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STATUTES

A scientific, non-profit association is established under the name “HELLENIC VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY” (abbreviated: HVMS), with its seat in Athens.

The name of the Society in the English language is Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (abbreviated: H.V.M.S.).

The HVMS has a seal bearing in a circular arrangement the title HELLENIC VETERINARY MEDICAL SOCIETY and the year of its establishment (1924), while in the center it features the caduceus of Asclepius.

The Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (HVMS) is a scientific association with the purpose of:

the advancement, promotion, and protection of veterinary science, with specific objectives including: the protection of animal health, the improvement and increase of animal production, the advancement of food hygiene, safety, and technology, the implementation of the principles of “One Health,” the safeguarding of public health from zoonoses, foodborne and/or waterborne diseases, the promotion of veterinary research, the study of experimental medicine, biomedicine, and biotechnology, and the advancement of scientific ethics.

Further objectives include: the protection of animal rights, the study and strengthening of the human-animal bond with the aim of enhancing the well-being of both humans and animals, as well as participation in the certification processes of veterinary qualifications or specialties, in accordance with any future guidelines of the European Union or other European organizations.

The Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (HVMS), in order to fulfill its purpose:

  • Ensures the continuous education of veterinarians practicing the veterinary profession in Greece, so that they may enhance their knowledge, skills, and competencies.
  • Organizes scientific events: congresses, symposia, continuing education programs, public discussions, workshops, and issues announcements to inform competent authorities, veterinarians, and the public.
  • Publishes electronic or printed material of research or clinical scientific interest.
  • Collaborates with: (i) higher education institutions in Greece or abroad, (ii) the competent veterinary authorities, (iii) Greek or foreign scientific societies and/or academies, (iv) professional bodies and organizations in Greece and/or abroad, and (v) international veterinary committees or organizations.
  • Provides scientific support to public institutions and state bodies, as well as to organized groups or citizen associations, and
  • Expresses scientific opinions on matters concerning modern veterinary science and the practice of the veterinary profession.
  1. The Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (HVMS) has the following categories of members: (a) regular, (b) associate, and (c) honorary.
  2. Regular members

    Individuals may be accepted as regular members of the HVMS if they meet the following conditions:

    (a) they are of Greek origin or hold citizenship or nationality of a European Union (EU) Member State, or of a non-EU country but are working and residing in Greece,

    (b) they hold a degree in veterinary medicine from a university institution in Greece or abroad, which has been legally recognized in Greece, and

    (c) they have not been irrevocably convicted of offenses that prohibit appointment to a public position or result in dismissal from such a position.

  3. Associate Members

    Associate members of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (HVMS) must meet the following criteria:

    (a) They are of Greek origin or hold citizenship or nationality of a Member State of the European Union,

    (b) They hold a university-level degree or a postgraduate degree from an institution in Greece or abroad, which is legally recognized in Greece, in a field of study related to veterinary science,

    or alternatively:

    (a’) They hold citizenship or nationality of a non-EU country,

    (b’) They hold a university-level veterinary degree from a faculty in Greece or abroad that is legally recognized in Greece, and

    (c’) They have not been convicted, as specified for regular members.    

  4. The required documentation for the registration of regular and associate members is as follows:
    (a) an application submitted by the interested party, the form of which is determined by the Board of Directors (BoD) of the Society and covers the above-mentioned requirements,
    (b) a solemn declaration regarding compliance with condition (c) of paragraphs 2 and 3 of this Article.
    The above documents are submitted by the prospective members to the BoD of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (HVMS) and are subject to its approval.
  5. Honorary Members
    The BoD of the HVMS submits proposals to the General Assembly (GA) for the designation of honorary members. The proposal must clearly state the contribution of the nominee to the scientific and/or professional field, as well as their contribution to the advancement of veterinary science and the objectives of the Society.
    The GA makes the final decision through a secret ballot and with a three-fifths (3/5) majority of those present.

    The official designation of honorary members takes place at a scientific event of the Society and is accompanied by the presentation of an honorary diploma by the President of the HVMS.

    Honorary members are exempt from any financial obligation for participation in the HVMS, including its scientific or other events. They have the right to attend and speak at the GA, without voting rights. They do not participate in election procedures.

