NDA Bylaws Committe

Petter Gjersvik, Olle Larkö, Sirkku Peltonen, Deirdre Nathalie Dufour

NDA Bylaws

Adopted at the Association’s first meeting in 1910, with changes in 1935, 1946, 1977, 1993, 1998, 2001, 2016 and 2019

§1
The name of the association is Nordic Dermatology Association, abbreviated NDA. The principal place of its business is the work address of its secretary general. The official language of NDA is English.

§2
NDA is a non-profit organization. All costs related to the activity of the board and committees appointed by the board will be reimbursed by NDA.

§3
The purpose of NDA is to

promote the science and clinical practice of dermatology and venereology in the Nordic region
promote increased cooperation between the national societies of dermatology and venereology in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden and between their members • support contact and cooperation with similar organizations in other countries
organize congresses, courses and other meetings in order to improve the basic and continuing education of dermatologists and venereologists.

§4
NDA has five member organizations, i.e. the national societies of dermatology and venereology in Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden:

Danish Dermatological Society (Dansk Dermatologisk Selskab)
Finnish Dermatological Society (Suomen Ihotautilääkäriyhdistys; Finlands Dermatologförening)
Icelandic Dermatological Society (Félag íslenskra húðlækna)
Norwegian Society of Dermatology and Venereology (Norsk forening for dermatologi og venerologi)
Swedish Society of Dermatology and Venerology (Svenska Selskapet för Dermatologi och Venereologi)

§5
The annual membership fees for the member organizations are determined by the NDA Board and should be proportionate to the number of members of each national society (except for corporate members). Fees are paid annually by each national society.

§6
NDA will hold

a Nordic Congress in dermatology and venereology every three years, organized by one of the national societies
annual courses in dermatology and venereology • other meetings in order to improve Nordic cooperation in dermatology and venereology

§7
The NDA board consists of 14 members, i.e.:

The president of the national society, alternatively a board member, from each country
Two additional members from each national society, except Iceland, which will have one additional member. All NDA board members are appointed by the respective national societies for three years and may be re-appointed twice for three more years. If vacancies occur, replacement members are appointed by each national society for the rest of the term. The NDA board elects among its members a president for three years. The president may be reelected for three more years. The NDA board elects among its members a secretary general and a treasurer, both for three years. The secretary general and treasurer may be re-elected twice for three more years.

§8
The NDA board appoints the congress president of each Nordic congress. The congress president of the previous and next congress have meeting rights, but no voting rights, in the NDA board, except when being a NDA board member appointed by a national society. The NDA board appoints an education committee with 1-2 members from each national society for three years, including the committee’s chairperson. The chairperson has meeting rights, but no voting rights, in the NDA board, except when being an NDA board member appointed by a national society.

§9
The NDA Board should have at least one meeting annually. Place and date of the meetings are decided by the board, or when necessary, by the president and/or secretary general. The president is the leader of NDA and will chair all board meetings. In his or her absence, the meeting will be chaired by the longest serving board member. The secretary general writes the meeting protocols, which must be sent to the board members within 3 weeks for approval. No voting shall place unless at least six board members from at least three countries are present. Each board member has one vote. All decisions, except when stated otherwise in these bylaws, shall be passed by a majority of the votes. If an equal number of votes are cast for and against, the president or the acting chairperson of the meeting shall have the decisive vote.

§10
The treasurer keeps the books of the NDA. The president, the secretary general and the treasure are each authorized to sign on behalf of the association. The NDA board appoints two auditors who in time for the board meeting before the Nordic congress will prepare a financial report and discharge the board from financial responsibility. The term for the auditors is three years and can be renewed twice.

§11
NDA organizes the Nordic Congress in Dermatology and Venereology every three years. The NDA board is responsible for selection of date and place of the congress and for the appointment of the congress president. The congress president, in consultation with the NDA board and the board of the national host society, appoints the organizing committee for the congress. The organizing committee is responsible for proposing a congress budget, which are to be approved by the NDA board the latest 12 months before the congress. A balance of the meeting should be made available to the NDA board at the latest 3 months after the congress. The organizing committee is responsible for the congress program. An outline of the program should be approved by the NDA Board at the latest 12 month before the congress.

§ 12
The task for the education committee is to ensure that at least one Nordic educational course are held each year. The committee should make suggestions for potential course themes and organizers, for instance by adapting an existing national course. Course organizers must make sure that doctors from all five Nordic countries are accepted as course participants. The education committee should have at least one meeting per year.

§ 13
In exceptional circumstances the NDA board may decide to postpone a Nordic congress for up to one year. In such cases, the term of the NDA board and the NDA educational committee is increased to four years.

§14
At the last board meeting of its term, the board should prepare a report which are to be sent to the boards of the national societies, containing:

The president’s report on the activities of NDA during the term
Review of NDA finances by the treasurer
Auditor’s report
Annual membership fee for the forthcoming term
Time and place for the next Nordic congress

§15
Nordic Forum for Dermato-Venereology is the official journal of the NDA.

§16
Proposals for changes in these bylaws may be put forward by the board of a national society and must be sent for review to the other national societies at least three months before a NDA board vote. Changes in the bylaws must have the vote from at least eight NDA board members from at least four countries.

§17
A proposal for dissolution of NDA may be put forward by the board of a national society and must be sent for review to the other national societies at least three months before a NDA board vote. Such a proposal needs the votes from at least eight NDA board members from at least four countries. In the case of dissolution, the assets of NDA will be given to the five national societies proportionate to the number of members in each national society (except corporate members).

Here you can see what changes have been made from the former bylaws.