Article 1: Name and Terminology
The name of the academy shall be the World Academy of Laser Applications (WALA) hereafter referred to as ““The Academy”.” The contact address of the Academy shall be the address of the President/Chairman of the Board.
The term “Laser Applications” in this document shall be taken to represent the application of laser radiation in whatever field, serving the industrial, medical, research and military organizations.
Article 2: Aims of “The Academy”
The Aims of “The Academy” shall be to promote the application of laser and the development of associated technologies; to advance research, education and safety; to encourage international friendship and cooperation between engineers, physicists, clinicians, healthcare professionals and scientists; and serve as a forum for the dissemination of laser industry related information.
Specifically, our immediate objectives are:
1. To support scientist, engineers, medical professionals, and end-users of laser technology for research, educational and technical aspects of this rapidly advancing industry.
2. To collaborate with manufacturers, end-users for systems and product development.
3. To serve as agency: aiding in certifications programs, for laser professionals, laser safety officers, and laser operators.
4. To act as a one-stop resource center, for laser professionals for: continuous, education, year round local and international seminars, workshops, and symposia.
Our long term objectives are:
1. To encourage relocation of selected photonics/opto-electronics industries, as partners, in application based development of laser systems.
2. To organize and conduct product expositions such as; “laser systems expo” in cooperation with various photonics (or optoelectronic industries), around the globe, as a strategy for expansion, and to foster cooperation.
3. To advertise applications, for specific laser systems: the by-product of collaboration with manufacturers and end users.
Article 3: Membership & Dues
3.a) Definition of ‘Fellow/Member’ and ‘Fellow/Member in Good Standing’
‘Fellow/Member’ shall mean any person who has been elected to “The Academy” as a Fellow/Member.
‘Fellow/Member in Good Standing’ shall mean a Member of “The Academy” who has paid the required dues for the current Financial Year.
There shall be Six (6) categories of membership and their corresponding fees:
i): Fellow/Member (Physicians/Industry) with PMLS Journal, $200.
ii): Fellow/Member (Scientist) with PMLS Journal, $150.
iii): Fellow/Member (Nursing/Allied Health) with PMLS Journal, $150.
iv): Student with online access to Journal, $30.
v): Non-Journal Membership, $50.
vi): Institutional membership, $250.
Membership of “The Academy” shall be open to Engineers, Physicists, Physician, Dentists, Scientist, Veterinarian, Nurses, Physiotherapist, or any other recognized medical or paramedical personnel involved with, or interested in any aspect of Laser Applications. Membership may also be granted to Companies or Institutions working in or with the field of laser and associated research.
3.b) Classes of Membership
i) “Fellow/Member-Physician/Industry” shall be granted to all Physicians and Industrial Organizations eligible for Regular Membership who agree with the Aims of “The Academy” and shall have the right to attend any General Assembly.
ii) “Fellow/Member-Scientist” shall be open to all Scientists who satisfy the criteria in Article 3(a) above, and who agree with the Aims of “The Academy”. Regular Members shall have the right to attend any General Assembly.
iii) “Fellow/Member-Nursing/Allied Health” shall be open to all Nurses and Allied Health Professionals who satisfy the criteria in Article 3(a) above, and who agree with the Aims of “The Academy”. Regular Members shall have the right to attend any General Assembly.
iv): “Student Membership” shall be open to registered students and junior researchers at recognized institutions. Student members shall have the right to attend General Assemblies.
v): “Non-Journal Membership” any abovementioned members who do not avail of the Journal but shall have the right to attend the General Assembly.
vi) “Institutional Membership” may be conferred by “The Academy” on Institutions who satisfy the criteria in Article 3(a) above, and who agree with the Aims of “The Academy”. Member Institution’s representatives shall have the right to attend any General Assembly.
3.c) Admission of Members.
i) Any candidate for admission to “The Academy” shall in the first instance submit a WALA Membership Application to join “The Academy”. Applications shall be considered by a Membership Subcommittee consisting at all times of the President/Chairman and Members of the Board. The Membership Committee shall have the power to admit applicants to one of the categories of Membership where appropriate. The names of all those accepted for Membership may from time to time be reported to “The Academy” through the medium, Journal of Photomedicine and Laser Surgery.
ii) Upon admission, each Member shall be presented with a Certificate of Membership to “The Academy”, a Membership Card, and a copy of the Articles of Academy and Bylaws, which shall be in all aspects binding on the Member.
