STATUTES
Preamble
The members of the European association of young Neurologists and
Neurologists Trainees (YNT), meeting in General assembly on June 7th 1999
and September 8th 1999
Considering
the importance of representing young Neurologists and Neurologist Trainees
in a modern and dynamic pan European working market, the collection and
transmission of information about medical specialization and working
conditions in the domain of European countries,
the desirability of providing a European framework for collective expression
and proposals for training European Neurologists with the aim to provide access
to clinical exchange, education and research. Further to facilitate recognition
of specialist rotations within a clinicalal exchange program.
Have adopted the following Statutes:
Article 1
Creation of the European association of Young Neurologists and
Neurologists Trainees (YNT)
1. 1. An international non-governmental association, independent and
non- profit-making, is hereby established for the pursuit of
clinical aims and is open to Neurologists of the European
community and of the European area. The Association shall be
called :
European association of Young Neurologists and Trainees
(YNT).
1. 2. This association is formed in accordance with the Belgium Act of
25 October 1919, as amended by the 6 December 1954 Act.
Article 2
Members
2.1. The Association shall consist of : active members: natural
persons which have qualified as a medical doctor, are registered
for their profession in one European country or undergo their
specialist training in Neurology. The criteria to become an
active member are summarized in the rules of procedure.
2.2. honorary members, public figures or institutions, whose
individual prestige, activities or position are likely to
highlight the Association's aims and to help it to achieve
them. They shall be elected by the Board.
2.3. the founder members, namely those natural and legal persons,
listed in Appendix I, who took part in the Constituent General
Assembly in Milan on June 7th 1999 and in Lisbon on August 28th
1999.
2.4. legal persons, such as European academic societies, university
institutes, public and private national or international research
centers and professional associations with similar purposes,
whose applications shall be subject to the approval of the
Governing Board. They shall be represented in the YNT by a
person delegated for that purpose.
2.5. associated members who are not listed under 2.1-2.4
2.6. Candidatures must be consistent with the categories defined in
Articles 1 and 2.1, 2.5 above. They shall be submitted for
approval to the Governing Board, pursuant to Article 15.4 below
and to the pertinent provisions of the Rules of Procedure
referred to in Article 15.3 below.
2.7. Only active members shall be entitled to vote. Each member may
hold one mandate.
Article 3
Registered office
3.1. The seat of the Association shall be in Brussels (B).
3.2. The seat may be transferred to another European city or country
by its Governing Board by a two-thirds majority decision of its
members present and voting or if made necessary by unforeseen
circumstances.
Article 4
Duration
The Association shall be established for an unlimited duration. The General
Assembly may decide to dissolve it at any time in accordance to its rights and
Article23.
Article 5
Aims
5.1. The aims of the European association for Neurologist Trainees
(YNT) are to represent Neurologist Trainees on a European level,
promote clinical exchange, develop access to education and
research, provide an informative service and foster European
culture.
5.2. The purposes of the YNT are in particular:
5.2.1. Representation: The aim is to represent all young Neurologists and
European
Neurologist Trainees on an European level by: a) collaborating
with the national Neurologic societies b) collaborating with
the national Junior Neurology associations c) enhancing the
development of national Junior associations d) direct
representation of individuals and legal persons, who are
members of the YNT in accordance with the statutes and are not
represented by (a)-(c) e) maintain a continuous discussion with
the responsible scientific,educational and administrative
bodies.
5.2.2. Exchange program: The aim is to enhance clinical exchange for
Neurologist Trainees within Europe. a) funding: create a fund
which will allow the provision of grants for clinical work for
young neurologists b) recognition of rotations: find ways how
the recognition of clinical rotations within Europe can be
facilitated. This needs to be done on an European and national
level. c) security: health insurance, legal insurance. Adapt
existing policies from University (e.g. Erasmus) and scientific
exchange programs (e.g.DAAD) to find favorable conditions with
insurance companies (e.g. group contracts). d) Language
courses: provide informations about European language schools,
that are specialized in training professionals in the health
sector.
5.2.3. Access to Education: a) summarize and express the needs of
Neurologist Trainees in discussion with the responsible
national and international organizations. b) get involved into
the recently started efforts to make specialist training in
Europe more transparent and contribute to quality control. In
Brussels medical specialist are represented by the
U.E.M.S. (Union Europenne des Medecins
specialistes). Suggestions for a Neurology Training Program
exist. c) On a national level such a discussion as already
started in France the French association has been invited.
5.2.4. Access to Research: A difficulty young Neurologists with a
clinical background face is to get on their feet in research.
a) promote and encourage bottom-up research. b) facilitate
discussion and contacts within the scientific community on an
informal and personal way. c) establish early contacts for
possible future cooperation
5.2.5. Info service: a) collect and archive informations about the
different neurological training programs in Europe.b ) make
such informations available via Internet, mail and
publications. c) provide informations about Hospitals that can
offer clinical rotations within an exchange program.
