Military Audiology Association Bylaws
These bylaws are current as of January 2017.
Article I – Name
The name of the association shall be the Military Audiology Association (hereinafter referred to as MAA).
Article II – Purpose
The purposes of the association shall be to:
1. Advance the profession of audiology within the Department of Defense (DoD) by dissemination of knowledge and information.
2. Promote quality hearing health care and protect and maintain the hearing sensitivity of those exposed to hazardous levels of noise.
3. Bring audiologists and other allied professionals into our organization to further professional growth and social networks.
4. Establish and maintain cooperation among medical, biological, engineering and other sciences associated with the profession of audiology.
Article III – Membership
1. Regular Member. All DoD civilian or military audiologists are automatically members through their association with the DoD.
2. Associate Member. Any DoD civilian or military professional working in a related discipline with interest in the purposes set forth by this Association.
3. Emeritus Members. All retired DoD civilian or military audiologists are automatically an Emeritus Member upon retirement.
4. Student Members. Any student enrolled in an Audiology Doctoral University Program with interest in the purposes set forth by this Association.
5. There are no application or dues requirements for membership. Conferences held by the MAA to promote professional growth will have associated registration fees which members must pay to attend. Fees charged may vary with membership status.
6. Audiology Service Consultants will maintain a roster of all military and civilian DoD audiologists and information will be disseminated to membership through these channels.
7. Regular and Emeritus Members as described above will have voting privileges and can nominate other members for awards.
Article IV – Officers
The elected officers of MAA, hereinafter referred to as the Executive Board, shall consist of the following:
1. President
2. Vice President
3. Secretary
4. Member At-Large
5. Past President (Non-Voting)
Representation on the Executive Board shall consist of at least one member from the Air Force, Army, and Navy, with a fourth member drawn from any service every fourth year.
Article V – Duties of Officers
The President shall preside at all meetings of MAA and shall act as a member of the Executive Council. He/she shall preside at the annual MAA business meeting and will include the Executive Board when decisions are needed that significantly impact organization purposes or budget. For the annual MAA awards, the President will draft a letter soliciting award nominations to the respective services. The President will serve as liaison with other organizations, to include ASHA, AAA, NHCA, ADA, AVAA or other related organizations when issues of concern require collaboration.
For the Joint Defense Veterans’ Audiology Association (JDVAA), the President will serve as co-chair of the Joint Defense Veterans’ Audiology Conference (JDVAC) Executive Committee with the past-president of the Association of Veterans’ Administration Audiologists (AVAA). As the Executive Committee co-chair, the President will oversee JDVAC conference details with respect to speakers, events, agenda, budget, etc. and can choose to draw from the membership to form ad hoc committees to assist with conference planning. When professional conference planners are used, the President will serve as the MAA liaison.
The Vice President shall perform duties of the President during his/her absence if he/she is disabled during the term or until a successor is chosen. The Vice President shall be familiar with the duties of the President and perform such duties as may be duly assigned by the President.
The Vice President will serve on the JDVAA Education Committee as the JDVAC Exhibitor co-chair and will oversee exhibitor participation, including registration, exhibit hall floor design, exhibitor-sponsored events, and serve in general as the conference liaison to participating vendors. The Vice President will be the lead chair, with the MAA Secretary serving as the supporting co-chair.
The Secretary shall be responsible for recording the minutes of the annual MAA business meeting and the monthly MAA Executive Council meetings. S/he will notify membership of the time and place of meetings and/or conferences through the Audiology Service Consultants and/or service liaisons. The Secretary will be responsible for answering the Mailbag on the MAA website throughout his/her tenure, and is responsible for providing the Communications Director with web page updates such as election results, awards, and conference information. The Secretary will ensure the Treasurer is provided with copies of all MAA board meeting minutes for tax purposes. Additionally, the Secretary will serve on the JDVAA Education Committee as the Exhibitor co-chair for JDVAC.
The Member At-Large will participate in all MAA Executive Council meetings and serve as the primary coordinator/point of contact for any the MAA social gatherings or proposed banquets at JDVAC. The member at-large will also serve on the JDVAA Education Committee, specifically (but not limited to) the subcommittee for JDVAC Field Presentations, and perform any other duties assigned by the President.
