Membership

Article 5.

Section 1.
Membership in the Society shall be open to persons of good character who hold interest in furthering the purposes of the Society as stated in Article I of these bylaws and who meet the qualifications for membership as stated in Article III, Section 2 of these bylaws.

Section 2. Classes of Membership
There shall be five classes of members: Organisations, Member, Student Member, Emeritus, and Honorary. The designation of "member" in these bylaws shall be deemed to include all categories, except where there is an express provision to the contrary.

a. Organisations
    Membership in the Association shall be by national gerontological organizations (societies). To  
    be eligible for membership an organization (society) must
      · be national in its scope and multidisciplinary in membership; unless otherwise approved by  
        Council, only one national organization from any country shall be a member of the 
        Association;
      · have a primary orientation toward research and training in gerontology; and have at least 
        twenty five members (in good standing) with exceptions determined by the Council.
    Individual members of national organizations which are in good standing in the Association are   
    considered to be members of the Association.
    Member organizations are expected to make periodic reports to the Secretary- General on 
    membership and activities. Such reports shall be required prior to the meeting of Council at 
    Congresses of the Association.

b. Members
    Members shall be persons who hold interest in furthering the purposes of the Society and whose 
    applications have been approved by the Society's Membership Committee. The approval 
    process for Members shall include approval by the Society's Membership Committee.

c. Student Members
    A student who is registered full time for graduate, undergraduate or professional studies at an 
    accredited educational institution or who is completing his/her internship or residency 
    requirements and who holds interest in furthering the purposes of the Society may be admitted 
    as a Student Member. He/She may continue as a Student Member for no longer than five 
    consecutive years, unless he/she successfully petitions the Society for an extension. The student 
    may not continue beyond the membership year in which he/she ceases to qualify for this 
    category of membership. The approval process shall follow those specified in these bylaws for 
    Members.

d. Emeritus
    Any person who for a total of 20 years has been a Member of the Society and who is no longer 
    compensated for professional work may request "Emeritus" (Member or Fellow) status. Upon 
    recommendation of the Membership Committee of the Society and approval by Council he/she 
    shall be so designated. Such Member or Fellow shall: pay no dues, receive publications at a 
    cost specified by Council, and retain all other respective rights and privileges of the Society.

e. Honorary
    The Council may elect as Honorary such persons as it determines have made distinguished 
    contributions to gerontology. They shall have all rights and privileges of the Society but they shall 
    pay no dues and shall have no vote.

Section 3.
A member may be dropped from membership by a three-fourths vote of Council for conduct which tends to injure the Society or which is contrary to or destructive of its purposes, provided that such allegations have been stated in writing to the member himself/herself and that he/she has been given full opportunity for a hearing and to respond to those allegations before Council or a body designated by it.

Section 4.
The Electorate of the Society shall consist of the Organisations , Members, Student Members, and Emeriti.

Article 6.
A gerontological organization (society) may apply to the Secretary General of the Association for membership by submitting its constitution and/or By-Laws, a statement of its aims and goals, the names and addresses of its elected officers and the names and addresses of its members, and all other requested information. The Secretary General shall submit all such documentary data to the Council for action. The organisation (society) may be admitted to the Association at any time upon a majority of votes of the Council, whose vote (if necessary) may also be by mail.

Article 7.
A professional person engaged in research, teaching (or practice) within the field of gerontology may apply for individual membership in the Association provided that the said applicant is a national of a country which has no gerontological organization (society) which is a member-organization in the Association, and in which the applicant is eligible for membership. Individual members are expected to promote the development of gerontology in their countries and the formation of a national society eligible for application for membership in the Association.

Applications for individual membership shall be made to the Secretary General in writing and shall include a statement of the individual applicant's qualifications, activities in the field of Gerontology and membership in other professional societies. The Secretary General shall submit such data to Council for action. Individuals may be admitted to the Association upon a majority vote of the Council.
There may not be more than 49 (forty-nine) individual members from one country. One individual member from each country will be in the Council of the Association until an organization of that country replace him.
Individual memberships in the Association shall automatically terminate once a recognized gerontological organization (society) from that country is admitted to membership of the Association.

DUES

Article 8.
For the first year there will be no membership dues
Each member organization shall pay each year to the Treasurer of the Association membership dues based on the size of its membership. The fee will be determined by the Council.

A list of organizations (societies) and of individual members of the Association shall be maintained by the Secretary General and will be available to members of the Association upon request. Member organizations and individual members are required to pay dues annually. For fiscal purposes January of each year will constitute the beginning of the calendar year. New organizations (societies) must pay one-year's dues before they are admitted to voting membership in the Council.

