CONSTITUTION

(As ratified at the General Meeting of The Society on 11th May 2009)

1 Name:

1.1 The Trichological Society

1.2 The Trichological Society shall hereinafter be referred to as The Society.

1.3 The Governing Council shall hereinafter be referred to as the Council.

1.4 Student Members, Members, Licentiates, Fellows and Honorary Members of The Society shall hereinafter be referred to as members.

2 Objects:

i) The Society shall seek to provide catalogues of professionals including academics, artistic, legal, medical, scientific, trichological practitioners etc in appropriate listings whose vocations relate to human scalp and hair in health and disease and to whom the public world-wide may refer for advice.

ii) The Society shall seek to promote research within its disciplines.

iii) The Society shall conduct programmes of education in Trichology leading to graduation as its licentiates.

iv) The Society shall seek to provide educational material for public interest.

v) The Society shall register and regulate its membership and by imposing obligatory ethics & practice guidelines seek to provide a facility, which justifies public confidence.

vi) The Society shall provide an e-mail advice line for the membership.

vii) The Society shall provide a 'Frequently asked Questions & Answers Page' for public interest.

viii) The Society shall seek to collate and exchange information within its parameter world- wide.

ix) The Society shall seek to provide a platform for the advancement of bona-fide ideas within its discipline, and may at its discretion act as a validator. The Society's Governors may after consideration permit the use The Society's name and its crest in connection with this work. In all such cases, written permission must be sought of the Governing Council and copy submitted prior to publication.

x) The Society may at its discretion permit the use of its name and its crest for various purposes. In all such cases, written permission must be sought of the Governing Council and copy submitted prior to publication.

The Trichological Society. 1 Kings Mews London WC1N 2JA. UK Telephone: 08707 666 996. E-mail: admin@hairscientists.org. Portal: www.hairscientists.org

3 Membership:
Subscription membership and appropriate listing on The Society's Registers of members may be awarded subject to the following procedure:
• Submission of a formal proposal using the Society's Membership Application Form.
• Vetting as deemed appropriate by The Society.
• Election into membership by the Council of The Society.
• Payment of a modest annual membership subscription: Currently £150 (UK members), £95 (Non-UK members).
The appropriate Membership Application Form is only available by e-mail from Registrar.
All applicants for membership are required to have read and accepted the Constitution (this document).

Annual renewal is by invitation. Where invitation to renew membership is not invited, or the invited subscription is not paid within 30 days the membership is deemed void.

3.1 The Society's membership has no limitation as to numbers.

3.2 Six categories of membership exist viz: Student Member, Member, Licentiate, Fellow, Patron.

3.2.1 Student Member: a registered student of the Society.

3.2.2 Member (MTTS): any person on the Society's list of Members (includes: Academics, Chemists, Lawyers, Physicians, Hair Restoration Surgeons, Research Scientists, Wigs suppliers etc).

3.2.3 Licentiate (LTTS): a member who is a graduate in trichology, possesses The Society's Diploma in Pure-Trichology, and has read, understood and unequivocally accepted: the Constitution and the Ethics & Professional Practice Guidelines.

3.2.4 Fellow (FTTS) - a person who has been thus decorated by The Society. This prestigious and rarely awarded accolade is bestowed for outstanding services to the world of orthodox hair-sciences and /or TTS in particular.
Any candidate for consideration will be:
• A person formally proposed and seconded for such honour by two or more established respected subscribing members of TTS.
• A person who in the opinion of the proposer and seconder can be shown to possess integrity, appropriate academic achievement within a hair-sciences specialism and, has made an outstanding contribution to the unique standing of TTS - worldwide.
Each candidate will require the unanimous approval of the Governors (secret ballot rules apply) - and will be decorated by the President in UK during May.