  1. Regular and associate members of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (HVMS) are obliged to comply with the Statutes and to adhere to the decisions of the Board of Directors (BoD) and the General Assembly (GA) of the HVMS.
  2. Every newly registered regular or associate member must pay a registration fee, a portion of the annual membership fee corresponding to the semester of the year in which they registered with the Society, as well as the membership fee for the scientific division in which they wish to participate.
    All members, except honorary members, are required to pay an annual membership fee to the Society and to the scientific division to which they belong, in accordance with Articles 10, paragraph 9, and 14, paragraph 5.
  1. Any member of the Society who delays payment of the annual membership fee for more than three years shall be formally notified, using a verifiable process, to settle their dues within three months. Any member who fails to respond to this notification shall cease to be considered an active member and shall lose the rights and privileges enjoyed by members of the HVMS.
    Reactivation of membership requires the settlement of all outstanding dues, unless a special arrangement is made regarding the financial obligations of members, following a proposal by the BoD and approval by the GA.
  1. Active members: (a) receive free of charge and/or have access to the electronic versions of the printed or other publications of the Society, (b) are entitled to participate in the scientific events of the Society free of charge or at a reduced fee, and (c) enjoy any privileges determined by the Board of Directors (BoD) as appropriate.
  2. Members of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (HVMS) who are in good financial standing, including for the year in which the General Assembly (GA) is convened, are entitled to participate in the General Assemblies and the electoral process.

    No member of the Society is entitled to any remuneration, direct or indirect, for any kind of work or service they offer to it.

    However, members who incur expenses on behalf of the HVMS, based on a decision or authorization by the BoD, are entitled to reimbursement of all such expenses, upon presentation of the corresponding receipts.

Members of the Society may withdraw following submission of a request, which is validated by the BoD.

Members are expelled from the Society:

(a) by decision of the BoD, when they are irrevocably convicted under the conditions set for their admission to the Society, or

(b) by decision of the GA, based on a written recommendation by the BoD, if they violate laws and regulations related to the practice of the veterinary profession in Greece or in the foreign country where they practice.

In all cases, the expulsion decision is formally communicated to the member concerned.In cases of expulsion, re-registration is possible if the reasons that led to the expulsion no longer apply.

  1. The Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (HVMS) is governed by a nine-member (9-member) Board of Directors (BoD), which consists of:
    (a) six (6) members elected directly by all regular members of the Society, and
    (b) the president or a designated representative, a member of the Governing Committee (GC) of each of the three scientific divisions.
    The BoD consists of the President, the Vice President, the General Secretary, the Special Secretary, the Treasurer, and four (4) members.
  2. The term of office of the BoD of the HVMS is three years.
  3. The BoD is convened by the President and the General Secretary and meets at regular intervals, at least every two months, on a date and at a place agreed upon by its members.
    The BoD may also meet on an extraordinary basis when necessary or upon a written request by at least three of its members, in which case the agenda items must be specified.
    The BoD may, for the convenience of its members, hold meetings using all modern communication technologies.
  4. A quorum of the BoD requires the presence of at least five of its members.
  5. Unjustified absence of a BoD member from four (4) consecutive regular meetings or from ten (10) meetings during the term of office results in the member’s removal from the BoD and automatic replacement by the first alternate.
    Resignation or removal of more than the minimum majority of BoD members, without the possibility of their replacement, leads to the conduct of elections within sixty (60) days.
  6. Decisions of the BoD are made by a majority of the members present at the meeting. In the event of a tie, the presiding officer’s vote prevails.
    Specifically, decisions concerning the disposal of the Society’s property with a value exceeding ten thousand (10,000) euros require a 3/5 majority of the members present at the meeting.

