Constitution

1. AIM to advance the knowledge of the aetiology, pathogenesis, diagnosis, natural history, clinical features, treatment and management of Behçet's Disease (BD).

2. MEMBERSHIP

2.1 individual, not representative of country, society or discipline, by application to the Honorary Secretary (see 4.3.3.4)

2.2 three categories of multidisciplinary membership

2.2.1 FULL - medical & dental - physicians and surgeons involved in the clinical care of patients with BD and/or in research - non-medical scientists - those involved in research relevant to BD

2.2.2 ASSOCIATE - members of professions allied to medicine with a particular interest in BD - members of patient self-care groups

2.2.3 SUPPORTING - pharmaceutical industry

2.2.4 HONORARY - by nomination of the Council to the General Assembly of Members, who contributed to the International Society for Behçet’s Disease (ISBD) more than 10 years, fulfilling obligation of membership, and over the age 65 (see 4.1) (Amendment made in 2010, London)

2.2.5 HONORARY LIFE PRESIDENTS by nomination of the Council to the General Assembly of Members (see 4.1)

2.3 only full members including Honorary members and Honorary Life Presidents have the right to vote at a General Assembly of Members (see 4.1)

2.4 members will be required to pay an annual subscription to cover the organisational costs of the society

3. ACTIVITIES - to extend and communicate knowledge of BD

3.1 these may be delegated to an executive committee

3.2 inter alia these may include:-

3.2.1 organisation of multidisciplinary International Conferences on BD

3.2.2 co-ordination of research activities on an international basis

3.2.3 to provide a forum for communication between interested individuals and groups

3.2.4 to promote the formation of Specialist Working Groups as necessary (see 4.3 below)

3.2.5 to produce a newsletter

3.2.6 to promote acknowledge and support research in BD, with the intentions of supporting the individual researcher

3.2.7 to raise funds to support research in BD

3.2.8 to promote good management of BD

3.2.9 to promote teaching and CME activities on BD

3.2.10 to represent the interests of BD to other professional, scientific, representative and international bodies.

4. ORGANISATION

4.1 General Assembly of Members - to be held during each International Conference on BD, under the chairmanship of the President, to:

4.1.1 receive reports from the Executive Committee (see 4.3)

4.1.2 agree such membership dues as necessary from time to time on recommendation of the Executive Committee (noting that the Executive Committee may exercise discretion in individual cases).

4.1.3 receive audited accounts

4.1.4 decide times and venues of International Conferences (see 5)

4.1.5 elect the Council (see 4.2), and the Executive Committee (see 4.4) on nominations from the Council

4.1.6 elect members (see 2)

4.1.7 conduct any other relevant business

4.2 Council:

4.2.1 to be chaired by the President, and organised by the Secretary, of the ISBD

4.2.1 to consist of a maximum of 40 Full Members active in BD

4.2.2 to represent a wide geographical spread

4.2.3 no more than 3 ordinary members (see 4.2.9) from any one country

4.2.4 to include ex officio, the members of the Executive Committee ( see 4.4) and the Convenors of specialist working groups (see 3.2.4 & 4.3 )

4.2.5 to be elected at the General Assembly of Members (see 4.1.5)

4.2.6 to nominate officers of the society (see 4.1.5 & 4.4), the Secretary and the Treasurer being nominated by the President (see 4.4.2.5 & 4.4.2.6), the members of the Council (see 4.2.9), the Convenors of the Specialist Working Groups (see 4.3.2) and the ordinary members of the Executive (see 4.4.2.7), for election at the General Assembly of Members

4.2.7 to nominate Honorary Life Presidents to the General Assembly of Members

4.2.8 to nominate Honorary members to the General Assembly of Members

4.2.9 one third of the “ordinary” (not being those listed in 4.2.4) members of the Council will retire at every General Assembly of Members without direct renewal having served a maximum of 6 years.

(addendum – To establish this rotation 1/3rd of those Council members elected in 2000 retired in 2002. Half of the remaining members elected in 2000 will retire in 2004 and the rest in 2006. Those new Council members elected in 2002, and those who will be elected in 2004 and 2006 will serve a full 6 years)

4.2.10 a member of Council may be elected as an officer of the ISBD

4.2.11 meetings of Council should be held after the Executive Committee meeting immediately before the International Conference.

