IHS Bylaws
ARTICLE I - NAME AND NATURE OF ORGANIZATION
Sec. 1. The name of this organization shall be the International Hearing Society, hereinafter referred to as the Society or IHS.
Sec. 2. The nature of this organization is that of an association of professional persons involved in the science of hearing and delivery of hearing healthcare.
ARTICLE II - PURPOSE
The purpose of the Society shall be and is:
1. To promote the welfare, insofar as hearing is concerned, of the hearing impaired.
2. To promote and advance the programs of this Society and coordinate them with the programs of similar organizations.
3. To provide a unified voice for those engaged in the practice of evaluating/testing human hearing, selecting, ordering the use of, fitting, and dispensing hearing instruments, and counseling patients.
4. To seek and maintain communication and cooperation with other professions involved in hearing healthcare.
5. To improve the methods of marketing, selecting, fitting, counseling, dispensing and using hearing instruments and to improve the effectiveness of such instruments.
6. To establish standards of education, educational assessment, and techniques in aural rehabilitation by means of amplification.
7. To examine and pass upon the qualifications of all persons who wish to have their competency in the field of fitting hearing instruments accredited by the Society.
8. To sponsor and enforce among its members a code of ethical practices.
9. To promote and encourage an effective program of public education as to the benefits of hearing healthcare and the use of amplification.
ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP
Sec. 1. IHS will be comprised of the following categories of members. All categories involving the practice of evaluating/testing human hearing, selecting, ordering the use of, fitting, and dispensing hearing instruments, and counseling patients shall abide by the Society’s Code of Ethics. The Membership Qualifications Committee (Article XII) will evaluate and pass on the qualifications in each category of membership.
a. Professional Members – Those individuals who are engaged in the practice of evaluating/testing human hearing, selecting, ordering the use of, fitting, and dispensing hearing instruments, and counseling patients. Professional Members shall have full voting privileges. (Past Presidents of the Society shall be considered lifetime Professional Members. As such they shall pay no dues or assessments and shall have full voting privileges.)
b. Associate/Affiliate Members – Those who support the purposes of the Society as defined in Article II. Such individuals may include office staff, receptionists or any other support staff, educators, physicians, counselors or those employed by a hearing industry manufacturer or supplier. Associate/Affiliate Members shall have no voting privileges.
c. Student Members – Those who are pursuing an academic or vocationally-based program of study in the practice of hearing instrument sciences or other related professions. Student Members shall have no voting privileges.
d. Inactive Members – Those who have been active IHS Members, who are no longer active in their respective fields, and who apply for Inactive Membership. Inactive Members shall have no voting privileges.
(1) Upon approval by the Board of Governors, applicants shall thereupon become Inactive Members and shall be required to pay an annual fee beginning with the next fiscal year. The Board of Governors may direct the Executive Director to review and approve applications for Inactive status on its behalf.
(2) If such Inactive Member shall become actively engaged in the practice of testing/evaluating human hearing, selecting, ordering the use of, fitting, and dispensing hearing instruments, and counseling patients, he/she shall so notify the Society and apply for reinstatement as an active IHS Member. The Board shall review such application at its next meeting and, if approved, such member shall again become an active IHS Member and shall be required to pay full dues as imposed on each member, such payment to be due at once and to be pro-rated from the date of the granting of such an active membership to the end of the current fiscal year. Failure to apply for reinstatement as an active member within 90 days of the date of again becoming active shall be reason for revocation of membership.
Sec. 2. Honors.
a. Honorary Fellows - Those persons whom the Board of Governors may from time to time deem suitable to receive the honor of membership shall be designated Honorary Fellows of the Society. Such members shall pay no dues or assessments and shall have no voting privileges.
b. Honorary Life Members - Those members or previous members whom the Board of Governors shall from time to time deem suitable to receive the honor of membership shall be designated as Honorary Life Members of the Society. Such members shall pay no dues or assessments and shall have no voting privileges.
c. Honors of the Society shall be awarded as follows: The President shall appoint a special committee to nominate and study the worthiness of such nominees for honors and special awards. Such selections shall be presented to the Executive Committee. Final selection shall be made by the Executive Committee and submitted to the Board of Governors for final approval.
Sec. 3. Dues.
a. All members (with the exceptions stated above) shall be required to pay all dues or assessments as established by the Board of Governors.
Sec. 4. Delinquent Dues and Assessments.
Any active member who shall become delinquent more than three months in the payment of regular dues or assessments shall cease to be a member of the Society. The Board may fix such other penalty schedules for late payments of dues and assessments as it sees fit. Such member may be reinstated by making application as in the case of the original application, including the initial fees, to the Executive Director, accompanied by a sum equal to all past and current dues and assessments and upon approval of such application by the Board of Governors, such person shall again become a member in good standing. The Board may remit such portion of past unpaid dues and assessments as it may deem equitable.
ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS AND BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Sec. 1. No person shall hold any office in the Society or act as a member of the Board of Governors unless they shall be a Professional Member who is engaged in the practice of evaluating/testing human hearing, selecting, ordering the use of, fitting, and dispensing hearing instruments, and counseling patients for a period of not less than three (3) years immediately preceding his/her election. The above prohibition shall not apply to the Office of Executive Director.
Sec. 2. The Officers shall consist of a President, Immediate Past President, President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer.
Sec. 3. The Board of Governors shall consist of the Officers and nine (9) Territorial Governors and two (2) Governors-at-Large, one of whom shall be the Immediate Past President and the other the President-Elect.
Sec. 4. The President and President-Elect.
The President-Elect shall be elected by the voting membership. The President shall serve a term of two (2) years. The President-Elect shall serve one (1) two (2) year term as a Governor-at-Large and may not succeed himself/herself. Upon completing one (1) two (2) year term as President-Elect, he/she will automatically become President for one (1) two (2) year term. At the completion of one (1) two (2) year term as President, he/she shall automatically become a Governor-at-Large for the succeeding two (2) year term.
a. If the office of President becomes vacant, the President-Elect shall assume the Presidency and serve out the balance of the President’s term.
b. If the office of President-Elect becomes vacant, the Board of Governors shall appoint an interim replacement to serve until the next annual meeting. A permanent replacement shall be elected by the voting membership at the next annual meeting to serve out the unexpired term of the President-Elect.
c. If the offices of President and President-Elect both become vacant, the Board of Governors will elect an interim President and President-Elect from among the members of the Board of Governors, who will serve in an interim capacity until the next annual meeting of the membership of the Society. Permanent replacements shall be elected by the voting membership at the next annual meeting to serve out the unexpired terms of the President and President-Elect.
Sec. 5. Secretary.
The Secretary shall be elected annually by and from the Board of Governors for a one (1) year term, excepting that such term will automatically terminate at the time the member ceases to be a Territorial Governor. No Governor may hold this position more than a total of three (3) full one (1) year terms.
Sec. 6. Treasurer.
The Treasurer shall be elected annually by and from the Board of Governors for a one (1) year term, excepting that such term will automatically terminate at the time the member ceases to be a Territorial Governor. No Governor may hold this position more than a total of three (3) full one (1) year terms.
Sec. 7. Territorial Governors
a. Nine (9) Governors shall be elected, one from each of the following territories:
(1) CANADIAN, composed of the country of Canada.
(2) PACIFIC, composed of the States of Alaska, California, Hawaii, Idaho, Nevada, Oregon and Washington.
(3) NORTHWEST, composed of the States of Colorado, Kansas, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, Utah and Wyoming.
(4) SOUTHWEST, composed of the States of Arizona, Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas.
(5) CENTRAL, composed of the States of Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Missouri and Wisconsin.
(6) CENTRAL EAST, composed of the States of Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan and Ohio.
(7) NORTHEAST COAST, composed of the States of Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, Rhode Island and Vermont.
(8) CENTRAL EAST COAST, composed of the States of Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Virginia, and West Virginia and the District of Columbia.
(9) SOUTHEAST, composed of the States of Alabama, Georgia, Florida, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee.
b. The term of office for Governor shall be three (3) years, except as otherwise provided in Article IV, Section 7b. After a person has served three (3) full terms as Territorial Governor, they may not be elected or appointed to the position of Territorial Governor until a period of four (4) years has passed since they has held any position on the Board of Governors, excepting that a member may be nominated by petition after a period of two and one-half (2-1/2) years has passed since they has been on the Board of Governors. The Governor may also be considered eligible to serve on the Executive Committee.
c. In the event the office of any Territorial Governor becomes vacant during any term, a new Governor will be appointed by the President, with the approval of a majority of the Board of Governors. Prior to making the appointment, the President will first solicit recommendations for that office from the President of the Chapters in that territory. Such appointee will serve for the remainder of the unexpired term.
Sec. 8. Recall from Office.
If it should ever be deemed necessary to recall an Officer from office for neglect of duty, malfeasance of office or physical inability to serve, the following procedures shall be followed:
a. A petition requesting recall of the President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President, Secretary or Treasurer from their office, together with the reasons for desiring the recall, must be signed by at least 50% of the voting members of the Society, and such petition shall be filed with the Executive Director.
b. A petition requesting recall of a Governor from their office, together with the reason for desiring the recall, must be signed by at least 50% of all voting members in the territory involved and such petition shall be filed with the Executive Director.
c. As soon as possible, and no later than thirty (30) days after receipt of proper petition for recall from office, the Executive Director shall conduct a canvass for the votes of members entitled to vote on said petition. A majority of 75% of all qualified voters, whether or not they cast a vote, shall be required to recall the President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President, Secretary or Treasurer. A majority of 75% of all qualified voters within the territory involved, whether or not they cast a vote, shall be required to recall a Governor. Any territory shall have the right to recall its Governor from the Board of Governors even though he/she may be acting as an Officer of the Society.