The Board of Directors of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (HVMS):

  1. Complies with the provisions of the present Statutes and implements the decisions of the General Assembly.
  2. Handles all matters related to the objectives of the HVMS.
  3. Decides on the convening of the General Assembly and ensures the conduct of elections.
  4. Manages the assets of the HVMS.
  5. Decides on the organization of scientific events, oversees the printed and electronic publications of the Society, and makes decisions regarding the operation of the library.
  1. The President of the HVMS:
    (a) represents the Society in all cases,
    (b) convenes the BoD meetings jointly with the General Secretary,
    (c) presides over the BoD meetings,
    (d) co-signs with the Treasurer the payment of regular and extraordinary expenses,
    (e) signs together with at least two other BoD members and only after a special power of attorney the purchase or sale of real estate,
    (f) orders the payment of expenses from the annual regular budget approved by the BoD,
    (g) ensures compliance with the provisions of the Statutes, signs all documents, certificates, and diplomas of the HVMS,
    (h) signs together with the General Secretary the administrative report and the minutes of extraordinary General Assemblies, and
    (i) hires or dismisses (according to labor law provisions), after approval by the BoD, the necessary personnel for the needs of the Society.

Only those who meet the following criteria may be elected as President:
(a) have a postgraduate degree or at least ten years of professional experience in the veterinary profession,
(b) have completed at least one full term on the BoD of the Society, and
(c) have not been elected President of the Society more than twice in the past.

  1. The Vice President of the HVMS:
    Acts as a substitute for the President in all his duties in case of absence or impediment.

  2. The General Secretary of the HVMS:
    (α) Acts on the President’s behalf regarding the correspondence of the HVMS,
    (β) keeps the membership records of the Society,
    (γ) substitutes for the President and the Vice President in the event of their simultaneous absence or impediment, and
    (δ) signs documents of the HVMS related to his responsibilities or where deemed necessary following a relevant decision of the BoD.

  3. The Special Secretary of the HVMS:
    (a) keeps or oversees the minutes of the BoD meetings,
    (b) supervises the Society’s websites, and
    (c) substitutes for the General Secretary in all his duties, except those mentioned in paragraph 3 (c).

  4. The Treasurer of the HVMS:
    (a) prepares and maintains the accounting books of the Society and carries out all receipts and payments,
    (b) safeguards the movable assets of the HVMS in securities or cash by depositing them in legally operating banks in Greece, following a relevant decision of the BoD,
    (c) keeps cash on hand for current needs in an amount approved by the BoD,

    (d) informs the BoD about the financial status of the HVMS and at the end of each financial year prepares a financial statement, which, after approval by the BoD, is presented by him at the General Assembly for final approval. At the same General Assembly, he also presents for approval the budget for the next financial year,
    (e) keeps all legal documents, records, and papers related to the management of money, movable and immovable property of the HVMS,
    (f) is responsible for managing the immovable property and fixed assets of the HVMS as instructed by the BoD,
    (g) in every case of change of Treasurer, draws up a handover protocol in the presence of the members of the HVMS audit committee, who sign it, and
    (h) is assisted in his duties by the treasurers of the respective scientific branches.

  5. The other members of the BoD of the HVMS:

    (a) undertake, on a case-by-case basis and by decision of the BoD, special duties (indicatively but not limited to: library management, public relations, communication, external relations, representation at events, conferences, organizations, committees in Greece or abroad).

    (b) specifically regarding public relations, a responsible person is appointed who proposes to the BoD the necessary measures and, after consultation and approval by the President of the HVMS, undertakes all actions required for the promotion of the work of the HVMS as well as for public information.

  6. The BoD of the HVMS may assign, by its decision, special duties to other regular members of the Society (i.e., outside the BoD members), provided it considers that this will more effectively promote the purposes of the Society.

  1. The resources of the Society are classified as regular and extraordinary.

    Regular resources are:
    (a) the registration fee and the annual subscription of the Society’s members,
    (b) income from subscriptions, publications, advertisements in the Society’s editions and website, and
    (c) proceeds from the property of the Society (e.g., capital gains, rents, etc.).

    Extraordinary resources are:
    (a) donations, bequests, inheritances, as well as possible extraordinary contributions from members which are imposed exclusively by decision of the General Assembly following a proposal from the BoD,
    (b) grants and/or subscriptions from the state or other agencies, and
    (c) income from scientific and other events of the Society.

  2. The property of the Society cannot be used for purposes other than those specified in the Articles of Association.

  3. The financial management records of the Society are:
    (a) the income and expense book,
    (b) the donation and bequest inventory book,
    (c) the fixed assets register,
    (d) numbered triplicates with the Society’s seal where receipts and payments are recorded, as well as
    (e) any other document required by the tax authorities.

