World Society for Breast Health
Advancing Breast Health Education
 
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Bylaws

World Society for Breast Health, Inc.

Article I. Formation

Section 1: Formation and Purpose of the Society

A non-profit international corporation named the WORLD SOCIETY FOR BREAST HEALTH, INC. is founded and registered in the State of Florida, USA. It is hereafter also referred to as the Society in these By Laws.

Article II. Mission Statement

The World Society for Breast Health is dedicated to elevating the standards of breast health care throughout the world by promoting education, research and intellectual collaboration among physicians, scientists, health care providers, researchers, government agencies, patient advocates and patient self-help organizations.

Article III. Goals

  1. The goals of the Society are:
    a) To help promote breast health education and to aid in the circulation of evidence based scientific knowledge to healthcare professionals and the public.
    b) To cooperate with appropriate Societies and Government authorities, agencies, and services on a National and International level to help promote the establishment of guidelines for the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of Breast Diseases.
    c) To establish issue based subcommittees to assess world breast health problems and define practical strategies for a solution.
    d) To organize regional and International Scientific Meetings based on the specific needs of different regions of the world. To hold an International Meeting at least on an annual schedule for education, to report on the past activities and establish further plans.
    e) To develop research strategies regarding the impact of breast health education in improving the quality of global breast health care.

Article IV. Membership

The society shall consist of Active Members, Associate Members, Junior Members, Honorary Members and Emeritus Members.

Section 1. Qualifications for Membership

  1. Any organization or any individual interested in the objectives of The Society will be considered for membership, provided that all membership requirements are meet. There will be no restriction because of place of birth, nationality, residence, sex, race, age or condition of handicap.
    A. Active Members
    Any organization or any individual who is engaged in the study and management of patients with breast disease and is committed to the advance of knowledge and empathies in breast health care is eligible for membership.
    B. Associate Members
    Any physician or other scientist who does not qualify as a regular member but who has demonstrated special interest in breast health care, as evidenced by significant contributions. Associate members pay reduced annual dues and have the right to vote and serve on relevant committees, but not to hold office or sit on the councils.
    C. Junior Members
    Any physician in training who has an interest in breast health care. The Junior Membership is limited to two years. Junior members shall pay reduced annual dues and have the right to serve on committees but not to vote and hold office or sit on the council.
    D. Honorary Members
    Persons who have made distinguished or extraordinary contributions to the field of breast pathology. Honorary Members shall have privileges similar to Regular Members, but can not hold office or sit on the council. Honorary Members will be exempted from the annual dues.
    E. Emeritus Member
    A person who was either a Regular or Associate Member of The Society may be elected upon his request as an EMERITUS MEMBER when he/she retires from gainful activities, provided that the past dues have been fully paid.

Section 2. Election to Membership

A qualified individual may apply for membership to the secretary of The Society. An updated copy of the curriculum vitae and filled standard The Society reference letter must accompany each application. After the Membership Committee determines that the applicant is qualified, the nomination shall be confirmed by the Executive Committee and submitted for election by simple majority vote during the next business meeting of The Society or by mail vote at any time.

Section 3. Right of The Members

Any Regular Members shall have the right to hold office or vote. Each member shall be entitled to one vote. All members of The Society have the right to participate in the scientific sessions and in deliberations and discussions of the business meetings. No member shall use the name, the property or the organization of The Society for personal benefit. Only current elected officers shall represent The Society in official business.

Section 4. Termination of Membership

The following shall be causes of termination of membership in The Society:
– Death of the member
– Resignation of the member by written document submitted to the Secretary and acted upon by the Executive Committee.

– Expulsion from The Society due to:
– Non-payment of dues over two years.
– Unethical conduct.
Requests for expulsion of a member shall be documented in writing by two members, acted upon by the Executive Committee after adequate investigation includes appropriate communication with the member in question and final ratification by simple majority vote in the next business meeting. An expelled member can appeal the decision by written document to the Executive Committee. In this case the Executive Committee verdicts the final decision after its second business meeting by simply majority of the votes.