Membership may be withdrawn from any Member, or a Member may be suspended from Membership upon such terms as are specified in a written notice to the Member concerned. At this time, the Certificate of Membership and Membership Card must be returned to the Secretary-General. Such action may be taken if, in the opinion of the Board:
iii.a A Member has behaved in a manner incompatible with the Aims of “The Academy”.
iii.b The Member is seriously in arrears with payment of membership subscriptions without satisfactory reasons.
3.d) Resignation
A Member may resign from “The Academy” at any time upon giving written notice. The Member shall at the same time return his or her Certificate of Membership and membership card. Any balance of membership dues for the remaining period shall be forfeited and unclaimable by the resigning Member.
3.e) Change of Address
Members must inform “The Academy” in writing of any changes in address. Any notice posted to the recorded address of a Member shall be considered delivered.
Article 4: Organization
4.a) The Chairman and Board of Directors
i) The Members of the Board of Directors shall be appointed by the Founding-President/Chairman. All Members of the Board shall be Members in Good Standing of “The Academy”, who are Outstanding in their respective fields and must take the necessary steps to remain so during the duration of their terms.
The Board of Directors shall be made up as follows, with the duration of their term of office shown in brackets:
One Academy President/Chairman of the Board of Directors (2 years)
49 Board of Directors (2 years)
ii) The Academy President/Board Chairman shall assume that position during the General Assembly of the Congress. He or she shall assume the post of Academy President after ratification of the appointment by the majority of the Membership.
iii) All the Members of the Board of Directors shall have a term period of two (2) years. The Members of the Board shall, where possible each represent a main global region or language group.
iv) Except for President/Chairman, nominations for positions as member of the Board of Directors, shall be accepted and ratified upon at a General Assembly. Written nominations shall be received and acknowledged by the Academy at least two (2) months before the date of the General Assembly. Board Membership shall be ratified by majority of the General Assembly.
v) The purpose of the Board of Directors is to ensure the holding of Congress, Workshops, Symposia, Laser product expositions, and participate in developing novel laser applications in line with the Academy Objectives and according to the Articles of Academy and Bylaws. The Board shall be tasked to appoint subcommittees under Article 4(b) below, as overseer to such activities and to report to the General Assembly every second year, and, in general, to represent “The Academy” between Congresses.
vi) The Board shall decide upon the location of successive Congresses and other Activities of “The Academy”, which shall be presented at the General Assembly two years prior to the respective Congress and or other Activities.
4.b) Subcommittees
The Board shall create such subcommittees as are necessary to assure the smooth organization and running of various undertakings of “The Academy”. The deputized Chairman of any such subcommittee shall be a member of the Academy Board of Directors in good standing, and shall be chosen by merit of professional and other qualifications. The same shall apply to members of such subcommittees. The activities of each subcommittee shall be reported in writing to the Board through the Chairman two months before each Congress. The membership of each subcommittee shall be reviewed at each Congress. The existence and membership of such subcommittees shall be ratified by majority by the Membership at a General Assembly.
4.c) Congresses, Workshops, Symposia, Seminars, Expositions and Project Collaboration committees
Not withstanding the above, the Members of the Organizing Committee(s) shall be appointed by the President/Chairman of the Board of Directors in his/her capacity as such. The “Organizing Committee(s)” shall be responsible for all aspects of “The Academy’s” Specific Undertakings (Section 5 and 6 below), shall report at regular intervals to the Board of Directors through the Academy President /Chairman, and shall operate within the framework of these Articles of Academy and Bylaws. The Academy is mandated to establish cooperation with other Societies, Private Persons, Laser Industries, etc., in-line with the pursuit of the Aims and Objectives of the Academy (Article 2).
4.d) Standing Subcommittees
A Standing Subcommittee on these Articles shall exist, and shall consist of the current President/Chairman and the Board of Directors. Additional Members other than the Board of Directors may be co-opted as deemed necessary.
A Standing Finance Subcommittee shall exist, and shall consist of the current members of the Board of Directors.
