Article I. Name

The Society shall be named, known and styled as: WORLD SOCIETY FOR STEREOTACTIC AND FUNCTIONAL NEUROSURGERY.

 

​

Article II. Objectives and Purposes

The principal object of the Society shall be to form an international organization to foster the study and teaching of better treatment of persons afflicted with injuries, lesions, diseases and abnormalities of the nervous system through the discovery of causes of the same and better methods of treatment.

 

The purpose of the Society shall be as follows:

1. Fostering the study and teaching of methods of treatment of various neurological and other disorders by means of surgical interventions in the nervous system of human patients for treatment and for scientific analysis of the clinical problems.

2. Fostering and teaching the investigation of the nature and treatment of nervous system disorders and its functioning by the methods set forth in objectives and purpose.

3. Establishing fellowships, education and training in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery procedures.

4. Establishing minimum standards for the performance of such procedures, as well as minimum standards of training and experience for persons performing such procedures.

5. Achieving the goals and objectives of the Society, publication of the abstracts of the congresses will occur in Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery, the official journal of the Society.

6. Encouraging and organizing meetings with investigators and scientists in related fields such as neuroscience, neurology, psychiatry, microelectronics, microsurgery, and other fields of expertise to increase the interdisciplinary approach in stereotactic and functional neurosurgery.

 

​

Article Ill. Membership

Section 1. Types

There shall be five types of memberships in the Society: (A) Active, (B) Associate, (C) Honorary,

(D) Resident/Fellow, (E) Retired/Senior.

 

A. shall be neurosurgeons who have engaged in active participation in the field of stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. Active members can vote and hold office.

B. Associate members may be engineers, and other qualified professionals who are active in research and/or clinical applications of stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. Associate members can vote.​

D. shall be physicians or scientists in a training program who express an interest in the field of Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery. They shall pay reduced membership fees and will have the option of subscribing to the journal Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at a reduced price. Upon completion of their training, they will no longer be eligible for Resident/Fellow membership. Resident/Fellow members will not be eligible to vote.

E. shall be persons sixty-five years of age or older who were active or associate members in good standing, but who are no longer in active practice of neurosurgery or neuroscience. Retired/Senior members shall be exempt from payment of annual dues and will not be eligible to vote, but may subscribe to the journal Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at a reduced price. Retired/Senior members may attend meetings of the World Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery at the member registration fee.

 

Section 2. The credentials of candidates

Credentials for active, associate, and resident membership shall be considered first by the Membership Committee. It shall report the candidates to the officers for election or rejection. The officers shall establish the annual dues for membership.

 

Active, Associate, Resident and Retired members of the American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (ASSFN), the European Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (ESSFN), the Korean Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (KSSFN), the Indian Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (ISSFN), the Japanese Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (JSSFN), the Middle East Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (MSSFN), and the Latin American Society for Stereotactic and Functional Neurosurgery (SLANFE) will automatically be enrolled as members of the WSSFN according to the agreements made with the respective societies.

 

Section 3. Endorsement

No form of membership in this Society shall be interpreted as endorsing the qualifications of the respective member to perform operations on human patients. Members who use their membership for advertising purposes in any way, shall forfeit this membership. The Officers and the Board of Directors shall have the power to suspend or expel any member who falls to pay dues for more than two years or who fails to maintain his good professional standing.

 

​

Article IV. Officers, Board of Directors and Continental/Regional Vice Presidents

In the following the masculine form will be used to represent both female and male gender.

 

Section 1. Officers

The officers of this Society shall be the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Vice Secretary, and Treasurer. The previous President of the Society will consult the officers as Past President. The Officers shall serve for a period of two years. Terms may be prolonged, with exception of the position of President.

 

Section 2. Board of Directors

The Board of Directors shall consist of up to 30 directors to be elected at the biennial business meeting of the Society. The directors may serve for a period of four to eight years and until their successors have been qualified.

 

Section 3. Continental/Regional Vice Presidents

The presidents of the continental/regional affiliated stereotactic societies (ASSFN, ESSFN, KSSFN, ISSFN, JSSFN, MSSFN, SLANFE) shall serve as WSSFN Continental/Regional Vice Presidents ex officio during their term of office in the affiliated societies.

For continents and regions where such an affiliation has not yet been established: Subsaharan Africa, Mainland Asia (excl India, Japan, and Korea), and Australia-Oceania, the Continental/Regional Vice Presidents will be appointed by the President.

 

​

Article V. Tasks - President, Vice-President, Secretary, Vice Secretary, Treasurer, and Board of Directors

 

Section 1. President

The President shall preside at all meetings of the Society: He shall sign all orders drawn on the treasury when so authorized; have charge of all title deeds, papers, books and records not especially entrusted to other officers; appoint, confirm and supervise committees, Executive Management and Task forces not otherwise provided for; and perform all such other duties as usually appertain to the office of the President of a Society. He shall be ex officio a member of all task forces; he shall be entitled to vote at the meetings of the Society only in cases of a tie vote. He shall supervise the execution of all rules of the Society.

 

Section 2. Vice President

The Vice-President shall perform all duties of the President in the case of his absence, death, resignation or inability to act. He shall assist the President in any matters as necessary.

 

Section 3. Secretary

The Secretary shall assist the President and keep accurate minutes of the proceedings at the meetings of the Society and of the Board of Directors. He shall issue printed or written notice of all meetings of the Society and the Board of Directors and shall perform such other duties pertaining to his office as may be required from time to time by the Officers and the Board of Directors.

