BYLAWS
IWAS – International Wrist Arthroscopy Society
Index
A. NAME. 7
ARTICLE 1. 7
B. PURPOSE. 7
ARTICLE 2. 8
C. ACTIVITIES and ACCOMPLISHMENTS. 9
ARTICLE 3. 9
D. FINANCIAL RESOURCES. 10
ARTICLE 4. 10
4.1: Annual fees. 10
4.2: Revenues from conferences and service agreements. 11
4.3: Income from publications. 11
4.4: Other contributions. 11
E. MEMBERSHIP. 11
ARTICLE 5. 11
5.1: Eligibility. 12
5.2: Admission. 12
5.3: Categories of Membership. 12
5.4: Resignation and end of membership. 14
5.5: Suspension or exclusion. 14
5.6: Privacy. 15
F. ORGANISATION.. 15
ARTICLE 6: GENERAL ASSEMBLY. 16
6.1: Responsibilities of the General Assembly. 16
6.2: Extraordinary GA.. 17
6.3: Invitations to the regular and extraordinary General Assembly. 17
6.4: Voting right, quorum, majority. 18
ARTICLE 7: EXECUTIVE Committee. 20
7.1: Composition. 20
7.2: Responsibilities of the Executive Committee. 25
7.3: The Council 26
7.4: Meetings of the Executive Committee. 26
7.5: Quorum, voting rights, majority. 26
7.6: Minutes. 27
7.7: Payment and allowances. 27
7.8: Term of office. 27
7.9: Resignation and vacancies. 27
ARTICLE 8: AUDITOR. 31
8.1: Auditor. 31
8.2: Optional annual financial review.. 31
ARTICLE 9: DISSOLUTION and LIQUIDATION.. 32
9.1: Dissolution. 32
9.2: Liquidation. 32
ARTICLE 10: LIABILITY. 32
10.1: Liabilities. 33
10.2: Assets. 33
10.3: Indemnity. 33
ARTICLE 11: FINAL PROVISIONS. 33
11.1: Official language. 34
11.2: Financial year. 34
11.3 Commercial register. 34
A. NAME. 4
ARTICLE 1: 4
B. PURPOSE. 4
ARTICLE 2: 4
C. ACTIVITIES and ACCOMPLISHMENTS. 6
ARTICLE 3: 6
D. MEANS, FINANCIAL RESOURCES. 6
ARTICLE 4. 7
4.1: Annual fees. 7
4.2: Revenues from meetings. 7
4.3: Revenues from the Journals and from books edited by EWAS. 7
4.4: Other contributions. 8
E. MEMBERSHIP. 8
ARTICLE 5: 8
5.1: Eligibility. 8
5.2: Application for Membership. 8
5.3: Categories of Membership. 9
5.4: Resignation of a Member. 10
5.5: Suspension or exclusion. 10
5.6: Privacy. 11
F. ORGANISATION.. 12
ARTICLE 6: Annual General Assembly. 12
6.1: Extraordinary General Assembly. 13
6.2: Notice of Annual and Extraordinary General Assembly. 13
6.3: Voting rights, majority and quorum at Annual and Extraordinary General Assembly. 14
6.4: Duties of the General Assembly. 14
ARTICLE 7: EWAS BOARD and Executive Committee. 15
7.1: Composition. 15
7.2: Duties of the EWAS Board and the Executive Committee. 20
7.3: Term of office. 22
7.4: Resignation. 22
7.5: Vacancy. 22
7.6: Remuneration. 22
7.7: Notice of EC Meetings. 22
7.8: Voting rights, majority and quorum at EC Meetings. 23
7.9: Minutes. 23
ARTICLE 8: APPOINTMENTS of Officers. 23
8.1: Secretary General and Treasurer. 23
8.2: Committees and Chair of Committees. 24
ARTICLE 9: Society's Managing Office. 25
9.1: General 25
9.2: The Secretary Office. 25
9.3: The Office Managers. 25
9.4: Treasurer. 25
ARTICLE 10: Dissolution and Liquidation.. 26
10.1: Dissolution. 26
10.2: Liquidation. 26
ARTICLE 11: LIABILITIES, ASSETS and INDEMNITY. 27
11.1: Liabilities. 27
11.2: Assets. 27
11.3: Indemnity. 27
ARTICLE 12: FINAL PROVISIONS. 27
12.1: Financial year. 27
12.2 Annual financial control 28
12.3 Auditor. 28
12.4 Commercial register. 28
Under the name of
IWAS - International Wrist Arthroscopy Society
there exists a Society pursuant to Articles 60 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code (ZGB) having its seat in St. Gallen, Switzerland.
