|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Article I - NAME
|
 |
|
The name of this organization is the "Pan-Arab Congenital Heart Disease Association" (P.A.C.H.D.A.).
It is located in Cairo.
|
|
| |
|
Article II - PURPOSE
|
|
|
This is a non-profit making organization, aiming at:
1) Promoting the study of the Congenital Heart Diseases (CHD) in all age groups (from infancy to adulthood) in the Arab world. This will be achieved through holding regular meetings, which include: Business meeting (at least once a year), scientific conferences, symposia and seminars.
2) Promoting and distributing study data (i.e., multinational registries, clinical impact assessments) pertaining to these studies.
3) Encouraging all forms of communication, education, professional development and collaboration between the different Arabic societies working in a similar field.
4) Helping those engaged in this work.
5) Promoting relations for the specific purpose of research and in regard to epidemiology and prevention, as well as co-operation between workers in this and related fields in the Arab World and other similar societies allover the World.
6) Encouraging the establishment of national registries for CHD for all age groups.
At scientific meetings, the official language of the Association will be English.
At business Meetings the language can be either Arabic or English.
|
|
| |
|
Article III - MEMBERSHIP
|
|
|
The society will consist of Ordinary, Associate, Corresponding and Honorary Members.
|
|
| |
 |
|
ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP will be given to medical practitioners (pediatric or adult cardiologists, interventional radiologists, or cardiac surgeons) of consultant or equivalent level, and others, whose primary interest is in the practice or research in congenital heart disorders.
In countries where consultant titles are not used, the member should be holding a Master degree in either Cardiology, Pediatrics, Pediatric Cardiology, Cardiac Surgery, plus at least 5 publications in the field of Pediatric Cardiology.
|
|
|
|
A member may cease to be an ordinary member at any time, and may choose to become a Corresponding Member.
|
|
|
|
ASSOCIATE MEMBERSHIP will be offered to those who would like to join the association but do not fulfill the requirements .
This will include cardiovascular technicians (sonographers, electrophysiologists, perfusionists and cardiac nurses). It will be also given to individuals engaged in any aspect of training in congenital heart disorders. Such members will be ineligible to vote or hold office.
|
|
|
|
CORRESPONDING MEMBERSHIP may be given to recognized physicians, surgeons, or others, who have a clear and continuing link with the association.
Coresponding members will be ineligible to vote or hold office.
|
|
|
|
HONORARY MEMBERSHIP will be given to members or non-members who have made important contributions in the field of pediatric cardiology, pediatric cardiac surgery, or Adult with Congenital Heart Diseases.
The nomination is determined by the Council and approved by the General Assembly.
The honorary member is encouraged to attend the general assembly meetings and may take part in the discussion, but is not eligible to vote or hold office.
|
|
|
|
Only Ordinary members are eligible to vote or hold office.
|
|
|
|
New membership will be available to all qualified individuals and presented to “Membership Committee” (appointed by the Council). Applications should be seconded by 2 ordinary members in order to be processed. If approved by the committee, the new membership is then submitted to the Council and ratified.
In case of rejection by the Membership Committee, the applicant has the right to directly address the Council for re-evaluation.
New members are not legible for voting before a full fiscal year (starting from the date of approval), and are not legible to apply for an office post before 2 years. Members of the first council (during the process of foundation) are exempted from this condition.
|
|
| |
|
Article IV - SUBSCRIPTIONS
|
|
|
The annual membership subscription, payable by ordinary members, will be fixed by the Council during its first regular meeting. A reduced membership is also to be set for associate members.
Honorary and Corresponding members are exempt from paying subscriptions.
The fees are to be payable on the First of January each year. Failure to pay within 1 year of the due date will be considered equivalent to resignation of membership.
|
|
|
|
The Council reserves the right to change the subscription fees during its later regular meetings if neccessary. This will need ratification at the following Annual General Meeting.
|
|
| |
|
Article V - OFFICERS
|
|
|
The officers of this association are: President, Vice President (President-Elect), Secretary, Treasurer, and 6 elected Council Members.
The elected members will, as far as possible, reflect the composition and various interests of the Association (different Arab countries). It should be avoided to have an over-presentation from a specific country at the cost of the others.
The officers have to be voting members of this association for at least 1 year prior to their election.
