APASTB

ASIA-PACIFIC ASSOCIATION OF SURGICAL TISSUE BANKING

Constitution and By-Laws

Article I : Name

The name of the organization shall be "Asia-Pacific Association of Surgical Tissue Banking, also named as A.P.A.S.T.B."

Article II : Headquarters

The headquarters of the association shall be at the institution where the elected president of the association holds his office, but the secretariat office shall be at the Bangkok Biomaterial Centre, Siriraj Hospital, Bangkok, Thailand for the next 5 years until the election of the next secretary-general of the association at whose institution shall the secretariat office be transferred.

Article III : Objectives

A. The Association aims to promote the establishment of tissue bank institutions of the member countries, to encourage research for the advancement of tissue processing, storage and utilization in the field of medicine and to promote scientific and social interactions among members of the association through symposia and or publications.

B. Specific Objectives :

1. To provide technical. material and financial assistance to all member countries / institutions which plan to establish their own tissue bank.

2. To provide updates in the trend of tissue bank operation and management by regular new letters, journals or other publications.

3. To hold regular scientific symposia, workshops, meetings aimed at promoting research and providing occasions for the presentation of outstanding research work and and giving recognition to deserving research works in the field of tissue banking.

4. To promote the development and exchange of scientific, technical and practical information among members who will assist the members and others in their research works related tissue banking

5. To also promote the research and clinical uses of tissue substitutes.

Article IV : Membership

There shall be 5 general classes of membership: Honorary Founding members, Founding members, Ordinary members, Associate members and Honorary members.

1. Honorary Founding members are those outstanding individuals who initiated the formation of this association. An Honorary Founding members carries no voting privilege.

2. Founding members those who participated in the initial organization of this association in Bangkok in 1985 and also all those who represented their countries in the formation of this association in Bangkok in October 1988

3. Ordinary members consists of surgeons, research scientists and medical practitioners involved in the research, development, production, utilization and operation of tissue bank, who must satisfy the following prerequisites for this membership status.

a. He or she must be recommended by at least two ordinary members.

b. His or her application must be endorsed by the Board of Council member.

c. He or she must have contribution (scientific knowledge, technical or medical) in research and development of tissue banking and is still engaged in the same activities.

d.This membership entitles the member with one voting privilege.

4. Associate members are para-medical staff, nurses, technicians and others who work in the field of tissue banking. An associate member has no voting right

5. Honorary members are individuals who have contributed internationally outstanding scientific work or case promoted the case for the development of tissue banking in the region or world, produced excellent research for the advancement of tissue banking and related activities. Such a member can only be appointed if approved by the Board of Council Member.

Article V : Membership Dues

All founding members and ordinary members shall pay a membership fee of US$ 30.00, or its equivalent, per annum and an associate member US$ 15.00 or its equivalent unless modified by the Board of Council Members. Honorary Founding members and Honorary members are exempted from paying membership fees. Life membership will be bestowed upon ordinary members who would like to pay US$ 30.00

Article VI : Office-Bearers

A. Board of Council Members

The Board of Council Members will consist of at least one Council Member from each member, a President, 3 Vice-Presidents, 1 Secretary General, 1 Assistant Secretary-General and 1 Honorary Treasurer.
The council member of the Board shall have a tenure of two year with a privilege of re-election in the succeeding consecutive two years. The council members of the Board may be re-elected again only if he or she is uncontested. No council member of the Board shall hold office for more than six years.

B. Duties and Responsibilities of the Officer-Bearers

1. The President :

He is the overall supervisor of all the activities of the Asia Pacific Association of Surgical Tissue Banking.
He presides at the business meeting of the Board of Council Members
He presides at the General Body Meeting of the Association.
He signs on behalf of the association all pertinent paper, documents and other related matters with the knowledge and approval of the Board of Council Member
He heads the delegation in international meetings of related organisations
His term of office is 2 years, following which he holds the post of past of Past President Until the completion of office of the next President

2. The Vice Presidents

One of the 3 Vice-Presidents assumes the duties and responsibilities of the President in the event of his absence. The term of office is also two years or the remaining period if he succeeds the incumbent.
1. The First Vice-President will be responsible for the Organisation of the Next Association Meeting and shall be the Organising chairman of that meeting
The Second Vice-President shall be the Organising Chairman of the next meeting following (1)
The third Vice-President shall be the organising Chairman of the next meeting following (1) and (2)

3. The Secretary / General

He keeps minutes of all meeting of the associations with their respective addresses and their relevant personal data.
He keep and up-to date list of all members of the association with their respective addresses and their relevant personal data
He serves notice of all meetings of the association and will submit a report on the associations activities to the General body
Assistant Secretary General
The assistant secretary general is responsible to helping the duties of the Secretary General and acts on his behalf in his absence.
The Honorary Treasurer
He acts as the custodian of all funds and properties of the society, and deposit the funds in such banks as may be designated by the Board of Council Members.
He makes all the disbursement of the association and keeps the books of receipts and expenditures.
He makes a financial report during the business meeting of the Board of Council Members and of the General Body Membership (GBM)

Article VII : Meetings

The Business Meeting of the Board of Council Members shall be held annually at places to be decided upon by the members of the Board. A special board meeting may be called upon by the President, who shall notify the members at least 15 days in advance.
The Regular Business Meeting of the General Body Membership (GMB) shall be held annually and will be conducted during the annual convention and scientific meeting of the association. The following order for the business meeting shall be transacted :
Roll call of all members
b. Reading and approval of the minutes of the last meeting
c. Unfinished business arising from the previous minutes
d. Address by the President.
e. Report by the Secretary General
f. Report by the Honorary Treasurer
g. Other Matters

Article VIII : Voting

As mentioned in the Article on Membership, every ordinary or founding member present shall have one vote provided he or she has paid all his or her membership dues up to the year of election

Article IX : Quorum

At least one-third of the Council Member present shall constitute a quorum for the conduct of the meeting of the Board of Council Member

Article X : Amendments of the Constitution

This can only be made by a meeting of the General Body Membership (GBM) with a quorum of at least two-third of all members of the association