3.2.5 Honorary Member (Hon.MTTS): Honorary Membership is a prestigious and rarely awarded subscription-free membership bestowed by The President (on the recommendation of the Governing Council). The recipient of this honour will be a much respected person of integrity, well known to The Society - and with whom The Society wishes to create or preserve a formal link. The individual may be a retired subscribing member, or someone who is not directly associated with its field of academic/professional activity.
Successful candidates will have received the unanimous approval of the AGM - held annually in UK during May.

3.2.6 Patron (Patron -TTS): An influential professional providing The Trichological Society with guidance and support. The prestigious award of Patron is bestowed by The President for outstanding support and guidance to TTS and its objectives.
A candidate for consideration will be:
• A person of influence and integrity who has been formally proposed and seconded for such high honour by two or more established respected subscribing members of TTS.
• A person who, in the opinion of TTS President, Governing Councilors and their advisers, has a made an outstanding contribution to TTS and to orthodox hair-sciences world-wide.
A successful candidate will require the unanimous approval of the Governing Council (secret ballot rules apply) - and will be decorated by the President in UK during May.

3.3 All Members of The Society have equal voting rights and may stand for election to any office.
3.4 Privileges of Membership (e.g. voting rights, holding office, and portal listings etc) are available to members subject to payment of the annual subscription (due 13th September).

4 Management:

4.1 The President, plus an annually elected Council of 5 members shall Govern The Society. Councilors shall be collectively empowered to make decisions affecting the day-to-day routine administration of The Society without reference to an AGM or EGM. Major changes made effecting The Constitution shall be presented to an AGM or EGM for ratification prior to enforcement. In the event 21 days notice will be given of any intended EGM.

4.2 The Presidency is an honorary office. The appointment shall be for a term not exceeding two consecutive years.

4.3 The President and Council shall be elected at a meeting to be held on the second or third Monday in the month of May (or such other date as is declared by the Council), and subject to termination of office by resignation removal or otherwise, these officers remain in office until their successors are elected and installed in their stead.
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4.4 A Councillor may fill any vacancy that occurs.

4.5 Retiring Councilors may be re-elected.

4.6 The General Secretary may co-opt a member or members on to the Council.

4.7 The General Secretary shall have the power to make payments for expenses and services as appropriate - subject to consultation with Governing Councilors. All cheques shall require two signatures.

5 Subscriptions:

5.1 The current annual subscription for members residing in England Ireland Scotland Wales is £150 (one hundred and fifty pounds). The annual subscription for members residing elsewhere worldwide £95 (ninety-five pounds). This differential takes account of any possible extra benefits available to UK residents and the high costs of currency conversion imposed on some members.

5.2 Where Membership renewal is invited, subscriptions are due on 13th September. New members joining mid term will pay an appropriate proportion of the annual subscription. Members are responsible for their own fees. TTS does not accept payments from employers.

5.3 Student members subscription is £25 (this forms part of the annual education fee)

5.4 The Society may at its discretion allow a 'grace period' of up to 30 days for payment of a membership subscription. Following the annual subscription request (due 13th September), two reminders only will be sent. Non payment of subscriptions thereafter will result in the automatic invalidation of membership.

5.5 Education subscription is currently £1500 GBP per academic year which may commence on the first day of any month.
6 Entry Conditions:

6.1 Privileges of Membership (e.g. voting rights and portal listings etc) are not available to any person until the appropriate level of annual subscription has been received by the Registrar.

6.2 The initial subscription must be paid within 28 days of a candidate's election to membership. Thereafter the election is deemed to be void.

7 Honorary Members:

7.1 The Council may at its discretion elect any member to Honorary Membership without payment of further subscriptions.

7.2 The election will not take effect unless it is confirmed at the following Annual Meeting on the third Monday in the month of May (or other date nominated by the Governing Council).

8 Application for Membership:

8.1 Each candidate for membership shall be proposed by another member or by The Society. Student membership requires no proposer.