  4. The receipts and payments of the Society are recorded in the special income and expense book of the Society in a dedicated column according to the budget item to which they pertain, along with the number of the related receipt or payment supporting document.

  5. The audit of the financial management of the Society covers all revenues realized, their sources, and all expenditures, and is conducted annually by a three-member Audit Committee (A.C.), consisting of regular members of the HVMS, elected during the elections.

 

  1. The report of the A.C. obligatorily accompanies the financial statements before the General Assembly of the Society.

  2. In case the financial statements of the Society are rejected by the General Assembly, the General Assembly, by the same decision, appoints a three-member committee from regular members participating in it who are not members of the BoD, the A.C., or the presidium. This committee examines the financial management under review in cooperation with the President, the Treasurer, and the A.C. and prepares a relevant informational report, which is discussed in a new General Assembly convened for this purpose within 60 days. In this new General Assembly, the committee proposes approval or rejection of the financial statements, as well as measures or actions. Subsequently, the committee supervises the implementation of the decisions made by the General Assembly.

  3. The financial management of the Society is subject to an administrative audit whenever the BoD deems it necessary. The audit is conducted by the A.C., which prepares a report addressed to the BoD.

  4. The annual membership fees to the Society and to the scientific branches are decided by the BoD based on relevant recommendations from the Treasurer of the BoD and the Executive Committees of the scientific branches.

  5. The BoD may approve financial support for the branches from the general revenues of the HVMS, following a justified request from them.
  1. The HVMS accepts and records legacies and donations following a justified decision by the BoD. In case of a negative decision, the matter is referred to the General Assembly, which decides definitively and irrevocably.

  2. By decision of the BoD, depending on the value of the contribution, donors may be classified as donors or benefactors.

  3. The names of donors and benefactors are inscribed on a special honorary plaque displayed at the offices of the Society.

  1. The General Assembly (G.A.) is the supreme governing body of the HVMS.

    The G.A. defines the directions for the operation and actions of the BoD, authentically interprets the provisions of the present Articles of Association, and decides on any matter concerning the Society that is not foreseen in the present Articles of Association.

    All regular and extraordinary members of the Society who are financially up to date, including for the year of the G.A. convocation, may participate in the G.A., whereas honorary members participate according to the provisions of Article 3, paragraph 5.

  2. General Assemblies are classified as regular and extraordinary.

    (a) A regular G.A. is convened once a year, at the beginning of the year, following an invitation from the BoD. The invitation, sent by postal or electronic means to the regular and extraordinary members at least fifteen (15) days before the date set for the G.A., shall state the place, date, and time of the G.A., as well as the items on the agenda.

    (b) An extraordinary G.A. is convened by decision of the BoD, or upon a written request to the BoD by one fifth (1/5) of the financially up-to-date members of the Society (including the year of the request for convocation), when there is a need to make decisions on urgent matters. An extraordinary G.A. is also convened if requested by the Administrative Committee of a scientific section. The decision or request for the convocation of an extraordinary G.A. must detail the matters to be discussed. The BoD is obliged to convene the G.A. in such cases within two months of the submission of the request.

  3. The G.A. is considered quorate:

    (a) when at least one half (1/2) of the total number of financially up-to-date members attend the first meeting, counted as present including members who submit their opinion in writing or electronically, or in the case of elections, their ballot or vote, or

    (b) at a subsequent meeting, which shall be convened within fifteen (15) days, regardless of the number of members present as per the above provision.

  4. Decisions of the General Assembly are made by majority vote, by secret ballot in the case of elections, votes of confidence towards the BoD, and personal matters, and by a show of hands for all other issues.

  5. The General Assemblies are attended by those specified in paragraph 1 of this article; they are entitled to speak, vote, and oversee the Board of Directors. No other individuals are allowed to attend, except for the salaried staff of the HVMS and the legal advisor of the Society, who may speak on legal matters with the approval of the General Assembly.

  6. During the regular General Assemblies, the administrative and financial report of the previous year is approved, the report of the Audit Committee regarding financial management is reviewed and approved, and the budget for the following year is voted upon.

