ARTICLE 1 OFFICE

A scientific non-profitable society is founded by the name of "International Society of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions", having its principal office in the city of Nafplio. The society may have other offices in Greece as well as in other countries, such as the Advisory Board may determine.

ARTICLE 2 PURPOSES

The purpose of the society is the promotion of research, the dissemination and clinical implementation of the knowledge related to the physiology and pathology of bone metabolism, to the calcification of tissues and the interactions between bones, joints, muscles, central and distal neuronal system.

ARTICLE 3

The means for attaining the society's purposes are mainly the organization of scientific and educational activities, such as conferences, libraries, lectures, classes, the publication of a scientific journal with material relevant to the society's purposes, the organization of working groups and research committees, the participation of the members in such groups or committees, the collaboration with other societies of a similar nature, organizations, foundations, government services of Greece and abroad, the updating of governmental and scientific bodies and of the public opinion in general about research, the prevention and treatment of metabolic diseases of bones and of the interactions of the musculoskeletal and neuronal system.

ARTICLE 4 MEMBERS

Members of the society are divided into regular and honorary members. Regular and honorary members are required to have a university degree from a domestic or certified university of another country, with proven contribution in the fields of interest of the society. Specifically, members must have at least one of the following degrees, or an equivalent: M.D., D.D.S., D.V.M. or Ph.D. Alternatively, persons who have proven research experience equivalent to that required for such a degree can become members. Before a candidate is accepted as a member, he must have published at least one creditable paper, monograph or other publication in the field of bone and mineral metabolism and such publication shall be assessed by the Advisory Board if it is acceptable. Completion of specialized training in a research laboratory emphasizing the investigation in the field of musculoskeletal system diseases or clinical training in a related field, is a desirable but not mandatory requirement for membership. A candidate for membership who lacks one of the described requirements may still apply for membership, by appending to his or her application a suitable explanation of the reasons he or she desires membership, and this application will be reviewed be a special committee of the society, which will suggest the acceptance or refusal of the application to the Advisory Board. Greek or foreign scientists who are particularly distinguished for their general contribution to the society's purposes can become honorary members. Those desiring membership must fill the special application form and attach a complete curriculum vitae with copies of their publications.

ARTICLE 5 MEMBER SELECTION

The entry of regular and honorary members in the society takes place at the General Assembly, being proposed by the Advisory Board, after their application has been supported by at least two regular members of the society and submitted at least one month before the General Assembly. The election of honorary members is decided by the General Assembly after the proposal is brought forward by the Advisory Board.

ARTICLE 6 PRIVILEGES - OBLIGATIONS

The society's members have all the privileges and the obligations defined by the Greek Law and the Bylaws. Full members are obliged to pay an initial registry and an annual subscription thereafter defined by the General Assembly. Honorary members do not have the right to elect or be elected and do not have fiscal obligations.

ARTICLE 7

Full members of the society are disqualified by a decision of the Advisory Board when: a) They delay their annual subscription for a period of more than two years b) They show no interest in the success of the society's purposes or do not comply with the Bylaws or the General Assembly's decisions c) Generally behave in a manner not compatible to their status as scientists and members of the society d) Ask by a written application to be disqualified.

ARTICLE 8 ACTIVITIES

  1. The International Society of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions organizes an Annual Conference preferably during May or June.
  2. The International Society of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions regularly publishes a scientific journal by the name of ''Musculoskeletal Interactions''. The Advisory Board assigns the journal's management to a member of the society for a five-year period. ''Musculoskeletal Interactions'' has internal regulations approved by the Board of Directors. The editor of ''Musculoskeletal Interactions'' is obliged to submit an annual report of the journal's activities to the Advisory Board and the Annual General Assembly of the society.
  3. The International Society of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions announces scholarships for its members, by decision of the Advisory Board, as long as it has the funds for such scholarships

ARTICLE 9 FUNDS OF THE SOCIETY

The society's funds are from :

  1. the payment of the initial registry of the members
  2. the members' annual regular subscription
  3. their extra contributions donations, legacies and bequests
  4. the income of the society’s annual conferences or other formal seminars
  5. the publication of the scientific journal of Musculoskeletal and Neuronal Interactions

ARTICLE 10 ADVISORY BOARD (COUNCIL)

The society is directed by an Advisory Board consisted of 15 officers, which must be regular members. It is elected by the regular members after an election by secret ballot that takes place by mail. It is consisted of the President, the Secretary, the Treasurer and 12 members. The title of Honorary President may be awarded to one officer by the Council. The Council serves a term of 4 years. Until the newly elected Council takes charge, the old one is responsible for the society's management.

ARTICLE 11

The Advisory Board's meetings are held once yearly, usually during the annual conference of the society and by invitation of the President. Additional meetings are held whenever the President finds reason to, after consulting with the Secretary and the Treasurer. The President is obliged to call a meeting of the Advisory Board within five days, if at least three members request it by application, in which the reasons for which they desire this meeting are mentioned.

The Advisory Board manages the society responsibly according to law and the Bylaws. It composes committees from members of the society, appoints members to study special issues and submit suggestions for decision taking and in general makes decisions regarding the society's and its members' issues, except those for which the General Assembly is responsible. None of the members of the Advisory Board has a right to receive a salary or has any other fiscal claim from the society. A member of the Advisory Board is possible to receive fiscal compensation for specific duty executed to benefit the purposes of the society and by approval of the President and Secretary.