5.2.6. Culture: The aim is to foster an European culture among
European Neurologists by: a) encouraging participation at
European congresses (e.g. ENS, EFNS) b) financial support for
young Neurologist who intent to "volunteer" in tasks concerning
the benefit of the European society (e.g. medical,logistic or
translator activity in regions of natural catastrophe -
e.g.Turkey) c) organization of workshops for young Neurologists
d) everything that is of benefit for the European society, e)
to encourage the growth of clinical relations between Europe
and the rest of the world.
5.3. The Association may engage in any activity likely to promote
achievement of its social purposes and take part in any
association or group with activities similar to its own.
Article 6
Resignation
Members belonging to the various categories referred to in Article 2 above
may at any time tender their resignations by registered letter addressed to the
Governing Board.
Article 7
Exclusion
A member of the Association may be excluded on serious grounds after the
member concerned has been given a hearing to present his defense. The
Governing Board shall pronounce exclusion by a two-thirds majority of the
members present and voting. The grounds for this decision must be
substantiated.
Article 8
The Association's resources
8.1. Members shall not pay an annual subscription. This might be
changed to a later time point by vote at a General Assembly and
two third majority.
8.2. The Association's resources shall comprise:
a) donations, legacies and various gifts;
b) the proceeds from public and private fund-raising activities;
c) revenues of contribution in capital;
d) subsidies granted by public or private benefactors;
e) contracts for projects and studies in fields having a bearing on
the aims of the Association;
f) the resources deriving from the sale of the Association's
publications.
g) And all other legal sources.
8.3. The Association's financial year shall be the calendar
year. The Association shall keep double-entry accounts,
consisting of an income and expenditure account, a balance sheet
and notes thereto.
8.4. The Association's members shall not be entitled to make a claim
on the Association's capital.
Article 9
Composition and powers
9.1. The General Assembly shall be the sovereign body of the Association.
9.2. It shall consist of all members with the right to vote. Members
as defined under 2.2-2.5 may attend in a consultative capacity.
The General Assembly:
a) determines the general policy of the Association;
b) approves the accounts of the last year and the planning forecast
for the year ahead;
c) elects the Board's members;
d) amends the Association's Statutes;
e) declares the dissolution of the Association.
9.3. The Assembly shall be invested with all powers necessary for the
achievement of the Association's purposes.
9.4. It shall decide on the matters referred to in paragraphs 9.2. a)
to c) above by a simple majority of all those members with a
right to vote who are present or represented by proxy-vote, and
on those referred to in paragraphs 9.2. d) and e) above by a
two-thirds majority.
Article 10
The Ordinary General Assembly
10.1. The General Assembly shall meet in ordinary session every
year. This shall preferably be associated to one of the major
meetings for European Neurologists, either of the European
Neurological Society (ENS) or the European Federal Neurologic
Society (EFNS). The Assembly shall be valid respective of the
minimum number of members present as defined by the office at
least one month before the meeting.
10.2. At least three months before the scheduled date of the Assembly,
the members of the Association shall be invited to attend by the
Secretary. A draft agenda shall be attached to the invitation.
10.3. The agenda of the Assembly shall be prepared by the President
and approved by the Governing Board. No later than ten (10) days
prior to the session a member may request that an item be placed
on the agenda.
10.4. The President shall submit to the General Assembly a status
report on the Association, describing the work in hand and its
progress as well as the events held, action taken and documents
published since the previous Ordinary General Assembly. This
report shall be subject to the approval of the General Assembly.
10.5. The Treasurer shall present a management report, the accounts
for the previous year and the planning forecasts for the one
year ahead. This report shall be subject to the approval of the
General Assembly.
10.6. The General Assembly may welcome Observers to its public
meetings. Their status shall be defined in the rules of
procedure.
Article 11
The Extraordinary General Assembly
11.1. If necessary or at the request of a two-thirds majority of the
board or a simple majority of the active members the President
shall convene an extraordinary session of the Assembly in
accordance with the Rules of Procedures mentioned in Article
15.3 hereafter.
11.2. If this condition is not fulfilled, a new Extraordinary General
Assembly must be convened with the same agenda within two
months. The new Assembly shall be valid if more than half the
members with the right to vote are present or represented.
11.3. If this proportion is not achieved, the Extraordinary General
Assembly shall be reconvened after a period of at least one
month. It shall then be valid whatever the number of members
present or represented.
Article 12
Representation
Each member of the General Assembly with the right to vote may be
represented by another similarly entitled member whom the former has
empowered in writing or by telegram, fax or electronic mail, to vote on his
behalf. A member of the Assembly may not cast votes by proxy for more
members than agreed upon by the office one month before the General
Assembly.
