The Bylaws Committee was established in 2016 in order to permanently record the policies and procedures for the Society for the Advancement of Transplant Anesthesia. The policies were designed to ensure the society had a uniform approach that all members could rely upon. No individual can change the bylaws “at will”. All changes to the bylaws requires a formal process of negotiation and consensus between the Bylaw and Executive Committee. “Changes under emergency situation” can be made to preserve society function. This must be announced to the membership. The Bylaws have grown to include vision and mission of SATA.
New additions to the 2021 bylaws includes a declaration of societal policies that respect diversity, equity and inclusion. Inclusion has always been a banner for the SATA platform; an approach that provides every member with the opportunity to succeed. The year 2021 brought new national concerns about the protection of individuals based on their race, color, religion, sex and national origin in additional to disability. To ensure the mission of “inclusion” in SATA was mindful of societal expectations within the US, the bylaws added specific statements about diversity, equity and inclusion that align with the Civil Rights Act of 1964 (volume 42 of the United States Code, beginning at section 2000e) and the American with Disabilities Act of 1990. In addition to this update, the bylaws also has maintained definitions of diversity related to societal leadership that aims to ensure adequate representation based on geography and type of transplant specialty. This was done to ensure that our members had confidence that SATA equally represents all regardless of their practice type or residence.
Additional material was added to the bylaws about “SATA endorsement”. The bylaws now outlines a process available to all members who would like a project endorsed by the society. An endorsement means that the name of a SATA entity; either SATA council or SATA committee can be added to the title of an upcoming publication. Each process involves review of the study proposal by either the Council or Committee Chairs depending on the endorsing entity .
The method of voting for the executive council was temporarily adjusted in 2021 to account for unique factors that arose during the vetting process. The bylaws have been modified to provide a more durable method ensuring there is a consistent approach for future elections that the membership can count on and is intended to remove any impressions of possible impropriety. This was done to ensure our membership that common follies impairing fair elections would not be tolerated by the society.
Future Directions:
- Appointment of members: The Committee currently recruits society members who have shown an interest in other societal executive functions. The Committee will now seek individuals who are uniquely interested in the Bylaws Committee functions. The aim will be to add members who have experience in or are motivated to learn how to successfully craft policies that govern the society while negotiating with the executive committee on final product. There will be a public call for applications through SATA social media. Members will be appointed by agreement between the Bylaw’s Chair and the SATA President. Membership is open to all members in good standing without exclusion based on prior service in any SATA assembly.
- SATA Endorsement: The Council will produce a “template” that interested members can fill out as a request for society endorsement. The society took this step as part of a mentorship program to help all applicants ensure projects with the SATA name reflected the values and intent of the society.
- Bylaw Positions: The Bylaws Committee will now appoint members to specific roles including: Secretary, the guardian of the meeting process; arrange meetings and keep a record of the process and decisions.
Policy Analysts: Members who examine and evaluate all available options to critically appraise and implement the goals of policies that govern society function and elected officials.