ISGEDR
• To bring together individuals interested in the field of genetic diseases of the eye and in Retinoblastoma. • To provide a forum for researchers in the field of genetic diseases of the eye to share information. • To promote international collaborations in the study of genetic diseases of the eye and in Retinoblastoma. • To disseminate scientific knowledge through international conferences and through its official publication, Ophthalmic Genetics
Articles and Bylaws
ARTICLE I – Name
The International Society for Genetic Eye Diseases and Retinoblastoma (ISGEDR)
ARTICLE II – Purpose and Mission Statement
1. To bring together individuals interested in the field of genetic diseases of the eye and/or Retinoblastoma.
2. To provide a forum for clinical personnel and researchers in the field of genetic diseases of the eye and/or Retinoblastoma to share information.
3. To promote international collaborations in the study of genetic diseases of the eye and of Retinoblastoma.
4. To disseminate scientific knowledge through the Biennial International Conference, the Ophthalmic Genetics Study Club meeting, and through ISGEDR’s official publication: Ophthalmic Genetics,.
ARTICLE III – Membership
Section 1: Active membership
A. The membership shall consist of individuals interested in the field of genetic diseases of the eye and/or retinoblastoma. They may be physicians, basic scientists, genetic counselors, and graduate or undergraduate students.
B. Members who have paid dues shall be considered active members in good standing. These include full members, student members, and associate members.
C. An active member in good standing shall have the right to vote on all propositions submitted to the membership at large, the right to vote upon the election of officers, and the privilege to attend all business meetings of the Society. Only active members in good standing shall be eligible to hold office.
Section 2: Associate Membership
A. Associate members are non-scientists with interest in the field of ophthalmic genetics.
B. Associate members shall have the right to attend meetings of the Society but cannot vote or hold office, but they may serve on ad hoc committees
Section 3: Emeritus Membership
A. Individuals who were previously members in good standing and who have retired from active practice.
B. Emeritus members do not pay dues
C. Emeritus members pay a reduced rate registration fees to attend meetings, generally the rate charged for spouses/significant others
D. Individuals seeking emeritus membership shall write the executive VP asking for change of their membership status.
ARTICLE IV – Dues
Section 1: Every two year assessment of dues
A. The amount of annual dues in $U.S. shall be recommended every two years at the business meeting of the Society by the President and approved by a majority vote of active members present at the meeting.
B. Active members shall pay the annual dues.
C. Student members shall pay reduced dues to cover the electronic Journal subscription (Ophthalmic Genetics) only.
D. Associate members shall pay dues that exclude the Journal.
E. Emeritus members shall not pay dues. They will continue to receive an online subscription to the Journal
Section 2: Payment of dues
A. Annual dues shall be due and payable by October 1st of the year preceding the year for which they are levied. This can be done online on the society’s website or by sending a check to the headquarters’ office.
B. Any active member whose dues are delinquent for a period of more than one year shall be considered not to be in good standing.
ARTICLE V – Membership benefits
Section 1: Officers
A. Every four years or when the terms of the members-at-large of the Executive Committee are about to expire, the Society shall elect such individuals by simple majority and using email ballots. Care should be taken to ensure that there is continuity in the society leadership by staggering elections or renewing terms of existing members.
B. Executive Committee: The Executive Committee shall consist of a President, an Executive Vice-President, a Secretary/Treasurer, an immediate past President, the Editor-in-Chief of Ophthalmic Genetics, and six members-at-large, three of whom are for genetics, 2 for retinoblastoma, and 1 for genetic counselors, for a total of 11 members.
C. The President shall be elected for a term of four years by the membership of the Society after nominations are proposed from the Executive Committee for one of its members. The Executive Vice-President and the Secretary/Treasurer shall be elected for a term of six years. These two officers are elected by the Executive Committee from their membership. Members-at-large shall be elected for a term of four years. Nominations for members-at-large are solicited from the society members, which include the board members. A simple majority is sufficient to elect a new or returning member-at-large. In the case of multiple candidates, a run-off election process is followed. Confidential ballots are distributed by email from the central society office.
D. Officers may succeed themselves in office for a single additional term.
E. Nominations for any of the executive member-at-large positions can be submitted by any member in good standing when a a call is sent out.
Section 2: Duties of the President
A. The president shall be elected by the Executive Committee and would have served on the Executive Committee. A majority of 2/3rd (8 of 11) of the Executive Committee is required for a president to be elected.
B. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Society, and shall perform other duties, such as those described in Robert’s Rules of Order or as amended by a two-thirds majority vote of the active membership in good standing.
