The Maryland Academy of Audiology subscribes to the code of ethics of the American Academy of Audiology.
The Maryland Academy of Audiology is organized for the purpose of promoting the public good by fostering the growth, development, recognition and status of the profession of audiology and its members.
1.1 Offices: The principal office of the MAA shall be located at the home or business address of the Secretary or President of the Maryland Academy of Audiology. The MAA shall have other offices at other locations as the Executive Board may from time to time designate or as the business of the MAA may require.
2.1 Members: Members of the MAA shall consist of Fellows, Honorary Fellows, Life Members and Students.
2.2 Fellows: Membership as a Fellow shall be open to all Audiologists who are licensed by a state to practice Audiology. For states in which licensure is not available, audiologists may provide documentation of Board Certification by the American Academy of Audiology or the Certificate of Clinical Competence in Audiology by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association to the MAA Executive Board.
2.3 Honorary Fellows: An Honorary Fellow is one who is recognized for professional or scientific achievement in the field of audiology. Candidates for membership as Honorary Fellows must not be eligible for regular membership as Fellows. Honorary Fellows may apply to or be nominated by the Membership Committee. Honorary Fellow status will be granted by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of approval of the Executive Board. Honorary Fellows hold all rights and obligations of regular membership, including annual dues.
2.4 Life Members: A Fellow who is sixty-five (65) years old and has been a Fellow in good standing for five (5) consecutive years may apply to become a Life Member by submitting a written request to the Secretary-Treasurer of the MAA. Life membership shall be decided by the Executive Board. Life Members hold all rights and obligations of regular membership with a waiver of annual dues.
2.5 Student Membership: Students in training in audiology, hearing science or allied studies may apply for student membership. Students hold all obligations of membership, including annual dues. Rights, however, are limited to Fellows, Honorary Fellows and Life Members.
2.6 Application for Membership: Candidates for membership shall submit an application to the Membership Committee. The Membership Committee will review the application and make a recommendation to the Executive Board as to whether admission as a member shall be granted based on the requirements listed previously for the four categories of membership. The Executive Board will decide whether admission shall be granted.
2.7 Dues: The Executive Board shall set the annual membership dues to be assessed for members and students, subject to the approval of the general membership. Dues shall be payable by January 1 of each year.
2.8 Termination of Membership:
2.9 Rights of Membership:
a) All rights are limited to Fellows, Honorary Fellows and Life Members. They include:
b) The membership shall be obligated to:
3.1 Time and Location of Meetings: The MAA shall hold a Meeting of the general membership at least once a year and at such other times and places as the Executive Board may determine, with written notice to all members at least ten (10) days before each meeting.
3.2 Information Meeting: An information meeting for the general membership shall be held during the Annual Meeting of the MAA and at such other times and places as the Executive Board may determine. At each Annual Meeting members shall be informed of all actions taken by the Executive board since the last Annual Meeting of the MAA. The annual budget shall be presented for the approval by vote of the membership during this meeting.
3.3 Rules of Order: All meetings of the MAA and the Executive Board shall be governed by the rules contained in the then current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order (https://robertsrules.com/) in all cases in which they are not inconsistent with the other provisions of the Bylaws or standing rules of the MAA.
3.4 Minutes: Minutes of all meetings of the Executive Board shall be recorded by the Secretary or designee and signed. They are to be subject to amending at the next meeting of the Executive Board. The minutes will be posted on the Members Only portion of the MAA website, where they are accessible to all current MAA members. Minutes will also be kept at the office of the Secretary (or designee), where they may be inspected by any member with appropriate notice. Minutes of all meetings shall be distributed to the members of the Executive Board in a timely manner.
4.1 Publications: The MAA shall publish as deemed appropriate and necessary by the Executive Board.
5.1 Governance: The MAA shall be governed by the Executive Board. The Executive Board shall constitute the Board of Directors in accordance with the laws of the State of Maryland. The Executive Board shall be responsible for the executive and managerial affairs of the MAA and shall initiate and establish the policies governing the MAA.