ARTICLE V - DUTIES OF OFFICERS AND BOARD OF GOVERNORS
Sec. 1. The President shall be the Chief Executive of the Society. He/she shall preside at all general meetings of the Society, the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors. He/she shall appoint all committees with the approval of a majority of the Board of Governors. The President will have the right to remove any committee member for cause. The President shall see that all rules and regulations of the Society are enforced. The President shall vote at all meetings of the Executive Committee and the Board of Governors. Whenever a tie vote occurs, the issue will be decided by the President.
Sec. 2. The President-Elect shall attend and observe the general meetings of the Society, the Executive Committee, the Board of Governors and other meetings which the President shall suggest, and shall undertake such activities as the President might request for the purpose of familiarizing himself/herself with the operations and activities of the Society. The President-Elect shall function as a Governor-at-Large during his/her term and preside at all meetings of the Society, Board of Governors or Executive Committee when the President is absent.
Sec. 3. The Secretary shall have charge of the official minutes of each meeting and keep accurate account thereof. He/she shall keep a complete and accurate roster of the membership and utilize the services of the Executive Director and the IHS staff in fulfilling his/her duties.
Sec. 4. The Treasurer shall collect and keep in a depository designated by the Board of Governors all dues and other monies received by the Society, approve and pay all obligations of the Society and make reports of the affairs of the Society to the Board of Governors and the Society, as often as shall be required by the Board of Governors, but not less than once a year. The Treasurer shall utilize the services of the Executive Director and the IHS staff in fulfilling his/her duties.
a. All annual reports made by the Treasurer shall be periodically audited by a Certified Public Accountant on a frequency as determined by the Board not to exceed every three years.
Sec. 5. The Board of Governors shall transact the business of the Society and perform the duties as heretofore and hereafter defined in these Bylaws. The Board will meet on the days preceding and/or following each annual meeting and as often during the year as it shall be called into session by the President provided, however, that if any five (5) members of the Board shall desire a meeting of the Board, they shall notify the President of that fact together with their reasons for desiring such meeting. The President shall issue a call for such meeting within fourteen (14) days from the date such notice addressed to him/her is received at the headquarters of the Society, such meeting to be held no more than twenty-one (21) days from the date the request is received. A quorum of the Board of Governors shall consist of a majority of the Board members. A semiannual Board of Governors meeting will be held at a place to be recommended by staff and approved by the President.
a. The Board will maintain an official register of all members and from time to time cause to be published a list of all members of this organization.
b. Each year the Territorial Governors may convene a meeting of Chapter Presidents or their delegates. The purpose of the meeting is to provide a forum for mutual exchange of information and discussion of any other matters which the Chapter leaders wish the Governor to bring to the attention of the Board of Governors.
c. In addition to the two (2) meetings a year proscribed in these Bylaws, the Board may meet, when necessary, by electronic means.
d. The Board of Governors shall approve the annual budget.
ARTICLE VI - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
Sec. 1. There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of the President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President, Secretary and Treasurer.
a. The Executive Committee shall annually prepare a budget for the approval of the Board of Governors and guidance of the Society as a whole.
b. They shall make recommendations as to changes and amendments to these Bylaws, perform such other duties as the Board of Governors shall, from time to time, delegate to them, provided that such delegation of powers shall not conflict with any of the provisions of these Bylaws. For the purpose of conducting the business of the Society, the Executive Committee shall be authorized to enter into verbal or written agreements and contracts, each not exceeding amounts specified by the Board of Governors.
c. They shall be responsible for hiring such consultants as they shall deem necessary to serve the Society.
d. The Board of Governors shall be notified as to the time and place of any formal meeting of the Executive Committee, as soon as such time and place are determined and prior to the meeting of the Executive Committee.
e. A quorum will be 80% of members of the Executive Committee.
f. All members of the Board of Governors have the right to attend meetings of the Executive Committee. Such attendance will be at the Governor’s own expense. Such attendance will be as an observer only.
ARTICLE VII - EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Sec. 1. An Executive Director shall be employed by the Executive Committee for such term and at such salary and under such contract provisions as the Executive Committee may set.
Sec. 2. The Executive Director shall carry out the day to day operation of the Society and may establish such policy as is necessary to do so, all subject to the approval of the Executive Committee. He/she shall assist the President, President-Elect, Secretary and Treasurer in their duties. He/she shall collect all dues and assessments and deliver the same to the Treasurer, prepare all necessary forms, shall annually make recommendations to the Board of Governors, investigate and render written reports to the Grievance Committee or the Board of Governors concerning all complaints made against any member, and to that end, may require any member to appear before him/her in person, or in writing, and answer such complaint or give evidence under oath or affirmation concerning the same. He/she shall maintain liaison with other professional groups interested in hearing healthcare and shall attend any meetings of such groups which he/she shall be directed to attend by the President, the Executive Committee or the Board of Governors. He/she shall perform such other duties or requirements as are usual or customary for the office.
