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Constitution of EUGOGO
MISSION STATEMENT
Graves'
Orbitopathy is a relatively rare and difficult disease to
manage. Many of the treatments have not been subjected to
rigorous scientific evaluation. A major obstacle to
improving the management of this condition is that no
individual centre has access to sufficiently large numbers
of patients for adequately powered randomised controlled
clinical trials.
EUGOGO was
established by European centres which have long experience
in managing patients with Graves’ Orbitopathy within a
multidisciplinary framework, have a track record in clinical
research in this condition, and constitute large regional or
national referral centres.
EUGOGO is a
consortium of clinicians (endocrinologists and
ophthalmologists), clinical epidemiologists and
radiologists, committed to improving the management of
patients with Graves' Orbitopathy within a multidisciplinary
and scientific context.
OBJECTIVES
EUGOGO aims
to:
· contribute
towards understanding the pathogenesis of Graves’
Orbitopathy and improving the management of patients,
through collaborative scientific basic and clinical
research.
· contribute
towards education, teaching and training of health
professionals involved in the care of patients with Graves’
Orbitopathy
·
raise funds
to support its activities
MEMBERSHIP
Membership
of other centres will be considered by the Executive
Committee (EC), but these generally must demonstrate an
interest in Graves’ Orbitopathy, subscribe to the principle
of multidisciplinary management of patients, demonstrate
compliance with the EUGOGO assessment protocols and be major
tertiary referral centres. New centres will submit a formal
application to the secretary in a provided proforma. The
application will be considered by the EC at the next
meeting. The EC will decide to accept or reject an
application. Before joining EUGOGO, representatives from
new centres are required to attend one of the EUGOGO
teaching courses and to submit CRFs for 10 consecutive
patients, in order to ensure competence and uniformity of
clinical assessments. New centres will be granted an initial
provisional membership for 2 years. Permanent membership
will be granted after provisional membership if the centre
is deemed by the EC to have contributed sufficiently to the
work of EUGOGO.
Member
of the EC who plans to retire or withdraw from EUGOGO should
let the Executive Committee know in advance who is to be
their replacement and submit a brief outline of that
person’s involvement in the centre’s activity. The new
member should attend one of the EUGOGO teaching courses, and
there should be some overlap (by one meeting) between
retirement of one member and replacement by another.
Membership
is not open to patients or the general public, although
EUGOGO has strong links with patient-led organisations.
EUGOGO is independent of financial or other obligations to
other organisations including the Pharmaceutical Industry.
EUGOGO, through its members has links with national and
international professional and academic organisations in the
field of Endocrinology and Ophthalmology.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
EUGOGO is
governed by an Executive Committee comprising
representatives from the member centres. Currently each
centre has 2-3 representatives in the Executive Committee
(generally one ophthalmologist and one endocrinologist).
Each member centre may have additional EUGOGO members
(approved by the Executive Committee) who are closely
involved with EUGOGO business, and who may at times
represent their centre in the Executive Committee.
The
Executive Committee is led by the Chairman and supported by
the Secretary and Treasurer. The Chairman, Secretary and
Treasurer’s tenures are 3 years, and a maximum of two terms.
The Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer must be nominated and
seconded by members of the Executive Committee and are
elected by absolute majority. The Chairman’s duty is to
represent EUGOGO, organise at least one meeting per annum of
the Executive Committee, chair the Executive Committee
sessions and communicate with members. It is the Chairman’s
duty, in close collaboration with the Treasurer and members
of the Executive Committee, to ensure that EUGOGO’s finances
are managed appropriately. The Secretary is responsible for
keeping and circulating the minutes of the Executive
Committee, deal with applications of new membrers and
communicate formally with outside agencies. The Treasurer is
responsible for the accounts and banking. It is also the
Treasurer’s duty to report on EUGOGO’s financies at each
Executive Committee meeting and submit a written report at
the end of each calendar year. The Treasurer’s annual report
will be reviewed by two nominated EUGOGO EC members who will
act as auditors.
Non-attendance of member centre representatives in three
consecutive meetings of the Executive Committee may lead to
suspension of that centre.
The
Executive Committee will strive to govern by the principles
of consensus. When consensus is impossible, decisions will
be made by ballot based on absolute majority, except for
changing the constitution when a ¾ majority will be
required. Each participating center is allocated two votes.
Voting by proxy will not be allowed.
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