1 
CONSTITUTION OF THE CENTRAL DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY
2007 (as amended)

ARTICLE I – Name

This organization shall be called the Central District Dental Society.  This Society shall be a component society of the Georgia Dental Association (GDA) , operating under a charter granted by the GDA and shall be governed in every way by the GDA Constitution and Bylaws.  The territorial jurisdiction of this Society shall embrace the counties specified in Article VII, Section 3A of the GDA Bylaws.

ARTICLE II- Purpose

As a component society of the Georgia Dental Association, the purpose of this society shall be to assist members in providing and promoting the highest professional and ethical levels of oral health care for the citizens they serve.  As an organized body, this Society shall empower its individual members to be collectively effective with the issues that confront them and serve as an advocate for the advancement of the profession.

In addition, this society shall work to (1)  advance the Dental Profession in education, science, and good fellowship; (2) encourage dental and oral research; (3)  disseminate, in the profession, knowledge of dental discoveries and inventions; (4)  promote free and liberal discussion and exchange of opinions on all subjects related to dentistry; (5)  promote the standard of dental education; (6)  promote the usefulness, honor, and interests of its members; (7)  enlighten and direct public opinion in regard to oral hygiene and advanced scientific dental service; (8) encourage and participate in civic health work along dental lines; and (9) advocate proper dental legislation and enforcement thereof. 

ARTICLE III- Officers

Section 1.  Officers:  The officers of this Society shall be a President, a President-Elect, a Vice President, a Secretary-Treasurer, Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the GDA House of Delegates from this society and any other officers necessary for the proper functioning of this Society.

Section 2.  Election:  All elected officers shall be elected at the February meeting of this Society and installed at the Annual Meeting of the GDA during the Awards and Officer Installation Breakfast.

Article IV -Governance 

Section 1.  The governing authority of this Society shall be this Constitution, as further outlined in the Bylaws.  The Constitution and Bylaws of this Society shall be consistent with and at no time be in conflict with, or limit, the Constitution and Bylaws of the ADA or the Constitution and Bylaws of the GDA.  Upon adoption or amendment of the Constitution and Bylaws of this Society, this Society shall file a copy thereof and any changes with the Executive Director of the ADA and the Executive Director of the GDA.

Section 2.  Subject to the formal approval of the membership of this Society, the Executive control of this Society shall be vested in the Executive Council and shall be composed of the President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President, Vice President, Secretary-Treasurer, Editor, Delegates and Alternate Delegates to the GDA House of Delegates.
Section 2.  Authority:   The Executive Council shall have the authority to act for the membership of this Society and to conduct its business in an official capacity during intervals between Society meetings.

ARTICLE V -Standing Committees

Section 1.  The Standing Committees of this Society shall be: 
1.	Program Committee 
2.	Board of Censors
3.	Finance Committee
4.	Legislative Committee
5.	Necrology Committee
6.	Relief Committee
7.	Council on Dental Health
8.	Awards Committee
9.	Nominating Committee
10.	Membership Committee
11.	Economics and Insurance Committee
12.	Peer Review Committee.

Section 2.  Additional Committees:  The President and/ or the Executive Council may add other committees when and if such committee(s) are deemed necessary.

ARTICLE VI –Membership

Section 1. Active Members.  Any dentist who is licensed in the State of Georgia and who practices within the territorial jurisdiction of this Society may submit an application for membership.  The Executive Council may reject any application for membership in this Society based on (1) failure to comply with the membership requirements set forth in the GDA Bylaws, (2) failure to adhere to the Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct of American Dental Association, (3) any state or federal criminal conviction, (4) sanction against a license to practice dentistry by the Georgia Board of Dentistry, and (5) other ethical or moral reasons.  Any denial of an application for membership may be appealed to the GDA Board of Trustees. 

Section 2. Honorary Members. Any person who has made valuable contributions to the science, art or literature of dentistry or medicine may become an honorary member by election by the membership of this Society at any regular meeting, provided at least fifty percent of the active members of this Society are present.  Honorary members may enjoy all of the privileges of this Society, except that they shall not be permitted voting rights or the right to hold office. 

Section 3. Life Members. Life members of the Georgia Dental Association, who reside or practice within the territorial jurisdiction of this Society shall likewise be granted life membership of this Society. 

