Constitution
capgan.gif (3834 bytes)
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CONSTITUTION

1. NAME

The Association shall be named the COMMONWEALTH ASSOCIATION OF PAEDIATRIC GASTROENTEROLOGY AND NUTRITION (CAPGAN).

2. PURPOSE

This Association is a non-profit making organisation whose purpose is:

2.1 to promote the knowledge of and training in paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition throughout the Commonwealth but especially amongst developing countries.

2.2 to foster collaborative research in these fields.

2.3 to hold regular scientific meetings.

2.4 to be a source of authoritative advice to both national and international agencies within the Commonwealth on the problems of paediatric gastroenterology and hepatology and in particular the problems of childhood diarrhoea and malnutrition.

2.5 to exert a positive influence as advocates for the welfare of children in the Commonwealth.

3. MEMBERSHIP

3.1 The Association consists of active, honorary and emeritus members.

3.2 A member must demonstrate an active interest in paediatric gastroenterology, hepatology and paediatric nutrition and have attended at least one of the Commonwealth conferences on diarrhoea and malnutrition.

3.3 Membership is not restricted to nationals from Commonwealth countries.

3.4 Only active members have voting rights at the General Meeting (GM).

3.5 Foundation members. Eligibility to become a founding member shall rest upon two criteria:

3.5.1 Any person who has attended one of the Commonwealth Conferences on Diarrhoea and Malnutrition and who
3.5.2 indicates their wish to become a Founding Member.

3.6 Thereafter new members shall be elected at the GM on the recommendation of the General Council. Prospective members should have either 1) attended a Commonwealth Congress on Diarrhoea and Malnutrition; 2) attended CAPGAN organised events at a World Congress of Pediatric Gastroenterology, Hepatolgy and Nutrition; 3) submitted a copy of their curriculum vitae to a membership committee (convened by the Treasurer) showing work and interest in the area of childhood diarrhoea and malnutrition. The General Council shall have the duty to consider the applications, and to give to the GM details of those candidates whom they recommend for membership.

3.7 Active members must be under the age of 65 years.

3.8 A member has the right to stay in the Association as an emeritus member when he/she has passed the age of 65 years.

3.9 Honorary membership shall be bestowed upon suitable candidates upon recommendation of the General Council.

4. MEETINGS

4.1 The Association shall hold regular (at least triennial) Scientific Meetings for the presentation and discussion of papers by members and guests at a time and place to be decided by the General Council.

4.2 A General Meeting (GM) of the membership of the Association shall be conducted during the Scientific Meeting as determined by the General Council. The election of officers and Councillors shall take place at this General Meeting. The agenda for the General Meeting shall be determined by the Council.

4.3 Members of the General Council should submit items for inclusion at the GM to the Secretary.

4.4 The General Council of the Association shall meet before and after the GM, and at other times as necessary.

4.5 SCIENTIFIC MEETING

4.5.1 The programme shall be arranged by an Organising Committee of the next meeting with advice from the General Council.

4.5.2 A member wishing to introduce a guest at a meeting shall submit the name of the guest and the title of his/her paper, if any, to the Organising Committee of the next meeting at least three months prior to the meeting.

4.5.3 An objective of the Association is to encourage the inclusion of recent and not necessarily completed research work at the Scientific Meeting. A summary of each paper, in English, shall be submitted not less than four months before the meeting; the exact time to be determined by the Organising Committee of the meeting. Copies of the summaries shall be distributed at the meeting. The Organising Committee has the right to publish the proceedings of the meeting after discussion with the General Council.

4.5.4 Proposals for organising the triennial scientific meeting and the Organising Chairman should be made in writing, to the Secretary at least five months before the next GM. The decision and the appointment are made by the General Council. The Organising Chairman shall be a member of the General Council in the three years before the meeting and until the end of the meeting which he/she conducted.

5. LANGUAGE

The official language of the Association shall be English at meetings and in correspondence.

6. ORGANISATION

The organisation and administration of the Association shall be conducted by the General Council of the Association. Amongst its members the General Council shall have a representation from each of the major regions of the Commonwealth including at least one from each of the following regions:

Europe
Africa
South Asia
East Asia
Oceania
Americas

The General Council shall authorise the Executive to manage the affairs of the Association between meetings. All members of the General Council shall be notified of meetings of the Executive and have the right to attend. Candidates for election to the General Council shall be nominated by no less than five full members of the Association in writing to the Secretary three months before the GM. The election of the General Council members from amongst those nominated shall take place at the GM.

