BYLAWS

ARTICLE I: Members

Section 1. Regular Members.

a. Application Form: The application form for Regular Membership shall be furnished by the Chair of the Membership Committee or the Secretary upon request by the applicant or any member.

b. Approval of Applications: Once completed, each application for Regular Membership in the CSDE shall be reviewed by the Chairperson of the Membership Committee or the Executive Director (To be assigned later on). Membership is granted upon approval by the Chairperson of the Membership Committee or the Executive Director and after receipt of the annual dues payment.  

c. Notice of Election to Regular Membership: Every newly elected Regular Member shall be furnished by the Secretary with an official notice of his or her election and a copy of the constitution and bylaws.

d. Rights and Duties: Regular Members shall have the right to vote on all matters brought before the Membership and shall be eligible for election for officer. It shall be the duty of each Regular Member to attend regularly the meetings of the CSDE, to participate in the scientific program, to uphold the ideas and objectives of the CSDE, and to pay dues of the CSDE.

e. Resignation: A Regular Member may resign from the CSDE at any time by tendering a resignation in writing and paying in full any dues or obligations owed to the CSDE at the time. No portion of dues is returnable.

f. Lapse of Membership: The membership of a Regular Member shall lapse if he or she fails to pay any dues or assessments within one year after notice thereof. Ill health or other justifiable reason, when considered appropriate by the Executive Committee, may excuse a member from this requirement. The Secretary shall notify the member of pending lapse of membership by registered or certified letter directed to his or her address as shown in the records of the CSDE and containing this section (Article 1, Section 1.f) of the Bylaws.

g. Reinstatement: A Regular Member whose membership has lapsed may apply for reinstatement by filing a written statement with the Executive Committee and addressed to the Secretary, within six months following the receipt of notice of such lapse of membership, stating the reasons why such membership should be reinstated and requesting reinstatement of such membership. Upon payment of his or her arrears, a member may be reinstated by action of the Executive Committee. Written notice of such reinstatement shall be furnished to the member by the Secretary.

h. Inactive Status: Inactive status may be granted prior to eligibility for Senior Membership only for reason of incapacity by disability. A Regular Member who believes that he or she qualifies for inactive status must submit, in writing, a request for change in status to the Membership Committee for consideration and recommendation to the Executive Committee, which will have final authority for action. If the reason for disability no longer exists, the Member, upon appropriate action by the Executive Committee, may be restored to Regular status. A Member who has been granted Inactive status will automatically become a Senior Member upon reaching age 65.

Section 2. Senior Members.

a. Qualifications: Any Regular Member, upon reaching the age of sixty-five (65) years, shall be eligible to apply to become a Senior Member. Upon approval of the Executive Committee, notice of such transfer to Senior membership shall be furnished to the member by the Secretary.   

b. Rights and Duties: Senior Members shall possess all the rights, duties, and privileges of Regular Members; however, no Senior Member shall be eligible for election to office except in special circumstances and unless his or her nomination is approved by the Executive Committee. Senior Members shall not be subject to dues or assessments.  .

c. Other policies of membership status shall be the same for Senior Membership as for Regular Membership as listed in Article I, Sections 1.e, 1.f, 1.g, and 1.h of the Bylaws.

Section 3. Honorary Members.

a. Qualifications: Honorary Membership shall be reserved for such distinguished persons who have achieved prominence in the field of the esophagus and related diseases and who have contributed to its advancement, but who are not members of the CSDE. Upon recommendation of the CSDE President, Honorary Members shall be elected by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.

b. Rights and Duties: The rights, duties, and privileges set forth regarding Senior Members shall hereby be made applicable to Honorary Members, except that Honorary Members shall not be eligible for election to office. Honorary Members also shall not have the privilege of voting.

c. Transfer to Regular Membership: Any Honorary Member who has not passed the age of sixty-five years may apply for Regular Membership in the CSDE and upon acceptance shall become subject to all of the rights, duties, privileges, and obligations of a Regular Member.

Section 4. Members-in-Training.

a. Qualifications: Members-in-Training shall be in residency or fellowship training or shall be in pursuit of an advanced degree in a field of scientific inquiry.

b. Approval of Applications: Once completed, each application for Members-in-Training Membership in the CSDE shall be reviewed by the Chairperson of the Membership Committee or the Executive Director. Membership is granted upon approval by the Chairperson of the Membership Committee or the Executive Director and after receipt of the annual dues payment.

c. Rights and Duties: Members-in-Training shall be entitled to rights, duties, and privileges of Regular Membership except they shall not be eligible for election to office and shall not have the privilege of voting. Members-in-Training shall be subject to initiation fees, dues, and assessments of the CSDE at reduced rates established by the Executive Committee. With approval of the Executive Committee they may serve as members of committees.

d. Advancement to Regular Membership: After presenting appropriate qualifications, a Member-in-Training, upon recommendation of the Membership Committee, shall be advanced to Regular Membership in the CSDE and shall become subject to all of the responsibilities, rights, duties, assessments, and privileges of Regular Membership.

e. Termination of Member-in-Training status: the duration of membership as Members-in-Training will be for a maximum of two (2) years following completion of formal residency and fellowship training. Following this period, Members-in-Training will have the option of advancement to Regular Membership as in Bylaws Article I, Section 4d, or shall have their CSDE membership terminated.

