(Case Number 7938/25-5-2006 First Instance Court of Athens)
ARTICLE I. NAME
The name of this Society shall be the European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry , hereafter referred to as "the Academy" or "this Academy".
DEFINITION OF PAEDIATRIC DENTISTRY : Paediatric Dentistry is the practice, and teaching of and research in comprehensive preventative and therapeutic oral health care of children from birth through adolescence. It shall be construed to include care beyond the age of adolescence for special patients who demonstrate mental, medical, physical, social and/or emotional problems.
ARTICLE II. PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES
The European Academy of Paediatric Dentistry is an organization of individuals whose primary concern is in the area(s) of practice, education and/or research specifically related to the specialty of Paediatric Dentistry. It's purpose shall be the advancement of the specialty of Paediatric Dentistry for the benefit of the oral health of children.
The attainment of the fulfilment of its expressed purpose shall be achieved by dedication to the following objectives:
The Academy shall be the symbol of excellence in practice, education and research in Paediatric Dentistry.
The Academy, when required, shall co-operate with other dental organizations, allied health professions, government and private agencies concerned with the dental health of the public.
The Academy shall actively involve itself in the development and implementation of national programmes of dental health for children.
The Academy shall foster the development and promulgation of sound tenets for Paediatric dental procedures through study and research accompanied by constant critical evaluation and review.
The Academy shall be the principal vehicle for providing all of its members an opportunity to improve their knowledge of all facets of Paediatric Dentistry.
The Academy shall actively participate in the development and delivery of programmes of continuing education in the field of Paediatric Dentistry for the Academy per se, and for the dental profession as a whole.
The Academy shall constantly strive to enhance the quality of postgraduate education training in Paediatric Dentistry through its availability in a consultative capacity to the graduate dental training centres and dental schools throughout Europe .
The Academy shall be ever alert to its responsibility to children and the dental profession in the fulfilment of its obligation in the matter of the prevention and control of oral disease in children.
ARTICLE III. ORGANIZATION
Section 1. INCORPORATION: This Academy is a non-profit corporation. If this organization shall be dissolved at any time, no part of funds or property shall be distributed to, or among, its members, but after payment of all indebtedness of the Academy, the surplus funds and properties shall be used for dental education and dental research in such a manner as the governing body of the Academy may determine.
Section 2. EXECUTIVE OFFICE: The Academy shall have an office, which shall be at the geographic location of the Secretary until such time as the finances of the Academy are sufficient to have a permanently located office. From time to time therefore the executive office of the Academy shall be in various countries of Europe . The location of the office would be determined by decision of the Board. Europe shall be defined as the geographic area bounded to the North by the North Cape of Norway, to the East by the North-East Ural Mountains, to the West by the Bjargtangar of Iceland and to the South by a line between Cape Marroqui of Spain circumventing Malta, Greece, Cyprus and Turkey or as member countries of European Union.
Section 3. Membership: The Active membership of this Academy shall consist of paediatric dentists who are qualified according to the curriculum guidelines for education and training in paediatric dentistry (Int J Paediatr Dent 1997:7:4:273-81). Also membership can include other dentists and scientists whose qualifications and classification shall be established in the ‘Bylaws”.
ARTICLE IV. GOVERNMENT
Section 1. LEGISLATIVE AND CONTROLLING BODY : The legislative and controlling body of this Academy shall be the voting membership of Active members gathered together into what shall be known as the General Assembly. The General Assembly should meet at least every other year.
Section 2. ADMINISTRATION : The administration of this Academy shall be carried out by the Board supported by the Council. The Board of the Academy consists of the Elective Officers, who are the President, the President-Elect, the Immediate Past President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer. The Council shall consist of the President, the President-Elect, the Immediate Past President, the Secretary, the Treasurer and one Councillor proposed by each local organisation (country). The Editor of the journal and the Editor of the web page shall be ex officio members of the Board and the C ouncil without the right to vote. The Board should meet at least every year and the Council every other year.
Section 3. ELECTION OF THE BOARD : The Board of the Academy is elected and approved by the General Assembly. The President-Elect, President and Immediate Past President are elected and approved for a limited period of 2 years, while the positions of Secretary and the Treasurer can be re-elected and approved every two years, up to 6 consecutive years.
ARTICLE V. OFFICIAL ACADEMY PUBLICATIONS
The European Journal (Archives) of Paediatric Dentistry is the official journal of the Academy. The Web page of EAPD shall be the official electronic publication of the Academy in the Internet at the www.eapd.gr or www.eapd.eu address.
ARTICLE VI. BIENNIAL SESSION
The membership of this Academy shall meet at least once every other calendar year on even numbered years.
ARTICLE VII. AMENDMENTS
This Constitution may be amended by an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the minimum of (50) members present, entitled to vote and voting at the General Assembly of the members of this Academy, or at any regular meeting of the members of this Academy, or at a special meeting called for that purpose, provided notice has been mailed to the membership at least sixty (60) days prior to this action.
ARTICLE VIII. BYLAWS
Details concerning the following matters are included in the established Bylaws of the Academy:
Membership, Local national Organizations, Biennial Congress, General Assembly, Elective Officers, Council, Appointive Officers, Standing Committees, Finances, Elections, C ode of professional conduct and judicial procedures, Prohibition of the use of membership in the academy for private profit, Official academy publications, Rules of order, Amendment of bylaws, Adoption.
Amendments to these Bylaws may be proposed by any committee or member, provided that the proposed amendment has been submitted in writing to the Secretary and the Constitution and Bylaws Committee no later than sixty (60) days prior to the next interim session of the Council. The Council may also propose amendments to these Bylaws and thereafter submit them to the Constitution and Bylaws Committee for proper formulation and wording at least sixty (60) days prior to the date of the session of the General Assembly where such action is to be considered.
These Bylaws may be repealed or amended by a two-thirds (2/3) vote of the minimum of thirty (30) members present, entitled to vote and voting at any regular session of the General Assembly or at any special session called for such purpose, provided that as a condition precedent to the presentation of any such amendment, the Constitution and Bylaws Committee shall have properly formulated and worded the said amendment and a copy thereof shall have been send to each of the members of the General Assembly no later than thirty (30) days prior to such action.
