BY-LAWS OF THE ITALIAN SOCIETY OF NEUROIMMUNOLOGY (AINI) – O.N.L.U.S. (Socially Useful Non-Profit Organization)

Denomination – Aims – Site

ART. 1 The Italian Society of Neuroimmunology (AINI) – O.N.L.U.S. has been established. AINI is a Society of national relevance which accepts, following the procedures stated in these articles, specialised and non-specialised medical doctors, specialised and non-specialised biologists and any other professional figure operating in the field of neuroimmunology and immunology in the National Health System, in University structures and free lance professionals, who apply for membership.

ART. 2 The Italian Society of Neuroimmunology (AINI) – O.N.L.U.S. is based in Verona (VR) at the Pathology Department, Immunology Division, Policlinico G.B. Rossi.

ART. 3 The Society carries out its activity in the field of scientific research, continuous education, whether distance or residential and professional updating through the development of annual programs of educational CME activities: AINI fosters meetings, exchange and scientific collaboration between researchers from different fields such as neurology, immunologuy, biology, pharmacology, biochemistry, clinic pathology and other basic and clinic sciences focused on the knowledge and practise of Neuroimmunology as a field studying both the morphofunctional aspects at a cell, sub-cell and molecular level of the interactions between the immune and nervous systems and the immunopathogenetic mechanisms, immunological diagnose and immunological treatment of the nervous system diseases. AINI can participate to the elaboration of diagnostic, therapeutic and method guidelines and to the drafting of clinical trials in collaboration with other Institutions. The activities of the Society are coordinated with the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Education, University and Research, the Regional Governments, the Health Departments, the Scientific Societies and other Institutions having the same aims and promoting the same activities at a European and non-European level. AINI can establish Regional and Interregional Divisions to promote a wide information exchange between the notional and practical sectors of Neuroimmunology, thus guaranteeing an adequate representation over the national territory. The Representative of the Regional Division is nominated by the Steering Committee, with whom the Division activities are coordinated. The Society cannot carry out activities which differ from the institutional ones, with the exception of those directly connected to them.

ART. 4 The Society will pursue the by-law aims through:

1. the organization of national scientific congresses at least every two years;
2. periodical scientific meetings between the Regional and Interregional Divisions;
3. other programmed meetings, with the aim of promoting research and scientific activities, management and professional education of members;
4. a dedicated website;
5. sponsoring scientific and didactic activities of high level and coherent with the institutional aims of the Society. The sponsorship is awarded by the President, based on agreements with the Steering Committee.

ASSETS AND ACCOUNTING PERIOD

ART. 5 AINI is a non-profit society, it has no trade goals and it does not undertake or participate to entrepreneurial activities, with the exception of those which are necessary for the continuous education.

ART. 6 The Society’s assets are made up of:

• personal property and real estate owned by the Italian Society of Neuroimmunology (AINI) – O.N.L.U.S.;
• potential reserve funds made up of balance surplus and potential supplies, donations and legacies. The income of the Italian Society of Neuroimmunology (AINI) comes from;
• association fees;
• potential revenue from cultural and scientific meetings or participation to the former;
• any other income that will increase the society’s assets.

The institutional activities, including CME, will be funded through self-funding and contributions from members and/or public or private bodies, including pharmaceutical industry contributions (with the exception of contributions that, even indirectly, could create a conflict of interest with the National Health System, even if provided through connected subjects), respecting the criteria and the limits established by the current regulation and by the National Committee for Continuous Education. The distribution, even if indirect, of profits and advances, as well as funds, savings and capitals is forbidden throughout the duration of the Society’s life, unless the destination or the distribution are forced by law or in favour of other O.N.L.U.S. which are part of the same structure by law, regulation and society by-laws. It is mandatory to use profits and advances to carry out institutional activities or those strictly related to the former.

ART. 7 The accounting period will be closed on 31 December each year. Within 30 days from the end of each period, the final balance of the previous year and the preliminary budget of the following year will be established by the Steering Committee.

MEMBERS

ART. 8 Any person having shown their interest towards the aims of the Society, also through scientific publications, can become a member of the Italian Society of Neuroimmunology (AINI) – O.N.L.U.S. The membership application, together with a curriculum vitae, will have to be addressed to the President of the Italian Society of Neuroimmunology (AINI) – O.N.L.U.S. The admission will be decided by the Steering Committee. The admitted members (Ordinary Members) must pay the annual fee with the established procedures, which can be updated for the following years at the Members Assembly. Members under the age of 32 (Young Members) are exempted from the payment of the annual fee. The exemption applies also to national and foreign members who, following a relevant scientific activity or having shown special interest towards the aims of the Society, have been invited to become members by the Members Assembly; or to those who have ceased their own activity after having been Ordinary Members but still show their interest in the Society (Honorary Members). Temporary participation in the society is forbidden. Adult members are expressly entitled to vote for approval and modification of the regulation and by-laws and also for the nomination of the Society’s steering entities.

ART. 9 Membership will be lost upon dismissal, upon unworthiness acknowledged by the Steering Committee with a resolution ratified by the Members Assembly and, automatically, upon overdue of the membership fee payment for three consecutive years.

