Constitution

The name of the Society shall be “International Academy for Digital Dental Medicine” (hereafter referred to as “IADDM”).

IADDM exists pursuant to Article 60 and seq of the Swiss Civil Code (hereafter Swiss CC) having its legal domicile in Zurich, Switzerland.

IADDM is a non-profit organization. If IADDM is dissolved at any time, no part of its funds or property may be distributed to, or among, its members; but, after payment of all indebtedness of this organization, its surplus funds and property will be used for Digital Dental Medicine education and research in such a manner as the then General Assembly of IADDM may determine.

To promote the advancement of digital dental medicine through:

• Undergraduate education
• Vocational undergraduate-postgraduate training
• Continuing dental education

To foster convergence towards the highest standards in all facets of digital dental medicine throughout the dental community worldwide by:

• Facilitating the exchange of expertise
• Promoting innovation an research,
• Encouraging the sharing of resources
• Promoting communication and co-operation among dental and medical professionals.
• Consulting members about digital dental medicine

To disseminate knowledge and understanding of digital dental medicine by:

• The promotion of conferences and scientific meetings and publication of digital dental medicine research.

Everyone interested into the objectives of the IADDM can become a member. There shall be four categories of membership:

1. Active Membership
   Any individual concerned with digital dental medicine is eligible for Active Membership upon recommendation of the membership committee after having been an Associate for 4 years. Examples of individuals eligible for Active Membership are: Physicians, dentists, dental technicians, other health care professionals and researchers.
2. Associate Membership
   Any individual concerned with digital dental medicine is eligible for Associate Membership.
   Examples of individuals eligible for Associate Membership are physicians, dentists, dental technicians, other health care professionals and researchers.
3. Corporate or Association Membership
   Manufacturers of medical/dental materials, equipment and instrumentation, publishing companies, other commercial organizations and associations with a special interest in the objectives of IADDM as judged by the Executive Committee of the IADDM and ratified by the General Assembly.
4. Student Membership
   Students in undergraduate-postgraduate programs (e.g. MD, DMD or DDS) can become a postgraduate Student Member.
5. Honorary Membership
   Honorary Membership will be limited to individuals identified by the Executive Committee of IADDM and ratified by the General Assembly as having made an exceptional contribution to digital dental medicine.

4.1 Application

1. Active Members
   Individuals eligible for ordinary membership (Fellow) may be nominated to the Executive Committee by the Membership Committee after 4 years of active membership. The executive committee will, after approval submits the request to the General Assembly of the IADDM for final approval.
2. Associate Members
   Individuals eligible for Associate Membership may apply for membership by submitting an application to the Secretary General, who will pass the application to the Executive Committee of the IADDM for consideration and final approval.
3. Corporate or Association Members
   Manufacturers of dental materials, equipment and instrumentation, publishing companies and other commercial organizations, and Associations (e.g. National Associations) with a special interest in the aims and objectives of IADDM are eligible to apply for Association Membership subject to acceptance of IADDM By-laws and commitment to support the objectives of IADDM and to pay annual dues.
   They shall apply for membership to the Secretary General, who will submit the application to the Executive Committee for consideration. The General Assembly will have the power to ratify the granting of Corporate or Association Membership on the recommendation of the Executive Committee.
4. Student Members
   Individuals eligible for Student Membership may apply for membership by submitting an application to the Secretary General, who will pass the application to the Executive Committee of IADDM for consideration and final approval. Applicants must present proof of their status with a letter of the Dean or their Program Director.
5. Honorary Members
   Any Active Member may make proposals for Honorary Membership. Nominations will be sent to the Secretary General, who will submit the application to the Executive Committee for consideration. The General Assembly will have the power to ratify the granting of Honorary Membership on the recommendation of the Executive Committee.

4.2 Election

Decisions on entry for any membership category require a majority of at last two-thirds of those voting in both the Executive Committee and/or General Assembly.

Active Members have the right to attend the meetings of the General Assembly, to nominate members for the Executive Committee, to be nominated and elected to the Executive Committee. At meetings of the General Assembly Active Members will have one vote and must be present. Only Active Members can be nominated to be elected to the Executive Committee.

Associate Members and Student Members have the right to attend the meetings of the General Assembly. They do not have the right of voting and cannot be nominated into the Executive Committee. However they are encouraged to participate in committees of the IADDM and to participate at the annual Meetings of IADDM.

Corporate and Association Members will have the right for one representative to attend meetings of the General Assembly. Representatives of the Corporate and Association Members have the right to be elected to the Executive Committee. At meetings of the General Assembly Corporate and Association Representatives will have one vote each and must be present.

Honorary Members will have the right to attend the meetings of the General Assembly but will not have the right to vote. Honorary Members will not pay any dues.

The membership of any personal member (Active, Associate or Student) is automatically terminated upon their disease.
Corporate or Association Membership is automatically terminated the day of the dissolution termination of the institution.

Any Active -, Associate -, Corporate-, Association or Student Member may resign from membership provided notice is given at least 4 weeks before the ordinary General Assembly.

Any member who is in arrears with subscription shall have their membership terminated by decision of the Executive Committee.