C. The President shall be responsible to preside over scientific, educational or social activities of the Society. Ad-hoc committees for such activities are formed as needed.
Section 3: Duties of the Executive Vice-President
A. The Executive VP shall be elected by the Executive Committee and would have served on the Executive Committee.
B. The Executive VP shall assist the President in the discharge of his duties and in his absence, shall assume the duties of the President.
C. The Executive VP shall keep a membership file containing the names and addresses of the membership
D. He/she shall demand and receive all funds due to the Society and shall give proper receipts thereof. He/she shall receive all bequests and donations made to the Society and shall keep adequate records thereof.
E. The Executive VP shall keep track of the Executive Committee membership and shall organize the elections of committee members as their terms are about to expire.
F. An assistant to the Executive VP and to the Secretary/Treasurer shall be identified and compensated for his/her work.
Section 4: Duties of the Secretary/Treasurer
A. The Secretary/Treasurer shall be custodian of the funds of the Society and shall keep account of the same. He/she shall pay out of the funds in his/her custody the expenses of the Society.
B. It shall be the duty of the Secretary/Treasurer to render a financial report to the members at every two years during the ISGEDR meeting.
C. At the ISGEDR Meeting every two years, the Secretary/Treasurer shall keep minutes of the proceedings.
Section 5: Genetics Lectureship Nominating Committee
1. The Committee shall consist of the past President(s) of the Society, the current President, the Executive VP, of the Editor-in-Chief of Ophthalmic Genetics, and of three members appointed for consultation on this issue by the current President, with at least one member of the Committee who has delivered the Franceschetti or the Francois lectures.
2. The Committee shall have a president designated by the President of the Society.
Section 6: Ellsworth Lectureship Nominating Committee
1. The Committee shall consist of 2 Members of the Retinoblastoma Group of the Society who have delivered the Ellsworth Lecture, the two members of the Executive Committee who are of the Rb group, and of the President and the Executive Vice-President of the Society.
2. The Committee shall have a president designated by the President of the Society.
ARTICLE VI – Voting
1. Only members in good standing shall vote for members-at-large of the Executive Committee.
2. All decisions shall be made by simple majority vote of members to be done by e-mail ballot from all members in good standing.
ARTICLE VII – Meetings of the ISGEDR and the OGSC
1. ISGEDR shall organize a meeting every two years that may be held as free-standing meetings or in conjunction with other international or national meetings.
2. The location and date of the meeting every two years shall be determined in advance after a review of proposal to host the meeting by the membership and the Executive Committee. Votes shall be taken of the membership if there are 2 or more proposed locations for any particular year and a simple majority will determine the location. The other locations shall be considered for following meetings if the proposing hosts agree.
3. A business meeting of the ISGEDR shall be held at the time of the meeting every two year.
4. The Executive Committee shall meet at least once per year. This could be in person or via teleconferencing.
5. Any number of members in good standing attending an ISGEDR meeting that is held every two years shall constitute a quorum.
6. The President of the ISGEDR shall chair the every two year meeting, and the Secretary/Treasurer shall take the minutes.
7. The Ophthalmic Genetics Study Club meeting is held annually to precede the meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. It is sponsored by ISGEDR and a benefit to its members. It is organized by a Chairperson(s) appointed by the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE VIII – Amendments
1. Ophthalmic Genetics is the official journal of the Society.
2. Members are encouraged to submit their scientific work to Ophthalmic Genetics.
3. The Franceschetti Lecturer shall submit a manuscript for his/her lecture for publication in Ophthalmic Genetics.
4. The Francois Lecturer shall submit a manuscript for his/her lecture for publication in Ophthalmic Genetics.
5. The Ellsworth Lecturer shall submit a manuscript for his/her lecture for publication in Ophthalmic Genetics.
6. An electronic subscription to the Journal shall be supplied to members as a benefit of their membership, with financial details to be arranged with the publisher.
7. A website ISGEDR.COM shall be the official site for the Society. A webmaster shall be appointed and reasonably compensated for his/her work. The website shall serve as a communication forum for the members, a venue for coordinating/administering the meetings of the ISGEDR and the OGSC, and as a repository of prior meeting materials. The webmaster reports to the Executive VP.
8. Society funds can be used to support attendance of students, ophthalmologists, or genetic counselors to the Society’s meetings. The number of such scholarships and the magnitude of their funds are determined by the meeting organizing committee under the direction of the President and the Executive VP.
9. Amendments of the bylaws shall discussed and approved by the Executive Committee. They are then circulated to the membership for additional comments and a vote. A simple majority will suffice to accept them.
