About SICOTÂ
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Bylaws       Â
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Constitution of the Société Internationale de Chirurgie
Orthopédique et de Traumatologie
AN INTERNATIONAL NON-PROFIT ASSOCIATION
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ARTICLE 1: Name and registered office
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1.1. The association, founded in Paris, France, on 10 October 1929, is an international non-profit organization with the name International Society of Orthopaedic Surgery and Traumatology (in French: Société Internationale de Chirurgie Orthopédique et de Traumatologie). It may be referred to by its French acronym S.I.C.O.T. or SICOT.
1.2. The association is governed by the provisions of Title III of the Non-Profit Organizations, International Non-Profit Organizations and Foundations Act of 27 June 1921.
1.3. The registered office of the Association shall be situated in Belgium, and is presently at Rue de la Loi 26, BE-1040 Brussels. It may be transferred to any other place in Belgium by ordinary resolution of the International Council published in the Schedules to the Belgian Official Gazette (Annexes du Moniteur Belge).
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ARTICLE 2: Object
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The object of this non-profit organisation is to promote the advancement of the science and art of orthopaedics and traumatology at international level in particular for the improvement of patient care; to foster and develop teaching, research and education; to facilitate and encourage exchange of professional experience and to promote good fellowship among its members.
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ARTICLE 3: MembershipÂ
Membership of SICOT shall be open to individuals who are qualified orthopaedic surgeons, traumatologists or specialists in related fields in any country.Â
3.2. Membership categories -
The association shall comprise seven membership categories: Active Members, Emeritus Members, Distinguished Members, Associate Members, Honorary Members, Inactive Members and Corresponding Members. A member of any category who changes country of residence may retain their membership. Such members will become members of the national section of their new country of residence or, if there is no national section, shall be administered by the Secretary General.
3.2.1. Active Members:
Applicants shall be admitted to Active Membership by a vote of the International Council on the recommendation of the Membership Committee. The Board of Directors shall set the maximum number of Active Members from any country.
3.2.2. Emeritus Members:
An Active Member who has reached the age of seventy (70) shall on request, be made an Emeritus Member. An Active Member who ceases to practice medicine at the age of sixty (60) may apply for Emeritus Membership in writing to the Secretary General. Emeritus Members may take part in the associationâs activities but are not normally eligible to hold office. The President may nevertheless request that the Board of Directors grant an exception to this rule for an Emeritus Member designated by him.
3.2.3. Distinguished Members:
Active or Emeritus Members who have rendered outstanding services to the association and enjoy an exceptional professional reputation may be appointed as Distinguished Members by the International Council on the recommendation of the Board of Directors.
3.2.4. Honorary Members:
On the advice of the Board of Directors, the International Council may confer the title of âHonorary Memberâ on non-members of outstanding merit.
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3.2.5. Associate Members:
Young surgeons aged under the age of forty (40) are eligible for temporary associate membership with privileges that entitle them to participate in all the associationâs scientific activities and to receive the Journal âInternational Orthopaedicsâ. To qualify, they must be enrolled in an appropriate orthopaedic training programme. They should normally become Active Members after six years' associate membership.
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3.2.6. Inactive Members:â¨
A former active or associate member, whether Active or Associate, who has lost his/her Membership because of non-payment of dues, and who wishes to resume and maintain his/her contact to SICOT, is eligible for Inactive Membership without voting rights. Inactive Members will not be required to pay a penalty fee upon reinstatement nor are they required to pay dues. They are required to pay normal congress fees. Inactive Members receive the SICOT e-Newsletter and have access to SIGNEL.
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3.2.7. Corresponding Members:â¨
National or International Partner Societies can apply for Corresponding membership by paying an annual fee, the amount of which will be determined by the Executive Committee of SICOT. In determining this fee, the Executive Committee will take into account the number of members of that Society as well their financial situation. Corresponding Membership may also be acquired by means of nomination by the International Council on the recommendation of the Board of Directors. A Corresponding Member does not pay individual membership dues, pays normal congress fees and is entitled to receive all electronic information including IO.
The procedures for nomination and election to membership shall be specified in the Bylaws.
3.4. Voting and other privileges of membership of the association -
3.4.1. Active Members shall have the right to vote, to hold office, to sign referenda, to initiate petitions and to sign nominating petitions. They shall pay the dues laid down by the Executive Committee and approved by the Board of Directors.
3.4.2. Emeritus Members shall have the right to vote, to sign referenda and nominating petitions. They are not required to pay dues.
3.4.3. Distinguished Members shall have the right to vote, to sign referenda and nominating petitions. They are not required to pay dues nor registration fees at the triennial congresses.
3.4.4. Honorary Members have no seat on the associationâs Board of Directors and no voting rights.
3.4.5. Associate Members pay reduced dues and registration fees at association congresses. They have the same rights as Active Members, including the right to vote.
