1. The Society

The Society shall be called the European Prosthodontic Association. Its objectives shall be to further knowledge and promote the teaching and practice of Prosthodontics in Europe.

2. MEMBERSHIP

The society shall consist of Ordinary, Honorary and Corresponding Members.

(i) Ordinary membership shall be available to those doctors, dentists and scientists, from whatever country, who profess an interest in Prosthodontics and shall be by election. Prospective members should make a formal application. Those who are members of a national prosthodontic organisation will on application automatically be eligible for membership. Other applicants should submit a brief curriculum vitae which indicates their special interest in Prosthodontics.

Applications for membership shall first be considered and approved by Council. A list of prospective members will be posted on a notice board during the conference for consideration by the delegates. The names of the applicants will be read out as a formal agenda item at the Annual Business Meeting and be approved by popular vote by the members present.

(ii) Honorary membership may be conferred on those who have rendered distinguished service to the furtherance of prosthodontic knowledge or have otherwise advanced the interests of prosthodontics. Membership should be recommended by Council and be by unanimous election of the Association at the Annual Business Meeting. This category of membership shall be restricted.

(iii) Corresponding membership shall be by invitation of the Council.

3. ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP SUBSCRIPTION

This shall be payable on admission to membership at an Annual Business Meeting and annually thereafter. The amount of subscription shall be recommended by Council and approved by members at the Annual Business Meeting. ALL members, with the exception of Honorary Life Members) MUST pay their annual membership subscription promptly. The Honorary Treasurer will send one reminder to those members who have not paid their membership subscription by 1st January.

All monies received by the Association shall be held for the European Prosthodontic Trust.

4. WITHDRAWAL OF MEMBERSHIP

Any member whose subscription is in arrears for two complete subscription years shall be deemed to have forfeited membership and must be re-elected at a business meeting and pay the appropriate subscription. Their names will be removed from the membership databases and from the web-site.


5. COUNCIL

This shall consist of a President, a First President Elect who will succeed in office and a Second President Elect who will be next in succession. Each President after their year of office will remain on Council as Immediate Past President for one year followed by further office for five years as a Past President. The Honorary Secretary, Treasurer and Web-master will also be voting members of the Council.

Three elected members, who should be EPA members, shall also sit on the Council and hold office for a three year term. They shall not serve for more than three years in succession except under exceptional circumstances and only with the approval ofCouncil.

In exceptional circumstances, Council may appoint up to three co-opted members from the membership who should hold office foras long as their expertise is needed or for a maximum of one year.

The President, the Honorary Secretary and the Honorary Treasurer shall constitute the Executive Committee which shall conduct the business of the society in the intervals between Council Meetings.

6. DUTIES OF COUNCIL

These shall be to conduct the affairs of the Association with equity and arrange for its meetings as conveniently as possible for members and in accordance with the objectives of the Association.

The Council shall meet prior to the Annual Business Meeting and refer to it any matters, which may affect the welfare of the Association.

7. ELECTION OF OFFICERS

The Officers of the Association shall be elected annually at the Business Meeting.

Nominations for a future President Elect shall be made in writing by four members from at least two different European countries and sent to the Honorary Secretary at least one month before the meeting. Nominees MUST signify that they are willing to serve as President of the Association and that they are able to organise a future conference at a European venue of their choice, usually in their home country. Nominations will be considered at a Council Meeting where members of Council will elect the successful candidate(s). Council is not obliged to elect any candidate that they condider is not of sufficent merit to warrant the honor of becoming EPA President. The name(s) of the successful candidates shall be announced at the Annual Business Meeting together with the results of any election. If no nominations are received Council may make recommendations for future Presidents of the Association, but the decision MUST be unanimous and nominees must signify that they are willing to serve as a future President. Council would not normally consider future Presidents and venues more than 4 years in advance of the proposed conference.

The Honorary Secretary shall invite nominations from the membership for ONE ordinary member of Council each year. Nominations should be in writing (or by email, if subsequently confirmed by a signed letter) by at least two members and should reach the Honorary Secretary at least one month before the start of the Council meeting that precedes the Annual Conference. If more than one nomination is received Council will decide the successful candidate, by ballot if necessary. If no nominations are received by the Honorary Secretary before the Annual Conference, members of Council may propose a new ordinary member for Council at the Council meeting that precedes the Annual Conference. Nominees MUST signify that they are willing to serve as Council Members and attend Council meetings before their election is approved by the membership at the Annual Business Meeting.

