European Hernia Society Title

Established by a handful of French surgeons in 1979, the former GREPA spread out all over Europe to become the European Hernia Society-GREPA in 1998.

Bylaws of European Hernia Society

Art. 1GREPA was founded on 15 June 1979 at Bobigny. The initial meaning of this acronym was : Groupe de Recherche et d'Etudes de la Paroi Abdominale (Group for Research and Study of the Abdominal Wall). Following the General Assembly held at Cologne (Germany) on June 1998, GREPA assumed the name of the EUROPEAN HERNIA SOCIETY - GREPA. E.H.S is a non profit International Association.
Art. 2The aims of this association are:
1. Study of all the anatomic, physiologic, pathologic and therapeutic problems related to the abdominal wall.
2. The publication of scientific articles dealing with the anatomy, physiology and pathology of the abdominal wall.
3. The possible creation of organisations or sections outside Europe capable of calling records, participating in research studies or providing instruction within the contect defined in paragraphs 1 and 2.
4. The development of interdisciplinary relations.
Art. 3The office of Society is the office of the General Secretary in charge.
Art. 4The founding members are JP Chevrel (Paris), P. Duchene (Paris), J. Escat (Toulouse), PL Fagniez (Paris), J. Hureau (Paris), J. Loygue (Paris), J. Perissat (Bordeaux), D. Rignault (Paris), J. Rives (Reims) and R. Stoppa (Amiens)
Art. 5The association is composed of surgeons, intensive care specialists, anatomists, physiologists or all scientific investigators engaged in the study of the abdominal wall, who shall qualify as titular members.
Art. 61. The society is administered by the Board which consist of a President, a President elect, a Past President, a Secretary General, a Treasurer, a President of Permanent Advisory Committee (National Chapter), an Editor in Chief HERNIA, a Secretary of Education, a Secretary of Scientific Research, a Secretary of web-site, three Members. 
2. The National Representatives (National Delegate) can participate at the board but they dont have the right of vote.
2/A The duties of the President of EHS-GREPA are - to preside over the meetings of the Board and The General Assembly, - to sign the minutes of the meetings of the Board and the General Assemblies, - to represent EHS-GREPA with the Secretary General at official functions.
2/B The President Elect shall replace or substitute for the President when circumstances render it necessary or when it is impossible for the latter to fulfil his functions. In the absence of the President Elect , the Secretary General may replace the President
2/C The duties of the Secretary General are: 
To edit the minutes of the meetings of the Board and the General Assemblies
To sign conjointly with the President the minutes of the meetings of the Board and the General Assemblies 
To sign with the President, or as directed, the nominations and diplomas
To supervise such proceedings and scientific publications as EHS-GREPA may consider appropriate
To authorise such expenditure as may be necessary for the proper functioning and development of the Association 
Perform, if need be, the functions of the Treasurer and sign alone cheques and payment orders
To establish the agenda to be followed at meetings of the Board and the General Assembly
To send the notifications of the General Assemblies
To represent EHS-GREPA together with the President at official meetings. 
2/D The Secretary in charge of Scientific Research proposes and ensures the organisation and promotion of prospective multicentric clinical or experimental research works, or any other form of scientific research dealing with the abdominal wall. 
Participate to prepare the Annual Scientific Program with the President of the Congress.
2/E The Secretary in charge of the Internet Site is responsible of the good working order of the Site and of the coordination with the members of its Scientific Committee. He executes the decisions concerning the Site taken by the Board and presents an annual report.
2/F The functions of the Treasurer shall be:
To update the account books of EHS-GREPA
To produce for inspection the accounts of EHS-GREPA
To sign cheques and payment orders with the President, or with the Secretary General in the event of delegation 
To produce an annual statement of accounts to the Secretary General so that he may scrutinise these in detail with the competent authorities
To report the balance of income and expenditure at the General Assemblies. If need be, the financial report may be made by the Secretary General.
2/G The President of the Permanent Advisory Committee ensures the contact with the National Representatives.
2/H The National Representatives ensure the promotion of EHS-GREPA in their respective countries where they create national chapters of the Association. They maintain the coordination with the Board.
Art. 7Functioning of the Board.
