Irish Society of Toxicology

 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

History
  Year Event
1962 European Society for Drug Toxicity
founded
1974 Scope broadened and changed to the
European Society of Toxicology
1981 XXII EST annual meeting held in Dublin
1984 Foundation meeting of Irish Society of
Toxicology (IST), 4 May 1984
1985 Founder member of the Federation of
European Societyies of Toxicology (FEST)
1989 FEST and EST merged to form the
European Societies of Toxicology
(EUROTOX)

 

CONSTITUTION

IRISH SOCIETY OF TOXICOLOGY

Article 1

The Society shall be called the Irish Society of Toxicology

Article 2

2.1 The object of the Society is the encourage and extend study and scientific interest in the field of toxicology
2.2 In furtherance of this object the Society will:
  Establish working groups with a view to the study of the various aspect of toxicology;
  Ensure, by means of meetings, symposia, working groups and bulletins, a regular exchange of information bearing on problems of toxicology;
  Promote and encourage scientific work connected with any form of toxicology.

 

Article 3

All those interested in toxicology shall be eligible to apply for membership of the society.  Application should be on the Society's application/membership record form and should be signed by two members of the Society as proposer and seconder, both of whom are in good standing.  The level of fees shall be set at general meetings of the Society.  The decision to accept an application for membership of the Society shall be taken by a General Meeting on the proposal of the Committee.

There shall be five classes of membership as follows, provisions for membership fees for these classes to be decided from time to time.

(a) Ordinary membership. This type of membership, duly elected has full right in the Society.
(b) Student Membership. This type of membership, duly elected from fulltime students, has the same standing as Ordinary Members and has a reduced membership fee.
(c) Honorary Membership. This type of membership is reserved for persons of special merit and distinction in the science of toxicology and carries no voting rights or fees. A nomination for Honorary membership may be proposed only through the Committee for election at the AGM. An honorary member shall not hold office.
(d) Retired Membership. This type of membership is available for Ordinary Members on their retirement from work. A reduced fee is charged and the member has all the rights of an Ordinary Member.
(e) Corporate Membership. This type of membership is open to Companies or persons who wish to support the aims of the Society. The fee for this type of membership will be not less than five times that of Ordinary Membership. This membership will carry no voting rights.

 

Article 4

Members shall be entitled to be present at the general meetings of the society and propose resolutions for discussion.  Resolutions should be submitted in writing, duly proposed and seconded, to reach the secretary at least 4 weeks in advance of the date set for the general meeting.

Article 5

Any member who wishes to resign form the Society may do so by writing to the secretary. The resignation shall take effect immediately.  A member who is more that 1 year in arrears with the subscription is deemed to have resigned.

Article 6

The powers of the Society are vested in the following bodies:

6.1 The General Meeting
6.2 The Committee
6.3 The Honorary Auditors
6.1

The General Meeting shall be convened at least once a year by the Committee, who shall arrange the time, place and agenda.  An extraordinary general meeting must be convened by the Committee if at least one-third of the members (or 15, whichever is greater) of the Society wish it.  The quorum for a general meeting shall be not less than 15 members of the Society. 