ARTICLE VII- Amendments

This Constitution may be amended at any regular meeting of this Society by a two-thirds vote of the members present, provided, such amendment has been distributed in writing to the membership two weeks prior to said meeting.

 
BYLAWS OF 
THE CENTRAL DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY
2007 (as amended)

ARTICLE I -Officers 

Section 1. President:

A.	Duties:  The President shall:  (1)  preside at all general meetings of the Society;  (2)  appoint all committees not otherwise provided for in these Bylaws; (3) sign, with the Secretary-Treasurer, all letters or certificate testimonials; (4) appoint members to fill vacancies in office or committees; (5)  notify members of such appointment; (6) make an annual report or address at the close of his or her tenure of office; (7)serve as a member of the Executive Council, and (8)perform such other duties as customary for a presiding officer.  In addition, he or she shall be a member ex-officio of all committees and shall be the presiding officer of the Executive Council.
B.	Term of Office:  The term for the office of the President shall be one year or until a successor is elected. 

Section 2. President Elect:

A.	The President-Elect shall (1)  assist the President and Vice President in the performance of their duties,  (2) succeed to the office of President at the annual installation of officers of the year following his or her election as President-Elect, (3) preside in the absence of the President, (4) serve as a member of the Executive Council, and (4) shall serve as Program Chairman.
B.	Term of Office:  The term for the office of the President Elect shall be one year or until a successor is elected. 

Section 3.  Vice President:

A.	Duties:  The Vice President shall (1)  assist the President and the President-Elect in the performance of their duties, (2) become President Elect following the completion of the term of his or her office, (3) serve as a member of the Executive Council, (4)  serve as Chairman of the Membership Committee, (5)  educate those dentists who are not members but reside in the territorial jurisdiction of this Society of the benefits of membership, (6) work to increase attendance at meetings of this Society, (7) be responsible for the proper registration of members and guests at the meetings of this Society, (8) control attendance at meetings of this Society, and (9) submit an annual report in writing to this Society. 
B.	Term of Office: The term for the office of the Vice President shall be one year or until a successor is elected. 

Section 4.  Secretary-Treasurer:

A.	Duties:  The Secretary-Treasurer shall (1) keep full and complete records of this Society and its Executive Council, including minutes of all meetings, (2) keep a correct list of the members of the Society as may be required by the Georgia Dental Association, (3)  keep an up-to-date copy of the Constitution, Bylaws and Policy Manual of this Society, showing any and all amendments and standing resolutions, (4)  notify in writing all officers of their election, (5)  keep accurate records of all monies received and expended, shall deposit all monies in a bank or depository designated by the Executive Council, paying out those monies ordered by the President and the Executive Councilor in accordance with the Bylaws of this Society, (6) promptly make such reports as officers of the Society shall re-quest, (7)  furnish in writing to the Secretary-Treasurer of the Georgia Dental Association a list of the officers elected by this Society, (8) serve as a member of the Executive Council, (9) serve as a member of the Necrology Committee,  and (10) perform such other duties as generally appertain to his or her office.  In addition, he or she shall be required to give bond in amount to be determined by the Executive Council; the premium thereon to be paid by the Society.
B.	Term of Office:  He or she shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee to serve a term of four years, with the ability to serve two additional terms of two years each.  The Secretary-Treasurer will not automatically become Vice President following the completion of his/her term of office. In the event a vacancy occurs, for any reason, in the office of the Secretary-Treasurer, the President is empowered to fill the office until the next meeting of the Executive Council.

Section 5.  Assistant Secretary Treasurer:

A.	Duties:  The position of the Assistant Secretary-Treasurer shall be an optional position and need not be filled at any time.  The Assistant Secretary Treasurer shall (1) take office after the announcement by the Secretary-Treasurer that he or she shall resign his or her position, (2) be guided and taught by the Secretary-Treasurer of the roles and responsibilities of the office of Secretary-Treasurer, and (3) take office one year after the Secretary-Treasurer announces his or her departure.
B.	Election and Term of Office:  He or she shall (1) be nominated by the Nominating Committee, (2) be elected by the Executive Council, and (3) serve until the Secretary-Treasurer resigns from his or her position or after one year (whichever shall occur first). 

