Our Constitution


CONSTITUTION OF SOCIETY FOR GYNAECOLOGICAL MINIMALLY INVASIVE SURGERY SINGAPORE (SGMIS)

NAME

1.1 This Society shall be known as the “Society for Gynaecological Minimally Invasive Surgery Singapore (SGMIS)”, hereinafter referred to as the “Society”.

PLACE OF BUSINESS

2.1 Its place of business shall be at “c/o MIS Unit, KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital, 100 Bukit Timah Road, Singapore 229899” or such other address as may subsequently be decided upon by the Committee and approved by the Registrar of Societies. The Society shall carry out its activities only in places and premises which have the prior written approval from the relevant authorities, where necessary.

OBJECTS

3.1 Its objects are:

a) To promote and to develop the highest standards of clinical practice in the field of gynaecological minimally invasive surgery through education and research.

b) To provide physicians and allied health scientists and technologists with scientific and educational programs and materials of the highest quality, and to constantly improve the content and value of these scientific and educational activities.

c) To promote research in all aspects of gynaecological minimally invasive surgery and related sciences, including clinical research in the promotion of quality and personalized healthcare.

d) To foster closer fellowship among all members and greater cooperation among all members and allied healthcare professionals

e) To promote the concept of heath defined by the World Health Organization: "Health is a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity"

3.2 In furtherance of the above objects, the Society may organize conferences or summits; organize training workshops focusing on Gynaecological Minimally Invasive Surgery for doctors interested in the relevant technologies; and may share with its members the state-of-the art information via newsletters and issue its own journals.

MEMBERSHIP QUALIFICATION AND RIGHTS

4.1 Only members who are above 21 years of age shall have the right to vote and to hold office in the Society.

4.2 Ordinary Membership is open to medical practitioners who hold a relevant medical qualification and scientists with relevant qualifications, knowledge and experience in the field of minimally invasive gynaecological surgery. Ordinary Members shall have voting rights and the rights to hold office in the Society.

4.3 Associate Membership is open to doctors in training and medical students. Associate Members shall have no voting rights and no rights to hold office in the Society.

4.4 Overseas Membership is open to doctors residing outside Singapore who have special interest in Minimally invasive surgery. Overseas Members shall have no voting rights and no rights to hold office in the Society.

4.5 Honorary Membership is open to distinguished persons who have rendered notable service to the Society or have made significant contributions in the field of minimally invasive surgery in Singapore, and are recommended by the Committee and elected by a majority at a General Meeting. Honorary Members shall have no voting rights and no rights to hold office in the Society.

APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

5.1 A person wishing to join the Society should submit his particulars to the Secretary on a prescribed form. The Secretariat shall review each application to determine whether all eligibility criteria are satisfied and then present to Committee for determination.

5.2 All applicants who satisfy the applicable criteria will be admitted to membership, effective on the date designated by the Committee.

5.3 A copy of the Constitution shall be made available upon payment of the entrance fee or whenever it is requested.

ENTRANCE FEES, SUBSCRIPTIONS AND OTHER DUES

6.1 Ordinary membership fee of SGD $350 is payable on admission to the society and renewable every 5-year.

6.2 Associated membership fee of SGD $50 per year is payable on admission to the society.

6.3 Overseas membership fee of SGD $150 is payable on admission to the society and renewable every 5-year.

6.4 Any additional fund required for special purposes can be raised from members or external parties with the consent of the majority of the general membership.

6.5 The income and property of the Society whensoever derived shall be applied towards the promotion of the objects of the Society as set forth in this Constitution and no portion thereof shall be paid or transferred directly or indirectly by way of dividend or bonus or otherwise howsoever by way of profit to the persons who at any time are or have been members of the Society or to any of them or to any person claiming through any of them.

SUPREME AUTHORITY AND GENERAL MEETINGS

7.1 The supreme authority of the Society is vested in a General Meeting of the members presided over by the President.

7.2 An Annual General Meeting shall be held within 3 months from the close of its financial year.

7.3 At other times, an Extraordinary General Meeting must be called by the President on the request in writing of not less than 25% of the total voting membership or thirty (30) voting members, whichever is the lesser, and may be called at anytime by order of the Committee. The notice in writing shall be given to the Secretary setting forth the business that is to be transacted. The Extraordinary General Meeting shall be convened within two (2) months from receiving this request to convene the Extraordinary General Meeting.

