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The ILABB Constitution and By-Laws

Table of Contents

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Constitution By-Laws
Preamble Section I - Duties of Officers
Article I - Name Section II - Committees
Article II - Membership Section III - Special Awards
Article III - Purpose Adoption and Amendments
Article IV - Voting Rights  
Article V - Officers  
Article VI - Executive Committee  
Article VII - Meetings  
Article VIII - Dues  
Article IX - Amendments  
Article X  

CONSTITUTION

PREAMBLE

In order that we may render useful and adequate service to our communities, our hospitals, and those persons throughout the State of Illinois who need or will need whole blood or its derivatives, we have formed this association and adopted this constitution for the uses and purposes herein set forth. This association as currently constituted includes by merger the association previously known as the Chicagoland Blood Banking Society.

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of the organization shall be "The Illinois Association of Blood Banks". It shall be organized and shall operate only as a non-profit association.

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP

Membership in this association shall be of two classes, institutional and individual.

Institutional membership shall be open to blood banks and transfusion services in Illinois.

Individual membership shall be open to any individual interested in Blood Banking. Individuals who have performed outstanding service to the organization may be granted Member-for-Life status, which will entitle them to enjoy the benefits of membership without paying yearly dues.

ARTICLE III - PURPOSE

The purposes of this organization are to provide, among individuals and institutions with an interest in blood banking and transfusion medicine, an exchange of ideas promoting their knowledge and interest and informing them of the latest developments in this field, and to cultivate a spirit of community and good fellowship among its members.

ARTICLE IV - VOTING RIGHTS

Each active individual and each institutional member shall be entitled to one vote before the Association. The vote of an institutional member is to be cast by the medical director and or a responsible proxy. No person may cast his/her vote on behalf of more than one institutional member.

Any individual member appointed or elected to any committee shall be entitled to one vote within that committee.

ARTICLE V - OFFICERS

The officers of the association shall consist of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and President-elect, and their duties shall be enumerated in the bylaws. The Vice-President and President-elect shall be elected annually and serve until their successors are elected and qualified.

The Secretary will be elected at the annual meeting for a two year term, and in alternate years the Treasurer will be elected at the annual meeting for a two year term. All officers shall be active individual members in good standing knowledgeable in blood banking.

ARTICLE VI - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

The Executive Committee shall be composed of five officers enumerated above (President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and President-elect) together with the immediate past-president and four members-at-large. At least one executive committee member shall be from outside the greater Chicago metropolitan area. Two members-at-large will be elected at the annual meeting for a two year term, and in alternate years two members-at-large will be elected at the annual meeting for a two year term. In addition to the requied four members-at-large, the executive committee has the jurisdiction to elect additional members-at-large as to ensure appropriate subject matter expertise representation.

The Executive Committee shall meet periodically at such times as are deemed desirable by the president or the committee itself as needed to plan the educational events in its calendar and conduct other association business.

The Executive Committee shall fill all vacancies amongst its own membership and transact all business in the intervals between meetings of the entire association.

The Executive Committee shall submit reports in full to its membership at an annual meeting.

ARTICLE VII - MEETINGS

The Association shall hold a regular meeting at least once in each calendar year at a time and place to be specified by the Executive Committee. Additional meetings shall be called as deemed necessary by the Executive Committee which shall designate time or place for such meetings, provided however, that all members in good standing shall be notified in writing of such meetings at least thirty days before.

The president shall serve as chairman of the meetings of the executive committee and the annual meeting. A quorum shall consist of those voting members in good standing present at the annual meeting or any special meeting.

ARTICLE VIII - DUES

Active institutional members and individual members, with the exception of members-for-life, shall pay annual dues. Dues shall be defined by the executive committee.

Individual or institutional members who are delinquent in payment of dues beyond a period of six months from the date of billing shall be dropped automatically from the membership roster. They may be reinstated if payment is made.

ARTICLE IX - AMENDMENTS

Any intended amendment shall be submitted in writing to the President, preferably at least sixty (60) days before it is voted upon, together with written approval of such an amendment by three ILABB members in good standing. The constitution and by-laws may be amended by a two-thirds vote of those members in good standing, present and voting at any regular or special meeting of the association.