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3.4.6. Inactive Members neither have the right to vote nor to hold office.
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3.4.7. Corresponding Members pay neither individual membership fees nor have the right to vote.
Members may terminate their membership at any time by tendering their resignation to the Secretary General, or by failing to pay their dues within six months of the due date.Â
3.6. Expulsion -
After having been allowed to state his case to the Board of Directors, a member may be expelled in a secret ballot by a four-fifths majority of the votes cast by the International Council in a meeting called specifically for the purpose.
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ARTICLE 4: Dues, subscriptions and obligations
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4.1. The Executive Committee shall draw up a scale of dues and subscription rates for the associationâs publications. The scale shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
4.2. A member shall not be in arrears if his dues are paid within six months of the date on which they are payable.
4.3. No expelled or former member, or any heir of a deceased member, shall have any entitlement to the privileges of the Society. They may not claim any share of the funds, any reimbursement of dues or payment of any other kind.
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ARTICLE 5: Organisation and administration
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5.1. Board of Directors -
The Board of Directors shall be composed of the eleven (11) elected constitutional officers of the association, namely the President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President, five Vice-Presidents, Secretary General, Treasurer and Editorial Secretary. The members shall be elected by the International Council. The quorum for its meetings shall be seven (7) members personally present.
5.1.2. Powers:
The Board of Directors shall be the chief policy-making body of the association within the scope of the powers conferred upon it by the International Council.Â
5.2. Executive Committee -
The Executive Committee shall normally be composed of six (6) members of the Board of Directors, namely the President, President-Elect, Immediate Past President, Secretary General, Treasurer, and First Vice-President. The quorum for its meetings shall be four (4) members personally present.
5.2.2. Powers:
5.2.2.2. The Executive Committee shall have the authority to take all necessary decisions on behalf of the association in urgent matters, subject to ratification by the Board of Directors.
5.2.2.3. The Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, or the International Council shall confer on the Secretary General, the Treasurer and the Executive Director, acting separately, such powers as may be deemed fitting to proceed with the general administration, financial matters and handling the funds of the association.
5.2.2.4. For day-to-day administration and dealings with public services or banks, the Secretary General and Treasurer may, on their own authority, delegate their powers and grant power of attorney to a member or an employee of the Society. Â
5.3. National Sections -
5.3.2. Powers:
5.4. International Council -
The President may invite any member of the association or officers of another association to take part in the proceedings of any meeting without a right to vote. Only National Delegates have the right to vote on matters coming before the International Council. No member of the International Council may hold more than two proxies.
5.4.2. Powers:Â
The International Council shall determine the general policy of the association.
It shall elect the President-Elect, Secretary General, Treasurer and Editorial Secretary of SICOT on the recommendation of the Officer Nominating Committee.
It shall approve the sites and local officers on the recommendation of the Congress Site Committee.
It shall be kept informed of all the activities and proposals of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee and of any other committee which requires its approval.
It shall approve the election of new Active Members, Distinguished Members and Honorary Members on the recommendation of the Board of Directors. It shall expel members in accordance with the procedure laid down in article 3.6.
It shall approve all changes to the Bylaws. It shall likewise approve all changes to the Constitution ahead of the General Assembly.
It shall approve the accounts and the budget of the association. The International Council shall confer on the Secretary General and Treasurer the powers to act on behalf of the association in executing instruments which incur the associationâs liability and to conduct legal proceedings as both plaintiff and defendant.Â
5.5. General Assembly -
A General Assembly of the members of the association shall meet at each SICOT congress. All members shall have the right to vote except Honorary, Inactive and Corresponding Members. It shall be chaired by the President of the association.
5.5.2. Powers:
The General Assembly shall ratify or reject the reports of the officers of the Society, the amount of membership dues, the election of the officers of the Society, the site of congresses, and the election of their Presidents. It shall vote on changes to the Constitution and the winding-up of the association.
5.6. Voting Procedures -
In any matter requiring a vote, the result shall be determined by ordinary majority of the members personally present.
A resolution shall be passed only if voted through by ordinary majority of half the members. Provided that, if no such quorum is found, a new Assembly shall immediately be called to transact the same business. It shall decide by ordinary majority of the members personally present.
If there are more than two propositions to be put to the vote, the proposition receiving the lowest vote will be eliminated in turn.
In the event of a tied vote, the President shall have a casting vote.Â
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ARTICLE 6: Officers, Election, Terms of Office and Duties
The officers of the association shall be the President, the President-Elect, the Immediate Past President, the five Vice-Presidents, the Secretary General, the Treasurer and the Editorial Secretary. They shall comprise the Board of Directors.
