Objectives and Rules of Society
1. The name of the Society is "The Society for Research into
Hydrocephalus and Spina Bifida", hereinafter called "The
Society".
2. The object of the Society shall be to advance education and
to promote research into hydrocephalus and spina bifida and for
this purpose only to bring together workers in different fields who
have a common interest in hydrocephalus and spina bifida so that
they may be aided in their joint endeavour to prevent, cure or
alleviate these conditions.
3. The Society shall consist of Ordinary, Senior and Honorary
Members.
4. Persons of distinction in medicine and related sciences who
have contributed to the advancement of knowledge of hydrocephalus
and spina bifida shall be eligible for election to Honorary
Membership. The number of Honorary Members shall be limited to
twenty. They shall be elected to the Society by the Annual General
Meeting on the recommendations of the Executive Committee.
5. Ordinary Members, on reaching the age of 65 years or on prior
retirement, shall cease to be Ordinary Members and shall become
Senior Members.
6. Candidates for Ordinary Membership shall be nominated by two
Members of the Society in writing.
7. The Executive Committee shall recommend candidates to the
Annual General Meeting for election to Ordinary Membership from
among those persons who have been nominated.
8. The Annual Subscription shall be determined at the Annual
General Meeting.
9a. Those newly elected to Ordinary Membership by the Annual
General Meeting will become members of the Society upon payment of
the first subscription which becomes due on election.
9b. Failure to pay the annual subscription for one whole year
after it becomes due, and without approval of the Honorary
Treasurer, will result in withdrawal of the right to receive the
Proceedings. Failure to pay the Annual subscription for two whole
years after it becomes due, and without approval of the Honorary
Treasurer, will result in termination of membership.
10. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President,
President Elect, Secretary, Secretary Elect, Treasurer, up to two
Publications Secretaries, and three other Members. These officials
shall be elected from the Ordinary and Senior Members at the Annual
General Meeting. Up to two Ordinary or Senior Members may be
co-opted to serve on the Executive Committee without recourse to
the Annual General Meeting.
11. The office of President shall be tenable for three years and
shall normally be preceded by one year served as President
Elect.
12. The offices of Secretary, Treasurer and Publications
Secretary shall be tenable for three years and holders will be
eligible for re-election.
13. The office of Secretary Elect will be tenable for the year
prior to retirement of the Secretary.
14. Ordinary Members of the Executive Committee shall hold
office for three years. Committee Members shall not be eligible for
re-election for a period of two years after retiring from
office.
15. At least two weeks before the Annual General Meeting the
secretary shall send to each Member of the Society the names of the
Officers who are due to retire and shall invite nominations for
their successors.
16. There shall be at least one Meeting held each year and this
shall incorporate the Annual General Meeting, which will be
followed by the Annual Scientific Meeting.
17. At least three months before the Annual Scientific Meeting
the Secretary shall invite submissions of abstracts of intended
presentations for consideration by the Executive Committee.
18a. The Agenda for the Annual General Meeting shall be arranged
by the Secretary. Items for inclusion on the Agenda will normally
result from the business of the Executive Committee, but Members of
the Society may request that items be placed on the Agenda so long
as this is done in writing at least four weeks before the Annual
General Meeting.
18b. The Programme for the Scientific Meeting shall be arranged
by the Secretary, deriving the content from the material approved
by the Executive Committee.
19a. Notice of each meeting of the Executive Committee together
with the Agenda shall be sent by the Secretary to each Committee
Member at least two weeks before the meeting.
19b. Notice of each Annual General Meeting together with the
Agenda shall be sent by the Secretary to each Member of the Society
at least two weeks before the meeting.
20. The Secretary shall be responsible for ensuring that the
minutes of each Executive Committee Meeting and the Annual General
Meeting are duly recorded.
21. No alteration shall be made to Rules except at the Annual
General Meeting and unless proposed by at least ten Members in
writing to the Secretary at least four weeks before the Annual
General Meeting.
22. No amendment shall be made to Rules 2, 24 or 25 without the
written consent of the Charity Commissioners.
23. The quorum for the Annual General Meeting shall be fifteen
members.
24. The income and property of the Society whencesoever derived
shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of the
Society as set forth in the Rules, and no portion thereof shall be
paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of profit to the
Members of the Society. Providing that nothing herein shall prevent
the payment in good faith of reasonable and proper remuneration to
any Member, Officer or servant of the Society in return for any
services rendered to the Society, nor prevent the payment of
interest at a rate not exceeding four per cent per annum on money
lent or reasonable and proper rent for premises demised or let by
any Member of the Society; but that no Member of the Executive
Committee shall be appointed to any salaried Office of the Society
or any Office of the Society paid by fees, and that no remuneration
or other benefit in money's worth shall be given by the Society to
any Member of the Executive Committee except repayment of
out-of-pocket expenses and interest at a rate aforesaid on money
lent or reasonable and proper rent for premises demised or let to
the Society provided that the provision shall not apply to any
payment to any company of which a Member and in which such a member
shall not hold more than one hundredth part of the capital and such
member shall not be bound to account for any share or profits he
may receive in respect to such a payment.
25. If upon winding up or dissolution of the Society there
remains after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities any
property whatsoever, the same shall not be paid or distributed
among the Members of the Society but shall be given or transferred
to some other charitable institution having objects similar to the
objects of the Society and which shall prohibit the distribution of
its or their income and property among its or their members to an
extent at least as great as is imposed on the Society under or by
virtue of the last preceding Rule, such charitable institution or
institutions to be determined by the Members of the Society at or
before the time of dissolution and if and so far as effect cannot
be given to such a provision, then to some other Charitable
Object.
