ASGO Constitution

AUSTRALIAN SOCIETY OF GYNAECOLOGIC ONCOLOGISTS

CONSTITUTION

1. NAME: The name of the organization is the Australian Society of Gynaecologic Oncologists.

2. ADDRESS: ASGO, c/o RANZCOG, 254 – 260 Albert Street, East Melbourne, Victoria, 3002, AUSTRALIA.

Tel: +613 94171699 Fax: +613 94190672 (27 April 2003)

3. OBJECTIVES:

3.1 The primary objective is to promote and improve standards of care of patients with gynaecologic cancer.
3.2 To promote postgraduate, undergraduate and community education in the area of gynaecologic oncology.
3.3 To promote research into gynaecologic oncology.
3.4 To advise upon and assist in the training and teaching of gynaecologic oncologists.
3.5 To undertake other such activities as would support the achievement of the stated objectives.

In this document where he/his is written, she/hers also is understood.

4. MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOCIETY:

The classes of membership of the Society shall consist of:

a. Ordinary Member

b. Emeritus Member

c. Honorary Member

d. Associate Member

The rights and privileges of every member shall be personal to himself and shall not be transferred or transmitted by his own act or by operation of law.

4.1 ORDINARY MEMBER:

The Society may admit as an Ordinary Member any person who is a registered specialist in Obstetrics and Gynaecology, whether in Australia or elsewhere and who holds the CGO (Certified Gynaecologic Oncologist) or DGO (Diploma of Gynaecologic Oncology) of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetrics and Gynaecologists (RANZCOG). In addition he/she must hold an official appointment in a recognised gynaecologic oncology Unit and/or be identified as being actively and predominantly involved in clinical gynaecologic oncology. (26 April 1998)

4.2 EMERITUS MEMBER:

The Society may elect as an Emeritus Member any person who through ill health or other reason is unable to continue his membership or who has retired from practice. An Emeritus Member shall have the same powers and privileges as an Ordinary Member except that an Emeritus Member shall not be required to pay any entrance fee or annual subscription, and shall not be entitled to vote at meetings.

Applicants need to state that they are no longer doing radical surgery and that they will not offer a legal opinion on gynaecology/oncology cases that occurred while they had emeritus standing (11 May 1996)

4.3 HONORARY/MEMBERSHIP:

Any person not qualifying for Ordinary or Emeritus membership may submit his qualifications to the Membership Committee for consideration. Such members may pay a fee as determined but will not be entitled to vote.

4.4 ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP:

4.5 PROPOSALS FOR MEMBERSHIP:

Proposals should be forwarded with supporting documents to the Secretary. They will be considered at the next Membership Committee Meeting.

4.6 CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP:

If the subscription of a member remains unpaid in two consecutive years the member shall ipso facto forfeit that member's membership provided that the Membership Committee may if it thinks fit reinstate the member on payment of arrears.

A member may at any time, by giving notice in writing to the Secretary, resign his membership of the Society but shall continue to be liable for any subscription and all arrears due and unpaid at the date of resignation and for all other monies due by him to the Society.

Any member shall ipso facto cease to be a member of the- Society if he:

a. Is found guilty of infamous conduct in a professional respect;

b. If found guilty of an indictable offence;

c. Not being an Emeritus Member ceases to be eligible for membership as provided in the Constitution;

d. Resigns his membership by notice in writing;

e. Has failed for two consecutive years to pay any monies including (without limitation) subscription monies due by him to the Society.

f. Failure to attend two consecutive meetings provided that the Membership Committee may, in its absolute discretion, waive the operation of this provision in any case where it thinks fit.

Any person who ceases to be a member of the Society shall thereupon forfeit all rights and privileges which he may as a member enjoy and shall have no rights in or claim upon the Society for the property or funds of the Society except as a creditor thereof.

5. SUBSCRIPTIONS:

5.1 The annual subscription payable by ordinary members of the Society shall be such sum as the Society in general meetings shall from time to time by resolution (passed by not less than one half of the members present and entitled to vote) prescribe.
5.2 All annual subscriptions shall become due and payable on the last day of June in each year.
5.3 In this Constitution "year" is a period commencing on the 1st of July and ending on the next succeeding 30th of June provided that the period from the adoption of this Constitution to the next succeeding July shall be a year.

6. EXECUTIVE:

6.1 The Executive shall consist of not less than three nor more than five persons and no more than 2 from anyone state. The Executive shall elect a Chairman and a Secretary/Treasurer.
6.2 The Executive shall be elected every two years at the Annual General Meeting by resolution as referred to in rule 5.
6.3 The Executive shall be entitled to fill a casual vacancy.
6.4 No member of the Executive shall serve longer than one two-year term in the same post consecutively and may serve no longer than four consecutive years as a member of the Executive.
6.5 The Executive shall have the general control of the affairs and the direction of the Society.
6.6 The Executive shall furnish a general report on the state and activities of the Society at the Annual General Meeting

7. CHAIRPERSON:

7.1 The Chairperson shall take the chair at all meetings of the Executive and at annual and other meetings of the Society.
7.2 The Chairperson shall have an ordinary vote and whenever numbers are tied a casting vote also.
7.3 In his absence an acting Chairperson may be appointed by the Ordinary Members present.

