Statutes of the Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research (SSAR)

Approved at the General Assembly of the Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research at the 25th Annual Scandinavian Atherosclerosis Conference, Humlebæk, Denmark, April 10th-13th, 2019

 

The full text of the Statutes can be downloaded by clicking here

Section 1 – Style

The Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research (SSAR) was founded in 1977 and is registered in Denmark as a charitable non-profit organization. Since 1994 the Society has organized the annual conference.

 

Section 2 – Aim

The aim is to promote atherosclerosis research with special emphasis on Scandinavian as well as international collaboration. The object of the Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research is to organize an annual international conference on atherosclerosis research.

 

Section 3 – Membership

The Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research is based on individual membership. Scientists and students, who are actively engaged in or have an interest in atherosclerosis research may apply to attend the annual conference to present their work and become a member of the Society. 

The Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research is one of the constituent societies of the International Atherosclerosis Society. Accordingly, members of the Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research will automatically be members of the International Atherosclerosis Society.

 

Section 4 – Organization

The council of the Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research consists of seats for two actively engaged members from each Scandinavian country – i.e. Finland, Sweden, Norway, Iceland and Denmark. In addition, the council can include one or two seats for actively engaged members from countries outside Scandinavia.

a. Election of council members
Members will be asked to nominate candidates for the council. Such nominations shall be sent to the chairman of the Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research at least one month prior to the election, which will take place at the annual General Assembly. If no nominations have been received before this deadline, participants attending the General Assembly can be nominated and elected at the General Assembly without prior nomination. A general aim shall be to nominate members (a) from all age-groups, (b) with the broadest possible professional scientific expertise and (c) with an equal gender balance.

b. Periods of office for council members
Membership of the council is for a period of four years. Ideally, the period served by one member of a country should overlap by two years the period served by the second member.

Members may be re-elected for another 4 years with the possibility for a third and final period.

c. Council members’ duties
The Council members are responsible for

- the scientific program of the annual conference
- the fundraising to run the annual conference
- the fundraising to run the annual conference
- the practical arrangements for the annual conference

d. Election of Officers
The Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research has four official appointments, the Chairman, the Treasurer, the Secretary and the Webmaster, who are elected by members of the council.

e. Periods of office for Officers
The Chairman, the Treasurer, the Secretary and the Webmaster serve a period of four years and may only be re-elected once.

f. Officers’ duties

i. The responsibility of the Chairman is to organize the annual conference and to organize fundraising in collaboration with the council members
ii. The responsibility of the Treasurer (together with the Chairman) is to handle accumulated SSAR assets and to make sure that costs incurred by the annual conference are covered by the assets.
iii. The responsibility of the Secretary is to handle all communication to and from the Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research in collaboration with the Webmaster.
iv. The responsibility of the Webmaster is to maintain the website of the Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research.
v. The Chairman, the Treasurer and the Secretary together hold the signing rights on behalf of the Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research.

g. Council meetings
The Chairman and at least one council member from three member countries must be present at a council meeting to constitute a quorum. A simple majority vote shall be decisive in the council. In case of an equal number of votes the Chairman will have a second and casting vote.

Section 5 – The annual conference

The annual conference is arranged by an Organizing Committee in collaboration with the council members.

a. Election of Organizing Committee
Members of the Organizing Committee for next years’ meeting are elected on the Annual General Assembly. As for the Council members a general aim shall be to elect an Organizing Committee consisting of members (a) from all age-groups, (b) with the broadest possible professional scientific expertise and (c) with an equal gender balance

b. Duties of the Organizing Committee

- Rating abstracts submitted for the annual conference
- Nominate and contact invited speakers after coordination by the chairman of the society
- Voting on the nominees for the annual Nikkilä Memorial Lecture and the Paper of the Year awards

Section 6 – The annual General Assembly

The annual General Assembly shall take place at the annual conference of the Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research.

a. Agenda

1) Election of chairman for the annual General Assembly
2) Election of a minute’s secretary
3) Report of the Chairman of the Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research
4) Auditors’ report
5) Treasurers’ report
6) Membership fee
7) Election of Council members
8) Election of two auditors
9) Future meetings – election of Organizing Committee for next years’ meeting
10) Any other business

b. Announcements and deadlines
The date of the next annual General Assembly shall be available on the SSAR website at least 2 months in advance. Items for the agenda must be submitted to the Chairman or the Secretary of the Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research at least 1 month before the annual General Assembly. The final agenda for the annual General Assembly along with documents to be discussed, statement of accounts, and balance sheet can be distributed to the members on request during the annual conference. Minutes from the General Assembly shall be distributed to all members of the Society within one month of the annual General Assembly.

c. Voting procedure
A simple majority vote shall be decisive in all items put to a vote. In case of an equal number of votes, the Chairman of the Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research will have a final and casting vote.

Section 7 – Finances

The liability of the Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research shall be limited to its own assets and members shall not be personally liable for debts incurred by the SSAR. The Treasurer, the Secretary and the Chairman can together officially sign contracts and legal or financial documents for the SSAR.

The running costs of the Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research shall be covered by return on investments; donations from private, public, or corporate funds; sale of shares and the annual membership fee. The size of the membership fee shall be decided on the annual General Assembly.

The Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research accounts and balance sheet shall be audited by two auditors elected at the annual General Assembly. When the auditors‘ report has been approved, the Treasurer shall be discharged from any further personal responsibility.

Section 8 – Dissolution

The Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research can only be dissolved at the annual General Assembly if this has been put on the agenda in accordance with the deadlines defined in Section 6b. To dissolve the Society at least two-thirds of all members must vote for dissolution. If two-thirds of all members are not present at the annual General Assembly, a decision shall be taken by means of an electronic ballot. In these circumstances a simple majority vote in favor of dissolving the Society will be decisive.

The final annual General Assembly will decide how to disperse the assets of the Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research according to the aim stated in Section 2.

Section 9 – Alterations and amendments

Any proposals for alterations, additions or amendments to the above by-laws must be sent to the Chairman or the Secretary of the Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research at least 3 months before the annual General Assembly. Proposed changes must be distributed to the council members and discussed among the Council members before the next annual General Assembly.

Section 10 – Conflicts

The Scandinavian Society for Atherosclerosis Research operates under Danish law and conflicts should be handled, if not otherwise specified in signed contracts, by Danish law.