The By-Laws The attached version represents my latest attempt at the by-laws. Article 2 was re-written during the meeting at Spring Green, this year, and approved by those in attendance. I would be happy to receive suggestions for revision, and will attempt to incorporate them into a final draft, as requested by the membership in Spring Green. I will present this final draft to the membership by mail, before the meeting in Washington.

The purpose of the Society is to provide leadership in medical education by:

1. Promoting the conduct and dissemination of research in medical education
2. Promoting the growth and development of offices of medical education
3. Encouraging communication, mutual support and continuing professional development among directors of offices of medical education
4. Maintaining appropriate interaction with other groups involved in medical education.
5. Providing a resource of expertise in medical education for the membership, for medical schools and for other organizations

A. Regular members

1. Regular membership is open only to the Director of a Unit, which has the central responsibility for educational research in an accredited allopathic or osteopathic medical school in the United States or Canada. The Unit must have institutional scope and it must possess a recognizable, coherent organizational identity within the institution. In addition to its research role, the Unit may have additional responsibilities in Faculty development, promotion of evidence-based educational change, recognition and assessment of teaching, or similar matters.
2.  No more than one individual from each medical school may be a regular member of the Society. In the event that there is more than one individual from any one medical school seeking membership, the executive committee will, after consultation with the Dean or Associate Dean of that School, decide which office Director is eligible for membership. Membership is based on individual application, and it is the individual who is elected to SDRME rather than the Office. New directors of established offices must apply for membership, even if their predecessor was a member of the Society.
3. The Membership Committee will process membership applications from prospective members and make recommendations in this regard to the Executive Committee. New membership must be approved by a two-thirds majority of the Executive Committee. Membership will be considered by the Executive Committee three times each year; at the annual Summer Meeting, at the Fall meeting and at the Executive Meeting in early Spring. If membership documents are completed by a prospective member between the Executive meeting and the annual Summer Meeting, and that member has expressed interest in attending the Summer meeting, they may be permitted to do so. subject to the approval by the Membership Committee and unanimous agreement by the Executive Committee.
4. Regular members shall pay annual dues set by the Executive Committee which will fall due each Spring. New members will become liable for such dues at the first billing after their membership has been approved. The society fiscal year will run from January to December.
5. Non-payment of dues for two consecutive years from the date of initial issuance of dues statement, will result in termination of membership.
6. If, for any reason, the member or the Unit that they direct fails to meet the criteria outlined in sections 1 or 2 above, membership will terminate one calendar year later.

1. A member of the Society of Directors of Research in Medical Education who has distinguished him/herself through meritorious service, may be considered for emeritus status. This title must be recommended after the director has left his or her position in the medical education Unit and will normally be granted only to those who have been a regular member of SDRME for at least 10 years.
2. Recommendations for emeritus status in SDRME will be submitted to the Society by the Executive Committee following a review of the candidate's status by the Membership Committee, who will also have the responsibility of keeping track of those members who may be eligible for emeritus status. Approval of emeritus membership will be decided by a majority vote of the members of SDRME at either the annual or the fall meeting of the Society.
3. Emeritus members will continue to receive communications from the Society as well as the option to attend meetings of the Society. Emeritus directors will not have voting privileges, will not hold office, and will not pay dues for membership in the Society.