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ALLSA is the national Allergy Society of South Africa representing all related allied health professionals. The purpose of ALLSA is to advance the knowledge and practice of allergy and immunology through publications, meetings, and conferences and to foster the education of both students and the public.
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History:
The Allergy Society of South Africa (ALLSA) was founded in 1988.
ALLSA is primarily a professional society for medical practitioners and other allied health care workers and scientists involved in the research, diagnosis, treatment and management of allergic diseases.
ALLSA has taken responsibility to inform and educate the healthcare professionals regarding the optimal management of allergic disorders. Patient education is undertaken through our foundation.
(AFSA may be found at https://www.allergyfoundation.co.za/ )
The concept of ALLSA was proposed in 1987, after participation of the founding members at the European Academy of Allergy & Clinical Immunology meeting in Budapest, in April 1986. It was decided to form a national society, in line with similar societies in other countries. The first chairman was Professor Eugene Weinberg.
The first activity was the inaugural national congress held in Johannesburg in May 1998, which coincided with the launch of the society’s professional medical journal, Current Allergy. The name of this very successful publication was later changed to Current Allergy and Clinical Immunology. The founding editor was Professor Paul Potter.
The Aims of ALLSA
- To promote the highest possible standard amongst health care professionals engaged in the practice of allergy in the best tradition of medicine and medical ethics.
- To advance and encourage the study of allergy and clinical immunology, and to provide and distribute information of importance to the practice of clinical allergy and immunology.
- To convene regular scientific meetings. These should be aimed at updating all delegates involved in the practice of allergy. These meetings will also act as a platform for the presentation of scientific papers of importance to the practice of allergy.
- The Diploma in Allergy was established in 2003 by the Colleges of Medicine of South Africa (CMSA) under the college of Family Physicians.
- In 2015 CMSA offered the first examination for the Certificate in Allergology as a subspeciality under the colleges of paediatrics, internal medicine and family medicine.
Allergy and Inborn Errors of Immunity (previously known as Primary Immunodeficiency) encompass a range of clinical conditions targeting various organ systems (lungs, nose, skin, and gastro-intestinal tract), in both children and adults, thus patients are best managed by a team of medical practitioners.
ALLSA works closely with other professional medical societies with overlapping interests in Allergy, this includes the co-hosting of joint meetings, congresses & workshops.
ALLSA is engaged in cooperating with organisations and doctors in neighbouring countries, aiding them in their own development.
ALLSA is affiliated to the international umbrella organisations of other allergy societies. Paid members of ALLSA enjoy membership to WAO. (World Allergy Organisation)
Ordinary membership of ALLSA is open to registered medical practitioners, registered health care professionals, students and scientists engaged in research or teaching of allergy and/or clinical immunology, as well as persons who could forward the aims of the Society.
Members of the public may not become members, but are encouraged to visit our AFSA site.
ALLSA organises a large and prestigious 2–3-day medical congress with venues and medical themes that change from meeting to meeting.
Training courses for physicians to prepare for the Diploma in Allergology and to assist with CPD validation (continuous professional development) may also be convened by ALLSA and/or AFSA.
ALLSA has produced a Handbook of Practical Allergy for paid up society members which is updated regularly.
Journal
One of the major contributions of ALLSA is the journal “Current Allergy and Clinical Immunology”.
The journal is published four times a year and contains a wide range of medical and scientific articles, congress reviews and previews, medical news items and pharmaceutical company news. Paid members receive CPD points for completing questionnaires in the journal.
Download PDF version of the Constitution
1. Name
The society shall be called the Allergy Society of South Africa, abbreviated ALLSA (hereafter called “The Society”).
2. Objective
The object of The Society will be:
2.1.1 To promote the highest possible standards among those engaged in the practice of allergy in the best traditions of medicine and medical ethics.
2.1.2 To advance and encourage the study of allergy and clinical immunology and to provide and/or distribute information of importance to the practice of clinical allergy.
2.1.3 To convene scientific meetings designed to update clinicians and paramedical professionals involved in the practice of allergy and as a forum for the presentation of scientific papers of importance to the practice of allergy.
2.1.4 To work towards the recognition of allergy and clinical immunology as a specialised branch of medicine in South Africa.
3. Membership
3.1 Membership and functions of The Society will not be restricted for reasons of race, sex or creed. The Society will adopt a strict non-racial policy.
