ARTICLE 1:
Name, Seat and Status of the Society:The organization shall be called the “International Society of Intraoperative Neurophysiology ” hereafter also referred as “ISIN ”. The registered seat is Roma, Italy, Neurochirurgia Funzionale e Spinale, Room L496, Lg A Gemelli,8. The ISIN shall be a no profit international multidisciplinary independent scientific society.
ARTICLE 2:
Purpose:The purpose of the ISIN is the pursuit of the advancement of excellence in intra and perioperative neurophysiology by:
· Conducting regular meetings of the ISIN and joint meetings with related societies (neurosurgery, cardiovascular surgery, orthopedic surgery, ETN surgery, endovascular radiology, anesthesiology, neurophysiology…)
· Providing education in Intraoperative Neurophysiology by:
a) regular courses and conferences
b) scientific communication
· Promoting research in Neurophysiology
· Representing Intra and peri-operative Neurophysiology in the world
· Advancing standards of care for patients undergoing surgical procedures associated with significant risk of neurological injury..
ARTICLE 3:
Properties of the ISIN and raising of Funds:Properties of the ISIN will be:
a) Capitals and real estates the ISIN will acquire
b) Credit surplus from the annual final balance
c) Donations, legacies, gifts.
The funds necessary to maintain the ISIN shall be raised through:
a) membership fees, as determined by the Executive Board and approved by the general assembly
b) donations, foundations, legacies, gifts
c) proceeds of the activities organized by the ISIN
d) incomes from properties of the ISIN
ARTICLE 4:
Membership:Active members shall be MDs, PhDs, or doctorate level clinical neurophysiologists, with a primary function or active interest in intraoperative and perioperative neurophysiology. Active Members may vote, hold office, and serve Committees. They shall be required to pay annual dues.
They have equal rights, particularly all the members have the right to vote. . Membership may not be temporary.
ARTICLE 5:
Supporters:Supporters may take part in the ISIN. Two categories of Supporters are admitted:
a) Active Supporters
b) Senior Supporters
Active Supporters
Active Supporterss shall be registered technicians and nurses active in Intraoperative Neurophysiology. They may serve on Committees but have no vote.
Senior Supporters
At any time of retirement from active Intraoperative Neurophysiology, Members and Supporters may apply to the Executive Board for becoming Senior Supporters. Senior Supporters shall not be required to pay dues, but may attend all meetings of the ISIN. They may serve on Committees but have no vote.
ARTICLE 6:
Application for Admission of new Members or Supporters:Applicants for membership must be proposed by a member and supported by another. Their written recommendations together with the completed application form and the applicant’s curriculum vitae should be submitted to the Secretary of the Executive Board. Applications will be reviewed by the Executive Board and its recommendation made to the Members of the ISIN at the General Business Meeting. Acceptance requires support of a simple majority of the voting members present.
Rejection of the application does not preclude further application in the future.
Upon election, the applicant will be informed by the Secretary of the ISIN. The applicant will signify acceptance of membership by returning a signed statement that he agrees to abide by the By-Laws of the ISIN and to pay such dues as will relate to continuous membership.
The same procedure applies to applicants as Supporters.
ARTICLE 7:
Resignation or expulsion of a member or a supporter:
1. Resignation
Any member or supporter wishing to resign from the ISIN must submit his/her resignation in writing to the Secretary, who informs the Executive Board.
2. Expulsion
The following will constitute grounds for expulsion from the ISIN:
a) Failure to pay dues – any member required by the By-Laws to pay dues, who is more than two years in arrears in the payment of these dues and after three notices to pay, submitted at bi-monthly intervals, may be expelled from the ISIN.
b) The demonstrated willful intent to act in a manner likely to discredit or damage the reputation or activities of the ISIN. All proposals submitted by an active member (in writing and stating reasons) for expulsion from the ISIN must be considered by the Executive Board. The executive Board will investigate the allegations . The final decision and vote will be in private and the Member or Supporter will be provided with prompt written notification of the Executive Board’s decision. Should the Member or Supporter decide to resign at that stage, the matter need not be brought before the general body. This decision is then placed before the entire membership at the bi-annual meeting. Approval of the recommendation for the expulsion requires support from the 75% of the voting members.
ARTICLE 8:
Membership dues:Dues for membership shall be determined by the Executive Board for periods of two years, and approved by the General Business Meeting. The currency of payment should be the Euro.
The paid fees cannot be reimbursed, neither in case of member resignation, nor in case of dissolution of the organization. They can be transferred only in case of transmission by descent.
