§ 1 Name of the society
The name of the society is the Nordic Society for Sexual Medicine (NSSM).
§ 2 The society’s residence
The society’s residence is Copenhagen, Denmark.
§ 3. The society’s purpose
The society’s purpose is to promote, support, and develop research, education, and clinical knowledge within sexual medicine, including promoting scientific cooperation nationally and between the Nordic countries as well as between the professional practitioners in other areas where sexual medicine is an important theme. The society must work for non-profit purposes and must not promote business interests.
Sexual medicine is the science that deals with human sexual well-being in terms of physical, mental, and cultural conditions. Sexual medicine builds on scientific and clinical experience. The most important parts of sexual medicine are research as well as examination, diagnosis, and treatment of individuals with problems related to sexual functions and abilities.
§ 4. Membership
Any person who has an active interest in sexual medicine research and who has the necessary professional qualifications can be admitted as a member. Application for membership takes place by completing an application form, which is submitted to the society’s board of directors together with a curriculum vitae. Membership entails the right to vote at the society’s general assembly.
Persons who are employees of or have other types of financial interests in the pharmaceutical (or equivalent) industry may be admitted as associated members. Members who do not meet the conditions for full membership may obtain an associate membership.
Associated members do not have the right to vote and cannot be elected to the board of directors. Individuals who do not wish to join the ESSM may also be admitted as associated members. The board of directors decides all questions regarding the admissions of members.
All members of NSSM, including the board of directors’ members and the chairman, can have their membership tested and revoked by a board of directors’ decision. Such a resolution must be on the board of directors’ agenda and communicated in writing to all board of directors’ members together with the agenda and to the member of the society to whom the resolution relates before the board of directors´ meeting. The member or members covered by the resolution have the right to be present at the board of directors´ meeting, but only on the membership examination, and have the right to be heard on this matter. Voting then takes place without the presence of the member whose membership is being tried. The decision of the board of directors cannot be appealed to the general assembly.
Withdrawal is made by writing to the secretary. Upon resignation, the resigned member is not entitled to any share of the society’s assets.
§ 5. Affiliation to ESSM
The society is affiliated with the European Society for Sexual Medicine (ESSM). Thereby a membership in the society is a membership in ESSM.
§ 6. Annual dues
An annual due is charged. This includes the fee for ESSM membership and a subscription to ESSM´s official journal. The size of the annual due is determined by the general assembly.
§ 7. The board of directors, composition
The daily management of the society is handled by a board of directors of 7─8 people, who are elected among the society’s members at the annual general assembly. The board of directors consists of the chairman, vice-chairman, secretary, treasurer, and 3─4 ordinary members and is elected for 3 years.
The aim is for Danish, Finnish, Norwegian, and Swedish members to be represented on the board of directors. Apart from the chairmanship, the board of directors constitutes itself.
§ 8. The board of directors, responsibilities
The chairman chairs the board of directors’ meetings and is responsible for the agenda as well as the official external representation of the society. The chairman cannot be re-elected more than once. In the event of long-term absence, the chairman will be replaced by the vice-chairman.
The secretary is responsible for the minutes of the general assembly and board of directors’ meetings, correspondence to and from the society as well as the society’s archive and membership applications. The Secretary may be re-elected once. In the event of long-term absence, the board of directors elects a new secretary for the remainder of the election period.
The treasurer is responsible for the society’s finances and can be re-elected once. In the event of long-term absence, the board of directors elects a new treasurer for the remainder of the election period.
The 3-4 ordinary board of directors’ members can be re-elected once.
All board of directors´ members can, after a period outside the board of directors, be re-elected to this.
The board of directors plans the society’s annual meetings. In addition, the board of directors is also responsible for the society’s budget and approval of membership applications that meet the criteria for membership. The board of directors also proposes any amendments to the society’s bylaws, which are presented to the members of the general assembly, as well as proposing future board of directors’ members. All board of directors’ members must be active members of the society.
The board of directors makes decisions by simple majority. The board of directors has a quorum when at least half of the board of directors’ members are present or available by telephone. In the event of a tie, the chairman’s vote is decisive.
§ 9. Auditors
The financial statements are reviewed by one auditor, who is elected at the annual general assembly for three years at a time. In addition, a deputy auditor is elected.
§ 10. The society’s funds
The board of directors disposes of the society’s funds. The funds will be used to financially support research in the field of sexual medicine.
§ 11.
The society is signed by two members of the board of directors.
§ 12. Financial year
The society’s financial year is the calendar year.
§ 13. The general assembly
The Annual General assembly is held in connection with the annual congress of the ESSM. Extra general assemblies must be convened by the board of directors or through it, when most of the members request it in writing, stating the subject of the negotiation. Furthermore, the board of directors may decide to convene an extraordinary general meeting.
All general assembly must be convened in writing by the board of directors with at least 4 weeks’ notice and indicating the agenda. Proposals received, including amendments to the society’s bylaws and proposals for the future board of directors´ members, must be received by the board of directors no later than 2 weeks before the general assembly. Proposals for the board of directors´ members that are not submitted by the board of directors must be submitted by two members who do not present themselves.
The general assembly has a quorum when it has been duly convened. Each member has one vote. If a member is unable to attend, a written power of attorney can be given to another member. If a resolution is to be adopted, it requires a majority of the votes cast.
At the annual general assembly, the agenda must include at least the following items:
§1. Election of the assembly chairperson, secretary, and two adjusters.
§2. Report of the board of directors
§3. Presentation of accounts
§4. Proposals received
§5. Election to the board of directors and auditors
§6. Determination of yearly fee
§7. Other
§ 14. Changes of bylaws
Amendments to the society’s bylaws require adoption at a general meeting with 2/3 of the votes cast.
§ 15. Dissolution of the society
The dissolution of the society requires resolution at a general assembly with 2/3 of the votes cast. Upon the dissolution of the society, the society’s assets accrue to ESSM. However, the dissolving general meeting may decide on a different distribution by the majority required for amendments to the society bylaws.
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Adopted at the society’s founding general meeting on March 22, 2005. Revised at the SSSM General Assembly in Vienna on December 3, 2006 Revised at the SSSM General Assembly in Amsterdam on December 8, 2012
Translated to English and revised at the SSSM General Assembly in Rotterdam 2022