Name
Hospital Infection Society
Objectives
The objectives of the Society are, to advance knowledge of, foster scientific interest in and disseminate information about the prevention and control of hospital and other healthcare associated infections, to medical and allied professionals for the benefit of the public.
Rules
1. MEMBERSHIP
Ordinary membership of the Society shall, at the discretion of the Council, be open to:
Medically qualified microbiologists and trainee medical microbiologists working in the field of hospital and other healthcare associated infection.
Other medical graduates who have demonstrated a consistent or continuing interest in hospital and other healthcare associated infection, by relevant publication, or by other means.
Microbiologists, with qualifications of PhD or MRCPath, working in the field of hospital and other healthcare associated infection.
Other graduates with a consistent and continuing interest in hospital and other healthcare associated infection, displayed by the publication of relevant original observations in the literature.
In exceptional circumstances membership can be offered to others working in the field of hospital and other healthcare associated infection.
Associate membership shall, at the discretion of Council, be open to anyone working in the field of hospital and other healthcare associated infections who does not fulfil the criteria for full membership. Associate members will receive a copy of the journal, will benefit from Society subscription rates for conferences and meetings, but will not be eligible to vote on Society matters and will not be eligible for election to the Council.
Trainee membership at a reduced fee shall, at the discretion of Council, be open to UK and Ireland Medical Microbiology trainees for a period of two years only. Trainee members will, for the purposes of the Society, be considered Ordinary members. At the end of two years, or on appointment to a Consultant (or equivalent) position, whichever is sooner, the trainee member will transfer to the "Ordinary Members" list.
Retired membership at a reduced fee will be available for any Ordinary member on retiring from his/her professional position. These members will not receive copies of the Journal and will not retain voting rights.
2. COUNCIL AND OFFICERS
The business of the Society shall be conducted by the Council and Officers of the Society.
The Council and Officers, excluding the President, shall consist of not less than 12 members, of which, not less than any 10 will be medically qualified microbiologists. Council members will be elected by Ordinary members of the Society.
The tenure of membership of the Council shall be for three years. An individual will not be eligible for re-election for one year.
The Officers of the Society shall be a President, Chairman, Secretary, Scientific Secretary and Treasurer. Officers are members of the Council. The President is elected to the Council, by Council members for a single period of four years. Other Officers are elected by Council members for three years and may be re-elected to office for one further term of three years. The Officers will be the Trustees of the Society.
The Editor of the Journal of Hospital Infection shall be a member of the Council, having been elected to the post by the Editorial Board for a period of five years.
A trainee representative, elected by the AMM trainee forum, shall be a member of Council. This representative must be a member of the HIS and will serve for three years or until he/she is appointed to a Consultant (or equivalent) position, whichever is the sooner.
At the discretion of the Council, extra members may be co-opted on to the Council in an advisory capacity only. They should serve for one year in the first instance, renewable up to three years on an annual basis.
Nominations for Council members shall be received by the Secretary not less than six weeks before the Annual General Meeting.
3. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETINGS AND EXTRAORDINARY MEETINGS
The AGM shall take place once a year; Extraordinary General Meetings may be held at the discretion of the Council provided there is at least three weeks notice to members. A quorum shall consist of at least 20 members.
Reports of officers should be accepted for inclusion in the minutes of the AGM.
4. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION
The Constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of the members present at an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting provided that 14 days’ notice of the proposed amendment has been sent to all the members and provided that nothing herein contained shall authorise any amendment or deletion or addition to this Constitution the effect of which would cause the Society at any time to cease to be a charity in law. No alteration to the objectives or to this clause may be made without previously consulting the Charity Commission.
5. FINANCIAL INVESTMENTS
The Council of the Society is authorised to appoint professional investment managers of repute and to delegate to them investment decisions on a discretionary basis.
The Council will delegate holding any investment to a nominee company of repute.
The Council is empowered to hold any investment which is quoted on a recognised Stock Exchange throughout the world.
The Treasurer and Chairman of Council (or deputy) will meet with, and review a report from, the appointed investment manager annually, to judge performance.
All investments made on behalf of the Society by its nominee must be appropriate and of a conservative nature and be in line with current legislation dealing with registered charities within the United Kingdom.
The trustees will review the reserves policy annually as part of the consideration of the budgetary parameters for the forthcoming year with the objectives of the Society and the need to ensure sufficient funds exist to meet the commitments of the Society in future years.
6.FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT OF MEETINGS
The Society will support the running of International meetings by Hospital Infection Society (Management) Ltd. via unsecured interest bearing loans.
7. DISSOLUTION OF THE SOCIETY
The dissolution of the Society may be effected only by a resolution passed by a three-fourths majority of the members of the Society present in person (or by proxy) at a Special General Meeting convened for that purpose and of which notice has been served on every then member of the Society at his/her last known address. If a motion to dissolve the Society is carried by the said majority the Society’s surplus funds, property and assets (if any) shall not be distributed among the members but shall be given or transferred to some other charitable organisation or organisations having similar objectives.
Agreed at AGM 17 September 2002
