Constitution
The In Vitro Toxicology Society has taken all reasonable care to ensure that pages published were accurate on the stated date of publication or last modification. Other pages which may be linked to this web site may have been published by other organisations, or by individuals acting entirely in a personal capacity. The In Vitro Toxicology Society takes no responsibility for the consequences of error or for any loss or damage suffered by users of any of the information published on any of these pages, and such information does not form any basis of a contract with readers or users of it.
Title
The title of
the body shall be the "In Vitro Toxicology Society", hereafter in
this document referred to as the Society.
Definitions
In vitro toxicology is
herein defined as any investigation related to toxicology using
in vitro, ex vivo, or non-biological material
methods.
Objectives
The objectives of the society
are:
o
to
provide a forum for discussion for scientists actively involved in
the study, practice or development of in vitro toxicology and
its practical applications;
o
to
arrange scientific meetings on the subject of in vitro
toxicology and its practical
applications;
o
to
promote an exacting scientific approach to the practice of in
vitro toxicology.
Membership
Membership is open to those
involved in the practice, study or management of toxicology or with
a scientific interest in the subject (subject to section
8).
Management of the
Society
The society shall be
managed by committee, which shall be guided by the wishes of the
members as expressed at the annual general meeting
(AGM).
The
Committee
The committee should
consist of at least 7 and no more than 9 persons of which
individuals shall serve in the offices of Chairman, Secretary,
Treasurer and Membership Secretary. The remaining persons will
serve as ordinary members.
Each committee member shall be elected for a term of 2
years. Retiring
committee members shall be eligible to stand for re-election for two
further 2-year terms.
The list of retiring
committee members and a request for nominations will be circulated
to the membership approximately two months prior to the AGM. Nominations shall be made to
the secretary in writing at least one month prior to the AGM. Each nominee must signify
his/her willing to stand for election and the nomination must be
supported by the signatures of two current society
members.
Election will be by
simple majority vote of those society members present at the
AGM. If an election is
not required (where the number of candidates does not exceed the
number of vacancies) the committee may accept the nominees without
vote. In the absence of
sufficient nominees the committee may invite a society member or
members to serve on the committee. Selection of committee
members to serve as officers shall be the first item of business of
a new committee and will be by simple majority vote of the committee
members.
Finance
The Chairman and the Treasurer
shall be responsible for maintaining the finances of the
society. The Treasurer
(or deputy) will issue a statement of finances at each AGM and
submit accounts to be recorded in the minutes, for each scientific
meeting at the first committee meeting occurring
thereafter.
The society shall
administer an annual membership fee to contribute to the running
costs of the society.
The value of the fee shall be indicated at the time of
acceptance of the application and shall not change for the
membership without prior notification by the committee and approval
at the AGM.
The Society is a
non-profit making organisation. Monies accrued from meeting
levies and membership fees will be directed to all reasonable costs
of advancing the society objectives (invited speaker expenses,
administration costs, publicity etc). Any surplus monies at the
end of the year will be carried over to the following
year.
Admission of
members
Application for membership
of the society shall be made to the Membership Secretary for
consideration at the next committee meeting. The committee’s decision on
application acceptance shall be final and there shall be no right of
appeal. Continued
membership is dependent on receipt of an annual
subscription.
Members deemed by the
committee to have brought the name of the society into disrepute can
have their membership cancelled by a majority vote of the
committee. There shall
be no right of appeal.
Honorary life
membership may be awarded by a majority vote of the committee in
recognition of exceptional services to the
society.
Meetings
The society will normally hold
two scientific meetings a year. Meetings will be organised
under the supervision of the committee, but may involve other
members of the society.
Meeting participants
will be charged for meetings at a cost plus a modest levy to
contribute to the running costs of the meeting. Student rates of attendance
may be applied if appropriate.
Where considered
appropriate by the committee, the scientific meeting proceedings
will be published in summarised form in a newsletter or recognised
scientific journal.
Links with other
organisations
The society may form links
with other organisations sharing similar objectives in order to
further the objectives of the society. Informal links shall require
approval by the committee.
Affiliations shall require approval by the membership at the
AGM, and a copy of the terms of affiliation appended to the
constitution.
Indemnification
The society shall
indemnify all members of the committee in respect of all actions,
claims and demands whatsoever made against them either alone or
jointly with others in respect of any act, thing or about the
business of the society, but no action may be taken on behalf of the
society by any member of the committee without prior approval of the
committee.
Liability
The society or its committee
members shall not be held liable for any views expressed by any
members whatsoever without specific endorsement being obtained at an
AGM of the society via a resolution that has been accepted by a
simple majority of members present.
Terms of
IVTS/BTS Affiliation
The purpose of the
affiliation will be to advance the science of in vitro
toxicology. Affiliation
will in no way affect the independence of the IVTS, but will confer
the following benefits: