ISNCC CONSTITUTION

Article l. Establishment

The Society is established and will be known as the International Society of Nurses in Cancer Care (hereinafter sometimes referred to as the Society)

Article ll. Objects and Powers

1. The objects of the Society shall be the protection and preservation of health and the relief of cancer related sickness, and the promotion and co-ordination of the activities of cancer nursing through the advancement and improvement of:

• the delivery of nursing care to people affected by cancer
• education in cancer nursing
• nursing research, including the publication of the useful results of such research

2. In furtherance of the said objects but not further or otherwise, the Society shall have powers to:

• provide a communication network among national and regional oncology nursing societies throughout the world, and among other cancer-related organisations and institutions;
• publish a newsletter on a regular basis;
• assist nurses working in cancer care to establish national oncology nursing societies, (preferably within their own national nursing organisations) and, where appropriate, assist in the development of regional organisations;
• provide nurses working in countries where a national oncology nursing group has not been established with regular communication on developments in cancer nursing throughout the world;
• collaborate with other international organisations such as the International Union Against Cancer (UICC), World Health Organisation (WHO), International Council of Nurses (ICN), Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and United Nations (UN) by acting as a valuable international resource of skilled nurses working in clinical practice, education, research and management/administration to advise them on cancer nursing and the nurse’s role in cancer care;
• serve as a link for other international, national, regional and local organisations in promoting collaboration to achieve the Society’s goals;
• promote the dissemination of advances in cancer nursing and cancer care through the official publications of the Society;
• do all such other lawful things as are necessary for the attainment of the said objects.

Article lll. Membership

1. The Society shall have:

• Full Members
• Associate Members
• Patrons (sustaining members)
• Honorary Members

Membership shall be established as set forth in the by-laws.

Article lV. Honorary Officers and Board of Trustees (Directors)

1. The Board will be composed of 21 individuals: 3 from each of the 5 designated geographical areas, the president, the president elect OR the past president, the Secretary/Treasurer and 3 appointed individuals.

2. The Honorary Officers of the Society are:

• President
• Past President (for first two years of presidential term),
• President-elect (for second two years of presidential term).
• Secretary/Treasurer

3. The election and duties of the President, Past President, President-elect, Secretary/Treasurer and Trustees shall be as set forth in the bylaws.

Article V. Committees

The Board shall appoint such standing or ad hoc committees as shall be deemed necessary and shall determine their terms of reference powers, duration and composition. All acts and proceedings of such special or standing committees shall be reported back to the Board as soon as possible. No such committee shall incur any expenditure except in accordance with a budget previously agreed by the Board.

Article Vl. Meetings

• The Society shall organise a biennial international conference and other such meetings as deemed necessary in furtherance of its stated objects.
• The Society shall hold a biennial meeting during the International Conference on Cancer Nursing to approve the business of the Society.
• Voting at the biennial business meeting of the Society will be restricted to full members of the Society.
• The Board will hold a meeting every year to conduct the business of the Society.
• Extraordinary meetings may be called at any time by the vote of a majority of the Board.
• Absence by elected or appointed trustees from 2 consecutive Board meetings may be deemed by the Board to constitute a resignation and following discussion a decision may be made to fill the vacancy in accordance with the rules.
• A quorum for a meeting of the Board will be at least 2 Honorary Officers and two thirds of all Board Members, representing at least three of the geographical areas. If the quorum is not reached the business of the meeting cannot go ahead and the meeting shall be re-convened.
• A quorum for any business meeting or other properly called meeting of the Society will be at least one Honorary Officer and ten members of the charity (society).

Article Vll. Language

The official language of the Society shall be English.

Article Vlll. Amendments

• Amendments to the constitution may be proposed by the Board or by petition of a full member. In the latter case the written proposal shall be endorsed by the signatures of two-thirds of the full members of the Society, not more than one-third of whom are from one of the five geographically defined areas, Such amendments shall be submitted in writing to the Secretariat at least 2 months prior to the biennial meeting.
• A two-thirds majority of full (voting) members present will determine the fate of the amendment provided that no alteration shall be made to Article ll (1) (Objects), Article Xl Dissolution, or this Article, until the approval in writing of the Charity Commissioners or other authority having charitable jurisdiction shall have been obtained, and no alteration shall be made which would have the effect of causing the Society to cease to be a charity in law.

Article lX. Finance

• All monies raised in the name of the Society shall be forwarded immediately to the Secretariat and held in an account at the Royal Bank of Scotland, 51 Park Green, Macclesfield, Cheshire SK11 7NH.
• Copies of a financial statement shall be presented to the membership at each biennial business meeting.
• All financial transactions above limits set by the Finance Committee, drawn on the Society’s account must be signed by two authorised signatories, at least one of whom, and preferably two, must be a member of the Board (Trustee).
• Subject to such consents as may be required by law the Board will be empowered to borrow money on behalf of the Society in order that the Society may pursue its stated purpose as and when required.

Article X. Indemnity

Every trustee or other officer or auditor of the Society shall be indemnified out of the assets of the Society against any liability incurred by him in that capacity in defending any proceedings, whether civil or criminal, in which judgment is given in his favour or in which he is acquitted or in connection with any application in which relief is granted to him by the Court from liability for negligence, default, breach of duty or breach of trust in relation to the affairs of the Society.

Article Xl. Dissolution

If the Board of Trustees decides that it is necessary or advisable to dissolve the Charity it shall call a meeting of all members of the Charity, of which not less than 60 days’ notice (stating the terms of the resolution to be proposed) shall be given. If the proposal is confirmed by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting the Board of Trustees shall have power to realise any assets held by or on behalf of the Charity. Any assets remaining after the satisfaction of any proper debts and liabilities shall be given or transferred to such other charitable institution or institutions having objects similar to the objects of the charity as the members of the charity may determine or failing that shall be applied for some other charitable purpose. A copy of the statement of accounts, or account and statement, for the final accounting period of the Charity must be sent to the Commissioners.