The Past President will serve as the MAA Historian and maintain such items as photo albums, plaques, and non-current files to be passed along each year. He/she shall provide direct mentorship to the incoming President. He/she will also serve as advisor to the Executive Council on issues of importance to the members for the year
following his/her year as President. The Past President will also serve on the Executive Council of the JDVAA.
Article VI – Elections
1. The three services will rotate each year and provide an individual elected from within their respective services to assume the role of the Member-At-Large (MAL). Every fourth year, the MAL will be nominated from any service with a vote by the entire membership body. Officers will rotate in successive years through the various offices from MAL to Secretary, Vice President, President, and Past President, respectively.
2. Members attending the annual meeting shall be entitled to vote in the election of new officers or the Executive Board may elect to conduct a vote by e-mail.
3. The elected officers shall serve in the respective offices from 1 June to 31 May of the following year.
Article VII – Council
Members of the Executive Council shall be the five elected officers of the Executive Board, the Treasurer and the Communications Director. The positions of Past President, Treasurer, and Communications Director will not have voting privileges on the Executive Council.
Article VIII – Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be appointed by the Executive Board, may be from any of the services (Active Duty or DoD Civilian), and shall serve at the discretion of the Board for an indefinite period of time. The Executive Board can choose to have these duties performed by organizations which offer these services for a fee. The duties of the Treasurer shall include (but are not limited to) the following:
1. He/she will maintain the MAA checking account.
2. He/She shall pay all monies necessary for expenditures that result from doing MAA business. Approval from the Executive Board shall be required for any expenditure in excess of fifty dollars. At each annual business meeting, he/she shall provide a report on all expenditures and the upcoming year’s proposed budget.
3. He/she shall prepare the annual tax statement and submit to the Executive Board for review and approval. Upon approval, s/he will send forms to the IRS.
4. He/she will coordinate the purchase of the annual/retirement awards and schedule delivery at JDVAC.
Article IX – Communications Director
The Communications Director shall be appointed by the Executive Board. The Member may be from any of the services (Active Duty or DoD Civilian) and shall serve at the discretion of the Board for an indefinite period of time. He/she will create and/or manage MAA social media sites and website content, as well as promote future technology applications. He/she will push important updates and necessary information to the membership as instructed by the Executive Council.
Article X – CAOHC Representation
Two members shall represent the MAA at the Executive Council meetings of the Council for Accreditation in Occupational Hearing Conservation (CAOHC). Representatives shall be no less senior than the rank of Major/Lieutenant Commander (O-4) for Active Duty or GS-12 for DoD Civilian. They shall be appointed by the MAA Executive Council for a period of five (5) years unless tenure is extended by the council to a maximum of ten years.
Article XI – Meetings
1. The annual membership business meeting shall be at a time and place designated by the Executive Board. The Secretary shall ensure that the Audiology Service Consultants are provided with information regarding the annual business meeting. Annual meetings may occur at the Joint Defense/Veterans Audiology Conference (JDVAC).
2. Monthly meetings of the Executive Board or Executive Council shall be initiated by the President. Action may be taken by telephone conference, mail, or e- mail ballot.
3. The quorum for the Executive Council and annual business (membership) meeting shall be a simple majority of its voting members.
Article XII – Committees
The Executive Board shall appoint ad-hoc committees as needed.
Article XIII – Funding and Fiscal Year
1. Funds may be raised by conference fees to be determined and set by the Executive Board, fundraising activities, or in any other manner approved by the Executive Board. Funds may be appropriated by the Executive Board to defray the expenses of MAA.
2. The Fiscal Year shall coincide with the tax year cycle. The Executive Board shall, within 30 days of the annual general membership meeting, adopt an income and expense budget covering all activities for the next fiscal year.
Article XIV – Amendments
Amendments to these by-laws may be proposed by the Executive Council or any individual members. When proposed by an individual member, it shall first be sent to the Executive Board. The membership shall be notified of the proposed changes during a membership business meeting or by e-mail. Upon proposal by the Executive Board and after discussion at the membership meeting or discussion by e-mail, these by-laws may be amended or repealed, in whole or in part, by mail ballot, e-mail ballot, or voice vote during a membership meeting. Final decisions regarding amendments to these by-laws will be determined by a simple majority of votes received.