Name

1. The Society shall be called "The British Neuropsychiatry Association" ("BNPA").

Object

2. The object of the Association is to provide a forum for the exchange of ideas and to encourage cross-

disciplinary discussion of clinical and academic issues of common interest within the fields of psychiatry,

neurology and neuropsychology.

Membership

3. The Association shall consist of Ordinary, Junior, Overseas, Honorary and Retired Members.

4. Ordinary - Membership is open to medical practitioners, postgraduate psychologists working in clinical or experimental fields related to psychiatry or neurology, professions allied to medicine, and postgraduate laboratory workers in the neurosciences, resident and working in the U.K.

5. Junior – Junior members should be 30 years of age or under at the time of joining. They will pay a reduced

membership rate of £10 per annum for a maximum period of 3 years. After the 3 year period their membership subscription will increase to the Ordinary membership rate of £35 per annum.

6. Overseas - Overseas members  are expected to be medical practitioners, postgraduate psychologists or basic scientists working abroad in clinical or experimental fields relevant to neuropsychiatry.  Overseas members would normally be expected to have an interest in British neuropsychiatry.

7. Honorary - Honorary membership may be offered by the committee to:

(i) Any member whose exceptional service, for instance in serving on the Committee, is regarded by the Committee as warranting this honor.

(ii) Non-members from outside the UK who have made distinguished contributions to neuropsychiatry and to the activities of the BNPA.

Honorary members receive the benefits and communications of membership and are charged no fee.

8. Retired -Members on reaching the age of 65 or on prior retirement from hospital or academic appointment, shall cease to be paying members at the beginning of the following January and may become Retired Members enjoying benefit of membership without payment of subscription.

9. Applications for membership should be addressed to the Secretary, must be supported by a c.v. and require a letter from a proposer from within the membership. Any prospective member who is unable to find a proposer may write to the Secretary, who may propose the applicant or advise accordingly.

Subscription

10. The annual subscription is payable on the 1st January each year. The amount due is reviewed and decided by the Committee in the light of the financial situation of the Association and after taking advice from the Treasurer. The subscription shall then be ratified at the next Annual General Meeting of the Association. Failure to renew/pay by the 31st December of the year in which subscriptions fall due, will result in the member’s name being taken off the mailing list, and membership of the Association shall be deemed to have ceased. UK Members -Standard rate subscriptions shall be paid only by direct debit with effect from 1 January 2002. If by 1 January 2002 current members have not provided a direct debit form, or they wish to continue paying by standing order or cheque, a surcharge of £20 on the agreed membership fee will be payable. This arrangement will apply to new as well as existing members. Overseas members – may continue to pay by cheque if direct debit arrangements are impossible and will not be charged any penalty.

Officers and Committee

11. The Committee shall consist of the Officers (the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer) and at least four other

members. The composition of the Committee shall reflect the objectives of the Association and, broadly, the membership of the Association. The Officers and Committee Members shall be nominated by the Committee and elected by the Association at the Annual General Meeting.

12. The Committee has the power to appoint new committee members until the next Annual General Meeting, if these people are appointed to fill vacancies.

13. The number of Committee members forming a quorum at Committee meetings to validate decisions should be four.

14. The Chairman of the Neuropsychiatry Special Interest Group of the Royal College of Psychiatrists should be an ex-officio member of the Committee.

15. Any member may suggest nominations for membership of the Committee in writing to the Secretary. This must be done at least eight weeks before the Annual General Meeting and must include notification of the consent of the member nominated.

16. The office of Chairman shall be tenured for up to three years followed by the option of twelve months as an ex-officio member of the Committee.

17. The Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected annually, and shall be eligible for re-election.

18. Committee members will hold office for at least three years, but a further year could be added to make sure that only one Committee member retires in a given year. Retiring Committee members shall not be eligible for re-election until three years have elapsed.

Scientific Meetings and Annual General Meeting

19. At least three weeks before the Annual General Meeting the Secretary shall send to each Member notification of the names of the Officers and Committee Members who the Committee nominate for the ensuing year.

20. The Treasurer shall provide a report on the finances of the Association at the Annual General Meeting. Full accounts are available on request and copies will be made available to those attending the Annual General Meeting.

21. There shall be at least one meeting annually, plus other occasional meetings with other learned societies, to be held at a time and place determined by the Committee. The content and the location of the future meetings shall be discussed at the Annual General Meeting. Meetings shall normally last for one/two days and shall consist of presentations from invited speakers plus scientific and clinical communications from members and discussion ensuing there from.

22. The business of the Association shall be transacted at the Annual General Meeting.

23. The programme of invited speakers for Scientific meetings shall be arranged by the Committee and circulated to the Members at least three months prior to each meeting. At which time members shall be encouraged to submit short original scientific papers or single case videos for inclusion in the member's forum.

24. The speakers at the meetings may include invited experts who are not members of the Association. Speakers shall be paid traveling expenses and may attend the meeting at no cost to themselves for accommodation and refreshments.

25. No reporter shall be present at the meetings and no account of the proceedings shall be sent to non-medical journals or newspapers, except by special resolution of the Committee.

26. Speakers shall be asked to prepare brief abstracts of their communications which shall be published at present in "The Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry". Other than this, speakers shall be at liberty to publish their communications when and where they please.

Other Rules

27. No alteration shall be made in the Rules except at the Annual General Meeting and unless proposed by the Committee or by at least ten members in writing. Notice of the proposed change shall be given to every member before the meeting at which it is to be brought forward.

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