About > Constitution & Structure
Constitution
Name
Pursuant to Art. 60 ff. of the Swiss Civil Code an association exists under the name of European Society of Neuroradiology Diagnostic and Interventional
Legal Status
ESNR is an international, politically and religiously impartial, non-profit Association according to Article 60 ff. of the Civil Code of Switzerland.
The domicile of the Association is in Geneva, Switzerland. The Association may have offices in other countries.
Purposes of the Society
The purposes of ESNR, subject to any limitations herein are:
- To promote the speciality of clinical neuroradiology in all its aspects, including diagnostic, interventional, head & neck and paediatric neuroradiology;
- To co-ordinate work in and documents concerning neuroradiology and ensure adequate circulation throughout Europe, and further a field as required;
- To co-ordinate relations between neuroradiology and general radiology and with the clinical specialities devoted to the nervous system;
- To promote development of appropriate methods of teaching neuroradiology and to ensure that standards of training and (if appropriate) certification in neuroradiology are maintained;
- To promote the formation of European national societies of neuroradiology and to co- ordinate relations between them;
- To promote relationships with neuroradiological societies outside Europe.
Methods of achieving the purposes of the Society
The Association shall:
- Hold a scientific meeting every year at a time and place designated by the Executive Committee; this meeting may, by agreement of the members, not take place in years in which the Symposium Neuroradiologicum is held in Europe;
- Organise educational courses in neuroradiology;
- Organise any other such meetings as will also promote its purposes;
- Award prizes or make scientific awards for work aimed at these purposes;
- Promote publication of an official journal and other appropriate documents
The Association shall be empowered to engage in such other and further means as may be necessary and proper to accomplish the foregoing objects and purposes.
Membership
The Society shall be composed of
A. Full Membership
This category shall be limited to medical practitioners who spend at least half their working time in the practice of neuroradiology, in a European country. New candidates for Full Membership will show that they have accomplished at least two years formal training in neuroradiology. Full Members who cease to spend at least half their working time in the practice of neuroradiology, or who work outside Europe, shall transfer to Associate Membership; they shall have the right to return to Full Membership on showing that they again fulfil the requirements. Full Members shall enjoy all rights and privileges of, membership of the Society, including the rights to vote, to serve on committees and to hold any office in the Society. They shall pay an annual subscription, the amount of which will be determined by the Society. The rights and privileges shall be forfeit if, over a period to be determined by the Society, currently one calendar year, the Member does not pay the annual subscription. Full Members whose membership lapses in this way will be eligible to apply for reinstatement on payment of the appropriate subscription.
B. Associate Membership
The category is open to any individual not eligible for Full Membership, being radiologists spending less than half of their working time in the practice of neuroradiology, non-European neuroradiologists or neuroscience physicians with interest in neuroradiology. Associate Members have all the rights and privileges of membership of the Society, but are not entitled to vote, nor to serve on Committees except as consultants, nor to hold any office in the Society. They will pay an annual subscription fee, the amount of which will be determined by the Society. The rights and privileges shall be forfeit if, over a period to be determined by the Society, currently one calendar year, the Member does not pay the annual subscription. Associate Members whose membership lapses in this way will be eligible to apply for reinstatement on payment of the appropriate subscription.
C. Junior membership
Junior Membership is intended for those in training and who have yet to complete two years period of training necessary to apply for Full Membership. Candidates will be required to certify their status of being in formal training. The applications will be accepted "automatically and temporarily" until the formal approval of the General Assembly. They will enjoy the privileges of a Full Member but are not entitled to vote, nor to serve on Committees except as consultants, nor to hold any office in the Society. They will pay a discount of the Full Member subscription. Membership in this category is only available for a maximum continuous period of three years after which time application for Full or Associate Membership is expected. It will lapse if subscriptions are not paid and automatically after three years. In either circumstance no reapplication for membership in this category will be permitted.