 

Section 4. Vice Secretary

The Vice-Secretary shall perform all duties of the Secretary in case of his absence, death, resignation or inability to act. He shall assist the Secretary in any matters as necessary.

 

Section 5. Treasurer

The Treasurer shall have, receive and take charge of all monies paid or given to the Society and give receipts therefore. He shall keep a correct and accurate account of all receipts and expenditures. The Treasurer shall pay out and disburse corporate funds or orders directed by the President and shall sign checks. The President does not need to countersign checks or vouchers when directed to the Treasurer. The signature of the Treasurer then is sufficient. The President, however, needs to be informed about any payments. The Treasurer shall, whenever requested by the Officers or the Board of Directors, submit for examination an audit of books, papers, receipts, vouchers, and other property of the Society. The Treasurer shall deposit all monies without delay in such bank or depository as shall be designated by the Officers in the name of the Society and he shall at every regular meeting of the Society submit a detailed report of its financial condition. He shall keep a correct account of all monies received and paid out, and the correct record of all valuable papers received in books kept for that purpose.

Tasks may be delegated to professional employees appointed by the President.

 

Section 6. Board of Directors

The Board of Directors shall be presided over by the President serving as the Board chairperson, who shall have entire charge, management and control of the offices and property of the Society.

The President, Secretary and Treasurer shall at each meeting of the Society submit a report of the work performed during the previous periods.

Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held every two years at the call of the President. Special meetings may be called by the President at any time; or by the written request of three directors.

In case of death, resignation or other incapacity on the part of any officer or directors, except the President and Vice-President, the Board of Directors shall elect a successor, who shall serve until such time as his predecessor would have served.

 

​

Article VI. Nominations and Elections

Section 1. Nominations and election of officers and directors

The Nominating Committee shall suggest candidates for the position of Officers and Board Directors to the Officers of the Society after thorough discourse.

The Officers and the Board of Directors shall be elected by majority vote of the members of the Society at the biennial meetings.

 

Section 2. Tenure of Office

All Officers and members of the Board of Directors shall hold their office until their successors are duly elected or appointed and according to the terms as specified above.

 

Section 3. Methods of Election

All elections can be conducted in the form of an open vote, or by means of a closed ballot in case this is requested.

 

​

Article VII. Meetings

Section 1.

The Society shall meet every second year at time and place as the officers deem suitable.

 

Section 2.

Quorum at all meetings of the Society, both regular and special: a majority of the voting members present at the business meeting shall constitute a quorum for the purpose of transacting business

 

​

Article VIII. Amendments

Section 1.

Amendments to these By-laws must be proposed in writing, endorsed by at least three members in good standing, and be submitted to the Secretary at least 60 days before the biennial member business meeting. The amendments must be emailed by the Secretary to the entire voting membership and/ or posted on the Society website at least 30 days before the Society business meeting at which the amendments are to be acted upon.

​

Section 2.

The affirmative vote of one half of the voting members present at the biennial Society business meeting shall be required for the adoption of an amendment.

 

​

Article IX. Adoption of By-laws

This constitution and By-laws shall be adopted by a majority vote of the members present and voting at the time of its proposal to the members of the Society for the ratification thereof.

 

​

Article X. Standing Committees, Executive Management and Task Forces

Section 1.

The Society shall maintain Standing Committees, Executive Management and Task Forces both to support the work of the Officers and the Board of Directors and to guarantee maintenance and sustainability.

 

Section 2.

The By-laws Committee shall be appointed by the President of the Society for a term of four years. It shall consist of four members, two members appointed every two years with the senior members acting as Chairmen. They shall review the Society's By-laws and constitution and make recommendations to the members of the Society.

 

The Scientific Program Committee shall be appointed by the President of the Society for a term of two years. It shall consist of four members, two members appointed every two years with the senior members acting as Chairmen. Their duties shall be to assist in preparing programs for the WSSFN meetings and also joint meetings with WFNS, ASSFN, ESSFN and with other societies.

 

The Membership Committee shall be appointed by the President of the Society for a term of four years. It shall consist of four members, two members appointed every two years with the senior members acting as Chairmen. They shall consider all individual applications for membership.

 

The Awards Committee shall be appointed by the President of the Society for a term of four years. It shall consist of four members, two members appointed every two years with the senior members acting as Chairmen. They shall select the recipient of the awards of the Society.

 

The Liaison Committee shall be appointed by the President of the Society for a term of four years. It shall consist of four members, two members appointed every two years with the senior members acting as Chairmen. They shall foster communication and cooperation with old and new branches of the Society and to other societies.

 

The Auditing Committee shall be appointed by the President of the Society for a term of four years. It shall consist of four members, two members appointed every two years with the senior members acting as Chairmen. They shall examine the books of the Treasurer and report the same to the Board of Directors and the General Assembly.

 

The Nominating Committee shall consist of the current and past presidents of the society. They shall suggest candidates for the position of officers and board directors to the officers of the society after thorough discourse.

 

Section 3.

The Executive Management shall be appointed or confirmed by the President of the Society without specifying terms. Positions include:

A. Editor of the Society´s journal.

B. Newsletter editor.

C. Web Master

D. Historians.

 

Section 4.

Task Forces will work on specific tasks relevant for the development of stereotactic and functional neurosurgery. Task Forces may be formed or terminated according to specific needs. The chairs shall be appointed or confirmed by the President of the Society without specifying terms. Task Forces may include:

A. Psychiatric Neurosurgery.

B. Education.

C. Scientific Research.

D. Industrial Relations.

E. Any other Task Forces as deemed necessary by the President, the Officers and the Board of Directors.

 

Last amended: June, 2017 Berlin, Germany