There appears to be an increasing need for more fundamental
knowledge and a clearer understanding of how to apply
quantitative and analytical methods for the measurement and
identification of normal and pathological states of cells and
tissues in biology and medicine. This entails the measurement
of structure and the study of functions of subcellular
components of complete cells, cellular arrangements and tissue
sections with their morphological structural elements. As the
measurements generally relate to cells as entities, the field
of work may be described as quantitative and analytical
cellular biology and pathology.
These subjects are of interest to a wide spectrum of research
workers and clinicians in many fields, notably cytopathology,
histopathology, oncology, irnmunology, cell biology and
genetics. The methods of measurement and data analysis are to
an increasing extent computer based, and frequently depend
upon complex technology and on involved mathematical methods.
They necessitate the collaboration of many different
professional disciplines.
It is therefore felt that European efforts in this field can
be strengthened and made more effective by the foundation of a
society covering this field.
Article 1
NAME, SCOPE AND EXTENT OF ACTIVITIES
1.1 The society bears the name:
THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY FOR ANALYTICAL CELLULAR PATHOLOGY
hereinafter referred to as the 'Society'.
1.2 The Society extends its activities throughout Europe.
1.3 The Society may remain in existence for an unlimited
period - the voluntary dissolution of the SOCETY shall be
approved only in accordance with the articles of this
constitution.
1.4 REGISTERED OFFICE
The office will be that of the secretary.
Article 2
AIMS
The aims of the Society are to advance the scientific
understanding and clinical application of quantitative and
analytical cellular biology with emphasis on pathological
cellular changes and to promote technical developments in this
field. In furtherance of this object the Society shall have
the following powers:
2.1 To support activities of already existing national bodies
in the field and to collaborate with other international
organisations.
2.2 To facilitate the exchange of information and
collaboration between cytologists, patho]ogists, biologists,
chemists, physicists, mathematicians and medical practitioners
in accordance with the above declared aims.
2.3 To study, evaluate and offer guidance on methods used.
This may include the interchange of samples and support of
collaborative exercises for the effective use of available
biological material as well as the interchange of know-how and
dedicated software for data acquisition and analysis.
2.4 To promote research and the publication of results.
2.5 To organise scientific meetings.
2.6 To edit the Journal of Analytical Cellular Pathology.
As these aims are exclusively of an educational and scientific
nature in the context of cultural and humanitarian objectives,
the Society is a notfor-profit organisation and therefore it
is expected to benefit from the exemption of taxes and of the
receipt of subsidies, should they be granted.
Article 3
MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Society shall consist of:
3.1 ORDINARY MEMBERSHIP (full voting rights)
Ordinary membership should be open to individual scientists
who are actively engaged in the field of Analytical Cellular
Pathology. There should be no restrictions with regard to
nationality or country of residence.
3.2 AFFILIATED MEMBER (no voting right)
Such members would receive details of the Society, concessionary
registration fees for ESACP meetings and the Journal but
have no voting rights. They would generally be members of an
affiliated organisation such as ISAC and receive the Journal
at a subsidised affiliated Society rate.
3.3 CORPORATE MEMBERSHIP
Industrial companies involved in supplying or developing technology
related to analytical cellular pathology would be eligible for
corporate membership.
3.4 HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
The Society shall be empowered to elect Honorary Members. This
is the highest honor that the Society can confer and shall be
restricted to those of eminence in the field of Analytical
Cellular Pathology. Honorary Members shall not be liable for
payment of the Annual Subscription and they will have no
voting rights. (They will receive regular details of the Societie's
activities and if they wish may be eligible to receive the Journal)
Article 4
FEES
Membership fees for member organisations and individual
members shall be proposed by the Council and agreed at the
General Meeting (GM).
Article 5
TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Membership of the Society may be terminated in any of the
following ways:
5.1 by resignation of the member,
5.2 by default of the annual subscription over a full calender
year,
5.3 by the Council, at its discretion, if such termination
appears to be in the interest of the Society; provided that
any person whose membership is proposed to terminate shall
have the right to be heard in their own defence.
Article 6
OFFICERS
The officers shall be:
President President Elect Treasurer Secretary
Article 7
TENURE OF OFFICERS
7.1 The President and President elect shall be elected for a
period of office between two GMs of the Society (usually a
period of two to three years).Except in unusual circumstances,
the President Elect will succeed to the office of President.
7.2 The Treasurer and Secretary shall be elected for period
between two GMs (usually two to three years) and shall be eligible
for re-election for a second and third term.
7.3 At each GM members of the Society shall ratify the continued
tenure of all Officers.
7.4 The tenure of any Officer can be ended at any time by a
two thirds majority vote of the Council if exceptional
circumstances arise.
7.5 Officers who fail to attend three consecutive meetings of
the Council without sufficient reason shall be automatically
retired.
Article 8
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
8.1 In years when Officers are to be elected the Secretary
shall send nomination papers to all members of the Council at
least two months before the Council meeting penultimate to the
GM.
8.2 Nominations proposed and seconded shall be returned to the
Secretary within three weeks. Those nominated must have served
on the Council.
8.3 The Secretary shall send ballot papers to all members of
the Council at least three weeks before the penultimate
Council meeting.