3.2 The Society will consist of Ordinary Members, Affiliated Members, Honorary Members and Student Members.
3.2.1 Ordinary Membership shall be open to all registered medical practitioners, registered health professionals and scientists engaged in the practice, research or teaching of allergy and/or clinical immunology.
3.2.2 Affiliated Members are persons who could aid the aims of The Society, but do not fulfill the criteria for Ordinary and Student membership. They will be considered on merit by the Executive Committee provided that they submit in writing evidence that they are involved in the promotion or science of allergy and or clinical immunology.
3.2.3 Honorary Members: Persons of distinction in science who have contributed significantly to the study of allergy and/or clinical immunology shall be eligible for election as an Honorary Member.
3.2.4 Student Members: Student membership may be granted to any student that will fulfill the criteria for Ordinary membership upon his/her graduation.
3.2.5 Affiliated Members, Honorary Members and Student Members shall have no voting rights and are not eligible to be elected as office bearers.
4. Income, Profits and Funds of the Society
4.1 No member may benefit either directly or indirectly from any income or profits derived by The Society.
The Society is prohibited from distributing any of its funds to any person (otherwise than in the course of undertaking any public benefit activity) and is required to utilise its funds solely for the object for which it has been established, or to invest such funds-
4.2.1 with a financial institution as defined in section 1 of the Financial Institutions (Investment of Funds) Act, 1984 (Act No. 39 of 1984);
4.2.2 in securities listed on a stock exchange as defined in section 1 of the Financial Institutions (Investment of Funds) Act, 1984 (Act No. 39 of 1984);
4.2.3 in such other prudent investments in financial instruments and assets as the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service may determine.
4.3 The Society will not carry on any profit making activities and is prohibited from carrying on any business undertaking or trading activity, or participate in any business, profession or occupation carried on by any of its members, or provide any financial assistance, premises, continuous service, or facilities to its members for the purpose of carrying on any business, profession or occupation by them.)
4.4 The Chairman mandated by the Executive Committee shall, on behalf of The Society, be entitled:
4.4.1 To acquire movable or immovable or other property or rights, all cessions or consents to cancellation of bonds, securities, leases, servitudes, or other Deeds, or all powers of attorney relating thereto and generally all documents of any nature or kind whatsoever requisite and necessary from time to time in connection with the acquisition or realization of assets or carrying out the terms of this Constitution.
4.4.2 To execute at any time any act or deed with regard to any immovable property or mortgage relating to alienation, partition, exchange, transfer, mortgage, hypothecation or otherwise, in any Deeds
Registry, Mining Titles Office or other Public Office dealing with servitudes, usufructs, limited interests or otherwise, and to make any applications, cancellations, cessions, releases, reductions, substitutions or otherwise generally relating to any deed, bond or documents for any purpose and generally to do or cause to be done any act whatsoever in any such office.
4.5 In the event of The Society dissolving or winding up, the remaining assets are to be transferred to any similar public benefit organisation which has been approved in terms of section 30(3) of the Income Tax Act, 1962 (Act No. 58 of 1962).
4.6 Any amendments to the Constitution will be submitted to the Commissioner of the South African Revenue Service within 30 days of such amendment.
4.7 The Society is prohibited from accepting any donation which is revocable at the instance of the donor for reasons other than a material failure to conform to the designated purposes and conditions of such donation, including any misrepresentation with regard to the tax deductibility thereof in terms of section 18A: Provided that a donor may not impose conditions which could enable such donor or any connected person in relation to such donor to derive some direct or indirect benefit from the application of such donation.
5. Rules
Officers – Chairman, Vice-Chairman (who will become the next Chairman), Secretary, Treasurer and four (4) additional members, one of whom shall be the Immediate Past Chairman. At least five (5) of the seven (7) officers should be Medical Practitioners.
2. The Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer, who are not connected persons in relation to each other, accept fiduciary responsibility of The Society.
3. Members of the executive committee shall serve for a term of three (3) years and may be eligible for re-election. In the event of any of these retiring before his/her term of office has expired, a substitute may be elected to the Executive Committee by the Executive Committee. The substitute is to hold office for the remainder of the retired member’s term.
