Bylaws (29-07-2007)

Article 1

Name of Academy

The name of the academy shall be the INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY OF ORAL-FACIAL REHABILITAION, hereafter referred to as the IAOFR or Academy.

Article 2

Mission statement

The Mission of the International Academy of Oral-Facial Rehabilitation is to progress the quality of oral-facial rehabilitation through the advancement of patient care, education and research.

Article 3

Implementation of the mission statement

The Mission of the Academy shall be improved principally by: 
  • 3.1 The establishment of patient care, quality and safety standards.
  • 3.2 The establishment of guidelines or advice and education.
  • 3.3 The facilitation of research.

Article 4

Membership

Membership of the Academy shall consist of Fellows, Honorary Fellows and Distinguished Fellows.
  • 4.1 Fellows
  • 4.1.1 Fellowship in the Academy shall be open to any Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon or Prosthodontist who have a proven interest in the oral and facial rehabilitation.
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  • 4.1.2 Any other clinician or scientist with an affinity to the art of oral and facial rehabilitation may become a Fellow on recommendation by at the least three Fellows of the Academy.
  • 4.2. Honorary and distinguished Fellows
  • 4.2.1 The Executive Committee of the IAOFR may recommend to the General Assembly names for election to Honorary Fellowship in the Academy.
  • 4.2.2 Persons recommended for election for Honorary Fellowship in the Academy shall be other than OMF surgeons or Prosthodontists who have rendered outstanding service to oral and facial rehabilitation.
  • 4.2.3 The Panel must be unanimous in their decision before submitting the name of the person to the General Assembly for election of Honorary Membership. Candidates will be elected to Honorary Fellows by a simple majority vote of the General Assembly
  • 4.2.4 The names of past and present Honorary Fellows of the Academy shall be entered in the records of the Academy.
  • 4.2.5 Honorary Fellows of the Academy shall not exercise any rights or privileges by virtue of their election to Honorary Fellowship.
  • 4.2.6 The Executive Committee of the IAOFR may recommend to the General Assembly Fellows for election to Distinguished Fellowship in the Academy. Candidates will be elected to Distinguished Fellowship by simple majority of vote of the General Assembly.
  • 4.2.7 Fellows recommended for election to Distinguished Fellowship in the Academy shall be OMF surgeons or Prosthodontists or other members, who have rendered distinguished service to the art of oral and facial rehabilitation internationally.

Article 5

Terms of Membership

  • 5.1 Fellows (other than Honorary and Distinguished Fellows) shall pay annual dues on 1st January each year. The level of fee paid will be subject to periodic review by the Executive Committee and changes recommended approved by the Panel of IAOFR.
  • 5.2 Any alteration in the amount of the annual dues shall take effect from the 1st January of the following year.
  • 5.2 Fellows who have not paid their annual dues within one year of the date of renewal shall be deemed to have relinquished membership of the Academy.
  • 5.3 A Fellow may be expelled from the Academy by the Executive Committee if, in their opinion, such action is necessary. A Fellow thus expelled may appeal to the panel, in writing, against his/her expulsion. The decision of the Panel of the IAOFR with respect to such an appeal is final.
  • 5.4 A Fellow in good standing, who is retired from oral and maxillofacial surgery or prosthodontics or from any other profession as mentioned in article 4.1.2, may be placed in the category of Retired Fellow providing dues have been paid for a minimum of 10 consecutive years. Retired Fellows shall not pay dues but shall have the same privileges as other Fellows, except to hold office or vote. Requests for Retired Fellowship status must be presented in writing to the General Secretary.

Article 6

Awards

  • 6.1 The Executive Committee may recommend names of Fellows to the Panel for the Academy’s Distinguished Service Award.
  • 6.1.1 The nominee will have provided service above and beyond that ordinarily expected of a Fellow in a focused area of IAOFR endeavors and/or initiatives.
  • 6.1.2 The Executive Committee must be unanimous in their recommendation . The award requires approval from the Panel by simple majority vote.