4.3 Specialist Working Groups (to take effect at the time of the International Conference in 2006)

4.3.1 The aim of the Specialist Working Groups is to promote collaborative research activities – laboratory, epidemiological, clinical and therapeutic – on a multidisciplinary basis, with as wide a geographical spread as is possible, in the name of the ISBD.

4.3.2 Convenor(s) of each Specialist Working Group shall be nominated by the Council, after seeking names of potential candidates from individual members and from the working groups, for election by the General Assembly.

4.3.3 Convenors of Specialist Working Groups – term of office 4 years; renewable; maximum 8 years. Convenors of a Specialist Working Group can be elected as Convenors of another Specialist Working Group after completing their term of 4 to 8 years.  

4.3.4 Convenors will attend the meetings of the Executive Committee, as non-voting members, held at the time of International Conferences

4.3.5 Specialist Working Groups may be created or dissolved by the Council, and are listed as an Appendix to this constitution

4.4 Executive Committee:

4.4.1 the officers, and ordinary members of the Executive Committee, should, as far as is possible, represent different interested disciplines and geographical regions, and not more than two may come from any one country.

4.4.2 The officers and ordinary members forming the Executive Committee, and their terms of office shall be:

4.4.2.1 President – four years, not renewable

4.4.2.2 President-elect – for the two years before taking office as President

4.4.2.3 Past-President – for the two years after leaving office as President

4.4.2.4 Vice President – four years (initially 2 years 2000-2002; and then 4 years)

4.4.2.5 Secretary – four years renewable, nominated by the President

4.3.2.6 Treasurer – four years renewable, nominated by the President

4.4.2.7 Up to Four “ordinary members” – to represent specialities not adequately represented by the officers - four years, not renewable. Ordinary members representing certain specialities can be re-elected for other positions of Executive Committee for another four years.


4.4.2.8 organiser (President) of the previous International Conference

4.4.2.9 organiser (President) of the next International Conference

4.4.3 additional members may be co-opted as necessary

4.4.4 officers shall be elected by the General Assembly of Members on nominations of the Council (see 4.1.5)

4.4.5 Functions - to administer the activities of the ISBD

4.4.6 Meetings of the Executive Committee are to be held:

4.4.6.1 immediately before the Council meeting and before the International Conference / General Assembly of Members, with the presence of those officers who have held office since the previous General Assembly. 4.4.6.2 at the end of the International Conference with the presence of the newly elected officers and the outgoing members

4.4.6.2 or at any other time deemed necessary
4.4.6.3 The term of officer is not counted as the term of the council.
4.4.7 Two auditors shall be elected by the General Assembly of Members for the term of each Executive Committee - four years, not renewable. Auditors can attend the meetings of the Executive Committee, as non-voting members, held at the time of International Conferences

5. INTERNATIONAL CONFERENCES

5.1 to be held at intervals and at venues decided by the General Assembly of Members (see 4.1.4), on the recommendation of the Executive Committee and Council which will assess the suitability of invitations received

5.2 the scientific programme is to be designed by the organiser/host (President) of the conference in conjunction with a Scientific Advisory Committee which should include members drawn from both the Executive Committee and the Convenors of the Specialist Working Groups of the ISBD.

5.3 The President of the conference will convene the Council meeting, Executive Committee meetings and the General Assembly of Members in collaboration with the Secretary.

5.4 Finances:

5.4.1 International Conferences are to be financially self supporting

5.4.2 a statement of account is to be submitted to the Treasurer and to the Executive Committee

5.4.3 any proceeds (profits) are to be divided between the ISBD and the host organisation in a proportion to be decided by the Executive Committee.

5.4.4 registration fee is waived for Honoray Life Presidents and Honorary members.
(Amendment made in 2010, London)

6. AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION
Amendments to the constitution may be recommended to the Council, and after discussion, proposed to a General Assembly of Members. A two-thirds majority of those attending is required to amend the constitution.

7. DISSOLUTION
The ISBD may be dissolved on a two-thirds majority of the members. Assets should be passed to an appropriate charity.

APPENDIX - Specialist Working Groups - 2004

Basic Science

Clinical Studies and Drug Trials

Disease Assessment

Education

Epidemiology

Eye Involvement

Behçet’s Disease in Paediatric Age Group

Neuro-Behçet
Oral and Genital Mucosa Disease