By-laws for European Federation of Audiology Societies as amended in General Assembly in Milan, Italy May 17, 1998. §1. NAME The European Federation of Audiology Societies, EFAS, is a non-profit organization, formed as a federation for national audiology socities in the European countries. Audiology is defined as the science of hearing and the alleviation of the effects of disorders of the auditory system. European is defined according to the World Health Organization (WHO). §2. SCOPE The scope of EFAS is to promote cooperation, exchange of experience and knowledge of audiology within Europe, both as a scientific field and as a hearing health service offered to the public. EFAS may also act as a common spokesman for European audiology in relation to other organizations. §3. MEMBERSHIP EFAS is open for membership for national societies of audiology in the European countries. Each member nation shall be represented by a single Voting Representative and by two Non-Voting Representatives, appointed by the national society. For a country without a national multi disciplinary society, the Council may accept as a temporary alternative another professional society or entity, which is actively engaged in audiology. §4. COMMITTEE OF REPRESENTATIVES The Committee of Representatives shall consist of the Voting Representatives from all member nations of EFAS. §5. COUNCIL The council shall consist of the Chairman, the Vice Chairman, the Past Chairman, the Secretary and the Treasurer, elected from the members of the Committee of Representatives. The term of office is two years. The Vice Chairman shall normally succeed to the office of Chairman for a two year period and thereafter to the office of Past Chairman for a two year term. No member shall serve for more than six years continuously. The council may co-opt additional members, without voting rights, for specific purposes, e.g. in relation to European Conferences on Audiology, or to other multi-national organizations. The council shall be responsible for managing the affairs of EFAS according to the general policy decided by the Committee of Representatives, and take initiatives to promote audiology in Europe. The Treasurer shall keep proper accounts of EFAS´ finances. These accounts are to be submitted to the Auditors yearly at least one month before the General Assembly. §6. SECRETARIAT The secretariat of EFAS shall be responsible for keeping an updated list of membership and representatives. Further, it shall keep records of all the activities of EFAS, and be responsible for information to be distributed to the members. §7. GENERAL ASSEMBLY The Committee of Representatives shall meet for General Assembly once per year. In addition, the two Non-Voting Representatives from each member may participate in the discussions. At this occasion the Council shall report on the activities of the past period and present proposals concerning activities for the coming period for discussion and decision. The auditors shall report on the accounts of EFAS. Elections for members of the Council, auditors and the nomination committee shall be held. Each term of office shall be for two years. §8. EUROPEAN CONFERENCES Every odd year a European Conference on Audiology shall be organized. The purposes shall be the dissemination of scientific knowledge and the exchange of experience concerning education and training as well as organization and provision of hearing health care. The host nation shall vary between the member nations. For each conference, a national organization committee shall be appointed by the auditory society of the host nation to prepare the conference in cooperation with the Council. Proposals for hosting conferences shall be presented to the General Assembly and voted on by secret ballot. Decisions shall be made by majority vote and take place four years in advance. §9. WORKING GROUPS The Council may appoint working groups for specific purposes. Such a working group shall have an appointed convener and a well defined mandate, and shall report the results of its work to the General Assembly. §10. ELECTIONS, NOMINATIONS A nomination committee of three people, appointed by the General Assembly, shall call for nominations to the offices of Vice Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer of the council, and two auditors, and draw up a list of nominees. In addition to the names prepared by the nomination committee, the final ballot shall include names which have been agreed upon by the representatives of at least three member national societies and which have been submitted to the nomination committee at least two months before the final ballot. The list shall be presented to the Voting and Non-Voting Representatives of all members at least one month prior to the General Assembly for election every odd year. Election shall occur by a majority vote. Postal voting by non-attending Voting Representatives or written transfer of voting rights to a Non-Voting Representative is allowed. §11. DUES Each member of EFAS shall pay annual dues to EFAS as decided by the General Assembly. Financial sponsoring from external sources is welcome as long as it does not interfere with the purpose of EFAS. §12. AMENDMENTS Amendments to these by-laws may be made by the General Assembly. The proposed amendments shall be distributed to the members at least three months in advance. To be accepted, amendments must be approved by at least 2/3 of the General Assembly when a quorum is present. A quorum shall be defined as half the membership.