Resolution: S-20-10: REDEFINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOMA AND THE SOMA FOUNDATION

[Valerie Lile]

1  WHEREAS, the Student Osteopathic Medical Association Foundation (SOMAF) is currently
2  designated as a 509(a)(3) supporting organization with Student Osteopathic Medical Association
3  (SOMA) acting as the supported organization; and

4  WHEREAS, SOMAF is pursuing the opportunity for organizational growth to allow for the increase of
5  the scholarships and grants it provides to SOMA members; and

6  WHEREAS, the American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF) is an established, osteopathic foundation
7  that is not limited by geography or programmatic scope¹; and

8  WHEREAS, the SOMAF is pursuing a structured partnership with the American Osteopathic
9  Foundation (AOF) to allow for the expansion and growth of the scholarships and grants it provides to
10  SOMA members; and

11  WHEREAS, the new AOF and SOMAF partnership would require that SOMAF no longer serve as a
12  509(a)(3) supporting organization of SOMA; and

13  WHEREAS, the SOMA Board of Trustees (BOT) and SOMAF Board of Directors (BOD) mutually
14  agree with that SOMAF will no longer serve as a 509(a)(3) supporting organization, provided that
15  SOMAF continue to have language in their policies that specifically address SOMA and SOMAF’s
16  relationship; and

17  WHEREAS, the SOMA Bylaws require changes to allow for the desired SOMAF growth; now,
18  therefore, be it

19  RESOLVED, that that the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) Bylaws, Article XI – The
20  SOMA Foundation, shall be amended as follows:

21 ARTICLE XI – The SOMA Foundation
22 Section 1. Definition
23  The SOMA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization incorporated in the State of
24  Illinois and is designated as a 509(a)(3) supporting organization with SOMA acting as the
25  supported organization.
26  Section 2. Appointing the Foundation Chairperson

27 The current Board of the SOMA Foundation shall interview candidates during the fall meeting
28 of the House of Delegates and select an incoming Foundation Chairperson in accordance with
29 their established Bylaws. The SOMA Board of Trustees will at their discretion approve and
30 appoint the nominated incoming Foundation Chairperson.;

1  and, be it further

2  RESOLVED, that the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) recognizes the Student
3  Osteopathic Medical Association Foundation (SOMAF) as its primary philanthropic partner whose
4  purpose is to provide scholarships and grants to osteopathic medical students in SOMA; and be it
5  further

6  RESOLVED, that Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) encourages the Student
7  Osteopathic Medical Association Foundation (SOMAF) to indefinitely continue to have policies that
8  address the following items in a manner that is deemed mutually acceptable by the SOMA Board of
9  Trustees (BOT) and SOMAF Board of Directors (BOD):

10  Purpose: To create, endow, and bestow scholarships, grants and awards to osteopathic medical
11  students in the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (hereafter referred to as SOMA) and
12  to supporters of the osteopathic profession.
13  Method of Chairperson Election: The SOMA Foundation (SOMAF) Board of Directors will
14  elect and submit the name of the newly selected Chairperson to the SOMA Board of Trustees
15  (BOT) for confirmation. The SOMA BOT may ask the SOMAF Board for additional
16  information about an electee or may request that a new individual be submitted. The SOMA
17  BOT will respond to the SOMAF Board’s submission within forty-five (45) calendar days; if
18  the forty-five (45) days pass without a response from the SOMA BOT, the electee will be
19  considered confirmed.
20  Method of Directors Election: The newly-elected Chairperson shall work with the outgoing
21  SOMAF Board to appoint remaining officers to the Board from among qualified and interested
22  members of SOMA. Appointments will be announced at the Spring National SOMA
23  Convention.

Explanatory Statement

SOMA Foundation is being removed completely from the SOMA bylaws to allow them to work independently and effectively with the American Osteopathic Foundation (AOF). The resolved statements closely follow the American Osteopathic Association’s Bylaws that do not mention the AOF, and the AOF Bylaws that clearly highlights the AOA in their purpose, composition, and method of elections.

Relevant Existing Policies:

SOMA Policy: S-16-2: FORMALIZING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOMA AND THE SOMA
Policy of Other Organizations Named in the Resolved Statements (AOA/AMA/etc): N/A

 

References

1. About the American Osteopathic Foundation. (2020). American Osteopathic Foundation. Retrieved from https://aof.org/about-us

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Submitted by:

Matthew Mayeda, OMS III, Michigan State University, College of Osteopathic Medicine
Clara Hofman, OMS III, Chicago College of Osteopathic Medicine
Taylor Farish, OMS III, Touro University Nevada College of Osteopathic Medicine

Action Taken:
Date:
Effective Time Period: Ongoing

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