1.                   NAME, REGISTERED OFFICE AND FIELD OF ACTIVITY OF THE SOCIETY

 

1.1. The name of the society is ”International  Society for Strategic Studies in Radiology”

 

1.2. its registered office is in Vienna, Austria, and

 

1.3. its activities extend to the whole world.

 

1.4. The establishment of branches as provided for in article 11 of the society Act (Vereinsgesetz) 1951, Federal Law Gazette No 233 in its present wording is not intended.

 

 

 

 

The “International Society for Strategic Studies in Radiology” is a non-political society without intent to profit. The purpose of the society is to encourage strategic studies that will deal with costs, effectiveness of imaging and image-guided therapy, technology assessment, Informatics, and the role of imaging in health maintenance and disease management on an international basis.

 

 

 

 

It is intended to reach the objectives of the society by the following immaterial and material means:

 

            

a) Bringing together persons of this target group by organizing and carrying out scientific congresses and meetings with themes concerning the society. The society is to conduct meetings every two years. The meetings will be closed meetings. The participation and attendance at these meetings is by invitation only. An invitation and a call for scientific papers will be distributed in due time. The mode of organizing and holding the meeting can be changed by the vote of  the Executive Board. Open teaching sessions can be held in conjunction with the closed meeting.

 

b) Supporting education as well as research and development in this field.

 

c) Organization of committees and the definition of scientific and technical standards in order to support the exchange of know-how and the exchange of scientific and technical information through the organization of meetings, lectures and debating evenings, symposia and workshops, as well as national and international congresses.

 

d) Distribution of information about themes concerning the society by supporting and sponsoring scientific specialist publications.

 

e) Supporting the founding of a uniform education program in this field

 

f)  The society can cooperate with other societies having the same purpose if proposals to do so are made to the Executive Board at least one year prior to the next meeting.

 

 

The necessary material means will be reached by:

Membership fees, income from scientific activities and workshops, enterprises owned by the society, donations, collections, bequests and other contributions.

 

 

The members of the society are divided as follows:

 

4.1. Active members, i.e., those who participate fully in the activities of the society.

 

4.2. Extraordinary Members, i.e., those who further and support the activities of the society, for example, corporate members.

 

4.3. Senior members: “Active members shall become Senior Members, if they:

a. Voluntarily choose to become Senior Members; and/or

b. No longer devote a significant proportion of their time to radiologic or related professional matters.

Senior members shall have all the rights of Active Members, except the right to vote and hold office. Senior Members shall be exempt from all dues, assessments, or requirements to attend Society meetings.”

 

4.4. Inactive Members: “Active Members shall become Inactive Members if they:

a. Temporarily cannot devote a significant proportion of their time to radiologic or related professional matters.

b. Have failed, without just cause, to attend at least two consecutive meetings of the Society. In this context, attendance is defined as “presence at the meeting for at least two days including the Business Meeting”.

c. Fail to pay their dues.

d. Due to professional regulations, are temporarily prevented from holding active society membership.

 

Inactive Members shall be exempt from all dues, assessments or requirements to attend Society meetings. They will not be sent notices, etc.

 

Senior and Inactive Members may reapply for active membership, such applications to be considered by the Membership and Nominating Committee according to the established criteria for active membership.”

 

 

 

Any natural or legal person who plays an active role in research, education and development in this field may become a member of the society.

 

The Executive Board makes the final decision on the admission of active and extraordinary members. Admission can be denied without stating reasons.

 

 

 

Membership comes to an end at the time of death (as far as legal persons are concerned: at the time of loss of their legal status), through voluntary withdrawal of membership, cancellation of membership, or expulsion.

 

6.1. The voluntary withdrawal of membership is possible any time. It must be announced in writing to the Executive Board at least one month prior the end of the calendar year.  If the notification is delayed, it will go into effect only at the next following term of withdrawal.

 

6.2. The cancellation of membership can be pronounced by the Executive Board if a member is more than two months in arrears with the payment of the membership fees despite two reminders. This leaves untouched the obligation to pay the membership fees due.

 

6.3. The expulsion of a member from the society can be ordered by the Executive Board on the grounds of a gross breach of the duties of a member and on the grounds of dishonorable behavior. An appeal to the General Assembly against a decision of expulsion may be launched; membership rights are suspended until a decision is made by the General Assembly

 

 

 

Members are entitled to attend all meetings of the society and to make use of its facilities. Only active members have the right to vote in the General Assembly, take part in elections and be eligible to run for office. Active members have the right to elect members of the Executive Board.

 

Members are obliged to further the interests of the society to the best of their abilities and to refrain from any action that could damage the reputation and the objects of the society. Members must abide by the statutes of the society and to the resolutions of its executive organs. Active and extraordinary members are obliged to punctually pay the admission fee and membership fees in the amount decided by the General Assembly.

