Washington Society of Addiction Medicine
CONSTITUTION
April 25th, 2017
A Chapter of the American Society of Addiction Medicine
Article I
Name, Purposes and Organization
Section 1. Name
The name and title of the organization shall be the Washington Society of Addiction
Medicine, Inc., hereinafter referred to as the Society, and it shall be a chapter of the
American Society of Addiction Medicine. Its abbreviation shall be WSAM.
Section 2.
Mission, Purposes, and Goals The Mission of the Society is:
To provide a medium for physicians and associated professionals dedicated to
increasing access and improving the quality of addiction treatment, educating
physicians, other medical professionals and the public; supporting research and
prevention; and promoting the appropriate role of physicians in the care of patients
with addiction.
The Purposes of The Society are:
2.1 to enable networking with colleagues in addiction medicine;
2.2 to provide closer liaison between members and the national activities of ASAM;
2.3 to provide closer liaison to other physicians, associated professionals and
professional societies regarding addiction medicine issues;
2.4 to increase public awareness in/about the existence and vitality of the physician
specialty of addiction medicine;
2.5 to increase public awareness in/about problems related to addiction;
2.6 to promote professionalism in the delivery of services to patients with problems
which result from addiction and
2.7 to be a physician resource for state and national public policy issues that affect
addiction medicine services and patients with addiction.
The Goals of the Society are to provide:
2.8 a forum for sharing the ideas between addiction medicine specialists, especially
regarding clinical management strategies and strategies for interfacing with managed
care organizations;
2.9 a vehicle for increased professionalism and higher quality information, prevention,
training, and treatment regarding addiction problems;
2.10 an enhancement of knowledge and attitudes among citizens and institutions about
the primary nature of the disease of addiction;
2.11 a channel for WSAM input into national standards of care in addiction medicine;
and
2.12 a channel for WSAM input into health care reform initiatives.
Section 3. Organization
The Society is an organization of individual members, and is comprised of a Board of
Directors, Officers, and Committees as defined elsewhere in this Constitution and in the
Society’s Bylaws.
Article II
Membership
Section 1. Classes of Membership
The membership of the Society shall be divided into classes, as provided in the Bylaws.
Section 2. Membership Qualifications, Rights, Privileges, Duties and Obligations
The qualifications, rights, privileges, duties, and obligations of the several classes of
membership are as stated in the Bylaws.
Article III
Government of the Society
Part A. Board of Directors
Section 1. Composition
The Board of Directors shall consist of elected Officers of the Society as defined in this
Constitution and as further defined in the Bylaws.
Section 2. Powers and Duties
Subject to provisions of this Constitution and the Bylaws, the Board of Directors shall be
vested with full and complete power and authority to manage, control, use, invest,
reinvest, lease, make contracts in respect of and concerning, convey, give, grant, transfer
or otherwise dispose of all property and assets of whatever kind and nature owned by
the Society, and shall also be vested with full and complete power and authority to do
and perform all acts and to transact all business for and on behalf of the Society and to
manage and conduct all the work and activities of the Society in carrying out the
purposes thereof. The Board of Directors shall have such additional duties, powers, and
functions as are prescribed in the Bylaws.
Part B. Executive Committee
There shall be no Executive Committee, unless later specified by the members as
prescribed in the Bylaws, to facilitate the business of the Society.
Article IV
Officers
Section 1. Composition
The Officers of the Society shall consist of the President, Immediate Past-President and
Secretary/Treasurer. The Secretary/Treasurer shall assume the role of President-elect.
Section 2. Term of Office
Officers of the Society shall be elected for a term of 2 years. Upon completion of the
President’s term of office, the President-Elect shall assume the office of the President
and the President shall assume the office of Immediate Past-President.
Should any Officer’s position become vacant prior to the end of the prescribed term of
office, the vacant position shall be filled as prescribed in the Bylaws.
Section 3. Powers and Duties
The powers and duties of the Officers of the Society shall be as prescribed in the Bylaws.
Article V
Meetings
Section 1. Annual Meeting
In each year, there shall be an Annual Meeting of the membership as provided in the
Bylaws. Special meetings of the membership may be called and held as provided in the
Bylaws.
Section 2. Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall meet as prescribed in the Bylaws.
Article VI
Hearings and Petitions
Procedures for hearing and petition shall be as set forth in the Bylaws.
Article VII
Financial Provisions
Section 1. Annual Dues
Dues for various classes of members shall be established by the Board of Directors.
Section 2. Other Sources of Revenue
Funds may be raised by any means approved by the Board of Directors and as set forth
in the Bylaws.
Section 3. Funds of the Society
The Treasurer shall be responsible for the security of all funds and monies received by
the Society. The treasurer shall be responsible for the handling, depositing and
investing of the Society funds as directed by the Board of Directors and defined by the
Bylaws. The Treasurer shall cause funds to be dispensed only as authorized by the
Board of Directors. An accurate account of all transactions of the Treasury shall be
reported at the annual meeting of the Society and at each meeting of the Board of
Directors.
Section 4. Dispensation of Assets at Dissolution
In the event that this Society should dissolve its corporate status, any and all of its
assets shall be remitted to the American Society of Addiction Medicine.
Article VIII
Amendments
Any member of the Board of Directors or any group of at least 10 active members in good
standing may propose one or more amendments to the Constitution. The proposed amendment
shall first be submitted to the Board of Directors in written form at least sixty (60) days prior to
the next regularly-scheduled meeting of the Board of Directors for approval.
Once approved by the Board of Directors, the proposed amendment must be submitted in
written form (print or digital) within thirty (30) days to the active members of the Society, at
their addresses on file (physical or digital) at the society’s office, for ratification. A proposed
amendment is ratified if at least two- thirds (2/3) of the members whose responses are
received no later than thirty (30) days from the date of the mailing vote in the affirmative.
Approved: by WSAM Board of Directors 9/22/2017