Section 5. Distinguished Members

a. Qualifications: Distinguished Membership shall be reserved for such distinguished persons who have achieved prominence in the field of the esophagus and related diseases, who have contributed to its advancement, who are Senior Members of the CSDE, and who have contributed in an extraordinary way to the CSDE.  Upon recommendation by the CSDE President, Distinguished Members shall be elected by a majority vote of the CSDE Executive Committee.

b. Rights and Duties: Distinguished Members shall possess all the rights and duties of Senior Members. No Distinguished Member shall be eligible for election to office except in special circumstances and unless his or her nomination is approved by the Executive Committee. Distinguished Members shall not be subject to dues or assessments.

c. Other policies of membership status shall be the same for Distinguished Membership as for Regular Membership as listed in Article I, Sections 1.e, 1.f, 1.g, and 1.h of the Bylaws.

 

ARTICLE II: Officers

Section 1. Nomination and Election: Candidates for offices will be placed in nomination by the Nominating Committee.  Additional nominations will be requested from Members in good standing by such means as deemed appropriate by the Executive Committee. Elections shall take place during the 6 months prior to each Biennial World Congress.  The Secretary shall send ballots to all Members in good standing.  An affirmative vote by a majority of the members voting shall be required for election to office.  If no candidate for an office receives a majority of votes cast, a run-off election will be held between the two candidates for that office who received the highest number of votes.  Results of the election will be communicated to the Executive Committee by the Secretary when the final results have been tallied. Results of the election will be communicated to Members by the Secretary during the subsequent Biennial Business Meeting.  Officers will hold office from the termination of the Biennial Business Meeting after their election until the termination of the Biennial Business Meeting two years later. Officers will be elected in such a way that representation on the Executive Committee is equally balanced between non-surgeons and surgeons.  The office of the Vice President shall alternate between a non-surgeon and a surgeon. Directors shall be elected from non-surgeons and surgeons to balance the representation on the Executive Committee between non-surgeons and surgeons and to provide balanced geographical representation on the Executive Committee.  Vacancies in any office shall be filled by action of the Executive Committee for the unexpired term in accordance with these guidelines.  

Section 2. Duties of the President: The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the CSDE and shall preside at the business meetings of the CSDE and at meetings of the Executive Committee. The President shall appoint members to the Standing Committees and to such other committees, as he or she deems necessary unless otherwise specified by the Bylaws. The President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.

Section 3. Duties of the Vice President: The Vice President shall assist the President as requested and in the event the latter is absent or incapable of acting, the Vice President shall assume the duties of the President. Upon nomination by the Nominating Committee and approval by the Executive Committee and Membership, the Vice President shall become President upon the completion of his or her term as Vice President.  The Vice President shall be an ex-officio member of all committees.

Section 4. Duties of the Secretary: Under direction of the Executive Committee, the Secretary shall supervise the activities of the CSDE and facilitate the workings of the various Standing Committees. The Secretary shall ensure that minutes are recorded of meetings of the Executive Committee, biennial or special meetings of the members, and all committee meetings that require records. The Secretary shall be an ex-officio member of all committees. The Secretary shall supervise the maintenance of current files and records of the CSDE. The Secretary shall perform such other duties as are incident to such office or as may be assigned to him or her from time to time by the Executive Committee. The Secretary, with the approval of the Executive Committee, may delegate to the Executive Director such duties, as he or she deems appropriate.

Section 5. Duties of the Treasurer: Under direction of the Executive Committee, the Treasurer shall supervise the financial affairs of the CSDE. The Treasurer shall advise the Executive Committee concerning billings, collections and management of all funds received by the CSDE. Checks shall be countersigned by the President or the Secretary General in the absence of the Treasurer. Financial records and bank accounts shall be under the direction of the Executive Director, who shall render an annual report for audit by an independent certified public accountant. The Executive Director will provide the Treasurer with an annual report for presentation to the membership at the Biennial Business Meeting. In the event the Treasurer shall be unable to carry out the functions of his or her office, either the President or the Secretary may assume these duties until the duly elected Treasurer is able to resume his or her duties of office or the Executive Committee acts to fill the unexpired term as per Article II, Section 1 of the Bylaws.

