Governance

BNOS is governed by a core Council of approximately 12 directly elected members, usually of senior status in their discipline. It is representative of all branches of neuro-oncology and may include co-opted members with relevant experience.

The Officers of the Society are the President (who serves a two year term), Vice-President/President-Elect, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer. Council meets formally three times a year and the Officers participate in additional teleconferences.

There are three Sub-Committees: Communications, Conference, and Scientific & Research. Each has approximately six members and may include individuals from outside Council. The Sub-Committees usually conduct their business via teleconference or SKYPE.

The BNOS Administrator provides part-time administrative, secretarial and IT support.  The part-time administrative assistant supports the BNOS Administrator.

The Honorary Treasurer handles all financial administration.

British Neuro-oncology Society Constitution

1.0 The Object of the Society

1.1 The British Neuro-oncology Society (BNOS), hereafter known as “The Society” is established to promote research and education in neuro-oncology and an improvement in treatment and outcomes for patients with any form of tumour affecting the central nervous system.

1.2 The logo of the Society is that chosen by the British Neuro-oncology Group (BNOG) committee at their meeting in 2004 at the time of inauguration of BNOS. No other logo shall be used to publicly represent the Society unless subsequently agreed by both the Society Council and Membership.

2.0 Membership of the Society

2.1 The membership of the Society will represent and consist of individuals involved in the various scientific and clinical disciplines concerned with research and management of children and adults with any form of tumour affecting the central nervous system. Membership of the Society is also open to individuals from charities, patient/carer organisations, and not-for-profit organisations with an interest in research and management of children and adults with any form of tumour affecting the central nervous system.

2.2 Members are required to pay an annual statutory subscription agreed by Council (see 3.0 below) on the advice and recommendation of the Honorary Treasurer and to abide by the Rules of the Society (defined in Paragraph 6). Members will each have one vote on any resolutions/proposals under ballot/election at Annual General Meetings (AGMs) or Extraordinary General Meetings (EGMs) of the Society. Benefits of membership will include discretionary rates for attendance at the BNOS annual conference and any other meetings arranged by the Society, access to the Members section of the BNOS website and access to additional benefits as they become available and are announced by Council.

2.3 The members shall agree to elect a Council (see 3.0 below) comprised of a minimum of 12, of whom 4 will be official Officers – President, Vice-President, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer.

2.4 Senior Life Members who are no longer in full time employment will be offered a reduced rate of annual subscription as agreed by Council on the advice/recommendation of the Honorary Treasurer .

2.5 Honorary Members will be elected from time to time as decided by Council and will pay no membership fee.

3.0 Council

3.1 The Council is responsible for controlling the management of the Society and implementing the policy of the Society.

3.2 The four Officers of the Council (President, Vice-President, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer) will be elected by either Council (President/Vice-President) or Membership (Honorary Secretary/Honorary Treasurer).

3.3 The President and Vice-President will each serve a two-year term of office. The Vice-President will succeed the standing President on completion of his/her two-year term in office. The President and Vice President will act as Chair and Deputy Chair at all Society Council and General and scientific meetings of the Society. The President and Vice-President will be expected to actively represent and promote the aims and ideals of the Society. The posts of President and Vice-President are not extendable but, for reasons of continuity, outgoing Presidents should serve a further 12 month period as an active Council member.

3.3.1 The Honorary Secretary will hold a register of Members and will, in consultation with the President and the Society Administrator (see 4.0 below), execute communications on behalf of the Society with outside individuals and bodies as appropriate. He/she will also organise, in consultation with the President and the Society Administrator, the Agenda for Council meetings, AGMs and EGMs. The Secretary is responsible for elections to Council and the elections of the Officers, with the exception of the election of Secretary, or if he/she is standing to become President. The period of tenure for the Honorary Secretary is three years but is, after this period, renewable at the AGM in open competition with other nominees.

3.4 The Honorary Treasurer will be responsible for the financial accounts of the Society which will be presented to the Membership at the AGM each year. He/she will also be responsible for dispersing bursaries, prize monies and expenses accordingly as ratified by Council. The period of tenure for the Honorary Treasurer is three years but is, after this period, renewable at the AGM in open competition with other nominees.

3.5 A range of sub-committees will be formed – at the President’s discretion – from the existing Council, plus co-opted specialist members to implement with due efficiency, cost-effectiveness and speed the strategic aims, activities and business of the Society.