Section 6. Editor:

A.	The Editor shall (1) be nominated annually by the Nominating Committee, (2) publish in a timely fashion the newsletter of the CDDS, (3) provide articles for the society in GDA Action, and (4) serve as a member of the Executive Council.
B.	Term of Office:  His or her term is for one year.

Section 7. Delegates to the GDA House of Delegates: 

A.	Duties:  The Delegates to the GDA House of Delegates shall (1) be the official representatives of this Society to the GDA,  (2) present to the GDA such business as this Society may direct, and (3) make all necessary reports to this Society at its regular or special meetings immediately following the adjournment of the GDA House of Delegates. 
B.	Procedure:  The Chairman and Delegates to the GDA House of Delegates shall be governed according to those policies set forth in the Policy Manual of this Society and according to Article II of the GDA Bylaws.  Any conflict shall be resolved in favor of the GDA Bylaws.

Section 8. Election:  The officers shall be installed at the Awards and Officer Installation Breakfast during the annual session of the Georgia Dental Association.

ARTICLE II -The Executive Council 

Section 1. Authority.  The authority of the Executive Council is outlined in Article IV, Section 2 of the Constitution of this Society.  The Executive Council shall transact the daily affairs of this Society.   However, any transactions or business conducted by the Executive Council must be submitted to this Society for ratification at its next regular.

Section 2.  Meetings.  The Executive Council shall convene immediately preceding each regular meeting of this Society to conduct all necessary business for this Society.  The times of each meeting shall be designated by the presiding officer of this Society.   Additional meetings may be held as necessary.

Section 3.  Business before Executive Council.  At each meeting of the Executive Council, officers of this society and each committee of this Society shall submit written reports.  The sessions of the Council shall be open to all members of this Society and to non-members upon consideration of the Executive Council.  Members may be heard by consent of the Executive Council and on any matter under consideration.  Any member of this Society desiring to bring any additional matter of business before the Council must do so in writing.  The council shall have the right to declare Executive Session, at which point all those who are not members of the Executive Counsel must depart.

Section 3. Submission of Business to Society.  All business of the Society, including reports of any committee, shall be referred to the Executive Council, prior to presentation to the Society.

Section 4. Appropriation of Society Funds.  The Executive Council shall vote all on the expenditure of all money belonging to the Society. The Executive Council may authorize certain officers or committees to expend money for specific purposes.  However, appropriations other than legitimate expenses shall have the approval of the majority vote of the Society.

Section 5. Appointments.  The Executive Council shall appoint the members of the following standing committees:

(a)  Two members of the Board of Censors;
(b)  Council on Dental Health;
(c)  Finance Committee; and
(d) Relief Committee.

Section 6. Society Membershjp.  In the interim between the regular meetings of this Society, the Executive Council is empowered to approve an application for membership by unanimous vote.  However, the application must first be approved by the Board of Censors by unanimous vote.  In the event that the Board of Censors or Executive Council fails to approve the application for membership by unanimous vote, the application shall be submitted for a vote to the membership of this Society.

Section 7.  Rules of Conduct.  The Executive Council shall have the authority to discipline a member of this Society, for any of the following reasons:

(a)	failure to adhere to the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct;
(b)	failure to comply with the peer review or ethics programs of the GDA or this Society;
(c)	violation of the Georgia Dental Practice Act;
(d)	had his or her license sanctioned by the Georgia Board of Dentistry;
(e)	received a felony conviction or any criminal conviction affecting his or her practice of dentistry; or
(f)	any other ethical or moral reasons.

It shall be the duty of the Executive Council to take cognizance of such neglect or conduct and take such action as is necessary.  Any such action against membership shall comply with Chapter XII of the ADA Bylaws.

Section 8:  Attendance at Meetings:

A.  Officers and delegates of this Society are required to:
(1): A Attend at least three (3) out of four (4) official quarterly meetings of this Society;

(2) Attend the GDA Annual Meeting. 

(3)  Attend each regularly scheduled meeting of the G.D.A. House of Delegates. Such attendance shall be considered evidence of compliance with the proper performance of the delegate duties.