The International Wrist Arthroscopy Society (IWAS) is a Society which represents surgeons who are interested in and perform Wrist and Hand Surgery and Arthroscopy. Its intention is to contribute to the improvement of healthcare, education, innovation and advances in a spirit of international friendship.
The aim of this Society shall be to facilitate advances in all aspects of Wrist and Hand Surgery and Arthroscopy, including:
- Spread knowledge and education through publications and scientific meetings.
- Facilitate the personal collaboration of hand surgeons and their cooperation partners.
- Improve quality control and outcome measures of Wrist and Hand Surgery and Arthroscopy
- Monitor the socio-economic impact of Wrist and Hand Surgery and Arthroscopy
- Cherish the history and culture of Wrist and Hand Surgery and Arthroscopy
The activities of the Society shall not be carried out with intent to make profit, but may include fees and the charging of certain services, in conformity with the carrying out of the objectives.
To fulfil these aims the Society shall have set the following targets:
- Aiding in the exchange and dissemination of knowledge and ideas in the field of Wrist and Hand Surgery and Arthroscopy.
- Encouraging research in the area of Wrist and Hand Surgery and Arthroscopy and related medical disciplines,
- Actively participate in the process of education and certification, such as recognition of the speciality at an international, level.
- Support projects to improve quality control.
- Offer platforms for contact and information for patients.
- Interact with relevant related medical disciplines.
The Society shall meet its needs by
- The annual membership fees shall be decided by the Executive Committee and ratified by the General Assembly.
- Fees are paid at the beginning of each year for the current year.
- Fee invoices shall be issued by the Executive Committee.
4.2: Revenues from conferences and service agreements
The EC shall agree in advance fee and a profit share arrangement with the organisers of scientific events supported by IWAS. IWAS may also function as the event organiser.
The Society supports scientific publications. The EC shall determine the income receivable from authors’ rights and publishing rights.
Other contributions include gifts, donations, legacies, special fund-raisers, and/or other revenues, income from the Society's assets, and deposits.
Full members of the Society shall be practising surgeons with a special interest in Wrist and Hand Surgery and Arthroscopy. Associated membership without voting rights shall be open to individuals who have an evident interest in Wrist and Hand Surgery and Arthroscopy.
Applications for Full Membership and Associate Membership shall be submitted in writing or via the website, and must be received by the Secretary General at least three months prior to the GA.
The EC shall decide on the admission of the applicant. An application may be declined without the statement of reasons. If an individual’s admission is rejected by the EC, that persona shall have a 30-day right of appeal to the next regular GA, which shall then conclusively decide on the application for admission.
The membership at IWAS shall be divided into the following categories:
1) Full Membership
Full members must fulfil the requirements imposed by the interests of the Society and, as surgeons, dedicate part of their practical work to Wrist and Hand Surgery and Arthroscopy. Full members pay annual contributions, are entitled to attend general assemblies, have a right to vote and may vote for or stand as candidates for committee memberships and Executive Committee.
2) Associate Membership
Associate Membership is available to individuals who, although not specialist surgeons, have an interest in Wrist and Hand Surgery and Arthroscopy (e.g. orthopaedic trainees, physiotherapists, sport medicine specialists). Associates members pay a reduced annual membership fee, do not have a right to vote and may not vote for or stand as candidates for committee memberships. They may, however, participate in scientific activities and take an active role within committees if called up by the EC.
3) Passive Membership
Passive members may also include legal entities, who provide IWAS with financial and non-material support. Passive members have no right to vote, are not entitled to vote for or stand as candidates for committee membership, and are not obliged to pay a membership fee.
4) Honorary Membership
Honorary members may be appointed by the GA having been proposed by the EC. Honorary members must be natural persons who are awarded this honour due to their outstanding service in the area Wrist and Hand Surgery and Arthroscopy or due to their extraordinary contribution to IWAS. Honorary members are exempt from paying annual membership fees, and are entitled to vote.
5.4: Resignation and end of membership
The membership shall be extinguished upon resignation, exclusion or death.
A member may resign from the Society at the end of the year. This requires that a written letter of resignation be sent to the EC at least three months before the end of the year. There shall be no entitlement to the Society’s assets or to the reimbursement of membership fees already paid.
The loss of membership of a member may occur in any of the three following circumstances:
- by way of a resolution adopted by the EC,
- the personal request of the member,
- in the event of non-payment of dues for a period of more than two years.
A member's membership may be suspended temporarily or conclusively terminated if that person violates the Society’s bylaws or other rules, or if they act in a manner contrary to the interests or image of the Society (including criminal activity, conflict of interests).
The decision on exclusion rests with the EC; the member has 30 days in which to appeal the decision before the GA. The appeal must be filed with the EC. The relevant member’s right to be heard must be upheld. The final decision rests with the GA. The excluded member has no right to any of the assets of the Society. There shall be no reimbursement of annual membership fees and other contributions already paid.
