European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging®
Constitution
Article 1 --- Name, Structure, Location and Duration
Article 2 --- Objectives
Article 3 --- Membership
Article 4 --- Organisation and Officers
Article 5 --- Annual General Meeting
Article 6 --- Amendments
Article 7 --- Transfer of College Registration
Article 8 --- Dissolution of the College
Article 9 --- Policies and Procedures
ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
Article 1: Name, Structure, Location and duration
1.1. The name of the organisation shall be the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging® (ECVDI®), hereafter referred to as the "College".
1.2. The College shall be a part of the general scheme for veterinary specialization in the European Union (E.U.), as defined by the Advisory Committee for Veterinary Training (ACVT) of the European Committee, set up by Council Decision 78/1028/EEC of 18 December 1978 and OJ No L 302 of 2 December 1978, in its report doc. IIIF/5285/3/91. This scheme involves the European Coordinating Committee for Veterinary Training (ECCVT), the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation (EBVS) and the Speciality Colleges.
1.3. The College is a UK registered limited liability company, which is limited by guarantee.
Its registered office is now 82b High Street, Sawston, Cambs, CB22 3HJ.
The company is called “The European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging Ltd”
1.4. The College archives will be kept at a location agreed by the Board.
1.5. The College shall be established for an unlimited period.
1.6 The language of Laws, Bylaws, correspondence, negotiations and examinations of the College shall be English.
Article 2: Objectives
Diagnostic imaging is defined as the specialty of "diagnosis with the aid of images representing anatomy, physiology and pathology of the body."
2.1. The primary objectives of the College shall be to advance veterinary diagnostic imaging in Europe and increase the competence of those who practise in this field by:
a) establishing guidelines for post-graduate education and experience prerequisite to becoming a specialist in veterinary diagnostic imaging;
b) examining and certifying veterinarians as specialists in veterinary diagnostic imaging to serve the veterinary profession and the public in general;
c) encouraging research and other contributions to knowledge relating to diagnostic imaging, and promoting communication and dissemination of this knowledge.
2.2. The College is a non-profit organisation and does not pursue commercial interests.
2.3. Financial means of the College may only be spent according to the Constitution and Policies and Procedures. Members or officers of the College may receive no payment from the funds of the College, except reimbursements. No member or officer of the College may be favoured by expenditures or excessively high compensations, which are not according to the purposes of the College.
Article 3: Membership
3.1. The members of the College shall be the following:
a) Diplomates who may be defined as practising or non-practising;
b) Diplomates who have retired;
c) Honorary members;
d) Associate members.
Definitions of these categories are given in the Policies and Procedures.
3.2. To qualify as a Diplomate, candidates shall meet the following criteria:
a) have a satisfactory moral and ethical standing in the profession;
b) be licensed to practise veterinary medicine and surgery in a European country, unless relieved of this obligation by the Credentials Committee and the Board;
c) have successfully passed the certifying examination of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging unless exempted from this obligation by the Credentials Committee and the Board.
d) not be a Diplomate of another European College recognised by the European Board of Veterinary Specialisation, unless relieved of this obligation by the Board.
e) practice scientific, evidence-based veterinary medicine, which complies with animal welfare legislation.
3.3. Each Diplomate of the European College of Veterinary Diagnostic Imaging may be abbreviated to DipECVDI. Practising Diplomates who meet criteria 3.2b shall be authorized to use the designation of European Veterinary Specialist in Diagnostic Imaging.
3.4. Each practising Diplomate shall be required to keep records of the imaging procedures performed under his/her jurisdiction.
3.5. Each Diplomate is expected to actively participate in the affairs of the College and shall maintain a Continuing Evaluation form as required by the Board. All practising Diplomates shall normally attend at least one Annual General Meeting (AGM) every three years. Repeated, unexcused absences from the College meetings may render a member subject to disciplinary action by the Board.
3.6 Each Diplomate is guided by scientific methods and evidence-based medicine, which complies with animal welfare legislation. Each Diplomate shall also fulfill the re-evaluation requirements of the College. No credit points can be granted for education or training in non-scientific or non-evidence-based medicine.
3.7 Only practising Diplomates are entitled to vote on College issues.
3.8. Any member may be expelled, asked to resign or otherwise disciplined for non-professional or unethical conduct or other action against the best interest of the College by a two-thirds majority vote of the Board of the ECVDI, pending confirmation by the College at the next AGM by a majority vote.
