NORDIC ASSOCIATION OF OTORHINOLARYNGOLOGY –

HEAD AND NECK SURGERY

BYLAWS

§ 1 The Association works to promote professional development and research in the field of otorhinolaryngology – head and neck surgery in the Nordic countries (Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway, Sweden).

§2 The members of the individual national associations of otorhinolaryngology – head and neck surgery in each country constitute the members of the Association.

§ 3 The Association is managed by a Board, the members of which are the President of the next congress who is also the chairperson of the Board; the President of the previous congress; and, at most, two members from each country, the one of whom shall be the president of the respective national associations.  The Board elects a secretary from the country that arranges the next congress; the term of office of the secretary continues until the next congress.  As a rule, the Board convenes once yearly.

§ 4 Items proposed by two Board members or by any one of the national associations are to be taken on the agenda of the Board meetings.  Quorum of the Board is met when at least 3 out of 5 countries are represented at meetings.  The Board may decide that matters of interest for the associations of all 5 counties shall be taken on the agenda of the general assembly of the Association, which is held during the congress.  If taken to voting, propositions are decided by simple majority.

§ 5 The Board may decide on the mode of publication of the scientific presentations made at the congress and will decide on a budget for this purpose.  The cost of publication may be covered by the overall congress budget.

§ 6 Generally, the Association organizes a congress in one of the Nordic countries triennially.  The Board will present a proposition to the general assembly as to the time and location of the next congress.  The Board nominates a congress organizing committee with no less than 4 members.  The President, the treasurer and the secretary of the congress must be members of the organizing committee.  The organizing country has the option to nominate an observer to the congress organizing committee.

§ 7 The congress organizing committee must well in advance choose the topics for the next congress after prior consultations with each of the 5 national associations.  The organization committee of the previous congress shall no later than 1 year after completion of the congress submit a report and the financial records to the Board.  The Board furthers the report and the financial records to each of the 5 national associations.  Any surplus from the previous congress shall be transferred to the organizing committee of the next congress as soon as the accounts have been approved, which must take place no later than 1 year before the next congress.

§ 8 If the accounts of the congress show a deficit, it is the responsibility of the national association of the country organizing the congress to cover this deficit to the extent that the active assets of the Association do not provide sufficient financial coverage.  The members of the congress organizing committee have no personal responsibility.

§ 9 Each of the associations of the 5 individual countries will be charged an annual fee for each member in the respective national association to cover the expenses of the congress.  The amount of this charge is established by the Board.  The funds that have thus accumulated during 3 years will be transferred to the organization committee of the next congress.  This shall take place no later than 1 year before the next congress is due.  Usually, the congress participants are charged a separate congress fee, as well.  The amount of the congress fee is established by the congress organizing committee.

§ 10 The Board summons the general assembly.  The Board shall submit all necessary information regarding the items on the agenda of the general assembly to each of the associations of the 5 individual countries no later than 8 weeks before the congress.  The general assembly decides by simple majority vote on the time and location of the next congress.

§ 11 The Board is responsible for updating and developing the webpages of the Nordic Association www.nordic-ent.org.

§ 12 To come into effect, amendments to these bylaws require a 2/3 majority vote by the general assembly, before which the proposed amendmends shall have been discussed by the Board.  The boards of the individual national associations may forward to the Board propositions for amendments to these bylaws.