Retina International General Assembly 2018 - Auckland, New ZealandThursday, February 8th, 2018
Location: University of Auckland Business School
Owen G Glenn Building, 12 Grafton Road, Auckland, 1010
Room:
Decima Glenn Room, Level 3
Start:
09.00 a.m. end: 05.00 p.m.
APPENDIX 04-1
Topic 04.01 New membership structure
Motion: The MC moves to accept the new membership structure and toamend the constitution and business rules accordingly.
Background
The MC evaluated the membership structure and decided that there was aneed to adapt it.
The membership sub-committee proposes that the constitution of Retina
International be amended to include an extra category of membership i.e. A
B C category membership.
Section 4.2 of the constitution shall be amended as below.
Membership
4.1.1

4.1.2

4.1.3

The membership of Retina International is open to societies ofpeople with a retinal dystrophy and organizations with a specificinterest in retinal dystrophies.
In the instance of more than one full member in a country, therespective boards of the individual organisations, and theirscientific and medical advisory boards (SMABs), are encouraged
to meet at least once a year to avoid duplication of effort.
If such meetings take place, as described in 4.1.2, a report should
be sent to the Retina International president.

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4.2

Membership Classification

FIVE [Four] classes of Retina International membership exist:
4.2.1

4.2.1.1

4.2.1.2
4.2.1.3

4.2.1.4

4.2.1.5
4.2.1.6

FULL MEMBERSHIP
In order to be a full member of Retina International, a society mustshow that:
it is a charity duly registered as such under its national laws (seenote to 1. Definition), and has a constitution or is a sub-group of alarger organisation, such as a society for the blind, that has aconstitution
its purposes coincide with Retina International’s objectives,
it is a society for people with Retinal Dystrophies such as Retinitis
Pigmentosa (RP), Usher Syndrome, Macular Degeneration andother allied retinal dystrophies and their families and friends withsound scientific and medical support,
it may be a standalone organization or a sub-group of anorganization for the blind, but in the latter case must give proof ofindependent activities and accept all people with retinaldegenerative diseases irrespective of their stage of visual
impairment. Membership should also be extended to parents ofminor children with retinal conditions
a medical and scientific advisory board or committee has been
constituted and approved by the Retina International SMAB,
up-to-date audited accounts have been provided to the RI
Management Committee.

4.3

CANDIDATE MEMBER
A candidate member is a society which has stated an intention to
apply for full membership in the future or which has alreadyapplied for full membership, but either:

4.3.1

In the opinion of the GA is not yet in a position to meet all thecriteria for full membership, or,Is a first-time applicant for Retina International membership whichapparently meets all the criteria for full membership, in which caseit must serve as a candidate member for two years prior toapplying for full membership.

4.3.2

4.4

INTERESTED ORGANIZATIONInterested organizations include retinal dystrophy societies thatare in the early stages of becoming organised and establishedorganizations that would never apply for full membership in their

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own right, for example, blindness organizations that do not haveseparate retinal dystrophy sub-groups.
To accomplish that people with a Retinal Dystrophy can findsolace, hope and a future it is necessary to broaden the influenceof Retina International. Only helping, advising and binding newgroups to Retina International can do this. Therefore, the first stepis interest.
Interested organizations are those:
4.4.1
which are not yet in a position to become a candidate member orwill never qualify to become a candidate member,
4.4.2
which need all the support to acquire enough strength or potential
to reach the next phase as candidate member,
4.4.3
which will be on the Retina International mailing list and will beassigned a member of the MC as primary contact.
4.5

ASSOCIATED ORGANIZATION
Associated organizations include companies, scientific institutes
and funding organizations that will never be in a position to fulfil
the requirements of the other membership categories of Retina
International. An associated organization promotes, funds or
actually conducts research into retinal dystrophies and is notenlisted to Retina International through other channels.

4.5.1

Associated organizations will not be present at the General
Assembly unless by special invitation of the MC,
Associated organizations will have no voting rights,
Associated organizations can have a seat in the SMAB where
they can help influence the course of research,
Applications to become associated organizations must beapproved or rejected at the next General Assembly,
Associated organizations will pay fees.

4.5.2
4.5.3
4.5.4
4.5.5

4.6

B Category membership may be extended to organisations andpatient groups who are not in a position to comply with all therequirements of full membership but wish to contribute to the workand objectives of Retina International. These organisations will be
invited as observers to the General Assembly but will not be
entitled to vote. The membership fees of each organisation will be
determined by the finance sub- committee and will be directly
proportional to the rights that they are accorded.

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Membership rights at present are:1.

2 members may attend the GA

2.

They have one vote at the GA

3.

Propose a member/s for the MC

4.

Make representations to the GA

5.

Attend the CE program

6.

Apply to present at the CE

7.

Have 2 delegates on the SMAB international

8.

Invite delegates to attend the SMAB meeting9.

Use of RI logo

10.

Details on website

11.

Access to Scientific information

12.

Attend the RI conference
Membership cat

RightsPayment

Full

Full

As present

CandidateObservers at GA andCE then 4,5,10,11,12
To be determined by
Membershipcommittee in
conjunction withfinance subcommittee
Attend CE as
observers then 9 to12

As present

Cat: B (Does notcomply with allmembership
requirements)

Cat: Associatemember

Cat: Interested group As above

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To be determined by
Finance committee

To be determined by
Finance committee(at present E 500)
Finance committee

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ga18-app-04-1-new membership structure -draft.doc

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