I. NAME & PURPOSE
1.The name of the society is the International Chinese Society of Thoracic Surgery. (ICSTS)
2. The Purpose of the society is to support excellence in Chinese Thoracic Surgeons through education and research; to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas in chest Surgery; and to encourage and support development of standards of training and practice in Chest Surgery among Chinese Thoracic Surgeons.
 

II. DEFINITIONS
"Organizing Committee" means the Committee of Management of the society. It will include the chairman, executive/deputy chairman, officers and directors.
"General meeting" means a General meeting of members convened in accordance with the rule.
"Member" means a duly elected member of the society.
“Executive Office” shall mean the executive Committee to administer the affairs of ICSTS.

III. MEMBERSHIP
1. A person who is nominated and approved for membership of the society as provided in these rules is eligible to be a member of the society on receipt by the society of the annual dues subscription payable under the rules.
2. There are four categories of membership of the society.
(a) Active members
Surgeons who practice thoracic surgery will be admitted as Active members.
(b) In-Training Members
Persons who are accredited trainees in thoracic Surgery will be admitted as In-Training members.
(c) Honorary Members
The committee may invite international experts and elect as honorary members persons who have made outstanding contributions to ICSTS. Thoracic surgeons age over 65 will be admitted as honorary members.
(d) Allied Members
Nurses, Surgical Assistants, and non surgeons who work for or with special interest in thoracic surgery will be admitted as allied members. Such members must complete an application for membership. His/her application for membership must be approved by the executive committee.
4. The Administrative Office shall refer membership applications to the executive Committee (credential committee of ICSTS) not more than two months after receipt of the application for membership
5. The Executive Committee shall determine whether to approve or reject a nomination.
6. Upon an application being approved by the executive Committee, the Administrative Office shall notify the nominee in writing that he/she is approved for membership and request remittance within a period of 30 days, of a membership fee equivalent to the current annual membership fee as set out in Section IV (1)
7. The executive Office shall, upon payment of the membership dues, enter the nominee's name in the register of members and, upon being so entered, the nominee becomes a member of the society.

IV. ANNUAL SUBSCRIPTION, FEES, FINANCE
1 The annual dues subscription shall be determined by the Executive Committee. No dues shall be levied against any member over the age of 65 years (Honorary Members) and Allied Members.
2. The Executive Committee shall have the power from time to time to waive or reduce the subscription for an individual under special circumstances.
3. Registration fees for the Annual Scientific Meeting shall be set by the Program Chairman and included in the budget of the meeting
4. All payments should be made payable to the society executive Office.
**Member fee ( free at present)**

V. REGISTER OF MEMBERS
1. The Administrative office shall maintain a register of members in which shall be entered the full name, address and date of entry for each member. The register shall be compiled and distributed annually to all current members in a method deemed appropriate by the Executive Committee.
　

VI. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
1. The society in each calendar year will convene an Annual General Meeting of the Membership.
2. The Annual General Meeting will coincide with an annual scientific meeting to be organized by the society
3. Notice of The Annual General Meeting will be sent to all members through e-mail and web site.
4. The ordinary business of the Annual General meeting shall include:
a. Approval of the minutes of the last preceding Annual General Meeting and of any General Meeting held since then.
b. Presentation by the Executive Committee of financial reports and activities of the society for the last preceding fiscal year.
c. Election of Executive Committee members for the society.
 

VII. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEETINGS
1. The members of the executive committee will meet at least once a year to coincide with the Annual General Meeting. The Agenda for the Executive Committee Meeting shall be set by the chairman/executive chairman and disseminated at least 30 days prior to the meeting. Executive Committee Members may add agenda items by a request in writing in advance of the meeting or during New Business.
2. The Executive chairman and his/her committee members are responsible for the actual business of the society. The executive Committee may conduct business via mail or e-mail with a majority vote of issues presented in writing at any time.
3. A quorum is a simple majority of members of the executive committee.
 

VIII. EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS
1. The Executive Committee of the society shall comprise;
(a) The Chairman / Executive/ deputy executive Chairman
(b) Three to five deputy Chairman from each region.
(c) Secretary
(d) Treasurer
(d) 15~20 representative(directors) from each region.
2. The chairman or executive chairman of the society serves as the Program Chairperson of the Annual Scientific Session during the year of his/her term of office unless he/she appoints other(s) to do so. In that case he/she may designate a Program Chairperson with the approval of the executive Committee
3. The executive committee shall hold office until the declaration of voting for the election of new committee member at the annual general meeting next after the date of his/her election.
4. Term of Office: Executive Committee members will hold office for two years. Members of the Executive Committee may be re-appointed to the same office or to another office.
5. In the event of an unanticipated vacancy arising, the Executive Committee may appoint a member to the vacant office. The appointed member will fulfill the unexpired term of the officer who vacated his/her office.
6. The executive office, under the direction of the chairman or executive chairman of the society, the Secretary-Treasurer is empowered to open and maintain a checking account and interest bearing deposit account in the name of the society.
7. The Executive Committee shall review and approve and annual Budget for each fiscal year at the Executive Committee Meeting preceding the beginning of that fiscal year. The budget shall be prepared by the executive office with the approval of the Secretary/Treasurer.

IX. ANNUAL SCIENTIFIC MEETING
The Annual scientific meeting shall be convened once a year at a venue to be decided by the executive committee provided that:
(a) The venue for the annual scientific meeting is rotated through each of the designated regions.
(b) The chairman or executive chairman of the society, who is appointed as the Program Chairman of the Annual Scientific meeting, has the discretionary power to appoint an organizing sub-committee to organize the meeting.
(c) The chairman or executive chairman will be empowered to obtain financial assistance, sponsorships and other forms of assistance from commercial or educational organizations to assist in the running of the annual scientific meeting.
(d) All profits and losses arising from the Annual Scientific meeting will go to or be born by the society. A budget for the meeting will be presented by the Program Chairman and Approved by the Executive Committee prior to the meeting.

X. COMMITTEES
The chairman or executive chairman, with the approval of the Executive Committee may appoint committees or task forces to carry out the goals of the society.
During the inaugurate period of the society, all Committee board members are to be invited to running the affairs of the society.

XI. ADMINISTRATIVE STRUCTURE
The society shall be a not-for profit organization.

XII. CONSTITUTION
This Constitution is presented, discussed, and adopted, at an organizational meeting in Taipei, Taiwan on November, 18, 2005.
The Constitution may be altered, amended, or repealed at any Annual Meeting of the Members of the society upon recommendation of the Executive Committee if notice has been presented to all Members prior to the Annual General Meeting. Adoption of amendments shall require the affirmative vote of at least three-fourths of the Members eligible to vote and present at the Annual General Meeting at which a quorum is present.

XIII. OFFICES
The society shall maintain main office in Hong Kong or at such place as the Executive Committee shall determine.
The Executive offices are responsible for the actual business of the society.