6.1 General Powers: The executive and general managerial affairs of the Academy shall be executed by the Executive Board, in the interest of the membership.
6.2 Composition: The Executive Board shall be composed of eleven (11) elected members, including the President, President-Elect, Past-President, Secretary, and Treasurer and six (6) Members-at-Large. Each of the members of the Executive Board, except the President, shall have the power to vote on issues to be decided by the Executive Board. Editor(s) of the MAA publication(s), Legislative Chair, and Convention Chair shall be ex-officio members of the Executive Board without vote. Assumption of all offices shall occur on January 1.
When a vacancy occurs within the Executive Board, a replacement shall be appointed by the Executive Board, until the next election year, with the exception of vacancy of the office of President, which shall be filled through the succession of the President-Elect, who shall serve for the remainder of the year in addition to the year already slated. The resultant vacancy of the President-Elect shall not be filled until the next election.
6.3 Meetings: At least two meetings of the Executive Board shall be held each year, including at the time of the Annual Meeting and at one other time as determined by the Executive Board. Meetings may be held at other times if requested by the President, or at least four members of the Board. The Secretary or other officer performing the Secretary’s duties shall give at least twenty-four (24) hours notice of meetings.
6.4 Quorum: At any meeting of the Executive Board, a majority (51%) of the Executive Board then in office shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
6.5 Specific Duties: In additions to its other duties, the Executive Board shall:
7.1 Nominations: Committee Members of the Nominations Committee shall be appointed by the Executive Board. The Nominations Committee shall be chaired by the Past-President.
7.2 Nominations: A slate of candidates for each election of the Executive Board shall be determined by the Nominations Committee. A call for nominations for the Executive Board shall be emailed sixty (60) days prior to the balloting. The membership status of the nominees shall be screened by the Nominations Committee and a list of candidates for each office shall then be ratified by the Executive Board for presentation to the general membership for election.
7.3 Election Process: The name and a brief biographical history of approved candidates shall be sent via an email ballot to the membership prior to the election. Election shall be by a plurality of votes cast. In the case of a tie vote, the Executive Board shall select the winner by secret ballot.
7.4 Ballot Counting: The President shall appoint a minimum of (2) persons from the Executive Board to distribute, receive and count the ballots and notify the membership of the election results.
8.1 Amendment of Bylaws: The Bylaws of the MAA may be altered, amended, or repealed and new Bylaws adopted by 2/3 (two-thirds) vote of the general membership. Amendments may be initiated by any member.
9.1 Rules: Rules which are consistent with the Bylaws may be adopted by the Executive Board to govern the activities of the MAA. A grievance procedure shall be included in the rules.
10.1 Liquidation: Upon dissolution of the MAA, the Executive Board shall, after applying or making provisions for the payment of all liabilities of the MAA, dispose of all the MAA’s assets exclusively for the purposes of the MAA in such a manner, or to such organization or organizations organized or operated exclusively for the charitable, educational, or scientific purpose which shall at the time qualify as an exempt organization or organizations under section 501(c) (3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 (or the corresponding provision of any future United States Internal Revenue Law) as the members of the Executive Board shall determine. Any such assets not so disposed of shall be disposed of by the court of original jurisdiction of the county in which the office of the MAA is then located, exclusively for such purposes or to such organization or organizations, as said court shall determine, which are organized and operated exclusively for such purposes.
11.1 Indemnification: Any individual who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party of any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceedings, whether civil, criminal, administrative, or investigative (including any action by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that this person is or was serving as an officer of the MAA or member of the Executive Board or is or was serving at the request of the MAA as a director or officer of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise, shall be indemnified by the MAA against expenses (including reasonable attorney’s fees), judgments, fines, and amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by this person in connection with such action, suit, or proceeding if the person acted in good faith for the purpose which this person reasonably believed to be in the best interest of the MAA and, in criminal actions or proceedings, in addition, had no reasonable cause to believe that this person’s conduct was unlawful, to the maximum extent permitted by and in the manner provided by the laws of the State of Maryland.
Revised 4/2004, 10/2008, 09/2009, 09/2010