3.6 Council Members will reflect, as well as possible, the various geographic regions of the UK as well as the diverse sub-disciplines involved in neuro-oncology. While the minimum number of 12 Council members is mandatory, for reasons of practicality the upper limit of numbers will be decided by Council based upon strategic needs and representation of various sub-disciplines. Members serve a three year term on Council and may be re-elected for one further term, in open competition with other nominees. After this term the Council Member must stand down for a period of two years before seeking possible re-election. It will be within the Presidential discretion to advise the AGM on the component membership of Council.

3.7 Council has the discretion to co-opt representatives of brain tumour charities and not for profit organisations to assist the membership of council. These individuals do not have voting rights on Council.

3.8 Notification of vacancies on Council for Members or for Offices of Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer will be sent electronically to the membership with notification of the programme for Annual Conferences and will appear on the BNOS website in advance of the meeting. Nominations with proposer and seconder should be sent to the Administrator.

3.9 As an expression of their commitment to the Society, all Council members will be required to execute a standard form on confidentiality and Intellectual Property rights agreement in favour of BNOS.

4.0 Staff

4.1 The Society will appoint members of staff – on a salaried or voluntary basis – from time to time as is strategically and financially appropriate. Currently, the salaried post is of Society Administrator.

4.2 The Society Administrator will carry out many roles according to the needs of the Society. These will include development and management of the website, attending to enquiries on behalf of the Society, taking minutes at both Council meetings and AGMs/EGMs and liaising with Council Officers and Members where appropriate. In particular, this post will provide substantive support for the Honorary Secretary and the President.

5.0 Meetings

5.1 There will be an AGM at the time of the Annual Scientific Conference (held in June/July each year). The Annual Scientific Conference will move between different locations within the UK each year and will be arranged by the Meetings sub-committee of Council in conjunction with a local organising group at the meeting location. A statutory format for the Conference formulated by the Meetings sub-committee and ratified by Council will be used to plan each conference. Additional, occasional, scientific and medical meetings may be arranged by the Society alone or in collaboration with other learned Societies or brain tumour patient and carer organisations (including charities and not-for-profits).

5.2 Council meetings will be held at least three times each year, the venue of these meetings will be decided by the President and Honorary Secretary. ALL Council members will be expected to attend at least two of these Council meetings each year and if unable to attend will give apologies for absence and, if in the case of being an Officer of the Society, will electronically send a written report in advance of the meeting to the Administrator. In the event of any Council member failing to attend at least two Council meetings in one calendar year the Council member will be asked to stand down from Council. The Council member will be contacted and put on warning after failing to continue to attend two consecutive meetings, and he/she will be asked to stand down following a third consecutive absence. Council will be considered as quorate only if six members are present, including either the President or Vice-President. Expenses for standard class rail or road travel may be claimed by Council Members attending Council meetings. No additional claims will be met unless specifically endorsed by the President of the Society.

6.0 Rules of the Society/Probity

6.1 The Society is fully committed to the rules of ethics of research and clinical governance.

6.2 Members are required to declare any interests or sponsorship in presentations and publication of their work.

6.3 Members will abide by the rules of statutory and other bodies in relation to ethical and other considerations.

6.4 Members will not publicly represent the Society unless expressly requested to do so by the President on behalf of Council.

6.5 Members will endeavour to engage in any work related to the furtherance of the field of neuro-oncology either in pursuit of new scientific knowledge or improved treatment and outcomes for patients. Members will also aim to increase public awareness of brain tumours and help to inform and engage the general public to the best of their own ability in matters pertinent to the discipline.

6.6 Removal of Membership will be carried out by Council and only after written notice is given to the Member. The Member shall be afforded a full opportunity of showing good reason why he/she should not be removed. If, at a Council meeting, a resolution for removal of such a member is passed by four fifths of Council Members present, then the Member will cease to be a member of the Society.

7.0 Patients/Carers and Non-Statutory Bodies

7.1 The Society is committed to transparency and where reasonably possible to the provision of information to patients and carers as well as providing such information/advice generically to brain tumour patient and carer organisations. Such advice and information will, at all times, be in the interests of patients suffering from tumours of the central nervous system.

7.2 The Society will utilise the BNOS website to provide appropriate advice and information to both professional and patient/carer populations.

7.3 Information submitted to BNOS for inclusion on its website from researchers, clinicians, as well as patients and carer organisations notifying of important events, functions, meetings and grant calls are welcomed. Final ratification of this will be made by the appropriate member or members of Council, ie. the Secretary.

8.0 Changes to the Constitution

Any changes to the Constitution must be ratified at the AGM.

(BNOS Constitution updated 1st March 2017)