B.  Attendance at meetings of the Executive Committee is required of all officers and delegates of this Society.  This is necessary for elected officers and delegates to execute the responsibilities placed upon them by this Society. Leadership that is informed of critical issues and gives it's input to the direction of the officer and delegate is essential to effective leadership. The failure of an officer or delegate to attend a required meeting shall be viewed as non-compliance with the duties of the particular position, unless: 

(1) The officer or delegate submits an explanation of absence to the Secretary/Treasurer of the CDDS within thirty (30) days of the missed meeting; and, (2) The explanation is approved by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Executive Committee of this Society at the next official Committee meeting after the absence in question. 

If the absent officer or delegate does not submit an explanation of absence from a mandatory meeting within the thirty (30) day time limit, the Executive Committee of this Society may declare the officer post or delegate position vacant.  The Executive Committee, if it declares the particular position vacant, shall then name a member dentist to fill the vacant post until the next scheduled election is held. 

Section 9.Reports of the Executive Council: The Executive Council shall make its report to the Society at each session, and upon adoption, the report shall become a part of the proceedings of the Society. 

Article III -Duties of the Standing Committees 

Section 1. The Program Committee shall, (1) with the aid of the President, secure clinicians and arrange a suitable program for the program meetings; (2) arrange the order of business of program meetings, subject to the provisions of the Bylaws; (3) decide what sessions during the program meeting shall be devoted to clinics, papers, discussions and other necessary arrangements; (3) provide chairs, fixtures, and other necessary equipment for program meetings; and (4) notify the GDA President-Elect of the time and place, name of the clinicians, and nature of the clinics of any program meeting. The Committee Chairman shall (1) keep a record of all clinics and papers, and (2) shall make a report to the Society before the next regular meeting of this Society. The program expense shall not exceed the amount stated by the budget of this Society. 

Section 2 The Board of Censors shall consist of three members.  Two members of the Committee shall be appointed by the Executive Council.  The third member shall be the President-Elect, who shall serve as Chairman.  The duties of the Board of Censors shall be (1) to report on the qualifications of the applicants for membership, and (2) bring any charges against a member in accordance with Article VI, Section 2, of these Bylaws.

Section 3. The Finance Committee shall consist of three members appointed by the Executive Council.  The Committee shall (1) prepare an annual budget for the operation of this Society for the upcoming year, (2) present the proposed budget to Executive Council. This budget shall accurately list all anticipated sources of revenues and expenditures, shall include all recommendations of the Executive Council, and assist the Executive Council in the economical administration of the affairs of this Society.

Section 4. The Legislative Committee shall consist of at three members.  The duties of the Committee shall be: (1) To cooperate with the Georgia Dental Association and the Georgia Board of Dentistry in insuring enforcement of the current Dental Practice Act; (2) To foster new legislation subject to review and approval of the Georgia Dental Association; (3) To cooperate with the American Dental Association in its legislative efforts and programs, and (4) to perform those functions outlined in the Policy Manual of this Society.  All expenditures by this committee must receive prior approval from the Executive Council. 

Section 5.  The Necrology Committee shall consist of three members, one of whom shall be the secretary of the society.   This Committee shall report in writing at each annual meeting the deaths of any members of this Society, with such biographical sketches as it may deem appropriate The Secretary shall notify the GDA Necrology Committee and send an appropriate letter of condolence to the next of kin of any departed member.

Section 6. The Relief and Survivors Assistance Committee shall consist of three members of this Society, all of which shall to be selected by the Executive Council. This Committee shall cooperate with the relief committees of the Georgia Dental Association and American Dental Association in establishing eligibility for aid. 

Section 7. The Council on Dental Health shall be composed of three members.  The Committee shall (1) devise and promote such methods as will serve to educate the general public on oral health issues, (2) review and furnish all information given to the public by this Society concerning oral health, (3) assist news agencies in the dissemination of any matters that the Committee deems are of public interest, (4) cooperate with the Council on Dental Health of the Georgia Dental Association (5) prepare suitable articles concerning the meetings of the Society and other activities, and submit these articles to local newspapers and (6) cooperate with the Editor of the Georgia Dental Association in providing news regarding this Society and the district.  The Council shall be organized in a manner that shall be set forth in the Policy Manual of this Society.

