Bylaws of the Society
ARTICLE I - Name
The International Society for Genetic Eye Diseases and Retinoblastoma (ISGEDR)
ARTICLE II - Purpose and Mission Statement
Section 1: To bring together individuals interested in the field of genetic diseases of the eye and/or Retinoblastoma.
Section 2: To provide a forum for researchers in the field of genetic diseases of the eye and/or Retinoblastoma to share information.
Section 3: To promote international collaborations in the study of genetic diseases of the eye and of Retinoblastoma.
Section 4: To disseminate scientific knowledge through international conferences and through its official publication: Ophthalmic Genetics, published by Taylor and Francis.
ARTICLE III - Membership
Section 1: Active membership
A. The membership shall consist of individuals interested in the field of genetic diseases of the eye. They may be physicians, basic scientists, or graduate or undergraduate students.
B. Members who have paid dues shall be considered active members in good standing. These include full members, student members, and associate members.
C. An active member in good standing shall have the right to vote on all propositions submitted to the membership at large, the right to vote upon the election of officers, and the privilege to attend all business meetings of the Society. Only active members in good standing shall be eligible to hold office.Section 2: Associate Membership
A. Associate members are non-scientists with interest in the field of ophthalmic genetics.
B. Associate members shall have the right to attend meetings of the Society but cannot vote or hold office.
ARTICLE IV - Dues
Section 1: Bi-annual assessment of dues
A. The amount of annual dues shall be recommended bi-annually at the business meeting of the Society by the President and approved by a majority vote of active members present at the meeting.
B. Active members shall pay the annual dues.
C. Student members shall pay dues to cover the Journal only.
D. Associate members shall pay dues that exclude the Journal.Section 2:Payment of dues
A. Annual dues shall be due and payable by October 1st of the year preceding the year for which they are levied.
B. Any active member whose dues are delinquent for a period of one year shall be considered not to be in good standing.
ARTICLE V - Membership benefits
Section 1: Officers
A. At the bi-annual meeting the Society shall elect by simple majority the Executive Committee.
B. The Executive committee shall consist of a President, a Secretary-Treasurer, the Editor-in-Chief of Ophthalmic Genetics, and three members-at-large.
C. The President shall be elected for a term of four years. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected for a term of six years.
D. Officers may succeed themselves in office.
E. The Editor-in-Chief of Ophthalmic Genetics shall serve as a member of the executive committee.Section 2: Duties of the President
A. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Society, and shall perform other duties, such as those described in Robert's Rules of Order or as amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the active membership in good standing.
B. The President shall be responsible to coordinate scientific, educational or social activities of the Society. Ad-hoc committees for such activities are formed as needed.Section 3: Duties of the Secretary-Treasurer
A. The Secretary-Treasurer shall assist the President in the discharge of his duties and in his absence, shall assume the duties of the President.
B. The Secretary-Treasurer shall keep a membership file containing the names and addresses of the membership
C. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be custodian of the funds of the Society, and shall keep account of the same. He/she shall demand and receive all funds due to the Society, and shall give proper receipts thereof. He/she shall receive all bequests and donations made to the Society, and shall keep adequate records thereof. He/she shall pay out of the funds in his/her custody the expenses of the Society.
D. It shall be the duty of the Secretary-Treasurer to render a financial report to the members at the bi-annual meeting.
E. At the bi-annual meeting, the Secretary-Treasurer shall keep minutes of the proceedings.Section 4: Franceschetti Lectureship Nominating Committee
A. The Committee shall consist of the past President(s) of the Society, the current President, the Secretary-Treasurer, of Dr. Albert Franceschetti, of the Editor-in-Chief of Ophthalmic Genetics, and of three members appointed for consultation on this issue by the current President.
ARTICLE VII - Voting
Section 1: Only members in good standing shall vote
Section 2: All decisions shall be made by simple majority vote of members to be done by e-mail ballot from all members in good standing.
ARTICLE VIII - Meetings of the ISGEDR
Section 1: ISGEDR shall organize bi-annual meetings that may be held as free-standing meetings or in conjunction with other international or national meetings.
Section2: A business meeting of the ISGEDR shall be held at the time of the bi-annual meeting.
Section 3: The Executive committee shall meet at least once per year.
Section 4: Any number of members in good standing attending a bi-annual meeting shall constitute a quorum.
Section 5: The President of the ISGEDR shall chair the bi-annual meeting, and the Secretary-Treasurer shall take the minutes.
ARTICLE IX - Amendments
Section 1: Ophthalmic Genetics is the official journal of the Society.
Section 2: Members are encouraged to submit their scientific work to Ophthalmic Genetics
Section 3: The Franceschetti Lecturer shall submit a manuscript for his/her lecture for publication in Ophthalmic Genetics.Section 4: The Journal shall be supplied to members as a benefit of their membership if financial details are worked out with the publisher.