1. DEFINITION

Critical Care Medicine shall mean that section of health care specifically organised for the
management of the critically ill patient.

2. NAME

Asia Pacific Association of Critical Care Medicine (APACCM).

3. PURPOSES

a. to advance the theory and practice of Critical and Intensive Care Medicine throughout the
Asia Pacific Region;

b. to improve the quality of teaching and training in Critical and Intensive Care Medicine within the Asia Pacific Region;

c. to stimulate research in Critical and Intensive Care Medicine;

d. to provide expert advice to governmental and other bodies on matters pertaining to Critical and Intensive Care Medicine;

e. to stimulate the formation of Societies of Critical and Intensive Care Medicine in countries throughout the Asia Pacific Region;

f. to act as a co-ordinator, facilitator and resource for Societies and Associations of Critical or Intensive Care Medicine and their members in the Asia Pacific Region;

g. to issue statements on matters relevant to Critical and Intensive Care Medicine in the Asia Pacific Region;

h. to hold Congress of the APACCM for the presentation of research and continuing medical education in Critical and Intensive Care Medicine.

4. MEMBERSHIP

Membership of the APACCM shall normally be through national Societies and Associations of Critical or Intensive Care Medicine, all medically qualified members of such organisations in the Asia Pacific Region being eligible to be full members. Non-medically qualified members of such organisations shall be Associate members. Organisations with only non-medically qualified members (e.g. Societies and Associations of Critical or Intensive Care Nursing) may apply for membership if their aims and purposes are consistent with those of APACCM with their members being Associate members of APACCM.

A medically qualified person who is interested in Critical or Intensive Care Medicine may become a full member if practising in a country without a national organisation of Critical or Intensive Care Medicine by application to the Secretary-General and, if approved, payment of the individual full member fee.

The types of membership shall be:

a. Full Member - a medically qualified person who is interested in Critical or Intensive Care Medicine and is a member of a national organisation of Critical or Intensive Care Medicine in the Asia Pacific Region;

b. Individual Member - a medically qualified person who is interested in Critical or Intensive Care Medicine.

c. Associate Member - a non-medically qualified person who is a member of a national organisation of Critical or Intensive Care Medicine, or an organisation approved by the Council of APACCM as having aims and purposes similar to those of the APACCM;

d. Life Member - a medically qualified person who paid the life membership fee to APACCM before the date of ratification of the new constitution.

e. Honorary Member - a person elected as an honorary member by the Council of APACCM;

f. Patron Member - an individual or entity with an interest in the purposes of APACCM.

Full, life, patron and honorary members shall have the following privileges :

i. voting rights;

ii. eligible to stand for election as office bearer;

iii. eligible to stand for Council.

5. ORGANISATION

a. Office Bearers :

President, Vice-President, Secretary-General, Deputy Secretary-General, and Treasurer. This group will constitute the Executive Committee.

b. Council :

Each national Society or Association of Critical or Intensive Care Medicine shall nominate members for Council on the basis of its financial membership :

- 1-100 financial full members: 1 nominee to Council;
- 101-400 financial full members: up to 2 nominees to Council;
- Over 400 financial full members: up to 3 nominees to Council.

Organisations approved by Council consisting only of Associate members may nominate an observer to attend Council meetings. Such an observer may speak but shall not vote.

The individual full members of APACCM may nominate a single member to Council as their representative.

6. SECRETARIAT

The Secretariat and official address of the Association shall be the postal address of the Secretary-General of the Association.

7. LANGUAGE

The official language of the Association will be English.

8. FEES

The fees for the following categories of membership will be determined by Council :

- Full member : US$1.00 per annum.
- Individual full member : US$10.00 per annum.
- Associate member : US$0.50 per annum.
- Patron member : US$500.00 per annum.

9. TERMS OF OFFICE

a. President: will hold office for four (4) years unless resigning or otherwise unable to continue in office, and shall not be eligible for re-election.

b. Vice-President : will hold office for four (4) years unless resigning or otherwise unable to continue in office. In the event that the President is unable to complete his/her full term of office, the Vice-President shall act as President for the remainder of that term.

c. Secretary-General : will hold office for four(4) years and shall be eligible for re-election for another four (4) years;

d. Deputy Secretary-General : will hold office for four(4) years and shall be eligible for re-election for another four (4) years;

e. Treasurer: will hold office for four (4) years and shall be eligible for re-election for another four (4) years;

f. Council members: will be nominated by each national society to attend Council meetings. The same nominee shall not attend consecutive Council meetings over more than twelve (12) years unless approval is granted by the Executive Committee.