6.2. Election, Procedure and Term of Office -
They shall be elected by the International Council on the recommendation of the Officer Nominating Committee (the President-Elect, Secretary-General and Treasurer) and of the National Delegates of the geographical sections (the five Vice-Presidents). The officers, apart from the President-Elect, President and Immediate Past President, shall hold office for a renewable term of three years. Â
6.3. The President -
The President shall be the Chief Officer of SICOT and shall chair all meetings of the association and perform his duties in accordance with usage and parliamentary practice. The President shall chair the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the International Council and the General Assembly; he shall be an ex-officio member of all Committees and Commissions as provided for in the Bylaws.Â
6.4. The Immediate Past President -
The President shall, upon expiration of his two-year term of office as President, automatically become the Immediate Past President of the association, and an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee and the Board of Directors for an additional term of two years; he shall be the Chairman of the Officer Nominating Committee and the Constitution and Bylaws Committee.Â
6.5. The President-Elect -
6.5.1. The President-Elect shall be elected every two years by the International Council.
6.5.2. The President-Elect shall assist the President in the performance of his duties and chair the meetings of the association in the Presidentâs absence. The President-Elect shall be a member of the Board of Directors, the Executive Committee, the Officer Nominating Committee and shall be an ex officio member of all other Committees and Commissions. The President-Elect shall chair the Congress Scientific Advisory Committee and the Planning and Development/Promotion Committee.
6.5.3. The President-Elect shall act in the place of the President in the event of the death or incapacity, or at the request of, the President.
6.5.4. Upon expiration of the Presidentâs term of office, the President-Elect shall become the President of the Society.
6.6. Vice-Presidents -
6.6.2. The Vice-Presidents shall elect one of their number as First Vice-President to serve on the Executive Committee for a term of three years.
6.7. Secretary General -
6.7.2. The Secretary General shall be responsible for minuting all meetings and proceedings of the association and the Standing Committees. The minutes shall be kept at the registered office of the association. He or she shall receive and process all applications for membership and send the list of candidates for membership to the Membership Committee. The Committee will make recommendations to the Board of Directors for the election of new members, and notify the new members and their respective official delegates of their election. He or she shall keep an accurate register of members. He or she shall send to the Board of Directors, Executive Committee, International Council and General Assembly timely notice of their meetings and the agenda for such meetings. The Secretary General shall place on the agenda of such meetings any item of business requested by written requisition of at least twelve (12) Active Members of the association.
6.7.3. The Secretary General shall be a member of the Membership Committee and the Finance Committee.Â
6.8. Treasurer -
6.8.2. The Treasurer shall serve as a member of the Publications and Communications Committee and of the Finance Committee.
6.9. Editorial Secretary -
6.9.1. The Editorial Secretary shall be elected by the International Council for a term of three years, renewable once only.
6.9.2. The Editorial Secretary shall serve as a member of the Publications and Communications Committee, of the Finance Committee and (ex-officio) of the Editorial Board.
6.9.3. The Editorial Secretary shall be invited to attend the meetings of the Executive Committee when appropriate.
6.9.4. The Editorial Secretary shall have responsibility for the Societyâs âNewsletterâ, electronic communications and may be asked to contribute to the Societyâs Journal, âInternational Orthopaedicsâ.
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ARTICLE 7: Standing Committees
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The Standing Committees are consultative bodies with the power to give opinions and make recommendations only. Their composition is subject to approval of the Board of Directors. All members of all categories are eligible to serve on them. Chairmanship of all standing committees is limited to six (6) years.
7.1. Membership Committee -Â
The composition and chairship of the Membership Committee shall be proposed by the President-Elect and approved by the Board of Directors. The number of members and their terms of membership shall be specified in the Bylaws. The Committee shall provide the Board of Directors with the names of candidates for membership for submission to the International Council for election to the association.
7.2. Publications and Communications Committee -
The members and chairperson of the Publications and Communications Committee shall be nominated by the President-Elect and the nominations shall be approved by the Board of Directors. The number of members and their terms of membership shall be specified in the Bylaws. The Committee shall give opinions to the Board of Directors and the International Council on all the associationâs publications and communications.
7.3. Officer Nominating Committee -Â
The Officer Nominating Committee shall be chaired by the Immediate Past President of the Society. The President-Elect shall be a member of this Committee. The other three (3) members shall be specified in the Bylaws. The Committee shall prepare the list of candidates for constitutional office for submission to the International Council.Â
7.4. Congress Scientific Advisory Committee -
The Congress Scientific Advisory Committee shall be chaired by the President-Elect of SICOT. Its membership shall be established by the President and submitted for approval to the Board of Directors. The Congress President, a member of his organizing committee, the Immediate Past Congress President, the next Congress President, the Immediate Past Congress President and the Presidents of the next Congresses shall be members of this Committee. The other members and their terms of membership shall be specified in the Bylaws. This Committee shall give all appropriate advice to the Board of Directors and to the International Council concerning the scientific activities of SICOT congresses.
