I. The Federation of Polish Medical Organizations Abroad, hereafter referred to as "Federation", was established on March 13, 1994 in London.

1) The Declaration of establishment of the Federation, formulated on March 13, 1994 is the ideological and philosophical backbone for the existence and functioning of the Federation within the Polish medical community abroad.

3) The Federation is an organization which is nonpolitical, independent, and self-governing; the Federation considers the interests of its member organizations as equally important.

4) The Federation is an official representative of the entirety of its member organizations and represents their common interests.

5) The Federation maintains the status of a charitable organization and it shall remain financially nonprofit regardless of the scope of its financial activities.

7) The Federation serves the medical community outside Poland; it also serves Poland, through its focus on patriotism and on the Polish society and nation.

II. The purposes of the Federation are:

1) Exchange of experiences, and consultations regarding efforts and activities of the member organizations, and professional cooperation as well as maintenance of collegial and social relations.

2) Representation of the common interests of the member organizations in relations with other organizations, the medical communities, and with official agencies in Poland as well as internationally.

3) Professional, scientific, cultural and collegial cooperation with medical and scientific groups in Poland.

4) Organization of meetings and conferences for medical Polonia.

III. The principal office of the Federation is the Instytut Polski i Muzeum Genera³a W. Sikorskiego, 20 Princes Gate, London SW7 1PT.

IV. The membership of the Federation consists of medical organizations and associations located beyond the borders of Poland.

1) A member organization is admitted to the Federation by a vote of the members of the Council. The admission is decided by a majority of required votes, according to paragraph VI item 5.

2) When admitted to the Federation, each new organization acquires equal status with other member organizations with regard to rights and obligations.

3) Termination of membership in the Federation requires a majority of the required votes, according to paragraph VI item 5.

4) An organization’s membership in the Federation can be terminated as a result of:

a) a serious infraction with regard to the Federation Bylaws;

b) a member organization can leave the Federation at any time by having communicated its decision to the President of the Federation.

V. 1) The governing body of the Federation is the Council of the Federation.

Each association is entitled to appoint one delegate to the Federation Council.

Associations with at least 50 members are entitled to have two delegates.

Associations with at least 300 members are entitled to have three delegates.

The immediate past President of the Federation retains his/her membership in the Federation Council for one term.

Duties of the members of the Council are:

a) providing effective mutual communication between the association he/she is representing, and the Federation Council;

b) preserving and assuring compliance with the provisions of the Federation Bylaws;

c) strengthening the credibility of the Federation and its effectiveness according to the principles of the Declaration of establishment of the Federation, and of the Bylaws of the Federation.

2) The Federation is headed by its President and, in his or her absence, by the Vice President. Duties of the President include:

a) leading the activities of the Federation Council;

b) representing the Federation in external relations and actions;

c) the President is elected by the Federation Council for a three-year term.

3) The Vice President is elected by the Federation Council for a three-year term. His/her duty is to assist the President and, if necessary, act in his/her stead.

4) The Secretary of the Federation is elected by the Federation Council for a three-year term. The duty of the Secretary is to manage the secretarial office of the Federation in close cooperation with the President of the Federation.

5) The Treasurer of the Federation is elected by the Federation Council for a three-year term. Duties of the Treasurer are related to his/her close cooperation with the President and Secretary of the Federation, and in particular they include:

a) enforcing the financial obligations of member organizations; and

b) managing the financial records of the Federation.

6) The President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer cannot serve for more than two consecutive terms.

7) In case of resignation of the Secretary or the Treasurer before the completion of his/her term for which elected, the President will appoint an interim Secretary/Treasurer for the remainder of the term.

8) In case of resignation of the President before the completion of his/her elected term, the office will be assumed by the Vice President for the remainder of the term.

9) The Council of the Federation elects an Audit Committee for a three-year term. The Audit Committee consists of three individuals whose function is to control the financial activities of the Council.

VI. Actions of the Council of the Federation:

1) The Council of the Federation meets at least once every three years to elect the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer.

2) Under unusual circumstances, the President can call an extraordinary meeting of the Council. An extraordinary meeting can also be called at a request of at least one-half of the member organizations.

3) A quorum of the Council is reached when at least 70% of members are in attendance. There will be an alternate time for the meeting to be considered valid even in the absence of a quorum providing 50% of the member organizations are represented. The same rule applies to voting by mail.

4) The composition of the Council is variable as it results from personnel changes in the governing bodies of membership organizations.

6) Decisions of the Federation Council which affect the entirety of member organizations are binding for those organizations.

7) The President, Secretary, Treasurer and the Audit Committee present reports at the Council meetings; individual reports are subject to approval by the Council; lack of approval may be considered equivalent to the expression of a lack of confidence and may result in reelection to the respective position on the Council.

8) When necessary, the Council can decide on issues, as well as conduct election, by mail.

VII. The assets of the Federation include:

1) dues from the member associations (organizations) of which the amount and means and deadlines for payment are determined annually by the Federation Council;

2) subsidies from national or international organizations;

3) subsidies or support from trade organizations or from industry;

4) donations and bequests;

5) revenue surpluses from professional or social meetings;

6) income from projects delegated to the Federation, or those assigned by the Federation to its members.

VIII. Dissolution of the Federation.

1) Dissolution requires a formal decision of the Council.

2) Upon dissolution, the financial assets of the Federation will be disbursed for purposes compliant with the Bylaws of the Federation and according to previously legally binding decisions of the Council.

IX. 1) The Bylaws of the Federation are determined in consultation with and by a vote of the Council of the Federation.

2) Any amendments to the Bylaws of the Federation must be passed by a vote of the Federation Council according to the principles defined in paragraph VI item 5.