SOCIAL ENTITIES

ART. 10 The following are entities of the Italian Society of Neuroimmunology (AINI) – O.N.L.U.S.:

• the Members Assembly;
• the Steering Committee;
• the President;
• the Secretary-Treasurer

No remuneration will apply to any of the social positions.

MEMBERS ASSEMBLY

ART. 11 The Members Assembly must be convoked ordinarily by the President or by at least two thirds of the members, at least once a year during programmed scientific or administrative sessions. The Extraordinary Members Assembly can be convoked by the President, or upon motivated request, by at least 1/5 of the Ordinary Members, even if not during programmed scientific or administrative sessions. The Members Assembly will elect the President, the Secretary-Treasurer and the Steering Committee among its members. It elaborates and determines the general program guidelines of the Italian Society of Neuroimmunology (AINI) – O.N.L.U.S., in a concrete dialogue with the scientific, educational and socio-sanitary reality. Furthermore, it establishes the amount of the membership fees and the forms of payment, it approves the final balance sheets, the preliminary budgets and the activities of the Society. The Assembly establishes the dates and the venues of the national congresses. Members of at least six months of seniority can participate in the Assembly. All the decisions of the Members Assembly are valid from their approval.

ART. 12 The Assembly calling, whether ordinary or extraordinary, must be made in writing by mail, fax or e-mail, containing the Agenda, and sent to the members home address at least fifteen days (ordinary assembly) or a month (extraordinary assembly) before the actual date. The assembly is valid if at least half the members are present in first summoning, or if one fifth of the members is present in second summoning – this can happen also during the same date. Each member can delegate another member in writing to represent him/her with voting right in the Assembly, but each member cannot represent more than two other members. The decisions are approved by simple majority. The Extraordinary Assembly is the only entitled body to modify the by-laws of the Italian Society of Neuroimmunology (AINI) – O.N.L.U.S., with the decision approved by majority of the two thirds of the participating members or to dissolve the Society with the decision approved by at least half the active members plus one. In case of dissolution of the society, any potential active assets will be donated to bodies or associations of the same category which pursue analogous aims.

STEERING COMMITTEE

ART. 13 The Steering CommittEe is made up of the President of the Society, the Secretary-Treasurer and at least three members (Counselors), elected every three years. The counsellors can be increased to a maximum of seven, with relation to a growing number of members or upon the Assembly’s decision. Any member of the Steering Committee not having participated in the Committee meetings for three consecutive times without a valid justification will be dismissed from the appointment. In this case, or in case of holiday, the role will be covered following the number of votes received by non elected members. The Steering Committee members, including the President and the Secretary-Treasurer, will keep their position for three years and can only be re-elected once for the same position. Counsellors considered dismissed during the previous term cannot be re-elected. All the positions of the society are non-remunerated.

ART. 14 The Steering Committee collaborates with the President for the complete realisation of the institutional aims of the Italian Society of Neuroimmunology (AINI) – O.N.L.U.S., on the base of the programs approved by the assembly, coordinating the realisation of the agreed scientific and cultural initiatives. The Steering Committee has all the power of the society’s ordinary and extraordinary administration, including the approval of the budget. The Steering Committee nominates the Representatives of the Regional Divisions and can establish specific committees for certain tasks. The Steering Committee is convoked by the President upon his/her will, or upon request of three of its members or one fifth of the members. The sessions are valid if half plus one of the members is present, minus the number of absences justified by the President. The Steering Committee decides by simple majority of participating members. In case of equal number of votes, the proposal voted by the President prevails. The Steering Committee can nominate several offices which can also be entrusted to external experts for the achievement of institutional aims, including the management of the website

PRESIDENT

ART. 15 The President represents the AINI officially and legally, promotes the aims of the Society and represents it before third parties and in court, convokes and chairs the Members Assembly, whether ordinary or extraordinary, and summons the Steering Committee. He/she takes care that the decisions approved by the Steering Committee and the decisions made during the meetings are carried out.

SECRETARY-TREASURER

ART. 16 The Secretary-Treasurer, besides taking care of the course of the assembly and the meetings of the Steering Committee, of which he/she writes the minutes, coordinates all the initiatives for the realisation of the by-law aims of the Italian Society of Neuroimmunology (AINI) – O.N.L.U.S. Furthermore, he/she takes care of the members database, controls the payment of the membership fees and administrates the assets of the Italian Society of Neuroimmunology (AINI) – O.N.L.U.S. He/she follows the directions of the Steering Committee and is in charge, with signature power, of the normal management procedures, including bank movements.

DISPUTES

ART. 17 Potential social disputes between members and between members and the Italian Society of Neuroimmunology (AINI) – O.N.L.U.S. or its officers will be submitted, with the exception of any other jurisdiction, to the jurisdiction of three arbitrators (probi viri) nominated by the Assembly; they will judge ex bono et aequo without procedure formalities, unless contradictory. Their decision will be incontrovertible.

DISSOLUTION

ART. 18 In case of dissolution, for whatever reason, the Society is obliged to devolve its own assets to other O.N.L.U.S or associations of public usefulness, as by law enacted, with the exception of a different purpose enacted by law.

GENERAL REGULATIONS

ART. 19 For any items not referred to in the present articles, current legislation will apply.