Nomination for Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and Honorary Editor may also be submitted in writing to the Secretary for election bearing in mind that these officers may normally expect to serve up to a maximum period of six years in office. Self nominations are acceptable and nominees must signify that they are willing to fufil the duties required of them on behalf of the EPA. Prior to the final year of service of an officer, a successor should be elected who would serve on Council and assist the retiring officer as required. Serving as an elected officer of the EPA is deemed an honour and no remunerstion is payable for undertaking this role, but all reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out these duties will be reimbursed.

Nominations for two Honorary Auditors shall also be made. Existing Auditors shall be eligible for re-election.

Officers of the EPA would not normally be able to claim expenses for travelling to and from EPA conferences, and would be expected to pay conference fees as they would be expected to attend the conference as delegates.

8. DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENT

These shall be to supervise the arrangements of all meetings of the Council and Association, and preside at them and to act in the best interests of the Association at all times.

9. DUTIES OF THE PRESIDENTS ELECT

These shall be to assist the President. The Senior President Elect shall preside in the absence of the President.

10. DUTIES OF THE TREASURER

These shall be to receive all money due to, and pay all monies owed by, the European Prosthodontic Trust keeping a particular account of all such receipts and payments. The Treasurer shall conduct the finances of the Trust in close co-operation with the Trustees. The Tresurer should refer to the Council any expenditure which may be considered excessive by the ordinary members. The Treasurer shall submit an audited financial report to the Trustees and the Annual Business Meeting.

11. DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY

These shall be to keep minutes of the business of the Association, to attend to correspondence, and work in co-operation with the President. The Secretary shall submit a report to the Annual Business Meeting.

12. DUTIES OF THE HONORARY EDITOR / WEBMASTER

These shall be to arrange for the publication of the Proceedings of the Association in the best possible manner, and keep a register of all material forwarded to the Association and superintend it's storage or return. The Proceedings of the Association will be in English. A copy of the Proceedings shall be sent to each member. The Honorary Editor shall submit a report to the Annual Business Meeting.

13. ANNUAL CONFERENCE

The President will organise the Annual Conference, which will be held in the European Country where the President resides and practices Prosthodontics. Under exceptional circumstances, and only with the prior approval of both the Trustees and Council, can the venue be in a country other than the home country of the President. The Annual Conference will normally be organised for the first Thursday in September each year and the conference duration will be two and one half days (5 sessions). However, with the approval of Council, the dates for the conference can be deferred until later in the year, but should be in early autumn.

The President shall have the right to charge all delegates a conference fee. Non-member delegates may also be charged an extra fee. Accompanying persons who are not dentally qualified and do not attend the scientific sessions of the conference will also be carged an attendance fee that is intended to cover the cost of any refreshments provided and functions at which the accompanying persons attend.

Conference fees are intended to cover the cost of organising the conference and should be calculated accordingly so that a small profit is made at the end of the conference. All persons attending conference MUST pay the required fees. Only the President has the discretion to reduce or waive conference fees for individual cases.

The EPA is a non-profit making charitable organisation and, as such, does not have the funds necessary to support or sponsor conferences. It is essential that conference organising committees ensure that conferences do not make a financial loss. The President is responsible for the financial success of the conference.

A donation of 10 Euros for each EPA member delegate attending the conference should be made to EPA funds from any profit made by the conference.

14. ANNUAL BUSINESS MEETING

This shall take place during the Annual Conference of the Association, and no other events, presentations or sessions will be scheduled during the time allocated for the Annual Business Meeting.

The Annual Business Meeting shall have the following agenda:

1. The minutes of the preceding meeting.

2. The election of Officers

3. The election of candidates for membership.

4. The report of the Honorary Secretary.

5. The report of the Honorary Treasurer.

6. The report of the Honorary Editor / Webmaster.

7. Future Annual Conferences.

8. Any other business.

15. CONFERENCE LANGUAGE

The official language of the Conference shall be English and the language of the host country holding the Conference will be the second language.

16. INSTALLATION OF THE NEW PRESIDENT

The President Elect shall be installed as President for the succeeding year at the end of the Annual Conference.

17. VISITORS

A member may introduce not more than two visitors to the scientific programme of a meeting of the society. The same visitor may not be admitted to more than two successive meetings, and shall not be permitted to attend the Annual Business Meeting.


18. AMENDMENTS

Amendments to the Constitution can only be made at a Business Meeting. Proposed amendments must be notified to the Secretary at least two months before the meeting at which they are to be considered, and must be approved by a three quarter majority of the members present. If the same proposal is submitted at the next Conference, a simple majority will suffice.