4. The Executive Committee shall be empowered to co-opt a maximum of three (3) additional members to the committee. Co-opted members have the same rights as elected members and can exercise a vote when called upon to do so.
5. A quorum for a Committee Meeting shall be two-thirds of the voting members of The Committee. The Chairman or the Secretary must be
present. In the absence of the former, the Past Chairman will substitute for the Chairman; if the Past Chairman is not present, the Secretary shall ask The Committee to appoint an Interim Chairman.
6. Voting
6.1 Election of Office Bearers:
6.1.1 Prior to the Annual General Meeting the Secretary shall call for nominations for impending vacancies on the Executive Committee. Nominations for the vacancies must be received in writing by the Secretary before the closing date. Nominations must contain a proposer and two (2) seconders as well as the agreement of the nominee. The above must all be paid-up Ordinary Members of ALLSA. If more nominations are received than are required to fill the number of vacancies an election will be done electronically by the Secretary and the nominees with the greatest number of votes will be elected to The Committee. The Chairman shall have a casting as well as a deliberative vote.
6.1.2 The elected office bearers will be announced at the following Annual General Meeting.
6.1.3 Directly following the Annual General Meeting the Past Chairman will call for an Executive Committee Meeting where:
6.1.3.1 The Committee will decide upon the number of members to be co-opted.
6.1.3.2 The additional members are co-opted.
6.1.3.3 The full Executive Committee will then – by means of secret ballot – elect the individual members in the following portfolios:
6.1.3.3.1 Chairman
6.1.3.3.2 Vice-Chairman
6.1.3.3.3 Secretary
6.1.3.3.4 Treasurer
6.2 Voting at Executive Committee Meetings:
6.2.1 Voting at Executive Committee Meetings is by way of majority of those members present at the meeting. Voting by proxy will not be permitted.
6.2.2 The Chairman shall have a casting as well as a deliberative vote.
7. The Annual Subscription
The annual subscription for Ordinary Society Members, Affiliated Members and Student Members shall be determined prior to the Annual General Meeting.
Members who fail to pay subscriptions for two consecutive more than three years will have their names removed from the Register of Members after due notice has been given by means of a letter from the Secretary.
8. Membership
8.1 The Executive Committee must approve all applications for membership (ordinary or affiliated).
8.2 Affiliated Members must submit written evidence that they are involved in the practice, promotion or science of allergy so that each individual application can be considered by the Executive Committee on merit.
8.3 Honorary Members may be elected either on recommendation of the Executive Committee or after submission by any member of ALLSA or a Curriculum Vitae of the proposed Honorary Member to the Annual General Meeting.
8.4 Honorary Life Membership may be conferred on a member in recognition of distinguished or meritorious services rendered by that member to the study of allergy and/or clinical immunology. Honorary Life Members shall have the same privileges as Ordinary Members in regard to voting and election to office. The election of an Honorary Life Member shall be made on:
8.4.1 A recommendation signed by not less than twenty-five (25) Ordinary Members giving detailed grounds for the recommendation to the Executive Committee.
8.4.2 The submission to and approval of the recommendation by the Executive Committee.
9. Affiliation Groups
Groups applying for affiliation to ALLSA must submit a written, detailed report regarding their reason(s) for applying, their involvement and experience in the practice of allergy and/or clinical immunology and must be prepared to give all reasonable additional information required by the Executive Committee in order to evaluate their application. Should the Executive Committee find the application meritorious, it will be submitted to the next annual General Meeting.
10. Meetings
10.1 Scientific Meetings of The Society should be held at least every second year for the purpose of promoting continuing allergy education and good allergy practice.
10.2 The Executive Committee shall meet at least twice a year to transact business.
10.3 An Annual General Meeting, of which not less than fourteen (14) days notice will be given, will be held every year not later than six (6) months after the year end of The Society’s financial year. Ideally the Annual General Meeting should coincide with the Scientific Meeting. A quorum at an Annual General Meeting is to constitute twenty-five (25)
Ordinary Members. The Executive Committee shall present a report on all the activities of The Society during the past year which should specifically include the following:
10.3.1 The previous Annual General Meeting’s minutes should be tabled and any necessary amendments made and approved. 10.3.2 The Annual Financial Statements should be tabled and approved.
10.3.3 The Accounting Officer’s Reports should be considered and approved.
10.3.4 The appointment of an Accounting Officer for the ensuing year should be made. 10.3.5 Appointments of officials to replace retiring Officers.
