Any Organization or Institution subscribing to the purposes
of the Agency is eligible for membership in accordance with the Constitution and
Bylaws. The
Agency may have an unlimited number of members. There will be no individual members
except those individuals appointed as Officers of the Agency by the Council of
Members.
2.
Categories of Membership
Institutional members - membership fee,
role and responsibilities of Institutional and Organizational members is to be
categorized and fixed by Board of Trustees. Categories A, B, C)
Corporate
Members (Category D)
Other Members Category D(Patrons, Emeritus, Honorary)
shall be entitled to all privileges of membership other than a vote.
Categories
of membership and their qualifications and privileges are defined in the Bylaws.
The Members of the Agency shall constitute the Council of Members of the Agency.
3. Financial
Contributions
The Board of Trustees shall determine the financial
contribution appropriate in each category of membership as stated in the bylaws.
4.
Commencement and Termination of Membership
(a) Commencement All
applications for membership shall be made in writing to the Secretary-General
who, if satisfied that the applicant meets the criteria for membership in accordance
with the provisions of this Article, shall refer the application for approval
by the Board of Trustees. Membership will be confirmed by acceptance of the application
by the Board of Trustees and payment of the dues in accordance with the bylaws.
Whereupon the successful applicant's name shall be entered on the Register of
Members.
(b) Termination A member's name shall be withdrawn from
the Register and Membership of the Agency shall cease if they terminate membership
in writing, or fail to pay their dues for the previous year, or membership is
terminated by a resolution of the Board of Trustees.
5.
Register
The Register of Members or a true copy thereof, shall be
kept by the Secretariat and shall be open to inspection during normal office hours
by any member of the Agency.
ARTICLE
V. COUNCIL OF MEMBERS
1.
Composition The Council of Members shall include all Members of the Agency
as defined in Article IV.
2.
Meetings A meeting of Council of Members shall be convened on an annual
basis.
3.
Functions The Council of Members will receive a financial and activity
report from the Board of Trustees on an annual basis. The Council of Members will
elect a new Board of Trustees every 4 years. A General Assembly shall be convened
every four years or as deemed appropriate by the Board of Trustees. The General
Assembly will be an International Conference on Prevention of Blindness for exchange
of information organized by IAPB. Generally a meeting of the Council of Members
shall be held at the time of the General Assembly to elect the incoming officers
and the new Board of Trustees. The Council of members may constitute an informal
Partnership Group to meet with potential new members in prevention of blindness
and with organizations/Institutions involved in education and rehabilitation of
the visually impaired. A member from category A, B, or C will be elected by the
Council to Chair this “partnership Group” on a two year term.
ARTICLE
VI. OFFICERS OF THE AGENCY
1.
Officers The officers of the Agency shall be:
President,
Senior Vice- President,
Secretary General,
Treasurer,
Immediate Past President,
Ex-officio Vice-President representing the International
Federation of Ophthalmological Societies,
Ex-officio Vice-President representing
the World Blind Union,
Regional Chairs
Other officers as may from time
to time be appointed by resolution of the Board of Trustees.
2.
Election
Officers will be elected by the Council of Members and shall
hold office for a four-year term when they shall retire but may be re-elected
for one only further term. No person shall hold an Officer position for a consecutive
period exceeding two terms (eight years) but should this period elapse between
meetings of the General Assembly, the Officers may continue in office on a temporary
basis until the conclusion of the next meeting of the Council of Members at which
new Officers shall be elected.
3.
Duties of the Officers
(a) President The President shall be the
Chief Executive Officer of the Agency. She/He shall preside at all meetings of
the Council of Members and Board of Trustees and perform such other duties as
custom may require. The President shall authorize all public statements made on
behalf of the Agency. The President shall represent the Agency in any legal action.
(b)
Senior Vice-President
The Senior Vice-President shall act, as assistant
to the President and, in the President's absence, shall preside at meetings of
the Council of Members and the Board of Trustees. In the event of incapacity,
resignation, or death of the President, the Senior Vice-President shall assume
the duties of the President until the next meeting of the Council of Members.
(c)
Immediate Past President
The Immediate Past President shall attend
meetings of the Council of Members and Board of Trustees. He/She shall assist
the President as determined by the President.
(d)
Ex-officio Vice-Presidents
These Officers shall generally assist
the President from specialized knowledge of their respective organizations and
shall attend all meetings of the Council and of the Board, as appropriate (see
article VII).
(e)
Treasurer
The Treasurer shall ensure the maintenance of the accounts
of the Agency in proper form and shall report upon them to the Board of Trustees
at each of their meetings. The accounts shall be subject to a yearly audit by
a properly qualified auditor and audited accounts shall be presented to the Board.
The Treasurer shall report on the financial affairs of the Agency at each Council
of Members meeting.
(f) Secretary-General
The Secretary-General shall be responsible
for maintaining all records of the Agency, including the Register of Members,
the minutes of the meetings of the Council of Members and of the Board of Trustees.
The Secretary-General shall be responsible for the notification of Members of
the time and place of all meetings and perform such duties as required by the
office or as directed by the President or Board of Trustees
(g)
Regional Chairs
The responsibilities of the Regional Chairs are defined
in Article IX of this Constitution.
3.
Resignations and Vacancies
An Officer may resign at any time. Such
resignation shall be in writing and shall take effect at the time specified, therein,
or if no time is specified, upon its acceptance by the President or by the Board
of Trustees. A vacancy in any Office from whatever cause arising, may be filled
for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Trustees from among its
members until his successor is elected by the Council of Members.