Section 8 The Awards Committee shall be composed of three members.  Each member of the Committee must have been designated as an Honorable Fellows by the Georgia Dental Association and be a member of this Society.  The Committee shall submit in writing to the GDA Awards Committee any recommendations for designation as an Honorable Fellow by the GDA, and/or recipient of the Award of Merit or Oral Discoveries and Inventions Award. Their recommendations shall be in the form required by the GDA Policy Manual. 

Section 9. The Nominating Committee shall consist of the following members: (1) Immediate Past President of this Society, (2) Chairman of the GDA Delegation, (3) the senior ADA Delegate or Alternative ADA Delegate, and (4) two members elected by the membership of this Society. These members will be elected at the September meeting, following nominations from the floor. The Nominating Committee will present its slate of candidates for current elected positions of this Society at its February meeting. 

Section 10 The Membership Committee shall of those members which the President deems appropriate. However, the Vice President shall be the Committee Chairman. The duties of this Committee shall be (1) to encourage every licensed dentist practicing within the territorial jurisdiction of this Society to become members, (2) to cooperate with the GDA Membership Committee, (3) encourage members to attend every meetings of this Society, and (4) register members and guests at the meetings of this Society.  The Vice President, as Chairman, It shall see that only those properly qualified attend meetings of the Society. 

Section 11. The Peer Review and Ethics Committee shall consist of five members, named by the Executive Council.  One member of the Committee shall be this Society's representative to GDA Peer Review and Ethics Committee and he or she shall also serve as chairman of the Central District Peer Review Committee.  The committee shall function within the framework of the Peer Review and Ethics Manual of the Georgia Dental Association and the policies established by the Peer Review and Ethics Committee of the Georgia Dental Association.

ARTICLE IV Membership

Section 1. Territorial Jurisdiction:  This Society shall include dentists from the following counties in the State of Georgia: Baldwin, Bibb, Bleckley, Butts, Crawford, Crisp, Dodge, Dooly, Houston, Jasper, Johnson, Jones, Lamar, Laurens, Monroe, Montgomery, Peach, Pike, Pulaski, Putnam, Spalding, Telfair, Toombs, Treutlen, Twiggs, Upson, Wheeler, Wilcox, Wilkinson.  Any conflict between these Bylaws and the GDA Bylaws regarding the territorial limits of this Society, shall be resolved in favor of the GDA Bylaws.  

Section 2.  Criteria for Membership:  This Society shall have the right to determine the qualifications of its members, consistent with guidelines for membership set forth in the ADA Bylaws and the GDA Bylaws.  The Executive Council of this Society shall have the right to deny an application for membership in this Society based on those reasons set forth in Article II, Section 7 of these Bylaws.

Section 3.  Application for Membership:  Candidates for membership apply upon the tripartite application furnished by the Georgia Dental Association.  This application shall be submitted to the GDA Executive Office and should be accompanied by the current year’s dues for this Society, the ADA and the GDA.  Exemptions for dues for those serving in the United States armed forces shall be recognized by this Society, as outlined in Article I, Section H of the GDA Bylaws.  After the tripartite application is processed by the GDA Executive Office,  the applications shall be referred by the Secretary to the Board of Censors, who shall investigate and submit its report thereon.  When a favorable report on any application for membership is submitted to a regular meeting of this Society by the Board of Censors, it shall require a majority vote of the members present to elect the applicant to membership.  In the intervals between the regular meetings of this Society, the Executive Council shall be empowered to approve applications for membership by unanimous vote, only after the application has been unanimously approved by the Board of Censors.  Any actions taken by the Executive Council on applications for membership to this Society shall be reported to this Society at its next regular meeting for ratification.  This Society shall have the final authority to accept or reject any application for membership.  Any appeal of a denial of an application for membership in this Society may be made to the GDA Board of Trustees as outlined in Article VII, Section 2 of the GDA Bylaws.  However, applications for membership which have been denied, may not be resubmitted to this Society for six months from the date of such rejections. 

Section 4.  Reinstatement of Membership after Non-Payment of Dues:  Any member who has been dropped from the rolls of membership due to non-payment of dues may be reinstated without action of this Society by obtaining the endorsement of the Board of Censors and paying all back Society and Association dues.  If the previous member owes more than one year of dues, he or she must submit an application for membership as if a new member. 

