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Bylaws of the International Society of Posture and Gait 

Revisions:

Organization of the Constitution

August 5, 2006

Article 1.

Name

Article 2.

Purpose

Article 3.

Membership

Article 4.

Officers

Article 5.

Meetings

Article 6.

Communications

Article 7.

Fiscal Management

Article 8.

Indemnifications

Article 9.

Dissolution

Article 1. Name

The name of the society is the International Society of Posture and Gait Research (ISPGR); an international organization with headquarters in the United States of America.

Article 2. Purpose

2.1 The ISPGR has the purpose of promoting the study of posture and gait. (see more on ISPGR website) 

2.2 It shall promote international contacts among scientists and practitioners in this field and promote knowledge of posture and gait research internationally.

    2.3 The property and income of the Society shall be applied solely towards the purpose stated above, and no part of that property or income may be paid or otherwise distributed, directly or indirectly, to member of the Society or any individual except in good faith in the promotion of those purposes.

    Article 3. Membership

    3.1 The Society shall consist of three categories of members with applications following procedures defined by the Officers of the Society: Regular Members, Junior Members and Emeritus Members.

    • Regular Members. Any person who is engaged in research or clinical practice related to posture and gait is eligible to be a regular member.
    • Junior Members. Students enrolled in degree granting programs at institutions of higher learning and post doctoral fellows are eligible to be junior members.
    • Emeritus Members. Any person who has retired, due to age or illness, from professional employment in posture and gait research or clinical practice, and have been active members in good standing of the Society for at least 10 years.

    3.2 Membership dues. The Executive Council shall set biannual dues to the members according to the needs of the Society. Junior members shall receive reduced membership rates. Emeritus members shall pay no dues.

    3.3 Voting Rights. All members whose dues are paid in full are entitled to vote as provided in these Bylaws for the purposes of: a) electing officers and the members of the International Executive Committee; b) voting on proposed amendments to the Bylaws; and c) voting at general business meetings.

    3.4 Termination of Membership. Membership in any class shall cease upon a) death, b) failure to pay biannual membership dues for two (2) consecutive meetings, c) ceasing to meet eligibility requirements for such class of membership; d) expulsion in accordance with the resolution of the International Executive Committee. 

    Article 4. Membership of the International Executive Council (IEC)

    4.1 The International Executive Council consists of the Officers, the Elected Representatives and all former Presidents/Vice Presidents of the International Society of Posture and Gait Research.

    4.2 Officers include the Present, President-Elect, Past-President, Vice-President, Treasurer, Secretary and Elected Representatives. The Secretary and Treasurer will be appointed by the Officers of the Society for an unspecified term. The Vice President will be appointed by the Officers of the Society two years prior to hosting the biannual meeting and will serve a two year term. All former Vice Presidents will serve as ex-officio, non-voting members of the Executive Council. Officers must agree to attend the biannual meetings during their term of office.


    Method of Election of President and Elected Members.


    4.3 The President and Elected Representatives are elected by the General Assembly at the biannual meeting. Those candidates with the majority of votes will fill the vacancies. A slate of nominees for President and Elected Representatives shall be recommended by a Nominating Committee three representatives appointed by the President. The President and Nominating Committee will take into account the international scope of the Societies membership and provide for a broad representation. Members may recommend candidates for Elected Representatives to the Nominating Committee. The Secretary shall oversee the election of Officers at the biannual meeting and ensure that each member has only one vote. They will tally the votes and declare the winners of the elections at such meeting. If no candidate receives more that 50% of the votes, the two candidates with the greatest number of votes will face each other in a second election to take place immediately at such biannual meeting; such elections will be supervised similar to the first. If an elected Officer resigns or cannot continue serving the society, the Executive Council may appoint an interim replacement until an election at the next biannual meeting.

    4.4 President. Candidates for the position of President must have served on the International Executive Council for at least four (4) years. The President is elected by a majority vote of the General Assembly at the biannual meeting and will serve on the Executive Council for 2 years as President Elect, followed by 2 years as President and 2 years as Past President. 

    4.5 Elected Representatives. Four representatives from the Regular Membership and one member from the Junior Membership will elected by the General Assembly at the biannual meeting from a roster presented by the Nominating Committee. The Elected Regular representatives will serve a term of 4 years and the Junior Representative will serve a term of 2 years. Two of the Elected Regular Representatives will be replaced at each biannual meeting.