 

 

 

The organs of the society are 

 

8.1 the General Assembly (sections 9,10)

 

8.2 the Executive Board (sections 11 to 13)

 

8.3. the Committees

 

 

 

9.1 The General Assembly is to be held at least every two years, preferably on the occasion of the bi-annual meeting of the Society.

 

9.2 An extraordinary General Assembly must be held if resolved by the Executive Board or by the active General Assembly, or if proposed in writing by at least 10% of the members. In the above-mentioned cases, the extraordinary General Assembly must be held no later than two months after the delivery of the application for convocation to the Executive Board.

 

9.3 To ordinary and to extraordinary general assemblies, all members must be invited in writing at least six weeks before the date of the meeting. (This invitation can also be delivered by fax or by e-mail). The invitation to the General Assembly must state the agenda. Motions concerning the agenda must be submitted to the Executive Board in writing no later than 4 weeks before the date of the General Assembly. The Executive Board must convene the meetings.

 

9.4 Resolutions, except motions to convene an extraordinary General Assembly, can only be adopted when covered by the agenda.

 

9.5 All members are entitled to participate in the General Assembly. Only active members have the right to vote. Each member has one vote. The transfer of voting rights is not permitted. The General Assembly forms a quorum if half of the members with voting rights are present. If the General Assembly cannot form a quorum at the time fixed, the General Assembly takes place with the same agenda fifteen minutes later and constitutes a quorum regardless of the number of people present.

 

9.6 Elections held and resolutions passed in the General Assembly, require, as a rule, a simple majority of votes. But for resolutions to amend the statutes of the society or to liquidate it, a qualified majority of three-quarters of the votes cast is required. In case of a tie, the Chairman has the deciding vote.

 

9.7 At the General Assembly, the President of the society will chair the meeting; if the President of the society cannot chair the meeting, the President elect or the Vice president will chair.

 

 

 

The following tasks are reserved for the General Assembly:

 

a) receiving and approving the business report and closing account,

 

b) voting on the budget

 

c) appointing and removing members of the Executive Board,

 

d) fixing the amounts of membership fees for the next year

 

e) judgment in the case of appeals against expulsion of members,

 

f) voting on resolutions on amendments to the statutes and voluntary liquidation of the society,

 

g) deliberation and decision on any other issues on the agenda.

 

Further, the dates of upcoming scientific congresses, symposia or other meetings have to be announced in the General Assembly.

 

 

 

The Executive Board consists of 

 

a)       a President

b)       a Past president

c)       a President-elect

d)       a Vice president

e)       a Honorary president

f)         a Secretary

g)       a Treasurer

 

and further 5 members who hold the following functions:

 

h)       Chairman of the Program Committee

i)         Chairman of the Publications Committee

j)         Chairman of the By-laws and Rules committee

k)       Chairman of the Membership and Nomination Committee

l)         Chairman of the Corporate Advisory Board Committee

 

and up to 5 additional members without a definite assignment.

 

All Executive Board members are nominated by the Membership and Nomination Committee and voted upon by the General Assembly

 

11.2.  The term of office of the Executive Board is as follows:

 

President, Past president, President-elect, Vice president: Two years with no re-election to the same position possible

 

Honorary President: Life time

 

Treasurer, Secretary: Two years, one re-election possible

 

Members without definite assignment: Two years; one re-election possible.

 

Committee Chairmen: Two years, re-election possible by vote of the Executive Board.

 

New members of the Executive Board are proposed by the Membership and nomination committee and then elected.

 

The term of office of a member of the Executive Board starts at the end of the respective General Assembly.

 

11.3  The Executive Board may co-opt additional members, which procedure requires the subsequent approval of the next General Assembly.

 

11.4  The Executive Board is convoked, in writing or orally, by the President, the President elect, or the Vice president

 

11.5. The Executive Board forms a quorum if all its members have been invited and at least 50 % + 1 are present. An Executive Board meeting must be held every two years during the biannual conference. During the year, business meetings can be convened by the Executive Board. These business meetings serve as a preparation for meetings of the entire Executive Board or the preparation of the General Assembly or another yearly meeting. Further these meetings serve to carry out and execute decisions that have been made in the General Assembly or the Executive Board meeting. Business meetings can be conducted when at least 25% of the Executive Board members are present. Decisions made at a business meeting must be circulated by mail (or by fax or e-mail) and must be approved by vote by the Executive Board.

 

11.6   The Executive Board passes its resolutions by a simple majority of votes; in case of a tie, the Chairman has the deciding vote.

 

11.7   The President will chair the meeting; if the President of the society cannot chair the meeting, the President elect or the Vice president will chair.

 

11.8   Apart from death and the expiration of the term of office (section 11.2), the office of a member of the Executive Board comes to an end if the member is relieved from his office (section 11.10) or resigns (section 11.11).

 

11.9   The General Assembly can, at any time, relieve the entire Executive Board or any of its members from their office.

 

11.10 The members of the Executive Board can, at any time, submit their resignation in writing. This declaration of resignation must be addressed to the Executive Board, in the case of the resignation of the executive committee in its entirety, to the General Assembly. The resignation is only valid with the election or co-option of a successor.