The General Meeting is competent:
6.1.1 To approve the minutes of the General meeting and any reports drawn up by the Committee;
6.1.2 To approve the annual statement of account;
6.1.3 To fix the annual subscription;
6.1.4 To elect the president and the other members of the Committee;
6.1.5 To elect two auditors;
6.1.6 To admit and expel members;
6.1.7 To settle any question not falling within the competence of the Committee or the Auditors.
6.2 The committee shall consist of the president, the vice-president, the treasurer, the secretary, the immediate Past-President for one year and up to six other members. The quorum for committee meetings shall be five, which must include at least one non-officer member.
6.2.1 The executive officers and ordinary members of the Committee shall be elected for a period of two years. At the end of each two year period they shall retire form office and shall be eligible for re-election. The Vice-President shall be deemed President-Elect and shall serve as President for the Subsequent two year term of office. The Past President shall serve for a further one year period and is the eligible for re-election. One or more members of the committee shall be replaced each year by election at the Annual General Meeting. In the event that no single member wishes to retire, then the retiring member shall be that person who has held office for the longest period, and shall be determined by lot in the event of equal periods of service. This person will not be eligible for immediate re-election.
6.2.2 The Committee shall be responsible for the conduct of the Society’s affairs.
6.2.3 Resolution shall be passed by the Committee at its meeting or by circulars on the basis of simple majority vote. In the event of a tie, the president or acting-chairman shall have the casting vote.
6.2.4 The particular functions of the Committee are as follows:
6.2.4.1 To Pass resolutions convening general meetings;
6.2.4.2 To co-opt additional members to the committee should the need arise;
6.2.4.3 To invite the members of the Society to general meetings;
6.2.4.4 To prepare various reports for general meetings and to draw up the annual accounts;
6.2.4.5 To implement resolutions passed by general meetings;
6.2.5.0 To keep a register of members.
6.2.5.1 The treasurer or an appointee shall administer the finances of the Society and submit the annual report to the General meeting.
6.2.5.2 Annual audited accounts shall be kept and made available to the Revenue commissioners on Request.
6.2.5.3 The income and property of the Society, whensoever derived, shall be applied solely toward the promotion of the main 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 divided, bonus or otherwise howsoever by way of profit, to the members of the Society.
Provided that nothing herein shall prevent the payment, in good faith, of reasonable and proper remuneration to any officer or servant of the Society, or to any member of the Society, in return for any services actually rendered to the Society, nor prevent the payment of interest at a rate not exceeding five per cent per annum on money lent or reasonable and proper rent for premises demised or let by any member to the Society; but that no member of the Committee of the Society shall be appointed to any salaried office of the Society or any office of the Society paid by fees and that no remuneration or other benefit in money or money’s worth shall be given by the Society to any member of such committee, except repayment of out-of-pocket expenses and interest at the rate aforesaid on money lent or reasonable and proper rent for premises demised or let to the Society: provided that the provision last aforesaid shall not apply to any payment to any company of which a member of Committee may be a member, and in which such member shall not hold more that one-hundredth part of the capital, and such member shall not be bound to account for any share of profit (s) he may receive in respect of any such payment.
6.2.6 The Secretary or an appointee shall be responsible for taking the minutes at meetings and for keeping the list of members up to date. The secretary shall also deal with all matters affecting the administration of the society and shall submit the annual report to a General Meeting.
6.3 The two Auditors shall be elected from among the members of the Society and may each hold office for a period of two years. They shall report on their work to the General Meeting.
6.4
An Executive Officer or an Ordinary Member of the Committee:
(a) May at any time by notice, in writing, addressed to the Secretary or President, resign from office or from the Committee, as the case may be;
(b) Shall cease to be a member of the Committee upon ceasing to be a member of the Society;
(c) Shall vacate office if he/she be absent from three consecutive meeting of the Committee without the consent of the Committee and the Committee so resolve.

Article 7

7.1 Any modification whatsoever of the statutes requires the approval of a two-thirds majority of the members present at the General Meeting.
7.2 No addition, alteration or amendment shall be made to or in the provisions of this Constitution for the time being in force unless the same shall have been previously approved in writing by the Revenue Commissioners.

Article 8

8.1 The dissolution of the Society requires the approval of two-thirds of all the members.  In the event of dissolution, the Committee shall submit a resolution to the General Meeting governing the allotment of the funds of the Society.
8.2 If upon the winding up or dissolution of the Society there remains, after the satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, any property whatsoever, the same shall not be paid to or distributed among the members of the Society but shall be given or transferred to some other charitable institution or institutions having main objects similar to the main objects of the Society and which shall prohibit the distribution of its or their income and property among its or their members to an extent at least as great as is imposed on the Society under or by virtue of Article 6.2.5.3 hereof, such institution or institutions to be determined by the members of the Society at or before the time of dissolution, and if and so far as effect cannot be given to such provisions, then to some charitable object.