CONSTITUTION
The name of this Society shall be the European Underwater & Baromedical Society.
ARTICLE II -
Objectives
The objectives
of this Society are to advance the science of undersea medicine and related
scientific disciplines, including hyperbaric medicine, work in compressed
gas, and hyperoxia, and to assist in the promotion of research in these
fields and in the publication of the results of such research.
To provide a forum
for professional scientific communication among individuals and groups
involved in basic and applied studies concerned with medical life sciences
and human factors aspects of the hyperbaric and hyperoxic environment.
1. To aid in maintaining
co-operation between life sciences and other disciplines concerned with
extending hyperbaric activity.
2. To work for
improved safety of all operations by advice and educational seminars on
the medical and physiological hazards involved.
3. To do all such
other things as shall further the objectives of the society.
ARTICLE III
- Membership
All members of
the European Underwater & Baromedical Society shall be individuals
and companies who have demonstrated a clear interest in the medical, life
sciences and human factors aspects of the hyperbaric and hyperoxic environment.
Members shall be elected in the manner prescribed in the Bylaws of the
European Underwater & Baromedical Society.
ARTICLE IV -
Elected Officers
The elected officers
of this Society shall be a President, a Vice-President, an honorary Secretary
and an honorary Treasurer. All officers shall be elected every three
years as prescribed in the Bylaws to serve for three consecutive years
or until their successors are elected. New officers will assume office
at the annual meeting of the Society. The powers and duties of the
elected officers shall be those usually exercised by officers in such positions
and any additional powers and duties which may be specified in the Bylaws.
ARTICLE V -
Executive Committee
The governing
body of the Society shall be an Executive Committee. The Executive
Committee shall consist of the elected officers of the Society, the two
most recent past presidents, and three members-at-large elected by the
Society as prescribed in the Bylaws to serve in over-lapping three year
terms. The President of the Society shall take the chair of the Executive
Committee and the honorary Secretary shall also act as Secretary of the
Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall represent the
Society in the conduct of all scientific and business affairs of the Society
subject to the applicable provisions of the Bylaws.
ARTICLE VI -
Meetings
The Society shall
hold an annual meeting at a time and place to be selected by the Executive
Committee. Other meetings may be convened as the President may specify.
ARTICLE VII
- Funds
Funds of the Society
shall consist of income derived from annual dues, fees, grants, donations,
or other sources. Annual dues may be levied upon the members of the
Society as prescribed in the Bylaws. The honorary Treasurers shall
collect, administer, disburse, record, and report the funds of the Society
in accordance with the general direction of the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VIII - Amendments
Amendments of this Constitution may be proposed by the Executive Committee or
by the petition of any twenty (20) members presented to the Executive Committee
at least one hundred (100) days before the annual meeting. All amendments so
proposed shall be distributed by the honorary Secretary to the membership at
least sixty (60) days before the annual meeting with or without the recommendation
of the Executive Committee. Voting shall be by postal or secure internet ballot
and such ballots must be posted to the Secretary at least thirty (30) days before
the annual meeting. The approval of at least three-quarters of the members in
good standing of the Society who vote upon the proposed amendment shall be required
for its passage. No amendment shall be made to the Constitution which shall
cause the Society to cease to be Charity-at-Law.
At least one hundred (100) days in advance of the annual meeting, the Executive Committee shall prepare for approval a slate of nominees for all elected officers of the Society and for replacement of those members-at-large of the Executive Committee whose term of office will end at the annual meeting. Additional nominations, if sponsored by at least fifteen (15) members, may be made by petition to the honorary Secretary of the Society at least one hundred (100) days in advance of the annual meeting provided that such petition include the name of the nominee, the office for which nominated, and nominee´s written consent to serve if elected, and the signatures of the fifteen (15) sponsors.
At least sixty (60) days prior to the annual meeting, the honorary Secretary shall report the recommendations of the Executive Committee and all other nominations received by petition in a format suitable for balloting. All paid up members shall be eligible to vote. Each member who desires to vote shall complete and send the ballot according to the instructions given at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual meeting. If there has been more than one nominee for an office, the President shall, in the case of a postal ballot, appoint two tellers to open and count all ballots received by the honorary Secretary; this counting shall be conducted prior to the annual meeting. Elections shall be by simple majority. The honorary Secretary shall announce the results of the balloting at the annual meeting, and the new officers and members-at-large of the Executive Committee shall assume office immediately thereafter.
RULE II - Membership
Members of the
Society shall be individuals who have demonstrated by their activities
and professional contributions a clear interest in the medical, life sciences,
or human factors aspects of the undersea environment. Prospective
members shall, as a minimum requirement, be graduates with training or
experience in the medical or life sciences. Waivers of this requirement
will be granted where an applicant´s special contributions or accomplishments
appear to warrant such action.
