Constitution and Bylaws
World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery

Article I. Name

This Society shall be named, known and styled as:
WORLD SOCIETY FOR STEREOTACTIC AND FUNCTIONAL NEUROSURGERY

Article II. Objectives and Purposes

The principal object of this Society shall be to form an international organization to foster the study and teaching of better treatment of persons afflicted with injuries, lesions, disease and abnormalities of the brain through the discovery of causes of same and better methods of treatment. The purpose of this Society shall be as follows:

1. To foster the study and teaching of methods of introducing guided electrodes and other instruments in the brain of human patients for treatment and for scientific analysis of the clinical problem.
2. Fostering and teaching the investigation of the nature and treatment of brain disorders and of the functioning of the cerebrum and its parts by the method set forth in object and purpose.
3. Establishing fellowships for training in stereotactic procedures.
4. Establishing minimum standards for the performances of stereotaxic procedures, minimum standards of training and experience for persons inserting guided instruments into the human brain.
5. To achieve the goals and objectives of this Society, publication of the congresses will occur in Applied Neurophysiology
6. Meetings should be encouraged periodically with investigators and scientist in related fields such as microelectronics and microsurgery to increase the interdisciplinary approach to the use of study of stereotactic and functional neurosurgery.

Article III. Membership

Section 1. Types

There shall be four types of memberships in the Society: active, associate and honorary and corresponding.

1. Active members shall be medical doctors or PhDs or holders of an equivalent degree who have engaged in active research in the field for at least two years. Only active members shall be entitled to hold office.
2. Associate members shall be MDs or PhDs or holders of an equivalent degree, physicists or engineers who have started work in this field of research
3. Honorary members - The officers may grant honorary membership to such qualified physicians or scientists who in their opinion merit such
4. Corresponding members shall be contributors to the field who might serve on special committee with full membership responsibilities

Section 2. The credentials of candidates

Credentials for active and associate membership shall be considered first by a Committee of Credentials appointed by the President. This committee shall consist of 3 members, each to serve four years. It shall report the candidates to the officers for election or rejection. The officers shall establish the annual dues for active and associate members.

Section 3. Endorsement

No form of membership in this Society shall be interpreted as endorsing the qualifications of the respective member to perform operations on human patients. Members who use their membership for advertising purposes in any way, shall forfeit this membership. The Board of Directors shall have the power to suspend or expel any member who falls to pay his dues for more than two years or who fails to maintain his good professional standing.

Article IV. Officers and Board of Directors

Section 1. Officers

The officers of this Society shall be the President, Vice-President and Secretary-Treasurer.

Section 2. The Board of Directors

The Board of Directors shall consist of ten directors to be elected at the quadrennial business meeting of the Society. These directors shall serve for a period of four years and until their successors have been qualified.

Article V. President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer and Board of Directors

Section 1. President

The President shall preside at all meetings of the Society; He shall sign all orders drawn on the treasury when so authorized; have charge of all title deeds, papers, books and records not especially entrusted to other officers; appoint all committees not otherwise provided for; and perform all such other duties as usually appertain to the office of the President of a Society. He shall be ex officio a member of all committee with the right to vote; he shall be entitled to vote at the meetings of the Society only in cases of a tie vote. He shall supervise the execution of all rules of the Society.

Section 2. Vice-President

The Vice-President shall perform all duties of the President in the case of his absence, death, resignation or inability to act. He shall assist the President in such matter as necessary. He shall be in charge of all committees. The succession of the presiding officers thereafter shall be: Secretary-Treasurer

Section 3. Secretary-Treasurer

1. As the Treasurer, he shall have, received and take charge of all monies paid or given to the Society and give receipt therefore. He shall keep a correct and accurate account of all receipts and expenditures. The Treasurer shall pay out and disburse corporate funds or orders directed by the President and shall sign checks. The President does not need to countersign checks or vouchers for payment of money any more. The signature of the Treasurer is sufficient. But the President has to right to be informed about the payments at any time he wishes. The Treasurer shall, whenever requested by the Board of Directors, submit for examination an audit of books, papers, receipts, vouchers, and other property of the Society. The Treasurer shall deposit all monies without delay in such bank or depository as shall be designated by the Board of Directors in the name of the Society and he shall at every regular meeting of the Society submit a detailed report of its financial condition. He shall keep a correct account of all monies received and paid out, and the correct record of all valuable papers received in books kept for that purpose.

2. As the Secretary, he shall keep accurate minutes of the proceedings at the meetings of the Society and of the Board of Directors. He shall issue printed or written notice of all meetings of the Society and the Board of Directors and shall perform such other duties pertaining to his office as may be required from time to time by the Board of Directors.