The dues for individual members shall be
Founding Members $ 100 or more and $100 thereafter
Individual members ( Physician or university teacher or professional )$ 100
Individual members ( member of the multidisciplinary team, ) $ 30

Student Members $ 20

Application Fees can be pay either directly to the account of the association in Switzerland

Account Number 0750-891 757-42
Credit Suisse
Place de La Paix-1820 Montreux
Switzerland

Or by transfer to:

Abyad Medical Center
Account number : 0827432
Blom bank
Tripoli-Lebanon
Azmi street branch
Swift BLC: BLOMLBBX

or check addressed to Abyad Medical Center

Article 9.
Any member-organization (society) or individual member of the Association who fails to pay dues within each twelve months interval, shall be in arrears. Arrears in payment of dues for one year shall automatically result in loss of eligibility (right) to participate or to vote in the affairs of the Association (Council) during the period of arrears. Arrears in payment of dues for two consecutive years shall automatically terminate membership in the Association in the absence of special action by Council.

The Council, with a quorum present, may by a two-thirds vote (which may also be by mail) decide not to terminate automatically membership of an organization (society) or of an individual for non-payment of dues for good and sufficient reasons. Such decisions must be reviewed annually by the Executive Committee. Council may by a two-thirds vote with a quorum present terminate membership of a member organization (society) or of an individual member for any reason it may deem necessary.

Article 10.
Member organizations and individual members shall not be liable for any debts of the Association beyond the amount of their annual dues.

FINANCES AND BUDGET

Article 11.
The funds of the Association are made up as follows:
      a. the yearly membership dues (Article 8);
      b. voluntary gifts from individuals, groups, or organizations;
      c. grants from governmental or non-governmental organizations;
      d. funds from any other source
Approval by Council is required for acceptance by the Association of funds specified under b, c, or d of this Article.

Article 12.
The Executive Committee of the Association shall present for Council's approval at each Congress a budget proposed for Association activities for the period between Middle-Eastern Congresses of MEAA; and the Treasurer shall submit annual financial reports for review by the Executive Committee and for distribution to Council. The Secretary-General/Vice President shall receive all reports pertinent to the business of the association and shall be responsible for maintenance of official records and for the transmission of these records to successors.

GOVERNING BODIES AND GOVERNANCE

The governing bodies of the Association are:
     1. The Council;
     2. The Executive Committee
     1. The Council

Article 13.
The Association is governed by a Council which shall be composed of representatives of member-organizations (societies) in good standing in the Association, and one individual member from each country in the Eastern Mediterranean Region with no formal organization, and the officers of the Association, elected or approved by Council - The President, Immediate past-President, Secretary General/Vice President, and Treasurer.

The official list of the representatives of member organizations (societies) shall be certified by the Secretary-General at the beginning of each Congress as documented by correspondence from the officers of member organizations (societies).

Article 14.
a) Council members are designated by each member-organisation in good standing according to the      following system: representative(s)
     Organizations having:

      From 25 to 100 members                      1
      From 101 to 250 members                     2
      From 251 to 500 members                     3
      From 501 to 750 members                     4
      From 751 to 1000 members                   5
      From 1001 & above                               6

b) The President, the Immediate past-President, the Secretary General/Vice-President, and the   
     Treasurer constitute the Executive Committee of the Council. The President of the Association is   
     Chairman of the Council. c) The term of the Council members shall be from the beginning of one 
     International Congress of the Association to the beginning of the next, and members are eligible 
     for re-appointment to the Council by their respective organizations in good standing. . e) A quorum 
     of Council is one half of the certified representatives from member organizations of the 
     Association.

Article 15.
The Council has full authority to manage the affairs of the Association. This authority includes: election of officers of the Association; admission of new member organizations; suspension and/or termination of membership in the Association; change in By-Laws; approval of budget; assumption of commitments on behalf of the Association; determination of time and site of the Middle-East Congress; appointment of Committees.

Article 16.
The By-Laws of the Association can be amended in any regular meeting of the Association by a two-thirds vote in the Council with a quorum present provided the proposed amendment(s) has(ve) been submitted in writing at least 90 (ninety) days prior to the regular meeting of the Council and has been sent to all of the organizations (societies) in good standing in the Association.
The date of mailing will be considered the date to comply with this by-law.

Article 17.
The Council may create such standing or ad hoc Committees as may be desirable or necessary in the interest of the Association or for advancement of its activities, such as membership, finances, nominations, research, programs and so on. The President of the Association appoints the chairpersons of all committees authorized by Council. d) The Committees may develop their own operating procedures providing they are submitted to and approved by Council. e) Research and Program Committees may engage in such activities, develop such programs and hold such meetings as they may determine provided they are consistent with the aims of the Association and are approved by the Executive Committee of the Association.

