OTS Constitution

Name

The Society will be known as the Orthopaedic Trauma Society (OTS).

Objectives

The OTS exists to be:

• a forum for Orthopaedic Trauma surgery in the British Isles;
• non-profit making;
• the focus for Orthopaedic Trauma research in the British Isles;
• the focus for Orthopaedic Trauma education and co-ordination in the British Isles;
• the focus for Orthopaedic Trauma policies in the British Isles including injury prevention;
• the organiser of scientific meetings on Orthopaedic Trauma in the British Isles;
• the representative body for British Orthopaedic Trauma to Government, national bodies and organisations, and, international organisations;
• the focus for Orthopaedic Trauma training in the British Isles;
• act as the leading body to advance the practice of excellence in Orthopaedic Trauma.

Membership

Membership of the OTS is open to anyone who wishes to apply. Certain categories will apply:

Active Members

• Have applied for membership.
• Active surgeons at substantive Consultant status, or SAS doctors of at least 11 years standing, undertaking trauma in the United Kingdom or Ireland within the National Health Service or its equivalent.
• Are eligible to vote at meetings and serve as Officers.
• Will be required to pay attendance fees at events.

Associate Members

• Have applied for membership.
• Are ineligible to act as executive officers of the Society but can, by invitation, serve as subcommittee members.
• Will be required to pay attendance fees at events.

Emeritus Members

• Previous Members retired from active practice who wish to remain members and ratified by the committee.
• Are eligible to vote at meeting and serve as Officers.
• Will be required to pay attendance fees at events.

Honorary Members

• Anyone nominated by the Membership to the Committee prior to a General Meeting deemed meritous of honorary membership.
• Are ineligible to vote or serve as officers.
• Will be required to pay attendance fees at events.

Any member may be expelled from the Society if they bring the Society into disrepute. This decision must be taken by a two-thirds majority of votes cast at a General Meeting, their names having been notified to the membership by the Committee at least fourteen days before the meeting.

Cessation of Membership will occur:

• On receipt of a Member’s written resignation or
• Persons whose application for membership is declined or who are dismissed from the Society may re-apply for membership no earlier than 12 months from their declined application or dismissal.

Officers of the OTS

All posts, other than President Elect, President and Immediate Past President (1 year – non-contiguous), will be for three years. Post holders other than the President, Immediate Past President and President Elect may opt to extend their tenure for up to one year. Post holders, other than the President, Immediate Past President and President Elect, may choose to stand for re-election to that post for one further term of office. Post holders may resign to the Committee with four weeks notice. Post holders may stand for as many different roles on the Committee as they wish.

Executive Committee

• President
• President Elect
• Immediate Past President
• Treasurer
• Secretary
• Chair of Media & Communications
• Chair of Education Committee
• Chair of Research Committee
• Chair of Policy Committee

President is responsible for the Society and represents the Society to the membership via the Annual General Meeting and to External Stakeholders, including the British Orthopaedic Association. The roles of Immediate Past President and President Elect are to support the President.

Only Active Members who have served on the Executive Committee are eligible for election to the role.

Treasurer is responsible for the finance of the Society

Secretary is responsible for the setting of meeting agenda and publication of minutes, as well as the maintainance of the OTS membership database and Committee membership.

Chair of Media & Communications is responsible for appointing the Media and Communications Committee and overseeing the Society’s communications, website and social media activity.

Chair of Education Committee is responsible for appointing the Education Committee and overseeing the delivery of all OTS educational materials; including the OTS, BOTA and BOA meetings, other educational events and online educational content.

Chair of Research Committee is responsible for appointing the Research Committee and overseeing the delivery of all OTS research activities; including research content of the OTS and BOA meetings, other scientific events and online research content.

Chair of Policy Committee is responsible for appointing the Policy Committee and overseeing policy and communications activities, including national guidelines, and BOASTs.

The Executive Committee and members of the Education, Research and Policy Committees will form the Board of the Orthopaedic Trauma Society

Ex-Officio members of the OTS Board:

• BOTA rep
• BTS rep

The OTS Board will meet twice a year at the OTS and BOA meetings.

If charitable status is applied for, four Trustees will be nominated from the Executive.

Ballots

• The Secretary will invite nominations for positions on the Committee no less than 30 days prior to a general meeting.
• Nominees must give written consent to be nominated.
• Nominees must be proposed and seconded by two Active members.
• Nominees for the post of President Elect should include a short statement (less than 150 words) of their vision.
• If more than one nomination is received for each post a ballot will be held at the general meeting, members not attending the meeting may vote by post/electronically before the meeting.
• If there is just one nominee for a post, at least 75% of the Membership attending the General Meeting must vote in favour of that nominee for them to be ratified in the post.
• The Committee may co-opt members at various times to sit on various committees without need for a ballot.

Meetings

• The Society will meet at least once a year, timings to be decided by the Committee and notified to the Membership no less than 90 days in advance.
• At least one General Meeting will occur per year.
• Meetings may be any/all of: scientific, educational, research, policies, practice, special.
• The programme for these meeting will be published in advance by the Secretary to the Membership.
• Meetings will be open to all Members and guests may be invited on application (who may be vetoed by the Committee).
• Representatives of the Healthcare Industry may not attend the actual General Meeting of the Society, unless invited by the Committee, nor may commercial exhibits be present within the General Meeting room of the Society.
• No recording of a meeting may occur without the permission of the Committee.

Finance

The Treasurer will present a detailed financial statement at a General Meeting.

Affiliation

The Society may affiliate with other organisations as decided at a General Meeting.

Constitutional amendments

Constitutional amendments will be notified to the Membership prior to a General Meeting and need at least two-thirds agreement of the attendees at that meeting for ratification.