ARTICLE VIII - MEMBERSHIP MEETINGS
Sec. 1. Dates.
The Annual Meeting of this organization will be held each year at a time and place to be approved by the Board of Governors.
Sec. 2. Special meetings of the membership may be called by a majority of the Board of Governors, which call shall fix the time and place of such meetings, together with the purpose or purposes of such meetings (only such business as conforms with the announced purpose or purposes of the special meeting may be transacted at such meeting). Notice of any special meeting shall be mailed, electronically or via postal mail, to the membership not less than thirty (30) days preceding the date fixed for such meetings.
Sec. 3. The presence of ten percent (10%) of the advanced voting registrants to any annual or special general meeting shall be necessary to constitute a quorum at any such meeting.
Sec. 4. Notice of Annual Meetings shall be given to all members not less than sixty (60) days preceding the date of such meetings. Said notice can be provided electronically or via postal mail.
ARTICLE IX - NOMINATION PROCEDURE
Sec. 1. For President-Elect.
a. At the close of the Annual Meeting held one (1) year prior to the expiration of the President’s term of office, the Executive Committee will appoint a Nominating Committee of nine (9) members, one from each Territory. Not more than three (3) will be officers or members of the Board of Governors. It will be the duty of the Nominating Committee to seek, screen and select the person to be nominated for the office of President-Elect which will be vacated at the end of the calendar year and to present such name to the Executive Director not less than one hundred and eighty (180) days prior to the end of the year.
b. Any individual eligible to vote in the election may forward to the Executive Director the name of any nominee eligible to serve, along with the endorsement signature of at least five percent (5%) of the membership eligible to vote in said election. To be valid, said nomination must be received in the office of the Executive Director at least one hundred and eighty (180) days prior to the end of the calendar year, at which time the office of President-Elect becomes vacant.
Sec. 2. For Governors.
The President will solicit from each Chapter President a recommendation of an IHS member from his or her Chapter for membership on the Nominating Committee.
a. A Nominating Committee consisting of three (3) members from within the Territory involved who are Chapter Officers or their designated representatives who are IHS members, appointed by the President of the Society, with the approval of the Board of Governors, who shall seek, screen and select nominees for said office and promptly notify the Executive Director thereof. The chairperson of the Nominating Committee shall be appointed from the committee by the President. Each member of the Nominating Committee shall have one (1) vote. In the event of a tie vote by the Nominating Committee, the President of the Society shall be called upon to cast the tie-breaking vote.
b. Any individual eligible to vote within the Territory involved may forward to the Executive Director the name of any nominee, along with the signatures of at least ten (10) individuals eligible to vote from said Territory endorsing said nomination. To be valid, said nominations must be received in the office of the Executive Director at least forty-five (45) days prior to the expiration of the term of office in question.
ARTICLE X - VOTING
Sec. 1. Each member of the Society who is a Professional Member in good standing shall have voting rights. No member shall have more than one vote on any given issue. Members may exercise their voting rights in person or by proxy in all general meetings of the Society, except as otherwise provided herein.
Sec. 2. Proxy forms shall be approved by the Board of Governors and furnished by the Executive Director to each voting member at least thirty (30) days before the date of any general meeting by electronic or postal mail. Only such proxies shall be valid. The proxy form shall be properly filled out and returned to the Executive Director for review, filing and recording, on or before twelve (12) o’clock noon of the third day immediately preceding the day fixed for any general meeting. However, proxies and/or packets containing proxies bearing a postmark seven (7) days prior to the meeting shall be accepted up to twelve (12) o’clock noon of the day preceding the general meeting. Notice of one’s selection as proxy shall be sent to said person by electronic or postal mail. Proxies may only be addressed to voting members in good standing of the Society. Failure to comply with the requirements contained herein shall render a proxy invalid.
Sec. 3. Voting for the office of President-Elect and for members of the Board of Governors will be conducted by electronic or mail-in ballot.
a. The President-Elect will be elected by the voting members in good standing of this Society. Such voting membership classification is provided for in Article III, Section 1 of these Bylaws. The Executive Director will, at least forty-five (45) days prior to the election of President-Elect, forward official ballots to voting members (voting membership classifications as provided for in Article III, Section 1 (a) of these Bylaws), who are reflected in the Society’s records as eligible to vote in said election. The ballot will include complete instructions. Said ballots will be returned by the member using a secure voting method, approved by the Board of Governors and made available to the membership, to officially tabulate the ballots. A candidate receiving the greatest number of votes will be deemed elected. The results of said election will be officially announced at the next Annual Meeting of the membership of the Society.
b. Each Governor will be elected by the voting members in good standing of this Society within the Territory to be represented. Such voting membership classification is provided for in Article III, Section 1 of these Bylaws. The Executive Director will, at least fourteen (14) days prior to the expiration of the term of office of a Governor, forward official ballots to voting members within the Territory involved (such voting membership classifications are provided for in Article III, Section 1 of these Bylaws) who are reflected in the Society’s records as eligible to vote in said election. The ballot will include complete instructions. Said ballots will be returned by the member using the secure voting method approved by the Board of Governors to officially tabulate the ballots. Ballots returned not using the designated secure method will not be counted. A candidate receiving the greatest number of votes will be deemed elected. The results of said elections will be officially announced by the Executive Director no later than thirty (30) days following the completion of the official tabulation.