7.5. Finance Committee -Â
The membership and chairship of the Finance Committee shall be proposed by the President-Elect and approved by the Board of Directors. The number of its members and their terms of membership shall be specified in the Bylaws. The Committee shall exercise oversight on the financial implications and consequences on the treasury of all SICOT activities and projects. It shall exercise oversight on the budgets of the association, the SICOT Foundation and the congresses, the use of funds, the investments and dealings of the association and submit opinions to the Board of Directors and to the International Council.
7.6. Constitution and Bylaws Committee -
The Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall be chaired by the Immediate Past President. Its membership shall be established by the President, subject to the approval of the Board of Directors. The Committee shall consider all future activities of the association, review its Constitution and Bylaws and submit opinions to the Board of Directors and the International Council.
7.7. Education Committee -Â
The chairperson and members shall be appointed by the President-Elect, subject to approval by the Board of Directors. The number of members and their terms of office shall be specified in the Bylaws. The Committee shall submit opinions to the Board of Directors and to the International Council on all aspects relating to education, training and promotion of orthopaedics throughout the world, sponsorship by scientific participation in local and regional events between congresses and all means to achieve the educational goals of the Society.
7.8. Planning and Development/Promotion Committee -Â
The Planning and Development Committee shall be chaired by the President-Elect. Its membership shall be established by the President, subject to approval by the Board of Directors. The First Vice-President shall be a member of the Committee. The other members and their terms of membership shall be specified in the Bylaws. This Committee shall consider all initiatives for the development of the Society and submit opinions to the Board of Directors and to the International Council.Â
7.9. Congress Site Committee -
The Congress Site Committee shall be chaired by the Immediate Past President. The President-Elect, First Vice-President, immediate past and future congress Presidents shall be members. The Committee shall consider the comparative merits of bids for future Congress venues and submit opinions to the Board of Directors and to the International Council who shall select the most suitable site by secret ballot.
7.10. Trauma Committee -
7.11. Young Surgeons Committee -
The object of the Young Surgeons Committee is to improve contacts with Associate Members in each country and submit opinions to the Board of Directors and International Council, particularly on the development of strategies to enhance the associationâs appeal to younger members. The Committee chairperson shall be chosen by the President of the association and its membership shall comprise two representatives from each geographical region.Â
7.12. Other Committees -
Committees not otherwise provided for in the Constitution may be appointed by the Board of Directors for a specific purpose.
7.12.1. Subspecialty sections:7.12.1.1. In order to meet increasing demands in teaching, training and education within orthopaedic subspecialties, SICOT, in addition to the already existing Trauma Committee, has established the following subspecialty sections: Trauma, Paediatrics, Spine, Shoulder and Elbow, Hand, Hip Arthroplasty, Knee Arthroplasty, Foot and Ankle, Tumor, Sports Traumatology and Arthroscopy, and Orthopaedic Research.
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7.12.1.2. An interim chairman appointed by the EC pending election of a chairman by majority vote in the respective groups chairs each subspecialty section.
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7.12.1.3. The duration of chairmanship is two years, after which a new election is held. A chairman may serve a maximum of two consecutive two-year terms.
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7.12.1.4. The subspecialty sections collaborate with the CSAC in selecting topics and reviewing papers for scientific sessions, selecting invited speakers and creating workshops, symposia and sessions at the SICOT annual international meetings, traineesâ meetings and other educational activities. The subspecialty groups are also responsible for selecting award papers and initiating regional fellowships within the respective subspecialties.
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ARTICLE 8: Publications
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ARTICLE 9: General Meetings
9.2. A Congress open to all members shall be held every year, as specified in the Bylaws.
9.3. A General Assembly shall be convened at each such Congress in accordance with Article 5.5.Â
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ARTICLE 10: Languages
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ARTICLE 11: Bylaws
11.2. Changes to the Bylaws may be proposed by the Board of Directors, the International Council or by not fewer than twelve (12) members of SICOT.Â
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ARTICLE 12:Â Revision to the Constitution
12.2. The proposed changes must be communicated to all members not less than forty-five (45) days before the meeting of the General Assembly.
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ARTICLE 13: Approval
13.2. Such changes will take effect on the tenth day after publication in the Annexes du Moniteur Belge. Â
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ARTICLE 14:Â Dissolution
14.2. The net assets remaining after liquidation of the association shall be applied to a non-profit purpose.Â
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ARTICLE 15: Statutory provisions
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All matters not otherwise provided for in this Constitution shall be disposed of in accordance with the provisions of Title III of the Non-Profit Organizations, International Non-Profit Organizations and Foundations Act of 27 June 1921.
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Bylaws of the Société Internationale de Chirurgie
Orthopédique et de Traumatologie
The SICOT Bylaws can be downloaded in PDF format here.
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