IRANIAN AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE TRUSTEES, FOUNDERS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS, CHAPTERS AND COMMITTEES.

MONDAY, MAY 26, 2008
WASHINGTON, DC.

Attendees: 

Drs. Sherwin Asassi, Sean Bozorgzad, Frederick Elliyin, Amir Ganchi, Hooshang Guilak, Katayoun Hashemi, Hameed Mootabar, Hooshang Mirlohi, Jasmin Moshirpur, Hosin Shahidi, Hosein Shokouh-Amiri, Mohamad Shokouh-Amiri, Tooraj Zahedi, Amir Azmani and Vida Vida.

Dr. Gandhi opens the meeting, by greeting and welcoming all and praised the out going board of directors for dedications and services for past four years (2004-2008) then introduce Dr. Barry Sadeghi newly elected board president from State of Illinois and wish him and the new board members the best and good luck.

Dr. Sadeghi is well established and prominent Obstetric and Gynecologist, active member of IAMA since beginning, member of trustee and founder of Illinois Chapter.

 Dr. Sadeghi responded that he is humble and honored to be elected as new president of IAMA and he will work tirelessly and to the best of his ability for enhancement of IAMA.

Dr. Gandhi extended his gratitude to the CME committees:  Drs. Boozorgzad, Moshirfar and H.Shkouh-Amiri, Board of Trustee - Drs.A.Zamani, A. Rezvania and H.Guilak.

IAMA-Javaan:

Dr. Mohamad Shokouh-Amiri, Iama Javaan president gave brief report of Javaan activities in past year he also mentioned that they are working to creating a web page/contact list of established doctors with their specialty along with a brief CV/ profile (with their approval) for those medical students, new graduates and whoever need their help and guidance.

Drs. H. Guilak and S. Assasi mentioned that in Texas they hold similar meeting of retired physicians, medical community and medical students in different occasions with quite success.

IAMA-Javaan has offered all the chapters a new and unified e-mail address @iama.org (2007-2008) IAMA-Javaan activities are available at their website.

Addendum to the bylaws:

The following are submitted to be amended to the IAMA bylaws.

Article

The Association hereby accepts to have affiliated sections either in the form of specialties, subspecialties, or the schools of graduation, the year of graduation and the undergraduate status (Javaan). The additional section may be added by the discretion of the Boards of Directors and Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees of IAMA if needed.

Sub Article I: Each affiliated section should have its own bylaws, which should be in total conformity with the bylaws of IAMA and in accordance with its texts.

Sub Article II: Each section should have at least twenty members. 

Sub Article III: The members shall elect the officers of the section board.

Sub Article IV: Each board shall have at least three elected members: President, Treasurer and Secretary. In the absence of the President, the Treasurer will act as his/her substitute. In case the number of members is over thirty, they shall elect a Vice President and a Member at Large.

Sub Article V: These sections are permitted only at the National level.

Sub Article VI: These so formed sections shall remain under the supervision of the IAMA Board of Directors and the Executive Committee of the Board of Trustees.

The Chapters and the Sections of IAMA may charge their members extra fees besides the Annual fee of IAMA membership for their expenses as approved by their Boards.

Conflict of Interest: If any member or members of the Boards of IAMA (Trustees, Directors, Chapters, Sections and committees, etc.) is serving as a board member of another organization whereas a subject of possible conflict of interest is in the agenda, such individual should be denied participation of discussion and or any decision making or voting on the subject of conflict. These individuals, for the purpose of keepings IAMA independent should not seek the office of the presidency or vice – presidency of IAMA.

Contribution to IAMA Bulletin:

Chapters and Sections of IAMA should buy a minimum of one page of the IAMA Bulletin to report their annual activities or solicit a page for advertisement to subsidize the expenses. The amount of the payment is calculated by dividing the total expenses by the number of pages. This payment is only for the printing and mailing as there are no individuals on the pay roll of IAMA Bulletin committee.

This addendum, as above were approved to the bylaws during the general meeting Sunday May 26, 2008.

Dr. Asassi strongly object to the addendum as is written specially to the Conflict of interest section and also the way was presented and voted on.

(a) Such a change to bylaw requires approval by 50+ of IAMA members
(b) The wording and it interpretation is very vague and need to be revised to make it more clear.

Dr.Ganchi:
(a) till there is no strong objection to the addendum as is written and approved it should stand as is
(b) There is no chance to have 50+1 members present for voting
(c) He agrees that the conflict of interest part of addendum should be revised and corrected.

Membership: Dr. Amir Ganchi ask every one present at meeting to express their thought about membership and how to improve the membership of IAMA.
 
 Dr. Amir Zamani recommends a meeting between representatives of chapters, boards and member at large to have special meeting during summer to make

a- Necessary correction to the text of addendum specifically conflict of the interest section. 
b- Recommending an effective plans regarding membership issue.

Finance Dr. Mirlohi out going treasurer gave his finance report and again reiterates practically it is not possible to balance the IAMA budget at present level of income, from membership dues, donations and annual meeting.
 We need to seek for grants, sponsorship and strong donors, etc

Membership dues Traditionally all IAMA members have send their membership fee directly to main office however for past few years Illinois and Texas chapters bill and collect the dues from their members, reimburse main office with 60 percent of and retain the rest.
Board recommends the abolishment of this system and all the membership fees (100 percent) should be sent to main office
After all this is the main office that bears all the operating expenses

Future Annual Meeting: Recommended locations: 2009 Boston, MA; 2010 Chicago, IL

Meeting adjourns.

Corresponding Secretary
H. Mirlohi, MD