10.3.6 Report of any special resolutions adopted at previously held Special General Meeting(s).
10.4 A Special General Meeting may be called by the Executive Committee or must be called by the Secretary if a requisition is sent to him stating the objects for which it is to be convened and signed by a minimum of six (6) Ordinary Members. At such a meeting twenty-four (24) Ordinary Members shall constitute a quorum and no business shall be transacted other than that for which the meeting was convened. The decision shall be by majority vote of the Ordinary Members present. If fifteen (15) minutes after the officially notified starting time of the meeting a quorum cannot be formed, then the meeting shall be adjourned to the same day, time and place of the following week. If the same place is not available, the Executive Committee must advise an alternative venue. If a quorum is again not formed at this meeting, the members present will be deemed to represent a quorum to deal with the business at hand.
11. Changes
11. No Rule shall be made or altered except at the Annual General Meeting of The Society or at a Special General Meeting under Rule 10.4
12. Financial Year
12. The Society’s Financial Year will be from 1st March to 28th February.
13. Registered Address
13. The Society’s registered address is: Unit 16A, Millennium Business Park, Edison Way, Century City, Cape Town, South Africa, 7446
14. Record Keeping
14.1 All financial aspects of The Society will be the direct responsibility of the Executive Committee.
14.2 Annual Financial Statements must be prepared by a duly qualified Accounting Officer with three (3) months from the end of The Society’s financial year.
15. Legal Identity
15.1 The Society is a separate legal entity and may transact business in its own name. All its assets and liabilities are for it’s own account and do not in any way form part of any member’s estate/property.
15.2 The liability of members is limited to membership fees.
16. Name & Logo
16. The Name and/or Logo of The Society shall not, under any circumstances whatsoever, be used for gain, endorsement or otherwise, without written authorization by the Executive Committee of The Society and under those conditions that may be determined from time to time by the said Executive Committee. The authorization is revocable at the sole discretion of the Executive Committee of The Society.
The governance charter of the Allergy Society of South Africa
The Society’s Ethos of Governance
Good governance requires the Executive Committee to balance its role as a leadership and oversight body with its role as a force supporting the aims and objectives of the Society. This principle must be given credence through:
Constructive partnership
There must be a strong partnership between the Executive and members, built through openness, respect and good communication.
Vision Driven
The Executive must shape and uphold its Vision and Objectives and must ensure congruence between its decisions and its core values.
Strategic thinking
Time must be allocated to engaging in strategic thinking to hone the Society’s direction.
Independence
The Executive must ensure independence through the application of rigorous conflict of interest procedures in a climate where members put the Society’s interests above their own when making decisions.
Ethos of transparency
An ethos of transparency must be promoted by ensuring that all stakeholders and members have access to appropriate and accurate information about the Society and its activities.
Compliance with integrity
There must be strong ethical values and disciplined compliance by establishing effective mechanisms for oversight. There will be full accountability and transparency in all the Society’s operations and dealings and in all the operations and dealings of individual Executive members and staff.
Results orientated
The Executive Committee’s progress towards achieving its Vision and Objectives must be measured and its performance properly evaluated on an annual basis through a process of open peer review.
Continuous learning
The Executive must embrace the qualities and rewards of continuous learning in order to add value to the Executive’s effectiveness.
- The Executive will maintain complete independence and will operate on a basis of fairness and objectivity;
- Executive members and administrative staff will be encouraged to develop as strategic thinkers and leaders in the field of allergy;
- The Society will build the greatest sense of unity and common purpose between itself and its members.
The purpose of the Governance Charter
The Society believes that only through a system of strong governance can members and associated partners be assured that the Society will best serve their interests. Accordingly, the Society has adopted this set of best-practice procedures and management controls as its Charter.
The document sets out the purpose of the Society, its governance policies, processes and procedures, how it will operate, the rights and obligations of the Executive and its members and administrative support staff. It also defines the Society’s functional relationship with relevant stakeholders and aligns it to the constitution of the Society. As such, this Charter must be read in conjunction with the Constitution.
The reasons for sound governance
Applying standards of good governance is aimed at ensuring that the Society is administered in line with accepted best practices and within the spirit and intentions of its members.