Section 5. Change of Residence:  When a member in good standing changes his or her location of practice in this State, the Secretary shall issue a certificate which requests that the new component society accept the dentist as a member.  Any dentist who shall move into the jurisdiction of this Society and present to the Secretary of a similar certificate from any other GDA component society shall be accepted as a member in good standing from this Society.

Section 6. Honorary Membership: Honorary members shall be elected by the Society based upon the nomination of an active member.  Such nominations shall be submitted to the Executive Council for their review and referral to this Society.  The Society shall then approve or reject any such nominations.  If elected, honorary members shall have all the privileges of active members except the right to vote. 

Section 7. Life Membership:  Life members shall be granted to those members who have been granted similar status by the Georgia Dental Association and the American Dental Association.  Life members shall be exempt from the dues of this Society. 

Section 8. Upon election to membership, each new member shall receive a copy of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Georgia Dental Association, the Constitution and Bylaws of this Society and a copy of the ADA Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct.

Section 9. The Principles of Ethics and Code of Professional Conduct of the ADA shall be the code of ethics governing all members of this Society.  All categories of membership in this Society must acknowledge the authority of this Society to mandate full cooperation with the Peer Review and Ethics Review processes as a final condition of membership.  Failure to cooperate with the Peer Review or Ethics Review processes shall result in expulsion proceedings by the GDA Board of Trustees.  A member does not lose the right to appeal. Appeals must be filed with the GDA House of Delegates within 90 days of notification of the Board of Trustees’ decision.

ARTICLE V Dues 

Section 1. The annual dues of this Society shall be set by the Executive Council, with approval of the membership. 

Section 2. Dues shall be paid annually on or before January 1, and shall be paid directly to the GDA as part of the tripartite renewal.  Members who fail to pay their dues by January 31 of any year shall be subject to the rules set forth in Article IV, Section 4 of these Bylaws and Article I, Section 3 of the GDA Bylaws. 

Section 3. Life members of this Society shall be exempt from dues in this Society.

Section 4. Honorary members shall be exempt from dues in this Society. 

ARTICLE VI. Resignations and Expulsions 

Section 1. A member of this Society in good standing may honorably withdraw his or her membership by application to the Society, provided he or she is in good standing with all dues paid at time of application for withdrawal is received. 

Section 2. Any member may be charged with a violation of those acts set forth in Article II, Section 7 of these Bylaws.  All charges shall be made to the Board of Censors in writing with specifications clearly setting forth each violation. The member in question shall have a written copy of the specific allegations brought against him or her by this Society, along with the date and time of the hearing before the Board of Censors, provided to him or her at least 30 days prior to the hearing.  If the Board of Censors, after hearing all the evidence presented, determines that the charges against the member in fact are accurate, shall report its findings to this Society at the next regular meeting.  All members of this Society must be notified in writing that a proceeding to suspend or expel a member will take place.  The Society may, by ballot, then vote to suspend or expel such member.  However, any such vote to suspend or expel the member must be by three-fourths of all members present. 

Section 3. A member of this Society will not be permitted to withdraw his or her membership in this Society by resignation or failure to pay dues, until the charges brought against him or her have been acted upon by this Society. 

Section 4. Any member who may feel aggrieved by an action of this Society shall have the right to appeal to the Georgia Dental Association.

ARTICLE VII Meetings of this Society

Section 1. Meeting Dates:  The regular meetings of the Society shall be the second Thursday of the months of September, November, February, and May.  All elected officers of this Society will be elected at the February meeting.  With the exception of the February meeting, the date of any meeting may be changed by the Executive Council.  The Secretary-Treasurer shall notify the membership of the date, time and place of all meetings of this Society.

Section 2. Meeting Conflicts:  It shall be the duty of the President of this Society to endeavor to arrange the dates of the meetings of this Society, so as to avoid conflicts with meetings of other district societies if possible.  Tentative dates for the meetings shall be submitted to the President Elect of the Georgia Dental Association who will assist in coordinating meeting dates. 

ARTICLE VIII Papers 

All papers read before this Society shall become its property unless otherwise arranged for by the Board of Censors.

ARTICLE IX -Order of Business

Section 1 The order of business of each regular meeting of this Society shall be as follows:

(1) Call to order by the presiding officer
(2) Reading of the minutes
(3) Committee Reports
(4) Unfinished business
(5) New business 
(6) Program 
(7) Adjournment.

