CANADIAN SOCIETY OF OPHTHALMIC
REGISTERED NURSES

BY-LAWS AND CONSTITUTION

Article 1
The name of the group shall be the Canadian Society of Ophthalmic Registered Nurses (CSORN).

Article 2 - Aims and objectives
1.         To promote a high standard of practice in the field of ophthalmic nursing.

1. To foster continuing professional education for ophthalmic nurses.
2. To encourage ophthalmic nurses throughout Canada to share current knowledge on a regular basis.
3. To establish a communication network between ophthalmic nursing and other health care professions.
4. To encourage nursing research in the area of ophthalmology.
5. To present the views of the society to government, educational, professional and other appropriate bodies.
6. To promote good ocular care and preservation of sight among the overall population at large with emphasis on the geriatric sector.
7. Participation in screening and education of the general population for awareness of preventable and/or treatable ocular conditions.

Article 3 - Membership

1. Regular membership may be held by
2. those licensed to practice in Canada, and
3. upon payment of membership fee through Provincial Ophthalmic group or as an individual member

1. Associate membership may be held by
2. those licensed to practice outside of Canada, and
3. licensed practical nurses licensed  to practice in Canada or outside of Canada
4. upon payment of membership fee

 

1. Honorary membership may be given to a member whose active participation and long standing membership warrants such respect.  This shall be sanctioned with a vote of the general membership.

Note:   An honorary membership is for life and does not require the payment of annual membership fees.

 

Article 4 - Membership Fees

1. Annual membership dues will be $25.00.  The national organization, CSORN will

receive $15.00 and the local, provincial chapter will receive $10.00.

1. Annual fees for the following year will be assessed by the Executive and submitted at the annual general meeting.
2. Membership fees will be due and payable annually by January 31st. 

Article 5 - Officers
The Executive of CSORN will be as follows:

1. President
2. Past President
3. Vice-President
4. Secretary
5. Treasurer

Board Members

1. Chairperson of the Conference Committee/CSORN Symposium

(Appointed each year by the Executive)

1. Individual members

Each provincial/regional group shall send one president/delegate to
The annual executive meeting
Where no provincial interest group, individual members may attend having given prior notification to national secretary by April 1st.

Article 6 - Election of officers

1. Officers shall be elected by ballot at the annual meeting.
2. Officers shall hold office for a term of three years, or until their successors have been elected.  The three year period shall commence at the close of the annual meeting at which the officer had been elected 
3. The voting is done by a quorum established at 50-60% of the membership present at the annual general meeting.
4. If a vacancy occurs in the interim, the Executive board shall appoint a member of the association to the vacated office for the remainder of the term. 
5. The membership at any meeting of the CSORN may remove any officer from office who exhibits conduct contrary to the interests of CSORN.

Nomination Procedure:

1. The Past President shall chair the Nominating committee.  Members of the CSORN shall be notified in the newsletter of vacancies.
2. Any member may submit the name(s) of any member(s) eligible and willing to run for office, in writing to the Nominations committee.  
3. A letter of nomination shall contain the name(s) of nominator(s) and nominee(s).
4. Nominations shall be accepted in writing prior to the annual meeting. Nominations may also be accepted from the floor at the general meeting.

Article 7 - Duties

1. The President shall chair all meeting of the Society and the Executive committee meetings as well as be a signing officer.
2. The Vice-President shall assume the duties of the President in the absence of the President-elect.   The secretary with the help of the President will preparethe CSORN newsletter. Newsletters will be posted on the website.
3. The Past President shall attend regular and Executive committee meetings and shall be the chair-person of the nominating committee.

4 a.      The Chairperson of the conference committee/CSORN Symposium shall be with the COS.
b.     The Chairperson of the conference committee/CSORN Symposium will send the national secretary the information and program for the upcoming CSORN Symposium for approval by the executive. 

1. The Secretary shall keep an accurate account of all meetings of the CSORN. The minutes of all meetings shall be posted on the CSORN website. The Treasurer shall be a signing officer and shall keep a record of all monies received and disbursed, prepare a financial statement and a proposed budget for the forthcoming year and present these statements to the annual general meeting. Treasurer Reports are to be posted on the CSORN website.
2. The Provincial Presidents/Delegates are responsible for an on-going contact and assistance to the chairperson at the next year's symposium.

Responsibilities of the Provincial President/Delegate

1. The representatives are responsible for contacting the Conference Coordinator at the next annual symposium to offer names of potential speakers and topics of interest from their own area, and to encourage local members to forward abstracts to the symposium chairperson by November 1st.
2. To provide a current provincial executive and membership mailing list to the national secretary and treasurer each year by January 31st.
3. To ensure that the per capita fees are forwarded to the Treasurer of the national group by January 31st. Annualdues are divided between CSORN and the Provincial Chapter at a ratio of 60:40
4. To provide a financial statement and original receipts for all monies received and disbursed for the annual symposium to the national treasurer.

Article 8 - Meetings

1. The executive committee meeting shall take place the day prior to the annual meeting.
2. There shall be one annual general meeting held in June of each year in conjunction with the COS meeting.
3. The meeting shall consist of :                a)       Business meeting

                                                                          b)       Symposium
4.         Any profit from the Annual Symposium to be divided between CSORN and the Host Chapter or Association at a ratio of 60/40.

5.         There shall be an executive Committee Meeting, both past and newly elected members following the annual symposium.

1. Members in good standing may request some financial assistance in writing to the Treasurer, of CSORN, by March 15 to attend the annual symposium.  A maximum of 15 members may apply for funding to cover the cost of registration.

Article 9 -Executive Committee

1. The Executive committee meeting shall be composed of the elected officers.
2. The Executive committee shall meet at the call of the President.  The request of three of the Executive members.
3. A quorum of the Executive committee shall be a majority of its members.
4. Duties of the Executive committee shall be to manage the affairs of the CSORN between meetings of the CSORN. 
5. The Executive shall receive financial assistance to attend meetings of CSORN, to be assessed on a yearly basis.  The President and one other member of the executive will receive full financial reimbursement to attend the annual symposium.  Other members of the executive will receive a minimum of $500.00, and up to full financial reimbursement depending on CSORN finances.

Article 10 - Committees

1. Special committees may be appointed by the Executive committee of the membership as required.
2. The President shall be Executive officer of all committees except the nominations committee.

Article 11 - Parliamentary Authority
The rules contained in Robert's Rules of Orderly Newly Revised shall govern the meetings of the CSORN in all cases to which they might be applicable. 
Constitution and By-laws are the By-laws of the CSORN. 

Article 12 - Amendments
The constitution and By-laws of the CSORN may be amended at any meeting of the CSORN by the quorum of the membership present with a vote of 50-60%.   

 

 

Revised by CSORN June 2008,  Whistler BC.