  7. The regular General Assemblies are presided over by the president of the assembly, assisted by the secretary, both of whom are elected by the General Assembly from among the physically present members of the Society before the beginning of the discussion on the agenda items.

  8. The president and the secretary of the regular General Assembly, as well as the members of the electoral committee in the case of elections, cannot be members of the Board of Directors of the Society or candidates for any office.

  9. The extraordinary General Assemblies are presided over by the president of the Society.

  10. In the General Assemblies, decisions are made primarily on the items of the agenda. New items may be accepted for discussion if the majority of the present members agree; for decisions to be made on such new items, unanimity is required.

  1. The right to vote is granted to regular members of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (HVMS) who are in good financial standing (including the election year).

  2. The right to be elected to any body of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (HVMS) is granted to regular members who are in good financial standing (including the election year) and have been members of the Society for at least three years.

  3. Elections are held every three years, during the first half of the scheduled year.

  4. Regular members who wish to run for office must submit a relevant application no later than thirty (30) days from the official announcement of the elections by the Board of Directors. The application must clearly indicate the body for which the candidacy is submitted.

  5. The declaration of the candidates is made by the Board of Directors, which convenes exclusively for this purpose, after the deadline for submission of candidacies has passed, and proceeds to prepare a single ballot for each body. In this ballot, the names of the candidates are listed in strict alphabetical order.
     
  6. Members who have been elected more than three times to anybody of the Society are not eligible to run again for the same body.

  7. Prior to the voting, the Secretary General and the Treasurer shall deliver to the electoral committee a certified list of regular members of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (HVMS) who are in good financial standing (including the election year). This list must be signed by the President, the Secretary General, and the Treasurer of the HVMS.
     
  8. The voting is conducted based on the aforementioned list and is by secret ballot. Each member of the HVMS votes for each body in which they are registered, for up to the maximum number of members to be elected to that body, as stipulated by the Statutes. The start and end times of the voting process are determined by a decision of the Board of Directors. Regular members of the HVMS vote in person or through legally acceptable means that ensure the secrecy and integrity of the election process. If printed ballots are used, they are to be unsealed only by the electoral committee after the conclusion of the physical election process. If an electronic voting system is used, the electoral committee collects the electronic votes after the physical election process has ended.

  9. In the case of postal or electronic voting, the Board of Directors determines in detail the format and procedure for sending and collecting the ballots (e.g., type and content of the letter, envelope containing the ballots, authorization statement addressed to the president or a member of the electoral committee, electronic platform), as well as any other relevant detail. Any issue not covered by the present Statutes or not determined by the Board of Directors shall be decided by the electoral committee, which is required to consult the legal advisor of the Society.

  10. A judicial representative may be present during the voting process, the collection of postal and/or electronic votes, and the vote counting, if so decided by the Board of Directors or the General Assembly of the Society.

  11. For each body of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (HVMS), the candidates with the highest number of votes are elected in descending order, specifically: six (6) members for the Board of Directors, three (3) members for the Audit Committee, and five (5) or three (3) members for the Sectoral Committees. In the event of a tie, the order of election is determined by lot.

  12. The member who received the most votes in each newly elected body (Board of Directors, Sectoral Committees) is responsible for convening the body in order to constitute it into session. The Sectoral Committees must be convened within ten (10) days from the election date, and the Board of Directors of the HVMS must be convened within ten (10) days from the constitution of the Sectoral Committees (except in cases of force majeure).

    If the responsible member fails to convene the body, they are considered to have resigned and are immediately replaced by the next runner-up. The responsibility of convening the body then falls to the candidate with the second-highest number of votes.

  13. The constitution of the Board of Directors and the Sectoral Committees into session is conducted by secret ballot. The presidents or designated representatives, who are members of the Sectoral Committees, automatically participate in the Board of Directors of the Society as members (except in the case described in Article 15, paragraph 6).

  1. The Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (HVMS) operates three scientific divisions, each focusing on specialized activities. These divisions are:

    (a) The Companion Animal Veterinary Division,
    (b) The Public Health and Food Safety Veterinary Division,
    (c) The Livestock Veterinary Division.

