Student Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society; heretoafter referred to as "SVECCS".

• Section 2: Incorporation

  SVECCS is a nonprofit organization operated under the guidance of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society; heretoafter referred to as "VECCS". VECCS is incorporated under the laws of the Sate of Washington as a non-profit corporation.

• Section 3: Structure

  This organization will be a sub-organization of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society and will adhere at all times to the guidelines and bylaws set forth by that organization. The SVECCS will exist as a parent organization for individual student chapters, established at the various colleges and schools of veterinary medicine.

• Section 4: Logo

  The SVECCS will have as its logo that emblem displayed above. The symbol shall possess a veterinary caduceus and shall bear the words "Student Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Society."

ARTICLE II : PURPOSE

The purpose of this organization will be the advancement of knowledge to students of veterinary medicine and students of veterinary technician training, and the promotion of the specialties of emergency medicine and critical care, both for the awareness of the members and in the community. To this end the SVECCS will function in the following capacities:

1. Dissemination of information about the functioning of the VECCS to its membership, particularly in regards to policy changes, activities, symposiums, etc. To this end a newsletter will be published and distributed to all student members.

2. Dissemination of information about the various student chapters for the purposes of informing the VECCS and the SVECCS of the activities therein, and for the chapters to garner information and enthusiasm from the activities of others. To this end a newsletter will be published and distributed to all student members.

3. Provide the elected officers of the VECCS with a yearly report detailing the activities and finances of the SVECCS.

4. Encourage the inclusion of emergency medicine and critical care topics in the curriculum for those colleges of veterinary medicine having student chapters.

5. To make available to the individual chapters a comprehensive list of those veterinary clinics across the United States specializing in emergency medicine and or critical care and whom are willing to make preceptorships available to the membership of the SVECCS. This list will be maintained on the SVECCS web page.

6. Encourage the pursuit of internships or residencies in emergency medicine and critical care by the SVECCS members.

7. To encourage the membership to pursue activities related to emergency medicine and critical care, such that the membership is able to gain exposure and experience in this important topic prior to graduation.

STUDENT VETERINARY EMERGENCY AND CRITICAL CARE SOCIETY BYLAWS

ARTICLE I : MEMBERSHIP

• Section 1: Chapters

  Chapters shall be approved by the unanimous decision of the Board of Directors. Chapter status will be reviewed on a yearly basis and chapters will be notified if they are not eligible and have 30 days in which to fulfill membership requirements. Any activity carried out by a chapter that is in variance with the bylaws of the VECCS or the SVECCS will jeopardize the membership of that chapter. To be considered as a chapter in good standing chapter bylaws must be on file.

• Section 2: Members

  Members in the SVECCS will be those members in good standing with one of the approved chapters. Members will be required to follow the bylaws of the VECCS, the SVECCS, and their individual chapter to be considered in good standing. Variance to any of the above stated bylaws will be cause for discipline by the organization whose bylaw was violated. To qualify for any awards or promotions sponsored by VECCS or SVECCS members must be in good standing at their individual chapter and their chapter must be in good standing with SVECCS and VECCS.

ARTICLE II : DUES

• Section 1: Individual Dues

  Individual dues will be at the discretion of the elected officers of each student chapter and will be payable to that chapter.

ARTICLE III : OFFICERS

• Section 1: Elected Officers

  The elected officers of the SVECCS will consist of a President, a Vice-President, a Recorder, a Treasurer and an Externship Coordinator. Election will be carried out by ballot, either by mail and/or electronically by those members in good standing. Only members in good standing are eligible for election.

• Section 2: Term of Office and Nominations

  Term of office for all elected officers will be one calendar year. Officers will assume their elected position starting on January 1 and terminating on December 31 for the calendar year elected. Elections will be held in accordance with Article VI, Section 5 under the guidance of the nominating committee.

• Section 3: Vacancies

  Any vacancy left when an officer is unable to complete his/her term of office will be filled by the decision of the President. In the event that the office of the President is left vacant, the Vice-President shall assume that office and shall appoint a new Vice-President for the remainder of the term.

• Section 4: Scheduling of Elections

  Nominations for the various offices will be due to the nominating committee on or before the second Friday of October of each year. Ballots will be distributed to the chapters by the third Friday of October. Each individual student chapter in good standing will receive one vote per candidate. The National Recorder must receive the ballots, either by mail, electronic mail, or by phone, within 2 weeks of receiving the ballots. The results will be announced via phone calls to those nominated and to the individual chapters by electronic mail the following business day.

ARTICLE IV : DUTIES OF OFFICERS

• Section 1: President

  The President shall serve in the capacity of administrator of the SVECCS, subject to the policies and bylaws of that organization. The President shall serve as spokesman for the organization, both to the VECCS and to the general public, shall conduct meetings of the officers of the SVECCS, shall be empowered to call meetings to discuss policy change, and shall carry out all other responsibilities as required by the office. It is the duty of the President to oversee the activities of the officers.

• Section 2: Vice-President

  The Vice-President shall carry out those duties necessary to assist the President, shall fulfill the temporary office of President in the event that the elected President is temporarily unable to conduct that office, and shall oversee the responsibilities of the Treasurer and Recorder. It is the duty of the-Vice-President to oversee the activities of the student chapters and to supervise the yearly SVECCS elections.

• Section 3: Recorder

  The Recorder shall have the duty of compiling, editing, publishing, and sending to each student chapter the SVECCS newsletter "Vital Signs". To this end he/she shall be in frequent communication with the chapter officers and shall stay aware of the activities of each chapter. The Recorder shall also produce the yearly report to the officers of the VECCS as to the activities of the SVECCS.

• Section 4: Treasurer

  The Treasurer shall have the duty of overseeing the financial assets of the organization and shall be responsible for coordinating accounts payable and or due. To this end the Treasurer shall maintain an open line of communication with the VECCS official supervising the SVECCS National account, shall keep accurate records as to the dispensing of funds, and shall furnish both the officers of the VECCS and the SVECCS with a report detailing these expenditures. At the end of the term of office it will be the responsibility of the Treasurer to provide a comprehensive report detailing the financial activities for the year to the outgoing officers and to the newly elected treasurer.

• Section 5: Members-At-Large

  The two members-at-large shall be appointed by the President and be approved by the unanimous vote of the Board of Directors. The term of office for these members shall be one calendar year, concurrent with the term of office of the elected officers.

• Section 6: Externship Coordinator

  The Externship Coordinator shall have the duties of collecting, organizing, and publishing externships, preceptorships, and other similar opportunities available in emergency medicine.

ARTICLE V : BOARD OF DIRECTORS

• Section 1: Duties and Responsibilities

  The Board of Directors shall be responsible for carrying out the business of the SVECCS. To this end the Board shall function in the following capacities:

  1. Directing the policies and management of the SVECCS.

  2. Providing guidance to the various committees and providing membership in their composition.

  3. Determining the time, place, and content of meetings.

  4. Controlling the financial matters of the SVECCS.

  5. Voting and producing decisions upon the recommendations of the various committees.

• Section 2: Composition

  The Board of Directors shall consist of the elected officers (President, Vice-President, Recorder, and Treasurer), two members-at-large, the National SVECCS advisor, and the immediate past-president.