ARTICLE I (General)

Section 1
The name of this (non-profit) society shall be the “Society of Innate Immunity”, to be abbreviated as “SII” (henceforth known as the Society). The Society was founded on March 1st, 2006 in Ankara, Turkey. (The Society has arisen from the “Society of Transplantation and Innate Immunity”(“STAII”) which was originally founded on May 24, 2005, in Seattle, WA. USA at the Washington State Convention & Trade Center).

Section 2
The Society shall provide leadership in the science, ethics, practice and public understanding of innate immunity related to such fields as transplantation, infectious, inflammatory, and vascular diseases.

ARTICLE II (Objectives)

The objectives of the Society are: a) to promote and encourage research and training in fields pertaining to innate immunity; b) to provide a scientific forum for the exchange and discussion of scientific research and clinical results and experiences drawn from the various fields; c) to promote and encourage contacts between clinicians, clinician scientists and basic scientists from different institutions and from all pertinent disciplines, irrespective of their country of origin, by any scientifically and ethically warranted means, such as the provision of support in the planning and execution of collaborative studies, and the pursuit of collaboration with other associations, societies, institutions or organisations serving similar purposes;
d) to promote and encourage contacts between clinicians, clinical scientists, basic scientists and science writers in order to enhance the dissemination of the key issues in the field of innate immunity.

ARTICLE III (Office)

The registered office of the Society shall be located initially in Ankara, Turkey.

ARTICLE IV (Seal /Logo)

The Council may adopt a Seal and/or Logo for the Society in such form as it deems appropriate.

ARTICLE V (Membership)

Section 1
Membership of the Society shall consist of those individuals who were on the membership roll of the Society at the conclusion of its Foundation on March 1st, 2006. They will be designated Founding Members. All future members must be elected to membership as prescribed below.

Section 2
There shall be four categories of membership: Founding Members, Regular Members, Honorary Members, and Supporting Members.

Section 3
Founding Members have the same rights and obligations as Regular Members.

Section 4
Regular Membership shall be gained by submission of a membership application. Membership will be approved by the Council or whom they may designate.

Section 5
Honorary Members shall be proposed by the Council and elected at the General Assembly by two-third of those members who vote.

Section 6
Individuals and members of firms/companies/institutions, offering substantial financial support to the Society shall be eligible to become Supporting Members. Supporting Members shall not have the right to vote and shall not be eligible to be Officers, unless they are also Regular Members.

Section 7
Regular Members shall pay membership fees. The fees shall be annual and established by the Council after consideration of reports by the Secretary and the Treasurer. Honorary Members shall be exempt from the membership fee. Supporting Members shall pay an annual membership fee in the amount as approved by the Council.

Section 8
Any Membership can be terminated by the Council for conduct which in the judgment of the Council is injurious to the interests and welfare of the Society. Such termination shall require a two-third vote of the Council after the member in question is afforded an opportunity to appear before the Council and appeal for continuance of membership.

ARTICLE VI (Council - Officers – Councillors-at-large)

Section 1
The business, affairs, and property of the Society shall be conducted and managed by a Board of Officers that shall be designated the Council of the Society. A majority of the Council shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 2
The Council shall consist of the President, the Vice President (= President-Elect), the Immediate Past President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, and Councillors-at-large representing the various Working Groups established by the Council.

Section 3
Only regular members in good standing shall be eligible for election as Officers. Candidates for election as Officers are to be nominated by the Council or by any regular member, provided written notification is given to the Secretary eight weeks before the General Assembly. Officers shall be elected by a majority vote of the Regular Members voting at the General Assembly. Those members who are not able to attend the General Assembly shall send their votes by mail /web site which will be opened and counted at the meeting where the voting takes place. Officers of the Society shall not receive compensation for their services.

Section 4
The President, President-Elect (=Vice-President) and Immediate - Past President shall serve for 2 years in each position and until their successors are installed in office.
The Secretary and the Treasurer, and the Councillors-at-large shall normally serve for four years. Re-election is possible.

Section 5
Upon a vacancy in the Council, the President –on approval by the Council- shall appoint a successor to serve until the next General Assembly.