Section 5. Duties of Active Members

An Active Member duly elected to The Society is considered to have met the eligibility and selection requirements. Active participation in The Society will be reflected by his/her documented attendance at least one annual business meeting every four years and payment of the full membership dues each year.

Article V. Officers of The Society

Section 1. Elected Officers

The Executive Committee of The Society shall consist of the following Officers and the Immediate Past President:
– President
– Vice-President (President-Elect)
– Secretary
– Treasurer
– Officers at Large (maximum 12)

Section 2. Election

Only Regular Members of The Society are eligible to be Officers. Nominations for Officers’ positions shall be made by the Nominating Committee. Additional nominations may be made by any Regular Member. The membership shall be notified by mail of the selections of the Nominating Committee. The ballots which will include an opportunity for write in votes shall be mailed at least 90 days prior to the general business meeting and must be received back by the secretary at lest 30 days prior to the annual meeting. The individual who receives the largest number of votes by mail ballot in a category shall become elected.

Section 3. Term of Office

Each officer of The Society shall take office immediately upon his/her election. The President and Vice President of The Society each shall serve for a term of two (2) years. The Secretary and the Treasurer of The Society each shall serve for a term of four (4) years. Each officer will serve until his/her successors shall have been duly elected and shall have qualified or until his/her death or until he/she shall resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided. None of the elected officers can succeed himself/herself. The Officers at Large shall hold office for a period of two (2) years and may be re-elected for only one additional term (a total of four (4) years).

Section 4. Removal

An officer or agent of The Society may be removed by a two-thirds vote of the current members of the Board of Trustees whenever in its judgement the best interest of The Society will be served thereby. Or, an officer or agent of the Society can be removed with or without cause by a simple majority vote of the General Membership present at a special meeting called for this purpose. If an officer or agent of the Society is removed from office and is simultaneously an Officer of the Board of Trustees, then he/she will automatically be removed from that position on the Board of Trustees.

Section 5. Vacancies

A vacancy in any office of the Society because of death, resignation, removal, disqualification or otherwise, may be filled by a nominee recommended by the Nomination Committee for the unexpired portion of the term with confirmation of appointment by the membership at the next Annual Business meeting.

Section 6. Duties of The Offices

Duties of the President - The President shall be the principal executive officer of The Society. He/she shall preside at all meetings of The Society, serve as Chairman of the Board of Directors, take responsibility as a representative of The Society, and be responsible for deeds, mortgages and contracts which the Board of Directors has approved. The President officially shall receive donations, bequests, or gifts to The Society, on behalf of The Society. The President is empowered to appoint permanent and ad hoc committees which he/she deems necessary to make recommendations on important issues, or to which he/she delegates certain functions as necessary. In case of having the same number of votes for any voting issue during business meetings of Executive Committee or board of Directors presidents vote shall count 2 (two).
Duties of the Vice-President - The Vice President shall be the President-Elect. In the absence or incapacity of the President, the Vice-President shall perform the duties of the President. He/she shall execute other duties as delegated by the President or the Executive Committee. Duties of the Secretary - The Secretary shall keep records of the meetings and other activities of The Society; keep custody of the documents of The Society; and execute other functions delegated by the President or the Executive committee.
Duties of the Treasurer - The Treasurer shall receive membership dues and other income received by The Society; keep all records of financial documents and transactions with approval of the President; and execute other functions delegated by the President or the Executive committee.
Duties of the Officers at Large - The Officers at Large shall coordinate the activities of The Society in their areas by stimulating educational programs and the recruitment of new members and shall execute any other function delegated by the President or the Executive Committee.
Duties of Past President – The immediate Past-President shall serve as the Chair of the Nominating Committee and as Co-Chair of the Scientific Committee.