BYE-LAWS

BL 1. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE SHALL :

1.1 determine the place, date and time for meetings of the Executive Committee or the date and time of meetings when these take place by teleconferencing, video conferencing or other electronic communication system.
1.2 meet preferably at least once a year and at such times as may be necessary. Meetings shall be held at such place and upon such notice as the President may designate.
1.3 appoint members to any Standing Committees, fill the vacancies of such Standing Committees, decide on the terms of office of each member of the Standing Committees and decide on the terms of reference of each Standing Committee.
1.4 have the authority or power to form other committees as needed.

BL 2. DUTIES OF OFFICE BEARERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE MEMBERS :

2.1 The President shall preside at all Executive Committee meetings and shall be responsible for the management of the Executive Committee.

2.2 The Vice-President shall generally assist the President. In the absence of the President, the Vice-President shall preside over the Executive Committee and Council Meetings.

2.3 The Secretary-General and Deputy Secretary :
2.3.1 shall convene all meetings of the Executive Committee.
2.3.2 shall prepare a report of the activities of the Executive Committee which shall be circulated to the national societies not less than one (1) month before the date fixed for the Executive Committee meeting.
2.3.3 shall keep minutes of all Executive Committee and Council meetings of the Association.

2.4. The Treasurer :
2.4.1 shall co-sign all cheques signed by the President or other member of the Executive Committee and forward these to the payee.
2.4.2 shall keep an account of all business transactions by the Executive Committee.
2.4.3 shall prepare the Financial report which shall be circulated to national Societies one (1) month before the date fixed for the Congress.
2.4.4 shall accept contributions and fees from national societies.

BL 3. CONGRESS

3.1 Congress of the WPACCM shall be held in alternate years or at such other times as may be approved by Council.
3.2 WPACCM will share in the net profit or losses of the Congress on a 50:50 basis or on such other basis as has been approved by the Executive Committee not less than one (1) year before the date of the opening of the Congress.
3.3 The organiser of the Congress shall submit a certified copy of the financial report not later than six (6) months after the last day of the Congress to the Treasurer. Any monies owing from a net surplus on the Congress shall be submitted to the Treasurer not later than twelve (12) months after the last day of the Congress.
3.4 The dates and place of the Congress of the APACCM shall be determined by Council unless delegated by Council to the Executive Committee. Any nation wishing to host a Congress of APACCM may make a representation to Council. If more than one nation wishes to host the Congress in a year it falls due, the venue will be determined by a vote of Council.

BL 4. MEETINGS OF EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

4.1 The agenda for the Executive Committee shall be prepared by the Secretary-General or Deputy Secretary. Matters to be considered by the Executive Committee may be placed on the agenda for the next meeting by any organisation of Critical or Intensive Care Medicine in the Asia Pacific Region.
4.2 The Executive Committee has the power to decide whether or not a resolution submitted by a member falls within the objectives of the Association.
4.3 Any three (3) members of the Executive Committee will constitute a quorum for the purpose of conducting business.
4.4 The Executive Committee shall act for and on behalf of Council, and with the full authority of Council, between Council meetings.
4.5 A copy of the draft minutes of the Executive Committee shall be sent to all Council members attending the most recent Council meeting or their nominee not more than sixty (60) days after the date of the meeting.

BL 5. MEETINGS OF COUNCIL

5.1 The date, time and place of Council meetings will be advised to national organisations of Critical and Intensive Care Medicine, individual full members and others entitled to nominate members to Council not less than one (1) month before the proposed date of the Council meeting.
5.2 Nominees to the Council meeting shall advise the Secretary-General of their name and the organisation or group they are representing not less than fourteen (14) days before the date and time of the Council meeting. In the event that more nominations to Council are received that are specified under section 5 (b) of this Constitution the President shall have absolute discretion to determine the attendance at the Council meeting.
5.3 The Council meeting shall normally be held during the Congress of APACCM.
5.4 The Agenda of Council shall be prepared by the Secretary-General and shall include :
5.4.1 Apologies for absence.
5.4.2 Statements of any or potential conflicts of interest by Council members.
5.4.3 Endorsement of minutes of the previous Council meeting.
5.4.4 Notice of minutes of Executive Committee meetings.
5.4.5 President’s report.
5.4.6 Secretary-General’s report.
5.4.7 Treasurer’s report.
5.4.8 Endorsement of financial statements.
5.4.9 Reports by representatives of national organisations of Critical or Intensive Care Medicine.

The Agenda of Council may include :
5.4.10 Election of office bearers in the year in which elections fall due.
5.4.11 Election of the venue for future Congress of APACCM.
5.4.12 Any motions proposed with notice.
5.4.13 Any other business.

5.5 Motions, proposals, proposed amendments to the Constitution and other matters to be included in the
agenda must be sent to national societies to reach the Secretary-General not later than one (1) month before the date fixed for the opening of the Congress.

5.6 The Secretary-General shall forward the agenda to all Council members nominated not less than one (1) week before the date fixed for the opening of the Congress.