SASPID - Constitution
CONSTITUTION OF THE SOUTHERN AFRICAN SOCIETY OF
PAEDIATRIC INFECTIOUS DISEASES
ARTICLE 1: NAME
The society shall be called “The Southern African
Society of Paediatric Infectious Diseases” and herein
after referred to as the Society.
ARTICLE 2: LIABILITIES
The Society is a body corporate and is vested with all
the powers and obligations required for achieving its
objects
2.1 No member of the Society shall by virtue of his
membership have any claim to the assets of the Society.
2.2 No member of the Society and no member of the
council of the Society shall be liable for fulfilling
any obligation or for settling any debts incurred by the
Society.
ARTICLE 3: OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Society shall be:
3.1 To advance the understanding of paediatric
infectious diseases, related medical microbiology and
virology.
3.2 To promote the exchange of information relating to
all aspects of paediatric infectious diseases, related
medical microbiology and virology.
3.3 To foster greater collaboration between the
clinically and laboratory based
divisions of the disciplines
3.4 To promote the development and exchange of
knowledge, information and ideas in support of the
prevention and control of hospital and community
associated paediatric infections
3.5 To advise with regard to the training and
maintenance of standards within the disciplines.
3.6 To forge links with societies representing similar
interests throughout the world.
ARTICLE 4: MEMBERSHIP
Members of the Society shall consist of Honorary,
Ordinary (Full) and Associate members.
4.1 Honorary members. Any member of the Society,
seconded by two other
members of the Society, may nominate a person or persons
for election as honorary members on the grounds of
special contribution to paediatric infectious diseases
or the Society. The council shall consider such
nominations. Honorary membership is retained for life,
and honorary members shall have the rights and
privileges of members, but they shall not be required to
pay any membership fees.
4.2 Ordinary membership will be granted to
paediatricians, medical practitioners, medical
scientists, medical technologists, pharmacists and
nurses who have made a contribution to or are involved
in any way with the discipline of paediatric infectious
diseases and who are registered with the Health
Professional Council of South Africa or other equivalent
bodies.
4.3 Associate membership is offered to other interested
parties such as members of pharmaceutical industry
involved with aspects of infectious diseases and
students who do not fully meet the criteria listed in
4.2.
ARTICLE 5: OFFICERS AND TRANSACTION OF BUSINESS
The business of the Society shall be conducted by a
council elected from ordinary members of the Society
5.1 The council shall consist of the president, the
vice-president, the secretary, the treasurer and two
additional members one of whom shall be the immediate
past-president. The council shall have the power to
co-opt members should it be necessary.
5.2 The president shall represent the Society at
meetings of the Federation of Infectious Diseases
Societies of Southern African (FIDSSA) and shall serve
with one nominated member, on the council of FIDSSA.
5.3 The president or nominated representative shall also
represent the Society at meetings of the South African
Paediatric Association as well as the World Society for
Paediatric Infectious Diseases.
5.4 The council members shall be elected for a four (4)
year term and may be eligible for re-election.
5.5 Nominations for members of the council shall be made
on nomination forms and shall reach the secretary two
weeks before the general meeting. Each nomination shall
bear the signature of at least two ordinary members as
pro-poser and shall have been accepted in writing by the
nominee. As an alternative, nominations and elections
may take place at the general meeting of SASPID
coinciding with the end of term of the existing Council.
5.6 Election of officers shall be by majority vote of
the full members of the Society present at the meeting
when elections are scheduled.
5.7 In the event of the death or resignation of a
council member the council shall appoint a successor for
the remainder of the term of office.
5.8 If there should be a deadlock on any decision at a
business, committee or meeting, the president will have
a deliberative as well as a casting vote.
5.9 Special meetings of the membership may be called by
the president. The time and places may be determined by
a majority vote of the council. Written or printed
notice, stating the purpose, place and hour of any
special meeting shall be sent to each member not less
than 28 days before the date of such meeting. The same
applies to business meetings of the Society.
5.10 Quorum. Business meetings and special meetings of
the membership of the Society. Ten (10) members present
of whom at least two shall be council members.
5.11 Executive committee: Three (3) members present of
which one is the president or elected representative.
5.12 No council member shall receive remuneration for
services to the Society.
