CONSTITUTION

1. NAME AND AFFILIATION

The working Group on Brain and Development (WGBD) is a subgroup of the European Society of Paediatric Research (ESPR). The constitution of ESPR is binding for WGBD.

2. OBJECTIVES

The objectives of WGBD shall be:

2.1 To promote research in normal and abnormal brain development

2.2 To organize education concerning normal and abnormal brain development

These objectives shall be achieved within the ESPR.

3. MEMBERSHIP

Membership is open to any person who is an active, senior or affiliate member of ESPR, and who is involved in clinical or experimental research within the field of WGBD.

4. ORGANISATION

4.1 ESPR-WGBD has it own annual business meeting, which will be held during the annual ESPR meeting. The WGBD council must give notice of the annual business meeting 6 months in advance.

4.2 The annual business meeting shall make decisions by simple majority of the votes of ESPR members present.

4.3 All members of ESPR-WGBD shall have the right to participate and speak at the annual meeting. Representation is not possible.

4.4 The council shall decide the agenda of the annual meeting and shall send it out together with the invitations to the meeting. Written proposals for the agenda submitted by members at least two months before the annual business meeting must be included in the agenda. The WGBD council will decide whether proposals received after this deadline will be included in the agenda.

4.5 The secretary will take the chair. If that person is unable to do so, a member of the council may stand in for them.

4.6 The following items fall within the competence of the annual business meeting: acceptance of minutes of the last business meeting; approval of the report of the secretary; decisions concerning the activity of WGBD; elections of secretary and council members; amendments to the constitution or dissolution of the group.

4.7 A proposal concerning changes in the constitution or dissolution of the working group shall be approved only if at least three-quarters of the active members present at the annual meeting vote in favor.

5. THE COUNCIL

5.1 The council of the working group shall consist of a secretary (term 2 years) and four council members (term 2 years). Re-election is possible for one more term. The term is only valid for the respective position. The majority of the council members and the secretary must be active members.

5.2 Candidates for membership of the council must be proposed by at least two members. The candidates shall be elected at the annual business meeting by a simple majority of the votes cast.

5.3 Those four members of the council who do not hold office as secretary must be of different nationalities.

5.4 If the secretary is unable to complete the term, one of the council members appointed by the president of ESPR will act for him/her. If another of the council members is unable to complete his/her term of office, new members will be elected at the next business meeting.

Dec 1994, Secretary of WGBD/ Vineta Fellman

Amended Sept 1997/ Gorm Greisen