7.4 If the Committee does not within two (2) months after the date of the receipt of the written request proceed to convene an Extraordinary General Meeting, the members who requested for the Extraordinary General Meeting shall convene the Extraordinary General Meeting by giving ten (10) days' notice to voting members setting forth the business to be transacted and simultaneously posting the agenda on the Society's notice board.

7.5 At least two (2) weeks' notice shall be given of an Annual General Meeting and at least ten (10) days' notice of an Extraordinary General Meeting. Notice of meeting stating the date, time and place of meeting shall be sent by the Secretary to all voting members. The particulars of the agenda shall be posted on the Society's notice board four (4) days in advance of the meeting.

7.6 Unless otherwise stated in this Constitution, voting by proxy shall not be allowed at all General Meetings.

7.7 The following points will be considered at the Annual General Meeting:

a) The previous financial year's accounts and annual report of the Committee.

b) Where applicable, the election of office-bearers for the following term.

7.8 Any member who wishes to place an item on the agenda of a General Meeting may do so provided he gives notice to the Secretary one (1) week before the meeting is due to be held.

7.9 At least 25% of the total voting membership or thirty (30) voting members, whichever is the lesser, present at a General Meeting shall form a quorum. Proxies shall not be constituted as part of the quorum.

7.10 In the event of there being no quorum at the commencement of a General Meeting, the meeting shall be adjourned for half an hour and should the number then present be insufficient to form a quorum, those present shall be considered a quorum, but they shall have no power to amend any part of the existing Constitution.

MANAGEMENT AND COMMITTEE

8.1 The administration of the Society shall be entrusted to a Committee consisting of the following to be elected at an Annual General Meeting:

A President
A Secretary
A Treasurer
4 Ordinary Committee Members


8.2 Names for the above offices shall be proposed and seconded at the Annual General Meeting and election will follow on a simple majority vote of the members. All office-bearers, except the Treasurer may be re-elected to the same or related post for a consecutive term of office. The term of office of the Committee is two years.

8.3 Election will be either by show of hands or, subject to the agreement of the majority of the voting members present, by a secret ballot. In the event of a tie, a re-vote shall be taken and if it still results in a tie, a lot shall be drawn to determine who shall be the successful candidate unless the contesting candidate(s) withdrew in favour of one of themselves.

8.4 A Committee Meeting shall be held at least once every 12 months after giving seven (7) days' notice to Committee Members. The President may call a Committee Meeting at any time by giving five (5) days' notice. Majority of the Committee Members must be present for its proceedings to be valid.

8.5 Any member of the Committee absenting himself from three (3) meetings consecutively without satisfactory explanations shall be deemed to have withdrawn from the Committee and a successor may be co-opted by the Committee to serve until the next Annual General Meeting. Any changes in the Committee shall be notified to the Registrar of Societies within two (2) weeks of the change.

8.6 The duty of the Committee is to organise and supervise the daily activities of the Society. The Committee may not act contrary to the expressed wishes of the General Meeting without prior reference to it and shall always remain subordinate to the General Meetings.

8.7 The Committee has power to authorise the expenditure of a sum not exceeding $5000 per month from the Society's funds for the Society's purposes.

DUTIES OF OFFICE-BEARERS

9.1 The President shall chair all General and Committee meetings. He shall also represent the Society in its dealings with outside persons.

9.2 The Secretary shall keep all records, except financial, of the Society and shall be responsible for their correctness. He will keep minutes of all General and Committee meetings. He shall maintain an up-to-date Register of Members at all times.

9.3 The Treasurer shall keep all funds and collect and disburse all moneys on behalf of the Society and shall keep an account of all monetary transactions and shall be responsible for their correctness. He is authorised to expend up to $1000 per month for petty expenses on behalf of the Society. He will not keep more than $2000 in the form of cash and money in excess of this will be deposited in a bank to be named by the Committee. Cheques, etc. for withdrawals from the bank will be signed by the Treasurer and either the President or the Secretary.

9.4 Ordinary Committee Members shall assist in the general administration of the Society and perform duties assigned by the Committee from time to time.

AUDIT AND FINANCIAL YEAR

10.1 A firm of Public Accountants and Chartered Accountants shall be appointed as Auditors at each Annual General Meeting for a term of one year and shall be eligible for reappointment.