Article 7

Finances

  • 7.1 The IAOFR shall be supported by dues from Fellows and any profits from International Conferences or Symposia on Oral-Facial Rehabilitation, grants gifts, donations and bequests.
  • 7.2 The financing of International Conferences on Oral-Facial Rehabilitation shall be the responsibility of the host organization. A loan from the IAOFR funds, not to exceed $10.000 USD, shall be made to the host organization to initiate the organization of the International Conference. The loan shall be paid in full one month before the conference.
  • 7.3 Provisional audit of accounts on income and expenses from an International Conference or Symposium must be submitted to the Treasurer within 90 days of the conclusion of the Conference or Symposium. In the event that income from a conference or symposium exceeds expenditure, 25% shall be awarded to the local organizers hosting the conference or symposium.
  • 7.4 The financial year of the IAOFR shall be from 1st January to the 31st December inclusive. A statement of accounts of the Academy and a budget for the forthcoming year shall be prepared by the Treasurer and approved by the Executive Committee, normally by 30th September for implementation by 1st January.
  • 7.5 Statement of accounts shall be forwarded to all Panel Members.
  • 7.6 The Executive Committee shall appoint a qualified accountant in connection with the preparation of financial statements and budgets.
  • 7.7 The Treasurer shall be authorized to allocate funds at his discretion but will be required to present to the Executive Committee a financial statement showing the allocation of these funds. Officers shall be entitled to reasonable expenses under provision of Articles 8.3.4. Under no circumstances can the funds of IAOFR be used to finance the attendance of Representatives at meetings from Panel or International Conferences or Symposia.