Section 6.  Duties of the Directors: The Directors shall participate in meetings of the Executive Committee and represent the interests of the entire membership.

ARTICLE III: Executive Committee

Section 1. The Executive Committee shall be the governing board of the CSDE and shall have charge of the property and financial affairs of the CSDE.  It shall perform such other duties as are customary or as may be prescribed in the Bylaws. An affirmative vote of a majority of the Executive Committee voting is required to pass all measures set before it. The members of the Executive Committee present and voting shall constitute a quorum, provided that in no event shall a quorum, including proxies, consist of fewer than one-half of the entire Executive Committee.  

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall consist of the President, who will serve as Chair, Vice President, Immediate Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, and five Directors, all of whom shall have voting privileges.   

Section 3. The Executive Committee shall meet at regular intervals, at times to be determined by the President, to conduct the business of the CSDE. The determination of subject matter to be discussed at Executive Committee meetings shall be at the discretion of the President. The Executive Committee shall review and approve the program content of the Biennial Scientific Meeting, including invited speakers, symposia, and the scientific program.  

ARTICLE IV: Executive Director

The Executive Committee shall appoint a chief operating officer hereinafter designated the Executive Director. The Executive Director shall be responsible for the operational management of the affairs of the CSDE under the direction of the Executive Committee.

ARTICLE V. Historian

 

The Historian shall maintain a file on documentation of data relating to significant events in the history of The International Society for Diseases of the Esophagus. The Historian shall procure photographs, two autographed reprints of presidential addresses, and curricula vitae of all past presidents. In addition, The Historian shall supervise photographing of committee members, and members at various functions of the CSDE. Data relating to number in attendance at scientific sessions of each meeting shall be maintained in the historical files. The Historian shall collect and retain in the files other information considered suitable.  The term of the Historian shall be four years, and reappointment for one term is possible.

ARTICLE VI: Committees

Section 1. Standing Committees: The members of the Standing Committees shall be appointed by the President unless otherwise specified.  The Standing Committees of the CSDE shall be:

a. Executive Committee

b. Scientific Program Committee

c. Scientific Technique Committee

d. Talent Committee (Membership committee)

e. International Committee

f. Public relationship Committee

Section 2. Scientific Program Committee: The Scientific Program Committee shall be responsible for the preparation of the scientific program for the Annual Scientific Meeting, Participate in scientific cooperation across centers, provoke ideas such as cutting-edge technology and multi-disciplinary treatment. Members of the Scientific Program Committee shall consist of the Directorand the Vice-Director, all of whom shall serve ex-officio and shall not have voting privileges, andexecutive members.  Members shall serve for two-year terms and shall be eligible for reappointment for one additional term.  They shall be equally represented by non-surgeons and surgeons.  Director and vice director both shall be Regular Members and be appointed by the executive committee.   

Section 3.Scientific Technique Committee: The Scientific Technique Committee shall be responsible for new technique promotion, import of international technique, training on treatment standardization and integration of international guideline. Members of such committee shall be consisted of Director and the Vice-Director, all of whom shall serve ex-officio and shall not have voting privileges, and executive members.  Members shall serve for two-year terms and shall be eligible for reappointment for one additional term.  They shall be equally represented by non-surgeons and surgeons.  Director and vice director both shall be Regular Members and be appointed by the executive committee.   

Section 4.Talent Committee (Membership Committee): The Talent Committee shall be responsible for recruitment of membersof CSDE, assigning member training program and alignment of international certification programs, all membership application shall be considered by such committee and send to the standing committee by secretary.

Section 5.International Committee: the committee shall be responsible for participation and formulate the delegation of CSDE to ISDE conference, and communication with related societies around the world regarding exchange of speakers, international training programs and participation of conferences etc. Members of such committee shall be consisted of Director and the Vice-Director, all of whom shall serve ex-officio and shall not have voting privileges, and executive members.  Members shall serve for two-year terms and shall be eligible for reappointment for one additional term.  They shall be equally represented by non-surgeons and surgeons.  Director and vice director both shall be Regular Members and be appointed by the executive committee.    

Section 6.Public Relationship Committee:the committee is responsible for the media exposure of CSDE, its academic events, sponsorship negotiation, and charity etc. Members of such committee shall be consisted of Director and the Vice-Director, all of whom shall serve ex-officio and shall not have voting privileges, and executive members.  Members shall serve for two-year terms and shall be eligible for reappointment for one additional term.  They shall be equally represented by non-surgeons and surgeons.  Director and vice director both shall be Regular Members and be appointed by the executive committee.