• Be able to nominate and elect to the Board
• Be able to vote at Business Meetings

A National Oncology (Cancer) Nursing Society must fulfil the following criteria in order to be recognised as a full member of ISNCC:

• have demonstrated national activity for a minimum of two years    
• be open to all cancer nurses practising in that country
• be recognised within that country as speaking for cancer nurses

Where a country has more than one such society, the Board of ISNCC will consult to decide whether to admit more than one to full membership.

Where a country has no national oncology (cancer) nursing society, ISNCC Board members will actively work with nurses within that country to investigate the possibility of establishing such a society.  ISNCC will seek to identify a named nurse with an interest in oncology in all countries where no national society exists.           

Full membership will be granted to National Oncology Nursing Societies on completion of the application form (Appendix A) and on payment of the annual membership fee.    

Benefits of Full Membership include:    

• Ability to nominate and elect to Board membership  
• Ability to elect the President Elect & Secretary/Treasurer (Nominations by the Board)       
• Ability to contribute items to Business Meeting Agenda
• Ability to vote at Business Meetings
• Ability to contribute to the Society Newsletter.   
• 10 copies of each Society Newsletter and the opportunity to purchase more at a reduced rate.     
• Receipt of Society position statements
• Ability to nominate individuals to serve on Society committees and working groups
• Ability to nominate for prestigious Society awards

Associate Members
Any organisation, institution or agency involved or interested in cancer nursing shall be eligible for associate membership of the Society.  Associate members shall:

• participate fully in activities of the Society
• have no voting rights.

Associate membership will be granted by the Board to organisations, institutions or agencies on completion of the application form.  Each applicant will be required to satisfy the Board that the following criteria are met.  The organisation, institution or agency will have:       

• a declared interest in one or more of:  cancer care, cancer nursing, cancer education, cancer research     
• a structure which can identify a named individual to represent the member

Benefits of Associate Membership include:       

• receipt of Society position statements   
• freedom to contribute to Society Newsletter
• 5 copies of each society newsletter and the opportunity to buy more at a reduced rate.
• ability to contribute to Business Meeting agenda         
• attendance at biennial business meeting.
• Ability to nominate to serve on sub groups and committees 
• Ability to nominate for prestigious Society Awards 

Sustaining Members
A corporation interested in financially supporting the Society may become a sustaining member.

Corporations, individuals or organisations may become sustaining members on payment of a minimum non-refundable annual fee of £5,000. 

Sustaining members will be recognised by the Board following a formal approach by the corporation, organisation or individual concerned. 

Sustaining membership will be governed by:           

• publication of names in Newsletter
• written agreement between each sustaining member and the Society detailing level of financial support, frequency of support, proposed use for support    
• standing orders as detailed here: 
• Sustaining members:  
• shall not have voting rights.
• shall be invited to attend Business meetings
• shall be able to serve on sub-groups and committees if appropriate
• shall have first chance of exhibition space, priority selection for underwriting projects and recognition in official conference documents and programmes.     

Sustaining members may relinquish their membership and support on notification to the Board. 

Honorary Members
An individual or organisation (who may or may not be a nurse) may be selected by unanimous approval of the Board, for honorary membership of the Society. 

This honour would be in recognition for distinguished service to cancer nursing or cancer care.  Honorary Membership will be extended to recipients of the Distinguished Merit Award.  Honorary membership does not include voting rights.  Honorary members will be entitled to a free copy of the Society Newsletter.

In the event of the death of an individual meeting these criteria and dying during the rating period, consideration may be given for a posthumous award.

The Board will consider proposals for honorary membership from Board members or Full members of the Society.  A proposal form must be completed.  The nominee must fulfil the following criteria: 

• Outstanding service to cancer nursing/care
• National/International profile
• Evidence of collaboration/partnership

Observer status at ISNCC meetings may be granted to members on application to the Board.  This will be at the member's own cost. 

1.2 Membership Fees
Annual membership fees shall be determined by the Board, and shall be separate from any newsletter charges.   
 
Membership fees become payable yearly in advance on 1st day of April.  

New members joining over half way into the year are entitled to a 50% reduction of the fee. 

1.3 Termination
Failure to pay the annual membership fee for two years, following two reminders, shall be deemed a resignation from membership.  
 
