Constitution

The Middle East Pediatric Orthopaedic Society (MEPOS) has been established by Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeons practicing in the Middle East region. All members of the society take a special interest in Children’s Orthopaedics. The society’s aim is to improve the detection, prevention and care of children suffering from musculoskeletal disease in the Middle East. The affairs of the society are managed by elected Executive Board members.

MEMBERSHIP OF THE SOCIETY

Active Membership

The active membership is a full membership for Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgeons practicing in the defined MEPOS region. The candidate is encouraged to take a leading role in nurturing and developing the field of Pediatric Orthopaedics in clinical practice, research and teaching.
To be considered for active membership, the Executive Committee must be satisfied that the proposed member is a contributor to Pediatric Orthopaedic surgery in the area of clinical work, research and/or teaching. This application requires evidence that his/her practice involves not less than 50% of pediatric cases. The application requires two sponsors, of which one needs to be an MEPOS member. Members must reside and work in the larger Middle Eastern Region as defined in the constitution of MEPOS. Eligibility for the membership is checked and approved first by the Board Executive members meeting and then endorsed during the annual general assembly meeting.

Corresponding Member

The corresponding membership provides Pediatric Orthopedic Surgeons the opportunity to participate and support the aims of MEPOS, even when not residing within the MEPOS region. The goal is to further academic ties and exchange with likeminded societies of other regions.
Corresponding membership is open to Pediatric Orthopaedic surgeons residing outside the Middle Eastern Region as defined in the MEPOS constitution. Corresponding members should have made significant contributions to Pediatric Orthopaedics.

Honorary Membership

The Honorary Membership may be offered to distinguished surgeons and scientists who have a special interest in children’s orthopaedics. Recommendations may be made either by the Board of Directors, or to the Board of Directors by 10 Members, and will be approved at the Annual General Meeting of the Society

Associate Member

The Associate membership is open to others who are not Pediatric Orthopaedic surgeons. The Executive Committee must be satisfied that these applicants make a significant contribution to pediatric musculoskeletal diseases in the clinical, research or teaching fields.

The Associate membership invites allied professional groups, such as non-pediatric orthopaedic surgeons, Paediatricians and General Practitioners, Physiotherapists, and Occupational Therapists with an interest in Pediatric Orthopaedics to participate in the activities of the society.

EXECUTIVE BOARD MEMBERS

The Board shall be made up of Officers and Ordinary Members.
The Officers of the Society shall be the President, General Secretary and Treasurer, who shall be Members of the Board of Directors and shall work with the Board of Directors and have the power to co-opt other Members where appropriate.
There shall be eight Executive Members of the Board of Directors. They shall be proposed from the Membership and elected by postal or electronic ballot of the Members and shall hold office for three years.
All Board Directors are expected to adhere to the Society’s Board Code of Conduct.

  • i. The President shall be elected by the Board of Directors. He/she shall hold office for two years and shall not normally be eligible for re-election. Applications will be received from those who have completed two years on the Board. Where possible, the President shall chair all meetings of the Board of Directors. In his/her absence, the General Secretary shall assume the Chair.
  • ii. The General Secretary and the Treasurer shall be elected by the Board of Directors from amongst their number and shall hold office for a period of three years in the first instance. They shall be eligible for re-election for a further three years only.
  • iii. A President-Elect shall be appointed by the Board of Directors two years before taking up the post of President. He/she should be, or have been, an Executive Member of the Board of Directors and will attend all Board meetings.
  • iv. The Immediate Past President will serve for two years on the Board of Directors as a co-opted Member after completing his/her term of office as President.
  • v. The Education Lead shall be appointed by the Board from the Executive Members, who are invited to apply for the post. This has a tenure of three years during which time the Education Lead shall be responsible for the organisation of the instructional programmes, webinars, courses and MEPOS meetings and represent the Society in the Educational forum.
  • vi. The Society Webmaster shall serve on the Board of Directors for a period of three years which may be extended for a further period. He/she may be an existing Ordinary Board Member or may be co-opted onto the Board. He/she will attend all Board meetings. He/she will be responsible for the maintenance and development of the Society’s website, will co-ordinate abstract submission and the preparation of accepted abstracts and together with the President, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and local host will arrange the scientific meeting programme.
  • vii. Voting in Committee. In the event of a vote being required for Board of Directors matters, each Director shall have a vote. Co-opted Members and the President will not have a vote. In the event of a tie, the President’s decision will be binding.
  • viii. The Board of Directors shall meet four times a year (January, April, July and October). The President may convene extraordinary meetings as deemed necessary.
  • ix. The Board of Directors shall retain the right to exercise discretion over extraordinary matters in respect of Society Membership.

MEETINGS OF THE SOCEITY

  • The Annual Scientific Conference. The Society will meet at a date and venue recommended by the Board of Directors and approved at the Annual General Meeting. The Scientific Conference of the Society shall be open to all Members. A charge will be levied for attendance. Non-Members may attend at the invitation of a member and will be charged an entry fee. An attendance register shall be prepared by the local host and shall be passed to the General Secretary.
  • ii. The Annual General Meeting shall be held during the Scientific Meeting of the Society. The President or, in his/her absence the Secretary, shall take the Chair. The Treasurer shall present a report on the Society’s financial standing. Postal and/or online ballots will be arranged for those matters requiring a decision by the Membership. Active, corresponding and Honorary Members may attend and have voting privileges. Associate membership may attend the AGM but shall not have voting privileges.
  • iii. Educational and research meetings shall be held on request by the relevant leads and approved by the Board.

SUBSCRIPTIONS

Membership of the Society will require payment of an Annual fee which will vary according to the type of membership and the country of residence and/or practice. Fees will be set by the Board and reviewed on an Annual basis. Members are required to pay their dues to support the society to cover the running costs and any changes will be announced at the AGM meetings.

AMENDMENT TO THE CONSTITUTION

Notice of any proposed change(s) must be made at least 28 days before the next Annual General Meeting to the General Secretary and should be supported by 10 Members in good standing. The Board may, at their discretion, recommend changes to the Soceity Rules. Such changes would be disseminated to the Membership and would require their approval by postal or electronic ballot.