Article 18.
The Council determines the place and date for each Middle-East Congress of the Association and the time interval between them.

Article 19.
a) The Council shall hold meetings as often as necessary in the interest of the Association. 
     Resolutions are taken by majority vote of Council members present except for cases in which a 
     two-thirds vote is required (see Articles 9, 16). In case of a tie, the Chairperson will have the 
     deciding vote.
b) Member of the Council shall be notified of the agenda 90 (ninety) days in advance of the date of 
     the meeting. 
c) Matters requiring Council action between meetings shall be submitted in writing to the members of 
     the Council. Resolutions or action shall be taken on the basis of a majority vote of Council 
     members who respond in writing within 30 (thirty) days except for cases in which a two-thirds 
     majority vote is required by the By-Laws.

Article 20.
a) The Council may expressly negotiate and conclude all legal transactions on behalf of the 
     Association.
b) The Council represented by the President, or by one of its members appointed by the President 
     for this purpose, may also sue all debtors before courts, plead before any jurisdiction, undertake 
     any personal or real action, maintain their defense, carry out all judgments and seizures, transact, 
     compromise and compound.

Article 21.
Resolutions of the Council shall be signed and recorded by the President and the Secretary General/Vice-President of the Association.

a)  The secretary shall serve as secretary of all meetings of the Society, of the Council, and of its 
      Executive Committee. He/She shall keep the membership rolls of the Society, and shall issue 
      notice of the annual meeting in due time and manner, shall issue written notices of elections and 
      of special meetings, and perform such other duties as are specified by these bylaws.

2. The Executive Committee (See Article 14.b.)

Article 22.
a) The administration of every day affairs of the Association , its representation before external 
     organizations, coordination of activities of Committees and Regions and so on fall within the 
     authority of the Executive Committee of the Association.
b) The term of office of members of the Executive Committee shall be from the beginning of one 
     Middle-Eastern Congress of the Association to the beginning of the next one.

Article 23.
a) In case the office of the President of the Association becomes vacant due to resignation, demise, 
    or other reasons, the Secretary General/Vice-President of the Association shall become President 
    of the Association for the remaining period of the office.
b) Should the office of Secretary General/Vice-President or of the Treasurer become vacant 
     (resignation, demise, or other reasons) the President shall nominate successors to be approved 
     by Council. Should the office of Secretary General/Vice-President-elect or a Treasurer-elect 
     become vacant, the President shall act in accordance with Article 18 (i.e., in consultation with the 
     President-elect) recommend successor/s to vacant offices, and obtain Council approval by 
     majority vote.

THE MIDDLE-EAST CONGRESS ON AGING

Article 24.
The Middle-East Congress shall convene at intervals, dates, and places determined by Council (Article 20).

Article 25.
A Congress Program Committee shall plan and organize the scientific program of the International Congress. The Program Committee, typically having 10 members, shall include the President, the immediate past-President, the Secretary General/Vice-President, the Treasurer, and the President-elect of the Association . The President-elect of the Association shall serve as chairperson of the Program Committee. Additional members may be recommended by the Chairperson of the Committee but must be approved by Council or the Executive Committee acting in behalf of Council.

CLAIMS ON ASSOCIATION

Article 26.
A terminated member organisation (society) or individual (see Article 9) as well as the claimant of deceased members have no rights to the funds of the Association. They may neither claim the membership fees paid by themselves or others, nor may they insist upon a statement, a rendering of accounts, the affixing of seals, or a stocktaking.

DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION

Article 27.
A decision on dissolution shall be made only by Council and shall require a two-thirds majority vote of member-organizations of the Association. If the Association is dissolved, Council shall have the authority and responsibility to allocate and dispose of the Assets of the Association.

SYMBOLS

Article 28.
The logo represents the integration and the union of member societies from the Middle-East. Member societies and their official publications may use the logo of the MEAA to indicate that activities are performed under the auspices of the MEAA. It may be used on the stationary of the member societies with the subtitle "Member" used along with the name of the constituent member society.

Article 29.
Presidential Medallion
The Medallion represents the authority, historical background, cities of founders and presidents for the duration of the MEAA.
During the opening ceremony of a the Congress of the MEAA, the outgoing President invests the President Elect with the Medallion.
The President may decide upon other academic or scientific events at which to use the Medallion.
Each President will engrave a disc of the Medallion with their name, country and years of office before relinquishing it at the opening ceremony of the MEAA Congress.

Founding Committee and First Executive Office
In order for the association to establish itself there will an appointed Executive Committee from the founding members . The function of this first executive committee is to launch the society in the Middle-East and to recruit members from the region. In addition to holding two meetings

1-One preliminary business meeting
2-The First Middle-East Congress on Aging