ARTICLE 12

The presence of at least nine officers is required for an Advisory Board's meeting. If a quorum is not present at the meeting, the officers present have the power to adjourn the meeting for seven (7) days later, and at the exact day and time and in the same place. If after two (2) continuous invitations for a meeting the Board is not complete, the Board meets after a third invitation and decides to hold a special General Assembly, as long as the members present are at least ten (10). The Advisory Board can decide on an officer's replacement who will unduly be absent at three continuous meetings. This replacement, as in the case of a officer's death or resignation, shall be filled from compensatory members according to their rank. In case there are no elected compensatory members, the new officers are elected by the General Assembly. The decisions at Board meetings are taken by majority voting. In case of equal votes, the President's vote is considered as double.

ARTICLE 13 PRESIDENT’S DUTIES

The President of the Advisory Board represents the society in every kind of contact with the state and with every legal or natural person. In the absence of the President or in the event of his inability to act, the Secretary replaces him. The Board can decide to assign the representation of the society in a specific case to another member of the Board.
In case of the President's resignation, the Advisory Board appoints a successor, after fulfilling the vacancy on the Board by a compensatory member that is next in rank.
The President calls Board meetings and the General Assembly and signs all of the society's documents with the Secretary, except for the payment orders that need both the signatures of the President and the Treasurer or the Secretary.

ARTICLE 14 SECRETARY'S DUTIES

The Secretary is in charge of the office, supervises the employees of the society, is responsible for the society's files and seal and conducts all communications.
He compiles and signs with the President the minutes of the meetings and in general the society's documents.

ARTICLE 15 TREASURER'S DUTIES

The Treasurer is in charge of and responsible for all funds of the society from any source whatsoever, receives amounts and conducts payments, keeps a book of income and payments and an inventory of the society's property. The Treasurer is obliged to deposit in a Bank amounts over eight hundred thousand drachmas (800.000) or amounts defined by the Advisory Board. The signature of the President is necessary for money withdrawal from the Bank.

ARTICLE 16 GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The General Assembly of the society's members shall be held regularly once yearly, during the Annual Conference of the society. In case though the conference does not take place, the General Assembly shall be held in December. The General Assembly may be held especially for a special reason after an Advisory Board's decision or after a written application of at least 1/4 of the regular members that have fulfilled all their fiscal duties. In the application the reasons they want to be discussed should be mentioned.
Notice of the General Assembly is given in writing at least fifteen (15) days before the meeting, with personal invitations that are sent by mail to the address given by each member, and in the invitation the agenda is mentioned.

The General Assembly of the members is the dominant and supreme authority of the society which has the final word on every issue and in particular :

a)   It elects the members of the Advisory Board and of the Audit Committee every two years.
b)   It supervises the Advisory Board and the Audit Committee.
c)   It approves or disapproves the report of the duties performed by the Board and the balance of incomes and expenses after hearing the report of the Audit Committee.
d)   It approves the admission of new members to the society.
e)   It amends the Bylaws and decides on the society's dissolution.
f)   It decides upon the amount of the regular annual subscriptions, of the special contributions and the amount of the initial registration.
g)   It elects from among the society's members the Chairperson and the Secretary of the General Assembly who preside during it, it elects a three-member supervisory committee with two compensatory members for the election of the Advisory Board and the Audit Committee and
h)   It takes decisions for every issue present.

ARTICLE 17

The General Assembly is considered complete when at least half of the regular members that have fulfilled all their fiscal duties are present. If the first General Assembly is not complete, then a new one takes place the next day at the same time, at the same place and with the same agenda, and in such a case the meeting is considered complete no matter how many members are present. Before any of the issues are discussed, the members elect the Chairperson and the Secretary of the General Assembly, who must not be candidates for the Advisory Board and the Audit Committee. The decisions in the General Assembly are taken by complete majority of the members that are present unless it is set otherwise by Law.

ARTICLE 18 AUDIT COMMITTEE

A three-member Audit Committee from among regular members has the supervision and the control of the Advisory Board’s management. This committee is elected by the General Assembly the same day as the Board and has a two-year term. During its first meeting the Audit Committee elects its President, who is in charge in general. For the success of its work the committee is entitled to examine the society's documents and books and ask to see the treasury's contents.
The Advisory Board is obliged to grant the committee everything to succeed in its duties. Except for the supervision and control, the Audit Committee prepares and presents the report regarding the Board’s management at the General Assembly. The control report is signed by the members of the Audit Committee and is registered in the book of records of the General Assembly.

ARTICLE 19

The members of the Advisory Board and of the Audit Committee may be expelled by a decision of the General Assembly, regular or special, for any reason for which a member of the society could also be expelled.

ARTICLE 20 AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS

Amendments to the bylaws of the society shall be made at the General Assembly with a quorum of 2/3 of the members with paid dues, and a majority vote of 3/4 of them.

ARTICLE 21 DISSOLUTION

The society is dissolved if its members are reduced to less than ten (10) and when a reason defined by the Legal Code and the relevant laws exists. For the dissolution of the society by a decision of the General Assembly, 2/3 of the regular members with paid dues must be present, and the decision must be taken by a majority of 3/4 of the members present. In such a case, the General Assembly decides about the disposal of the society's property according to its judgement.

ARTICLE 22 SEAL

The society has its own cyclic seal, which has the name, the initials and the year of establishment of the society at the perimeter circularly, and in the middle the initials of the society (ISMNI).

ARTICLE 23

These bylaws consisted of twenty two (22) articles have been read and approved, article by article, as well as in their entirety by the members of the society.