8.4 The ballot papers shall be counted at the penultimate
Council meeting. Members of the Council unable to attend the
meeting shall be responsible for ensuring that their ballot
papers reach the Secretary in time to be taken to the meeting.
8.5 In the event of there being more than two nominations for
the Office and if no candidate is given more then a 50 %
majority at the first ballot there shall be a second ballot in
the Council excluding the candidate with the lowest number of
votes. This shall continue until one candidate has a majority
of more than 50%.
8.6 The Secretary shall circulate the Council's nominations
for Officers to all members of the SOCETY at least two months
before the GM. Alternative nominations of any Voting Member of
the Society, who has served on the Council, can be made by any
two Voting Members of the Society for any Office. These should
reach the Secretary within three weeks. In this event the
Secretary shall circulate ballot papers to all Voting Members
of the Society at least one month before the GM. This ballot
shall be counted at the GM; members unable to attend shall be
responsible for ensuring that their ballot papers reach the
Secretary in time to be taken to the meeting.
Article 9
COUNCIL
The Council shall consist of the Officers and fifteen Members
of Council who shall be elected at the GM
RESTRICTION
To prevent excessive representation of any one country on the
Council no more than two Ordinary Members of the Council shall
be from any one country.
9.1 Each Member of the Council shall serve for a period between
two successive GMs (normally four to six years)
9.2 Retiring Members of Council shall be eligible for
re-election
9.3 Council Members who fail to attend three consecutive
meetings of Council without sufficient reason shall be automatically
retired from the Council.
9.4 The Council is empowered to co-opt members to serve on the
Council for one year for a specific purpose; Co-opted Members
shall have no voting rights.
Article 10
ELECTION OF MEMBERS OF THE COUNCIL
10.1 The Secretary shall send nomination papers to all members
of the Society at least three months before the GM.
10.2 Nominations, proposed and seconded by members of the
Society, and indicating willingness to serve should be
returned to the Secretary within one month.
10.3 The Secretary shall circulate ballot papers not less than
one month before the GM.
10.4 The ballot shall be counted at the GM; members unable to
attend shall be responsible for ensuring that their ballot
papers reach the Secretary in time to be taken to the meeting.
Article 11
RESPONSIBILITY OF THE COUNCIL
The ordinary business of the Society shall be conducted by the
Council. A quorum shall consist of one of the OFFICERS and six
Members of the Council. The Council shall meet at least once a
year and one of the meetings within two years shall be at the
time of the GM. The Council shall be empowered to institute:
11.1 Committees and to decide their composition. The Council
is also empowered to dissolve committees
11.2 Working Parties. These are ad-hoc committees and shall be
set up by the Council to deal with specified matters. When the
business is completed the Working Party shall be dissolved
automatically. The President and the Secretary are ex-officio
members of all Committees and Working Parties. The President
can ask the Vice President to attend as his deputy. Reports
from Committees and Working Parties are made to the Council
and are confidential to them.
Article 12
AMENDMENT OF STATUTES
The Council must give notice in writing to members of the
Society of any change of the Constitution and ensure that
written objections from members of the Society are taken into
consideration. Any alterations of the Constitution must be by
a two thirds majority of votes cast in a ballot of all Voting
Members of the Society.
Article 13
GENERAL MEETING
The General Meeting of the Society shall be held every two
years at the time of a Scientific meeting to be decided by the
Council. The Secretary shall circulate the Agenda for the
meeting at least one month before it is held. The President
shall present a report on the years work of the Society. The
Treasurer shall present his report together with a duly
audited balance sheet.
Article 14
EXTRA-ORDINARY GENERAL MEETINGS
Any other General Meeting shall be called an Extra-ordinary
General Meeting. An Extra-ordinary General Meeting can be
convened by the Council or at the request of 90 % of the
Voting Members of the Society. The Secretary shall give notice
and circulate the Agenda at least two weeks before an
Extra-ordinary General Meeting. A quorum for the Annual
General Meeting and for any Extra-ordinary General Meeting
shall be one of the Officers and 15 % of the Voting Members of
the Society.
Article 15
DISSOLUTION
The Society can only be dissolved by a two thirds majority
vote of the Voting Membership in favour of such action. The
assets, after settling all outstanding debts, shall be given
to a Charity in Europe with similar aims and ideals. In the
event that no such Charity exists, or is about to be formed
the assets shall be distributed among the Voting Members and
Corresponding Members pro rata to their scale of
subscriptions.
Article 16
FOUNDATION
During the foundation of the Society the following special
regulations are valid and replace the corresponding rules in
the foregoing articles:
16.1 A 'Foundation Council' will be established ad hoc at a
Foundation Meeting of interested scientists.
16.2 An Executive Committee will also be elected by those
present at the Foundation Meeting.
16.3 The Tenure of both the 'Foundation Council' and the
Executive Committee ends at the occasion of the first GM
according to articles 8.1. 10.1 and 13.
1965-2006:
Max-Planck-Institut für Biochemie, Am Klopferspitz 18a,
D-82152 Martinsried, Germany
last update: Aug 24,1996
first display: Sep 28,1994 (Gopher)