ARTICLE XI - CHAPTERS
Sec. 1. Chapters may be organized within various countries, states and provinces. These Chapters shall consist of individuals engaged in the practice of evaluating/testing human hearing, selecting, ordering the use of, fitting, and dispensing hearing instruments, and counseling patients. If any Territory shall not have a Chapter within the Territory, the Governor of such Territory shall encourage the formation of such Chapter.
Sec. 2. Any group whose members are engaged in the practice of evaluating/testing human hearing, selecting, ordering the use of, fitting, and dispensing hearing instruments, and counseling patients, located within a country, state or province having no Chapter, may petition for a charter as Chapter to the Board of Governors. If meeting by Constitution, Bylaws and organization qualifications for such, the petitioning group may upon a majority vote of the Board of Governors be recognized as a local Chapter for the particular country, state or province in which the Chapter is located. Such petition shall include the name of the proposed Chapter (according to geographical location), list of its members, the names of its officers, a copy of the proposed activities, and a statement of agreement to submit, before February 28th of each year, a report of its membership and its activities for the past year.
Sec. 3. A Chapter of the Society shall continue in good standing upon fulfillment of the following conditions:
a. The number of its members shall remain three (3) or more.
b. The Chapter shall submit on or before February 28th of each year a summary report of its members and its activities for the past year and a report of its proposed activities for the next year.
c. The Chapter shall notify the Society’s Executive Director of any changes of amendments in its Constitution and/or Bylaws, such notice to be in writing, electronically or via postal mail, and to be submitted within thirty (30) days of the approval of such changes of amendments by the Chapter.
d. Every Chapter Officer and 50% of the members of the Governing Board must be a Professional Member of IHS. If any officer or member of the Governing Board is not a Professional Member of IHS, they will have thirty (30) days to become a Professional Member of IHS.
e. Each Chapter shall pay dues and fees as established by the Board of Governors.
Sec. 4. The Bylaws of IHS shall supersede the Bylaws of a Chapter in any point where such would conflict.
Sec. 5. The Society’s Board of Governors may, at any time and upon two-thirds (2/3) vote, withdraw recognition of any Chapter of the Society.
ARTICLE XII – MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATIONS COMMITTEE
Sec. 1. At the beginning of his/her term, the President may appoint, subject to approval by the Board of Governors, a Membership Qualifications Committee, whose membership shall be comprised of five (5) active members, with one (1) alternate. Members of the Membership Qualifications Committee, including the alternate member, must be full voting members of the Society, and at least three (3) of the active members shall be members of the Board of Governors.
Sec. 2. Duties of this Committee will be to evaluate and pass on the criterion of qualifications in each category of membership as set forth by the Board of Governors and approved by the membership.
Sec. 3. All members of the Society shall be furnished with an appropriate certificate evidencing membership qualifications. The certificate shall remain the property of the Society and shall be subject to return upon demand by the Society.
Sec.4. An individual convicted of a crime of Moral Turpitude shall not be eligible for membership in the Society. The Society defines Moral Turpitude as an act or behavior that gravely violates the sentiment or accepted standard of the community; a quality of dishonesty or other immorality that is present in the commission of a criminal offense. By way of example, and not in any way intended to limit the type of crime that would fall within this definition, a crime involving Moral Turpitude would include such crimes as theft, perjury, and/or vice crimes.
ARTICLE XIII - ADVISORY COMMITTEE
Sec. 1. The Board of Governors shall, from time to time, appoint an Advisory Committee to sit with the Board of Governors whenever the Board of Governors shall deem it advisable.
Sec. 2. The members of the Advisory Committee shall not have a vote on any matter considered by the Board of Governors.
ARTICLE XIV - ETHICS COMMITTEE
Sec. 1. The President, with the approval of the Board of Governors, shall appoint an Ethics Committee consisting of nine (9) voting members, one (1) from each Governor’s Territory as such Territories are defined in Article IV, Sec. 7.
Sec. 2. It shall be the purpose of said Committee to review all questions arising under the Society’s Code of Ethics, to render interpretations of said Code and to recommend any changes to said Code that it feels warranted. It will not be the function of the Ethics Committee to receive and/or hear any complaints against a member of the Society. Such complaints are to be directed to the Grievance Committee (see Article XV).
Sec. 3. The Committee will not be required to review any questions arising under the Society’s Code or render any interpretations to the Society’s Code unless it is presented with a formal written request from the Executive Director specifically outlining the issue or issues involved or the matter or matters upon which review is sought.
