CONSTITUTION

of the

SOUTH AFRICAN BURN SOCIETY

(“the Society”)

1. NAME OF SOCIETY

The name of the society is the SOUTH AFRICAN BURN SOCIETY herein referred to as “the Society”.

2. OBJECTIVES OF THE SOCIETY

The objectives of the Society are:

2.1 to promote the improvement of burn care in South Africa on the African continent;

2.2 to set and maintain the highest clinical and ethical standards through data collection, quality improvement and education;

2.3 to encourage and arrange regular meetings for the reciprocation of ideas and sharing of knowledge and expertise;

2.4 to develop and make available clinical guidelines and best practice for multi-disciplinary professions involved in the care of patients with burn injuries;

2.5 to foster professional relations with other relevant societies and organisations for the purposes of prevention, care, allograft donation, allocation and distribution.

3. LEGAL STATUS

3.1 The Society is an association of members (persons) formed in the Republic of South Africa.

3.2 The Society is a legal persona with all the rights and obligations pertaining thereto.

3.3 The society is a “public benefit organisation” pursuant to Section 30 of the Income Tax No 58 of 1962 (“the Act”) which performs a “public benefit activity” pursuant to Part 2 of the Ninth Schedule of the said Act.

4. CONTROL OF THE SOCIETY

4.1 The Executive Committee

4.1.1 The general control and direction of the policy and affairs of the society shall be vested in the Executive Committee of the Society (“EXCO”).

4.1.2 In exercising control over the Society, EXCO shall, at all times, have regard for the wishes of members and abide by the Articles and by-laws of the South African Medical Association.

4.2 Composition

4.2.1 The EXCO shall hold office for two years, may be re-elected and shall consist of:

President

Vice-President

Immediate Past President

Treasurer

The Secretary, and

Two other members who may be a nurse representative and an allied health representative (if they are not one of the office bearers);

Any member may hold any position.

Additional members may be co-opted at the discretion of EXCO for working committees but will not be part of the executive.

4.3 Election of Office Bearers

4.3.1 All members of EXCO shall be nominated via email 2 (two) months prior to the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the society coinciding with the Biennial Congress of the Society. If such Congress for any reason is not held, a suitable alternative meeting will be identified by the outgoing EXCO for this purpose.

4.3.2 The nominee must be a paid-up member of the Society. All nominees, if accepting (in writing) of the nomination, will be elected, unless there is more than one nomination for a role. In this instance, the nominees present their case for being elected and their proposed contribution to the Society for their term at the AGM. Elections will proceed after all presentations by paper ballot. Only full members may vote.

4.3.3 If a member cannot attend the AGM, such member may nominate a proxy to vote on such member’s behalf.

4.4. Meetings

4.4.1 EXCO shall be presided over by the President, or in the absence of the President by any EXCO member, duly elected by the members present.

4.4.2 EXCO shall meet at least once a year.

4.4.3 EXCO may, from time to time, issue policy documents, guidelines, and position statements on behalf of the Society, which shall compliment, but not be an integral part of this Constitution.

4.4.4 EXCO, by resolution adopted by a majority, of at least 51% (fifty one percent) of its number, shall be entitled to remove any of the EXCO members, nominated, elected or co-opted as aforesaid. In such circumstances, EXCO shall not be obliged to furnish reasons or to justify its decisions as aforesaid.

5. MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOCIETY

5.1 The Society shall have the following categories of membership:

5.1.1 Full Members

5.1.1.1 Any person who is registered as a doctor, nurse or allied health practitioner with the relevant Health Professions Council of South Africa, is eligible for membership. Full members will pay membership fees annually. They will be eligible to vote. They will be unable to vote if annual fees have not been paid.

5.1.2 Sponsored Members

5.1.2.1. Any person who is registered as a doctor, nurse or allied health practitioner with the relevant Health Professions Council of their country or South Africa is eligible for membership. Fees are waived. They do not have voting rights. They may have limited access to what is offered by the Society.

5.1.3 Honorary Life Members

5.1.3.1. Honorary life membership may be granted at the discretion of EXCO to members who have retired from active practice or academic appointments. They do not have voting rights.

5.1.4 Honorary Members

5.1.4.1 Honorary members of EXCO may be bestowed on distinguished guests or visitors from outside the borders of the Republic of South Africa after being duly proposed and seconded and elected by a majority vote of EXCO.  They do not have voting rights.

5.1.5 Corporate Membership

5.1.5.1 Any company involved in the arena of burns may become a corporate member. Fees and benefits may vary each year but must be offered equally to all companies. They do not have voting rights.

5.2 Termination

5.2.1 Members shall retain membership until such is terminated either by resignation in writing, addressed to the Secretary, or by a decision of the EXCO. Membership may be suspended, if, after two years, the annual subscription remains unpaid.  Membership may be re-instated after payment of outstanding and due subscriptions. A suspended member will have no voting rights.

5.3 Subscription fees

5.3.1 Subscription fees will be payable into the Society’s banking account set out hereunder:

Name:  South African Burn Society

Bank:    First National Bank

Branch Code:  250655

Account number:  62434454708

Reference:  (name of payor)

5.3.2 Members may make payment of subscription fees by way of direct deposit, electronic transfer, via the secure website.

5.3.3 Subscription fees will be revised and determined at the Society’s Annual General Meeting.

6. ADMINISTRATION OF THE SOCIETY

Administration will be undertaken by the Secretariat. The functions of the Secretariat will include communication, organisation, co-ordination of any educational activities or events, minute-keeping and any additional functions as agreed upon by EXCO. A new Secretariat will be appointed on resignation or agreement by EXCO.