Each applicant
for Society membership shall submit an application in writing, stating
his name, address, education, experience, and place of employment.
The application shall be forwarded to the honorary Secretary of the European
Underwater & Baromedical Society. When a waiver of the educational
requirement is necessary, the special accomplishment of the applicant must
be well documented by the applicant. Applicants shall be notified
of approval of their application by the Executive Committee or if five
members of the Executive Committee without having a formal meeting agree,
and membership in the Society shall be conferred upon payment of one year´s
annual dues to the honorary Treasurer or Membership Secretary of the Society.
The name of new members of the Society will be published to the membership
by the honorary Secretary.
Undergraduate
members of the Society shall be students registered at a university or
equivalent educational institution, pursuing a course of studies in medical,
life sciences or human factors engineering faculties.
The names of undergraduate
members of the Society will be published to the membership by the honorary
Secretary in the usual way, but will be designated by the symbol (U).
Undergraduate
members of the Society will be eligible for all benefits conferred by membership
excepting the right to vote in Society elections.
Honorary Members.
The executive Committee is empowered to elect a limited number of Honorary
members. These can include emeritus members, (retired persons after
10 years membership).
RULE III - Affiliates
The Society recognises
the value of formal affiliation with other organisations whose purposes
are consistent with those of Article II of the Constitution of this Society.
The Executive Committee of the Society shall have the authority to negotiate
agreements for affiliation with such other organisations.
RULE IV - Meetings
of the Executive Committee
The Executive
Committee shall have a least one regular meeting each year, at the time
and location chosen by the President.
A special meeting
of the Executive Committee may also be called by the President at a time
and a place designated by him. A special meeting of the Executive
Committee shall be called by the honorary Secretary upon the written request
of three (3) members of the Executive Committee. At any duly convened
meeting of the Executive Committee four (4) members shall constitute a
quorum.
RULE V - Duties
of Officers
President.
The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Society and preside
at all meetings of it and of the Executive Committee.
Vice President.
The Vice-President will assist the President in executing the scientific
and business affairs of the Society. In the event that the President
is absent or unable to act, the Vice-President shall serve as President
for such period.
Honorary Secretary.
The honorary Secretary shall perform such duties as are customary to his
office: will maintain the membership records of the Society, will prepare
minutes of meetings, and will report to the membership on such matters
as nominations, elections, proposed dues change, names of new members,
and proposed amendments to the Constitution as prescribed in these Bylaws.
Membership Secretary/Honorary
Treasurer. The Membership Secretary/ honorary Treasurer shall be
the custodian of the funds of the Society and shall be responsible for
the collection of members dues, for the maintenance and the periodic reporting
of financial records, and for the disbursement of monies.
RULE VI - Committees
In addition to
the Executive Committee and the Nominating Committee the committees of
the Society may include as required:
Programme Committee.
This committee shall be responsible for choosing the subjects for presentation
and discussion at the scientific meetings of the Society, and for selecting
the speakers for such meetings and for supervising the conduct of these
scientific programmes.
Publications Committee.
This committee shall advise on the publication of the proceedings of the
scientific meetings of the Society as well as other papers by individual
members.
Other Committees.
The President may create special committees or such other committees as
he may deem necessary with such membership and for such periods of time
as he may consider appropriate. The President may invite members
of committees other than the Executive Committee to report at a specific
meeting of the Executive Committee.
RULE VII - Dues
Dues for members
of the Society shall be proposed by the Executive Committee and approved
by the membership at any regular or special business meeting. The
honorary Secretary shall notify the membership in writing at least sixty
(60) days in advance of the business meeting of any proposed changes in
dues. Approval shall be by a simple majority of those members present
and voting on such a change of dues.
Dues will be payable
annually on 1st July. If such dues shall not have been paid by 1st
January next, the person shall no longer be a member in good standing and
will automatically by removed from membership of the Society.
RULE VIII -
Disposal of Assets
In the event of
the lawful dissolution of the Society, following the payment of all just
debts and obligations of the Society, the Executive Committee shall designate
one or more charitable organisations having objectives similar to this
Society to receive the remaining assets of the Society.
RULE IX - Amendments
Amendments to these Bylaws
may be proposed by the Executive Committee or by petition of any fifteen (15)
members presented to the Executive Committee at least one hundred (100) days
before the annual meeting. All proposed amendments shall be distributed to the
membership by the Secretary at least sixty (60) days before the annual meeting
with or without recommendations of the Executive Committee. Voting shall be
by postal or secure internet ballot and such ballots must be posted to the Secretary
at least thirty (30) days before the annual meeting. The approval of at least
two-thirds of the members of the Society who vote upon the proposed amendment
shall be necessary for its passage.
No amendment shall be made to the Bylaws which shall cause the Society to cease
to be a Charity-at-law.
UK Registered Charity
No. 264970
Modified by the EUBS
General Assembly in 2008.