Resolution: S-21-01: CONSTITUTIONALLY REDEFINING THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN SOMA AND THE SOMA FOUNDATION

[Valerie Lile]

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

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

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

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

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

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

WHEREAS, the SOMA Bylaws require changes to allow for the desired SOMAF growth; WHEREAS, the National SOMA Resolution S-20-10 already demonstrated support of bylaw changes

to enable SOMAF to partner with the AOF; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, that the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) supports redefining the relationship between SOMA and the SOMA Foundation (SOMAF), which results in the removal of SOMA Bylaws ARTICLE XI – The SOMA Foundation, provided that the following are upheld:

the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) would recognize the prospective osteopathic medical student foundation, formerly known as SOMAF as its primary philanthropic partner whose purpose is to provide scholarships and grants to osteopathic medical students in SOMA.

the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) encourages the prospective osteopathic medical student foundation to indefinitely continue to have policies that address the following items in a manner that is deemed mutually acceptable by the SOMA Board of Trustees (BOT) and SOMAF Board of Directors (BOD):
Purpose: To create, endow, and bestow scholarships, grants and awards to osteopathic medical students in the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (hereafter referred to as SOMA) and to supporters of the osteopathic profession.

Method of Chairperson Election: The prospective osteopathic medical student foundation’s board of directors will elect and submit the name of the newly selected Chairperson to the SOMA Board of Trustees (BOT) for confirmation. The SOMA BOT may ask the SOMAF Board for additional information about an electee or may request that a new individual be submitted. The SOMA BOT will respond to the SOMAF Board’s submission within forty-five (45) calendar days; if the forty-five (45) days pass without a response from the SOMA BOT, the electee will be considered confirmed.

Method of Directors Election: The newly-elected Chairperson shall work with the outgoing SOMAF Board to appoint remaining officers to the Board from among qualified and interested members of SOMA. Appointments will be announced at the Spring National SOMA Convention ; and be it further,

RESOLVED, that the following revisions be made to the Student Osteopathic Medical Association (SOMA) Bylaws to establish a SOMA Alumni Membership:

Sections	Revisions	New Language
Article XI – The SOMA Foundation	ARTICLE XI – The SOMA Foundation Section 1. Definition 9 The SOMA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non profit organization incorporated in the State of Illinois and is designated as a 509(a)(3) supporting organization with SOMA acting as the supported organization. Section 2. Appointing the Foundation Chairperson The current Board of the SOMA Foundation shall interview candidates during the fall meeting of the House of Delegates and select an incoming Foundation Chairperson in accordance with their established Bylaws. The SOMA Board of Trustees will at their discretion approve and appoint the nominated incoming Foundation Chairperson.

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

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

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

________________________________________________________________________________

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: [Leave Blank. Will be Approved by the House of Delegates or Not Approved.]

Date:

Effective Time Period: Ongoing

[Jennifer Lee<br>TouroCOM Middletown]

In SUPPORT of this resolution, speaking on behalf of myself–
This resolution is necessitated by the growth and success of the SOMA Foundation, which has reached the point where the existing bylaws limit rather than support their work. The changes proposed in this resolution would allow SOMAF to receive support from the AOF, which would directly benefit SOMA members with the opportunities for additional scholarships and grants.

[Author]

Posts