European Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology B Y L A W S ARTICLE I: Name The organisation is called “European Association for Bronchology and Interventional Pulmonology” or in short “EAB” (herein after referred to as “the association”) ARTICLE II: Head Office The permanent office of the Association is located at Amalienstrasse 5, D-69126 Heidelberg, Germany as long as the general assembly does not decide otherwise. ARTICLE III: Objectives and Activities The major objectives and activities of the Association shall be: 1. To maintain a European society of highly qualified specialists in the field of bronchology, interventional pulmonology and related fields of medicine. 2. To promote a high standard in clinical practice, education and research of diagnostic and therapeutic bronchoscopy, bronchology and related fields in medicine, namely interventional pulmonology. 3. To promote a high standard in education and training of affiliate personal. 4. To contribute to improvement of public health and welfare by promotion of international understanding, exchanging academic knowledge and experiences related to the objectives of the Association. 5. To exchange the knowledge and experiences with related national and international Associations. 6. To organise regular congresses in association with the annual meetings of the ERS. 7. To support as much as possible any intermediate regional conferences, symposia or workshops. 8. To encourage manuscript contributions to “Respiration”, which will serve as the organ of publication publication for the Association by providing adequate space. 9. To promote the establishment of local national chapters of the Association in Europe. 10. The Association pursues exclusively and directly only non-profit purposes. 11. The resources of the Association are used only for purposes according to the statutes. 12. Members of the Association do not receive allowances from the means of the Association. 13. No unproportionate reimbursements are provided for any persons. ARTICLE IV: Membership Members of the Association shall be as follows: 1. Active individual membership is open to any physician or member of any of the health sciences or any scientist who is interested in the goals of the Association. 2. For being considered a member of the Association an informal written application to the executive committee is necessary. 3. The committee decides on acceptance by a simple majority vote. If rejected no explanation of reasons is necessary. 4. Honorary memberships may be bestowed upon such members who have been formerly active in the Association for at least ten years before retirement and who have made outstanding contributions to the Association. 5. Corporate memberships are available to corporations or organisations that are willing to contribute to the goals of the Association and pay the corporate membership fee. 6. Special supporting membership is available to those non commercial groups or individuals who wish to support the Association but do not fit into any of the above categories. 7. The membership-rooster is maintained by the head office of the Association. Benefits for the members are: receive the journal “Respiration” have priority for presentations (according to content and in limited time) The membership ends: 1. With death of a member. 2. By declaration of termination by the member 3. By exclusion if -the General Assembly voted so secretly by simple majority after a request by the executive committee -the member fails to pay the dues in two consecutive years. ARTICLE V: Membership Fees 1. The annual fee for an active regular member is 100 EUR. 2. The fee for corporate members is 1000 EUR ARTICLE VI: Organs of the Association The Organs of the Association are: 1. the General Assembly 2. the Executive Committee General Assembly Members and Meetings 1. The General Assembly is constituted by all regular members of the Association. 2. The General Assembly meets regularly at the annual scientific meetings of the Association. 3. The invitation and the agenda of the meeting are sent to the members at least four weeks before the meeting. 4. A regular member can ask for discussion of a topic by written request to the executive committee at least one week before the meeting. 5. The final agenda are forwarded at the beginning of the meeting and have to be approved by the General Assembly. 6. An extraordinary meeting of the assembly can be called in by the executive committee if - in the general interest of the Association or - if a tenth of the regular members of the Association requires so 7. In the Meeting each regular member has a single vote. 8. A proposal is accepted if the simple majority of the present members agrees. 9. For modification of the bylaws a 2/3 majority of the present members is required and at least 10% of the members must be present. 10. For the dissolution of the Association a majority of at least 90% of the present members is required and at least 10% of the members must be present. 11. The meeting is lead by a chairman. 12. The chairman is elected at the beginning of the meeting by the simple majority of the present members. 13. The Members of the Executive Committee are elected by simple majority of the present members. 14. By request of one member the elections must be secret. Functions of the General Assembly 1. Election of the Executive Committee 2. Acceptance of the Report of the Executive Committee 3. Acceptance of the report of the treasurer 4. Decision on membership fees 5. Approval of new members 6. Modification of the bylaws 7. Election of the Chair and Vice Chair 8. Election of the Treasurer 9. Election of the President of the Scientific meeting 10. Change of the bylaws 11. Dissolution of the Association Executive Committee Members 1. The Executive Committee consists of the President, the Vice President, the Secretary and the Treasurer. The editor of the Journal of the Association (Respiration) is non-voting member. 2. The members of the Executive Board are elected by the General Assembly. 3. Only regular members of the Association are eligible. 4. The term of election is two years, except for the secretary. 5. The term for the secretary is 5 years. 6. Each member of the Executive Committee must be voted separately. 7. Re-election is possible. 8. If a member of the Executive Committee leaves within the election period, a substitute can be elected by the Executive Committee by unanimous vote until the next meeting of the General Assembly. Functions 1. The Executive Committee meets at least once a year before the annual congress and General Assembly. 2. Special meetings can be called by the chair of the committee. 3. Notice must be given two months in advance. 4. Preparation and summoning of the General Assembly and preparation of the agenda. 5. Execution of the resolution of the General Assembly. 6. Preparation of the financial budget of the Association. 7. Administration of the property of the Association. 8. Annual Report on the finances and activities of the Association. 9. Checking applications for membership. 10. In case of equality of votes the vote of the chairman is decisive. 11. Preparation of additions, alterations, amendments or deletions from the bylaws. ARTICLE VII: Dissolution of the Association 1. In case of dissolution of the Association or if the Association loses the tax-privileged status the remaining resources are to be used for tax-privileged purposes. 2. Resolutions on further use of the resources have to be made in accordance with the tax office.