ESPD Statutes

THE NAME

The official name of the society shall be the European Society for Photodermatology, and the official abbreviation will be the ESPD. The Society will be open to all individuals, whatever their previous training in the field, who have a serious interest in matters related to the direct or indirect cutaneous effects of non-ionizing radiation.

THE PURPOSE AND THE INTENT OF THE ESPD

The object of the ESPD shall be to encourage the advancement of all matters relating to photodermatology. Specifically these include the following:

The promotion of an exchange of ideas amongst clinicians and scientists with an interest in photodermatology
The promotion of all activities necessary to protect humans against the adverse effects of non-ionizing radiation
The promotion of organized research and experimental work into, or relevant to, photodermatology
The promotion of specialist training in photodermatology
The holding of regular scientific meetings on topics related to photodermatology
The development of guidelines to standardise and thereby help assure the quality of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures in photodermatology
The collection of funds sufficient to permit the Society to function fully, by way of donations, legacies, grants or any other method as the Committee of the ESPD shall see fit

THE MANAGEMENT OF THE SOCIETY

The principal address of the ESPD shall be the address of the then Secretary.
The affairs of the ESPD shall be managed by a Committee elected by its members.
The Committee shall consist of seven members. Additional members may be co-opted by the Committee for specific reasons. Co-opted members shall not be entitled to vote. The Chairman will have a double vote in the case of any failure otherwise to reach an agreement.
The Committee shall be elected individually by all eligible members of the ESPD by a simple majority, normally by letter, the votes to be counted at the next Committee meeting.
Nominations for membership of the Committee shall be made by the Committee, or by any two other members of the ESPD, and submitted in writing, together with the written consent of the nominee to the Secretary, not less than six weeks before the next meeting.
The Chairman, the Secretary and the Treasurer shall be elected by the Committee.
The Chairman shall serve for a period of three years and be eligible for re-election to the same office for a second, consecutive, three-year term.
The Secretary and the Treasurer shall serve for a period of three years. The Secretary shall then be eligible for re-election for a second consecutive three-year term. The Treasurer shall also be eligible to hold office for a second three-year term.
Committee members shall serve for a period of three years and be eligible for re-election.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOCIETY

Membership of the ESPD shall be available to anyone interested in photodermatology, as specified above. Applications for membership shall be sent to the Secretary and shall be approved by the Committee.
Membership shall start as soon as the first annual membership fee has been paid to the Treasurer.
Honorary Membership, without payment of a membership fee or voting rights, shall be offered to persons who have made significant contributions within the field of photodermatology or to the ESPD, as determined by the Committee.

FINANCES

All members, except Honorary Members, shall pay an annual fee, the sum to be fixed and reviewed as necessary by the Committee. Non-payment of the membership fee shall result in termination of the individual’s membership.
The Treasurer shall submit a financial report at the next meeting and annually to all members of the Committee.

ACTIVITIES OF THE SOCIETY

The activities of the Society, apart from administrative meetings as below, shall normally be open to all persons interested in photodermatology, whether members or not of the ESPD. These activities, normally scientific or administrative meetings, and their times and venues, will be determined by the Committee and notified to members.

MEETINGS OF THE SOCIETY

The Committee shall normally meet at least once annually, and there shall also normally be one Annual General Meeting, open to all members of the Society and held in conjunction with a scientific meeting.

CHANGE OF CONSTITUTION

Any proposed amendment to the constitution shall be sent in writing to the Secretary at least six months before the next meeting. The proposed amendment shall then be circulated for consideration by the Committee. Upon their approval, the proposal will be notified to all other ESPD members, who will vote on the issue, with at least a two-thirds majority being needed for the item to be passed.