    Powers and Duties of Members of the IEC.


    4.6 President. The president shall preside at business meetings of the Society and at Meetings of the International Executive Committee: shall be responsible for executing policies as determined by the International Executive Committee. The President will plan, organize, direct and coordinate the activities of the Society, delegating to ensure that the objectives of the Society are attained. The President will make a report to the IEC and to the membership at the biannual meeting. The President shall appoint a Nominating Committee and the Chairpersons of any Standing Committees. The President shall be empowered to establish and abolish ad hoc committees for specific tasks as needed. The President may invite Committee chair persons to attend meetings of the IEC when deemed appropriate. The President is an ex-officio member of all committees.

    4.7 President-Elect. In case of death, disqualification, removal, resignation or absence of the President, inability of the President from any cause to act, the President-Elect shall perform the duties of the office of the President. In addition, the President-Elect will automatically become the next President when the term of the current President is completed.

    4.8 Immediate Past President. The President will continue to serve on the IEC for a term of two (2) years following her/his term of President in the capacity of Past President. The immediate Past President shall be available to the President for counsel and assistance as needed.

    4.9 Vice President. The Vice-President will be the person(s) appointed by the IEC to host the next biannual meeting of the ISPGR. The Vice-President position may be shared by two people, but they will have a single voting privilege on the IEC. The Vice President(s) will serve a term of two years concluding at the time of hosting the biannual meeting. In case of death, disqualification, removal,

    4.10 Treasurer. The Treasurer will be responsible for keeping account of the monies received and expended for the use of the society and shall make disbursements upon vouchers approved in writing by officers of the Society designated by the IEC; and deposit all sums received in a bank or banks or trust company approved by the IEC and subject to its inspection and control. At the expiration of her/his term of office, the Treasurer shall deliver to the appointed successor all books, monies and other property of the Society held in her/his capacity as Treasurer. The Treasurer shall issue a written financial report biannually, indicating the income, expenses and balance of the Society. The Treasurer shall seek professional guidance to ensure that the finances of the Society are recorded in compliance with the laws and regulations governing the non-profit status of the Society in the country of registration. The Treasurer shall automatically be a member of the organizing committee of the ISPGR biannual conference and, with the Vice-President/principle organizer of the conference, provide a written report on the status of the conference to the President of the Society at least every six (6) months. The Treasurer (or President in the absence or unavailability of the Treasurer) shall be empowered to sign checks up to a limit determined by the IEC. Checks of a higher amount shall require shall require the signature of the Treasurer (or Past President in the absence or unavailability of the Treasurer) and the President.

    4.11 Secretary. The Secretary will record the minutes of the meetings of the membership and the IEC and maintain a list of the members of the Society.

    4.12 Elected Regular Representatives. Regular Elected members will represent the views of regular members of the Society to the IEC.

    4.13 Elected Junior Representative. The Junior Elected Representative will represent the views of junior members of the Society which includes graduate students and post doctoral fellows.

     

    Article 5. Meetings

    6.1 The Society membership shall meet biannually at a place and time approved by the IEC. The IEC will select the host institution, place and time of each meeting at least two years prior to the meeting date.

    6.2 The President will announce details of the upcoming biannual meeting to the membership at the preceding biannual meeting.

    Article 6. Communications

    The Society will maintain and update a website to provide members with information on the history and organization of the Society, Constitution and Bylaws, future meetings and career opportunities, as well as membership registration.

    Article 7. Fiscal Management

    8.1 The fiscal year of the Society shall be the calendar year commencing on the 1st day of January and commencing on the 31st day of the following December.

    8.2 A year end financial report of the Society shall be prepared by the Treasurer annually and presented to the IEC for approval.

    8.3 The approved annual financial reports will be presented at the biannual meeting for information to the membership.

    Article 8. Indemnifications

    The Society shall indemnify any IEC member, employee or agent of the Society against reasonable expenses and against liability incurred by such a person in a proceeding in which she or he was a party by reason of the fact that she or he was an IEC member, employee or agent of the Society. These indemnification rights shall not be deemed to exclude any other rights to which the person may otherwise be entitled. The Society may indemnify, reimburse, or advance expenses to a covered person.

    Article 9. Dissolution 

    Upon dissolution of the Society, all remaining funds in the treasury will be donated to a similar nonprofit organization with approval of the board of directors.