Articles of Association

Articles of association for the Danish Society of Ultrasound in General Practice (DAUS)

§ 1. Name and Location

1. The name of the association is the Danish Society for Ultrasound in General Practice (DAUS), and the association is based in Denmark.

§ 2. Purpose

1. The purpose of the association is to promote research, quality development, education, and appropriate use of ultrasound diagnostics in general practice.

§ 3. Membership

1. Physicians, medical students, and other health professionals affiliated with general practice may become members. The chairperson must be a practicing general practitioner (specialist in general medicine) and a member of DSAM.
2. Membership is initiated through the association’s membership form. Membership is only valid once the member has paid the membership fee.
3. Resignation must be made in writing to the treasurer, effective at the end of the financial year.
4. Members pay a membership fee determined by the general assembly. The fee is collected in advance for each financial year.

§ 4. General Assembly

1. The general assembly is the highest authority of the association.
2. An ordinary general assembly is held once a year. It is recommended to hold it between September and November, with at least three weeks’ notice. Notice is given through the association’s usual communication channels, such as the Facebook page “Ultrasound in General Practice in Denmark.” The general assembly is recommended to be held in conjunction with the annual meeting.
3. Voting and meeting rights at the general assembly are granted to all members who have paid their dues by the day before the meeting. Voting by proxy is not allowed.
4. The agenda for the ordinary general assembly must include at least the following items:
   1. Election of vote counters and secretary
   2. Election of chairperson
   3. Chairperson’s report
   4. Presentation of accounts
   5. Consideration of submitted proposals
   6. Determination of membership fee
   7. Approval of budget
   8. Election of chairperson
   9. Election of treasurer
   10. Election of vice-chairperson
   11. Election of 3 board members
   12. Election of auditors
   13. Any other business
5. Proposals to be considered at the general assembly must be submitted to the board at least eight days before the meeting. Proposals for amendments to the bylaws must be submitted to the board at least three months before the end of the month in which the ordinary general assembly is to be held.
6. The general assembly is chaired by a chairperson who must not be a member of the board.
7. Decisions at the general assembly are made by a simple majority (more than half of the valid votes) and by a show of hands. Written voting is used if requested by just one participant. For elections where more candidates are proposed than positions available, written voting is always conducted. Each member may cast a number of votes equal to the number of positions to be filled.

§ 5. Extraordinary General Assembly

1. An extraordinary general assembly may be held when deemed necessary by the board and must be held when at least 1/3 of the members submit a written request to the chairperson. In such cases, the general assembly must be held no later than four weeks after the request has been received by the chairperson.
2. The notice period for an extraordinary general assembly is two weeks.

§ 6. Daily Management of the Association

1. The daily management of the association is carried out by the board, which, in addition to the chairperson, consists of a vice-chairperson, treasurer, and members. The board is elected by the general assembly for a two-year term, with members elected each year.
2. The board manages the association in accordance with these bylaws and the decisions of the general assembly.
3. No later than 14 days after the election of the board, a constitutive meeting is held, where the board elects a treasurer and secretary from among its members. All positions are valid until the next general assembly.
4. The board also determines its own rules of procedure. It may establish subcommittees and working groups to handle specific tasks.
5. The chairperson calls and leads the board meetings. Notice is given in writing with an agenda when deemed necessary by the chairperson or when at least two board members request it. In such cases, the meeting must be held no later than two weeks after the request has been received by the chairperson.

§ 7. Finances, Accounting, and Auditing

1. The association’s financial year follows the calendar year.
2. The board is responsible to the general assembly for the budget and accounts.
3. The association’s accounts are maintained by the treasurer, who also keeps the membership register.
4. The accounts are audited by the auditors elected at the general assembly.

§ 8. Signing Rules and Liability

1. The association is represented externally by the signature of the chairperson and at least one additional board member. In the case of loans and the sale/mortgaging of real estate, the association is represented by the entire board.
2. The treasurer is responsible for managing the association’s assets, including collecting membership fees and paying bills. The treasurer has access to the association’s accounts, including payment cards and online banking for the association’s accounts, and may enter into agreements regarding this.
3. The members of the association bear no personal liability for the obligations of the association.

§ 9. Amendments to the Bylaws

1. These bylaws can only be amended with a 2/3 majority at a general assembly where the proposed amendments are included in the agenda.
2. Amendments to the bylaws take effect from the general assembly at which they are adopted.

§ 10. Dissolution

1. Dissolution of the association can only occur with a 2/3 majority at two consecutive general assemblies, one of which must be ordinary.
2. In the event of dissolution, the association’s assets must be used in accordance with the purposes set out in § 2 or for other charitable purposes. The decision on the specific use of the assets is made by the dissolving general assembly.

§ 11. Date
Thus adopted at the founding general assembly of the association on October 27, 2017.
– Janus Laust Thomsen