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About ESPR

Constitution

Art. 1. Name and Location

  • European Society for Paediatric Research hereinafter referred to as the Society.
  • The legal domicile of the Society is Geneva.

Art. 2. Purposes

  • To promote paediatric research and post-graduate training in Europe.
  • To encourage collaboration between the various specialised fields of paediatrics, to maintain paediatrics as a unified, scientifically orientated discipline.
  • To promote paediatric research and post-graduate training in Europe.

Art. 3. Nomination of Members

  • Nomination for membership must be made in writing to the Secretary-General by two members. These two are responsible for ensuring that the applicant has made original contributions to research in subjects pertinent to paediatrics and has given at least one scientific contribution (paper or poster) to the Society.
  • The Council shall consider the nominations and propose a list of suitable candidates for election to the Society at its Annual Business Meeting (ABM). Candidates will be elected by a simple majority of active members present at the ABM. If a candidate is not recommended, the responsible administrative sections of the Society are not obliged to publicise their reasons.

Art. 4. Active Members

  • Any person who has made original contributions to research in subjects pertinent to paediatrics and has given at least one scientific contribution (paper or poster) to the Society.

Art. 5. Senior Members

  • Upon reaching the age of 60, an Active Member will automatically become a Senior Member.
  • New members may be elected as Senior Members without being required to have presented a paper at scientific meetings provided that the candidate:
  • Shows evidence of past and current activity in paediatric research.
  • Is supported by two members of the Society who are themselves Active Members or were originally elected as Active Members.
  • The two sponsoring members belong to university departments or hospitals located in cities different from each other and the candidate.
  • Each sponsor provides a separate citation in support of the candidate.
  • After scrutinising these documents, the Council feels confident to recommend the nomination at the Society’s ABM.

Art. 6. Affiliate Members

  • Members of the United States Society for Paediatric Research and the Asian Society for Pediatric Research may apply for ESPR affiliate membership. The Council shall consider these applications and propose a list of suitable candidates at the Society’s ABM.
  • Where a vote is indicated, candidates will be elected by simple majority of Active Members present at the ABM. If a candidate is not recommended, the responsible administrative organs of the Society are not obliged to make public their reasons.
  • Affiliate Members may submit abstracts for the Annual Scientific Meeting and submit nominations for ESPR membership, provided that such nominations include an Active or Senior Member of the ESPR as either Proposer or Seconder.
  • Affiliate Members are entitled to receive all the mailings from ESPR. Affiliate Members have no vote in the business affairs of the ESPR and may not hold office. To cover postal and administrative expenses Affiliate Members must pay an annual subscription set by ESPR’s ABM.

Art. 7. Associate Members

  • Any person involved in paediatrics, child health and/or any research that might contribute to the field of paediatrics and child health may apply for ESPR Associate Membership.
  • An application for Associate Membership must be supported by one member of any membership category of the ESPR.
  • The ESPR Council shall consider and may approve applications for Associate Membership. If a candidate is not recommended for membership the responsible administrative organs of the Society are not obliged to make public their reasons.
  • Successful applicants are to be known as Associate Members of the ESPR. They will have no vote in the business affairs of the ESPR and may not hold office.
  • Associate Members may submit abstracts for the Annual Scientific Meeting. To cover postal and administrative expenses they must pay an annual subscription to be set by ESPR’s ABM.

Art. 8. Termination of Membership

  • Membership will cease:
  • If a member gives written notice of his intention to leave to the president three months before the end of the current year.
  • If the membership fee for the following year is not paid by end of November of the current year. The subscription of Paediatric Research shall cease by January 1st. Members, who were excluded because of non-payment of fees, will be reinstated after payment without having to go through re-election.
  • By expulsion if such a proposal is approved by at least three-quarters of the Active Members present at the ABM. Such a proposal shall only be made if a member has seriously contravened the interests of the Society. The respective member must be informed by the president in writing of his or her expulsion.

Art. 9. General

  • The executive organs of the Society shall be: a.) the Annual Business Meeting, b.) the Council, c.) the Sections, d.) the Auditors.

Art. 10. The Sections

  • The Society shall have five Sections
  • European Society of Neonatology (formerly section of neonatology)
  • Section of Brain & Development
  • Section of Nutrition and Mineral Metabolism
  • Section of Haematology, Oxygen Transport and Microcirculation
  • Section of Epidemiology
  • Each Section establishes its own Terms of Reference which shall be approved by the Council. Each Section elects a secretary. The European Society of Neonatology shall furthermore elect a person responsible for post-graduate training and a person responsible for quality assessment programme.
  • The Sections are responsible inter alia for providing the Council with recommendations for the scientific programme of the annual meeting.