7. MEETINGS OF THE SOCIETY

7.1 Annual General Meeting (“AGM”)

7.1.1 The AGM of the Society shall, as far as possible, take place during the Biennial Congress of the South African Burn Society in the years in which this is arranged. The quorum at the AGM shall be 20 (twenty) members.

7.1.2 The AGM shall be presided over by the President, or in his/her absence by a person specially elected for the purpose.

7.2 Extraordinary General Meeting

7.2.1 An Extraordinary General Meeting of the Society may be held from time to time and shall be called by EXCO on the written request of 30 (thirty) members of the Society.

8. UTILIZATION OF FUNDS

8.1 The Society is prohibited from directly or indirectly distributing any of its funds to any person (otherwise than in the course of undertaking any public benefit activity) and is required to utilize its funds solely for the object for which it has been established.

8.2 The Society is prob=habited from accepting any donation which is revocable at the instance of the donor for reasons other than a material failure to confirm to the designated purposes and conditions of such donation, including any misrepresentation with regards to the tax deductibility thereof in terms of section 18A of the Income Tax Act No 58 of 1962 (“the Act”).

8.3 A donor (other than a donor which is an approved public benefit organisation or an institution board or body which is exempt from tax in terms of section 10(1)(cA) of the Act, which has as its sole principle object the carrying on of any public benefit activity) may not impose conditions which could enable such donor or any connected person in relation to such donor to derive some direct or indirect benefit from the application of such donation.

9. BANKING AND ACCOUNTS OF THE SOCIETY

9.1 The bank account of the Society is First National Bank, Account No. 62434454708.

9.2 EXCO will be entitled to change the banking account from time to time by way of resolution.

9.3 Book-keeping must be maintained with regular audits or reviews as determined by the law.

10. ANNUAL REPORT OF THE SOCIETY

The President shall submit an annual report to the members via email and a biennial report at the Annual General Meeting of the Society.

11. AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

Amendments to the constitution can only be effected if passed by a two-thirds majority of those voting at an AGM of the Society.

12. REGISTRATION AS A NON-PROFIT ORGANISATION

The Society will be registered as a non-profit organisation as well as with the Receiver of Revenue for the issuing of Section 18A tax receipts. The office bearers of the non-profit organisation will rotate at the same time at which the functionaries of EXCO changes and will be referred to as President, Past President and Vice President or Executive Committee members, duly elected by EXCO.

13. SPECIAL FELLOWSHIPS/SCHOLARSHIPS OR AWARDS

13.1 EXCO will establish awards at their discretion depending on the financial soundness of the Society or in partnership with another organisation or company. Each additional award shall be agreed upon by EXCO and the Constitution shall be amended to make provision for such award.

13.1.1 Biennial Award

This will be awarded biennially. Any allied health care practitioner working in the field of burns is eligible.

13.1.2 Objective

13.1.2.1.  Promotion of development in the field of burns in South Africa in the allied health arena through:

• • • • • Promotion of research
        • Networking on an international platform
        • Education and skills development

13.1.3 Administration

All applications shall be addressed to the Secretary and received via email 1 (one) month prior to the biennial congress and should include:

• • • • • A curriculum vitae
        • Planned congress to attend or details of planned fellowship
        • Motivation for receiving the award

13.1.4 The applicant must be presenting their own paper at the upcoming Biennial Congress of the SA Burn Society to be eligible.

13.1.5 The applicant must aim to present his/her research at the congress he/she plans to attend. A minimum of 4 (four) members of EXCO shall decide to which applicant the award should be made.

13.1.6 The award shall be monetary, specifically for the purposes of presenting at an International Congress on burns or undertaking a short fellowship at another unit, local or international for the purposes of upskilling clinical and research skills. The monetary value shall be determined by the financial ability of the Society at the time at which the award is made.

13.2 Burn Hero Award

This award stems from a partnership between the SA Burn Society and Smith & Nephew. This is a monetary award, the value of which is determined by Smith & Nephew, given to a health care professional who has made an outstanding contribution to the field of burn in South Africa. EXCO will determine to whom the award is made. The monetary award shall only be financed by Smith & Nephew if and when Smith & Nephew elects to make such an award.

13.3 Other Awards

Any award may be established stemming from a partnership between the SA Burn Society and another organisation. The value of the award will be determined by agreement between the organisation and the EXCO as well as the criteria to be eligible and how it is finally awarded.

14. DISSOLUTION

14.1 The Society may be dissolved if at least two-thirds of the members at an Extraordinary Meeting resolve to have the Society dissolved.

14.2 In the event of the dissolution of the Society, it shall transfer its assets to:

14.2.1 Any similar public benefit organisation which has been approved in terms of Section 30 of the Act.

14.2.2 Any institution, board or body which is exempt from tax under the provisions of Section 10(1)(cA) of the said Act which has as its sole principle object the carrying on of any public benefit activity.

14.2.3 Any Department of State or administration in the National or Provincial or Local spheres of Government of the Republic, contemplated in Section 10(1) (a) or (b) of the Act.

15. SUBMISSION

This Constitution, or any amendment thereto shall be submitted to the Commissioner for the South African Revenue Service.

16. CHANGES TO THE CONSTITUTION

This Constitution may only be amended should at least two-thirds of the members of the Council consent in writing to such amendment.