Sec. 4. The Committee, after due notice to the membership as to the matters that it has under consideration, will review those requests properly before it and render its interpretation thereof. The formal interpretations rendered by the Committee will be made available for examination by all members of the Society and such other persons having legitimate interest therein.
Sec. 5. All interpretations rendered by the Ethics Committee will be binding on all members of the Society and all persons who have pledged themselves to be bound by the Code of Ethics of the Society. No persons or bodies of this Society or any persons who have pledged themselves to be bound by the Code of Ethics of the Society shall have the right to disregard or overrule the interpretations rendered by the Ethics Committee.
ARTICLE XV - GRIEVANCE COMMITTEE
Sec. 1. The President shall, with the approval of the majority of the Board of Governors, appoint a Grievance Committee consisting of three (3) voting members of the Society. Such committee shall hear all complaints concerning members of the Society referred to it.
a. The Grievance Committee shall promulgate and publish a Procedure Manual outlining the manner in which complaints shall be addressed, as well as the hearing and appeal process.
ARTICLE XVI - INVESTMENT COMMITTEE
Sec. 1. The President shall, with the approval of a majority of the Board of Governors, appoint
an Investment Committee consisting of three (3) to five (5) individuals selected from the Board of Governors. Such committee shall oversee the investment of surplus funds.
Sec. 2. Investment Committee members shall serve for a term of (1) year. No member shall be eligible to serve more than four (4) full consecutive terms. A period of two (2) years must elapse following the end of the fourth full term before such a person is eligible to again serve on the Investment Committee.
Sec. 3. The Investment Committee shall promulgate and publish an Investment Policy outlining the manner in which surplus funds shall be managed, and how an Investment/Financial Advisor shall be selected.
Sec. 4. The Investment Committee will annually select one of its members to be the Committee Chair.
ARTICLE XVII – INTERNATIONAL INSTITUTE FOR HEARING INSTRUMENT STUDIES (IIHIS) COMMITTEE
Sec. 1. The committee is called the International Institute for Hearing Instruments Studies (IIHIS) It is authorized by the International Hearing Society’s (IHS) President and the Board of Governors.
Sec. 2. The IIHIS is created for the purpose of overseeing the society’s educational activities and programs. The IIHIS activities include advising on matters that directly concern the society’s instructional programs and its assessments. The specific purposes of the Education Committee may include the following responsibilities:
a. Provide the Society’s education and continuing education course approval programs with subject matter expertise for programmatic accreditation.
b. Evaluate knowledge and performance levels for educational programs and assessments.
c. Recommending, granting, revalidating, suspending, and revocation of certificates awarded by the society.
d. Oversees educational programs in setting priorities, including participating in ongoing planning activities of the program, quality measures and continual improvements.
e. Liaison to all education sub-committees to assist as needed with candidate appeals.
Sec. 3. The IIHIS is expected to offer recommendations for all educational programs and assessments to the IHS Board of Governors.
Sec. 4. The IIHIS consist of at least (7) IHS members in good standing. Members will be selected and appointed by the IHS President with the approval of the majority of the Board. IIHIS members will be comprised of practitioners from industry, academia and with various levels of education and clinical practice experience. Duration of appointment to the IIHIS is at the discretion of the IHS President with consultation of the IHS Executive Committee and staff. Appointments may be extended at the discretion of the IHS President or the committee chair as directed by the President. Committee members must acknowledge and agree to:
a. Abide by the Bylaws, Code of Ethics, Policies, Procedures, and relevant competitive or other non-disclosure agreements of the IHS.
b. Not redact, modify or utilize established IHS proprietary materials for their own proprietary benefit or personal or professional inurement without the written permission of the Society.
c. Protect the confidentiality of the IIHIS projects.
d. Resign from the IIHIS in the event of seeking employment with the International Hearing Society.
Sec. 5. Procedural rules:
a. Regular meetings face to face or virtual of the IIHIS committee shall be held no less than once per year. In addition to the one (1) meeting, the IIHIS may meet, when necessary. It is the policy of the IHS Board of Governors that IIHIS members attend all meetings of the Committee, whether in person or virtually. Any IIHIS member who is unable to attend a meeting must notify the IHS staff as soon as possible before the stated time of the meeting. Airfare, hotel (room and tax), and/or other travel expenses are reimbursed to the IIHIS Committee members by IHS.
b. IHS staff will assemble and maintain meeting notes.
c. Committee recommendations and reports will be submitted in writing to the IHS Executive Director. Documents will include both suggested action and justification for suggestions. The board will respond/react to such recommendations/reports in writing through the Executive Director.
d. Members who are absent without reasonable cause from three successive meetings will be considered to have resigned their seat.
e. While members are expected and encouraged to discuss the IIHIS within the hearing healthcare community, members shall not report opinions expressed in meetings, nor shall they report independently on committee action.
f. The committee agrees to follow the consensus decision-making. This is defined as a group decision-making process that seeks the consent of all participants. Consensus may be defined professionally as an acceptable resolution, one that can be supported, even if not the "favorite" of each individual.
g. Committee members are obligated to maintain the confidentiality of all IHS confidential information and to treat all organizational matters and information specific to the business of the IHS with proper care and discretion. Unauthorized disclosure or use of information, whether provided verbally or in writing, is considered a serious breach of care and can result in disciplinary action and possible discharge from a Committee member’s position. IIHIS members are to agree and sign an annual confidentiality agreement during their appointment.