Changes to the Charter
- Changes to this Charter can only be made with the approval of the full Executive, or at an Annual General Meeting.
- The Executive will review the Charter annually and will electronically update the Charter after any Executive meeting where policy changes are agreed to, or when new policies are approved by relevant establishments of government.
Vision & Mission
ALLSA’s Mission Statement
“ALLSA’s mission is to be a national resource and advocate in the field of allergy, advancing excellence in clinical care, continuing professional development, research and training.”
Policy Governance
Guiding principles for EXCOM
Key Concepts:
- The “Committee” exists to represent the interests of members
- The “Committee” acts as a group, not as individual members
- EXCOM decisions are communicated as “one voice”
- Confidentiality
- Ethical conduct
- Accountability
- Communication
- Representation
- Conflict of interest
Section 1 – Matters relating to the legal status of the society
Name of the Society
The Allergy Society of South Africa or ALLSA
Powers and function of the Society
The powers, responsibilities and activities of the Society are those reflected in the Constitution. The Executive itself is established in terms of the prescription of the Constitution.
The status of the Society
The Society is an independent, voluntary, non-profit organisation with powers to determine a range of decisions pursuant to its objectives.
The aims of the Society
The aims of the Society are limited to those vested in its Constitution.
The Society may not:
- Act outside the scope of the responsibilities vested in it by the Constitution and its Governance Charter;
- Enter into any unlawful activity, or disclose any confidential information on patients, or enter into financial or other transaction that represents a conflict of interest.
The Society must:
- Elect an executive committee every triennium;
- Executive committee must elect a Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer at the first meeting;
- Agree on a schedule of meetings for each year and develop an operational plan to effect business;
- Develop a three year strategic and operational plan.
Membership
The Society comprises those categories of members contained in its Constitution but may create additional categories of membership at its discretion. Only ordinary members have executive rights such as voting and eligibility to hold office. Membership is open to those categories of persons described in the Constitution and all matters of membership are subject to the approval of the Executive Committee.
Affiliation
The approval of affiliation is subject to the conditions of the Constitution and the approval of the Executive Committee.
Structure of the Society
The Society will be structured as reflected in the Constitution.
Mandate of the Executive members
The Executive’s members are mandated by virtue of their election to:
- Perform the functions of the Society within the prescription of the Constitution;
- Perform the functions determined for each member in terms of the Executive committee’s requirements;
- Perform any additional functions mandated to it by a majority vote at an Annual General Meeting.
The election and composition of the Executive
- The election of the Executive Committee and the chairperson must follow the procedure set out in the Constitution;
- The Executive must comprise appropriately skilled and capable people in order to meet the Society’s objectives;
- However, the composition and numbers of the Executive Committee are those described in the Constitution;
- The Executive will comprise six elected members plus the Immediate Past Chairman, but has the powers to co-opt a further three members if it so wishes;
- The Chairperson is elected for a term of three years and must have been a member of the previous Excom;
- Should a vacancy occur on the Executive the members must be informed of such and a decision must be taken on appointing a replacement by the Executive Committee.
The Role and Responsibilities of the Executive
The Executive must:
- Uphold the prescriptions of the Constitution;
- Plan the Society’s long- and short-term future and formulate strategic and operational plans to give effect to that future;
- Develop procedures and policies that give clear strategic and administrative direction to the Executive and the Society;
- Appoint a Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer;
- Form any relevant Sub-Committee;
- Define the role of the administrative staff.
The Executive may:
- Bring about amendments to its established procedures for conducting business;
- Recommend disciplinary steps against members or staff who act contrary to set procedures and policies, providing such action follows the prescripts of good labour practice and carries the approval of the majority of the members of the Executive.
- Invite any person, or representatives of any body or organisation, to attend its meetings
Meetings of the Executive Committee
- Meetings of the Executive Committee must follow the prescriptions set out in the Constitution;
- No single person, directly or indirectly, should control the decision-making process relating to the Executive. This prohibits any person, including the Chairperson, from exercising a casting vote in the event of a deadlock;
- Should a deadlock not be resolved after reasonable recourse, the matter may be referred for arbitration;
- All decisions must be based on a quorum as set out in the Constitution.
Monitoring requirements of the Executive
The Executive Committee must:
- Agree on a template to monitor the Society’s programmes, its overall operation and the implementation of its strategic plans and policies;
- Regularly evaluate its programmes, its overall operation and the implementation of its strategic plans and policies;
- Present their portfolio reports at the AGM.
