BOSTA Constitution

The Association shall be called "The British Orthopaedic Sports Trauma Association" (B.O.S.T.A.).

Objectives of the Association
The objectives of the Association are to provide a forum for the presentation of basic research, advances in clinical practice and the results of surgical procedures pertaining to orthopaedic sports trauma and to improve the care offered by orthopaedic surgeons to the victims of injuries sustained during sport.

Membership

Full Members
Membership is open to Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeons and Associate Specialists with a special interest in sports trauma as demonstrated by running specialised sports trauma clinics, publications or presentation of papers to the Association.

Emeritus Members
Members are eligible to become Emeritus Members on reaching the age of 65. This status should be approved by the membership at the Annual General Meeting. Emeritus Members will cease to pay the annual subscription .Emeritus Membership may be offered to distinguished surgeons from other countries or distinguished workers from other disciplines who have a special interest in sports trauma. Such Emeritus Members will not pay the annual subscription.

Associate Members
Associate membership is open to higher surgical trainees in orthopaedics who have presented papers to the Association or demonstrated a special interest in orthopaedic sports trauma. Such work should be a major contribution undertaken personally by the prospective Associate Member. Papers based on case reports of patients under the care of the trainee's Consultant would not necessarily qualify for membership. On attaining Consultant status an Associate Member may apply for full membership but must fulfil the criteria for Full Membership. Associate Member status shall cease when the trainee has attained Consultant status.

Application for Membership
Application for membership should be made to the Secretary, accompanied by a Curriculum Vitae and the support of two referees who are Full Members of the Association. Membership will only be granted after due consideration by the Full Members at the Business Meeting.

Cessation of Membership
A Member will cease to be a member of the Society on:
Failure to pay the annual subscription for more than 12 months, or; Failure to attend a meeting of the Association for 3 years or to be a co-author of a paper presented to the Association during a 3 year period.

Officers of the Association
The Officers of the Association shall be the President, the Secretary, the Treasurer and the Academic Secretary, who shall together constitute the Executive.The Officers of the Association shall propose the name of the next President for confirmation by the Members at the Annual General Meeting. If the majority of Members present do not approve the Executive's choice other nominations may be made by the Members present.

The other Officers of the Executive will be elected at the Annual General Meeting or by ballot if that is not possible. Any Member can propose the name of any eligible person who has expressed their willingness to serve.

The Executive shall conduct the ordinary and financial business of the Association and shall determine the time and place for each meeting of the Association. The quorum shall be 3 of the 4 members of the Executive. Voting provisions are set out in Section 6.
The President shall hold office for two years and shall not normally be eligible for immediate re-election as President. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Association and of the Executive. If unable to attend the President may nominate a Deputy. If no Deputy is nominated the Secretary shall act as Chairman.

The Secretary, the Treasurer and the Academic Secretary shall be elected for a period of up to 3 years. They shall not be eligible for immediate re-election to the same office more than once.

Meetings of the Association

Scientific Meeting
The Association will normally hold scientific meetings twice a year. The time and place will be recommended by the BOSTA Executive and confirmed by the Members at the Annual General Meeting. One meeting will usually be held in conjunction with the British Orthopaedic Association and will be open to all Members of that Association on payment of the appropriate registration fee for non-members of the British Orthopaedic Sports Trauma Association. The other (Spring) meeting will be held in a location to be agreed at the previous A.G.M.

The scientific programme will be decided by a Programme Committee consisting of the President, the Academic Secretary, the Treasurer, the Secretary and any other member or members co-opted by the Executive.

The scientific business shall principally be short papers followed by a discussion.
Titles together with a brief abstract concerning the communication to be given at a meeting must be sent to the Academic Secretary for consideration by the Programme Committee before a date notified before the meeting. The length of the abstract will be determined by the Programme Committee.

The Association may sponsor Symposia on subjects of scientific interest relating to orthopaedic sports trauma. The President may invite distinguished visitors to give Guest Lectures to the Association. In the latter case the invitation will be dependent on the financial situation of the Association and the President must seek the approval of the Executive who will set a limit on the amount of money the President may spend. Guest Lecturers will normally be invited to address the Association at the open meetings of the Association.

An attendance book will be kept for Members and Visitors to sign.

Business Meetings
A Business Meeting of Members shall be held at some time during each meeting of the Association to consider arrangements for subsequent meetings and matters of business raised by the Executive or by Members.

The Business Meeting at the Autumn/Winter meeting of the Association shall be the Annual General Meeting at which the election of Officers and Committees shall take place and the annual report of the Treasurer shall be received.

The President or the President's Deputy shall act as Chairman at all Business Meetings including the Annual General Meeting.

Provisions for Voting
Every question at a meeting of the Executive or a Business Meeting of Members shall be decided by a majority of votes of the Members present and voting except those matters relating to a change in the Constitution or rules of the Society. In the case of equality of votes the Chairman shall have and may exercise a second or casting vote but if this is not done the motion shall be deemed lost.

Finance
The annual subscription shall be set at the Annual General Meeting. Members shall pay the due subscriptions on or before 1 January of the year immediately succeeding the Annual General Meeting. Emeritus Members shall be exempt from this subscription. Any member who does not pay the subscription for more than 12 months after the due date shall cease to be a member.

The Treasurer shall present a detailed financial statement, including a balance sheet, at each Annual General Meeting.

Amendment of Rules
No change in the Constitution or rules of the Association shall be made except at an Annual General Meeting after 28 days notice has been given to the Members of the Association and then approved by a two-thirds majority of members present at the Annual General Meeting. A quorum for the purpose of amendment of the rules shall be 30% of membership. If such a quorum is not present at the AGM a postal ballot of all Members shall be held. If the Society is wound up or ceases to exist all funds shall be transferred to a charitable organisation in the field of orthopaedic sports trauma selected by the Executive.

President's Prize
Presidents may award a prize to the best paper given during their term of office.