Section 2 The rules contained in the most current edition of “Sturgis Standard Code” shall govern the professional conduct of all meetings.

Section 3. The order of business may be suspended by two-thirds vote of all members present. 

ARTICLE X -Amendments 

These bylaws may be amended at any regular meeting of this Society, by two thirds vote of members present, provided that at least 2 weeks written notice has been given to the membership before the meeting at which the vote shall take place. 

CENTRAL DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY 
POLICY MANUAL

Preamble 

This manual has been prepared to inform present and future officers and members of the Central District Dental Society of the policies pertinent to the operation of the society.  It shall be the responsibility of the Executive Council of the Central District Dental Society to adopt, amend or rescind these policies.  All policy changes will be published in the District Newsletter at least 30 days prior to the meeting at which a vote will take place so that all members will be familiar with them, thereby promoting a free exchange of ideas between the members and the Executive council. 

Hereinafter in this manual when the letters CDDS appear they shall denote "Central District Dental Society." 

President 

It shall be a policy that the President hold an Executive Council Planning Session between the Spring and September regular meetings after his or her election. 

President Elect 

It shall be a policy of the CDDS that the President Elect in his or her role as program chairman is be responsible for securing appropriately engraved plaques for clinicians at the regularly scheduled meetings of the this Society and presenting these plaques to the clinicians.

Prior to each meeting, the President Elect, as program chairman, shall secure from the Secretary-Treasurer a check for the appropriate honorarium for the clinician.

It shall be a further policy that it is the responsibility of the President Elect, as program chairman, to communicate with the Secretary-Treasurer prior to each meeting, informing him or her of what audio-visual equipment and accessories will be required by the clinician.

It will also be the responsibility of the President Elect, as program chairman, to host the clinician for each meeting, seeing that he or she is seated in the proper place and that all necessary equipment is in order.

Vice President

The Vice President shall serve as Membership Chairman. He or she shall endeavor to encourage attendance at Society meetings and to promote new membership.

Secretary-Treasurer 

The Secretary-Treasurer has the responsibility of selecting an appropriate location for each regular meeting and shall plan the menu. 

The Secretary-Treasurer has the responsibility of notifying the membership of the time, date, and location of the regular meetings of the Society. 

It shall be the duty of the Secretary/Treasurer to keep an accurate list of those members attending meetings of the CDDS. 

Assistant Secretary-Treasurer

It shall be the policy of the CDDS that an Assistant Secretary-Treasurer be an optional officer of the Society. He or she shall be nominated by the Nominating Committee and elected by the Executive Council, in the event that the Secretary-Treasurer communicates his or her desire to resign from his or her office.  Effort should be made to have the Assistant Secretary-Treasurer serve for one year prior to becoming Secretary-Treasurer.

CENTRAL DISTRICT DENTAL SOCIETY DELEGATION TO HOUSE OF DELEGATES GEORGIA DENTAL ASSOCIATION 

Election of Delegates:

(1)	New members of the delegation to the GDA House of Delegates shall be elected alternately from in and out Bibb county.
(2)	A member must have practiced in the territorial jurisdiction of and maintained active membership in the CDDS for at least three years before becoming eligible to become a delegate or an alternative delegate.
(3)	All members with exception of the Chairman shall be elected annually by the membership at the February meeting.

Chairman:

It shall be the responsibility of the Chairman of the delegation to: 

(1)	convene a caucus meeting of the CDDS delegation prior to each meeting of the GDA House of Delegates;
(2)	submit a written report of the proceedings of the GDA House of Delegates to the Executive Council and the Editor of the District Newsletter; and
(3)	provide an attendance record of his or her delegation to the Executive Council and the Nominating Committee of the CDDS.

The Chairman of the delegation will be nominated by the Executive Council for a term of two years. The Chairman may serve no more than three consecutive terms as Chairman.

Annual Roll-Up of Delegates:  Each member of the delegation, other than the Chairman, moves up one slot annually so that one alternate delegate is added to the delegation each year.  Upon a delegate's or alternate delegate's annual re-election he or she shall roll up one place on the delegation for a maximum of seven years. Following a delegation roll up, and after serving the maximum number of terms as Chairman, a member must not serve as an alternate or a delegate for one year.