A period of one year is required for the new member to gain the right to vote. During the first 3 years of the association, any new member can nominate as an Officer /Council Member if his membership has started one year previously. Thereafter, 3 year-membership are required to become a council member.
|
|
|
|
All officers will be in post for 2 years and will offer themselves to re-election after 2 years.
|
|
|
|
The President automatically stands down after 2 years and is replaced by the Vice-President (President-Elect) in case he is re-elected. However, the President may be eligible for an executive position on the Council (including the president position) 2 years after ceasing to be President.
The Secretary and Treasurer will be eligible for re-election after 2 years.
Ordinary Council Members will be elected for 2 years.
No officer may serve on the Council for more than 2 consecutive 2-yearly terms (maximum of 4 years), but will be eligible for re-election 2 years after ceasing to hold office.
|
|
|
|
The elected officers will form the Executive Council for the association.
|
|
|
Article VI - AMENDMENTS
|
|
|
|
The constitution may be amended by a two-thirds vote of the members present at the Annual General Meeting, provided the amendment has been proposed in writing and made available to members at least 6 months before the General Meeting
If the number of attendants to the General Meeting is less than two-thirds of the members (eligible to vote), the meeting is postponed for one hour and any number of attendants becomes sufficient to amend the consitution through a straight majority.
|
|
|
Article VII - MEETINGS
|
|
|
The Annual General Meeting will be held in conjunction with a major Arabic or International cardiology meeting to be held in one of the Arab Countries, as decided upon by Council. This will consist of a scientific and business meeting.
The program and agenda will be organized by the Council and will complement the program of presentation of papers presented at the sister meeting.
This section should be re-discussed after a period of two years. It should be studied whether a separate meeting of the association should be contemplated.
|
|
|
Additional scientific meetings of the Association will be arranged at the discretion of the Council and will similarly rotate around the Arab world. The topics will be selected at the discretion of the Council, which will take into account suggestions from the members.
A local organization will be nominated for this second meeting, but the overall organization remains the responsibility of the Council.
One of the standing topics of each meeting during the first five years (for possible renewal) should deal with the problems encountered at establishing a service to treat patients with congenital Heart disease, where the different societies can learn from each other. At the same time a session is kept open for collaborative studies between different Arab countries. This to encourage such collaborations, even if the presentations are of no major scientific value.
|
|
|
|
Council meetings
The council is to meet regularly every three months (first week of the Gregorian month) for discussion of all affairs of the society.
In the condition of failure to arrange a "physical meeting", the agenda is sent to all council members via emails (or fax) and the discussions are run through internet discusions. The decision to hold an "Online Council Meeting" is to be decided by the president, and the Secretary is responsible to inform council members of its date.
To avoid potential failure to connect to the internet by any council member, such meeting will remain in session for a period of one week.
The president remains to preside "Online council meetings" unless he appoints another council member to organize the e-discussions. " The council discussions will be confidential, not on an open forum.
The Council has the right to invite any registered member of the association (or non-members) to attend the council meeting, but without having the right to vote.
In Online Meetings and in specail cases, members maybe involved in council discussions. Voting will be either by sending a regular e-mail to the president or by internet ballot. Members should use their e-mail address registered in the association beforehand not any alternative one, to avoid cancellation of the vote. The results of the votes will be announced on the association webpage.
|
|
|
|
General meetings
General meeting of all members is to be held on an annual basis, in conjucation with one scientific meeting of the association. This will include elections every two years.
The date, time and location of the General Meeting are to be decided by the President and approved by the Council. The Secretary is responsible to inform council members of this date, at least one month beforehand.
|
|
|
Article VIII - FISCAL YEAR
|
|
|
The fiscal year (Gregorian year) shall correspond with the term of office of the officers.
|
|
|
Newly elected officers will assume office at the close of the Annual General Meeting and hold office for 2 years or until a duly elected successor takes office.
|
|
|
Article IX - ELECTION OF OFFICERS
|
|
|
Until such time as election of the Council takes place, a Steering Committee will act in the capacity of the Council. The Steering Committee shall present a list of candidates for elections, but nominations will also be accepted from the membership.
Nominations will be conducted by e-mail, and the results will be notified to all members. To apply, Members should use their e-mail address registered in the association beforehand not any alternative one, to avoid cancellation of the vote.
|
|
|
(A) Legible members will be invited to elect 10 Council Members.