Section 4. Board of Directors

1. Duties

   The Board of Directors shall be presided over by a chairman, who shall be elected by the Board and shall have entire charge, management and control of the offices and property of the Society. It shall have the power to employ such employees as may be necessary, It shall have the power to determine the salaries of the paid employees. It shall have the power to make all necessary purchases, the power and duty of fixing the various classes of membership and the minimum contribution necessary to qualify for each of such classes, the power and duty to establish and appoint a Membership Committee, and such other powers and duties as usually appertain to a Board of such a non-profit Society. The Board of Directors shall have the power to discharge any and all employees.

2. Reports to the Society

   The Secretary of the Board of Directors, shall at each meeting of the Society submit a report of the work performed during the previous periods by the Board of Directors and the Society, such reports and recommendation to take priority to all new business of the agenda.

3. Meetings

   Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held once every four years at the call of the chairman or President. Special meetings may be called by the President or chairman at any time; or by the written request of three directors

   One more than 50% of the entire Board of Directors at that particular time shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business at all meetings.

4. Vacancies

   In case of death, resignation or other incapacity on the part of any officer or directors, except the President and Vice-President, the Board of Directors shall elect a successor, who shall serve until such time as his predecessor would have served. In case any officer or voting member of the Board shall fail to attend three successive meetings of the Board of Directors or of the Society without showing sufficient cause, the Board of Directors, after giving such officer or director written notice to attend the next meeting; may, in the event of such nonattendance and declare such office or seat vacant.

ARTICLE VI. Nominations and Elections

Section 1. Nominations and election of officers and directors

The Board of Directors shall be elected by the majority vote of the members of the Society at the quadrennial meeting of the Society; the newly elected Board of Directors shall thereupon nominate and elect, by majority vote, the officers for the forthcoming years.

Section 2. Tenure of Office

All officers and members of the Board of Directors shall hold their office until their successors are duly elected or appointed. There shall be no restrictions on the number of elected terms any member may serve in any office.

Section 3. Methods of Election

All elections shall be conducted by means of a closed ballot.

Article VII. Meetings

Section 1.

The Society shall meet once every fourth year in conjunction with the International Congress of Neurological Sciences or the International Congress of Neurosurgery or at such other times and places as the officers deem suitable.

Section 2.

Quorum at all meetings of the Society, both regular and special: two thirds of the members voting either in person or by proxy shall constitute a quorum for this purpose of transacting business

Article VIII. Amendments

This Constitution and Bylaws shall be altered and amended only upon a recommendation originating with the Board of Directors and approved by a two thirds vote cast by members in good standing at a regular meeting or a special meeting of the Society called for that purpose. Proposed amendments must be first submitted in writing to the Board of Directors and signed by at least seven (7) members. Written notice of the fact that alterations or amendments will be considered by the Society, must be given to the Society at least, five (5) days in advance of any regular or special meetings. The proposed amendments or alterations shall be presented and read at the regular or special meeting and voted upon at the next meeting of the Society.

Article IX. Adoption of Bylaws

This constitution and bylaws shall be adopted by a majority vote of the members present and voting at the time of its proposal to the members of the Society for the ratification thereof.

Article X. Committees and Appointments

Section 1. The Society shall maintain standing committees as follows

The Bylaws Committee shall be appointed by the President of the Society for a term of four (4) years. It shall consist of four members, one member appointed each year with the senior members acting as Chairman. They shall review the Society's bylaws and constitution and make recommendations to the members of the Society.

5. The Program Committee shall be appointed by the President for a term of four (4) years and consist of four members, one member appointed each year with the senior member acting as Chairman. Their duties shall be to set up programs for joint meetings with the AANS and with other Societies such as the European Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, in addition to their responsibilities in organizing the program for any regular or special meetings of the Society.
6. The Committee of Credentials shall be appointed by a consensus of the Board of Directors and will consist of four members elected for four years, one member appointed each year, with the senior member acting as Chairman. They shall consider all applications for membership in this Society.
7. The Awards Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Directors and consist of two members appointed for two terms. They shall select guest lecturers as well as the recipient of the awards of the Society.
8. The Liaison Committee shall be appointed by the President to foster communications and cooperation with old and new branches of the Society and to other societies devoted to the use and study of stereotactic neurosurgery.
9. The auditing committee shall be appointed by the President. It shall consist of three members and its duty shall be to examine the books of the Treasurer and report the same to the Business Section.
10. Special Committees may be appointed at the discretion of the President.

LAST AMENDED: July, 1981, Zurich, Switzerland

TO BE AMENDED