A member may terminate membership by making a written request to the Secretariat.  No refund of fees is possible. 

1.4 All members of the Society agree to abide by the constitution and bylaws. 

1.5 A member may be excluded from the Society by a vote of  two thirds of the Board members.  Exclusion may be sought if a member ceases to meet the criteria for membership.  

2. Structure

2.1 The Board of Trustees is the governing body of the Society.
 
2.2 Meetings of the Board will take place annually, in even years, in conjunction with the biennial International Conference on Cancer Nursing.  In intervening years a venue will be agreed in discussion with the Board and the managing company.
 
2.3 The Board shall establish standing and ad hoc committees to take forward the work of the Society. 
 
2.4 Business meetings for Society members to contribute to and approve the work of the Society, and to submit ideas for future activity, shall be held in conjunction with the biennial International Conference on Cancer Nursing.  A written report of Society activity and statement of accounts will be presented to the meeting and circulated to all members annually.
 
2.5 Urgent, ad hoc meetings may be called as necessary by the Board.  Written notice will be circulated to members at least two months in advance of the proposed meeting.  
 
2.6 Policies will be agreed for arranging postal consultations and ballots whenever possible and these will include timescales for return and methods of advising members of the results. Usual voting quorums apply.

3. The Board of Trustees

3.1 The Board will be composed of 21 individuals: 

• 3 from each of the 5 designated geographical areas,
• the President,
• the Immediate Past President OR the President Elect,
• the Secretary/Treasurer,
• up to three appointed individuals.

Members of the Board shall be registered as nurses in the country which they are representing.

3.2 The Board:

• plans, directs and implements the Society’s activity
• approves all plans for programme meetings of the Society
• monitors recruitment and retention of the Society’s membership
• establishes committees as required
• determines annual membership fees
• determines the recipient of the Distinguished Merit Award
• determines the recipient of the Tiffany Lectureship
• acts for the Society between its regular business meetings
• takes action following a mail ballot of Board members achieving two thirds support
• ensures member organisations are kept informed of Society business
• promotes the aims and the official publications of the Society (newsletter and journal)
• organises the Society’s biennial International Conference on Cancer Nursing
• may appoint up to three additional Board members to provide specific expertise or experience

3.3 Elections

• Two Board Members for each geographical region shall be nominated and elected by a postal ballot of  full members of the Society in that Region.
• The third position for each geographical region shall be elected by the out-going Board from the remaining candidates in that region, taking into account the matter of geographical representation.
• Where no remaining candidates exist from that geographical region the Board may choose to fill the vacancy with an appropriately skilled or experienced nurse.

3.4 Timetable for Elections
Elections will be held every two years on a rotational basis (i.e. A followed by B)
 
A =  North America, Africa and Middle East
B =  Europe, Central and South America and Far East and Australasia.
 
3.5 Terms of Office
Elected Board members shall serve for a period of four years and may be re-elected for one further term of four years.  The Board member having served two terms of four years shall not be eligible for re-election as a Board member, President Elect or Secretary/Treasurer for a period of four years. 
 
3.6 Appointed Members
Board members, appointed for specific expertise, geographical representation or continuity by the Board, shall serve for a period of two years, and may be re-appointed  for a further period of four years and shall then remain ineligible for appointment for a period of two years.
 
4. Honorary Officers
 
4.1 The Honorary Officers of the Society are:

• President,
• Past President, (for first two years of the presidential term)
• President Elect (for second two years of the presidential term)
• Secretary/Treasurer

The President Elect and Secretary/Treasurer shall be nominated by the Board and elected by the full members.

The Honorary Officers shall act on behalf of the Board between its regular meetings.
 
4.2
The President
The President's term shall be for a period of four years, (following two years as president-elect, and followed by two years as immediate past president) and shall then be ineligible for a further term.
 
The President shall:

• preside at the biennial business meeting of the Society and the annual meeting of the Board
• represent the Society and the Board at every conferene of the ISNCC, and all other international meetings as appropriate
• collaborate regularly with the secretariat in the day to day management of the Society
• assist with problems of an immediate nature between meetings of the Board
• designate committee chairmen in consultation with the Board
• serve as Chairman of the Editorial Board of the Society’s newsletter
• delegate presidential responsibility as appropriate

The President Elect
The position of President Elect shall be filled through nomination by the Board and election by full members.
 
