The “Society of Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons of India (SELSI)” was founded in AIIMS, New Delhi, India on 27th March 2008. It is to be an educational, non-profit corporation that will be regulated by its accepted bylaws, and all amendments, rules and regulations that become duly incorporated into it in the future.

The mission of the SELSI is to provide a professional forum for the exchange of information and education regarding historic, current, and future methods of diagnosis and treatment in Minimal Access Surgery. These include: a) periodic meetings for open presentation and discussion of scientific material concerning subjects of common interest, b) cooperation in educational endeavors with groups of similar interest throughout the world, c) initiation or cooperation in the publication of a journal and/or newsletter on the subject of minimal access surgery, d) undertake other projects of scientific interest to seek information, or with goals desired by the organization that serve the mission of the organization.

The initial registered office shall be at: Room No. 5031, Teaching Block, Department of Surgical Disciplines, AIIMS, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi - 110029. It may be relocated anytime by a simple decision of the Board.

The founding members that attended the naugural meeting in New Delhi, India and who created and approved these bylaws are:

The membership of SELSI shall consist primarily of surgeons who are certified by a Indian Universities (holding Master of Surgery qualification recognized by the Medical Council of India), National Board Examination in general surgery, and will have evidenced special interest in the field of Minimal Access Surgery by his/her teaching through lectures and/or writings or who has clinical or basic science interest in the field. [Minimal Access Surgery refers to all types of surgery performed through minimally invasive approaches in all branches of surgical disciplines, thereby making membership available to Neuro Surgeons, Plastic Surgeons, Urologists, Gynaecologists and Thoracic Surgeons, Head and Neck Surgeons, Vascular Surgeons, Cardiothoracic Surgeons who meet the same criteria as general surgeons.] Prospective members will be invited into SELSI by recommendation of any active member, who is in good-standing. Applications of prospective members will be forwarded by their sponsor to the Membership committee. Approval of new members will be by the Board of SELSI after consideration of the recommendation of its Membership committee. Any other applicant whose interest may benefit the mission statement of the organization can be considered for membership by the membership committee.

The SELSI shall be administered by a Board of Governors consisting of the President, President-Elect, Vice Presidents from East, West, North, South and Central Zone, Secretary, Treasurer, Joint Secretary and the Immediate Past three Presidents who are active members in good-standing, and nine additional members. President can co-opt two to four persons from amongst the organization as Co-opted Members on the Board as special invitee. Each of these shall be voting members except the co-opted members. The officers (President, President-Plect, Vice Presidents) will be elected by the membership and will serve for one year. The term of Secretary, Treasures & Joint Secretary will be for two years and will be elected by membership. Initially, three of the nine additional Board members will serve for one year, three will serve for two years, and three will serve for three years. Thereafter all will serve three-year terms, three to be elected each year. Except for time served as an officer, no Board member shall serve as a trustee for more than six years consecutively. That member can be elected to the Board after being off the Board for one year. If a vacancy shall occur among the Governors, a member of the organization may be appointed by the President, with approval of the Executive Committee, to serve until the next annual session. A member of the organization shall be elected at the next annual session of the membership to complete the uncompleted term. The duties of the Board of Governors shall be to administer the affairs, including a dues structure of the organization, during intervals between sessions of the organization, subject to the general policies established by the organization. Officers will be nominated by the Board's Nominating Committee, and will be elected by the general membership at the annual meeting. Following the Nominating Committee's report, nominations for officers may be made from the floor. The President-Elect shall automatically succeed the President at the next annual session. Vacancies shall be filled as follows: If the President becomes unable to perform the duties of the office, the President-Elect shall serve as President until the President can resume such duties or until the next session of the membership. In the event the President-Elect served as President for less than eight months, this individual shall continue as President to the time for which originally elected. If the President-Elect's service as President exceeds eight months, the Nominating Committee shall present its evaluation and recommendation to the membership for the position of President, as well as President-Elect, for the succeeding year(s). If the President-Elect is unable to perform the duties of the office, the Board of Governors shall elect a substitute who will serve as President-Elect until the succeeding session of the organization, at which time the organization, after consideration of the recommendations of the Nominating Committee and any nominations that may be made from the floor, shall elect a President and President-Elect, who shall immediately assume their respective offices. If the office of Secretary-Treasurer shall fall vacant, a member of the organization shall be elected by a majority of the Board of Governors to serve until the next annual session of the organization. The Executive Secretary shall be a non-voting member of the Board. One additional non-voting member of the Board shall be the representative of the Corporate Alliance of SELSI. Decisions of the Board will be made at a duly constituted meeting by a majority vote of the eligible Board members and officers except the president. The president will vote only if a deciding vote is necessary. An Executive Committee consisting of the President, President-Elect, Immediate three Past Presidents, Vice Presidents, Secretary, Treasurer and Joint Secretary shall act on behalf of the Board of Governors to administer the affairs of the organization between meetings of the Board of Governors, subject to general policies established by the Board of Governors. All committees shall be established by the President with approval of the Board of Governors.