  2. The scientific divisions of the Society are self-governed.

  3. The scientific divisions maintain financial autonomy.

  4. The operational goals of each division align with those of the HVMS, with reference to their specific scientific field of interest. These goals are pursued through targeted actions determined by the Governing Committee of each division.

  5. Each member of the HVMS is required to participate in one, and optionally in more than one, scientific division, based on a written declaration. All members of each division, except honorary members, are required to pay an annual membership fee, the amount of which is determined by decision of the Society’s Board of Directors, following a proposal by the Governing Committees of the divisions. This amount may not exceed half (1/2) of the Society’s annual membership fee.

  6. Each division maintains a registry of its members.

  7. Any division with more than 250 active members, as defined in Article 4, on the date of the election announcement, is governed by a five-member Governing Committee (G.C.), consisting of a President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and two (2) members. Scientific divisions with fewer active members are governed by a three-member G.C.

  8. The G.C. of each division operates by applying, mutatis mutandis, the provisions of Articles 4, 5, 7, and 8 regarding the operation of the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (HVMS). The committee meets regularly, and at least once every quarter.

  9. The G.C.s of the divisions submit proposals to the Board of Directors and are responsible for organizing and implementing events and initiatives related to their field of interest, promoting the objectives of their scientific division. Well-documented proposals submitted by the G.C.s are binding for the Board of Directors of the HVMS.

  10. Elections for the G.C.s of the scientific divisions of the Society are held simultaneously with the elections for the Board of Directors and the Audit Committee. The election procedures described in Article 13 apply accordingly. Only members of each scientific division have the right to vote and to be elected for the governing committee of that division.
  1. The President of the scientific division:

    (a) may participate in the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (HVMS) as a member, if so decided by the Governing Committee of the division,
    (b) represents the scientific division in all matters,
    (c) convenes the members of the Governing Committee to meetings,
    (d) presides over the meetings of the Governing Committee,
    (e) conveys to the Board of Directors of the HVMS the proposals of the division’s Governing Committee, and

    (f) signs documents related to the scientific division, as well as certificates and diplomas for events organized by the division.

    Only the following individuals are eligible for election to the office of President:

    (a) those who hold a postgraduate degree in the field relevant to the specific scientific division, or who have at least ten years of relevant professional experience, and
    (b) those who have served at least one full term either on a division’s Governing Committee or as a member of the Board of Directors.

  2. The Secretary of the scientific division:

    (a) acts as deputy to the President of the division,
    (b) maintains the membership records of the division, and
    (c) coordinates the activities of Special Scientific Interest Groups operating under the division’s auspices.

  3. The Treasurer of the scientific division:

    (a) maintains the financial records pertaining to the division (including division dues, income and expenses from events and activities) and collaborates with the Treasurer of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (HVMS) to complete the Society’s financial reporting, and

    (b) annually transfers to the HVMS treasury up to 50% of the division’s revenues—excluding the amount from membership dues—for use by the Board of Directors in support of the general objectives of the Society. The remaining funds remain available to the division’s Governing Committee for the fulfillment of its specific goals.

    In exceptional financial circumstances, and depending on the obligations of the Board of Directors and the Governing Committees, this percentage may be modified, but only upon agreement between the Board of Directors of the Society and the divisions’ Governing Committees.

  4. The members (in five-member Governing Committees) may be assigned specific duties by decision of the Governing Committee.

  5. In the event that the Governing Committee of a division decides to be represented on the Board of Directors of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (HVMS) by a member other than its President, that representative shall be appointed unanimously or elected by secret ballot conducted among the members of the division’s Governing Committee during the meeting for the formation of the body.

  6. If the President of a scientific division has also been independently elected to the Board of Directors of the Society, the division shall be represented on the Board by another person selected by the division’s Governing Committee. In this case, the President of the scientific division is not eligible to run for the office of President of the Board of Directors of the Society. Otherwise, the provisions of Article 13, paragraph 13, and Article 15, paragraph 1(a), apply.

  1. Within the framework of the scientific divisions of the Society, Special Scientific Interest Groups (S.S.I.G.) may be established.

  2. The number of members in each group may not be fewer than 15.

  3. Each member of the HVMS may participate in more than one group, within the same or different divisions of the Society. No additional annual membership fee is required for participation in S.S.I.G.s beyond the fee for membership in the corresponding scientific division.

