This constituion was accepted by an overwhelming majority of the membership at the AGM held on 26th November 2010 at Celtic Manor, Newport, Wales.
British And Eire Association of Vitreo Retinal Surgeons (BEAVRS): Aims and Constitution of the Association.
The aim of the Association is to promote high quality patient care by supporting and representing British and Irish Vitreo-Retinal Surgeons through education, research, audit and revalidation.
BEAVRS is neither a regulatory body nor a trade union. BEAVRS will accrue sufficient financial assets to entirely underwrite an annual meeting and fund the educational, research, revalidation and audit activities of the association.
A board elected from the membership will represent the members in achieving these aims.
Board Constitution
The following board positions were elected.
President David Wong
Honorary Secretary Alistair Laidlaw
Treasurer Tom Williamson
Revalidation Lead David Steel
Audit Lead Som Prassed
Research Lead Tim Jackson
Web Officer Richard Sheard
Trainee lead (see below) Gurmit Uppal
With the exception of the President board members are elected to two years terms and, through re-election, may be appointed to no more than four consecutive years of board membership. The president is elected to a single two year term regardless of previous board status.
The next elections will be held in 2012.
Annual Meeting
In keeping with the traditions of the association the annual meeting will continue to be organised by a local host unit with the tone of the meeting being determined by the hosts. The establishment of a permanent secretariat will provide support and experience in the task of organising the meeting.
Membership
Full membership is open to career grade ophthalmologists working in the British Isles who perform Vitreo Retinal surgery. Such career grade Vitreo Retinal Surgeons are required to become members of the association if they wish to attend the annual meeting. Only full members may be elected to the board, nominate for board positions and/or vote at the AGM.
Trainee membership is open to Ophthalmologists in training who have an interest in Vitreo Retinal surgery. Applicants for trainee membership must be sponsored by a full member. Trainee members are invited to elect a trainee lead to represent their interests to the board and association.
Overseas membership is open to career grade Vitreo Retinal Surgeons who do not practice in the British Isles and have been sponsored by a full member.
Ophthalmologists who:
a) do not practice Vitreo Retinal Surgery or
b) who do not practice Vitreo Retinal surgery in the British Isles or
c) who are in a training posts
are not required to be members to attend the annual meeting but must be sponsored by a full member.
BEAVRS Election: Rules and Procedures
Only full members may stand, propose, second and/or vote in the election of board members.
All candidates must be proposed and seconded. An individual member may only propose and/or second a total of two candidates.
An individual member may only stand for one position. In the event of a member being nominated for more than one position they must select the position that they prefer.
Members may announce their own candidacy but must subsequently be proposed and seconded.
Candidates will be invited to submit a manifesto or statement of up to 500 words in support of their own candidature, this will be distributed at the meeting.
Election will be by a secret ballot held at the meeting, with the polling station situated at the registration desk. Ballot papers will be distributed at registration. Polling will close fifteen minutes after the end of the final session on the first day of the meeting. Members unable to attend who wish to vote may register prior to the meeting to vote by email. The candidate receiving the greatest number of votes for each post will be elected.
The Trainees representative will be elected by the trainees present at the meeting.
Current Membership Fees
The meeting fee and membership fee will be collected from all members as a single payment in June each year by standing order. The current membership fee scale is on the website. The meeting fee is partially refundable if eight weeks notice of inability to attend the meeting is given. The board has the right to vary the notice period depending on the contractual obligations imposed by the meeting venue. At least one months notice of a change of notice period will be required. The extent of refund will be set by the board on an annual basis depending on the financial position of the Association and the financial success of the previous years meeting.