ARTICLE XVIII – INTERNATIONAL LICENSING EXAMINATION (ILE) COMMITTEE
Sec. 1. The committee is called the International Licensing Examination (ILE)_Committee. It is authorized by the International Hearing Society’s (IHS) President and the Board of Governors.
Sec. 2. The ILE Committee is created for the purpose of overseeing the society’s licensing examination. The ILE activities include advising on matters that directly concern exams. The specific purposes of the ILE Committee may include the following responsibilities:
a. Determine necessary knowledge, skills and abilities a candidate should know as an output of the role delineation study and the ILE assessment
b. Performance levels for assessment
c. Assist in item writing and review for the assessment
d. Assist in assessment evaluation and improvement following psychometric annual data
e. Act as spokesperson for the ILE
f. Assist the assessment in setting priorities, including participating in ongoing work activities with the assessment
g. Assist with candidate appeals
Sec. 3. The ILE committee is expected to offer recommendations to the IIHIS for the International Licensing Examination.
Sec. 4. The ILE consist of at least (7) IHS members in good standing. Members will be selected and appointed by the IHS President with the approval of the majority of the Board of Governors. ILE members will be comprised of practitioners from industry, academia and with various levels of education and clinical practice experience. Duration of appointment to the ILE is at the discretion of the IHS President with consultation of the IHS Executive Committee and staff. Appointment may be extended at the discretion of the IHS President or the committee chair as directed by the President. Committee members must acknowledge and agree to:
a. Abide by the Bylaws, Code of Ethics, Policies, Procedures, and relevant competitive or other non-disclosure agreements of the IHS.
b. Not redact, modify or utilize established IHS proprietary materials for their own proprietary benefit or personal or professional inurement without the written permission of the Society.
c. Protect the confidentiality of the ILE projects.
d. Resign from the ILE committee in the event of seeking employment with the International Hearing Society.
Sec. 4. Procedural rules:
a. a. Regular meetings face to face or virtual of the ILE committee shall be held no less than once per year. In addition to the one (1) meeting, the ILE may meet, when necessary. It is the policy of the IHS Board of Governors that ILE members attend all meetings of the Committee, whether in person or virtually. Any ILE member who is unable to attend a meeting must notify the IHS staff as soon as possible before the stated time of the meeting. Airfare, hotel (room and tax), and/or other travel expenses are reimbursed to the ILE members by IHS.
b. IHS staff will assemble and maintain meeting notes.
c. Committee recommendations and reports will be submitted in writing to the IIHIS committee. Documents will include both suggested action and justification for suggestions. The board will respond/react to such recommendations/reports in writing through the Executive Director.
d. Members who are absent without reasonable cause from three successive meetings will be considered to have resigned their seat.
e. While members are expected and encouraged to discuss the IHS International Licensing Examination within the hearing healthcare community, members shall not report opinions expressed in meetings, nor shall they report independently on committee action.
f. The committee agrees to follow the consensus decision-making. This is defined as a group decision-making process that seeks the consent of all participants. Consensus may be defined professionally as an acceptable resolution, one that can be supported, even if not the "favorite" of each individual.
g. Committee members are obligated to maintain the confidentiality of all IHS confidential information and to treat all organizational matters and information specific to the business of the IHS with proper care and discretion. Unauthorized disclosure or use of information, whether provided verbally or in writing, is considered a serious breach of care and can result in disciplinary action and possible discharge from a Committee member’s position. ILE members are to agree and sign an annual confidentiality agreement during their appointment.
ARTICLE XIX – TINNITUS CARE PROVIDER OVERSIGHT COMMITTEE
Sec. 1. The committee will be called the Tinnitus Care Provider Oversight Committee. It is authorized by the International Hearing Society’s (IHS) President and the Board of Governors.
Sec. 2. The Committee is created for the purpose of working with the Tinnitus Care Provider Certificate program and shall limit its activities to advising on matters that directly concern the instructional program and its assessment. The specific purposes of the Committee may include the following responsibilities:
a. Determine necessary knowledge, skills and abilities a candidate should know as an output of the certificate program
b. Performance levels for certificate program and assessment
c. Assist in item writing and review for the assessment
d. Assist in program evaluation and improvement following the accreditation standards
e. Act as spokesperson for the program to help recruit candidates into the program
f. Assist the program in setting priorities, including participating in ongoing planning activities of the program
g. Co-facilitate as desired to become an authorized facilitator
h. Assist with candidate appeals
Sec. 3. The Tinnitus Care Provider Oversight committee is expected to offer recommendations to the IIHIS for the Tinnitus Care Provider Certificate program.
