Name
This association shall be called the Association of Clinical Electron Microscopists
Mission
To promote awareness, teaching and best practice of clinical electron microscopy, i.e. electron microscopy applied to human or veterinary specimens for the purpose of diagnosis and associated research.
Objectives
- To promote contact between practitioners by the establishment of a database of persons professionally interested in clinical electron microscopy
- To disseminate knowledge of clinical electron microscopy by the provision of meetings, workshops and a web site
- To provide a forum for the discussion of professional matters for Clinical Electron Microscopists
- To foster education and training in clinical electron microscopy
- To support individual members on professional matters and represent its members in dealings with external agencies, bodies or professional groups
Membership
1. Persons who are, or have been, engaged in clinical electron microscopy, research or other activities connected with clinical electron microscopy are eligible for election as ordinary members. Ordinary members shall have full voting rights.
2. A person of distinction, on the recommendation of the executive committee, may be elected an honorary member at a General Meeting. Honorary members have all the privileges of ordinary members, including voting rights.
3. Companies who supply equipment or services in the field of electron microscopy shall be eligible for election as a commercial corporate member, but shall have no voting rights
4. Persons or Companies who wish to become a member shall apply to the General Secretary of the Association on the form prescribed by the Executive Committee. Such applications shall be considered by the Executive Committee, which shall have absolute power in respect of admission of members. At their discretion, the executive committee may require the applicant to provide references to confirm that they are bona fide Clinical Electron Microscopists.
5. If the conduct of any member shall, in the opinion of the Executive Committee, be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interests of the Association, the Executive Committee may convene an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel the member. Notice of the EGM shall be sent to the accused member, giving the particulars of the complaint and the place and time of the meeting. If, at the meeting, a resolution to expel the member is passed by a two- thirds majority of those present and voting, the members name shall be erased from the list of members and they shall cease, for all purposes, to be a member of the Association.
Subscriptions
6. Ordinary members shall pay an annual subscription fixed for the following year at the Annual General Meeting. Honorary members shall not pay a subscription.
7. Commercial corporate members shall pay an annual subscription at five times the rate of an ordinary member.
8. The subscription is payable in advance and becomes due on acceptance to membership of the Association. Thereafter the annual subscription renewal becomes due on the anniversary of acceptance to membership.
9. Any member (ordinary or corporate) whose subscription is one year in arrears and who has been duly notified of the fact at the address last known to the Association shall, ipso facto, cease to be a member of the Association.
Executive Committee
10. The affairs of the Association shall be under the management and absolute control of an Executive Committee that will comprise seven officers of the Association elected from amongst its members. The Officers shall have the power to co-opt up to three additional members to the executive as they see fit.
11. The Officers of the Association shall be a President, a Chairman, a General Secretary, a Treasurer, a Meetings Secretary, an Education and Training Officer and an Information and Communications Officer.
12. The President shall liaise with other Professional Bodies and represent the Association at National and International Meetings as required. The President shall deputise for the Chairman at Business Meetings when called upon to do so.
13. The Chairman’s duties shall be to preside at all the business meetings of the Association.
14. The General Secretary’s duties shall be to summon and attend all business meetings and maintain minutes of the meetings. The Secretary shall conduct correspondence on behalf of the Association and maintain the list of members.
15. The Treasurer shall receive all monies, keep a proper record of receipts and payments and submit an account of income and expenditure and balance sheet to the members of the Association at the AGM. The Treasurer shall keep a banking account in the name of the Association and cheques shall be signed jointly by himself and a nominated member of the Executive, with the General Secretary authorised to sign in place of either of them should the necessity arise.
16. The Meetings Secretary shall organise the venue and programme of the scientific meetings of the Association.
17. The Education and Training Officer shall develop and institute such training schemes as agreed by the Executive.
18. The Information and Communications Officer shall be responsible for maintaining the Web site of the Association.
19. The Officers shall hold office for a period of three years. Subject to election and willingness of the incumbent, this may be extended for successive 3-year terms.
20. Officers are required to provide notice of resignation at the AGM (this may be verbal) with new Nominations for Office made to the General Secretary at least twenty-one days prior to the meeting. Officers shall be proposed by one and seconded by one ordinary member of the Association. Elections for office will be held at an Annual General Meeting. If the number of nominations exceeds the number of vacancies a ballot of those personally present at the AGM shall decide the election.
21. In the event of an resignation mid-term on the Executive Committee, this may be filled by co-option until the next Annual General Meeting
Business Meetings
22. The General Secretary shall keep a record of all business meetings that shall be signed by the Chairman at the next meeting.
General meetings
23. A quorum for all general meetings will be 10 members.
24. Every member personally present, except corporate members and the Chairman, shall have one vote. When votes are equal the Chairman may exercise a casting vote.
Annual General Meeting
25. An Annual General Meeting (A.G.M.) shall be held on a date between the months of April and September. The A.G.M. will normally take place as an adjunct to the Association’s principal scientific meeting.
26. Notice of the A.G.M. shall be given on the Association’s web site at least eight weeks prior to the meeting.
27. The General Secretary shall receive all motions for the A.G.M., in writing, at least twenty-one days prior to the meeting. This time limit may be waived at the discretion of the Chairman and General Secretary for urgent matters.
Extraordinary General Meeting
28. An Extraordinary General Meeting (E.G.M.) may be held at the discretion of the Executive Committee or when requested in writing by 10 ordinary members of the Association, specifying the business to be transacted.
29. Notice of the E.G.M. shall be given on the Association’s web site at least 21 days prior to the meeting.
Executive Committee Meetings
30. Executive Committee meetings shall be held at times determined by the Chairman and General Secretary or at the request of at least three of the Officers of the Association.
31. The quorum for Executive Committee meetings shall be four members personally present.
Dissolution
32. The dissolution of the Association may be requested on either the unanimous recommendation of the Executive Committee or on the requisition of not less than twelve members.
33. An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be called, giving 21 days notice of the date and purpose of the meeting, and such dissolution shall take place only when decided upon by a majority of not less than two-thirds of the members present at the meeting. In circumstances that preclude the operation of this rule, the signatories to the Association’s Banking Account shall have the power to act in accordance with rule 34.
34. On dissolution, the assets shall be realised and the funds remaining after the liquidation of all its just liabilities shall be paid to a Medical Charity as may further the aims of the association.
Amendment of Rules
35. Any alteration of these rules shall be made only by the votes of a two-thirds majority of the members present at a General Meeting, and notice of intention to move any alteration must be given in writing to the General Secretary 28 days before the date of the meeting. The Secretary shall give notice of such proposed alteration at least seven days before the General Meeting either on the Association’s web site or by mail to members at their last known address.
Notes: Reference to he and him is intended to refer to either sex