Administration and governance
The members and Executive Committee must:
- Take collective responsibility for the sound overall management and administration of the Society;
- Sign a declaration that they are aware of their duties of governance as set out in this Charter and will uphold the vision, objectives, processes, procedures and operation of the Society;
- Develop operational and administrative procedures that facilitate sound governance and the achievement of the Society’s vision and objectives;
- Develop a schedule of the year’s meetings at the first meeting of the Executive of each new year;
- Ensure that a Governance Charter, that it is formally adopted by the Executive and that it is reviewed as needed;
- Formulate a Conflict of Interest Declaration and ensure Executive members and administrative staff sign the declaration annually;
- Ensure that appropriate disclosure and reporting processes are in place;
- Ensures that the secretary tables an Annual Report at the AGM [the chairperson prepares the report];
- Establish effective internal and external lines of communication and formulate a strategic plan to market the Society and optimise member’s access to it;
- Ensure that the Chairperson of the Executive and his or her office bearers are able to operate in an environment compatible with expected outputs, are adequately supported and resourced in respect of financial, technological and human resources and accommodation needs.
Finance
The Executive must:
- Exercise fiduciary responsibility in terms of the Society’s Constitution;
- Establish an annual income and budget;
- Monitor expenditure against budget;
- Ensure financial accountability;
- Oversee, review and endorse the Society’s budget annually;
- Motivate that adequate funds are provided to meet the Society’s obligations and to ensure its effective operation;
- Ensure that the Society’s budget and expenditure are in the Annual report;
- Ensure that effective financial controls are in place;
- Ensure that where discretional costs will be incurred, required approvals for expenditure are obtained.
Personnel Functions
The Executive Committee must
- Annually make provision to evaluate the performance of the Society’s administrative staff;
- Ensure that the terms and conditions of employment of administrative staff are properly addressed, recorded and reviewed;
- Provide opportunities for the staff to develop and enhance their skills;
- Ensure that staff have written job descriptions;
- Ensure that each member of staff has measurable key performance targets each year and that their performance is assessed annually by the Chairman;
- Manage, and authorize leave of staff;
- Take corrective and disciplinary measures if so required;
- Ensure the maintenance of ethical conduct at all times;
- Ensure that strict confidentiality in respect of access to official records is maintained.
Affiliated Bodies
The Executive Committee must
- Satisfy itself that such bodies have the credentials to warrant affiliation;
- Ensure that their role and function as well as their aims and objectives are not contradictory to those of the Society;
- Ensure that their lines of communication and schedules for reporting are well understood;
- Must enforce signing of a disclaimer regarding publications by such a body. It should state that the views expressed in the publication do not necessarily reflect that of the Allergy Society of South Africa;
- The Executive may call for the disaffiliation of any such body and state the reason(s).
Sub-committees
- These are standing committees constituted by the executive committee and headed by a portfolio leader to execute the various task of the committee;
- They should have a clear mandate and briefs;
- They must present reports at all executive committee meetings and at the AGM.
Task groups (Workgroups)
- These are ad-hoc committees which are constituted by one of the portfolio leaders or the Chairman for specific tasks. Task groups should have a group leader;
- Members of the task groups could include executive committee members, non-executive members and other colleagues with relevant expertise for the task at hand. Nominations for the task groups will be called for from the Chairman of the Society in the ALLALLSA Journal, by mail or at the AGM.
Executive Meetings
No alternates may be appointed to replace a member of the Executive in any capacity.
Special Meetings
- The Chairperson may authorize a special meeting of the Executive for any reasonable purpose at any time;
- A special meeting may be called without the Chairperson’s authority if he or she is unable, or unwilling to call such a meeting, provided no less than three members of the Executive are in support of it;
- Special meetings are not exempt from the requirements of minute keeping, the circulation of minutes, voting procedures, or the requirements for a quorum, but are exempt from the normal period of notice;
- Notice of a special meeting must provide the maximum time possible in the prevailing circumstances.
Annual General meeting
- The Executive should hold an Annual General Meeting where all members and, if required, interested parties are invited to interact with the Executive members in reviewing the progress of the previous year;
- The notice for and procedure at an Annual General Meeting must follow the Constitution of the Society.