The EC is explicitly entitled to publish the contact data of members (name, address, role) - including online - and to disclose this information to third parties. The EC shall decide on the form and content of, and access to any such publication.
Consent is deemed upon conferral of membership. Members may, however, file a written declaration with the EC, prohibiting it from disclosing their personal data (right to block access to information).
The administrative bodies of the Society are
1. General Assembly
2. Executive Committee
3. Auditor (if legally stipulated)
As a general rule, the GA will take place within six months of the end of the financial year of the Society, at a place and time determined by the EC. The SG will assume the chair of the meeting, and arrange for the minutes to be taken.
6.1: Responsibilities of the General Assembly
The GA is responsible for adopting resolutions on the following aspects:
1) Approval of the minutes of the regular and extraordinary general assemblies.
2) Receiving the annual report from the SG.
3) Adopting the annual financial statement, the financial control report, the auditor’s report (where relevant) and adopting the resolution concerning the budget.
4) Discharge of the EC.
5) Electing and removal of the SG and the other members of the EC, appointing the auditors.
6) Approval of the annual membership fees set by the EC.
7) Approval of long-term agreements to be concluded between IWAS and other institutions.
8) Matters presented for the assembly to vote upon at the request of the EC, or which the bylaws stipulated are reserved to the assembly for a vote.
9) Deciding on appeals against the EC’s decisions regarding non-admission or exclusion from the Society;
10) The dissolution of the Society.
The EC may convene an extraordinary GA at any time. Extraordinary assemblies may also be convened upon a written request made to the EC by one-fifth of voting members; the request must state the purpose of the assembly.
6.3: Invitations to the regular and extraordinary General Assembly
Invitations to the regular and extraordinary GA must be issued in writing, and will be sent to the last known address of the individual members at least thirty days (regular GA) or twenty days (extraordinary GA) ahead of the date of the assembly, and will include details of the agenda.
Motions for the GA must be submitted to the EC forty days prior to the date of the assembly.
6.4: Voting right, quorum, majority
Full members are entitled to vote, and may vote for and stand as candidates for committee memberships. A full member may arrange to be represented by another full member by way of a written proxy. Multiple proxies are prohibited.
Every duly convened assembly of members will be quorate irrespective of the number of members present.
The voting in material matters and elections is generally conducted on an open ballot arrangement, unless the EC or at a full member attending the assembly, demand a secret ballot.
Resolutions concerning material matters will be carried with a relative majority of the full members present at the GA. In the case of a tie, the vote of the SG counts double. Blank and invalid votes will not be counted.
If an election does not succeed in the first round of voting due to the failure to achieve an absolute majority, or, in the case of block votes, not enough candidates have achieved an absolute majority, a second round of voting will be conducted. At this point, those candidates polling the most votes will be elected. If there is a tie in the voting, the election will be decided by drawing lots.
Additions and amendments to the bylaws of the Society will be adopted at the GA with a two-thirds “in favour” majority of the votes cast.
ARTICLE 7: EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee is composed of a minimum of six members. The following EC positions will be filled as a general rule:
- The Secretary General
The SG chairs the EC and represents the Society.
- The Treasurer
The Treasurer coordinates, maintains and controls the list of members and the collection of membership fees. He is responsible for the Society's accounts and prepares a financial report to be presented to the GA.
- Chairpersons of the teaching committee
The Chairpersons coordinate training courses and provide the EC with nominations for the selection of experts, sponsors and corresponding proposals for all aspects connected with the organization of the official IWAS and Ircad courses.
- The Vice Secretary General
The VSG represents the SG as and when required, and upon arrangement.
- The President
The President is elected by the GA. His functions are largely representative.
- Chair of the Advisory Board
The Chair of the AB is elected by the GA. The EC elects the other members of the AB and defines their responsibilities. The AB advises the EC especially in discussions regarding new ideas and the prospects for the IWAS.
7.2: Responsibilities of the Executive Committee
The EC is responsible for the executive management and representation of the Society. It determines the signature authority arrangements. It is entitled to exercise all powers not explicitly reserved to the GA by law or according to the bylaws.
The EC makes the preparations for general assemblies and implements the resolutions adopted by it. It has particular responsibility for the memberships and the accounting, and has the power to dispose of the designated funds. The EC is vested with the authority to approve overruns for individual budget items.
The EC may maintain a secretariat, assign special tasks to one or more members or third parties (functionaries) and appoint committees (technical groups).
The EC nominates the members of the Council.
The SG is the Chair of the Council, and reports to it on important Society business.
The Council meets once a year, usually prior to the GA. On the proposal of the EC, it provides the GA with nominations of members for election as SG, and other individuals for election to the EC and the Council. It also has an advisory function.
