The following is the Regional Anaesthesia - United Kingdom Constitution.

DRAFT

Regional Anaesthesia UK (RAUK)

AFFILIATED TO THE EUROPEAN SOCIETY OF REGIONAL ANAESTHESIA AND PAIN THERAPY (ESRA)

Previously ESRA GB & Ireland zone of the European Society of Regional Anesthesia (ESRA)

CONSTITUTION AND RULES

Adopted by:________________ Date:_____________

1. NAME:
The Name of the Society shall be:
Regional Anaesthesia UK (RA-UK)
The only ESRA afflicted regional anesthesia society of the United Kingdom
Previously
‘ESRA UK & Ireland zone of the European Society of Regional Anaesthetic (ESRA)’

The Society will have three nominated trustees (Appendix 1).

2. OBJECTIVE:
The objective of the society shall be the advancement of standards and education in regional anaesthesia in the United Kingdom of Great Britain
In furtherance of this objective the Society shall:
2.1) Provide a forum for discussion;
2.2) Stimulate research;
2.3) Collect relevant information and disseminate it to its members;
2.4) Provide expert advice and make recommendations;
2.5) Liaise with similar or relevant organisations in Ireland and internationally;
2.6) Encourage awareness of regional anaesthesia amongst the hospital and community medical and surgical practice;
2.7) Encourage awareness of regional anaesthesia amongst the general public.

3. MEMBERSHIP:
Ordinary members. (voting members)
3.1) Every European Society of Regional Anaesthesia member resident in the United Kingdom will be considered a member of the national body RA-UK
3.2) Membership of the Society shall be open to any medically qualified person who is involved in the practice of anaesthesia and regional anaesthesia in the United Kingdom of Great Britain
Associate members. (non-voting members)
3.3) Anaesthetic trainees and non trainees working in anaesthesia within the UK / not members of the European Society of Regional anaesthesia
3.2) Application for membership shall be open to persons who are not medically qualified at the discretion of the Council.
3.4) The Council may expel or suspend from the Society any. member whose conduct is such as may, in its opinion, be injurious to the Interests of the Society.


4. MANAGEMENT:
4.1) The management of the Society shall be vested in a Council:
1. President
2. Past president/ president elect
3. Secretary
4. Treasurer
5. Ordinary member
6. Ordinary member
7. Ordinary Member
8. Ordinary Member
9. Ordinary Member
10. Ordinary member
Notes:
4.1) The Council may co-opt a maximum of two society members to the Council subject to ratification at the next A.G.M. Co-option shall be for a period of up to two years.
4.2) The term of office for each of these offices shall be three years. The president elect shall normally precede the Presidency
4.3) The council will elect the UK’s representative on the European Society of Regional Anaesthesia and Pain Therapy (ESRA) Council of Representatives (COR). In most circumstance this will be the President
4.4) If the UK’s representative to the COR is elected onto the ESRA executive board, then a further member of the RA-UK council will be elected from the council, by the officers to replace this person on the COR.
Only the UK’s representative to the ESRA COR will have voting rights on the COR
4.2) six members shall constitute a quorum for Council meetings.

5. ELECTION OF THE COUNCIL:
5.1) Each member of the Council shall be elected for a period of three years and may stand for a second consecutive term of office, excluding the office of President (term of office 3 years non renewable)
5.2) Former Council members may stand for office again after a period of one year out of office.
5.3) Only members who have been ESRA members for a period of at least 1year at the election date will be able to candidate for council (added 14/5/09)
5.3) Persons standing for election to the Council should, be duly proposed and seconded by members of the Society in Writing to the Hon. Secretary two months prior to the A.G.M.
5.4) A postal ballot shall be held prior to the A.G.M.(at least 1month) for all elections to council, results will be announced at the A.G.M
5.5) One doctor-in-training shall be elected to Council at the Annual General Meeting, having been nominated in writing at least two weeks in advance.

6. ELECTION OF OFFICERS:
6.1) The Officers of the Society shall be elected by the Council.
All members of the Council shall be eligible for election as Officers.
6.2) Officers shall be elected at a meeting of Council prior to the Annual General Meeting. Candidates for office shall be proposed and seconded by members of the Council. Elections shall be by secret ballot.
6.3) Officers shall be elected for a period of three years, and may stand for a second consecutive term of office (excluding the president – re article 5.1)
6.4) If the term of office of a Council member expires at a time when the member holds a position as an officer of the Society, the member may extend the term of Council membership by one year to accommodate the execution of duties as an officer.