Strategic planning The Executive must:
- Ensure that a written strategic plan is compiled for the Society every three years;
- Ensure that the strategic plan is used to co-ordinate all operational activities of the Society;
- Ensure that the strategic plan is supported by operational work plans or business plans that contain time-lines, and human resource requirements for the accomplishment of goals and objectives;
- Ensure that the contents of the strategic plan are communicated to its constituency;
- Ensure that the strategic plan is revisited and reviewed annually or at any time an ad hoc exigency requires revision of the plan.
The role and responsibility of the chairperson
General:
The members of the Executive must be subject to the firm and objective leadership of the Chairperson who must strive to bring out the best in each Executive member in order to achieve the Society’s objectives.
The Chairperson must:
- Champion the Society and its Vision and objectives;
- Ensure the effective management (planning, organisation and use) of allocated resources (human / finance/ material/ information) in line with the allocated budget;
- Oversee the operational activities of the Executive and its meetings;
- In consultation with the Executive, work in partnership with the administrative staff to ensure that Executive resolutions, directives or instructions are carried out;
- Compile the Executive’s Annual report;
- Preside over matters of dispute within the Society;
- At all times keep Executive members and, where necessary, Society staff, informed on issues relevant to the Society and its environment;
- Assist in approving the Agendas for Executive meetings.
The Chairperson may
- Together with, or in addition to the immediate past Chairperson or (Vice-Chairperson), act as spokesperson for the Society when required;
- On request of the executive, preside over matters requiring a recommendation for disciplinary action or possible expulsion from the Executive or the Society;
- Preside over matters requiring disciplinary action or possible expulsion from the Society’s staff establishment;
- Call special meetings when necessary;
- In consultation with the members of the Executive, assist in co-coordinating the staff’s annual performance evaluation and in determining the annual Key Performance Areas (KPAs) required of the staff.
Term of office
- The chairperson shall be elected for a period of three (3) years from the date of his or her appointment;
- The Chairperson will not be re-elected in the immediate following three year term of office, but may be elected again thereafter.
Termination of appointment of the Chairperson
- The Chairperson’s position may be terminated before his or her normal term of office only if in the opinion of the majority of members of the Executive such a step is warranted;
- The reason for the decision of the Executive must be explained to the Chairperson;
- The Chairperson may exercise a right to be heard before a final decision is made.
The role and responsibility of the secretary
The Secretary must:
- Ensure that a database of all members is kept and ensure that all membership fees are paid;
- Communicate with members on a regular basis regarding the activities of the Society; 3. Send out notices for the AGM and call a special General Meeting if conditions Necessitate;
- Ensure that an Annual Report is tabled at the AGM;
- Call for nominations of members for election to the Executive Committee when the 3 (three) year term of office of the Executive Committee is due to end;
- Make necessary arrangements of election of the Executive Committee by postal voting if required;
- Ensure that a record of all possessions owned by the Society is kept and Safeguarded;
- Ensure that a record of Minutes of all executive meetings and AGM is kept;
- Ensure that a record is kept of all policies and procedures of the Society and other important documents (e.g. conflict of interest declarations, strategic plans);
- Ensure that all electronic information of the Society is regularly backed up and stored in a safe place.
Term of office
The Secretary shall be elected for a period of three (3) years from the date of his or her appointment.
The role and Responsibility of the Treasurer The Treasurer, in accepting fiduciary responsibility for the Society in terms of Section 10.1 of the Constitution, has the following duties:
- To ensure sound financial governance and to report any deviation of the same to the Executive Committee without delay;
- To safeguarded the Society’s financial assets in line with the Society’s policies and decisions on investment and banking and account keeping;
- To ensure financial accountability, including keeping proper records of investment, income and expenditure;
- To ensure that effective financial controls are in place;
- To ensure that the Society’s financial statements and explanatory notes thereto, have been prepared in keeping with generally accepted accounting practices;
- To liaise with the External Auditors of the Society in preparing the annual statements of income and expenditure;
- To present reports on income and expenditure at the Society’s Executive.
- To ensure that the annual Financial Statement is tabled at the Annual General Meeting;
- To undertake any ancilliary duties ascribed to the Treasurer by the Executive Committee from time to time;
- To work in close co-operation with the Executive secretary in overseeing the proper record and receipt of payments, to regularly monitor bank statements, to assist with any financial queries and to liaise with the Society’s Bank and the Pharmaceutical Industry if so required.
