Constitution
The following is the Constitution and By-Laws for the Society of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. For more information regarding amendments to the Constitution and By-Laws, please refer to Article V, and Chapter IX respectively.

Last Updated: 03/2000

ARTICLE I - NAME
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The name of this society shall be: The Middle Atlantic Society of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons (hereafter referred to as the MASOMS)

ARTICLE II - OBJECT
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The objects of the MASOMS shall be:

To educate the public and the dental communities as to the qualifications, training and functions of the specialty of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery,

To promote and encourage the advancement of the contemporary practice of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery through educational, political and social endeavors,

To encourage the membership to discharge their Civic and Professional responsibilities within and outside of their respective communities,

To provide the MASOMS membership opportunities for professional advancement through the presentation of State of the Art continuing education programs.

ARTICLE III - ORGANIZATION
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SECTION 1- INCORPORATION

The MASOMS is a “not-for profit” organization. The MASOMS was founded in 1950, initially chartered under the Laws of the State of Maryland on September 24, 1951 as the Middle Atlantic Society of Oral Surgeons. The name was changed to the Middle Atlantic Society of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeons in 1978, and the Maryland charter was forfeited on October 7, 1981 and at that time the organization was then chartered under the Laws of the State of Delaware. If this corporation is dissolved at any time, the remaining funds and/or property shall be retired to the Educational Fund (or other hereafter named) of the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons.

SECTION 2-MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the MASOMS shall consist of members of the dental profession who have special qualifications as established in Chapter I, Section 2 of the By-Laws.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS
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SECTION 1-ELECTED OFFICERS: As established in the By-Laws.

SECTION 2-EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE: the elected officers, the Immediate Past President and three (3) members at large.

SECTION 3-APPOINTED OFFICERS: As established in the By-Laws

ARTICLE V - AMENDMENTS
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SECTION 1. A three-quarter (3/4) vote of the active and life members in good standing, present and voting at a stated semi-annual or special meeting may amend the Constitution when a quorum is present. Ten (10%) of the total active membership shall constitute a quorum.

SECTION 2. All proposed amendments to the Constitution must be submitted to the Executive Committee and the Constitution and By-Laws Committee at a regular meeting of the MASOMS. All proposed amendments must be mailed to the membership at their last known address, thirty (30) days prior to the date of a stated semi-annual or special meeting.

BY- LAWS

CHAPTER I -MEMBERSHIP
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SECTION 1: CLASSIFICATION

Members of the MASOMS shall be classified as follows:

a. Active member
b. Life Member
c. Retired Member
d. Associate Member
e. Honorary Member

SECTION 2: QUALIFICATIONS
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a. Active Member:

Active membership shall be confined to those dentists whose professional activities are limited exclusively to the field of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery and those who are both physicians and dentists and confine their practice to the dental specialty of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. To be eligible for membership, all candidates must be current members and in good standing with the American Dental Association and be of sound ethical and moral character. To be eligible for membership, all candidates must also be current members and in good standing with the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. They must also possess a current state dental or medical license and where appropriate they must possess a specialty license in that state.

b. Life Members

An Active Member may apply for the classification of Life Membership in the MASOMS, upon attaining the age of sixty-five (65) and 25 years as a dues paying member of MASOMS. If a member reaches the age of sixty-five during the year and dues are payable, the member may request a wavier of the dues by stating so in writing to the Nominating Committee. It is then the decision of the Nominating Committee to rescind the dues for that year with approval of the Executive Committee.

c. Retired Member

Retired Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons who at retirement were members in good standing of the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons and /or a recognized Regional Society may be elected to Retired Membership. They shall be excused from initiation fees, annual dues, assessments, etc. They shall however be required to pay registration fees for any MASOMS educational, social or business programs or activities attended.

d. Honorary Member

Honorary membership may be granted to those holding no other class of membership in the MASOMS and who have made distinguished contributions to the specialty of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. Nomination to this status shall bear the names of five (5) Active Members of the MASOMS. No more than two (2) Honorary Members shall be elected to this membership status in any one- (1) year.

e. Associate Member

Associate membership is reserved for non-dental members and non-members of the American Dental Association and the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons. They shall pay dues as set forth by the Executive Committee and meet the membership requirements of the Membership committee.