8. SECRETARY/TREASURER:

The Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible for preparation of an Annual Financial Statement to be presented to the Annual General Meeting.

All cheques shall be signed as determined by the Executive. The Secretary/Treasurer shall be responsible for summoning all meetings and shall ensure that all proceedings thereof are recorded in a minute book.

9. OTHER COMMITTEES:

a. Membership Committee

b. Programme and Social Committee

9.1 Membership Committee

The Membership Committee shall comprise five members of the Society no more than two from anyone state, one of whom shall be the Chairperson of the Society. These four members shall be elected by the Ordinary Membership at the Annual General Meeting by resolution referred to in Clause 5. The members are elected for four year terms and are not eligible for re-election within two years of completion of a term of office. The Membership Committee shall be responsible for reviewing proposals for membership and will recommend to the Society those persons who qualify for membership.

9.2 Programme and Social Committee

This committee shall comprise at least two members of the Society who have the power to co-opt. These members shall be appointed by the Executive Committee on a yearly basis.

10. MEETINGS:

The Annual General Meeting shall be held at such place and time as the Executive Committee may decide. All General Meetings other than the Annual General Meeting shall be called Special Meetings.

The Executive may arrange a Special Meeting whenever it thinks fit and shall do so whenever required by requisition signed by not less than one fourth of the Ordinary members of the Society. Any such requisition shall specify the objects of the meeting required and the meeting shall be convened for the purpose specified in the requisition. Thirty days clear notice of all General Meetings specifying the place, day and hour of the meeting and the general nature of such business shall be given to all members of the Society and such notice shall be sent by post or otherwise served as hereinafter provided.

The accidental omission to give notice of any General Meeting to or the non receipt of any such notice by any of the members shall not invalidate any resolution passed at any such meeting.

Procedures at the Annual General Meetings. The Business to be transacted at the Annual General Meetings shall be:

a. To consider the annual report of the chairperson and other committees.

b. To consider the financial statement.

c. To consider any regulations made by the Executive Committee during the period since the previous since the previous Annual General Meeting.

d. To elect members of the Executive; and other committees.

e. To transact any other business appropriate to an Annual General Meeting.

No business shall be transacted at any General Meeting unless a quorum of members if present within 30 minutes of the time appointed for the meeting. Four members shall constitute a quorum for all purposes.

If within 30 minutes from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting if convened upon a requisition of members shall be dissolved.

11. VOTING:

At any General Meeting a resolution put to the vote of the meeting shall be decided on a show of hands but the Chairman or at least four members present may require a secret ballot.

A declaration by the Chairperson that a resolution has been carried or carried unanimously or by a particular majority or lost and an entry to that effect in the minute book shall be conclusive evidence of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes for or against such resolution provided that the number of proportion of votes recorded for or against such resolution shall be recorded if requested by any member present.

An Ordinary member may attend and vote at any General Meeting in person or, unless the Ordinary Member is qualified for admission as such by virtue of holding a DGO from the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, may vote by proxy. A person to be appointed as proxy must be another Ordinary Member attending the General Meeting, named in the notice of appointment, or any appointment may be made generally in favour of the person chairing the meeting. The appointment shall be made by notice in writing signed by the Ordinary Member and given personally, or by post or by facsimile to the Secretary/Treasurer before the meeting concerned or tendered at the meeting (26 April 1998)

12. ALTERATION OF CONSTITUTION:

Any section of the constitution may be rescinded or altered by a two thirds majority of members voting at a General Meeting of the Society duly summoned to consider a proposed alteration. A proposed resolution to alter the constitution shall be set out in the notice convening the meeting.

13. AFFILIATION:

The Society may affiliate with such Societies or organisations as may be deemed appropriate by the Ordinary members.

14. INCOME & PROPERTY OF THE SOCIETY:

The income and property of the Society from whatever source derived shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objectives of the Society as set forth in these Rules, and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend or bonus or otherwise by way of profit to persons who at any time are or who have been members of the Society, or to any person claiming through any of them; provided that nothing herein shall prevent the payment in good faith or remunerating to any officers of servants or the Society, or to any member of the Society or other person, in return for any services actually rendered to the Society.

15. DISSOLUTION:

The Society can only be dissolved by a two-thirds majority vote of the members in favour of such action.

The assets after settling all outstanding debts shall be given to a charity in this country with similar aims and ideals approved by the Executive of the Society.