Article 13
Registration of decisions
The decisions of the General Assembly shall be entered into a register
signed by the President and another member of the Board and held in the
custody of the Secretary who shall make it available for consultation by
members of the General Assembly.
Article 14
Composition of the Board
14.1. The Association shall be supervised by a Governing Board,
hereafter referred to as the Board.
14.2. The Board shall comprise the president, secretary, treasurer and
the Vice presidents.
14.3. Each country should be represented by one member who is entitled
as Vice-president.
14.4. The members of the Board must be members of the Association
within the meaning of Article 2.1 above.
14.4. The list of candidates for the Board shall be drawn up according
to the Rules of Procedure and submitted to the General Assembly.
14.5. The General Assembly shall elect the Board members. The outgoing
president will stay one further year in the Board to provide
continuity and assist to his best knowledge to provide
continuation and fostering of existing relations he has been
involved with.
14.6. The term of office of members of the Board shall be two years;
members shall be unremunerated. In the event of a vacancy, a
member of the Association co-opted by the Board shall complete
the term of office of the replaced Board member.
14.7. By the end of the first year confidence in the board needs to be
approved by a single majority vote.
14.8. A member may not take up more than three consecutive terms of office.
14.9. A member who holds a post as president, secretary or treasurer
may in the same time represent his/her country as
Vice-President.
14.10. President, secretary and treasurer must be represented by three
different natural persons from at least two different European
countries.
14.11. Members of the Board may be removed by a two-third majority of
members of the General Assembly present and voting.
Article 15
Powers of the Board
15.1. Subject to the provisions of the Statutes and the definition of
responsibilities of the General Assembly, the Board shall enjoy
the most extended administrative authority and decision-making
powers.
15.2. The Board shall propose Rules of Procedure to the General
Assembly and shall decide on the provisions required to
implement the Statutes.
15.4. The Board shall examine new candidatures for membership of the
Association. It shall draw up the Association's annual budget on
the basis of annual planning forecasts and submit it to the
General Assembly.
15.5. The Board closes the accounts for each financial year and draws
up the annual planning forecast.
15.6. The board decides about the organization of the rules of procedure.
Article 16
Rules of procedure
16.1. Details of the functioning of the YNT are separately set down in
the rules of procedure.
16.2. The rules of procedure can be changed by the office with a
single majority.
Article 17
Meetings of the board
A member of the board may be represented by another member of the board
whom he has empowered in writing, whether by telegram, fax or electronic
mail. A member of the Board may not represent more than one other member
by proxy. A meeting of the board should take place at least once a year. Or if
demanded by the president or two members of the board. Decisions are
taken by single majority. Minutes of the meeting shall be taken and
achieved.
Article 18
Decisions
18.1. To be valid, a Board meeting must have a quorum of half its
members present or represented. The President or one of the
Vice-Presidents must be present.
18.2. Subject to the exceptions provided for in the Statutes, the
Board shall adopt resolutions by a majority of the voting
members present or represented. In the event of a tie, the
President shall have the casting vote.
18.3. The resolutions shall be entered into a register signed by the
President and the Secretary who shall keep it in his custody and
make it available to members of the Association for
consultation.
Article 19
Representation of the YNT
19.1. The President shall represent the Association in all official deeds. If
necessary, the Board may appoint two of its members for this purpose.
19.2. Documents legally binding on the Association shall be signed by
the President and by another member of the Office referred to in
Article 20 below. The original document shall be archived in the
headquarter of the association.
19.3. The legal actions to which the Association is a party, as
plaintiff or defendant, shall be followed up by the office.
Article 20
The Office
20.1. The Office shall implement the Board's decisions. It shall be
answerable to the Board for its management.
20.2. It shall consist of a President, the outgoing President, the
Secretary and the Treasurer referred to by the rules of
procedure.
20.3. The Office shall recommend the annual draft budget for adoption
by the Board and shall follow up implementation of approved work
projects. Publication of any documents that could implicate the
responsibility of the Association requires authorization by the
Office.
20.4. It shall meet as often as necessary.
Article 21
Administration
The administrative rules are discussed in the rules of procedure.
Article 22
Amendment of the Statutes
22.1. The General Assembly shall have sole power to amend the Statutes
of the Association by a two-thirds majority of all the members
voting present or represented.
22.2. Amendments to the Statutes shall take effect only after the
publicity requirements specified in the applicable provisions
have been fulfilled.
Article 23
Dissolution of the Association
23.1. The General Assembly shall be the sole authority empowered to
declare the dissolution of the Association. The Assembly shall
decide on the arrangements for the liquidation of the
Association as well as on the beneficiary(is) of the net
liquidation assets.
23.2. Decisions relating to the dissolution shall be taken by a
two-thirds majority of those members with a right to vote, who
are present and voting.
Article 24
All points not covered by the present statutes will be settled in accordance
with the provisions of the 25 October 1919 Act.