SECTION 3: RIGHTS AND PRIVILEGES
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a. Active Members and Life Members in good standing are the only members allowed to vote, to hold elected office, to be an elected member at large, or to be a member of a committee.

b. Retired and Honorary shall have no voting rights. They may not hold elected office, be a member at large or be a member of a MASOMS committee. These members may attend all meetings of the MASOMS having fulfilled the requirements for registration for any MASOMS educational, social or business programs.

c. There shall be an application or initiation fee for Active and Associate Members. This fee may change from time to time and will be set by the Executive Committee. This fee shall be reflected in the semi-annual minutes of the Secretary, and shall be available to the Membership on request.

d. There shall be Annual Dues for Active and Associate Members. This fee may change from time to time and will be set by the Executive Committee with final approval by the Membership at a semi-annual or Special Meeting and in accordance with the BY-LAWS. The annual membership dues shall be due by January 1st of each year and shall be considered delinquent after March 31st of that year.

e. There shall be no annual dues structure for Life, Honorary or Retired Members.

f. Forms for application to Active Membership shall be available upon request to the Secretary of the MASOMS. The Secretary shall forward all applications for Active Membership to the Membership Committee. All applications acted on by the Membership Committee shall be presented to the Executive Committee for review. The General Membership at the Annual Business Meeting shall then be asked to vote to accept the applicants at a semi-annual business meeting. A majority affirmative vote by the Active and Life members present and voting shall be necessary to accept the applicant into Membership. Any candidate rejected for Active or Associate Membership shall be permitted to re-apply for Membership after a period of six (6) months and/or appeal to the Executive Committee within 90 days.

SECTION 4: TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
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a. A member of the MASOMS may resign from the MASOMS at any time, by writing the Secretary.

b. A member shall be disqualified by failure to limit his or her practice to Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery. If resumption of limitation of his or her practice to Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery, a former member may

re-apply and be re-admitted without initiation fee, provided evidence is presented to show limitation of practice for a period of three (3) years.

c. Unpaid Dues or Assessments: Active member whose dues or assessments have not been paid prior to the convening of the semi-annual meeting of the first year of the delinquency shall cease to be an active of the MASOMS. Upon expulsion from the MASOMS, he or she ceases to be an Active Member and shall have no claims against the MASOMS for past dues paid. Before an Active Member may be dropped for non-payment of dues or assessments, he or she shall receive notice by registered mail at least fifteen (15) days prior to the next meeting that his or her name will be recommend to the MASOMS for expulsion for non-payment of dues. At that meeting, a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the members present and voting shall be required for expulsion. Members dropped for non-payment of dues may be invited to rejoin and if accepted, they shall pay all their delinquent dues, annual dues and application fee.

d. A member may be expelled from the MASOMS on the basis of written charges showing action by the Member, of detriment to the interests or honor of the MASOMS. Such charges shall be investigated by the Ethics Committee and shall have the concurrence of the Executive Committee; however, expulsion shall be solely by a three quarter (3/4) affirmative vote of the active and life members present and voting at any regular meeting of the MASOMS with a quorum present. The rights of a Member to a hearing shall at all times be preserved. Any such hearing shall be held before the Executive Committee.

e. Any Active Member shall be automatically disqualified upon loss of Membership in the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons.

SECTION 5: REINSTATEMENT

a. Voluntary: Those members, who voluntary resign from the society may be considered for reinstatement upon filing a written request for reinstatement within one year of resignation and upon payment of all back dues and assessments owed the society. Additional material requires verification that he/she is a member in good standing with the American Dental Association, American Association of Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery and be of sound ethical and moral character. They must also possess a current state dental or medical license and where appropriate they must possess a specialty license in that state. If such request for reinstatement is not made within one year following resignation, the former member, may be considered for reinstatement by submitting a reinstatement form with a reinstatement fee which shall be equal to the current application fee, payment of current year's dues and all assessment that have not been paid within the past five years and meeting current eligibility requirements. The Executive Committee upon the recommendation of the Committee on Membership may grant a waiver of dues and assessments due to personal illness or other extenuating circumstances.

b. Unpaid dues requirements: A society member, disqualified for nonpayment of dues and assessments may be considered for reinstatement upon payment of all back dues and assessments owed the society and verification that he/she is a member of his/her oral and maxillofacial surgery component society provided that such action is requested within one year of his/her notification of the disqualification for nonpayment of dues and assessments. If such request for reinstatement is not made within one year following notification of disqualification, the former member may be considered for reinstatement by submitting a reinstatement form with a reinstatement fee which shall be equal to the current application fee, payment of the current years dues and all assessments that have not been paid within the past five years and meeting all current eligibility requirements. The Executive Committee upon recommendation of the Committee on Membership may grant a waiver of dues and assessments due to personal illness or other extenuating circumstances

c. Suspension or expulsion: Any member suspended or expelled from the American Dental Association or the American Association of Oral & Maxillofacial Surgeons may be readmitted in accordance with the provisions of the MASOMS Judicial Procedures.

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