ICC Constitution and By-Laws
1.1 Name. The name of the organization is “International COPD Coalition (ICC)”.
1.2 Location. The Secretariat of the organization is located in Gig Harbor, Washington (US).
The purpose and mission of the organization is to develop a coalition of COPD Patient Organizations worldwide for health promotion among COPD patients and COPD education through:
These purposes shall be achieved especially in cooperation with recognized aid organizations, NGOs, health authorities and ministries, health care providers, and other interested international organizations.
COPD is the 4th greatest killer worldwide but most people, including healthcare professionals, do not know about it. It is a disease that deprives its victims of their breath; however, it is a preventable and treatable disease. Because of a lack of information, efforts devoted to COPD prevention and treatment are usually not available.
The purpose for which the non-profit corporation is organized is exclusively scientific and educational within the meaning of Section 501 (c) 3 of the US Internal Revenue Code of 1986.
Funding The projects taken on by the Coalition shall be funded through donations from foundations and benefactors and from grants from industry.
The organizations shall work for the benefit of others; it shall not pursue its own commercial aims.
The activities of the Coalition shall not serve to commercially promote its donors.
The Coalition’s funds shall only be used for the purposes defined in the Constitution and By-Laws.
No person shall be allowed to benefit from expenditure that is incompatible with the purpose of the organization or from inappropriately high remuneration.
Types of Membership. Membership of the organization shall consist of two (2) categories:
COPD Patient Organization membership
Medical/Health Care Organizations
Election of Member Societies
ICC will initially be constituted by voluntary association of collaborating Member organizations that have applied for membership and agreed to common educational and humanitarian goals with other Member Societies
ICC can elect additional Member Societies by a majority vote of the ICC Executive Committee
ICC can terminate the membership of Member Societies by a majority vote of the ICC Executive Committee if these organizations are determined to have goals or practices that are at variance with the goals of ICC
Application and election to membership for individuals who are not Member Societies representatives shall be by formal application to the Chair, nomination by the Executive Committee, and a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote by the Executive Committee.
4.3 Election of Executive Committee members The right to participate and vote in the Executive Committee shall initially be held by official Member Societies representatives in the ICC Working Group as well as individuals elected through the procedures above.
Executive Committee members shall be elected from nominees from the Member Societies by ballot of the Member Societies within 6 months of initial convening of the Executive Committee of Working Group members. The democratically elected Executive Committee will replace the Working Group.
5.1 Executive Director
(a) The ICC Executive Director shall be selected by the Chair and the Executive Committee.
The Executive Director shall carry out the activities and policies decided upon by the Executive Committee on a budget agreed to by the Executive Committee.
The Executive Director shall present a yearly budget to the Executive Committee at the Annual Meeting along with grant income and donations and initiative expenses from the previous year for review and approval and shall maintain financial records.
The Executive Director will have a 2-year employment contract with specific performance goals and employment terms that are approved by then Executive Committee.
An Executive Director may be proposed for termination upon determination of actions contrary to the principles and practices established for the ICC in its Constitution and By-Laws
6.1 Executive Committee Activities
(a) The Executive Committee, acting through the Chair and the ICC staff, shall direct the activities of ICC.
The Chair (and Co-Chair, if any) shall be elected bi-annually for a 2-year term by a majority (or plurality) vote of the Executive Committee. Candidates for Chair will be nominated and seconded by Executive Committee members. No Chair shall serve more than 2 terms.
The Chair shall preside over all meetings of the Executive Committee.
The Chair, in consultation with the Executive Director, will direct activities of the organization in accord with policies agreed upon by the Executive Committee and the ICC Constitution and By-Laws.
The Executive Committee shall have a membership of 10.
The term of service of Executive Committee Members shall not exceed 6 years.
7.1 Yearly meetings. The organization shall hold its regular business meeting of the Executive Committee each year for the conduct of business and the transaction of other legal and scientific matters at a time of convenience for the members.
(a) The meeting shall review the annual report, the annual accounts, annual activities, and the charge to the Member Societies, amendments to the rules, and appointment and dismissal of Member Organizations of the committee.
7.2 Interim meetings. Other interim meetings shall be held concomitantly with major respiratory meetings at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
7.3 In view of the costs of holding meetings in person, teleconference or other electronic means of conducting Executive Committee meetings may be elected at the discretion of the Chair and ICC staff.
7.4 Recording of Decisions Minutes shall be kept of the decisions made at the meeting.
The minutes shall be signed by the Chair of the Executive Committee.
Each member of the Executive Committee shall receive copies of the minutes.
8.1 Grounds for expulsion.
A member society shall be proposed for expulsion upon non-participation for a period of 2 years.
A member society may be expelled by a motion from two (2) Executive Committee members that is carried by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of Executive Committee members.
A member society shall leave the Coalition upon their cancellation of membership.
8.2 Withdrawal of Member Societies
(a) Members shall be allowed to withdraw subject to a notice period of 4 weeks to the end of the calendar quarter.
9.1 The Executive Committee shall constitute committees to attend to Coalition business.
9.2 The Chair and staff will propose committees and their membership, as required. Such committees must be confirmed by a majority vote by the Executive Committee.
10.1 There are no dues or fees for Member Societies or other members of ICC. Each Member Society is expected to promote the activities of the ICC and to provide written reports about their activities.
11.1 These by-laws may be amended, appealed, or altered in whole or in part by an affirmative vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Executive Committee or by two-thirds (2/3) vote of the Member Organizations.
12.1 The organization may be dissolved by a three-quarters (3/4) decision of the Executive Committee.
12.2 The assets of the organization under this circumstance would be used to provide agreed-upon materials or resources to the Member Societies in equal share.