ASIAN PACIFIC ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF THE LIVER (APASL) Constitution of the Association - March 2007

• ARTICLES
  1. The name of the Association shall be The ASIAN PACIFIC ASSOCIATION FOR THE STUDY OF THE LIVER (APASL).

• PLACE OF THE BUSINESS
  2. The Secretariat shall be based in Japan.

• OBJECTIVES
  3. The objectives of the Association shall be:
     1. To advance the knowledge and practice of hepatology in the Asian Pacific region, especially in the prevention, recognition and treatment of disease of the liver and the biliary tract.
     2. To promote and coordinate the basic and clinical research activities in countries in Asia and the Pacific regions on the prevention, recognition and treatment of diseases of the liver and the biliary tract.
     3. To organize regular scientific meetings, training and practical demonstration on subjects related to the prevention, recognition and treatment of diseases of the liver and the biliary tract.
     4. To acquire, establish, print and publish books, journals, periodicals, and leaflets including electronic media or other literary or scientific works that the Association may think desirable for the promotion of its objectives.
     5. To collaborate with other Liver Study groups and other associations who study the organ systems relating to the liver on basic and clinical research and diseases of the liver and the biliary tract.

• MEMBERSHIP
  4. Membership shall be of two kinds:
     1. Honorary Member
     2. Regular Member

• Honorary Members
  5. Distinguished persons who have rendered notable service/s to the Association or the advancement of the knowledge of liver and the biliary tract disorders may on the recommendation of the Executive Committee be elected as honorary members by a simple majority at General Meetings. They will be permitted to attend all General and Scientific Meetings organized by the Association but will not be permitted to vote.

• Regular Members
  6. They may be hepatologists, gastroenterologists, medical practitioners, and scientific and research workers who have demonstrated special interests or are actively engaged in clinical and/or basic research on liver and biliary tract disorders

• THE PRIVILEGES OF MEMBERS ARE:
  7. To attend the Association's meetings, and to cast his/her vote.
  8. To be eligible for the presidents of the Annual, Single Topic Conference (STC), and APASL - endorsed national meeting.
  9. To receive publications, communications and the proceedings of the Association, if any.
  10. To present papers at any Scientific Meetings organized by the Association.
  11. To have reduced/registration fee for annual scientific meeting organized by APASL.
      -To have access to Hepatology International, the Official Journal of the APASL, in print copy and on-line with reduced fee.

• SUBSCRIPTION
  12. Regular Members shall pay an annual subscription of USD 100. These payments shall be due on the first of January each year.
  13. Honorary Members shall pay no subscription and shall enjoy all the privileges of ordinary members. However, they may not vote at meetings and are not eligible for office.

• FINANCE Donations:
  14. The Association may receive donations from any person, groups of persons and benevolent foundations for the purpose of research and training in diseases of the liver and biliary tract. The Association may be permitted to receive donations specially given for administrative purposes.

• Expenditure:
  15. The Executive Committee has the power to authorize the expenditure for administrative purposes e.g. cheque, etc. for withdrawals from the bank will signed by the Treasurer and one of the two nominated members of the Executive Committee.
  16. 1. The Executive Committee shall appoint an auditor to undertake the audit of the Association & account.
      2. The Financial affairs of the Association will be conducted according to the laws of the country where the Secretariat resides.
      3. Transfer of Secretariat: After completing the legal as required by the law of the Association, it will be transferred to the New Secretariat as soon as possible.

• RESEARCH AND EDUATION ACTIVITES
  17. The committees on Research and Education shall be in-charge of all research and educational activities of the Association. This Committee shall encourage, promote and/or support individual or collaborative studies on liver and biliary tract diseases prevalent in the Asian Pacific region. The number and size of such awards shall be decided in the Annual General Meeting of the Association. The Research and Education Committee shall meet as often as necessary to decide on the disposal of individual grants after proper evaluation, and submission for approval during the Annual General Meeting. Its members shall consist of the President, the Secretary General and at least five (5) Regular Members nominated by the Executive Committee. The Executive Committee shall have the power to authorize the use of funds from the Association to promote these objectives.

• STEERING COMMITTEE
  The Steering Committee shall comprise:
  1. President
  2. President-Elect
  3. Secretary-General-cum-Treasurer
  4. Past Presidents of Annual Meeting
  5. Co-Opted members: Chairpersons of Various Committees
     1. Duty of Steering Committee shall be to select candidates for the Presidents and Countries of Annual Meeting, Single Topic Conferences (STC) and APASL-endorsed National meetings from the current regular members by bidding.
     2. The Presidents and/or countries of the one Annual Meeting, two STCs and appropriate number of APASL-endorsed National meetings will be selected every year.
     3. When the President of meeting(s) could not be decided by their respective countries, the name(s) of countries could be decided as the hosting countries.

• EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
  19. The Executive Committee of the Association shall consist of
      
      

      President	Assistant Secreatry-Two
      President-Elect	Elected Committee Members-Thirteen
      Secretary General-cum-Treasurer	Immediate Past-President

      
      The President, the President-Elect and the Immediate Past-President shall serve a term of one year in office.
      The tenure of Elected Committee Members will be two years, and could be assigned for two consecutive terms.
      The tenure of the Secretary-General-cum Treasurer will be three years.

• EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
  20. No more than two committee members other than the President, the President-Elect, and the Secretary General-cum-Treasurer shall be elected from a single country.
  21. Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected by a simple majority vote of members at the Annual General Meeting and shall hold office until their successors have been appointed. Vacancies occurring during the year shall be filled by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.
  22. In the interval between Annual General Meetings, the Executive Committee shall exercise management and discretion of the business and conduct of the affairs of the Association. The Executive Committee shall meet at least twice a year.
  23. At all meetings of the Executive Committee, the President (or in his absence, his/her nominee) shall be the chairman and be entitled to vote.
  24. Minutes shall be kept of all meetings of the Executive Committee.
  25. The quorum at meetings of the Executive Committee shall be right.

