INTERNATIONAL OCULAR INFLAMMATION SOCIETY
BY-LAWS
(Year 2000) 

The SOCIETY:

The International Ocular Inflammation Society (IOIS) is an international
non-profit scientific association legally constituted at the European Union
according to the pertinent E.U. laws on Charity and Science as a Scientific Non
Governmental Organization, officially approved on February 13th, 1998 with the
National Inscription Number 163351 ( SPAIN ).
Its officially registered logo is an acronym of the initials of the Society name. The official language of the Society is English. The seat of the IOIS is situated in Spain.
Its present address is Avenida de Denia, 111 -03015 Alicante (SPAIN). The seat of the Society may be moved to another address by decision of the Executive Board after fulfilling the adequate official procedures of such action.

1. Aims and Functions of the Society :

The Aim of the International Ocular Inflammation Society  ( IOIS ) is to
promote the knowledge and understanding of ocular inflammation diseases
and to seek ways and means to preserve or restore the visual anatomy and
function altered or damaged by such diseases.

To fulfill this Mission, IOIS will foster the following Aims and Functions:

* To diffuse knowledge and stimulate research on inflammatory processes in
general, with specific considerations of these reactions in the eye.

* To bring under one umbrella all ophthalmologists and ophthalmic scientists
dealing with inflammatory processes of the various ocular tissues.

* To diffuse, as widely as possible, updated knowledge and know-how
regarding the newest modalities of treatment for ocular inflammatory
diseases.

* To raise funds to be used for the allocation of scholarships for the training of
young ophthalmologists. Special attention should be given regarding the
training of young scientists and clinicians from the less developed countries
in order to initiate them into modern technologies of research and treatment
in the field of ocular inflammation.

* Pharmaceutical companies may be asked to contribute towards the
coverage of expenses associated with special targeted projects.

* To initiate a closer interaction between the various disciplines in
ophthalmology, the "bonding ties" being the interest regarding the basic
processes of inflammation. Special emphasis will be placed on discussing
pertinent knowledge regarding available means of treatment and control of
ocular inflammatory processes.

* To promote educational activities such as promotion of books, guidelines or
monographs devoted to the study of Ocular Immunology and Inflammation
and a Newsletter to foster understanding, communication and knowledge
among members of the IOIS, under the auspices of the Executive Board of the Society .

* To seek the adequate opportunity to initiate an official Journal of the Society
devoted to Ocular Immunology and Inflammation. This Journal will also serve
as an official publication of the Society and will be conducted under the
auspices of the Executive Board. Nomination of the Editors and Scientific
Board of the Journal will be voted by the International Council of the IOIS.

* To hold once every two years an "International Symposium on Ocular
Inflammation" in order to discuss recent developments in the field of
immunology and inflammation in general and the specific ocular
inflammation processes in particular.

* The International Ocular Inflammation Society shall be governed by an
International Council and an Executive Committee.

2. Membership:

* Membership of the Society is open to all ophthalmologists and scientists with
an active interest in ocular inflammation.

* All members have to be endorsed by one Council Member. Application for
membership should be sent to the General Secretariat and approved by the
International Council.

* Members of the Society in good standing will have full voting rights regarding
all pertinent matters associated with the government of the IOIS will be
allowed to vote for decisions during the General Assembly. Members can be
elected to serve on the various Advisory Committees, International Council,
educational committee, Financial Committee, Newsletter and Journal
Boards.

* Membership fees will be revised every fwo years. Members paying their fees will receive the official publications of the Society as a benefit, free of charge. Members will also be entitled to a reduced registration fee for the Symposium held once every fwo years.

3. General Assembly:

* The General Assembly will be held during the Symposia once every fwo
years.
* Operative decisions made by the International Council will be brought for
approval / rejection to the Assembly held during the International
Symposium. Decisions will be made by a simple majority vote (50% + 1) of the
active members attending the Symposium.

* Key issues may be brought for discussion to the Assembly. These may be
raised by the Internafional Council or can be suggested by the IOIS
Members at large. The Agenda with the topics to be discussed will be
announced prior to the General Assembly.

