Bylaws
1. Name
1.1 Swiss Society of Behavioral Neurology
Under this name an incorporated Society has been registered according to article 60 ff 2GB, with its seat at the location of the office.
2. Aim
2.1 The Society aims to advance Behavioral Neurology in Switzerland.The emphasis of the efforts of the Society is the wellbeing of the patient who requires behavioral neurological assessment and treatment. The Society produces guidelines for training physicians in Behavioral Neurology and in this way contributes to the quality assurance of the neurological care of patients in Switzerland. The Society will collaborate closely with existing professional organisations.
2.2 The Society is under the patronage of the Swiss Neurological Society. The President of the Swiss Neurological Society holds ex officio a seat on the managing committee of the Swiss Society of Behavioral Neurology.
3. Membership
3.1 The membership is open to specialists in Neurology and related medical disciplines and non medical persons from professions related to Neurology, if they fulfil the terms of membership of the Society of Behavioral Neurology. For an admission into the membership a majority vote of two thirds of the assembly of the members is required.
3.2 Full members: specialists in Neurology or disciplines close to Neurology (ie Psychiatry, Neurogeriatrics) who have successfully completed a training in Behavioral Neurology as recognised by the managing committee. Full members of the Society have full voting right.
3.3 Extraordinary members: Medical doctors or professionals in Psychology, Neuropsychology, Linguistics and related disciplines who have a special interest in Behavioral Neurology. Extraordinary members have no voting right.
3.4 Honorary Members: persons who have done great service to the aims of the Society can be nominated as honorary members by decision of the assembly of the members. Honorary members are considered equivalent to the full members, but are freed of financial contributions.
4. Changes in Membership status
4.1 Entry: Applications for membership have to be directed to the President, accompanied by written recommendations by two full members of the Society. The managing committee examines the applications and brings forward the applications to the assembly of the members. The assembly of the members decides about the acceptance. In the case of a rejection of an application, the managing committee will provide a justification in the name of the Society.
4.2 Withdrawal: withdrawal from the Society has to be declared before the end of the calendar year.
4.3 Expulsion: The assembly of the members can expell a member following a proposal of the managing committee. This decision requires the approval of two thirds of the present members with voting rights.
5. Training
5.1 The recognition of training is the responsibility of the managing committee.
5.2 The duration of training is at least one year at an institution that is recognised by the Society. At least 6 months of this time has to take place without interruption.
5.3 Place of training: The place of training needs to have a department of Neuropsychology or Behavioral Neurology that is integrated in a Neurological Clinic A,B,C,D recognised by the FMH. If the training has been conducted in an institution that is not recognised, then it is the applicant’s responsibility to present the evidence for the recognition to the Society of Behavioral Neurology. The managing committee decides about the recognition of the training.
5.4 Assessments: At least 100 comprehensive behavioural neurological assessments and a sufficient number of partial assessments have to be performed.
5.5 Supervision has to be provided by an experienced Behavioral Neurologist working in a department of Neuropsychology or Behavioral Neurology that is integrated in a Neurological Clinic A,B,C,D recognised by the FMH.
5.3, 5.4 and 5.5 will need to be approved by the assembly of the members 2011.
6. Organisation
6.1 The organs of the Society are:
- the assembly of the members
- the managing committee
- the commissions
- the controlling body
6.2 The assembly of the members
6.2.1 The superior organ of the Society is the assembly of the members.
6.2.2 A regular assembly of the members usually takes place once per year by invitation of the managing committee. The agenda and proposals for elections have to be sent to the members at least 14 days before the assembly.
6.2.3 Extraordinary assemblies can be convened by the managing committee or at the request of 1/5 of the members. The assembly has to take place within six weeks of the request.
6.2.4 Topics that are not part of the agenda can usually only be voted on if the application was presented to the President at least one week before the assembly. If all present members of the managing committee and the majority of the assembly of the members agree to an immediate decision, then a decision can exceptionally be made immediately. Applications regarding changes of statutes or dissolution of the Society are exempt from this rule; such applications can only be decided upon if the members have been oriented of the application by the agenda.
6.2.5 Extraordinary members have no voting rights.
6.2.6 The assembly of the members makes its decisions in open votes. Secret ballots can be decided upon by majority vote.
6.2.7 Apart from the listed exceptions, decisions are taken by simple majority. In case of a hung vote the President makes the final decision. Written votes are not accepted.
6.2.8. The assembly of the members has the following rights:
- Acceptance of the annual report and the annual financial report, which relieves the members of the managing committee.
- Election of the members of the managing committee and the controlling body
- Awards of honorary memberships
- Determination of the membership fees
- Acceptance of members on application by the managing committee
- Establishment of guidelines for the activities of the Society
- Establishment of guidelines for the training of medical doctors in Behavioral Neurology
- Recognition of institutions for the training in Behavioral Neurology
- Decisions regarding all topics presented by the management
- Decisions regarding topics presented by members
- Changes of statutes
- Dissolution of the Society
6.2.9 The assembly of the members usually commissions members of the managing committee, but sometimes also other members with representations in recognised organisations that are relevant for the interests of the Society.
6.3 Managing committee
6.3.1 The managing committee consists of 47 members: President, Vice President, Secretary, Bursar and Assessors. The managing committee is elected by the assembly of the members. The managing committee has a majority of Neurologists and constitutes itself.
6.3.2 The term of office is four years. A re-election for one more term is possible.
6.3.3 The retiring President remains an Assessor in the managing committee ex officio as “Past President” during one term.
6.3.4 The managing committee constitutes a quorum if at least half of its members as well as the President or Vice President are present. The managing committee makes its decisions with simple majority of the present members. In case of a hung vote the President makes the final decision, in his absence the Vice President.
6.3.5 The President or the Vice President convenes the meetings of the managing committee and the assemblies of the members, and chairs them. He is responsible for the execution of the decisions of the Society and represents the Society to the outside.
6.3.6 The managing committee directs the Society, prepares the program of work and decides about all business that does not fall under the control of the assembly of the members. The managing committee is authorised to propose changes of the statutes.
6.4 Commissions
6.4.1 The managing committee can set up commissions to research and advise on issues that affect the activity of the Society. The managing committee defines the tasks and competences of the commissions.
6.4.2 The commissions report their activities to the managing committee regularly and submit proposals.
6.4.3 The mandate of a commission terminates at the end of term of the managing committee, unless the mandate is explicitly extended.
6.5 Controlling body
6.5.1 The assembly of the members names for a two year term a controlling body consisting of two auditors and a substitute.
7. Accountancy
7.1 The members pay an annual fee that is determined by the assembly of the members on application by the managing committee.
7.2 Only the Society’s capital is liable for its financial obligations; any personal liability is excluded.
7.3 The business year conforms to the calendar year.
7.4 The Society’s income consist of:
- The membership fees
- The additional income, such as profits from events and functions, donations and interests.
7.5 Membership fees are due during the first quarter of each calendar year. Members who join after the 1st July pay half the annual membership fee.
8. Meetings
8.1. The annual conference generally takes place in conjunction with the conference of the Swiss Neurological Society.
9. Changes of statutes
9.1 Statutes can be changed by vote of two thirds of present members of the Society.
10. Dissolution
10.1 The dissolution of the Society can be proposed at the assembly of the members by two thirds of present members with voting rights. In this case a written inquiry has to take place to which all members with voting rights are invited. If this inquiry produces a majority of two thirds in favour of dissolution, the Society will be dissolved.
10.2 In the case of dissolution of the Society, its property should be used to support Behavioral Neurology in Switzerland. A use of the property for the welfare of the public is also possible. The assembly of the members will make this decision.