Any member identified by the Executive Committee of behaving in discordance to the interests of the IADDM may, on written, justified request of the Executive Committee be terminated his or her membership by the General Assembly with two-thirds vote of the present members.

1. Composition
   The General Assembly shall consist of Active Members and representatives of Corporate and Association Members present at a duly convened meeting. Associate Members, Student Members and Honorary Members may be present, but may not vote.
2. Quorum
   The quorum shall be 10% of those eligible to attend.
3. Powers
   The General Assembly shall be the only legislative body of the IADDM and shall have the following powers:
   1. To enact, amend and repeal the Constitution and By-laws of IADDM
   2. To elect and approve the appointments to the Executive Committee and other constitutional committees of IADDM
   3. To grant membership to Corporate -, Association -, and Honorary Members
   4. To terminate membership
   5. To appoint auditors
   
   The General Assembly shall:
   6. Approve the accounts, the administration and the management of IADDM by the Executive Committee
   7. Initiate proposals conferring with the objectives of IADDM
   8. Decide on the annual dues and approve the budget
   9. Approve the time and place of future General Assemblies and scientific meetings.
4. Sessions of the General Assembly
   The General Assembly shall meet at least once every year. All Members shall be informed of the date and time of the General Assembly at least six weeks before the meeting is convened.
   
   An extraordinary General Assembly can be convened by the Executive Committee, or a request can be made by at least 20% of all Active Members.
   
   IADDM scientific meetings shall be organized according to “Guidelines on the Organization of IADDM Meetings”.
5. Order of business at the General Assembly
   The order of business at the General Assembly is set in the By-laws of the IADDM.
   
   Members who wish to raise specific items of new business should inform the Secretary General at least 8 weeks before a scheduled meeting of the General Assembly.
6. Decisions
   Decisions of the General Assembly shall be carried by simple majority vote of members, either by show of hands or secret ballot except where otherwise stated in the Constitution and By-laws. Proxy vote requires written notice by the absent member to the Secretary General prior to the meeting. The secret ballot may be demanded by at least three members present.

The Executive Committee shall be the administrative body of IADDM.

1. Composition
   The Executive Committee shall consist of the following members:
   • President
   • President – elect
   • Vice-President or Immediate Past President
   • Secretary General
   • and four to eight Counselors elected by the General Assembly from among the Active and Corporate Members. Per definition the Editor of the Newsletter of the IADDM shall be one of the officers.
2. Responsibilities and Duties
   The responsibilities and duties of the Executive Committee are defined in the By-laws of the IADDM.
3. Terms of Office and Election
   The terms of office for members of the Executive Committee shall be:
   • President  two years
   • President – elect two years
   • Vice-President or Immediate Past President   two years
   • Secretary General four years
   • Counselors  two years

The Officers shall serve following their election and/or appointment by the General Assembly. With exception of the President, President elect and Past President, all Members of the Executive Committee shall be eligible for one concurrent re-election only.

The Secretary General will seek nominations for elections as necessary at least 4 weeks before a meeting of the General Assembly.

Where a ballot is necessary, this will be conducted by the General Secretary and will take the form of a secret ballot by the General Assembly.

The President will have a casting vote in the event of a tie.

The General Assembly and/or the Executive Committee after approval of the General Assembly may establish Standing Committees to provide an opportunity for on-going activities on specific areas of interest. Such Standing Committees shall have approved terms of reference with stated aims and objectives. The Executive Committees may ask a Standing Committee to undertake specific assignments. Examples of Standing Committees are Constitution and Bylaws Committee, Membership Committee, SOP Committee, Newsletter-Information Committee etc.

The Standing Committees shall report to the Executive Committee or when appropriate to the General Assembly. Standing Committees may not incur expenditure without prior approval of the Executive Committee.

The General Assembly must elect 2 independent Auditors, which must check the book keeping documents at least annually and must write an annual report of the book keeping of IADDM. They may not be members of the Executive Committee.

The President and the Secretary General of IADDM represent IADDM with their individual signature.

The Executive Committee shall recommend to the General Assembly for approval the level of annual dues for the different membership categories. The financial year shall correspond to the calendar year.

The official currency of IADDM shall be the Swiss Franc (CHF).

The liability of IADDM is limited to its assets. A personal liability of its members is expressly excluded.

The official language of IADDM shall be English.

Any proposed amendment to this Constitution must be presented in writing at least 8 weeks prior to a regular meeting of the General Assembly. Each member of the General Assembly shall be promptly notified in writing by the Secretary General concerning such proposed amendment. Any such amendment may be adopted by an affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the General Assembly present.

IADDM can be dissolved by a simple majority decision of a three-quarter of the Ordinary Members.

If the required majority is not reached at the first meeting, a second meeting must take place within one month. At the second meeting a dissolution decision is possible with simple majority (more than 50% of the members present), even if less than three quarters of the members are present.

The Executive Committee carries out the liquidation, hands in a report and the final settlement delivered to the General Assembly, which decides upon the balance at the bank.

A balance at the bank will be used for purposes that are most in line with the objectives of IADDM

The constitution of the IADDM was accepted by the founding members on the founding meeting in Rottach-Egern on July 23, 2014 and is active from this day on.