Constitution

The intent of the European Head and Neck Society (hereafter called “EHNS”) is to promote exchange of knowledge in all aspects of head and neck neoplastic diseases and to promote the highest standards of research, education and training, disease prevention and patient care.

The EHNS is a multidisciplinary body bringing together:

• Clinicians (e.g., head and neck/oral/plastic surgeons, radiation therapists, medical oncologists, imaging specialists, pathologists);
• Other health professionals (e.g., speech therapists, cancer nurses, psychologists, physiotherapists, dieticians, social workers);
• Basic scientists;
• Patient’s organisations;

involved in any aspect of head and neck oncology.

The EHNS is composed of

• Individual persons
• National and multi-national societies
• Associated study groups

oriented towards head and neck cancer research, training and treatment throughout Europe. Individuals from elsewhere in the world are also welcome to apply for membership.

The Board scrutinises and approves the membership applications.

The EHNS is governed by a Board of Officers.
The Board of Officers consists of:

• a President,
• a General Secretary,
• a Treasurer,
• Past President,
• 4 Officers (1 ENT surgeon, 1 maxillofacial surgeon, 1 radiation therapist, and 1 medical oncologist)
• the chairperson of the organizing committee of the next ECHNO meeting (if not already a member of the Board of Officers)

The Board of Officers members are elected for a term of 4 years. Only the Secretary and the Treasurer may be re-elected once. Elections are organised every 4 years during the Executive Council meeting, after a call for candidatures and via a secret ballot. Candidatures may be submitted to the General Secretary no later than 30 days prior to the vote during the Executive Council meeting.

The Board of Officers meets at least twice a year. One of the Board of Officers meetings is organized at least one month prior to the Executive Council.

The Board of Officers may at any time choose to invite selected persons to join the Board as associate members responsible for the EHNS's permanent initiatives listed in art. 5b below. These associate members shall not have a right to vote at Board meetings but will be invited to attend when the initiative they head is to be discussed. The term length of such an associate member shall be at the discretion of the Board of Officers.

Each Past President of the EHNS automatically becomes co-editor of the official scientific journal of the EHNS.

A European Conference on Head and Neck Oncology (ECHNO) will be organised regularly. Selection of the organising Society is decided by a vote of the Board after call for candidatures.

The Board must ensure a fair geographic rotation throughout Europe for the organisation of these ECHNOs.

The organising Society is responsible as regards the financing of the ECHNO.

The treasurer must annually present a financial report to Board for approval. This approved report is thereafter sent to each member society or group to be presented and discussed during the respective executive councils of these societies or groups. A global report will be presented during at General Assembly during the ECHNO.

The secretariat of the EHNS will communicate with Members via the secretariat of Member Societies, Associated Study Groups and Patient’s Organisations or directly with Individual Members.

The Society is registered in Belgium as an international non-profit association under Belgian law.