ARTICLE 9:
Organization Structure:The organs of ISIN are:
a) the General Business Meeting
b) the Executive Board
ARTICLE 10:
The Executive Board :The ISIN shall be governed by an Executive Board which shall manage the affairs of the ISIN within the provisions and regulations of these By-Laws. The Executive Board will be appointed by the Business Meeting
The Executive Board shall consist of the following officiers:
President
President Elect
Secretary
Treasurer
President of the Congress
Officers of the ISIN with the exception of the President and President Elect, are elected for a term of two years, and may be re-elected for one further term of two years with support of the majority of membership. The term of office for the President and President Elect is two years.
· The President is the legal representative of the ISIN. He presides all Meetings of the ISIN and all Meetings of the Executive Board, is an ex-officio member of all Committees, and is empowered to appoint ad hoc committees. He holds office for two years and cannot be re-elected to office for a period of six years following his/her presidency, but he may chair or serve on a committee.
· The President Elect acts as vice-president in the absence of the President. He is appointed for a period of two years, at the end of which time he becomes President
· The Secretary must keep a record of all Meeting, and he conducts the correspondence of the ISIN. He must provide a written report of each meeting of the ISIN and notify Candidates of their election as members or supporters. He shall preserve the archives of the ISIN and at appropriate times, prepare reports at request of the Executive Board.
· The Treasurer collects and dispenses the funds of the ISIN. He keeps the account and provides a regular statement of balance to the Executive Board., provides a report to be approved by the General Business Meeting.
· The Congress President is responsible for the site selection and all organization and conduct of the Meeting with the exception of the scientific program which is the responsibility of the Executive Board. The financial responsibility of the Meeting rests with the Congress president. The Congress President may hold other office. He is automatically a full member of the Executive Board for matters concerning the congress.
Elections for the position of President elect, Secretary, and Treasurer are made every 2 years. Nominations for these positions will be made by the Executive Committee. Other Candidates may be proposed at the bi-annual meeting by Active Members of the Society at the General Business Meeting. All Active Members are able to cast votes for each of these positions. Election is by simple majority in each category. The vote may be carried out electronically or by hand at the decision of the Executive Committee
ARTICLE 11
Functions of the Executive Board :The control of the ISIN shall be vested in the Executive Board which is charged with the general supervision of the affairs of the ISIN in accordance with the By-Laws, to which it is subject, and none of its acts may be in conflict with action taken by the ISIN:
The regular meetings of the ISIN shall be held at any time and place proposed by the Executive Board at least two years in advance and approved by the general membership. It shall be the charge of the Executive Board to arrange a meeting every 2 years. First official meeting of the ISIN will be held in 2007.
ARTICLE 12
Society Meetings:The General Assembly includes all the active members of the ISIN, It represents the whole membership and its decisions, taken according to these bylaws, should be accepted by all members and supporters even if absent or dissentient.
Each member may be represented by a delegate member. Each member may have a maximum of two delegations. In the General Assembly each member has the right to express one vote.
The General Assembly should meet at least once a year to approve the final balance and the estimate for the next year.
There shall be at least one bi-annual meeting of the ISIN which will be devoted to scientific program, clinical demonstrations and appropriate exhibits. The dates and locations of bi-annual meetings will be announced at least 2 years in advance. The official language of the Society is English. It is allowed to have one or more interim meetings, particularly joint meeting with related Societies. All meetings shall be held at a time and place designated by the Executive Board.
At each official meeting of the ISIN, there shall be a General Business Meeting at which the Executive Board and its officers should report to the Membership present:
1. A Business report and a Treasurer report
2. Nominate the members of the Executive Board
3. Admit or expel members
4. Amend By-Laws
5. Adopt decisions on matters submitted by the Executive Board.
A two-third majority of votes cast are required to adopt decisions to amend the By-Laws or to dissolve the ISIN. All other decisions may be adaptable by a simple majority vote..
The ISIN recognizes and supports the need for a coordinates, continuing education program. The ISIN will encourage official post-graduated courses approved by the Executive Board.
ARTICLE 13:
Balance and profits:The financial year ends on December the 31st .
Each year the Executive Board will present the final balance and the estimate for the new year to the General Assembly for approval. The final balance and the estimate will be available for consultation at the seat of the association.
It is forbidden to share profits, credits, capitals, ..among the members.
ARTICLE 14:
Amendments to and Dissolution of the Organization:Suggested amendments to these By-Laws must be proposed in writing and signed by 5 members and submitted to the Executive Board at least 3 months prior to the Business Meeting. The adoption of an amendment shall require affirmative vote of two-thirds of the members present.
The association has indefinite life. Voluntary dissolution of the organization must be based on a written motion submitted by at least one third of the regular membership. Such a motion shall be carried by a two-thirds majority at the membership meeting. In the case of voluntary dissolution of the organization. The general Assembly or the members of the Executive Board will appoint one or more liquidators of the ISIN. The assets of the organization shall be used for scientific purposes designed by the Membership Meeting.