Article VI. Governance of The Society

Section 1. Executive Committee

The elected officers of The Society shall form the Executive Committee. They may also serve as members of the board of Directors. The main functions of the Executive Committee are:
– To represent The Society in official business.
– To carry out the directions and policies approved by the membership.
– To organize and coordinate the regular and extraordinary meetings of The Society.
– To exert leadership in the development and implementation of scientific programs according to the objectives of The Society.

Section 2. Board of Directors

The elected officers of The Society shall form the Board of Directors as well as the Executive Committee. The President shall serve as Chairman of the Board. The election of officers and the functions of the Board of Directors are the same as those of the Executive Committee, as stated in these by-laws.

The Board of Directors, as such, shall deal specifically with matters related to the incorporation of The Society.

Article VII. Committees and Task Forces

Section 1.

There shall be standing committees of The Society and Task Forces charged to assist the Executive Board of The Society. More committees may be initiated by the Board of Directors’ decision in the business meeting by simply majority of the votes.

These include:
– Committees
– Constitution and By-Laws
– Finances
– International Relations
– Membership
– Education and Training
– Scientific Programs
– Nominating
– Awards

Article VIII. Meetings

Section 1. Business Meetings

The President of the Executive Committee must call a business meeting of all members of The Society at least once a year. All major policy matters must be reported to and approved by the Membership by simple majority vote at a business meeting or by mail ballot.

Section 2. Executive Committee Members

The President shall call an Executive Committee meeting any time he/she considers it necessary. There shall be at least one yearly meeting of the Executive Committee.

Section 3. Board of Directors Meetings

The Chairman shall call a meeting of the Board of Directors at least once a year, which may coincide with a meeting of the Executive committee, or within 90 days after he/she receives a request to call such a meeting by the majority of members of the Board.

Section 4. Scientific Meeting

The Executive Committee shall call scientific meetings at least once a year with a notice to the members at least three (3) months before the meeting. Scheduling of scientific meetings in association with those of other societies may be arranged by the Executive Committee.

Article IX. Amendment to The By-Laws

Section 1.

Proposals to amend the By-Laws may be made by any regular Member to the Executive Committee. Such proposals shall be made in writing to the Secretary. The Executive Committee shall evaluate and present them to the membership. The Executive Committee may itself initiate proposals to amend the By-Laws. Section 2. The amendment(s) shall be approved by a two thirds (2/3) majority vote of all voting Regular members by mail ballot.

Article X. Liquidation of The Society

Section 1. Decision of Liquidation

The Society may be dissolved by two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of Regular Members. Such a move may be initiated by the Board of Directors. Debts of The Society may be assessed to the Regular members as deemed necessary.

Article XI. Annual Dues

Membership annual dues shall be established by the Executive Committee and paid to the Treasurer in any currency redeemable in US dollars. Honorary and Emeritus members shall pay no dues.

Article XII. Waiver of Dues

The annual dues may be waived by the Executive Committee under certain extraordinary circumstances, including retirement, upon request from the member.

Article XIII. Official Journal

Section 1.

The Society shall sponsor “The Breast Journal” as its official journal.

Section 2.

All official announcements of The Society shall appear in the aforementioned official journal.

Section 3.

Each dues-paying member shall receive a copy of the aforementioned journal. World Society of Breast Health

The Officers
President Shahla Masood, M.D.
Vice President Vahit Ozmen, M.D.
Secretary Atilla Soran, M.D., M.P.H.
Treasurer Stanly P. L. Leong, M.D.
Past President Laszlo Vass, M.D.

Officers at Large
Yip Cheng Har, M.D.
Mohammed R. S. Keshtgar, M.D.
Debu Tripathy, M.D.
Victor Vogel, M.D.
Mohamed Shaalan, M.D.
Tomoe Tajima, M.D.
Vincent Vinh-Hung, M.D.
Semih Baskan, M.D.
Hamdy A. Azim, M.D.
Mahmoud B. El Tamer, M.D., FACS
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