10.2 They:

a) Will be required to audit each year's accounts and present a report upon them to the Annual General Meeting.

b) May be required by the President to audit the Society's accounts for any period within their tenure of office at any date and make a report to the Committee.

10.3 The financial year shall be from 1st January to 31st December (to be assigned by the Registry of Societies).

TRUSTEES

11.1 If the Society at any time acquires any immovable property, such property shall be vested in trustees subject to a declaration of trust.

11.2 The trustees of the Society shall:

a) Not be more than four (4) and not less than two (2) in number.

b) Be elected by a General Meeting of members.

c) Not effect any sale or mortgage of property without the prior approval of the General Meeting of members.

11.3 The office of the trustee shall be vacated:

a) If the trustee dies or becomes a lunatic or of unsound mind.

b) If he is absent from the Republic of Singapore for a period of more than one (1) year.

c) If he is guilty of misconduct of such a kind as to render it undesirable that he continues as a trustee.

d) If he submits notice of resignation from his trusteeship.

11.4 Notice of any proposal to remove a trustee from his trusteeship or to appoint a new trustee to fill a vacancy must be given by posting it on the notice board in the Society's premises at least two (2) weeks before the General Meeting at which the proposal is to be discussed. The result of such General Meeting shall then be notified to the Registrar of Societies.

11.5 The address of each immovable property, name of each trustee and any subsequent change must be notified to the Registrar of Societies.

VISITORS AND GUESTS

12.1 Visitors and guests may be admitted into the premises of the Society but they shall not be admitted into the privileges of the Society. All visitors and guests shall abide by the Society’s rules and regulations.

PROHIBITIONS

13.1 Gambling of any kind, excluding the promotion or conduct of a private lottery which has been permitted under the Private Lotteries Act Cap 250, is forbidden on the Society's premises. The introduction of materials for gambling or drug taking and of bad characters into the premises is prohibited.

13.2 The funds of the Society shall not be used to pay the fines of members who have been convicted in court of law.

13.3 The Society shall not engage in any trade union activity as defined in any written law relating to trade unions for the time being in force in Singapore.

13.4 The Society shall not attempt to restrict or interfere with trade or make directly or indirectly any recommendation to, any arrangement with its members which has the purpose or is likely to have the effect of fixing or controlling the price or any discount, allowance or rebate relating to any goods or service which adversely affect consumer interests.

13.5 The Society shall not indulge in any political activity or allow its funds and/or premises to be used for political purposes.

13.6 The Society shall not hold any lottery, whether confined to its members or not, in the name of the Society or its office-bearers, Committee or members unless with the prior approval of the relevant authorities.

13.7 The Society shall not raise funds from the public for whatever purposes without the prior approval in writing of the Assistant Director Operations, Licensing Division, Singapore Police Force and other relevant authorities.

AMENDMENTS TO CONSTITUTION

14.1 The Society shall not amend its Constitution without the prior approval in writing of the Registrar of Societies. No alteration or addition/deletion to this Constitution shall be passed except at a general meeting and with the consent of two-thirds (2/3) of the voting members present at the General Meeting.

14.2 At least 2 weeks’ notice of the proposed amendments to the Constitution shall be given by the Secretary to all members.

INTERPRETATION

15.1 In the event of any question or matter pertaining to day-to-day administration which is not expressly provided for in this Constitution, the Committee shall have power to use their own discretion. The decision of the Committee shall be final unless it is reversed at a General Meeting of members.

DISPUTES

16.1 In the event of any dispute arising amongst members, they shall attempt to resolve the matter at an Extraordinary General Meeting in accordance with this Constitution. Should the members fail to resolve the matter, they may bring the matter to a court of law for settlement.

DISSOLUTION

17.1 The Society shall not be dissolved, except with the consent of not less than three-fifths (3/5) of the total voting membership of the Society for the time being resident in Singapore expressed, either in person or by proxy, at a General Meeting convened for the purpose.

17.2 In the event of the Society being dissolved as provided above, all debts and liabilities legally incurred on behalf of the Society shall be fully discharged, and the remaining funds will be disposed of in such manner as the General Meeting of members may determine or donated to an approved charity or charities in Singapore.

17.3 A Certificate of Dissolution shall be given within seven (7) days of the dissolution to the Registrar of Societies.

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