ARTICLE X

The Association shall be incorporated under the laws of Illinois as a non-profit organization.

BY-LAWS

SECTION I - DUTIES OF OFFICERS

The PRESIDENT-ELECT is elected at the regular annual meeting and takes office as President immediately following the next annual meeting. He/she is a member of the Executive Committee. He/she assumes the duties of the President in the simultaneous absence of the President and Vice-President. He/she cooperates with and assists the Executive Committee to organize the meetings and seminars of the association with responsibility for arrangements with meeting facilities. The President-Elect is also responsible for creating, collecting, and analyzing the speaker evaluation forms and distributing continuing education forms (this task may be delegated). Finally, this individual purchases or delegates the purchases of gifts, plaques, or other recognition materials for the outgoing board members.

The PRESIDENT presides at the annual and special meetings of the Association. He/she is Chairman of the Executive Committee, and is responsible for the fulfillment of these bylaws. He/she appoints the chairperson and all members of all committees except as specifically provided for in the constitution, when so requested by resolution of the Association or Executive Committee, and delegates other duties as needed. The President is also responsible for formal contacts and communications with seminar speakers (initial contacts with potential speakers may be delegated) including soliciting speaker's curriculum vitae or information forms and handouts. Upon being succeeded by the duly elected President-Elect, he/she becomes a Past-President and serves as a member of the Executive Committee for one year.

The VICE-PRESIDENT is a member of the Executive Committee. He/she assumes the duties of the President in the absence of the President. He/she cooperates with and assists the President. The Vice-President is responsible for organizing the workshops of the association, chairing any workshop committee constituted for that purpose. The tasks associated with the workshop planning and execution may be delegated, yet the Vice-President takes responsibility for ensuring that the workshops are effectively organized and executed.

The SECRETARY is a member of the Executive Committee. He/she records the minutes of all meetings of the Associations and of the Executive Committee. In concert with the Treasurer, he/she keeps the roll of membership and the records of seminar attendance, assembles the membership directory, and staffs the seminar registration desk. He/she attends to the correspondence of the Association including meeting announcements, speaker handout books, and other mailings, with the assistance of Members-at-Large.

The TREASURER is a member of the Executive Committee. He/she collects the membership dues, issues receipts therefore, receives and disburses funds of the Association. He/she signs all checks for disbursement of the Associations funds. He/she disburses the funds under the direction of the Executive Committee. He/she renders an annual report as to the state of the treasury, as well as a financial report for individual meetings, and maintains the accounts ledger. The Treasurer works with the Secretary to maintain the membership list and assemble the directory, and to staff the seminar registration desk.

The Illinois ("Downstate") Member advocates for the membership outside the Chicagoland area, assisting the Vice-President in organizing workshops for this community, arranging for workshop locations, and recruiting workshop moderators, speakers, and attendees.

In addition to participating in the functions of the Executive Committee, the Members-at-large have the following specific duties:

The Chicagoland Member-at-large is responsible for organizing the Case Studies meeting and assisting with the Chicagoland Dinner Meeting. Tasks associated with the organization of these meetings may be delegated to other Members-at-Large.

Other Member-at-large responsibilities include:

Assisting the secretary and/or treasurer in assembling meeting announcements and other mailings.

Assisting the officers with preparation of meeting handout books.

Assisting the secretary and treasurer with seminar registration desk duties.

Recruiting speakers for ILABB-sponsored events.

Performing other duties delegated by the officers.

SECTION II - COMMITTEES

Except as otherwise provided in the constitution, the President shall annually appoint chairpersons and members of the following committees. The duties of such committees shall be as follows:

The EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE is selected as provided in the constitution (Article V) and its duties set forth therein.

The NOMINATING COMMITTEE shall submit a list of candidates for all officers and members of the Executive Committee to be elected at the annual meeting. Additional nominations can be made from the floor.

