BYLAWS

ARTICLE I - NAME, PURPOSE AND OBJECTIVES

Section 1 - Name

The name of the organization shall be the Canadian Emergency Ultrasound Society/Société canadienne d'échographie au départment d'urgence, hereinafter referred to as the "Society".

Section 2 - Purpose

The Society is a not-for-profit organization which seeks to promote excellence in emergency ultrasound (ED U/S) use in Canada.

Section 3 - Objectives

The objectives of the Society are:

1. To promote the highest possible standard of ED U/S use in Canada.
2. To encourage the development of standards for undergraduate and postgraduate training programs and continuing education of emergency physicians in ED U/S.
3. To promote research in the field of ED U/S.
4. To act as a resource for members initiating ED U/S programs in their centers.
5. To facilitate communication between practitioners interested in ED U/S.

ARTICLE II - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 - Eligibility for Membership

Membership is open to all persons interested in ED U/S.

Section 2 - Responsibilities of Membership

Acceptance of membership in this Society shall constitute an agreement to comply with the Bylaws and Objectives thereof. Lack of compliance with these Bylaws shall be a cause of termination of membership.

It is not necessary to be certified by the Society to be a member.

Section 3 - Dues

The Executive may require from time to time that dues or special levies be paid by members. In this case, payment of said dues or levies will be a requirement of membership.

Section 4 - Resignation of Membership

Resignation of membership may be made electronically by a member at any time.

ARTICLE III - CERTIFICATION

Section 1 - Certification

Certification in the Society can be obtained by performing 50 scans of the following areas, under supervision of a certified member who is on staff in the same hospital:

• Cardiac: to evaluate for the presence of a pericardial effusion and global cardiac activity
• Aortic: to assess the diameter of the abdominal aorta
• Abdominal: to assess the two upper quadrants for the presence of free fluid
• Pelvis: to assess for the presence of an intra-uterine pregnancy and pelvic free fluid

Once the requisite number of scans has been performed the candidate must succesfully complete the CEUS written and visual exams. A practical exam must also be completed during which the trainee demonstrates the ability to teach the technique effectively.

Upon certification, a member is recognized as an Independent Practitioner (IP) and is able to supervise scans done by other members of their Emergency Department. Said supervision will be compensated by the trainee at a rate fixed by the Society and paid directly to the trainer.

Section 2 - Certification Equivalencies

Members who hold RDMS certification or equivalent will be recognized as being certified by the Society.

The Executive may decide to decrease the number of scans needed for certification by a member if said member demonstrates experience and competence in one or more areas. This decrease in requirements may be adjudged on a single area of interest or on several, depending on the relevant experience of the member.

Section 3 - Master Instructor Status

Independent Practitioners who have performed significant teaching at the introductory and IP level can be recognized as CEUS Master Instructors. Once recognized as a Master Instructor, a member can visit other centers and supervise IP trainees independently. Such training would be compensated at a rate fixed by the Society and paid directly to the trainer.

Candidates for Master Instructor status must be recommended by a Master Instructor and accepted by the Executive.

Section 4 - Center Recognition

Once an ED group has six (6) Independent Practitioners (one of whom must be a Master Instructor), they may refer to themselves as a "CEUS Training Center" and receive trainees from outside their own center. Such trainees would pay a rate fixed by the Society directly to their trainers.

ARTICLE IV - BOARD OF THE SOCIETY

Section 1 - Role of the Board

The affairs of the Society shall be managed by an Advisory Board, herein referred to as the Board. The Board shall supervise, control and direct all activities of the Society, its committees, and publications, and the determination of its policies. The Board shall actively pursue the objectives of the Society and may prescribe such rules and regulations relating to the management and operation of the Society as they may deem expedient.

Section 2 - Composition

1. The Board of the Society shall be comprised of seven (7) voting Executive members. All members of the Executive must be certified by the Society and at least five must be practicing Emergency Physicians. The Executive Members of the Society will be the following:
   1. President
   2. Vice-President
   3. Secretary
   4. Maritimes Representative
   5. Québec Representative
   6. Ontario Representative
   7. Western Representative
2. The Board may also include non-voting representatives from specialties other than Emergency Medicine. These Board Members will serve in an advisory capacity and are not required to be certified members of the society.
3. The Board may also include, as non-voting members, practicing Emergency Physicians who have displayed a significant commitment to ED U/S. These Board Members will serve in an advisory capacity and are required to be certified members of the society.

Section 3 - Term of Office

The term of office for Executive Members shall be for three years.

Section 4 - Meetings of the Board

Any member of the Executive can call a meeting of the Board, to be conducted electronically, to discuss any issue of interest to the Society. A teleconference must take place twice a year, once in September and once in January.

Section 5 - Voting

Any decision taken by the Executive must be supported by at least five voting members.

Section 6 - Remuneration

The Board Members shall serve without remuneration.

Section 7 - Vacancies

1. The position of a Board Member shall be automatically vacated:
   1. If a Board Member resigns;
   2. If a Board Member is found by a court to be of unsound mind;
   3. On death.
2. The Executive shall have power to fill any vacancy on the Board for the unexpired portion of the term so vacated.

Section 8 - Removal From Office

Any Board Member may be removed from office by a vote of the Executive Members (minimum of five votes required). Any Executive Member may be removed from office by a unanimous vote of the remaining Executive Members.

ARTICLE V - STANDING AND SPECIAL COMMITTEES

Section 1 - Establishment of Standing or Special Committees

1. Standing committees shall be established by the Executive to perform such duties as may be determined.
2. The Executive may appoint special committees from time to time to undertake specific projects on behalf of the Society as required.

Section 2 - Chairs of Committees

1. Chairs of standing committees shall be elected annually by the members of each such standing committee and shall normally serve a one-year term, subject to re-election.
2. Failing the election of a Chair by the members of a standing committee, the Executive shall appoint a Chair who shall normally serve a one-year term, subject to reappointment by the Executive or election by the members of such standing committee.
3. The Executive of the Society shall appoint a Chair of any special committee, to serve for the duration of that committee's deliberations.

Section 3 - Term of Office

1. Standing committee members shall serve until their successors are appointed. Standing committee members may, by resolution of the Executive, be discharged before the expiration of their term of office.
2. The term of office of any special committee member shall be determined by the Executive. Special committee members may, by resolution of the Executive, be discharged before the expiration of their term of office.

Section 4 - Terms of Reference

Terms of reference for standing or special committees shall be prepared by the Executive in consultation with the Chair of each standing or special committee and shall be submitted to the Executive for approval.

Section 5 - Accountability

1. Standing or special committees shall not publicly enunciate any policy on behalf of the Society without first obtaining the approval of the Executive.
2. Standing committees shall report in writing to the Executive at least annually or as required.
3. Special committees shall report at such time and in such manner as is directed by the Executive at the time of their appointment.

Section 6 - Remuneration and Expenses

1. No member of a standing or special committee shall receive remuneration for duties performed on behalf of the Society.
2. The Society shall not be liable for any expenses incurred or obligations undertaken by standing or special committees.

ARTICLE VI - DISSOLUTION

In the event of dissolution or winding-up of the Society, all its remaining assets, after payment of its liabilities, shall be distributed to one or more organizations in Canada having similar objectives.

ARTICLE VII - AMENDMENT OF BYLAWS

The Bylaws of the Society may be enacted, repealed or amended by a 6/7ths vote of Executive Members.