1. NAME
The Society shall be named the Asian Pan-Pacific Society of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition.
2. PURPOSE
This Society is a non-profit making organisation whose purpose is to promote the knowledge of paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition, to stimulate the research in these fields and to disseminate such knowledge at meetings and elsewhere.
3. MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOCIETY
(a) The Society consists of active, honorary and emeritus members.
(b) A member must have an active interest in paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and/or paediatric nutrition.
(c) Only active and emeritus members have voting rights at the AGM.
(d) New members shall be elected at the AGM on the recommendation of the Council. Proposal for active membership should be made in writing to the Secretary. The proposal should be signed by an active or emeritus member. Each proposal shall be accompanied by the curriculum vitae and list of publications of the candidate.
The Council will have the duty to consider the applications, and to give to the AGM details of those candidates whom they recommended for membership.
(e) If a member’s annual membership lapses, the question of continuation of membership will be considered by the Council. The recommendation of the Council will be considered at the next ACM, and voted upon according to paragraph 12.
(f) Membership would not last longer than the age of 65 years.
(9) A member has the right to stay in the Society as an emeritus member when he/she has passed the age of 65 years.
(h) Honorary membership will be bestowed upon suitable candidate upon recommendation of the Council.
(i) In consultation with the Council, the Organizer of the meeting may invite guests to attend the meeting, contributing or not to the scientific programme. Local guests may also be invited up to a certain number depending on local conditions.
4. MEETINGS
(a) The Society will hold regular scientific meetings for the presentation and discussion of papers by members and guests at a time and place to be decided by the Council.
(b) A Business Meeting (AGM) of the membership of the Society shall be conducted during the Scientific Meeting as determined by the Council. The election of officers and Councillors shall take place at this Business Meeting. The agenda for the Business Meeting shall be determined by the Council.
(c) The Council of the Society will meet before and after the AGM, and at other times when deemed necessary by a 2/3 majority decision of the Council.
(d) Other meetings of the Society may be convened at any time upon a 2/3 majority
decision of the Council and by providing written notice to the membership at least 90 days prior to the date of the meeting.
(e) Scientific Meeting
I. The programme will be arranged by the organizer of the next meeting in collaboration with the Council.
II. A member wishing to Introduce a guest at a meeting will submit the name of the guest and the title of his/her paper, if any, to the organizer of the next meeting at least three months prior to the meeting.
III. An object of the Society is to encourage the inclusion of recent and not necessarily completed research work at the annual scientific meeting. A summary of each paper, in English, will be submitted not less than one month before the meeting. Copies of the summaries will be distributed at the meeting. The names of speakers and titles of papers will be published by the Society but not necessarily the contents, since incomplete work may be included.
IV. Proposals for organizing the biennial scientific meeting and the organizer should be made in writing, to the Secretary, at least five months before the next AGM. The decision and the appointment are made by a majority of the members present at the AGM. The organize will be an added Council member in the year before the meeting and until the end of the meeting which he/she conducted.
5. LANGUAGE AND LOCATION
The official language of the Society will be English at meetings and in correspondence.
6. COUNCIL
The Executive Council of the Society consists of the following persons:
1. President
2.President- Elect
3. Secretary
4.Treasurer
5.Three Council members without special function
6.Organizer of the next meeting
The Executive Council may appoint committees to carry out its duties, at least one member of the Executive Council shall be an ex-officio member of each standing committee. Each standing committee may appoint sub-committees to carry out its duties subject to approval of the Executive Council.
7. PRESIDENT
The President is elected for three years and shall then not be eligible for re-election as President. He/she should be an active member of good standing. The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Society and shall preside at all regular and special meetings of the Society. In consultation with the Council the President shall be responsible for the appointment of all standing and adhoc committees and shall serve as an ex-officio member of all committees. The President shall perform all other duties normally associated with his/her office.
A candidate for the post of President may (with his/her written consent) be proposed in writing by any five members, to the Secretary, not less than one month before the AGM, or may be proposed by the Council.
8. SECRETARY AND TREASURER
The Secretary and the Treasurer are elected for three years and shall then be eligible for re-election on a biennial basis. They should be active members of good standing. The Secretary shall sign all official documents and shall carry out such duties as are assigned by the Council. The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping a record of the proceeding of the meetings of the Society and reporting on such proceedings to the membership of the Society. The Secretary shall maintain a list of ‘the membership of the Society and notify the members of the date and place of the business meeting and scientific meeting, and other official meetings of the Society.
The Treasure shall be responsible for the receipt and disbursement of all funds of the Society. The Treasurer shall submit a written report at least annually to the Council detailing all of the funds received and disbursed and present a detailed statement of the financial condition of the Society.
A candidate for the post of Secretary and Treasurer may (with his/her written consent) be proposed in writing by any five members, to the Secretary, not less than one month before the AGM, or may be proposed by the Council.
9. COUNCIL MEMBERS WITHOUT SPECIAL FUNCTION
The Council would have three or more members elected for two years. A candidate for a Council member may (with his/her written consent) be proposed in writing, to the Secretary, by any five members not less than one month before the AGM, or by the Council.
Comment: At the first election the original three Executive Council members without special function should be elected for two, four and six years respectively.
10. VOTING
Decisions in Council will require the support of a majority of those present. Decisions at the AGM will be by a simple majority of those present except in the following circumstances, where 2/3 majority of those present will be required:
1. Alteration of the Constitution
2. The decision to dissolve the Society
3. The election of new members
4. Consideration of continuation of membership according to paragraph 3 (e.f.).
Election to membership and exclusion from membership at AGM will be by secret ballot. The quorum for a general meeting will, be 25 active and or emeritus members and the quorum for an Executive Council meeting will be three members.
11. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION
(a) Amendments to the Constitution must be proposed in writing, to the Secretary, by any five members or by the Council not less than six months before the next AGM.
(b) The Secretary will notify all members of the proposed amendment not less than five months before the next AGM.
(c) Any members may submit written counter-proposals, to the Secretary, not less than three months before the next AGM.
(d) (d) The Secretary will notify all members of any Counter-proposal not less than one month before the next AGM.
12. DUES AND FEES
(a) Initiation fees and annual dues shall be determined by the Council following recommendation by the Treasurer and may vary according to the category of membership.
(b) Honorary members and emeritus members shall be exempt from the payment of annual dues.
(c) Members shall be deemed delinquent if annual dues have not been received within 120 days from the date of the original invoice. Members who are deemed delinquent will lose all privileges of the society until full payment completed