Article 8

Constitution

  • 8.1 General Assembly
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  • 8.1.1 The General Assembly shall consist of all those present at the International Conference of Oral-Facial Rehabilitation who are Fellows of the IAOFR in good standing.
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  • 8.1.2 IAOFR Fellows who are unable to attend the General Assembly may not participate by proxy.
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  • 8.1.3 The General Assembly shall meet at least once during the International Conference on Oral-Facial Rehabilitation.
  • 8.1.4 The General Assembly shall be required to:
    • (i) receive reports from the Panel on the work of the IAOFR in the intervening period between Conferences.
    • (ii) receive the Financial Statement.
    • (iii) receive decisions of the Panel regarding the election of the President, President-Elect, the Members of the Executive Committee and any other Officers for the ensuing two years.
    • (iv) receive decisions of the Panel regarding Honorary and Distinguished Fellowship in the Academy
    • (v) receive the decision of the Panel concerning the venues for future International Conferences on Oral-Facial Rehabilitation.
    • (vi) further the mission of the Academy.
  • 8.2 Panel
  • 8.2.1 The members of the Executive Committee shall vote on all matters coming before Panel
  • 8.2.2 Panel shall consist of:
  • 8.2.2.1 Fellows of IAOFR appointed before 1st January 2008.
  • 8.2.2.2 Chairperson
  • 8.2.3 Panel shall be required to:
  • 8.2.3.1 receive and approve reports from the Executive Committee on the work of the IAOFR since the last meeting.
  • 8.2.3.2 receive and be responsible for approving financial statements.
  • 8.2.3.3 receive nominations submitted by Panel members for offices in the Academy. The following regulations shall apply:
    • (i) Duly approved nominations must be Fellows in good standing and shall be forwarded to the Secretary General at least 6 months prior to the meeting of the Panel.
    • (ii) Duly qualified candidates for election to the position of President-Elect may also stand for election to one other position on the Executive Committee for which they may be eligible
    • (iii) Nominations will not be accepted without an accompanying signature by the nominee agreeing to be nominated for the position.
    • (iv) To be eligible for nomination to the office of President-Elect, the nominee must be a Fellow and a current member of the Panel.
  • 8.2.3 Panel shall be required to:
  • 8.2.3.4 approve any recommendation of the Executive Committee with regard to elections to Honorary and Distinguished Fellowship in the Academy.
  • 8.2.3.5 approve any changes in the IAOFR Bylaws and any Regulations governing the work of the Executive Committee.
  • 8.2.3.6 decide the venues for future International Conferences on Oral-Facial Rehabilitation
  • 8.2.3.7 report its decisions under Articles 8.2.3.3, 8.2.3.4, 8.2.3.5 and 8.2.3.6 to the General Assembly.
  • 8.2.4 The Panel shall meet at least once during each International Conference on Oral-Facial Rehabilitation, prior to the meeting of the General assembly.
  • 8.2.4.1 only Panel members present at this Panel meeting will be eligible to vote on policy and elected positions.
  • 8.2.5 The business of the Panel shall be conducted by correspondence during the intervening periods between meetings.
  • 8.2.6 The Panel shall delegate responsibility for conducting the business of the IAOFR to the Executive Committee, requiring only that reports be submitted to members of the Panel at regular intervals.
  • 8.2.7 The Executive Committee may at any time and shall upon request of one quarter of the Panel Members, convene a meeting of the Panel. Any such request shall specify the business for which the meeting is to be convened.
  • 8.3 Executive Committee
  • 8.3.1 The members of the Executive Committee shall consist of the President, President-Elect, Secretary General, Treasurer and Past-President.
  • 8.3.2 The Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt an additional non-voting member when this would benefit to the Academy.
  • 8.3.3 The Executive Committee shall have the power to invite attendance by Fellows and others during discussions of particular items of business.
  • 8.3.4 The Executive Committee shall serve on the Panel.
  • 8.3.5 The Executive Committee shall have the power of discretion submitting reports to Panel at regular intervals and shall be required to:
  • 8.3.5.1 maintain and manage the funds of the IAOFR in accordance with Article 7.
  • 8.3.5.2 recommend names to the Panel for election to Honorary and Distinguished Fellowship in the Academy.
  • 8.3.5.3 select a Fellow for distinguished Service Award when appropriate.
  • 8.3.5.4 approve changes in the regulations governing the work of the President, President-Elect and other officers.
  • 8.3.5.5 nominate and submit the venues for each future International Conference on Oral-Facial Rehabilitation.
  • 8.3.5.6 Advise the local organizers on all aspects of organization of the International Conference on Oral-Facial Rehabilitation.
  • 8.3.5.7 Further the Mission of the Academy.
  • 8.3.6 The Executive Committee should meet once a year and more often if circumstances so require.
  • 8.3.7 In the intervening period between meetings, the business of the Executive Committee shall be conducted by correspondence.
  • 8.3.8 Funds shall be made available to defray the reasonable expenses of the members of the Executive Committee in connection with the activities undertaken on behalf of the IAOFR.
  • 8.3.9 Vacancies: In the event of a vacancy in the office of
  • 8.3.9.1 President: The President-Elect shall serve as President until the next meeting of the Panel following which his or her regular two-year term as President shall commence. If it is not possible for the President-Elect to take up the office of President, when it becomes unexpectedly vacant, the Panel shall elect a President from members of the Panel.
  • 8.3.9.2 President-Elect: the Panel shall elect a President-Elect from members of the Panel
  • 8.3.9.3 Secretary General: the Panel shall elect a Secretary General from members of the Panel.
  • 8.3.9.4 Treasurer: the Panel shall elect a treasurer from members of the Panel
  • 8.3.10 It is the duty of the Executive Committee to establish policies for the organization and running of the Academy and its conferences and symposia.

Article 9

Offices of President, President-Elect, Secretary General and Treasurer.