The President Elect shall:

• assist with matters of an immediate nature between meetings of the Board together with the other honorary officers
• be familiar with the policies, procedures and administration of the Society
• stand in for the president (see 5 below)
• take part in committee work by acting as chair as required

The election shall take place two years after the installation of a president and the post-holder shall serve as President Elect for a period of two years at which time he/she will take on the role of President of the Society.

The Past President
The Immediate Past President shall hold this position on the Board for a period of two years.
 
The Past President shall:

• provide support for the President
• fulfill the duties of the President in the absence of  the designated post holder
• at the discretion of the President deputise for him/her
• provide continuity on the Board.
• assist with problems in between official meetings of the Board.

The Secretary/Treasurer
The Secretary/Treasurer shall be nominated by the Board and elected by the full members.  The Secretary/Treasurer shall hold this office for a period of four years
 
The Secretary/Treasurer may be re-elected for a further four-year term (providing a previous term on the Board has not already been served) and will then remain ineligible for nomination for a period of four years.  

The Secretary/Treasurer shall:

• serve as Chairman of the Finance Committee
• be responsible for day to day fiscal management of the Society in conjunction with the secretariat
• ensure the production of a quarterly financial report for the honorary officers
• ensure the production of the annual financial report in co-operation with the Society’s secretariat and financial advisors and present this to the annual Board meeting and biennial Business Meeting
• be responsible for the preparation  and distribution of Board agenda papers and minutes
• be responsible for the preparation and distribution of society papers and minutes

If the President-elect or Secretary/Treasurer are holding a Regional Board position when elected, the resulting vacany for the geographical Board position will be filled in accordance with the vacancy bylaw.
 
5. Vacancies

Board Members
If a vacancy occurs for a Board member within the first two years of the term of office the nominee polling the next highest number of votes in the previous election will be deemed elected to the Board.  In the absence of such a person, a further election will be held within the relevant geographical area.  If a vacancy occurs within the second two years of the term of office the vacancy will be filled as soon as the next elected Board member is identified, without waiting for the end of the official term.

President
If the office of president becomes vacant during the first two years of office there will be an immediate election for the position of president-elect and the past president will take over for the remainder of the two years.  The newly elected president-elect will then work alongside the past president for one year and then take on the office of President for the remainder of the existing term when he/she will then assume the presidency for the original four year term.  If the office of president becomes vacant during the second two years of office the president elect will become president.  There will be an immediate election for a new president elect who will then work alongside the president for the remainder of the two years, when he/she will take on the position of president.

President-elect
If the office of President-elect becomes vacant a further election shall be held in accordance with the relevant bylaw.

Past President
If the office of Past President becomes vacant it will remain unfilled.  However, the Board may consider a co-option or temporary appointment as an Honorary Officer.

Secretary/Treasurer
If the post of Treasurer/Secretary becomes vacant the board shall nominate a replacement for acceptance by the members.

6. Committees
The Board may appoint such standing or ad hoc committees as deemed necessary.

The following standing committees shall be established:

        1. Bylaws Committee
        2. Finance Committee
        3. Membership Committee
        4. Education Committee
        5. Nominating Committee 
        6. Research Committee
        7. Awards Committee
        8. Conference Committee (strategic planning) 

Unless otherwise stipulated the chair of the committee shall be a Board member appointed by the President in consultation with the Board.  Committees may be constituted from Full and Associate categories of membership or other areas of relevant expertise. 

NB: * the president should not be in membership of the Nominating Committee.
* any member of the nominating committee personally included in an election  process shall be ineligible for membership of the committee for the   consideration of that item particular item.  

The terms of reference and duration of any committee shall be determined by the Board of Trustees. 

No committee shall incur any expenditure except in accordance with a budget previously agreed by the Board of Trustees.  

The standing committees shall hold minuted meetings, supported by the secretariat. 

Some work of standing committees may be carried out by mail or fax. or Email 

Acts and Proceedings from the committees shall be reported to the meeting of the Board, to the biennial business meeting, and in the Society Newsletter as appropriate, by the chair of the committee 

7. Audit
The activities and achievements of the Board of Trustees and standing committees will be evaluated as part of the Society’s strategic plan. 

ISNCC99\bylaws23799  (updated 12th July 2001)