8.2 All applications for membership shall be made using the requisite Membership Application Form in conjunction with copies of The Rules and the Ethics & Practice Guidelines. The current versions are reproduced on the website or are available from the General Secretary through whose office all correspondence shall be conducted.

8.3 Elections are held regularly by the Council and are by secret ballot, results must be unanimous.

8.4 An unsuccessful candidate may reapply to the Society after a period of twelve months.

8.5 Membership is not granted to practices or commercial entities.

8.7 Membership is granted to named individuals only. The member's name must be visible in The Society's web site listing. The associated Practice name (where different) may be included but only if all the legal owners/partners are registered practitioner members of The Society.

8.8 Each individual promises to be bound by The Society's Rules (Constitution) and its 'Ethics and Professional Practice Guidelines' As both are subject to periodic review members must acquaint themselves with the current versions (available for viewing on the web site). Any substantiated breach of this code will result in the termination of that individual's membership and listing.

8.9 Applicants must produce for validation and verification by The Society - evidence of appropriate academic and professional qualification. Qualification with other professional bodies does not guarantee acceptance into membership of The Society. In some cases an examination will be required.

8.10 Applications will only be considered if the proposal is countersigned by an existing member of The Society and seconded by another member or person of high standing with The Society.
Overseas Applicants unable to locate a proposer should e-mail the Registrar stating this.

8.11 Each applicant for membership must be reputable and of good standing with consumer and public authorities.

8.12 The Society reserves the right to request an interview.

8.13 In all cases The Society's decision is final.

9 Resignation:

A member wishing to withdraw from the Society must give notice in writing to the Registrar

10. Termination of Membership :

10.1 The Council may require the resignation of a member who offends against the Rules of the Society or the Ethics & Professional Practice Guidelines. Or whose professional, personal or financial conduct (in the opinion of the Council) renders him/her unfit for continued membership of the Society.

10.2 Before any such resignation may be invited, the Registrar must inform the member of the allegations made against him/her in writing and give the member twenty-one days in which to deliver to the Council a written explanation in his /her defence.

10.3 The member shall also have an opportunity to attend a hearing before the Council to answer complaints made against him/her.

10.4 No member may be invited to resign unless 80% of the Council vote in favour of membership termination.

10.5 Council members must declare their interests (social or professional) associated with any individual sited in a disciplinary hearing.

11 Alteration to the Rules of the Society:

The Council may make alterations to the rules (Constitution), but additions/removals/alterations may not take effect until ratified at an AGM, or at a Special General Meeting convened for the purpose.

12 General Meetings:

12.1 An Annual General Meeting (AGM) of the Society shall be held in every year on a Monday of May prior to the Presidents Day celebrations (or such other date as shall be specified by the Council), and will:

12.2 Receive and if approved adopt a statement of the Society's accounts to the end of the preceding year.

12.3 Consider and if approved, sanction any duly made alteration to The Constitution.

12.4 Elect the President and members of the Council.

12.5 Deal with any special matters the Council or individual members may desire to bring before the Society.

12.6 Notice convening the Annual General Meeting shall be given not less than 21 days in advance.
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12 Extraordinary General Meetings:

12.1 An EGM may be convened at any time by the Council to:

12.1.1 consider and if approved sanction any duly made alteration to the rules of The Society.

12.1.2 deal with any special matter which the Council wishes to place before the members.

12.1.3 remove any member or members of the Council from office and to fill any vacancy or vacancies caused thereby.

12.1.4 deal with any special matter placed before The Society by a member or other individual.

13 Casting Vote:

At Council Meetings and at General Meetings, a Chairperson shall be elected to preside. He/she may have a casting or additional vote in the event of an equality of votes.

14 Quorums:

14.1 The following numbers of members are required to form a Quorum:

14.1.1 At Council Meetings (except for the purpose of rule 10.) - Three members

14.1.2 At Council Meetings for the purpose of rule 10. - Five members.

14.1.3 At General Meetings - Eight members.

FINI