2015 REVISED CONSTITUTION OF THE PAN-AFRICAN SOCIETY OF CARDIOLOGY (PASCAR)

SECTION 1: NAME

PAN-AFRICAN SOCIETY OF CARDIOLOGY (PASCAR)

SECTION 2: AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

1. To promote the prevention and treatment of cardiovascular diseases.
2. To promote the education and training of medical and paramedical personnel in cardiology.*
3. To educate the general public on cardiovascular health.
4. To encourage research by the formation of an African Heart Foundation which will ultimately fund and coordinate continental research activities and conferences in all aspects of cardiology.*

These objectives shall be achieved through:

5. Congressional business meetings.
6. Organization of international, regional or continental seminars, symposia, workshops or congresses on cardiovascular themes.
7. The dissemination of up-to-date knowledge on cardiovascular diseases through the publication of news-letters and/or scientific journals.
8. Establishment and administration of research fund.
9. Contact and collaboration with other organizations with similar interests.

*Cardiology in the context of this constitution means, and shall be interpreted to mean cardiology, cardiac pathology, cardiac rehabilitation, cardiovascular surgery and other related disciplines.

SECTION 3: MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the Society shall consist of:

1. Organized National or Regional Societies of Cardiology in African countries.   

ii)        Individuals who are engaged in cardiology who reside in an African country.  

iii)       Associate Members: These shall be individual citizens of non-African countries who have contributed significantly to the science and art of cardiology in Africa and have been judged worthy of membership by the Governing Council of PASCAR.

            Such an Associate membership shall be conferred only after due nomination by the Governing Council and approved at a PASCAR Congress.  A similar procedure will also be followed in relation to the admission of new members.

SECTION 4: COMPOSITION OF THE GOVERNING COUNCIL

The Governing Council of PASCAR, hereafter referred to as COUNCIL, shall comprise the following elected officials:

1.  President
2. Secretary General
3. Treasurer

NOTES: COUNCIL SHALL HAVE THE POWER TO CO-OPT CHAIRMEN AND/OR SECRETARIES OF PASCAR SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEES AS AND WHEN THE NEED ARISES.

SECTION 5: DUTIES OF COUNCIL AND COUNCIL MEMBERS

1. Council shall be responsible for the business of PASCAR and shall appoint such scientific committees as it deems fit for purposes of meeting the objectives of the society.
2. It shall meet once a year or more often if necessary for the effective running of the society.
3. The President shall authorize the Secretary General to summon meetings of Council or Congress and shall preside at all such meetings.
4. The Secretary General shall on the authority of the President in his absence.  He shall prepare the agenda for, keep and circulate minutes of all such meetings.  Furthermore, the Secretary General shall take charge of the PASCAR Secretariat and supervise the implementation of decisions of Council and Congress.
5. The Treasurer shall have oversight of all PASCAR finances, and put in place structures to effectively pay authorized bills and prepare audited accounts to Council and Congress. For purpose of operating PASCAR bank accounts, the Treasurer and either the President or the Secretary General shall be authorised to appoint by resolution a signatory that oversee and conduct all electronic and other banking transactions needed by the PASCAR.

SECTION 6: TENURE OF COUNCIL MEMBERS

Members of Council (except for the Editor and the President) shall relinquish his/her post at the end of a four-year term, but shall be eligible for re-election into the Council for a subsequent term.

The President shall be an ‘ex officio’ member of the succeeding Council and only available for re-election four years later.

SECTION 7: PASCAR SECRETARIAT

The Secretariat of PASCAR shall be in the centre where the Administrative Office resides.

SECTION 8: MEETINGS

A Pan-African Congress shall be held every two years at a venue recommended by Council and approved at a preceding congress.

A Congressional Business Meeting shall be held during each congress for purposes of conducting the business of the Society.

SECTION 9: LANGUAGES

The official language of the Society shall be English.

SECTION 10: FINANCE

The Society’s revenue shall be generated through:

1. Annual dues paid by member societies or individuals.

All societies shall pay a flat fee for a minimum of 50 members or less. An additional fee shall be paid for additional members above the minimum of 50. Such flat rate and the additional fees shall be determined by the Council from time to time.

2. Donations and endowments.
3. Other sources that Council may deem fit.

SECTION 11: VOTING AT CONGRESS

1. National Societies in good financial standing and which have 50 members or less shall be entitled to TWO (2) block votes.
2. Every additional 50 members will provide an additional block vote of ONE (1). Member Societies shall be required to submit proof of claims (to be defined by Council).
3.  Individuals from a country with no registered Cardiac Society shall be entitled to ONE (1) block vote.
4. Voting at congress shall be by secret ballot except when Council directs otherwise.

SECTION 12: AFFILIATIONS

PASCAR shall seek affiliations with the following organizations:

1. World Health Organization (WHO).
2. World Heart Federation (WHF).
3. African Union (AU).
4. United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).

Council may from time to time recommend additional affiliations that are deemed to be in the overall interest of PASCAR.

SECTION 13: CEREMONIALS/IDENTIFICATION MARKS

These shall consist of:

1. An official seal or crest (logo).
2. Ties and scarves.
3. A President’s chain.
4. A Mace.

SECTION 14: PUBLICITY AND PUBLICATIONS

1. Publicity shall be by website posting.
2. The official scientific publication of PASCAR is the Cardiovascular Journal of Africa and the existing subscription rates determined by prevailing commercial factors shall apply.

SECTION 15: SCIENTIFIC COMMITTEES

In accordance with Section 5 (i), the notion of scientific committees (initially created in Nairobi in April of 1983) is embraced as a mechanism to advance the activities of PASCAR.  Scientific Committees or Task Forces will be responsible for developing and defining political and scientific (or research) policy for the society in specific areas.  They must prepare reports to be presented at each Governing Council meeting and Congress and communicate their activities through Society e-communication channels (e.g., email and website). It is the duty of the Governing Council to establish or disestablish Task Forces depending on need.

SECTION 16: AMENDMENT AND CHANGE OF RULES

1. Any amendment or change in this constitution shall be by three quarter majority of constituted member societies.  
2. Notice of any proposals to amend or change the existing rules must be sent to the Secretary General not later than three (3) months before a Congressional Business Meeting and must appear on the agenda of the said meeting in the form of a motion.