(B) The first council will elect President, Vice President (President-Elect), Secretary andTreasurer from among those members.
(C) After the end of term of the first council and upon subsequent council elections, the preceding Vice President (President-Elect) becomes President, provided he is elected by the General Assembly. In case of his failure to become a council member, the newly-elected Council Members will be free to choose a new President.
|
|
|
|
The elections should take place in January/February (in conjunction with Egyptian Heart Meeting, Jordanian Heart Meeting or Libanese Heart Meeting).
Nominations must be sent to the Council before the election date by a period of 90-120 days. No nomination will be accepted afterwards. This will allow a period of 30 days for processing, and all Members as well as the approved nominees will be informed 60 days before the election date.
A straight majority will be sufficient for election.
|
|
|
|
In the condition of failure to organize a General Meeting, elections may be postponed for a period of 90 days of the due date, and alternatively conducted via the internet.
For security reasons, only messages coming from registered e-mail addresses of the Members will be accepted to avoid duplication of a vote. The usage of any alternative e-mail will render the vote void.
The election session under such condition will remain open to voters for a period of 7 days, and the start and end of the session will be set according to Cairo time to be precisely 24 hours x 7 days. The results will be approved only if at least 2/3 of eligible votes are valid. If this percentage is not achieved, the same procedure is to be repeated after 90 days when 50% f the votes are required. In case of failure again, the existing Council remains in post until the following Annual General Meeting.
In the ocassion of an internet-based election, the committee receiving the votes is responsible to save all original messages in an electonic form. This should be presented to the Counicl in both electronic and printed forms. The Council should inform all Members of all the details of the process.
|
| |
|
|
Article X - DUTIES OF OFFICERS
|
|
|
The President will preside all Council and General Meetings, have general supervisory powers over the association, see that officers perform duties, and enforce the By-Laws.
He will appoint the chairmen of all the sub-committees.
He will cast the deciding vote when there is a tie in the balloting.
He will announce the dates and locations of scientific, general or council meetings after consulting with other Council Members.
|
|
|
The Vice-President (President-Elect) will preside in the absence of the President and in case of death, sickness, resignation, disqualification, refusal, or neglect of the President to discharge the duties of his office. The Vice-President (President-Elect) shall then perform all duties incumbent upon the President for the remainder of the term of office.
|
|
|
|
The Secretary shall keep a record of the proceedings of the association and prepare a roll of members.
He will call the meeting in the absence of the President and Vice-President (President-Elect). He will be responsible to inform the members of the date and location of all Council Meetings, General Meetings or Scientific Meetings (as appropriate), as well as all activities of the association.
The Secretary is responsible for scheduling and printing the meeting program for the year.
|
|
|
|
The Treasurer shall receive all monies of the association, pay bills, disburse funds as directed, and have all accounts receipt upon payment of the same.
The Treasurer shall be charged with the collection of subscriptions.
All disbursements require the signature of the Treasurer or, in his absence, the Secretary.
The Treasurer shall give a financial report at the Annual General Meeting.
|
|
|
|
In case of death, sickness, or resignation of the Vice-President (President-Elect), the Secretary or the Treasurer, the council will present a list of candidates to the membership for election.
|
|
|
Article XI - CONVENING OF SUB-COMMITTEES
|
|
|
The Council shall have the right to convene sub-committees as it deems necessary.
|
|
|
Article XII - NON-PROFIT STATUS AND DISSOLUTION
|
|
|
No part of the net earnings of the association shall inure to the benefit of any individual or member.
Where appropriate, the Executive Council may determine to compensate reasonably any officer of the association in accordance with and commensurate with the labour, services, or other endeavors performed by such persons.
|
|
|
|
In the event of the dissolution of this association, or in the event it shall cease to exist for the stated purposes, all the property and assets shall be distributed to an organization or agency of similar nature and charitable and non-profit status. This allocation shall be decided by the Council at the time of dissolution.
Under no circumstances shall any of the property or assets of this association during the existence and/or upon the dissolution thereof go and be distributed to any officer or member of the association.
|
|
| |
 |
| |
This constitution was formulated by the efforts of all members who joined the association during its foundation.
No further amendments will take place, except according to "Article VI" in this constitution.
An Arabic version of this constitution will be available later, but the English version will remain the official one until the first General Meeting.
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|