The Executive shall consist of the following persons:

President
President-elect
Secretary
Treasurer
Task group leaders
Organising Chairman of the next international meeting

The General Council shall provide the membership of specific working groups with tasks designated at the GM.

The Executive may appoint sub-committees to help its work. Any proposal for a Standing Committee shall require agreement of the General Council.

7. THE PRESIDENT

The President is elected from amongst members of the General Council as President-elect at the triennial Congress before the one he/she is due to assume the office of President. The President shall hold office for three years but may re-elected as President for further and final three years. He/she should be an active member of good standing. In consultation with the Council, the President shall be responsible for the appointment of all ad hoc committees and shall serve as an ex-officio member of all committees. The President shall perform all other duties normally associated with his/her office. A candidate for the post of President-elect may (with his/her consent) be proposed in writing by any five members, to the Secretary, not less than one month before the GM, or may be proposed by the General Council. The Past-President will be eligible to remain an ex-officio member of Council for the next three years.

8. SECRETARY

The Secretary shall be elected for three years and shall then be eligible for re-election on a triennial basis. The Secretary should be an active member of good standing. The Secretary shall sign all official documents and shall carry out such duties as are assigned by the General Council. The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping minutes of the meetings of the Association and reporting on such proceedings to the membership of the Association. The Secretary shall receive interim progress reports from the designated Task Groups and be responsible for coordinating the activities of the Task Group leaders. The Secretary shall maintain a list of the membership of the Association and notify the members of the date and place of the General Meeting and Scientific Meetings, and other official meetings of the Association.

A candidate for the post of Secretary may (with his/her consent) be proposed in writing by any five members, to the Secretary not less than one month before the GM, or may be proposed by the Council.

9. TREASURER

The Treasurer shall be elected for three years and shall then be eligible for re-election on a triennial basis. The Treasurer should be an active member of good standing. A candidate for the post of Treasurer may (with his/her consent) be proposed in writing by any five members, to the Secretary not less than one month before the GM, or may be proposed by the General Council.

The Treasurer shall be responsible for fund raising and for the receipt and disbursement of all funds of the Association. The Treasurer shall submit a written report at least triennially to the General Council detailing all of the funds received and disbursed and present a detailed statement of the financial condition of the Association.

The Treasurer shall hold the funds of the Association.

10. TASK GROUP LEADERS

The General Council shall elect from amongst its members individuals to take charge of working groups charged with specific tasks. These Task Group Leaders shall form a working sub-groups comprised of one or more Council members. The particular tasks shall be decided upon by the General Council at the GM. If necessary and with the approval of the President and the Secretary, Task Group Leaders may co-opt persons to their task group who are not elected Council members.

Task Group Leaders shall provide the Secretary with triennial reports on the progress of their group.

11. VOTING

Decisions in General Council shall require the support of a majority of those present. Decisions at the GM shall be by a simple majority of those present except in the following circumstances, where a two thirds majority of those present shall be required.

11.1    Alteration of the Constitution
11.2    The decision to dissolve the Association
11.3    The election of new members
11.4    Consideration of continuation of membership according to paragraph 3

Election to membership and exclusion from membership at GM shall be by secret ballot.

The quorum for a general meeting shall be 25 active and/or emeritus members and the quorum for an Executive Meeting shall be three members.

12. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION

12.1 Amendments to the Constitution must be proposed in writing, to the Secretary by any five members or by the Council not less than six months before the next GM.

12.2 The Secretary shall notify all members of the proposed amendment not less than five months before the next GM.

12.3 Any members may submit written counter-proposals, to the Secretary not less than three months before the next GM.

12.4 The Secretary shall notify all members of any counter-proposal not less than one month before the next GM.

13. FUNDING

13.1 The triennial membership fee shall be determined by the General Council at the GM. The initial triennial fee shall be US$25 for members from developing countries and US$50 for members from developed countries.

13.2 A membership fee is not payable for those members who have registered for a triennial Scientific Meeting. All delegates registering for a triennial Scientific Meeting will be entitled to membership for the following three year period. Funds that remain after defrayment of all the triennial Scientific Meeting expenses will be paid into the Association's account.

13.3 Ownership of Assets. In the event that the Association dissolves then any of its assets shall be transferred to the Commonwealth Foundation.