A. The Board shall meet at least once a year, before the General Assembly, after notification by the Secretary General sent at least one month beforehand
B. The decisions of the Board shall be made by a simple majority of its members, if voting is equally divided, the Secretary General shall have the casting vote
C. Members of the Permanent Advisory Committee may participate to the working sessions of the Board but do not vote
D. Members of the Board shell be elected for three years, re-eligible one period by the
General Assembly on proposal of the Board in charge. President and President 
Elect are in charge for three years, not re-eligible. Secretary General and Treasurer 
shall be elected for six years, not re-eligible in the same position.
President Elect, secretary general and Treasurer are to be chosen from the Board. 
The Member of Permanent Advisory Committee (National Delegate) are elected one for each country from their National Chapters.
The President of the Permanent Advisory Committee shall be elected three years and be re-eligible for election. He is the responsible for updating the list of National Delegates.
The Editor in Chief of Hernia is not elected but appointed from the Board.
Art. 8Applications for membership of EHS-GREPA or for vacant posts on the Board should be addressed to the Secretary General, who will forward them for scrutiny by the Board. The Board shall decide on acceptance or rejection of these applications, which shall then be submitted to the vote of the General Assembly.
Art. 9The rank of membership of the association can be forfeited either by resignation, or by expulsion pronounced by the Board for activities seriously prejudicial to the aims and reputation of the association, or for non-payment of 2 successive subscriptions
Art. 10The Board further retains the possibility of proposing to the General Assembly the designation of Honorary Membership. This title confers on those who receive it the right to take part in the General Assembly without being required to pay a subscription.
Art. 11The members of the Society shall meet annually at a congress. This congress shall be organised by a Congress President approved 3 years beforehand by the General Assembly and proposed by the Board.
Every 3 years a Joint Meeting is organised between EHS and AHS, alternatively in America or in Europe.
During every congress, a General Assembly will be held in which all the members may participate, but at which only the titular members with current subscriptions and Honorary Members shall have the right to vote. This general Assembly is to be notified by the Secretary at least one month beforehand.
The President of the Congress has the sole responsibility.
1) The technical and financial organisation of the Congress
2) Its scientific organisation after discussion and joint approval of the Secretary General, the Secretary of Scientific Research and Scientific Commission of the programme he has submitted.
Art. 12The General Assembly shall receive a progress report from the Secretary General and the financial report from the treasurer.
It will approve or reject the treasurer's accounts.
It will proceed to reappointment of the Board at the instance of the Secretary General.
It will ratify relations established with other bodies.
It will nominate the Presidents of the next congresses as proposed by the Board, and the delegates to the various congresses in which the association is involved. It will discuss the items on the agenda.
It may modify the bylaws as the Board may propose.
All the decisions of the General Assembly shall be made by a simple majority of the titular members and the Honorary members present, having paid their current membership fee.
Art. 13The minutes of the meetings of the Board and of the General Assemblies shall be recorded in a register in the keeping of the Secretary General. The financial records shall be held by the Treasurer of the Association
Art. 14The resources of the association shall comprise:
A: The subscriptions of the members The subscriptions is to be fixed by the Board. It includes subscription to the journal Hernia, official organ of EHS-GREPA and of the AHS B: Funds that it may receive and any grants that may accrue to it. C: The patrimony of the association, consisting of all the law of July 1901 allows it to receive and possess as the said association.
Art. 15Dissolution shall be decided by a majority or registered members, and only at an Extraordinary General Assembly convened especially for this purpose by decision of the Board.
In the event that this majority is not reached at the first Assembly, a second General Assembly shall be convened and the dissolution shall then be decided by the majority of the members present. The majority proposing the dissolution shall on the disposal of the assets of the association for the benefit of a philanthropic undermaking or a learned society.