South African Children’s Cancer Study Group

About SACCSG

Constitution

ARTICLE I: NAME
The name of the organization is the South African Children’s Cancer Study Group (SACCSG).

ARTICLE II: AIMS OF THE GROUP
  1. To advance the study and knowledge of cancers in children.
  2. To organize regional and national trials of therapy.
  3. To improve the care and treatment off children with cancer.
  4. To promote a comprehensive approach towards the child with cancer so as to achieve the optimal health, growth and development.
  5. To foster collaboration between specialists working in different fields in paediatric oncology.
  6. To provide a forum for discussion of development in childhood cancer.
  7. To promote education and disseminate knowledge about paediatric cancer.

ARTICLE III: ORGANISATION AND OFFICERS
  1. The business of the group shall be conducted by a Committee consisting of a Chairman, a Secretary / Treasurer and 5 additional members with facility to co-opt if any medical school is not represented. A minimum of 4 Committee members shall have a specialist qualification in paediatrics.
  2. Sub-committees may be appointed from the membership for the study of specific projects.
  3. The organization shall:
    • Exist in its own right, separately from its members.
    • Be able to own property and other possessions.
    • Be able to sue and be sued in its own name.
    • Continue to exist even when its membership changes and there are different office bearers.


ARTICLE IV: TERMS OF OFFICE
  1. The Chairman, Secretary/Treasurer and Committee members shall serve for a term of 2 years and may be eligible for re-election for 2 consecutive terms of office only.
  2. Sub-committee members shall be appointed for the duration of their specific projects.
  3. The management committee may take on the power and authority that it believes it needs to be able to achieve the objectives of the organization.

ARTICLE V:
The group shall consist of ordinary members, honorary members and foreign members.
  1. Ordinary membership may be granted by the Committee to medically or scientifically qualified persons of good professional standing who have a major interest in the study or practice of paediatric oncology. Prospective members must be proposed and seconded by members of the group. Suitably qualified persons from countries outside of South Africa may become members at the discretion of the committee. They would enjoy all the benefits of membership excluding voting rights for committee representation and constitutional changes. They would pay the same dues as ordinary members. They would be designated as foreign members.
  2. Honorary membership may be granted by the Committee to persons who have distinguished themselves in paediatric oncology. Honorary members shall enjoy all the privileges of members except that of voting. They shall be exempt from paying dues.

ARTICLE VI:MEETINGS AND PROCEDURES OF THE COMMITTEE
  1. The group shall hold a meeting for all members at least every 2 years at a venue to be set by the Committee. The object of this forum is to provide a platform to present results from the members of the SACCSG and the paediatric oncology units.
  2. The committee may at any time, arrange special scientific or business meetings.
  3. The committee shall, if possible meet at least twice per year. Communication between the committee members can also be via e-mail and a 2/3 majority vote is needed for decisions to be ratified.
  4. Four elected members shall form a quorum at a meeting of the Committee.
    • The management committee must attempt to hold at least two ordinary meetings each year.
    • The chairperson, or two members of the committee, can call a special meeting if they want to. But they must let the other management committee members know the date of the proposed meeting not less than 21 days before it is due to take place. They must also tell the other members of the committee which issues will be discussed at the meeting. If, however one of the matters to be discussed is to appoint a new management committee member, then those calling the meeting must give the other committee members not less than 30 days notice.
    • The chairperson shall act as the chairperson of the management committee. If the chairperson does not attend a meeting, then members of the committee who are present choose which of them will chair that meeting. This must be done before the meeting starts.
    • There shall be a quorum whe
    • znever such a meeting is held.
    • If the management committee thinks it is necessary, then it can decide to set up one or more sub-committees. It may decide to do this to get some work done quickly. Or it may want a sub-committee to do an inquiry, for example. There must be at least three people on a sub-committee. The sub-committee must report back to the management committee on its activities. It should do this regularly.
    • Minutes of all meetings must be kept safely and always be on hand for members to consult.

ARTICLE VII: DUES AND FINANCES
  1. The committee shall be authorized to establish such dues as are compatible with the financial status of the society. The Chairman and treasurer are authorized to open and maintain a bank account at a suitable institution to enable subscriptions to be deposited and withdrawals to be made for local congresses and other approved expenses. This account will be transferred to the new Chairman/Treasurer when the committee is elected.
  2. The financial year will end on the 30th June each year.
  3. The income of the SACCSG will not be distributable to the members or office bearers except for reasonable compensation for approved services rendered. The services rendered and payment thereof must be approved by the committee of the SACCSG by a 2/3 majority.
  4. Members or office bearers will have no rights in the property or other assets of the SACCSG solely by virtue of them being members or office bearers.
  5. Subscriptions shall fall due in January of each year.
  6. Members whose subscriptions are in arrears for 2 years may be dropped from the roll after due notice by the Secretary/Treasurer.

ARTICLE VIII:
The constitution may be altered or amended by a vote of two thirds of its members, provided such proposal or amendment has been submitted to the members at least 3 months prior to the meeting.

ARTICLE IX: DISSOLUTION
  1. In the event of the group being dissolved the remaining assets shall be donated to a non-profit organization devoted to medical research to be designated by committee holding office at the time of dissolution.
  2. The liability of individual members shall be limited to R1.00.
  3. The organization may close down if at least two-thirds of the members present and voting at a meeting convened for the purpose of considering such matter, are if favour for closing down. /tmp/tmpM5wlvo