D. Corresponding Membership
This is an honorary category reserved for individuals otherwise eligible for Full Membership who work or reside outside Europe, and are judged by the Society to have made a significant contribution to neuroradiology. Conferment of Corresponding Membership will be proposed by the Executive Committee and must confirmed by a simple majority of voting Members. Corresponding Members will have all the rights and privileges of membership of the Society, but are not entitled to vote, nor to serve on Committees except as consultants, nor to hold any office in the Society. They are not required to pay subscription fees.
E. Honorary Membership
Honorary Membership is conferred by the Society upon individuals who are judged to have made outstanding contributions to neuroradiology. Conferment of Membership will be proposed by the Executive Committee and must be confirmed by a simple majority of voting Members of the Executive Committee. The decision of the Executive Committee will be announced during a special session at the annual congress, where the Honorary members will be celebrated. Honorary Members will have all the rights and privileges of Full Membership of the Society, with the exception that Honorary Members not otherwise eligible to be Full Members (e.g., because of their place of work or not being neuroradiologists) shall not be entitled to vote, nor to serve on Committees except as consultants, nor to hold any office in the Society. They are not required to pay subscription fees.
F. Honorary Presidents and Presidents of Congresses
A Full Member whose application to host the Annual Congress is accepted may adopt the title "President of the Congress of the European Society of Neuroradiology". The Presidency terminates with the official closure of the Congress. He or she may also invite one or more suitable distinguished individuals to be Honorary President(s) of the Congress. These need not be Members of the Society, and have no other rights or privileges. Their Honorary Presidency ceases when the Congress is closed. Honorary Presidents may also be designated on a similar basis for didactic Courses organised on behalf of the Society. The Honorary Presidents will be announced during the opening session of the annual congress, where they will be celebrated. Individuals who are considered suitably distinguished may be nominated as Honorary Presidents of the ESNR. Nominations should be made to the Secretary General. They will then be considered by the Membership Committee, who will make a recommendation to the Executive Committee. Conferment of this honour, which is for life, will require ratification by the General Assembly.
G. Emeritus Membership
A Full, Associate or Honorary Member who is no longer in active practice may apply to the Membership Committee to modify his or her status. Emeritus Members have all the rights and privileges of membership of the Society, but are not entitled to vote, nor to serve on Committees except as consultants, nor to hold any office in the Society. They are not required to pay subscription fees.
H. Corporate Membership
The category is open to companies active in fields related to neuroradiology and interested in closer collaboration with the Society. Corporate Members may send two delegates to the General Assembly, but they will not have the right to vote. Corporate Members shall pay an annual subscription, the amount of which will be determined by the Society. The rights and privileges shall be forfeit if, over a period to be determined by the Society, currently one calendar year, the Corporate Member does not pay the annual subscription. Corporate Members whose membership lapses in this way will be eligible to apply for reinstatement on payment of the appropriate subscription.
Election of Members
Candidates for membership will apply by completing an application form via the website www.esnr.org. The Membership Committee will determine, from the information provided in the application, the appropriate membership category e.g. full, junior or associate. The application will then be passed to the Secretary-General for proposal at the next General Assembly. Candidates will be elected by a simple majority of voting members of the General Assembly. Successful applicants will become member in the appropriate category as from the General Assembly at which their application is approved
Termination of Membership
1. Exclusion
Membership may be terminated by :
- a decison of the direction of the Executive Committee (advised by the Membership Committee) for serious causes, or for actions of such nature as to hinder the purposes of the Association laid out in article II;
2. Resignation
Any member institute may resign from membership by filing a written letter of resignation with the Board of Directors.
Organization
The bodies of ESNR are:
- The General Assembly
- The Executive Committee
- The Council of National Delegates
- The Committees
- The Central Office
The General Assembly
1. Constitution
The General Assembly is constituted by all the Members of ESNR but only Full and Honorary Members may vote.
