Constitution

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Name of the Society

  1. The Society shall be called the Surgical Research Society of Southern Africa.

Objects of the Society

  1. Its object shall be to provide for the interchange of information about research work related to surgery.

Membership

  1. In general, members shall be practicing surgeons or surgeons in training, though individuals occupied in surgical research who are not practicing surgeons or surgeons in training may be elected.
  2. Corresponding membership shall be reserved for surgeons or research workers who are unable, because of distance or other circumstances, to attend meetings but whom the Society wishes to honor with membership. They may attend meetings and introduce visitors but shall not hold any office.
  3. Honorary Life Membership will be granted to all past presidents of the Society. It may also be granted at the discretion of the Executive committee to Members who have retired from active practice or academic positions. They would no longer be liable for annual subscriptions and the Executive Committee may award a reduced cost to these individuals to attend Congresses.

Officers

  1. The Officers of the Society shall be a President, a Secretary and Treasurer and at least 4 members who shall together constitute the Committee. They shall be elected by and from the members of the Society.
  2. The President shall be elected for a period of 2 years and shall not be eligible for re-election as President until after at least 2 years have elapsed. He/she shall preside at all meetings of the Society and of the Committee during the term of office.
  3. The Secretary, Treasurer, and other members of the committee, shall be elected for a 2 year period, and may be re-elected.
  4. The committee shall assist with the arrangement the scientific meetings, conduct the affairs of the Society and consider the applications for membership.
  5. Honorary Vice-Presidency may be bestowed on a member in recognition of outstanding service rendered to the Society or to Surgical Research in Southern Africa. Nomination for the office will be at the discretion of the Executive Committee and must be confirmed by a two-thirds majority of the Annual General Meeting of the Society. The number of Honorary Life Vice-Presidents shall be limited to six at anyone time.

Meetings

  1. The Society shall meet at least once a year. The scientific business shall consist principally of short papers followed by discussion.
  2. The Society shall meet in different centres in rotation, but always in conjunction with a medical school Department of Surgery.
  3. An annual meeting of the members shall be held at some time during each meeting of the Society to consider matters raised by the Committee, or by members, to elect the officers and Committee and to receive the report of the Secretary/Treasurer.
  4. Titles of communications, by an abstract of not more than 200 words, must be sent to the Local Organising Committee by the notified date before the meeting at which they are to be presented.
  5. When more communications are received than can be given at a meeting the Committee or the Chair of the Local Organising Committee shall have the power of deciding which shall be chosen for presentation.

Finance

  1. The annual subscription shall be fixed at the annual general meeting.
    Corresponding members shall not be required to pay a subscription.
  2. Any member who does not pay his subscription within one year, in spite of due notice, shall cease to be a member.

Visitors

  1. Any member or corresponding member may introduce a visitor for the purpose of reading a paper or attending a meeting. Congress fees for the visitor will be waived.

Election of Members

  1. Applications for membership can be made on-line via the website and will be considered by the Membership Committee who will be responsible for the election of new members.

Amendments of the Constitution and Rules of the Society

  1. A proposal to change the Constitution or Rules of the Society must be
    submitted in writing by 5 members of the Society to the Secretary at least 2 months before the Annual General Meeting.
  2. The Secretary shall notify each member of the Society in writing about this proposal at least 1 month before the Annual General Meeting, when the proposal will be considered.
  3. No change in the Constitution or Rules of the Society shall be made unless, at least one third of the members of the Society in good standing are present, and two thirds of those present are in favour of the change.