Association Rules

Membership

Any New Zealand resident medical practitioner recognised by the Medical Council as a specialist in medical or radiation oncology is eligible for full membership.
Other medical practitioners with recognised higher training in other specialties whose practices are mainly cancer related may apply for full membership. These applications are subject to approval by a majority of members at a meeting of the association.

Advanced trainees in medical or radiation oncology are eligible for associate membership.
Other health professionals whose applications are approved by a majority of full members at a meeting of the association.
Associate members to have the right to attend and speak at meetings of the association but may not vote.

Payment of a single subscription establishes membership or associate membership of the association.
Full members participating and voting at a meeting of the association should have paid any annual subscription, which may be paid at the meeting.
The level of subscription will be set from time to time by the membership.
The subscription for associate members will be one half of that for full members.

There will be at least two business meetings every year. One of these will be held with the annual scientific meeting of the New Zealand Society for Oncology.
A quorum for a business meeting of the association shall be six full members who have paid the annual subscription for that year. Representatives from at least three of the regional cancer centres should be present.
Resolutions of a meeting shall be decided by a simple majority of votes cast by the members attending. There will be no proxy voting. The Chairman will have both a deliberative and a casting vote if voting is tied.
Interested parties, such as representatives of the pharmaceutical industry, PHARMAC, the Health Ministry may be invited to attend meetings at the discretion of the Chairman.

The officers of the Association will include a Chair and an executive committee comprising a nominated representative from each of the six major centres, to be ratified by the membership of the Association. The Chair will be elected by the NZACS membership and may be a member of the executive committee or in addition.

The initial term of office will be two years. After an initial two-year period the officers may be re-elected for a further two-year term to a maximum of a four-year term. They will be eligible for re-election after a minimum two-year break.
Elections are to take place at association meetings, with any change to take effect at the next meeting.
In a contested election voting will be by secret ballot. A member, who is not standing for office and is agreed by all candidates, will count the votes and declare the result.

The Chair and Executive are jointly responsible for the association?s finances. They are authorised to receive payments to and make payments from the association?s funds.
An audited annual financial statement will be provided.

Written notice of a proposed rule change should be made available to members before the meeting at which they are to be proposed.
A two thirds majority of full members at a meeting will be required to change the Rules

Should the Association be wound up any residual funds will be transferred to the general account of the New Zealand Society for Oncology