2. Duties
The duties of the General Assembly are:
- Election of the the Vice-President, the Secretary general, the Treasurer, the Subspeciality Committee Chairpersons of the Executive Committee, and the President of the next Annual Scientific Meeting whose President has not as yet been appointed.
- Approval of the annual report, the annual statement of accounts;
- Review and approval of the annual budget;
- Decision about place and date of the next General Assembly;
- Discussion of and decision about scholarly and other projects of the Association;
- Discussion of and decision about all items brought on the agenda by the Commitees;
- Decision about the admission of members and invitation of guests;
- Designation of special committees and working groups;
- Revision of statutes.
3. Notice of Meetings
The Secretary General shall send the convocation to the Assembly to all Members at least six weeks before the date set for the Assembly.
4. Place and date of meetings
The General Assembly is normally held each year in conjunction with the Annual Scientific Meeting.
5. Quorum
The General Assembly may take place and decisions may be taken only when the number of members with voting rights present is at least one fifth of the combined numbers of Full and Honorary members; it will be the responsibility of the Secretariat to ensure that this requirement is fulfilled.
6. Voting
Each Full and Honorary Member shall be entitled to one vote on each matter or question brought before a meeting or presented to the members.
7. Organization
The The Secretary General acts as organizer of the General Assembly.
8. Minutes
The Secretary General shall keep minutes of the proceedings of the General Assembly at its meetings.
9. Special Meetings
Special Business Meetings may be convened by the President on written request of one third of the combined numbers of Full and Honorary Members. The agenda for such Meetings shall be included in the convocation to them, and no business other than that indicated by the agenda shall be conducted. The convocation to a Special Business Meeting and any relevant ballot papers shall be sent to all Members at least 30 days before the date set for the Meeting.
10. Convocation
Special meetings of the members of the Association may be called either by the Officers or on
11. Minutes
The secretary shall keep minutes of the proceedings of any special meeting.
The Executive Committee
The Executive Committee is formed by the following officers:
A. The Presidency
I. The President
II. The Vice-President
III. The Past President
B. The Secretariat
I. The General Secretary
II. The Treasurer
C. The Counsellors
I. The Chairperson of the Council of National Delegates
II. The Chairpersons of the Subspeciality Committees
- The Chairperson of the Subspeciality Committee, Diagnostic Neuroradiology
- The Chairperson of the Subspeciality Committee, Interventional Neuroradiology
- The Chairperson of the Subspeciality Committee, Head and Neck Neuroradiology
- The Chairperson of the Subspeciality Committee, Paediatric Neuroradiology
- The Chairperson of the Subspeciality Committee, Spine Neuroradiology, diagnostic and interventional
The Executive Committee is responsible for managing and directing the scientific, financial and other activities of the Society. It shall meet when directed by the President, or at the request of a majority of its members.
Election of members of the Executive Committee
Any Full Member of the Society can seek election as Vice-President, Secretary General, Treasurer or Counsellors of the Executive Committee. These Officers shall be elected at the General Assembly to serve according to the provisions of this Article. The procedure for their election shall be as follows.
A. Notice of candidature, with the names of the candidate and two Sponsors, who shall also be Full Members shall be sent, at least three months before the General Assembly, by letter or e-mail or via the website, to the Secretary General, who will ascertain, by reference to the Membership Committee, that the candidate is in good standing as a Full Member. The lists of candidates shall be inserted in the convocation to the General Assembly.
B. Voting for each office shall be by secret ballot during the annual congress. Voting will also be possible via the website with a personal login for each member using a secured system. Voting will be closed 1 hour before the start of the General Assembly.
C. The results of the elections shall be announced at the General Assembly; the candidate for each post who has received the largest number of votes will be declared to have been elected. Should voting be tied, the election will be repeated, by secret ballot, at the same General Assembly.
D. Newly-elected Officers will take office immediately after the General Assembly.
E. The Officers constituting the Presidency will serve for one term, the length of which has been decided by the Society (currently two years), and will not be eligible for re-election.