4.e) The General Assembly
i) The General Assembly shall consist of all those present at any Congress and other activities of the Academy, and who are active members of “The Academy in good standing”. It shall meet at each Congress under the Chairmanship of the incumbent President. The Secretary-General of “The Academy” shall be appointed from the Board of Directors to serve as Secretary of the General Assembly.
ii) The following business shall be placed first on the Agenda of every General Assembly of “The Academy”:
ii.a) Acceptance of the Minutes of the previous General Assembly.
ii.b) Receipt of the President’s Annual Report.
ii.c) Receipt of the Statement of Accounts from the Honorary Treasurer.
ii.d) Election of new Board and, where appropriate, Subcommittees. Proposals for Board Office Bearers or Directors (with the exception of the President/Chairman) shall be made and seconded in writing by members in Good Standing and shall reach the Board Secretary of the Academy at least two (2) months prior to the General Assembly (Article 4.a.iv). No proposal for any post on the Board shall be accepted from the floor.
iii) The General Assembly may on occasion be asked to ratify acceptance or accept applications from those who apply for Membership of “The Academy” as presented by the Membership Subcommittee.
iv) The General Assembly shall approve the Membership dues as set by the Board.
v) The General Assembly shall receive the decision of the Board on the location of the Congress and other undertakings of the Academy, to be held in the second year following any General Assembly, and ratify the post of President/Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Academy providing nominations are properly made in writing to the Academy’s Secretary at least six (6) months before the date of the General Assembly.
vi) The outgoing Chairman of the Board of Directors will then hand over the Academy to the newly appointed Chair, and Chairmanship of the General Assembly will be assumed by the new Academy President before any other business is conducted. Where appropriate the outgoing Academy Secretary and Treasurer shall hand over all relevant documents to the incoming Academy Secretary and Treasurer, who shall assume their respective posts according to the provisions of 4:f:ii below. The incoming Secretary shall thereupon assume the task of Secretary of the General Assembly.
4.f) Meetings.
i) “The Academy” President/Chairman shall preside as Chairman at all General Assembly and Board meetings. If the President is not present, the Board shall assign from the Board of Directors present as acting-Chairman.
ii) The Academy Secretary shall keep a correct record of the proceedings of all General and Board meetings. Such Minutes shall be reviewed at the following General or Board meeting respectively, and if approved, shall be signed by the President/Chairman and Secretary, and shall thereafter be evidence of the regularity of the meeting, the date it was held, and of any resolutions there adopted. If the Secretary is not present, the meeting shall elect a Member present as Secretary who shall keep a record in the manner specified above.
iii) At all General and Board meetings, the Chairman shall always have an extra casting vote in the event of there being equality of vote.
iv) Voting at all meetings shall be by show of hands, (with the exception of secret ballots when voting in the election of Academy Officers), each Member in Good Standing present being entitled to one vote including any Regional Supporting Members’ elected representative. Occasionally postal ballot lists may be sent to Members for postal voting.
Notwithstanding the above, all Members in Good Standing shall have the right to vote by proxy at any General Assembly or Extraordinary General Assembly, always providing their proxy is assigned in writing to the proxy holder, who must themselves be a Member in Good Standing of the Academy.
Article 5: The Congress
5.a) Timing
The Congress of “The Academy” shall be held every two (2) years. The organization, costs, disbursements and scientific programme of the Congress shall rest entirely with the host country, which shall also appoint the President of the Congress, Congress subcommittees, and so on.
5.b) Location
The location of each Congress shall be presented to the General Assembly by the Board, two years before the date of each Congress, always provided that written applications for the Congress site from the Host Academy are lodged in writing with the Board Secretary at least six (6) months prior to the date of the aforementioned General Assembly
5.c) Preparation
Before announcing the Congress, the host Academy shall submit a general draft of the Congress programme to the Board. This programme shall allocate time for the Board meetings, and for The Academy General Assembly.
5.d) Invitations
The host Academy shall invite The Academy Members to participate in the Congress, and shall, at least one year in advance, send preliminary information on the Congress to each Member of “The Academy”.
5.e) Congress Members
Congress Members shall be all those who have paid the registration fee, including but not limited to Academy Members present at the Congress, and whose membership is in good standing. Other persons entitled to attend Congresses are: (a) bona fide trainees of nationally-approved medical and laser training programmes; (b) Family members of attendees; (c) guests invited by The Academy to attend the Congress by virtue of their contribution to the scientific programme; and (d), members of registered Congress commercial exhibitors. No member of any of the above groups (a) - (d) shall be able to participate in, or vote at, the General Assembly, unless they are already registered Regular Academy Members in Good Standing.
