The Society shall be known as “Gastroenterological Society of Singapore” (hereinafter referred to in this constitution as the “Society”).

The place of the business of the Society shall be at “2, College Road, Singapore 169850” or such other address as may subsequently be decided upon by the Executive Committee and approved by the Registrar of Societies.

The Society shall carry out its activities only in places and premises which have the prior written approval from the relevant authorities, where necessary.

The purpose and objects of the Society shall be:

1. To advance the knowledge and practice of Gastroenterology & Hepatology;
2. To promote research in Gastroenterology and Hepatology;
3. To promote regional and international co-operation in Gastroenterology and Hepatology;
4. To acquire and publish literature and scientific works in Gastroenterology and Hepatology;
5. To organize clinical meetings, seminars, conventions and all such acts and things incidental or subsidiary to all or any of the above;
6. To borrow and raise money and to invest any monies of the Society not immediately required for any of its objects in such a manner as the Society may from time to time deem fit;
7. To work in close association with the National Foundation of Digestive Diseases or any such society fostering similar purposes and objects as the Society.

The Executive Committee may at its discretion from time to time appoint a Singaporean to be a Patron.

The membership of the Society shall consist of:

1. Ordinary Members
2. Associate Members
3. Honorary Members

• Ordinary Members shall be medical practitioners who hold a registrable qualification in Singapore and who are practicing Gastroenterology and/or Hepatology or are interested in Gastroenterology and/or Hepatology.
• Associate Members shall be healthcare/scientific workers other than medical practitioners engaged in fields related to Gastroenterology and/or Hepatology or medical practitioners who do not qualify as an Ordinary Members.
• Honorary Members shall be distinguished persons who have rendered notable services to the Society or to the advancement of Gastroenterology in Singapore and are recommended by the Executive Committee, in consultation with the Trustees.
• A member of the Society may at any time cease to be a member by giving notice in writing to that effect addressed to the Secretary at the place of business of the Society.
• A member of the Society shall cease to be in good standing if the member is in arrears of subscription fee for more than 2 years.

• Ordinary and Associate Membership shall be acquired by application to the Honorary Secretary
• All membership application shall be expeditiously considered by the Executive Committee of the Society.
• A copy of the constitution of the Society shall be provided to every approved member, who has paid his or her first subscription.
• Without assigning any reason whatsoever, the Executive Committee may refuse an application for membership of the Society.

There shall be no entrance fee payable for all members

The annual subscriptions are payable as follows:

1. Ordinary Member – $20/
2. Associate Member – $5/
3. Honorary Member – nil

The annual subscription fee is payable in advance within the first week of the year.

Any additional fund required for special purposes may only be raised from members with the consent of a general meeting of the members.

The Executive Committee of the Society shall have power to terminate the membership of any Ordinary or Associate Member if he has not paid his subscription for more than 2 years. However, such a member may be reinstated as a member on full payment of his subscription fee arrears.

The Executive Committee shall have power to expel any member –

1. who has been convicted in a court of law and sentenced to imprisonment for a period of over 1 year (one) without the option of a fine, or
2. whose conduct is detrimental to the honour and interests of the Society or calculated to bring the Society into disrepute, or
3. who has willfully and persistently refused to comply with the constitution of the Society.

Any member dealt with under section 2 of this Article shall have the right to appeal to an Extraordinary General Meeting called for this purpose. The Executive Committee shall call an Extraordinary General Meeting if requested to do so by any aggrieved member within 21 days of receiving such a request.

The procedure at such a meeting shall be in accordance with Article 12 section 3.

Only Ordinary Members of the Society of at least 6 (six) months’ duration, who are also of good standing, shall be entitled to vote and hold office.

Associate and Honorary Members shall be entitled to all the benefits and privileges of Ordinary members, except that they shall not be eligible to hold office or vote.

The Society shall be managed by an Executive Committee consisting of the following to be elected at alternate Annual General Meeting:

1. A President
2. A President-Elect
3. An Honorary Secretary
4. An Honorary Treasurer
5. A Scientific Chairperson
6. Five (5) Ordinary Committee Members

Besides the Five (5) Ordinary Committee Members, all office bearers must be specialists or specialists-in-training in Gastroenterology or Hepatology.

Names of the above offices, except President,shall be proposed and seconded at the Annual General Meeting and they shall be elected by a simple majority vote of the members to hold office for a period of two (2) years.

The office of President shall be succeeded by the out-going President-Elect. In the event the President-Elect resigns before the AGM or decides not to take up the office of President, the office of President shall be elected in accordance with section 2 and 3 of this Article.

• The funds of the society shall not be used to pay the fines of members who have been convicted in court of law.
• The Society shall not engage in any Trade Union activity as defined in any written law relating to trade unions for the time being in force in Singapore
• The Society shall not hold any lottery, whether confined to its members or not, in the name of theSociety or its office-bearers, Executive Committee or members, except with the written approval of the relevant authorities
• The Society shall not indulge in any political activity or allow its funds and/or premises to be used for political purposes
• Gambling of any kind, whether for stakes or not, are forbidden on the Society’s premises. The introduction of materials for gambling or drug taking and of bad characters into the premises is prohibited
• The Society shall not raise funds from the public for whatever purposes without the prior approval in writing of the Assistant Director Operations, Licensing Division, Singapore Police Force and other relevant authorities.

• Any amendment to the rules of the Society shall only be made at a General Meeting
• Any proposed amendment of the rules shall be made in writing to the Honorary Secretary at least 21 days before the date of a General Meeting.
• The Honorary Secretary shall circulate to all members any such proposed amendment at least 14 days before the date of the General Meeting.
• Any amendment of the rules of the Society shall be null and void unless at least two-thirds (2/3) of the Ordinary members in good standing present at the Annual General Meeting vote in favour of such amendment.
• The Society shall not amend its Constitution without the prior approval in writing of the Registrar of Societies.

In the event of any question or matter arising out of any point which is not expressly provided for in this constitution, the Executive Committee shall have power to use their own discretion to decide on any such question or matter. The decision of the Executive Committee shall be final unless it is reversed at a General Meeting of members.

In the event of any dispute arising amongst members, they shall attempt to resolve the matter at an Extraordinary General Meeting in accordance with this constitution. Should the members fail to resolve the matter, they may bring the matter to a court of law for settlement.

• The Society shall not be dissolved, except with the consent of not less than three-fifths (3/5) of the Ordinary members of the Society, for the time being resident in Singapore, expressed, either in person or by proxy at a General Meeting convened for the purpose.
• In the event of the Society being dissolved as provided above, all debts and liabilities legally incurred on behalf of the Society shall be fully discharged and the remaining funds will be transferred to a professional medical body or charitable organization in Singapore as decided by the majority of the members at a General Meeting convened for the purpose of dissolving the Society.
• A Certificate of Dissolution shall be given within 7 days of the dissolution to the Registrar or Societies.