7.4: Meetings of the Executive Committee
The EC shall meet at least twice a year. Meetings of the EC shall be convened by the SG at least thirty days ahead of the scheduled date of the meeting, through e-mail or another agreed form of communication.
The EC may also exchange correspondence, conduct discussions and adopt resolutions through e-mail, video and telephone conferences or through other methods of consultation.
Duly convened meetings shall be quorate irrespective of the number of EC members present.
7.5: Quorum, voting rights, majority
The EC shall be quorate if at least five EC members are present.
Each member shall be entitled to one vote. In the case of a tie, the vote of the SG counts double. Voting shall be by a show of hands, unless a secret ballot is requested by one of the present members. Proxies are not permitted.
The EC shall be quorate if at least five EC members are present. Simple majority is sufficient. Voting by phone or e-mail is permitted.
EC meetings shall be minuted, and minutes will be issued as quickly as possible to the EC members. The minutes shall be deemed approved, if no objections are raised until the next EC meeting.
7.7: Expenses and compensations
The EC decides on reasonable reimbursement of expenses and compensations for members of the Society. It may issue relevant rules and regulations.
The term of office of the individual members of the EC is three years. Exceptions are the Treasurer whose term of office shall be five years, and the President whose mandate will be 1 year. This shall not expire until a successor assumes office. Re-election for subsequent terms of office is permitted. Terms of office shall end at the time of the GA of the year in question.
7.9: Resignation and vacancies
Every officer may resign from their position by issuing a written declaration addressed to the SG. The officer’s resignation shall become effective immediately upon receipt of such written notice. If necessary, the SG will appoint a substitute who will occupy the position until the next GA.
As long as the Society is not required to perform ordinary audits pursuant to Art. 69b (1) and limited statutory examinations pursuant to Art. 69b (2) ZGB, the GA can waive the auditing pursuant to Art. 69b (3) ZGB in conjunction with Art. 727a (2) OR.
8.2: Optional annual financial review
The GA may appoint an independent auditor to audit the annual financial statement.
The EC shall arrange for the annual accounts and balance sheet to be reviewed. The auditor shall provide the EC with a report and proposal to be submitted to the GA.
ARTICLE 9: DISSOLUTION and LIQUIDATION
The GA shall resolve with the approval of at least 2/3 (two thirds) of the present members with voting rights.
The Liquidation shall be executed by the EC.
The means that remains after the liquidation shall be provided for a non-profit institution with the same or similar purpose. Any distribution to the members is excluded.
The Society’s assets are solely liable for the settlement of the liabilities of IWAS.
Personal liability on the part of the members of the Society, and the EC members in particular, is excluded.
The assets of the IWAS belong to the Society itself. They shall be managed by the EC. Members have no rights or claims to the assets.
The Society shall take legal steps in favour of active or former members and agents of the Society, if these are made party to criminal, civil or administrative proceedings in connection with the activities for the Society, provided that they intended to act in the interests of the Society and in accordance with the applicable laws.
ARTICLE 11: FINAL PROVISIONS
The official language of the GA and for scientific presentations at IWAS conferences and courses is English.
The financial year of the Society shall be the calendar year. The EC may make changes to this.
The Society may be entered with the Commercial Register of the Canton St. Gallen / Switzerland.
These bylaws were adopted at the Founding Meeting on 11 December 2014 in St. Gallen, and Art. 7.2. (2) of the bylaws was amended by the General Assembly of 24 June 2016. A general internal audit was conducted in accordance with the resolution adopted by the GA on 20 June 2019 in Berlin in combination with the implementing resolution of the EC of xx.NN.2019 regarding change of name and purpose (IWAS) with general internal audit.
Secretary General Member of the Executive Committee
Prof. Dr. Max Haerle Dr. Nicole Schmelzer-Schmied
Certificate of Conformity
These bylaws of the IWAS – International Wrist Arthroscopy Society were adopted by the regular GA of 20 June 2019, regarding the change of name to “IWAS”, the adaptation of the purpose and the streamlining of its provisions, and delegated to the EC with the remit to conduct a general review. The revised version was examined by the EC at its meeting of 29th November 2019, and it put these revised bylaws into legal force as the valid bylaws of the IWAS.
The signatory notary public, Att. lic. iur. Daniel Bachmann, Rosenbergstrasse 42, 9000 St. Gallen, hereby certifies that this (14-page) engrossment corresponds with the currently valid bylaws of the IWAS, taking into account the resolutions adopted by the GA on 20 June 2019 in Berlin, regarding the change of name and purpose, with general review and streamlining of the contents as per the resolution of the EC dated ____________.
St. Gallen, ______________________
The notary public:
__________________________________
Att. lic. iur. Daniel Bachmann