Attendance at GDA House of Delegates Meetings:  Except in extraordinary circumstances, all delegates from the CDDS shall attend all meetings of the GDA House of Delegates.

Legislative Committee 

It shall be a policy of the CDDS that it is the responsibility of the Legislative Committee to plan and execute all arrangements for the Annual Legislative Dinner.  Close cooperation between the Legislative Chairman and the Secretary-Treasurer is absolutely necessary. 

Relief Committee 

It shall be a policy that the Relief Committee shall now be known as the Relief and Survivors Assistance Committee. 

New Members Committee

It shall be the policy of the CDDS that all new members are appropriately inducted into the Society.  Each new member shall be informed by the Secretary-Treasurer of the name of a current member, who resides in close proximity to the candidate, who will host the applicant during the meeting at which he/she will be inducted. All new members will be seated at a prominent reserved table during the meeting. 

The Chairman of the Membership Committee shall introduce to the society all the new candidates.  The President of the society will welcome them briefly and shall present each candidate with a copy of:

(1). Constitution and Bylaws of CDDS;
(2).  Policy Manual of CDDS; and
(3).  Current Committee List of CDDS.

Council on Dental Health Committee 
It shall be a policy of the CDDS that the Council on Dental Health shall be organized as follow: 

General Chairman -Roll-up from position of Sub Chairman for Macon.

Sub Chairman -		Macon 
(with committee of 3) 	Milledgeville 
Griffin 
Warner Robins
Dublin 
Thomaston
Cordele

Representatives: 		Wrightsville 		Barnesville 
Ft. Valley		Jackson
Forsyth 		Montezuma 
Monticello 		Perry 
Vidalia 		Sandersville 
Eatonton 		Cochran 
McRea 		Hawkinsville 
Eastman 		Gordon
Vienna 

Awards Committee 

The Committee shall be organized as follows:

(1)	One new member shall be appointed to the Awards Committee each year.  Each member of the Committee shall serve for a three year term.
(2)	The terms of each member shall be staggered, with one member rotating off the committee each year.

The Awards Committee shall:

(1)	accept the name of candidates for the Award of Merit or the Oral Discoveries and Inventions Award, or for designation as an Honorable Fellow from members of this Society;
(2)	make nominations and submit nominations to the GDA Awards Committee; and
(3)	retain a current file of all possible candidates and those nominated by the Award Committee.

All nominations for each award and submission of nominations to the GDA Awards Committee shall be consistent with the GDA Policy Manual section on Awards.

Nominating Committee 

It shall be a policy of the CDDS that the Nominating Committee shall consist of the following: 

I. Immediate Past President of the CDDS
2. Chairman of the CDDS Delegation to GDA House of Delegates
3. The Senior ADA Delegate or Alternate ADA Delegate
4. Two members at large from the CDDS. (These members will be elected at the September meeting of this Society.  Nomination will be accepted from the floor). 

The Nominating Committee will present its slate of candidates for current CDDS elected positions at the February meeting of this Society. 

Election of Officers and Delegate positions will be held at the CDDS February meeting. 

Newsletter 

It shall be the policy of the CDDS that the Editor publish, in a timely manner, a newsletter which will inform the membership of those events or stories that affect the CDDS. 

General Policies

It shall be policy of the CDDS that all guests pay for their meals unless they are candidates for membership or clinicians.

It shall be a policy of the CDDS that, where practical, all appointments to committees shall be on a roll-up (staggered) basis. 

It shall be a policy of the CDDS that the delegates and alternate delegates to the GDA House of Delegates and new members be seated at a reserved table nearest the speaker's right.

It shall be a policy of the CDDS that each committee chairman has the responsibility for updating the committee's manual before passing it to his or her successor. All committee reports shall be due by the May meeting of the executive council. 

At such time as the policies contained in this manual are adopted by the Executive Council of the Central District Dental Society they shall supersede any and all existing policies of the Society.  However, any policy that contradicts any term in the Constitution or Bylaws of this Society, the Constitution, Bylaws or Policy Manual of the GDA or the Constitution or Bylaws of the ADA shall are automatically rescinded. 

Approved this ____ day of ____________________, 2007.

By:  _____________________________________
Chairman, CDDS Executive Council

Attested to by: ______________________________
Secretary-Treasurer, CDDS Executive Council