5.f) Congress Fees and Finances
Congress fees for Members, families, trainees, guests and exhibitors shall be determined by the host Academy’s Organizing Committee. Any and all funds accruing from any Congress shall be held, managed and disbursed by the Congress Subcommittee Treasurer, who shall, within a reasonable time after the end of the Congress, but in any event not to exceed six (6) months, cause to be delivered to the Board the Accounts of the Congress, independently audited. At least fifty percent (50%) of any excess funds in credit shall be credited by the Congress Organizing Committee to “The Academy” account.
From time to time, at the discretion of the Finance Standing Subcommittee, financial advances to the Organizing Committee of the subsequent Academy Congress may be made for the purpose of preparing or distributing congress announcements and other literature, pursuant to these advances being refunded first from excess funds following the closing of the Congress books.
5.g) Congress Language
The official language of the Congress shall be English. Notwithstanding the aforesaid, the Organizing Committee may, at their initiative and Congress Organizing Committee expense, offer translation services simultaneous or otherwise.
Article 6: Other Activities (Workshops, Symposia, Seminars, Expositions and Project Collaborations)
The term “Other Activities” shall mean any undertakings of “The Academy” aside from the “The Congress” held every two years.
“Other Activities” that will be undertaken by “The Academy” during periods between congresses shall be approved by the Board of Directors where subcommittees shall be created to ensure smooth running and organization of such Activities (Article 4.b).
Joint undertakings of “The Academy” with other Societies, Laser Industries and Laser Professionals, shall be covered by a ”Cooperation Agreement” approved by the Board of Directors where subcommittees are created as such (Article 4.b).Article 7: Finances
7.a) Financial Year
“Financial Year” shall mean the period from January 1st to December 31st of each year.
7.b) Funds
The funds of “The Academy” shall be lodged within a reasonable time by the Treasurer with a bank or banks as the Board may from time to time determine.
7.c) Accounts
The accounts of “The Academy” shall be operated on by cheques or other monetary articles drawn or ordered by the Board Treasurer or, in his or her absence, by a deputy appointed by the Board.
7.d) Investments
Any investments made on behalf of “The Academy” shall be made in the name of “The Academy”. The President/Chairman of the Board and Treasurer shall have full power to sell, transfer and negotiate all such investments and to draw the interest falling due thereon. All instruments of transfer, and endorsements, receipts and other documents in connection with such investments shall be executed if signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the President/Chairman of the Board, and when so signed shall be absolutely binding on and effective against the Board and “The Academy”.
7.e) Dissolution of The Academy
In the event of “The Academy’s” dissolution for any reason whatsoever, property of “The Academy” shall be sold or auctioned off, and the proceeds from any such sale or auction shall be donated, together with any outstanding surplus Academy funds, to a deserving and recognized charity chosen by the outgoing Board.
7.f) Non-Profit Status
The Academy shall maintain itself as a nonprofit organization, no personal gain accruing to “The Academy” from its meetings’ and other activity proceeds or membership dues.
Article 8: Official Journal
The official Journal of “The Academy” shall be The Journal of ‘Photomedicine and Laser Surgery’, published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. (www.liebertpub.com).
Article 9: Academy
Flag and
Presidential Trophy
The Flag of “The Academy” and the Presidential Trophy shall be received and held by the incumbent Academy President in safe keeping, and shall be in turn passed on to the succeeding President at an appropriate time during the Academy Congress.
Article 10: Changes to Rules
10.a) Amendments.
i) The Bylaws and Articles of “The Academy” may be added to, altered or amended only at the General Assembly, or at a Special General Meeting called for that purpose, pursuant to the terms of Article 9.a.ii below.
ii) Notice of a suggested change to any of the Articles of Academy and Bylaws shall be given by a delegate (who shall be a Member in Good Standing) in writing to the Board Chairman at least three months before the Board or General Assembly meetings. A report of all proposed changes in the Articles of Academy and Bylaws shall be made to the General Assembly. The Articles of Academy and Bylaws may then be changed with the approval of the majority.
iii) No additions, alterations or amendments to the Articles and Bylaws may be voted on at a General Assembly or Special General Meeting unless the Board Chairman has not less than thirty (30) days before the date of the meeting caused notices to be posted to members giving details of the proposed addition, alteration or amendment.
iv) Any addition, alteration or amendment requires the affirmation of at least two-thirds of those Members who are present.