Byelaws

British and Irish Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Association
Registered with the Charity Commission in England & Wales. Charity Registration Number 1172621

The name of the association (CIO) is The British and Irish Paediatric Ophthalmology and Strabismus Association (BIPOSA)

Purpose of the Association

The objects of BIPOSA are, for the public benefit:
(1) the advancement of education in the subject of eye conditions and diseases in children and in people with ocular motility problems (strabismus)
(2) the preservation and protection of public health specifically relating to eye conditions and diseases in children and in people with ocular motility problems (strabismus)

Membership of the Association

(i) Full membership of the CIO is open only to
Specialist Ophthalmologists practising in the United Kingdom or the Republic of Ireland with a substantial sub-specialty interest in paediatric ophthalmology and/or strabismus as evidenced by their fellowship* training, clinical practice, research and teaching; and
Orthoptists practising in the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland with Health Professions Council registration or equivalent
(ii) Associate membership of the CIO is open to all other persons working or in training in ophthalmology or in an allied healthcare profession or as a scientist with a research interest in paediatric ophthalmology or strabismus.
(iii) Honorary Membership. By invitation only.

Full members may attend, speak and vote at a general meeting of the CIO, and may nominate others or be nominated to serve as Charity Trustees.  Associate members may attend and speak (but not vote) at a general meeting of the CIO and may not serve as Charity Trustees.  All matters concerning qualification for membership shall be the decision of the charity trustees.

SUBSCRIPTIONS: The annual membership subscriptions shall be decided by the Charity Trustees. The membership year will be the calendar year. Subscriptions (and membership) will be deemed delinquent if not paid by the annual meeting of that year.

Charity Trustees & Executive Committee

The Charity Trustees shall, when complete, comprise the Honorary Officers.  They and their terms of office are:
(a) The President – three years
(b) The Vice-President – three years
(c) The Treasurer – three years
(d) The Secretary – three years
(e) The Education Officer – three years
(f) The Scientific Officer – three years

They must be full members, and proposed and seconded by full members.  They are normally elected at an AGM and take office at its conclusion. If a vacancy arises among the Charity Trustees, the other Charity Trustees will normally appoint a full member to the role until the next AGM, when he or she will retire unless elected to the post, for three years.

The Executive Committee shall, when complete, comprise:

(a) The Charity Trustees/Honorary Officers
(b) The Immediate Past President – three years
(c) The Chair of the British and Irish Orthoptic Society – ex officio
(d) The Chair of the Paediatric Sub-Committee of the Royal College of Ophthalmologists – ex officio
(e) The Meetings Secretary – one year.  A full member from the host venue responsible for organising the annual scientific meeting, appointed by the Executive Committee.

Annual General Meeting

The annual general meeting shall be held during the annual scientific meeting. Voting will be conducted on a simple majority basis unless otherwise determined within the byelaws. The agenda and minutes of the AGM shall be the responsibility of the Membership Secretary.

Annual Scientific Meeting

The annual scientific meeting shall be held in a different venue within the United Kingdom or Republic of Ireland each year. The venue shall be decided at least two years in advance to allow adequate preparation time. The programme will include the Worth Lecture (paediatric ophthalmology), with the awarding of the Worth Medal, and the Trimble Lecture (strabismus) with the award of the Trimble Medal.

* Fellowship – the term “Fellowship” is going out of use in the context of UK training ophthalmologists. Applicants who have completed an “out-of-programme paediatric training” (OOPT) in paediatric ophthalmology or strabismus (and from 2024 level 4 training in paediatric ophthalmology or strabismus) will have the same recognition as those who have undertaken a fellowship

For a full copy of BIPOSA’s constitution and byelaws, please download here.