3.9 Resignation from the College requires notice in writing to the Secretary. Announcement of the resignation will be made at the following AGM. No financial re-imbursement of dues will be made.
3.10. The membership dues (paid in Euros) of each member for the following calendar year shall be determined by the Board on proposal of the Treasurer. The proposed dues will be presented to the members at the AGM for approval.
Article 4: Organisation, Officers and board
4.1. The College shall be comprised of all the members. The practising Diplomates shall elect the following officers by secret ballot at the AGM:
President
Vice-President
Treasurer
Secretary
These officers shall normally serve a duty of two years.
4.2. These four officers plus the immediate Past-President and other elected members as described in the Policies and Procedures will comprise the Board of the College. Additional Diplomates, without a right to vote, may be co-opted as observers or advisors to a Board meeting if the officers agree unanimously.
4.3. The President may not be immediately re-elected to the same office. Usually, the President shall be succeeded by the Vice-President.
4.4. Two of the following officers together will, in general, act as representatives of the College: The President, the Vice-President, the Secretary and the Treasurer.
4.5 The duties of the officers, other Board members, committee chairs and college representatives are described in the Policies & Procedures (Standard Operating Procedures part).
Article 5: Annual General Meeting
5.1. The AGM of the College shall be held during the annual EVDI conference, or at some other appropriate meeting in Europe agreed upon by the Board and communicated to the College at least 90 days prior to the meeting.
An Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) of the College can be called at any time by the Board, or shall be called by the Board at the written request of not less than 10% of the membership. The request should contain the explanation for such a meeting, and the subsequent EGM should take place within a period of 90 days of receipt of the request. If not, the responsible members are empowered to summon the EGM themselves. The place and date shall be notified to the College members at least 60 days prior to the EGM.
5.2. The AGM has, in particular, the following duties:
a) To determine and update the College’s Constitution and Policies and Procedures.
b) To elect the officers, members-at-large and auditors.
Election of officers and members-at-large shall be by secret ballot. The nominations committee will propose candidates for each open position. Following proposal by the nominations committee, or for additional nominees, written nominations (proposed and seconded with written acceptance of nomination by the nominee) must be received by the Secretary 60 days prior to an AGM. Alternatively, additional nominations may be proposed and seconded nominations may be made from the floor during the AGM with agreement of the nominee.
Two auditors shall be elected for a one-year term. The two auditors shall evaluate the report of the Treasurer and report their findings to the AGM. They shall also certify that the recorded expenses were necessary for the purposes of the College.
c) To take action on the auditors’ report.
d) To approve the business conducted by the Board during the preceding year.
e) To take action on business presented by the Board or as required by the Constitution.
f) To establish membership dues, the appeal fee and the fee for restoration of practising status for the forthcoming year.
g) To consider expulsion of Diplomates.
5.3. A Diplomate entitled to vote must do so in person at the meeting concerned. When a vote is called each entitled Diplomate has one vote, which may be in favour or against a motion or abstention. A quorum of 33% of the College members entitled to vote is required for the vote to be valid. If the quorum is not reached, the vote may be held by postal or secure electronic ballot.
5.4. All questions before the College, except regarding amendments to this Constitution (see Article 6), shall be determined by the absolute majority of the valid votes cast at an AGM.
5.5. The College shall keep the minutes of every meeting of the members. The Chairman of the meeting and the person, in general the Secretary, who is appointed by the assembly to keep the minutes, must sign this document.
Article 6: Amendments
Proposed amendments to this Constitution shall be submitted to the Secretary at least 60 days prior to the AGM. Any proposed amendment shall be distributed to the membership with a recommendation by the Boardat least 30 days prior to the AGM and shall be brought to a vote of the practicing Diplomates at the AGM. An affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the valid votes cast shall be required for adoption. If a quorum is not reached the vote may be held following the AGM as described in 5.3 above.
Article 7: Transfer of College Registration
In the event of transfer of College registration to another European country, or temporary dissolution of the College in order to move to another European country, all assets will remain in the name of the College.
Article 8: Dissolution of the College
In the event of final dissolution of the College, or the College losing its status as a nonprofit organisation, the distribution of all assets shall be determined by the AGM, as far as possible consistent with the objectives of the College.
Article 9: Bylaws
The College shall make and can change Bylaws, which regulate subjects not or not sufficiently prescribed in this Constitution. The Policies and Procedures shall not contain any provisions, which violate the law, the rules of EBVS or this Constitution.