  4. The purpose of the Special Scientific Interest Groups (S.S.I.G.) is the continuous education of their members and the deepening of their knowledge in recent developments concerning specialized scientific fields.

  5. The Special Scientific Interest Groups (S.S.I.G.) maintain their scientific autonomy and operate under internal regulations approved by the Administrative Committee of the branch and the Board of Directors of the HVMS.

  6. The S.S.I.G. propose to the Administrative Committees of the branches actions and initiatives that promote the specialization of their particular scientific field of reference (e.g., educational seminars, practical exercises, publication of brochures or announcements).

  7. The S.S.I.G. undertake or participate, through representation, in organizing independent thematic sessions or sections of broader scientific events, as well as in the creation of any form of printed or electronic scientific publications related to their specific interests.

The organization and operation of the offices, the secretariat, the cooperation of financial services, and any other matter within the framework of the cooperation between the Board of Directors of the HVMS and the Administrative Committees of the scientific branches, shall be regulated by internal regulations agreed upon and approved by the Board of Directors of the HVMS.

  1. The Editorial Committee of the Journal of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society (E.S.P.) is appointed by decision of the Board of Directors of the Society for a four-year term. Its members, who may not exceed ten (10) in number, must: (a) to be regular members of the Society for at least five years, (b) to hold a postgraduate degree, and (c) to have a substantial body of written work, as evidenced by a sufficient number of publications.

  2. The E.S.P. proposes to the Board of Directors the appointment of:

    (a) at least one (1) publication manager of the journal, among its members, who is responsible for the executive procedures of the journal’s publication, and
    (b) up to three (3) editors, among its members, who are responsible for the scientific matters of the journal and the review process of the submitted manuscripts for evaluation and potential publication.

  3. The Board of Directors decides based on the proposal of the E.S.P.

  4. Upon proposal of the Board of Directors to the General Assembly, changes to the E.S.P. may be made before the end of its term, which must be ratified by the General Assembly. The new E.S.P. is appointed by the Board of Directors according to the provisions of this article.

  1. The Board of Directors of the Society may, by its decision, establish a program for awarding honorary rewards and/or distinctions to individuals who have positively contributed or distinguished themselves for their contribution to veterinary science and/or profession.

  2. The Society may also accept donations from veterinarians, as well as any natural or legal persons or organizations, which concern the awarding of a prize bearing the name of the donor or, at the donor’s wish, another name, for a subject to be determined by the donor or by the Board of Directors of the HVMS, according to the donor’s wishes.

  1. Amendments to the present Articles of Association may be made following a decision of the General Assembly of the Society, convened for this purpose, upon proposal of the Board of Directors.

    At the General Assembly, at least half (1/2) of the regular members of the Society must be present. The decision to amend the Articles of Association is taken by a three-quarters (3/4) majority of the members present. Present members are also considered, provided the law permits, those regular members of the Hellenic Veterinary Medical Society who are financially up to date and submit their opinion and vote in writing or electronically, authorizing accordingly the President or the General Secretary of the General Statutory Assembly.

  2. The dissolution of the Society is decided by the General Assembly, convened exclusively for this purpose. At least half (1/2) of the regular members of the Society must be present at the assembly. The decision for dissolution is taken by secret ballot and by a three-quarters (3/4) majority of the members present. Present members are also considered as provided in paragraph 1 of this article.

    By decision of the General Assembly resolving the dissolution, the library of the Society shall be transferred to a state veterinary research institution, and the remaining assets of the Society to veterinary institution(s), agency(ies), or organization(s) of the country.

  3. Any matter not foreseen in the present Articles of Association shall be regulated in accordance with the applicable provisions regarding scientific associations and shall not be contrary to the current national or European legislation.

  1. Members who have been elected to anybody of the Society up to the adoption of this amendment of the Articles of Association have the right to be re-elected up to two times to the said body, regardless of how many times they have already been elected to it.

  2. The existing Board of Directors completes its term of office. The next elections shall be held according to the provisions of the Articles of Association as they will apply.

The new Articles of Association shall enter into force and be applied from the date of their approval and registration in the associations’ registry of the competent Court of First Instance.