Section 6
The President of the Council shall be the chief executive officer of the Society. S/he shall ensure respect of the constitution of the Society as set forth in these Bylaws and execution of the rules and regulations of the Society, direct discussions of the Council and the General Assembly, formulate propositions for submissions to the Council and the General Assembly, collect ballots and proclaim decisions by the Council and the General Assembly to the membership. Presidents will generally be drawn in alternating succession from members working as clinicians, clinician scientists and basic scientists working in the field of transplantation.

Section 7
The Vice President shall act in the absence of the President in all of any of the duties. The Vice President is also the President-Elect. Following her/his term as Vice President, s/he will become the President.

Section 8
The Immediate - Past President shall assume this position on completion of her/his term as President, and shall serve as an advisor and consultant to the President.

Section 9
The Secretary shall formulate the agendas for and keep the minutes of all meetings of the Council and the General Assembly and maintain the membership roster. The Secretary shall be responsible for the organization of the meetings of the Council and of the General Assembly and for written reports and printed correspondence issued in the name of the Society. The duties of the Secretary shall include the registration of documents and the establishing of contracts with other associates, societies, institutions or organizations as directed between the Council and any specially constituted committees.

Section 10
The Treasurer shall be in charge of and responsible for all funds, securities, receipts and disbursements of the Society. The Treasurer shall be responsible for collections of membership fees, and report defaults of payment thereof to the Council. The Treasurer shall keep records of expenses and accounts of the Society and shall render to the President and to the Council, whenever requested, an account of the financial condition of the Society, and shall report to the Council and to the General Assembly and shall submit financial statements certified by any group of individuals chosen by the Council.

Section 11
The Councillors-at-large shall serve as chairs of the Working Groups of the Council listed in Article VII. They shall advise the Officers and Membership as needed and perform such duties as may be delegated to them by the President.

ARTICLE VII (Working Groups)

Section 1
The Council shall set up, by resolution, special Working Groups devoted to special fields of research interest. Each Working Group shall be chaired by a separate Councillor-at-large.

Section 2
The Councillors-at-large (i.e. the Chairmen of the different Working Groups) may be appointed or designated by resolution of the Council to function on behalf of the Council in a manner provided in the resolution of the Council. Working Groups constituted by any other means shall not be recognized as representing the Society. Working – Group- reports shall be submitted to the Council for approval.

ARTICLE VIII (Meetings and Publications)

Section 1
The President or any three members of the Council may convene special meetings of the Council at such manner and places as the President or such members consider necessary or desirable.

Section 2
Regular Meetings of the Council shall be convened annually by the President.

Section 3
Notice of meetings of the Council shall be given in writing, duly mailed to each Councillor not less than a month before such a meeting. Any action required or permitted to be taken at any meeting of the Council, or at any committee thereof, may be taken without a meeting if a majority of the members of the Council or Committees consent thereto by one or more written instruments (including electronic) submitted to the Society´s Secretary, provided written notice of the proposed action has been given to all members of the Council or the Committee, as the case may be.

Section 4
The Society shall meet and organize a scientific Congress every two years. These meetings shall be organized by the President and the Council or whomever they may designate.

Section 5
The format of the Congress and the composition of the Paper Selection Committee will be determined by the Council, or whomever they may designate.

Section 6
The Council shall engage the publisher for the Proceedings of the Congress.

Section 7
Supplementary (annual) Workshops on special topics may be organized within the context of the organisation of the Congress of the TTS and/or the Congress of the International Union of Immunology Societies or other Transplantology / Immunology Societies in alteration. The Council shall approve organisation of such workshops.

ARTICLE IX (Amendments)

These Bylaws may be amended by recommendation of the Council to the Membership. The change will become effective upon an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the Regular Members voting. The voting may be conducted by mail or other means and a deadline for voting set by mail at the discretion of the Council. Participation must exceed 50% of the membership for the vote to be considered valid.
The text of these bylaws has been approved and confirmed by the Founding Members of the Society – by written instruments, e.g. sent via e-mail to all Founding Members.