* Changes to the By-Laws can be made upon a 2/3 majority vote by the
General Assembly of those IOIS active members attending the International
Symposium.

4. Election of Officers:
 
* The President ot the Society, the Chairperson and the General Secretariat
will be elected and voted by the International Council and ultimately by the
General Assembly. A simple majority unless otherwise stated will be required
tor the above elections. Elections will be made every tour years. Post
Presidents will serve permanently as Members ot the Executive Board with tull
rights.

* The Executive Committee will consist of the President, Chairperson, General
Secretary and three members ot the International Council: an elected
representative ot the International Council, the convenor of the previous
Symposium and the convenor ot the next Symposium.

* Advisory Committees will be formed according to needs. These will be
selected by the Council and / or appointed by the President and Chairperson.

5. The Councll and Committees:

* An International Council will be formed.

* Membership of the Council is limited to one representative for each twenty
millions of inhabitants for each country up to a maximum of four.

* The Council Member is proposed by the Executive Board and voted by the
International Council tor a term of tour years which may be renewable for
one or more additional terms if supported by three academics (associates or
full professors) in the field of ophthalmology and ophthalmic sciences and
should be an active member of the Society.

* The Council Member must attend at least one Symposium and the Council
Business Meeting every tour years. If the Council Member fails to attend two
consecutive Symposia and/or Council Meetings he/she loses his/her Council
Membership and the Executive Committee is allowed to nominate another
active Member ot the Society trom his/her country to fill the seat in the
Council.

The Functions of a Council Member are:
-To advise the Executive Committee on the "management and policies" of the Society.
-To vote on the ditferent issues and ideas raised by the membership at large.
-To identify the specific issues (and needs) of the various countries according to the Mission of the Society.
-To discuss these issues initially and to decide on further steps to be adopted by the Society.
-In order to fulfill the above, worldwide representation of the various countries will be sought.
-To serve as his/her country representative in the International Council, to advise the Council on the special needs of his/her country in the field of ocular inflammatory diseases and treatment.
-To bear the responsibility for discussion of the gained knowledge for the benefit of the patients in his / her home country.
-The Council Member will be responsible for supervising the running of
international collaborative studies in the field of Ocular Inflammation in his/her country and will serve as an advisor and coordinator on these matters.
-To suggest and vote for Members of the various Advisory Committees.
-To suggest candidates and vote for the election of the Editor of the Educational Activities of the Society.
-Special issues to be dealt with by the Society as well as specific targets for "action" by the Society will be assigned to the pertinent Advisory Committee. The Committee may choose to allocate these tasks to its members and/or form a special committee to target the above. The Members of such committees will be elected by the International Council.

6. Finances:

* A Finance Advisory Committee (FAC) will be elected by the Council and
headed by the Treasurer.

* Possible sources for funding and resources of the Society are as follows:
-Endowments, whenever possible
-Grants to carry out projects may be sought from appropriate
governments
-Contributions from commercial companies

7. Protocol for assemblles and meetings:

* The International Council headed by the President, Chairperson, General
Secretariat, Council Representatives (3) and Post Presidents, will be
responsible for the Agenda of the General Assembly, its protocol and the
final program of the International Meetings. The Preliminary Program of every
IOIS Symposium needs the approval of the Executive Committee and should
include the invited speakers, topics to be discussed at the Sessions, Courses
and a summary of the economical budget.

* A contract will establish the general rules to be followed by the elected
convenor for future symposium. Such contract will be signed by the
nominated convenor, the President and the General Secretary.

8. Award and Gold Medal of the Soclety:

An IOIS Award and Gold Medal is established to stimulate excellence in
the Mission of the Society and to acknowledge the outstanding contributions to
Science and to the Society. Suggestions for the Award and Medal nominations
can be made by all IOIS Members in good standing. The final Awardee will be
selected by the Award Committee, the Executive Board and the previous
awardees, six months prior to the International Symposium. The final decision
will be made after consultation with the International Council and published in
the Newsletter. The current IOIS President will officially announce the name of
the recipient during the Symposium Opening Ceremony.