F. The Officers of the Secretariat will serve for the term determined by the Society (currently three years), but will be eligible for re-election.
G. The Chairperson of the Council of National Delegates will be elected by members of the Council. He or she will serve for the term laid down in the Constitution (currently three years) and will not be eligible for re-election.
H. The Chairpersons of the Subspeciality Committees will serve for three years and will be eligible for re-election once.
Duties of the Officers
President:
The President shall be the presiding Officer of the Society and will perform all duties which custom and practice associate with his or her office. The President shall preside over meetings of the Executive Committee, including its meeting with the Council of National Delegates.
The President, with the approval of the Executive Committee, and taking into account offers from individual members, and their competence, shall appoint Full Members to standing and ad hoc Committees. The President may personally convene an Advisory Board to be consulted upon specific items concerning the Society.
The President shall serve for two years. This will be preceded by two years as Vice-President and followed by a further two years as Past President. If for some reason the President becomes unable or unwilling to continue in office before the end of his or her normal term, the Vice-President shall assume the post of President until the next General Assembly or a Special Business Meeting convened for this purpose. If at the time of that Assembly the Vice-President would normally become the President, this should be ratified. If the Vice-President has by this time served only one year, his or her position as President for the next two years may be ratified.
Vice-President:
The Vice-President will co-operate with the President as appropriate and assume the duties of the President if the latter is unable to serve, temporarily or, as indicated in the preceding clause, permanently. He or she will also carry out such other duties as may reasonably be assigned by the President. The Vice-President will take over the post of President, after one term of two years in office.
If for some reason the Vice-President becomes unable or unwilling to continue in office before the end of his or her normal term, the post will remain vacant until the next General Assembly or a Special Business Meeting convened for this purpose. The Executive Committee will seek nominations for this post, in the usual way. The newly-elected Vice-President will then serve until the end of the term of office of the current President.
Past President:
After one term in office the President will automatically become Past President for a period of two years. He or she will co-operate with the President as appropriate, and will also carry out such other duties as may reasonably be assigned by the President. If for some reason the Past President becomes unable or unwilling to continue in office before the end of his or her normal term, the post will remain vacant until the end of the term of office of the current President.
Secretary General:
The Secretary General will be in charge of the Central Office, in collaboration with the Treasurer. He or she will maintain the requisite records of the Society, including those concerning membership and the transactions at the General Assembly. He or she will also carry out such other duties as may reasonably be assigned by the President. The Secretary General will serve for three years, but will be eligible for re-election.
If for some reason the Secretary General becomes unable or unwilling to continue in office before the end of his or her normal term, his or her duties will be assumed by the Treasurer until the next General Assembly or a Special Business Meeting convened for the purpose of electing a new Secretary General. The Executive Committee will seek nominations for this post, in the usual way. The new Secretary General will then serve for three years from the time of that General Assembly or from the following one if a Special Business Meeting is held in the sixth months preceding it.
Treasurer:
The Treasurer will assist the Secretary General in supervising the Central Office. He or she will be responsible for administering the funds of the Society, keeping a record of financial transactions, and providing a financial report to the General Assembly. He or she will also carry out such other duties as may reasonably be assigned by the President. The Treasurer will serve for three years, but will be eligible for re-election; elections for Treasurer should preferably occur one year after those for Secretary General.
If for some reason the Treasurer becomes unable or unwilling to continue in office before the end of his or her normal term, his or her duties will be assumed by the Secretary General until the next General Assembly or a Special Business Meeting convened for the purpose of electing a new Treasurer. The Executive Committee will seek nominations for this post, in the usual way. The new Treasurer will then serve for three years from the time of that General Assembly or from the following one if a Special Business Meeting is held in the sixth months preceding it.
The Executive Committee may, in collaboration with the Rules Committee, propose to the General Assembly a variation in the length of service of the Officers, including the Members-at-Large should early retirement or other events disturb the normal sequence of changes of Officer.
