European Head and Neck Society

Constitution and bylaws

  • Article 1

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.

  • Article 2

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.

  • Article 3

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

  • Article 4

The EHNS is governed by a Board.

The Board consists of

  • President,
  • President-elect,
  • Secretary,
  • Treasurer,
  • 8 Members:
    (1 surgeon, 1 radiation therapist, 1 medical oncologist, imaging specialist, 1 pathologist, 1 basic scientist, 1 other health professional, and 1 representative of a patient’s organisation).

The Board members are elected for 4 years and may be re-elected only once, with exception of the President who cannot be re-elected. Elections are organised every 4 years during the General Assembly after call for candidatures and via a secret vote by all members in good standing. A Nominating committee (consisting of the president-elect, the secretary, and 3 members outside the board elected by the General Assembly) will prepare the elections. At the end of his/her term, the President gets a Past-President position for 4 years, on a non-voting basis, to insure the continuity of the EHNS.

  • Article 5

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.

  • Article 6

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 ECHNC.

  • Article 7

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.

  • Article 8

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

Appendix 1

Membership dues for the period until the next General Assembly, at which time new dues will be set upon approval.

Individual membership is offered pending an membership fee of 50 Euros (excluding money transfer and exchange) paid directly to the EHNS treasurer each year.

In case of existing national societies entirely or mainly devoted to head and neck tumours, the society will become a society member pending a 3 Euros per capita registration fee (excluding money transfer and exchange) paid each year by the society to the EHNS treasurer.

National or international study groups may be associated members as a whole, on a voluntary basis, pending an annual registration fee of 100 Euros (excluding money transfer and exchange).

Patient’s organisations may be members of EHNS. There is no registration or membership fee for these organisations.

Appendix 2

For the 4 first years (2003-2007) the Founding Board will consist of the Organising Committee of the 2 first European Conferences. Advisors will be co-opted in the corresponding European Societies to ensure the multidisciplinary format of the EHNS. Before the 3rd European Conference to be held in 2007, a call for candidatures will be organised.