The Organization shall be called the “Canadian Geriatrics Society” and hereinafter
will be referred to as “the Society.”
OBJECTIVES
The objectives of the Society shall be:
To promote excellence in the medical care of older individuals in Canada.
To promote a high standard of research and investigation and to advance knowledge in the field
of the medical care of older individuals.
To encourage physicians and surgeons to devote a portion of their research efforts to the
effect of aging on the physiological or pathological processes which they may be studying.
To promote the dissemination of knowledge of the clinical care of older individuals by providing
continuing medical education throughout Canada.
To improve education in the medical care of older individuals in Canadian medical schools at
both undergraduate and postgraduate levels.
To cooperate with other organizations concerned with the health care of older individuals.
OFFICAL LANGUAGES
The official languages of the Society shall be English and French.
MEMBERSHIPS
Ordinary Members
Ordinary membership shall be open to all physicians licensed to practice medicine in Canada.
Upon admission all Ordinary members shall have the right to attend the Annual Meeting and all
general and special meetings of the Society, to vote on alterations to the Constitution of
the Society, to vote on matters pertaining to the business of the Society, to stand for
election to the Council, to vote in elections for the Council, and to receive copies of
all communications that the Society from time to time prepares for its members. Upon
admission, Ordinary members shall be obliged to pay annual dues as set by the Society.
Associate Members
Associate membership shall be open to:
Medical students, residents and fellows.
Scientists whose qualifications and merit satisfy the Council of the Society.
Associates shall have the same privileges as Ordinary members exclusive of voting and holding
office. Upon admission, Associate members shall be obliged to pay annual dues as set by the
Society.
Honorary Members
Persons of distinction in medicine or biologic science who have made a notable contribution
to the advancement of knowledge in the clinical care of the elderly shall be eligible for
election as Honorary members in accordance with 7(b). Honorary members will have the same
privileges as Associate members but will pay no dues.
Life Members
Any member who has been an Ordinary member for not less than five years and is retired from
active clinical practice shall be eligible for Life membership. An application for Life
membership must be submitted to the Secretary/ Treasurer. The Secretary/Treasurer will review
the application to ascertain that the qualifications for Life membership are met. If they are
met the Secretary/Treasurer will present the application to Council for approval. Life members
shall have the same privileges as Associate members but will pay no dues.
THE COUNCIL
The management of the Society shall be vested in a Council which shall consist of a
President, Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, the immediate Past-President and three additional
members.
The Officers of the Society shall be elected at the Annual meeting by a majority
of the members present.
The President shall hold office for a period of two years and shall normally be
succeeded by the Vice-President. The Vice-President and immediate Past-President shall hold
office for a period of two years.
The Secretary/Treasurer shall have a three-year term of office and be qualified
for re-election.
The additional members of the Council shall serve for two years. At least one shall retire each
year.
The Council shall have the power to fill any interim vacancy that may occur in
its membership.
Regular (quarterly) meetings of the Council will be held throughout the year. A quorum of
Council shall consist of four voting members, one of whom must be the President or Vice-President.
Additional meetings can be held at the call of the President. Notice of meetings with the agenda
will be sent to members of Council at least 48 hours before they are held. Teleconferences and
videoconferencing are acceptable formats.
The Council shall have the power to reimburse Officers of the Society for any
expenses incurred by them in the discharge of duties directly related to the
business of the Society.
The President and the immediate Past-President shall act as a Nominating Committee. This
Committee is to find willing, able nominees to fill pending vacancies (because of members of Council
coming to the end of their term) for the elected positions on the Council of the Society. The
Committee will present the names of the nominees to Council not less than two months before the
Annual Meeting. The Committee will submit their nominations to the membership at the time of
the Annual Business meeting.
Additional nominations may be submitted by any three or more voting members
provided these are submitted not less than twenty-four hours before the Annual Meeting.
The Specialty Committee Chair (or designate) in Geriatric Medicine of the Royal College of
Physicians and Surgeons of Canada, the Chair (or designate) of the Care of The Elderly Committee
of the College of Family Physicians of Canada, the Executive Director (if one appointed) of the
Society, and all Standing Committee Chairs of the Society will be invited to join Council as ex
officio and non-voting members of Council.
ANNUAL MEETING
There shall be an annual meeting of the Society. The site and date(s) will be determined by a
majority vote of Society at a preceding annual Society meeting. The annual meeting of the Society
can be held in Canada or elsewhere.
The annual meeting shall consist of:
Scientific and Educational Sessions
Business Meeting of the Society
Notice of the annual meeting of the Society shall be sent to each member at least
two months prior to the date fixed for such meetings. Electronic communication of the notification
will be acceptable.
All Ordinary members present at the annual meeting shall have the right to
exercise one vote.
Fifteen (15) voting members present in person will constitute a quorum for
the Annual Business Meeting of the Society.
ELECTION OF MEMBERS
Ordinary and Associate Members
Application for membership shall be submitted to the Secretary/Treasurer. The
Secretary/Treasurer will review the applications for their qualifications and will present
them to Council for approval. A list of new members will be presented for information to the
membership of the Society at the Annual Business Meeting of the Society
Honorary Members
Honorary members shall be nominated by the Council and elected at the Annual Business Meeting.
Any member may be required to resign by a vote of three-quarters (3/4) or more of the votes
cast at an Annual Business Meeting by voting Ordinary members present in person, provided any such
member shall be granted an opportunity to be heard at the meeting.
DUES
The annual dues of the Society for Ordinary and Associate members shall be
set by a majority vote at the annual meeting of the Society. Annual dues are based on the calendar
year. They shall be payable to the Secretary/Treasurer on an annual basis.
Any member whose dues are more than one year in arrears and who has been notified in
writing by the Secretary/Treasurer of this shall cease to be a member of the Society. The former
member is permitted to re-apply for admission to membership.
DONATION AND OTHER ACCRETIONS
All sums of money given to the Society as dues, gifts or other accretions will be used solely to
further objects of the Society as stated in (2) above. No member will receive any financial gain
from his or her membership.
DUTIES OF THE SECRETARY/TREASURER
The Secretary/Treasurer shall keep all records and accounts of the Society.
At each Annual Business Meeting the Secretary/Treasurer shall present a report
of the affairs of the Society and a statement of the accounts and the financial position of the
Society.
ALTERATION OF THE CONSTITUTION
The constitution may be amended by a vote of three-quarters (3/4) or more of the votes cast
at an Annual Business Meeting by voting Ordinary members present in person.
Notice of desire to submit amendments shall be sent to the Secretary/Treasurer
at least two months before the Annual Meeting. Proposed amendments shall be sent to members
with the notices of the places and date of the Annual Meeting. Electronic communication of the
notification will be acceptable.
RULES AND REGULATIONS
The Council of the Society may prescribe such rules and regulations not inconsistent
with this Constitution relating to the management and operation of the Society as
they deem expedient, provided that such rules and regulations shall have force and
effect only until the next annual meeting when they shall be confirmed or failing
such confirmation at such annual meeting shall at and from that time cease to have any force and
effect. With respect to any matter for which no provision is contained in the Constitution
or rules and regulations such procedures shall be governed by Robert’s Rules of Order.