The Council of National Delegates
The Council will consist of the National Delegates. It will act as a strategic Committee of the Society, promoting studies and projects for the development of neuroradiology in European countries, and may be consulted on any matter of interest to the Society. The National Delegates will work to improve communications between the Society, the national societies and the individual Members of the Society.
The National Delegates will be elected by their national neuroradiological societies, by a process to be determined locally; the President of the national society will notify the Chairperson of the Council of National Delegates of the names and term of office of the elected Delegate. Where there is no national society in European country, the Full Members of the Society working in that country will elect a National Delegate from their number, by simple majority vote. They shall serve for a period of three years, unless otherwise determined by the national society, and will be eligible for re-election, unless this is not permitted by the national society.
The Council will be co-ordinated and promoted by a Chairperson, elected by the National Delegates from among themselves. The election, by simple majority, will be organised by the outgoing Chairperson. The Chairperson will serve on the Executive Committee, with full voting rights. The Council of National Delegates shall be convened at least once a year, normally at the Annual Congress, under the presidency of its elected Chairperson.
Committees
Standing Committees
The Chairpersons of the Council of National Delegates will be elected by members of the Council. The Subspeciality Committee Chairperson will be elected like the other officers of the Executive Committee and announced during the General Assembly.
The members and Chairpersons of the other Committees shall be appointed by the Executive Committee, and the Chairpersons's appointments shall be ratified at the General Assembly or a Special Business Meeting. Any Full member may offer him- or herself for consideration as a Committee member and should do so by informing the President-Elect of his or her willingness to serve. Membership will normally be for one term of three years, with the possibility of appointment for one further term. The Committees shall be authorised to co-opt such further ad-hoc members as circumstances demand by agreement among the existing appointed members, without reference to the Executive Committee; the latter will, however, be advised of such arrangements. The activities of the Committees shall be reported to the Executive Committee and to the General Assembly.
The list of Standing Committees will be kept under review, taking into account the needs of the Society. They currently include the following.
A. Technical Committees
I. Rules Committee
II. Membership Committee
III. Audit Committee
B. Scientific Committees
IV. Publication Committee
V. Scientific Programme Committee
VI. Scientific Award Committee
VII. Education Committee
C. Subspeciality Committees
VIII. Diagnostic Neuroradiology Committee
IX.Interventional Neuroradiology Committee
X. Head and Neck Neuroradiology Committee
XI. Paediatric Neuroradiology Committee
XII. Spine Neuroradiology Committee
Rules Committee
This Committee shall consist of five members, including the Chairperson. It shall be responsible for interpreting the Constitution. It will also keep it under review, taking into account the views of the Members of the Society, and its changing needs. It will advise the Executive Committee of proposals for modifications to the Constitution. With the agreement of the Executive Committee, it will prepare proposed changes for presentation to the Members.
Membership Committee
This Committee shall be responsible for receiving new applications for membership from the Secretary General and/or Central Office, and for allotting the appropriate category to candidates. It will also review the suitability of existing Members for the category of membership in which they are currently placed, having at its disposition the information required to do this. It will provide the Executive Committee with proposals for membership, to be approved at the General Assembly.
Audit Committee
This shall consist of three members, including a Chairperson. The Committee will review the accounts prepared by the Treasurer each year and shall retain a certified accountant for these purposes, and for certifying the annual report of the Treasurer.
Publication Committee
This Committee will consist of three appointed members, including the Chairperson, plus the most senior editor of the official journal of the Association who is a Full Member of the Association, and the editor appointed to that journal by the Society. It shall promote publication of appropriate documents by the Associatin and shall be consulted about any projected publication by or on behalf of the Association
Scientific Programme Committee
This Committee shall consist of three appointed members, including the Chairperson. The President of the forthcoming Annual Scientific Meeting is a member ex-officio from the time of the end of the previous Meeting until the end of the Meeting he or she organises. This Committee shall co-operate with local scientific committees and be responsible, in collaboration with the Secretariat and the Subspeciality Committees, for the scientific organisation of the meeting(s) of the Association.
