History of WASHS, as told by Mr Mark Allison

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Society shall be:

• the advancement of the standard of hand surgery in this State by contact and discussion among members;

• to aid and stimulate interest in the problems of hand surgery in medical practice;

• to establish hand surgery as a recognised speciality.

MEMBERSHIP

There shall be two classes of membership, namely, Active and Honorary.

Active Membership shall be limited to those persons who:

• hold a recognised higher surgical degree or qualification, and

• who have recognised training in the principles and practice of hand surgery, or who by virtue of extensive experience have acquired a comparable standard.

Honorary Life Membership may be conferred by the Executive Committee on Active Members who have given long and distinguished service to the Society. Such Honorary Life Members will retain the full rights of an Active Member. Such an honour shall have the approval of a vote of an Annual General Meeting. Honorary Membership may also be conferred upon Members of distinction outside the Society. The Executive shall nominate such candidates and the election to Honorary Membership shall be by the vote of the Members present at a general meeting.

Candidates for election as Active Members shall be balloted for at the General Meeting of the Society and candidates must be proposed and seconded by two Active Members of the Society, both of whom must be personally acquainted with them and responsible for their eligibility.

Before any candidate comes up for election, their proposer and seconder shall write to the Executive Committee stating the name of the candidate and what they know of the candidate, both socially and as a medical practitioner, together with any special qualifications they may have for election. In the absence of such letters, the candidate will not be submitted for such ballot.

Each application for Membership shall, subject to Clause 6, be submitted for election as soon as practicable after his nomination is received by the Executive Committee.

Candidates balloted for and not elected shall not be proposed again for election within a period of twelve months. On the election of a New Member the Secretary shall notify the same to them in writing and shall request them to pay their entrance fee and first subscription to the Treasurer. No person shall be deemed to be a Member nor their election, if made, be effective until they shall have paid their entrance fee and the annual subscription payable on their election.

ENTRANCE FEE & ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION

Each application for Membership shall upon receipt of the notification of their election forthwith pay their entrance fee and first annual subscription.

There shall be payable to the Society by each Active Member for every year during which they remain a member of the Society, an annual subscription payable on the first day of January in each year and shall be paid within three months of that date. The entrance fee and annual subscription shall be such amount as the Executive Committee shall from time to time determine provided that the Society in general meeting may alter, vary or revoke any such fee and/or subscription.

Members whose subscriptions remain unpaid for one year shall automatically cease to be members of the Society. Such ex-members may seek re-election on payment of arrears of subscription and on making formal application to the Honorary Secretary.

OFFICERS

At each Annual Meeting the Society will elect a President Secretary Treasurer, who will take office on 1st January of the following year and will hold office for two years and be eligible for re-election.

The President shall preside at all meetings at which they are present.

The Secretary Treasurer shall give due notice, keep the Minutes of all meetings and conduct all correspondence.

The Secretary Treasurer shall collect all moneys due to the Society and shall be the custodian of same. At the Annual Meeting they shall present a report of receipts and expenditure, which shall be entered on the Minutes. At the beginning of each year they shall acquaint each member by notice that the annual subscription for the coming year is due.

The Executive of the Society shall comprise the President, Secretary Treasurer. Any one of the three may operate on the account.

In the absence of the President, the Secretary Treasurer shall preside at the meetings.

MEETINGS

One annual meeting will be held each year, at which the office bearers for the following year will be elected, and this meeting will consist of a Business and a Scientific Meeting.

At least two additional meetings will be held each year and these will consist of a Business and a Scientific Meeting.

In addition to the above meetings, a number of Scientific Meetings may be held.

A notice of at least three weeks shall be given for each meeting.

In any meeting, 50% active members present in person shall form a quorum until otherwise   determined.

Every member present in person, or by written proxy shall have one vote.

AMENDMENT OF THE CONSTITUTION

All proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be submitted to the Honorary Secretary in writing at least eight weeks before the next Annual Meeting of the Society. The Secretary shall forward a copy of such proposals to every active member at least three weeks before that meeting. At least a three-fourths majority of the votes recorded (provided that such votes represent 50% of active membership) shall be necessary to carry an amendment to the Constitution.

VISITORS

Any member may invite one or more visitors to attend the scientific meetings, provided that this has the approval of a Member of the Executive. Such guests may not participate in the discussions unless invited to do so by the Chairman.

 MEMBERS

As of December 2018