Art. 11. The Annual Business Meeting (ABM)

  • The ABM of is the highest authority of the Society. The ABM will be called by the Council every year and will be held during the annual meeting. The Council must give notice of the ABM six months in advance.
  • Extraordinary business meetings will be called by the Council at the request of the Council or at least one fifth of the Active Members.
  • All Members of the Society shall have the right to participate at the ABM, but voting rights are restricted to Active Members. Representation is not possible.
  • The Council shall decide the agenda for the ABM and shall send it out together with invitations to the meeting. The agenda of the shall contain at least the following items:
  • Acceptance of the minutes of the previous ABM
  • Report from Council concerning the activities of the Society for the previous year. The report shall be  put to vote.
  • Report of the financial status of the Society. The financial report shall be put to vote.
  • Election and expulsion of Members
  • Proposals from the Council
  • Proposals from Members
  • Approval of the budget and determination of membership fee for the next year
  • Election of the President, Vice-President and Treasurer
  • Election of the auditors
  • Written proposals for the agenda submitted by Members at least five months before the ABM must be included in the agenda. Council will decide whether proposals received after this deadline will be included in the agenda. The agenda must be circulated to all Members at least two months before the ABM.
  • The President will take the Chair. If (s)he is unable to do so, a member of Council, appointed by the Council may stand in for him or her.
  • A proposal concerning changes in the constitution or dissolution of the Society shall be approved only if at least three-quarters of the active members present at the ABM vote in favor.
  • In case of dissolution of the association, all remaining assets will be entirely attributed to a not-for-profit organisation with a mission aimed at interests of the general public, in keeping with the objectives of the ESPR, with tax-exempt status. The assets may in no manner be returned to the founders or members, or be used partially or totally, for their benefit in one way or another.

Art. 11. The Council

  • The Council of the Society shall consist of:
  • President
  • Vice President
  • Treasurer
  • Secretaries of the five Sections
  • Head of the training programme of European Society of Neonatology
  • Head of the quality assessment programme of European Society of Neonatology
  • European editor of "Paediatric Research"
  • The Chairman of the local organising committee of the annual meeting the following year
  • The President, the Vice President and the Treasurer are elected for three years and can be re-elected for the same or another function. Membership of the Council cannot exceed six consecutive years. A member of the Council cannot hold more than one office at the same time.
  • The President, the Vice President and the Treasurer shall be elected at the ABM. Candidates must be proposed to the Council not later than May 1st of the year in which the election takes place. The candidates shall be sponsored by at least two members. The President, the Vice President and the Treasurer must be active members and of different nationalities. The candidates shall be elected by a simple majority of the votes cast. Only Active Members may vote.
  • If the President is unable to complete his term of office, the Vice-President will act for him. If any other member of the Council is unable to complete his or her term of office, Council is authorised to appoint a temporary successor until the next ABM.
  • The Council is competent to pass resolutions if there are at least five members present (quorum). Decisions of Council will be made by simple majority of the votes cast. When the votes are evenly divided, the President will have an additional casting vote. Decisions by post are allowed, a simple majority of votes being required; the President will have an additional casting vote when such votes are evenly divided.
  • Council controls the right of signature of its members. It handles all affairs of the Society except those, which are the prerogative of the ABM.

Art. 11.a. Transitional Rules

  • Members of the Council elected before January 1st 2005 may continue as members of the Council until the end of their terms. They may at that time be elected for one of the in Art 11 mentioned posts for a period of three years without the possibility of re-election.

Art. 12. The Auditors

  • Two auditors shall be elected at the ABM. The auditors are elected for 3 years without the possibility of re-election. They shall supervise the accounts of the Society, and shall submit an audited financial report to the ABM.

Art 13. Membership Fee, Liability, Property of the Society

  • Members shall pay an annual subscription fee at a rate approved by the ABM for the following year.
  • Membership fees shall fall due at the end of November for the following year. Members over 65 years of age when the subscriptions are due are exempt from subscription.
  • Members shall have no rights to the property of the Society. Resigning or expelled Members shall have no rights to the capital of the Society.
  • In the case of the death of a Member, including a resigned or expelled Member, his or her heirs shall have no right to the capital or property of the Society.
  • Neither membership fees once paid nor other services performed for the Society can be reimbursed.
  • Financial obligations of the Society are covered exclusively by the property of the Society. Members or the administrative organs of the Society shall assume no personal liability in relation to the finances of the Society.

Art 14. Annual Meeting

  • The location of forthcoming meetings will be decided by the Council up to six years in advance based on written offers from members of the Society.
  • The annual meeting shall include a post-graduate training programme and a scientific programme.
  • The planning of the post-graduate training programme is the responsibility of Council. Council may delegate the planning to a working group.
  • The post-graduate training programme and the scientific programme shall be approved by the Council. In order to obtain a link between training and research, Council shall ensure that subjects in the post-graduate training programme will also be covered by the scientific programme.
  • Council may invite guests on behalf of the Society.
  • Council may arrange joined meetings with other scientific or educational societies.
  • Papers for presentation at the scientific meeting may be offered by Members and guests. Papers of guests must be recommended by a Member.
  • Abstracts of papers which are offered for presentation at the scientific meeting shall be submitted to the local organising committee between dates set by the Council.
  • The abstracts must conform to a format set by the local organising committee.
  • Council shall decide which abstracts submitted are accepted for presentation, on the basis of merit and interest.
  • The official language at all meetings of the Society shall be English.

Art 15. Member Privileges

  • Members may attend the scientific sessions and present papers to the society with a fee. At each meeting they may introduce guests with a fee. They may propose candidates for membership.
  • This constitution incorporates the amendments passed at the ABMs held in 1987, 1988, 1989, 1991, 1996, 2001 and 2004.