MISSION STATEMENT:

“The Wilderness Medical Society Student Interest Group (WMSSIG) at the University of Alabama School of Medicine, sponsored by the Wilderness Medical Society, is an organization of medical students and other members of the campus community who share a common interest in wilderness medicine. Our mission is to encourage and support programs that improve the knowledge of our membership in matters related to human activities in wilderness environments, and to promote appreciation and stewardship in those areas. In particular, we seek to promote the development of clinical skills necessary for wilderness medicine, to expose members to practical applications of wilderness medicine, and to provide a forum for the exploration of medical careers which involve the principles of wilderness medicine.”

BYLAWS:

Bylaws of the Wilderness Medical Society Student Interest Group

at the University of Alabama School of Medicine

ARTICLE I

Section 1: The official name of this organization shall be the Wilderness Medical Society Student Interest Group at the University of Alabama School of Medicine.

Section 2: The group shall operate as a non-profit organization.

Section 3: The group shall abide by the applicable rules and policies of Medical Student Services pertaining to student organizations, and to the rules and policies of the Wilderness Medical Society.

Section 4: This organization shall exist for the following purposes:

a. To facilitate interdisciplinary interaction among students and faculty expressing interests in issues relating to health and the wilderness.

b. To provide a forum for speakers to present topics of interest to the general membership.

c. To provide a forum for interaction between the national organization of the Wilderness Medical Society and members of the Student Interest Group.

d. To act as an information and referral resource to members pursuing careers in areas related to health and the wilderness.

e. To participate, when appropriate, in community projects or with other campus organizations on issues relevant to wilderness medicine.

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1: Membership is open to all students, faculty, and staff without regard to race, creed, color, gender, national origin, disability, age, veteran status, marital status, public assistance status, or religious or sexual orientation.

Section 2: Voting membership is open to all students, faculty, and staff at the University of Alabama School of Medicine. 

Section 3: Membership in the Wilderness Medical Society is not a prerequisite for membership in the SIG, and all members of the SIG, whether individual members of WMS or not, enjoy equal rights and privileges in the SIG.

Section 4: Membership in the SIG may be defined as anyone who has submitted his/her name to the SIG and/or anyone who has attended an SIG event in the current or previous academic year.

Section 5: To be eligible to vote, a member must have attended at least two previous meetings as a non-voting participant within the current or previous academic year.

ARTICLE III – OFFICERS

Section 1: The officers shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Community Liaison.

Section 2: All officers must be currently enrolled students at the University of Alabama School of Medicine. Combined degree M.D. – Ph.D. students are additionally eligible to serve as officers while pursuing the Ph.D. portion of their degree. 

Section 3: Officers shall be elected in February, as required by MSS, and shall serve for a period of one year.

Section 4: The duties of the officers are as follows:

a. President - Preside over all meetings of the Group, act as the official representative of the Group at meetings and events, act as liaison with the Wilderness Medical Society, update the Wilderness Medical Society with any changes in this office and with changes in mail/phone/e-mail contact information, and serve as chairperson of the Executive Committee.

b. Vice President - Preside at meetings of the Group and the Executive Committee in the absence of the president, succeed the president if the president were unable to complete his/her term of office, act as coordinator of committees.

c. Secretary - Record and produce minutes of all meetings, handle the Group's correspondence, advertising, and mailing. Maintain printed materials, newsletters, and journals provided by the national organization. Maintain current membership list.

d. Treasurer - Handle all financial transactions of the Group, maintain thorough and accurate records of all transactions, coordinate membership for members seeking membership in the national organization, and produce financial reports as required by the Group.

e. Community Liaison - Act as a source of information for the Group concerning opportunities for participating in local events, interacting with local businesses and communities, and engaging in relevant community services.

ARTICLE IV – COMMITTEES

Section 1: The standing committees of this Group shall be:

a. Executive Committee - Consists of elected officers and chairpersons of all committees. Sets meeting dates for Group, determines committee assignments, and acts on behalf of the special committees during the summer.

b. Special committees may be established to carry out special assignments.

ARTICLE V - MEETINGS

Section 1: A regular meeting shall be held once each semester during the academic year. A special meeting may be called by the Executive Committee.

Section 2: Decisions of the Group shall be enacted by a majority vote of the voting membership present, according to the guidelines of the national organization.

Section 3: Members shall be notified at least a week in advance of all meetings.

ARTICLE VI - FINANCIAL MATTERS

Section 1: The Group shall not provide monetary gain, incidentally or otherwise to its directors or membership. This does not restrict the payment of wages, salaries, or incentives by the Group for services rendered.

Section 2: Unless otherwise specified by the membership at the time of dissolution of the Group, residual assets shall be held in account by (campus organization), for future wilderness and health related activities.

ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENTS

Section 1: Amendments to the bylaws shall be considered at the discretion of the Executive Committee. If the Executive Committee votes to present them to the membership, they must be accepted by a majority vote of the group members.

Section 2: Working documents (officer job descriptions, etc.) may be altered during the academic year at the discretion of the acting Executive Committee. All such documents should be reviewed in the spring by a committee consisting of the incoming and outgoing Executive Committees prior to the full assumption of duties by the new Executive Committee.