Membership in SELSI will be forfeited by a member's own resignation, or by action of the Board for reasons detrimental to the organization or for non-payment of annual dues for three successive years. When the Board of Governors takes any action which results in the termination of a member's right to membership for reasons other than non-payment of dues, the Board of Governors shall provide the member with written notification by letter, return receipt requested, of its actions and the reasons therefore, at least thirty (30) days before the effective date of the termination of membership. If the member wishes to appeal the decision, the President must be notified by registered mail not later than thirty (30) business days after the termination notice was delivered.

The Board may nominate an active member to the title of Emeritus Member. Emeritus membership requires no annual dues. It allows the individual to attend organizational functions and to attend regular meetings without a vote. The Board may nominate an individual for honorary membership. Honorary membership requires no annual dues. It allows the individual to attend organizational functions and to attend regular meetings without a vote.

A general body meeting (GBM) of the members will be held at least once yearly. Notice of each regular meeting shall be given at least sixty (60) days before each meeting. At the GBM will be reports of all committees, election of officers and Board members, introduction of new members, and presentation of items of interest and importance to the organization. Alterations in the bylaws and rules and regulations of the organization can be done at a GBM. A motion for alteration of the bylaws, rules or regulations can be placed on a ballot by a vote of two-thirds of the eligible members present at a duly constructed meeting of the Board, or by a referendum of signatures of at least 10% of active members in good standing. No bylaws shall be amended, repealed, or any new bylaws be adopted, unless written notice of such proposed action shall be mailed by the Secretary-Treasurer to each voting member at least thirty (30) days before the session at which amendment is to be acted upon. Such GBM can be held independent of, or in conjunction with a scientific congress. All bylaws changes must be approved by a vote of two-thirds of the members present at a duly constituted meeting.

The Board shall meet as needed to enact business, review reports of the Treasurer, plan functions, review prospective memberships and for any and all business ordinarily cared for by the governing Boards of similar organizations unless otherwise specified. Special meetings may be called at any time by the President or at the request of five (5) members of the Board. Notice shall be given at least fifteen (15) days before each such meeting. The notice shall specify the general purposes of and business to be transacted at the meeting, but other business may be transacted. A majority of the voting members of the Board of Governors shall constitute a quorum. If a sufficient number of Board members cannot convene at the site of a duly called meeting, they may be polled by telephone or fax or e-mail for their votes.

A scientific meeting will be held periodically. The site of this meeting will be recommended by the Program Committee and will be confirmed by approval of the Board. The meeting will be designed for the interest of surgeons regarding scientific information on treatments of abdominal wall hernias and other disorders of the abdominal wall. Members, to remain in good-standing, shall be required to attend at least one scientific meeting every five years.

Minutes of all Board meetings, information pertaining to all past scientific congresses and other material vital to the perpetuity of the organization will be circulated to the membership and be kept on file by the Executive Secretary.

The treasury will contain funds received from annual dues, gifts and contributions, subscriptions, grants, and revenues generated from scientific meetings. The treasury will be kept in a bank account in the name of the organization. Distribution of funds will require signatures of any two officers. The fiscal year of the Society shall be from January 1st to December 31st inclusive.

Dissolution of the organization can be decided by three-quarters of the Board of Governors by written vote.

A Corporate Alliance of manufacturers will be formed represented by companies which provide service and/or material to assist professionals in diagnosis or treatment in the field of Minimal Access Surgery. The CA will be expected to support scientific programs of the organization. The CA will have one representative from each member-company. Additional companies can become members of the CA by approval of the Board of Governors of the SELSI. The membership of the CA will elect its representative to serve on the Board of the SELSI for a one year period. As such, its elected representative will be invited to attend meetings of the Board. That position will be rotated between the participating member-companies. In no case shall any company representative serve on the Board for more than two consecutive years. The entire membership of the CA will be invited to attend GBM. These bylaws, by unanimous approval, were adopted by the officers and Board of the Society of Endoscopic and Laparoscopic Surgeons of India (SELSI).

ATTACHMENT TO BYLAWS

A.No part of the net earnings of the organization shall inure to the benefit of, or be distributable to its members, trustees, officers, or other private persons, except that the organization shall be authorized and empowered to pay reasonable compensation for services rendered and to make payments and distributions in furtherance of the purposes set forth in the purpose (mission) clause hereof.

B. Upon the dissolution of the organization, assets shall be distributed for one or more exempt purposes.