7. DUTIES OF OFFICERS:
President:
The President shall chair all meetings of Council, the Annual General Meeting and any Extraordinary General Meeting called. He or she shall have the right to membership of all Sub¬committees and delegations of the Society.
Past President
The Past President /President elect shall fulfill the role of the President in his/her absence.
Secretary:
The Hon. Secretary shall:
• Notify Council members and society members of meetings;
• Prepare the agenda and record minutes;
• Notify members where appropriate of matters affecting the Society;
• Notify members of meetings including the Annual General Meeting, prepare the agenda and record the minutes;
• Conduct ballots as required for the election of Council members and Officers as required under the Constitution.
Treasurer:
The Hon. Treasurer shall:
1. Collect subscriptions and issue receipts.
2. Record the Accounts of the Society.
3. Prepare the Annual Statement of Accounts.
4. Incur such expenses and pay such monies as authorised by Council.
5. Maintain a record of members of the Society



8. FINANCES:
8.1) The Society may be financed by funds from commercial sponsorship, members' Annual subscriptions, and, at the discretion of the Council, by funds from other sources.
8.2) Any Annual subscription shall be fixed at the Annual General Meeting.
8.3) A Statement of Accounts for the preceding year shall be presented by the Treasurer at the Annual General Meeting. These Accounts shall be audited by a professional accountant.
8.4) All monies raised on behalf of the society shall be applied to further the objects of the society and for no other purpose, provided that nothing herein contained shall prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable and proper remuneration to any employee of the society and fees to professional and technical advisors.
8.5) In the event of the dissolution of the Society, any assets remaining after satisfaction of all debts and liabilities shall not be paid or distributed among the members of the Society, but shall be given or transferred to a recognised charitable organisation(s) having objects similar to the Society.


9. MEETINGS:
9.1) The Annual General Meeting of the Society shall be held each year upon a
time and date fixed by the Council to;
- receive an address from the President
- receive a report from the Hon. Secretary on the affairs of the Society since the previous A.G-M.
- receive a Statement of Accounts from the Hon. Treasurer relating to the period since the previous A.G.M.
- set the annual subscription
- consider any motion or resolution duly submitted to the meeting
- notice of such motion or resolution must be submitted in writing (having been duly proposed and seconded) to the Hon. Secretary at least two weeks prior to the meeting
- ratify new members
- ratify co-option members of Council
- elect Council members as per item 5

9.1 a) The Secretary shall inform members of the date and agenda of the Annual General Meeting at least two weeks in advance. He or she shall seek_ nominations for any elections required under the Constitution six weeks in advance of the A.G.M.
In all instances other than those specified in article 10, where voting is required, the results shall be determined by simple majority. In the event of a tie, the Chairman shall have a casting vote.
9.2) An Extraordinary General Meeting may be called:
- at the discretion of the Council;
- on written request of not less than ten members of the Society;
Such a meeting shall be held not more than four weeks from the date on which the Hon. Secretary is informed of the request
In all instances other than those specified In article 10, where voting is required, the results shall be determined by simple majority. In the event of a tie, the Chairman shall have the casting vote.
9.3) At least one Scientific Meeting shall be held each year


10. ALTERATIONS OF THE CONSTITUTION:
10.1) No new article or amendment may be made without the consent of two thirds of the members present at an Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting.
10.2) Any motion to change the Constitution must be duly proposed and seconded at least six weeks prior to the A.G.M. and circulated to all members two weeks in advance of the A.G.M. or E.G.M.
11. ‘REGIONAL GROUPS’ in Regional Anaesthesia:
Any Regional Anaesthesia Group whether already in existence or newly formed may apply to become part of regional anesthesia UK (RA-UK), previously ESRA UK & Ireland zone of ESRA Such applications will be considered by the Council. In the event of a Regional Group being accepted as part of the Society, the following rules shall pertain:
a. The Regional Group shall elect a member to represent them on the Council of the Regional Anaesthesia United Kingdom  (RA-UK) previously ESRA UK & Ireland zone of ESRA.

STANDING REGULATIONS
The standing regulations of the ESRA-UK /Regional Anaesthesia United Kingdom  (RA-UK)
These regulations pertain to the working of the Society and are to be read in conjunction with the Constitution of the Society. Any standing regulation determined by council will require ratification at the following general meeting of the Society.


1) RE: A tie for elected council membership:
Further to item 5.4 relating to the election of council members it is decided that in the event of a tie for the last available position, the longest standing society member of the tied candidates will be deemed elected. This will be determined from the date on which membership application was confirmed by council.
2) RE: Representative role of the Society:
Further to article 2 and item 2.4 relating to the Society's role in the advancement of standards in Regional Anaesthesia and in providing expert advice regarding Regional Anaesthesia, it is accepted that the society may make representation on behalf of patient (reimbursement) benefit in Regional Anaesthesia and on behalf of the conditions of service of doctors and other health care workers in Regional Anaesthesia.

Constitution agreed and adopted by meeting of council at the following location, date and time:
Location: __________________________________________
Date: __________ Time: __________
Signed by:
President: ____________________ Date: __________
Block Caps: __________________
Vice- President: _______________ Date: __________
Block Caps: __________________
Secretary: ____________________ Date: __________
Block Caps: __________________
Treasurer: ____________________ Date: __________
Block Caps: __________________
Training: ____________________ Date: __________
Block Caps: __________________
Non-officer: ___________________ Date: __________
Block Caps: __________________
Non-officer: ___________________ Date: __________
Block Caps: __________________

Appendix 1
Nominated Trustees:
Name: ______________________
Address: ______________________
______________________
______________________
Telephone Number: ______________
Email Address: _________________
Name: ______________________
Address: ______________________
______________________
______________________
Telephone Number: ______________
Email Address: _________________
Name: ______________________
Address: ______________________
______________________
______________________
Telephone Number: ______________
Email Address: _________________