The WORKSHOP COMMITTEE is selected by the president and is responsible for the organization of workshops. The subjects of the workshops and methods of conduct of workshops, shall be determined by the Committee. The number of members on the committee shall be determined by the president.

OTHER SPECIAL COMMITTEES are appointed in accordance with resolutions of the Executive Committee of the Association. Included in such special committees are the Resolution Committee, etc. The duties of each such committee are as stated in the creating resolution.

SECTION III - SPECIAL AWARDS

The CHANG LING LEE award is presented at an ILABB-sponsored meeting to an individual (Blood Bank Physician, Supervisor, Technologist, Researcher, Administrator, Donor Recruiter, Nurse, or Educator) who is an outstanding contributor to Transfusion Medicine in Illinois. Criteria for selection include:

  1. Significant contribution to Transfusion Medicine research, teaching, clinical practice, or management
  2. Publications and presentations in the field
  3. Service to local, state, national, and international blood banking organizations

The awardee must practice blood banking in Illinois, and is expected to provide a keynote lecture at an ILABB-sponsored meeting on a blood bank related topic that is appropriate to the format of the meeting at which the award is made. The award carries with it an honorarium and awardees will receive a plaque.

Members are solicited for nominations. The Executive Committee will discuss each nomination and select the awardee by a simple majority vote. CHANG LING LEE awards need not be made every year and can be presented at any ILABB-sponsored meeting.

The MEMBER-FOR-LIFE award is presented at the Fall meeting to an individual who has performed outstanding service to the organization. Awardees are selected by the Executive Committee. This award entitles such individuals to enjoy the benefits of membership without paying yearly dues; they are still responsible for individual meeting charges. MEMBER-FOR-LIFE awards need not be made every year.

The ARO AWARD is named in memory of Armando R. Orlina, M.D. who was the Medical Director, Division of Transfusion Medicine, Diagnostic Serology and Coagulation Laboratory at Michael Reese Hospital in Chicago Illinois. Dr. Orlina’s transfusion medicine practice spanned more than 40 years (1962-2003). The award is in recognition of his scientific, academic and teaching contributions to the field of transfusion medicine.

The purpose of the ARO AWARD is to promote and recognize excellence in research and education in transfusion medicine by the statewide SBB, Medical Technology, and other transfusion medicine students in Illinois.

Applicants must be attending a SBB or Medical Technology/Technician school in Illinois or be post-doctoral students in Illinois who are engaged in transfusion medicine.

Applicants must submit a completed application form and a research paper, exhibit, audiovisual production, web-based presentation, or graphic presentation to the ILABB President by the application due date.

The ARO AWARD is a competitive grant subject to review of each application for its accuracy, demonstration of an understanding of the subject matter, relevancy to transfusion medicine, clarity and organization of the application, and appropriate use of bibliographic citations. The ILABB President will identify and recruit subject matter experts from the State of Illinois to assist in the review of the applications. The President will present the reviewers’ recommendations to the ILABB Executive Committee that will make the decision regarding which applicant(s), if any, should receive the ARO AWARD.

Each awardee will receive a cash grant in the amount of $500. Multiple awards may be granted each cycle. The ARO AWARD need not be made every year if qualified meritorious applications are not received.

ADOPTION AND AMENDMENTS
Date of adoption May 23, 1951  
Amended May 22, 1959 Section I - Duties of Officers
Amended May 11, 1963 Articles VII and IX
Amended May 22, 1965 Articles VI
Amended May 16, 1969 Articles II and VI
Section II - Committees
Amended May 21, 1982 Articles IV, V and VI
Amended April 23, 1987 Articles II, V, VI, IX
Section I - Duties of Officers
Amended May 19, 1988 Articles IV, VIII, X
Amended July 19, 2001 Preamble, Articles II, III, VI, VII, VIII (deleted), IX and X; Sections I, II, and III (added)
Amended April 21, 2006 ARO Award (added)
Amended March 17, 2009 Articles, III, VI, IX. By-laws: SECTION I - DUTIES OF OFFICERS, SECTION III - SPECIAL AWARDS
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