The powers of the Treasurer will include:
- Signing cheques on behalf of the Society in accordance with any rule or regulation in this regard as decided by the Executive Committee;
- Issuing receipts or authorising the issuing of receipts when so required;
- To interact with and assist the Society’s external auditors. The powers of the Executive Committee in respect of the Treasurer shall be:
- To remove the Treasurer from office with immediate effect and without notice if it deems that this is in the interests of the Society and if the Executive Committee has reasonable grounds to make such a decision;
- To elect a Treasurer in keeping with section 8.6.2 of the Constitution of the Society.
Duties of society members
- The duty of active promotion, support and contribution of the Society’s aims and Objectives;
- To adhere to the requirements set out the Constitution;
- To maintain confidentiality of information if this is reasonably required;
- To provide advice and input to the Society or any of its members;
- To co-operate with other relevant bodies in the interest of the Society when required to do so;
- Not to enter into contracts on behalf of the Society, or use the Society to unreasonably or unfairly promote own interests.
Termination of membership of the Society
- A member shall be censured and membership of the Society will be terminated by the executive committee should his / her action bring the Society into disrepute.
The Office of the Society
The office is responsible for implementing the policies, procedures and decisions of the Executive and for managing the operational and administrative requirements that are delegated to the Executive through the Act and its Charter. Whereas the responsibility of the Executive is largely to provide leadership and develop broad policy, the Society’s staff is responsible for the day to day administrative management of the Society, for proper record keeping and filing. A harmonious relationship, clear understanding and complete and open communication between the two is, thus, crucially important.
The Executive Committee must ensure effective communication, training, supervision, monitoring and control of staff by:
- Providing communication, liaison and training opportunities;
- Establishing, developing and maintaining effective information management and record keeping systems for accurate data-capturing and report keeping.
Disclosure and Conflict of Interest Policy
- The Society will have a written disclosure and conflict of interest policy;
- The policy should be applicable to all members of the Society not only those who have significant independent decision making authority regarding the operations of the organization and workgroups;
- The policy should identify the types of conduct that represents a conflict of interest, should set procedures for disclosure of actual or potential conflicts by members, members of work groups or members of the Executive;
- In the case of established conflict of interest a member may be censured by the executive committee who may, by majority vote, expel or otherwise censure a member.
Disclosure and Conflict of Interest Statements
The Society will provide members and staff or at the discretion the Society’s Executive, an office bearing member, work group or sub-committee, with a disclosure and conflict of interest statement that summarizes the key elements of the organization’s conflict of interest policy. The disclosure and conflict of interest statement should provide space for the member, employee or affiliate body to disclose any known financial interest that the individual or the body, or a member of an individual’s immediate family, has in any business entity which transacts business with the Society. It is a member’s responsibility, or the responsibility of an office bearing member of an affiliate body if required by the Executive, having signed the disclosure and conflict of interest statement to immediately inform the Executive Committee should there be any change in his or her circumstances. The disclosure and conflict of interest statement should be updated annually.
Access to information
The Society will provide members of the public who express an interest in the affairs of the organization with a meaningful opportunity to communicate with an appropriate representative of the organization. Donor/ sponsor/client relationships and privacy
- The Society has the right to receive gifts or funds;
- The Society will respect the privacy of donors, sponsors or clients and safeguard the confidentiality of information that reasonably would be expected to be private;
- The Society will provide donors, sponsors or clients an opportunity to state that they prefer to remain anonymous and that their name, the amount of their gift, or other information not be publicly released;
- The Society will provide donors, sponsors or clients an opportunity to have their names removed from any mailing lists which are sold, rented, or exchanged;
- The Society will be free from undue influence or excessive pressure from any donor, sponsor or client.
Acceptance of Gifts
The Society will have policies in place to govern the acceptance and disposition of charitable gifts that are received in the course of its regular fundraising activities. These policies will include procedures to determine any limits on individuals or entities from which the organization will accept a gift, the purposes for which donations will be accepted, the type of property which will be accepted, and whether to accept an unusual or unanticipated gift in the light of the organization’s mission and organizational capacity.
Last updated March 2025