Sec. 4. The Tinnitus Care Provider Oversight committee shall consist of at least (7) IHS members in good standing. Members will be selected and appointed by the IHS President with the approval of the majority of the Board of Governors. Oversight of the committee will be the responsibility of the IIHIS Committee. The Tinnitus Care Provider Oversight Committee members will be comprised of practitioners from industry, academia and with various levels of education and clinical practice experience. Duration of appointment to the Tinnitus Care Provider Certificate Program Committee is at the discretion of the IHS President with consultation of the IHS Executive Committee and staff. Appointment may be extended at the discretion of the IHS President or the committee chair as directed by the President. Committee members must acknowledge and agree to:
a. Abide by the Bylaws, Code of Ethics, Policies, Procedures, and relevant competitive or other non-disclosure agreements of the IHS.
b. Not redact, modify or utilize established IHS proprietary materials for their own proprietary benefit or personal or professional inurement without the written permission of the Society.
c. Protect the confidentiality of the Tinnitus Care Provider certificate program projects.
d. Resign from the Tinnitus Care Provider Oversight Committee in the event of seeking employment with the International Hearing Society.
Sec. 5. Procedural rules:
a. Regular meetings face to face or virtual of the Tinnitus Care Provider Oversight Committee shall be held no less than once per year. In addition to the one (1) meeting, the Tinnitus Care Provider Oversight Committee may meet, when necessary. It is the policy of the IHS Board of Directors that Committee members attend all meetings of the Tinnitus Care Provider Oversight Committee, whether in person or by conference call. Any committee member who is unable to attend a meeting must notify the IHS staff lead as soon as possible before the stated time of the meeting. Airfare, hotel (room and tax), and/or other travel expenses are reimbursed to the Tinnitus Care Provider Oversight Committee members by IHS.
b. IHS staff will assemble and maintain meeting notes.
c. Committee recommendations and reports will be submitted in writing to the IIHIS committee. Documents will include both suggested action and justification for suggestions. The board will respond/react to such recommendations/reports in writing through the Executive Director.
d. Members who are absent without reasonable cause from three successive meetings will be considered to have resigned their seat.
e. While members are expected and encouraged to discuss the Tinnitus Care Provider Certificate Program within the hearing healthcare community, members shall not report opinions expressed in meetings, nor shall they report independently on committee action.
f. The committee agrees to follow the consensus decision-making. This is defined as a group decision-making process that seeks the consent of all participants. Consensus may be defined professionally as an acceptable resolution, one that can be supported, even if not the "favorite" of each individual.
g. Committee members are obligated to maintain the confidentiality of all IHS confidential information and to treat all organizational matters and information specific to the business of the IHS with proper care and discretion. Unauthorized disclosure or use of information, whether provided verbally or in writing, is considered a serious breach of care and can result in disciplinary action and possible discharge from a Committee member’s position. Tinnitus Care Provider Certificate Program Oversight members are to agree and sign an annual confidentiality agreement during their appointment.
ARTICLE XX - AMENDMENTS
Sec. 1. Amendments to these bylaws may be proposed by:
a. Petition signed by fifty (50) voting members.
b. The Board of Governors.
Sec. 2. A two-thirds (2/3) majority of the votes, validly available to be cast at any annual or special general meeting, shall be necessary to amend these Bylaws. Once motion to amend the Bylaws has been brought before the membership for consideration, motions may be put forth to amend the proposed amendment providing they do not change the essence of the main amendment, and shall require a two-thirds (2/3) majority of votes validly available to be cast for passage.
Sec. 3. All amendments to be proposed shall be sent to the Executive Director ninety (90) days before the time for the next Annual Meeting of the Society. The Executive Director shall notify the members of the proposed amendments at least thirty (30) days before the meeting.
ARTICLE XXI - MISCELLANEOUS
Sec. 1. The fiscal year of the Society shall be the calendar year.
Sec. 2. All files of the Society shall be confidential, and shall be available only to the Board of Governors and persons authorized by them in writing to examine the same.
Sec. 3. No member of this Society, other than the President, shall suggest or indicate to anyone that he or she is representing or may speak or act in an official capacity for and on behalf of this Society without written authority from the President or the Executive Committee, provided however that officers of this Society may represent the Society to the extent that these Bylaws so empower them.
Sec. 4. These Bylaws shall be available to all members of the Society.
Sec. 5. The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order (newly revised) shall govern, to the extent practical, the Society at any annual or special meeting of the general membership to which they are applicable and in which they are not inconsistent with these Bylaws and any special rules of order the Society may adopt.
Amended and approved September 13, 2024