 

11.11  Members of the Executive Board will not receive compensation for serving, but may be compensated for travel, except to meetings that they would attend as a matter of course (RSNA or ECR)

 

 

 

The executive board is responsible for the management of the society. It has to perform all functions not allocated to another organ of the society by the statutes. Its sphere of activities covers in particular:

 

a) the organisation of different meetings. The society has to hold a conference at least every two years. The venue of such conferences has to be decided by the executive board.

 

b) drafting the budget and the report on activities; preparing the annual accounts,

 

c) preparing the General Assembly,

 

d) the convocation of ordinary and extraordinary General Assemblies,

 

e) the administration of the assets of the society,

 

 

 

13.1. The President is the official representative of the society; should the President be unable to serve in this capacity, the President elect, the Vice president, the Past president, the Secretary or the Treasurer will serve.

 

13.2. Internal matters:

 

a) The President will chair General Assemblies and meetings of the Executive Board. In case of impending danger, he is entitled to take measures independently, even in matters falling within the purview of the General Assembly or of the Executive Board; these measures require, however, the subsequent approval of a competent organ of the society

 

b) The President or his deputy has an obligation toward the society to sign written notifications and announcements of the society, and, in particular, legal instruments, jointly with another member of the Executive Board (in particular: jointly with the President elect, the Vice president, the Secretary or the Treasurer). Should the President be unable to perform this function, the President elect or the Vice president can sign documents, but, in any case, jointly with either the Secretary or the Treasurer.

 

c) The President elect and the Vice president are allowed to act only if the President is unable to do so; this has no influence on the validity of the acts in which deputies have participated. The President elect and the Vice president assist the President in his/her activities

 

d) The Secretary is responsible for the minutes of the various meetings. He/she supervises the orderly storage of the documents of the society and the membership lists. He prepares the meeting agendas together with the President and the society secretariat.

 

e) The Treasurer is responsible for the receipt, the administration, and the payment of financial obligations of the society. He/she is the financial advisor of the board. He/she prepares a written statement regarding the finances for each meeting, which he/she comments on during the meeting. The statement reports in detail on the income and expenses as well as the financial status of the society. The Treasurer submits his report together with the relevant documents to the independent auditors, such that the annual statement of accounts can be revised by these auditors and be presented to the Annual General Assembly. The necessary funds to operate the society will be held in trust and managed by the society’s permanent head office.

 

 

14.1. The following committees are being established within the Executive Board:

 

-          the Program Committee

-          the Publications Committee

-          the By-laws and Rules Committee

-          the Membership and Nomination Committee

-          the Corporate Advisory Board Committee

-          the Compliance Committee

 

14.2. The Chairmen of the committees are members of the Executive Board and are nominated by the Board and elected by the General Assembly. The members of the committees are members of the Society and are proposed by the Appropriate Chairman (and co-Chairman, if applicable) to the Executive Board for approval. In the absence of the Chairman, the co-Chairman may attend the meetings of the Executive Board and vote on behalf of the Chairman.

 

14.3. The term of office of the members of the different committees is two years, with a renewal optional by vote of the Executive Board.

 

 

 

15.1 The voluntary liquidation of the society can only be resolved with the majority of votes (as explained in section 9 of these statutes) in an Extraordinary General Assembly convened for this purpose.

 

15.2 This Extraordinary General Assembly also must pass a resolution concerning the assets of the society, if such assets exist. It must also appoint a liquidator and pass a resolution concerning to whom he should transfer the assets of the society remaining after the payment of debts. These assets, as far as it is possible and permitted, shall go to an organization with the same or similar objectives as this society.

 

15.3 The last Executive Board of the society must inform the competent authorities in writing of the voluntary liquidation and it is obliged to announce, in accordance with article 26 of the "Vereinsgesetz" (Law on Societies), the voluntary liquidation in an official gazette.

 

 

 

16.1. All disputes arising from membership are decided by the arbitration tribunal.

 

16.2. The arbitration tribunal is composed of five active members. It is formed in such a way that each contending party nominates to the Executive Board, within seven days, two members as arbitrators, whereby one of the nominated arbitrators must be selected from among the members of the Executive Board. These nominated arbitrators elect, by a simple majority of votes, a Chairman of the arbitration tribunal from among the members of the Executive Board. If the votes are equal, a decision among the members nominated is reached by drawing lots.

 

16.3. The arbitration tribunal renders judgment in the presence of all its members by a simple majority of votes. It decides to the best of its knowledge and belief. Its judgments are final as far as the internal situation of the society is concerned.

 

 

 

Two auditors shall be appointed to audit the accounts of the Society. They report to the General Assembly. Candidates may be proposed by the Executive Board and will be elected by the General Assembly for the period of two years. They may be re-elected indefinitely. The must be independent and inbiased and may not be members of the Executive Board.