Kentucky Association of Technical Personnel in Ophthalmology, Inc.

Article III

Members

Section 1.  Regular Members.  Regular membership in the Association shall be limited to those individuals accepted for membership by KATPO who are certified by the Joint Commission on Allied Health Personnel in Ophthalmology (JCAHPO) and who are members in good standing of the Association of Technical Personnel in Ophthalmology (ATPO).  Such individuals shall have the right to vote, chair committees and to hold office in the Association.

Section 2.  Associate Members.  Associate Membership in the Association shall be available to those individuals who do not otherwise qualify under the rules for Regular Membership but who are allied health personnel in ophthalmology as attested to by a sponsoring ophthalmologist by whom the Associate Member must be employed.  Associate Members shall have the right to vote but not to hold office or chair committees.  (Amended 2/27/99)

Section 3.  Student Members.  Individuals who are currently enrolled in regular academic programs (not home study) for allied health personnel in ophthalmology are eligible for Student Membership.  Student Members shall have the right to vote but not to hold office or chair committees.

Section 4.  Fellow Members.  Fellow Membership may be granted to a Regular Member by the Board of Directors (Board).  Eligibility for Fellow Membership shall include:  a minimum of ten years as a Regular Member of the Association; a personal record of outstanding contributions to the Association; such other qualifications as may be determined by the Board.  Fellow Members may vote, hold office and chair committees.

Section 5.  Inactive Members.  Inactive Membership in the Association is available to those persons who are presently, or who in the past have been, certified by the JCAHPO, but who are not currently working in the field of Ophthalmology.  Eligibility for this membership category shall also require membership in good standing of ATPO.  Inactive Members shall have the right to vote and to chair committees, but may not hold office.

Section 6.  Sustaining Members.  Sustaining Membership may be granted to those organizations, corporate sponsors or individuals which/who have supported Association projects during the current fiscal or which/who have donated funds to the Association general fund during the current fiscal year.  There shall be no voting right, right to chair committees or right to hold office.  Benefits for Sustaining Members shall be determined by the Board.  Membership is renewable annually at the discretion of the Board and consistent with the requirements established by the Board, which may be changed from time to time.

Section 7.  Membership Category.  The membership category, except for Fellow Members, to which an applicant is assigned shall be determined by the Membership Committee appointed by the President and approved by the Board.  In cases in which the determination of membership category is questionable, the Board shall make the determination.

Section 8.  Dues.  Dues shall be payable on or before the first day of January each year.  The Secretary/Treasurer shall notify members one month in arrears, and those whose dues are not paid within one month thereafter shall be automatically dropped from membership in the Association.  Fellow Members are exempt from the payment of dues, but dues for every other membership category shall be established by the Board.  Dues shall not be prorated.

Section 9.  Resignation.  Any member may resign by filing a written resignation with the Secretary/Treasurer, but such resignation shall not relieve the member so resigning of the obligation to pay any dues, assessments or other charges accrued and unpaid.

Section 10.  Voting Rights.  The right to vote on matters pertaining to the Association is limited to current members in good standing.  For this purpose, good standing shall be defined as dues paid membership for a period of not less than thirty (30) days.  Current  members include continuous members and new members having fulfilled the good standing time requirement. 

Section 11.  Reapplication for Membership.  Reapplication for membership, from an individual previously dropped from membership under Association rules, may be made at the beginning of the fiscal year and for a period of ninety (90) days thereafter.  The Board may permit reapplication for membership at other times during the fiscal year in special cases and at its discretion.  The Board shall make the membership status determination in all cases of reapplication.