• GENERAL BUSINESS MEETINGS
  26. At all meetings of the Association, the President (or in the absence of the President, the President-Elect) shall be the chairman and shall be entitled to vote.
  27. Minutes shall be kept of all meetings of the Association.
  28. The Annual General Meetings of the Association shall be held every year. At least six month's notice will be given of any Annual General Meeting. The Place and date of these meetings will be proposed by the Executive Committee and must be approved by a simple majority at the General Meeting.
  29. a) Any Extraordinary General Business Meeting can be called by the Executive Committee provided at least three months prior notice has been given.
      b) Any Extraordinary General Business Meeting may be summoned by the Executive Committee or at the written request of at least one third of the regular members submitting a specified resolution.
  30. The business at each Annual General Business Meeting shall include:
      a) Approval of the Minutes of the Previous Meeting
      b) Business Arising from the Minutes
      c) President's Report
      d) General Secretary and Treasurer's Report
      e) Election officers and members of the Executive Committee
      f) Election of members to the other standing committee and subcommittees
      g) Report of the President-Elect (Forthcoming Annual Meeting)
      h) Other matters
  31. At least twenty of the total regular membership of the Association shall form a quorum. Should the number of those present be insufficient to form a quorum, those present shall be considered a quorum, but they shall have no power to alter, amend or make additions to any of the existing provisions of the constitution.

• FORMATION OF ADVISORY BOARD
  32. Comprising of Presidents of all the liver societies (or gastroenterology society, if no liver association in the country) in the region.

• SUB COMMITTEE
  33. Suitable subcommittee shall be formed by discretion of the Executive Committee. The chair person, vice-chair persons and member of these committees shall be decided by the Executive Committee.
      a) Education Committee
  1. Seek and manage funds to support research and clinical training
  2. Receive and review applications of research and clinical training
  3. Award grants to deserving applications for research and clinical training
  b) Scientific Program Committee
  1. Would primarily be responsible for the preparation, monitoring and execution of scientific program in all the Annual, Single Topic and other meetings of the APASL in co-operation with respective presidents and local committees.
  2. Would plan, design and implement regular programs designed at updating, improving and disseminating current knowledge in hepatology to colleagues in the region and in the world.
  c) Ethics and Guidelines
  1. To promote and ensure the highest ethical standards of the clinical and research practices in hepatology in the Asia Pacific region.
  d) International Liaison
  1. To design programs which will enhance networking with colleagues in the region and the rest of the world.
  2. Pursue co-operation with other regional and international bodies in activities which will positively impact in the growth and maturity of hepatology, as well as, the APASL.
  e) Finance Committee:
  1. To improve the financial state of the APASL, persuade the co-operation with public and private sectors, and biomedical industries.
  f) Ad-hoc Committee: as and when appropriate

• SCIENTIFIC MEETINGS:
  34. a) APASL scientific meeting will be held every year. APASL-STC may be held twice a year. Additional scientific meetings shall be held at places and dates as determined by the Steering Committee. Requests for such scientific meetings, seminars or workshop may be made to the Executive Committee through the Secretariat.
      b) The program for a scientific meeting will be prepared by the local organizing committee in collaboration with the Scientific Program Committee.

• LANGUAGE OF COMMUNICATION
  35. The language for communication and at all meetings shall be in English.

• AMENDMENTS OF RULES
  36. Amendments to these rules must be proposed and seconded and presented to the Executive Committee at least six months in advance of the Annual Meeting. For such amendments to become effective they must be passed a majority of two-third of members present and voting.
  37. Amended rules shall not come into force without the prior sanction of the Register of Societies, of the country where the secretariat is based or any other Government agency as required by law of that country.

• PROHIBITIONS
  38. a) The Association shall not indulge in any political activity or allow its funds and/or premises to be used for political purposes, whatever country the secretariat is based.
      b) The income and property of the Association whensoever derived shall be applied solely towards the promotion of the objects of the Association as set forth in this constitution and no portion there of shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend, bonus or otherwise however by way of profits to members of the Association. Provided that nothing here in contained shall prevent the payment in good faith remuneration or allowance to any officers to the Association or to anyone in return for any service actually rendered to the Association.

• DISSOLUTION
  39. a) The Association shall not be dissolved, except with the consent of not less than three-fifths of the Members of the Association expressed either in person, by proxy or by postal vote at a General Meeting convened for that specific purpose. The postal vote must be received by the Secretary-General seven calendar days prior to the General Meeting.
      b) In the event of the Association being dissolved as provided above all debts and liabilities shall be fully discharged, and the remaining funds donated to any similar association approved by the General Meeting. Notice of dissolution shall be given within seven days of the dissolution to the Register of Societies, in whatever country the secretariat based, or to any other Government agency as required by the law of that country.
      

• SUSPENSION, TERMINATION OR REINSTATEMENT OF MEMBERSHIP
  40. The membership of a member in the Association shall be suspended or terminated under the following circumstances;
      1. Any ordinary member, below the age 65 years, who has on two successive years failed to maintain regular subscription to the Association.
      2. The Executive Committee shall have the power to recommend.
      1. Suspension, termination and re-installment of the membership of any member for duration of times at its discretion.
      2. The decision to suspend, terminate or reinstate membership of such an individual shall be decided by the votes cast by simple majority of the ordinary members presents at a General Meeting.

• FOUNDER MEMBERS
  1. All members present at the inaugural meeting of the 11th August, 1978 and Professor Tasman-Jones of New Zealand, shall be Regular Members of the Association.