§ 1 Name, Objectives and Registered Office of the Association

(1) The association has the name

Akademie für Neurochirurgie (DANC) - German Academy of
Neurosurgery (GANS) e.V“.

(2) It exists in a legal capacity. It is exclusively and directly non-profit making as defined by the section “tax-exempt purposes” of the Fiscal Code.

(3) The objectives of the association are,

a) the promotion of scientific and social links between neurosurgeons;

b) the encouragement and support for innovative basic research, clinical research and technical development in the field of neuroscience;

c) the advancement of highly qualified junior academic staff;

d) the cultivation of interdisciplinary and international contacts;

e) the promotion and development of neurosurgery through teaching and research at universities and technical colleges.

(4) The purposes of the articles of association are fulfilled in particular by

a) regular scientific events,

b) the promotion of outstanding scientific publications,

c) support for international exchanges between scientists in the field of neuro-surgery,

d) representation of this subject in dealings with scientific bodies at universities and technical colleges.

(5) The registered office of the association is in Bonn. The association will be entered in the Register of Associations.

(6) The activities of the association are altruistic; it is not primarily concerned with the pursuit of its own economic interests. The association’s funds may only be used in accordance with the articles of association. Membership of the association does not imply any entitlement to financial allocations from the association’s funds. No person shall obtain an advantage through expenditure that is not in accordance with the purpose of the corporate body, or through disproportionately high remuneration. On resigning from the association, or in the event of the dissolution or termination of the association, its members are not entitled to any share of the its assets.

The financial year shall be the calendar year. The 1st financial year ends on 31 December 2001.

§ 2 Membership

(1) The members of the association must be outstanding neurosurgeons holding leading academic posts, who have distinguished themselves by particular scientific achievements and by encouraging junior academic staff. In addition members should be notable for their own personal integrity and social skills.

(2) A distinction is drawn between the following types of membership:

a) Active members
These must be actively engaged as neurosurgeons in the academic field.

b) Senior members
On relinquishing their academic activities or at the end of their 65th year, active members become senior members.

c) Corresponding members

Outstanding neurosurgeons who meet the criteria for active membership but who are prevented by geographical constraints from regularly attending the annual meetings may be elected as corresponding members.

d) Corresponding senior members

At the end of their 65th year, corresponding members become corresponding senior members.

e) Honorary members

Outstanding neurosurgeons may be elected as honorary members.

(3) The membership fee is determined by the members’ meeting. The number of active members is limited in accordance with the recommendations of the board and subject to the approval of those members entitled to vote.

(4) The members’ meeting shall decide by secret ballot, requiring 4/5 of the votes cast, on the admission of active members, corresponding members or honorary members. No reasons need be given for rejecting an application for membership.

(5) Membership ceases:

a) upon the death of the member;

b) upon cancellation of membership, which should be stated and explained in writing to the board;

c) upon exclusion for behaviour inimical to academic standards or absence without a valid excuse from two successive annual general meetings. Exclusion shall be decided by a majority of ¾ of the votes cast at a members’ meeting in response to the proposal of the board.

(6) Upon termination of membership the member shall withdraw from the association. All claims to the assets of the association are excluded.

§ 3 Organs and Officials

The organs of the association are:

a) the Members’ Meeting,

b) the Board,

c) the Commissions.

§ 4 The Members’ Meetings

(1) The ordinary members’ meeting shall be held once every year under the chairmanship of the president. He shall arrange for the invitations to this meeting to be sent out. These shall list the agenda and shall be dispatched to members at least four weeks prior to the date of the meeting. It shall suffice for the dispatch of invitations to be made within the prescribed period.

(2) Extraordinary members’ meetings may be called at any time by the president, in writing, giving 14 days’ notice. Here too it shall suffice for the dispatch of invitations to be made within the prescribed period. The president shall be required to call an extraordinary members’ meeting if at least one quarter of the membership demands such a meeting, stating their required agenda in writing.

(3) Each duly convened members’ meeting shall be competent to pass resolutions, irrespective of the number of members present.

(4) Only active members shall be entitled to vote at members’ meetings.

(5) In particular the members’ meeting shall decide on the following:

a) Formal approval of the board, including the treasurer,

b) the election of the president each year and of the president designate, and the election every three years of the other members of the board.

c) resolutions concerning changes to the articles of association and the disbanding of the association,

d) adoption and exclusion of members,

e) election and confirmation of members of the commission in accordance with § 6.

The secretary shall draw up minutes regarding the resolutions passed by the members’ meeting, which shall be signed by him and by the person chairing the meeting and shall subsequently be sent to the members.

§ 5 The Board

(1) As defined by § 26 BGB the board shall consist of

the president (chairman)

the president designate (the chairman designate)

the secretary,

the treasurer and

the chronicler.

(2) Members of the board shall be elected by the members meeting in a secret ballot. At the time of their election, and with the exception of the chronicler, the members of the board must be active members. The nominee who receives the highest number of votes cast shall be elected. Nominations may be made up to three months before the members’ meeting by those members who are eligible to vote.

(3) The term of office for the president and the president designate shall be one year, beginning at the end of the annual general meeting. The term of office for the secretary, the treasurer and the chonicler shall be three years.

(4) A simple majority of the votes cast at the members’ meeting shall suffice to grant formal approval of the board.

(5) Two board members together shall be authorised to represent the board, of whom one authorised board member must be the president or the president designate. The board shall arrange the allocation of duties among the individual board members. There shall be rules of procedure.

(6) The board shall be competent to pass a resolution if, in addition to the president, at least one other board member is present. If votes are tied the chairman shall have the casting vote.

§ 6 The Commissions

(1) The association shall create the following standing commissions, which shall be elected by the members’ meeting for a period of two years, with re-election being permitted:

1. Treasurership commission,

2. Programme commission,

3. New membership commission.

(2) The board may install further commissions to deal with particular issues. These must be confirmed by the subsequent members’ meeting.

§ 7 The Academic Meeting

(1) Members shall hold at least one annual meeting, the Academic Meeting, whose venue shall be decided by the members at the preceding meeting.

(2) The meetings shall provide a balance between scientific papers and discussions.

(3) As a rule the academic meetings shall take place in conjunction with the members’ meeting.

§ 8 Treasurership

The treasurer shall administer the association’s assets under the supervision of the board and shall be responsible to the members’ meeting. Following auditing and a report from the auditing commission, the accounts for the current calendar year shall be submitted to the ordinary members’ meeting. A simple majority of votes cast shall suffice to grant formal approval of the treasurer.

§ 9 Alterations to the Articles of Association

Alterations to the Articles of Association shall be approved by a majority of three quarters of the members present at the ordinary members’ meeting. In accordance with § 4 such applications must be sent to the members together with the invitation to the meeting.

§ 10 Dissolution of the Association

(1) A resolution calling for the dissolution of the association requires a majority of three quarters of the members present at an ordinary members’ meeting. The resolution shall be in a written form, stating the names of those casting their votes. In accordance with § 4 such applications must be sent to the members together with the invitation to the meeting.

(2) If the association is dissolved or upon abolition of tax privileges, the assets shall devolve to a non-profit making neuroscientific institution (e.g. the Stiftung Neurochirurgische Forschung, Hannover), which shall use them exclusively and directly for non-profit making purposes. Resolutions about the future uses of the assets may only be implemented after approval has been granted by the relevant tax office.