Scientific Awards Committee
This will consist of three appointed members, including a Chairperson. They have the possibility to choose up to 4 external members every year to assist them in the reading of the submitted papers. It shall supervise any prizes or awards the Society may sponsor, evaluate candidates and select the laureates.
Education Committee
The Education Committee of the ESNR is composed of the President(s) of ECNR, the Chairs of the five Subspeciality Committees and the Chairs of the Examination and Certification Subcommittees.
The Committee will co-operate with local scientific committees and shall be responsible, in collaboration with the Secretariat, for the scientific organisation of didactic courses organised by or on behalf of the Society. It will propose places, topics and Presidents for courses to the Executive Committee and General Assembly for approval.
Subspeciality Committees
The ESNR subspeciality committees will represent the subspecialities within the ESNR. They will act as members of the scientific committees of the annual congress of the ESNR. They will promote and communicate the position of ESNR in the relations with other specialities.
Diagnostic Neuroradiology Committee
This shall consist of three full members, including the chairperson, active in diagnostic neuroradiology.
Interventional Neuroradiology Committee
This shall consist of three full members, including the chairperson, active in interventional neuroradiology.
Head and Neck Neuroradiology Committee
This shall consist of three full members, including the chairperson, active in head and neck neuroradiology.
Paediatric Neuroradiology Committee
This shall consist of three full members, including the chairperson, active in paediatric neuroradiology.
Spine Neuroradiology Committee
This shall consist of three full members, including the chairperson, active in spine neuroradiology, diagnostic and interventional.
Other Committees
Ad hoc Committees may be established by the Executive Committee and an Advisory Board may be set up by the President, as indicated above. The period for which these bodies are appointed will normally be determined at the time they are convened.
The Central Office
The supervision of the Central Office will be the responsibility of the Secretary General and Treasurer.
Meetings
The Officers of the Society will hold such meetings as are deemed appropriate, which shall be organised locally by a Full Member appointed by the Society, following such guidelines as may currently be laid down. These will normally include an Annual Congress (and General Assembly), and one or more didactic courses that include diagnostic, interventional, head and neck and paediatric neuroradiology.
Financial Management
1. Fiscal year
The fiscal year of the Association is equal to the calendar year.
2. Reporting
The annual accounts must be submitted to the General Assembly meeting of the following year.
3. Revenues
The income of the Association will consist of:
1. Annual dues or fees of the Member
2. Donations
3. Income from the educational and other activities of the Association
All financial contributions are to be paid to the Treasurer.
4. Liability
The Executive Committee shall assume collective responsibility for its actions, including those relating to disbursement of funds. It shall not, however, be held responsible for actions by individual Members of the Association or by its Committees which it has not previously approved, unless it is deemed to have exercised insufficient control over them.
5. Books and records
The Association shall keep correct and complete books and records of the accounts.
Modifications of the Constitution
The Constitution may be amended at any General Assembly or at a Special Business Meeting (convened for that purpose on written request of one third of the combined numbers of Full and Honorary Members), by a two thirds majority of the voting members present. Proposed amendments must be presented to the Members in the convocation to the General Assembly or Special Business Meeting. Voting will be organised at the meeting or via the website with a personal login for members. A two-third majority will also be decisive, providing the number of valid votes cast corresponds to at least one fifth of the combined numbers of Full and Honorary Members in good standing. Voting will be closed 1 hour before the scheduled start of the General Assembly or Special Business Meeting.
Dissolution
1. Dissolution
The association may be dissolved only at a General Assembly or a Special Business Meeting convened for this purpose, by a three-quarters majority of Full and Honorary Members present.
2. Use of assets
If the final balance sheet shows a profit, this shall be transferred to an non-profit organization with aims similar to those of the Association.