  • 9.1 President
  • 9.1.1 The President shall serve from one International Conference to the other and shall not be eligible for re-election to that office.
  • 9.1.2 The President will preside over the International Conference on Oral-Facial Rehabilitation, meetings of the Executive Committee, meetings of the Panel and meetings of the General Assembly that take place during the two-year period of office
  • 9.1.3 The retiring President of the IAOFR shall continue to serve on the Executive Committee for the ensuing two-year period as Past-President.
  • 9.1.4 The office of the President shall be honorary.
  • 9.2 President-Elect
  • 9.2.1 The President–Elect shall be appointed and elected by a simple majority of the Panel and shall serve for the ensuing two-year period.
  • 9.2.2 The President-Elect shall automatically succeed to the office of President.
  • 9.2.3 The President-Elect shall serve for the President either at his request or in his absence.
  • 9.2.4 The office of the President-Elect shall be honorary.
  • 9.3 Secretary General 
  • 9.3.1 The Secretary General shall be appointed and elected by a simple majority vote of the Panel and shall serve for a maximum of a four-year period.
  • 9.3.2 The Secretary General shall run the correspondence and keep the records of the IAOFR. He will also produce the Minutes of the Meetings of the Executive Committee, the Panel and the General Assembly.
  • 9.3.3 The office of the Secretary General shall be honorary.
  • 9.4 Treasurer
  • 9.4.1 The Treasurer shall be appointed and elected by a simple majority vote of the Panel and shall serve for a maximum of a four-year period.
  • 9.4.2 The Treasurer shall advise the Executive Committee on the maintenance and management of the funds of the IAOFR in accordance with Article 7.
  • 9.4.3 The Treasurer, with approval from the Executive Committee, shall appoint duly qualified independent financial advisors as many as may deemed necessary for the management of the IAOFR funds.
  • 9.4.4 The office of Treasurer shall be honorary.

Article 10

Secretariat

The Headquarters of the IAOFR and the Secretariat shall be in a location designated by the Executive Committee.

Article 11

Official Language

The official language of the IAOFR shall be English and all correspondence, Meetings and International Conferences and Symposia on Oral-Facial Rehabilitation shall be conducted in that language.

Article 12

Amendments to the Bylaws

  • 12.1 Amendments to the bylaws, must be considered with Article 2, and forwarded to the Panel 90 days prior to the Panel meeting for their approval.

Article 13

International Conference on Oral-Facial rehabilitation

  • 13.1. The International Conference on Oral-Facial Rehabilitation shall be designed to further the Mission of the IAOFR.
  • 13.2. The President of the IAOFR shall preside over the Conference.
  • 13.3. The Conference shall be conducted throughout in English.
  • 13.4. The country in which a future International Conference on Oral-Facial Rehabilitation is to be held will be determined by the Panel.
  • 13.5. An International Conference on Oral-Facial rehabilitation shall normally be held biennially. The date shall be determined by the Panel in consultation with the Host.
  • 13.6. A Conference Organizing Committee shall be appointed by the Host. The Conference Organizing Committee will elect one representative for appointment as an ex-officio member of the Executive Committee in accordance with Article 8.3.
  • 13.7. Honorary Fellows, Distinguished Fellows and Past Presidents of the IAOFR shall be entitled to complementary registration at the International Conference on Oral-Facial Rehabilitation.
  • 13.8. Distinguished Service Awardees shall have registration fees waived for the Meeting at which they are to receive their award.

Article 14

Dissolution of the Academy

  • 14.1 The decision to dissolve the IAOFR can only be passed at on ordinary meeting of the General Assembly.
  • 14.2 A motion proposing dissolution must be supported by either all members of the Executive Committee or by one-quarter of the members of the Panel or by one-quarter of the Fellows.
  • 14.3 Any motion proposing dissolution must be lodged with or made by the Executive Committee at least one year before an International Conference on Oral-Facial Rehabilitation. Such a motion must be sent to all Fellows of the IAOFR individually, each of whom must be given the opportunity to vote by proxy if unable to attend the General Assembly in person.
  • 14.4 For dissolution to take place, an absolute majority of all Fellows of the Academy must be shown to be in favour of such action.
  • 14.5 If, upon dissolution and after all the Academy’s debts are settled and all its liabilities met, there remains any property or funds, these shall neither be paid to or distributed amongst the Fellows of IAOFR. They shall be transferred either to some institution, institutions or funds having similar mission objectives to those of the Academy or to some charitable purpose as recommended by the Executive Committee.