ARTICLE 6: CONGRESS
A biennial meeting of FIDSSA representing all the member
societies including the Society, shall be held at least
every two (2) years at a venue decided by consensus and
will rotate amongst the major cities of South Africa
6.1 The city will be approved at the business meeting of
FIDSSA and the date approved by the council of FIDSSA
6.2 The program of this biennial meeting shall include:
6.2.1 Scientific, instructional sessions and exhibits
6.2.2 The biennial business meeting of the FIDSSA
6.2.3 The biennial council meeting of the FIDSSA
6.2.4 The biennial general meetings of the Society
6.3 Local organizing committee (LOC):
6.3.1 The arrangements for the biennial meeting of
FIDSSA shall be made by a LOC that will be represented
by the Society
6.3.2 The Society to nominate two suitable candidates
6.4.3 The LOC will elect a chairperson and shall have
the power to co-opt any other members of the societies
should it be necessary
6.4.5 Most of the appointed members of the LOC should
preferably reside in the same geographical area where
the biennial meeting is scheduled to take place but is
not mandatory
6.4.6 The nominated members in conjunction with rest of
the LOC members shall be responsible for decisions
regarding the “theme of the congress”, academic
programme including plenary topics and parallel sessions
of paediatric infectious diseases, acceptance of
applicable papers and social programme
6.4.7 The council of FIDSSA, in conjunction with LOC,
shall be responsible for decisions regarding the
acceptance of the planning budget
6.4.8 The event manager to arrange a congress launch
cocktail party for pharmaceutical sponsors at least one
year in advance
6.4.9 The LOC and event coordinator shall be accountable
and a short report, full financial statement and audited
accounts shall be submitted for approval to the FIDSSA
council within six (6) months of the conclusion of the
meeting
6.4 In addition to a joint congress with FIDSSA the
Society may, at the discretion of the council,
participate in other congresses with other interested
societies or parties.
ARTICLE 7:SUBSCRIPTION, DUES AND FUNDS
The secretariat of FIDSSA will collect annual
subscriptions on behalf of the Society. The subscription
fee for membership of the Society (nurses or doctors)
shall be determined by a majority vote of members at the
biennial business meetings
7.1 Failure to pay subscriptions within a set period
will render the member liable to loss of privileges
7.2 Subscription fees shall be paid before the 1st July
of each year for that calendar years membership
7.3 The FIDSSA secretariat and treasurer will send out
accounts to all members of the Society and will collect
the dues on behalf of the Society
7.4 Honorary members shall be exempt from dues
7.5 Membership subscription funds to the Society shall
be deposited in the joint bank account of FIDSSA in a
recognized financial institution
7.6 Grants and Endowments: The FIDSSA council is
authorized to accept in the name of the Federation or
the Society, any grants or endowments which are
designated for administration and use by FIDSSA or the
Society, provided that the purpose of such grants and
endowments is, in the judgment of the FIDSSA council,
consistent with the objectives and purposes of the
Federation or the Society
7.7 The subscriptions, grants and endowments shall be
allocated to the Society and expended, subject to the
control of the council of the Society
7.8 The FIDSSA council is empowered to invest the
capital of the Society as they consider advisable but
otherwise, as stated in article 7.7, have no financial
control over the funds of the Society
7.9 The FIDSSA treasurer shall present an audited
financial report on the financial status of the
Federation and the Society at the biennial council and
business meetings of the Federation
7.10 Depending on the generation of profit at the
bi-annual FIDSSA congress, the Society maybe requested
to contribute an annual fee payable towards the
Federation to cover:
7.10.1 Printing costs of the Journal referred to in
article 8, as well as an annual honorarium payable for
secretarial services provided to manage the Journal
7.10.2 Salary of the secretariat
7.10.3 After ratification and endorsement by the FIDSSA
council of the extent of the contribution, above
payments to be divided in equal proportions amongst the
societies
ARTICLE 8: JOURNAL
The official journal of the Society is The Southern
African Journal of Epidemiology and Infection
8.1 The journal will be published and distributed to all
members of the Society on a quarterly basis
8.2 The editorial board will be representative of the
Society and the Society will nominate two members to the
editorial board in liaison with the editor-in-chief
8.3 A subcommittee of the editorial board will be
appointed to assist inexperienced members of the
Society, in preparing relevant papers that are of the
required standard for submission and approval
ARTICLE 9: AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION
Any amendments to the constitution of the Society will
be dealt with as follows:
9.1 Amendments shall first be submitted in writing to
the secretary for consideration by the council
9.2 Thereafter the proposed changes together with the
council’s recommendations shall be circulated to all
members of the Society at least one (1) month before the
biennial business meeting of the Society
9.3 A two-thirds majority vote of those present at the
business meeting of the Society will be required for
adoption of the proposed amendments
ARTICLE 10: DATABASE
The Federation secretariat to keep and maintain a
separate database of members of the Society
10.1 The FIDSSA database is not for distribution unless
for bona fide Society purposes
10.2 Any request for details that are received such as
suitable advertisements, position and vacancies should
be vetted by the council of the Society
10.3 For pharmaceutical requests if accepted by council,
a quote should be provided with a charge to the Society
ARTICLE 11: LEGAL PERSONALITY
The Society is a legal entity that exists independent of
its members, has
perpetual legal succession, regardless of the variation
of membership and is a
non-profit making organization
11.1 The Society can act as a defendant or plaintive in
any competent court
12.2 The Society can obtain, retain or expropriate its
own assets and can deal with them and can undertake its
own obligations
12.3 These assets and liabilities are independent of
each individual member’s assets and liabilities
ARTICLE 12: DISSOLUTION
In the event of the Society being dissolved the
remaining assets shall be paid to a non-profit
organization devoted to medical research to be
designated by the council of the Society at the time of
dissolution
