CPEG
GCEP

Colleagues, please take note of the following invitation:

To The Secretaries of Pediatric Endocrine Societies
Please include the following announcement in your Newsletter of your society. Having obtained interesting preliminary results in our worldwide survey on the revalence of malignancy in patients with congenital IGF-I deficiency, we are enlarging the scope of our study by including patients with GHRH-R defects, IGHD, IGF-I-R defects and also patients with PROP-1, Pit-1, HesX-1 mutation (and certainly new patients with LS)
Should you know and/or follow patients with the above diagnoses please contact us to the following addresses and we shall send you further details and a simple questionnaire. Looking forward for your collaboration,
Sincerely,
Zvi Laron,MD
Endocrinology and Diabetes Research Unit
Schneider Childrens' Medical Center
14 Kaplan st.
Petah-Tikva 49202
Israel
Tel: 972-2-9253610-1
Fax: 972-3-9222996
email: laronz [nospam "AT"] clalit.org.il
or to:
Orit Shevah, res.ass.
shev72 [nospam "AT"] bezeqit.net

Note that I have altered the email addresses so that it cannot be easily lifted by Internet bottom-feeders trawling for addresses. Please make manual adjustments to the address if you will be contacting Dr. Laron.

The Constitutional Conference has spoken. Immediately below you will find the Statement of Purpose as well as all Articles in our newly established By-Laws, as amended and approved in Toronto last week. The text below is my best effort to reflect the will of the Group, based on my notes during the session chaired by Dr. Guy Van Vliet. Please review the final version here, and offer any challenges to the text if you feel I have not properly documented the will of the Group. I will then triple-check my notes and correct if necessary.
Thank you for your proofreading.

WHEREAS the Canadian Pediatric Endocrine Group (CPEG, or the Group) was formed in 1996 as a section of the Canadian Society for Endocrinology and Metabolism (CSEM) in order to:
(i) foster excellent collaboration in research and education among its members;
and
(ii) Promote excellence in clinical care of and advocacy for the patients served by its members;
WHEREAS CPEG has met twice yearly in conjunction with the CSEM Annual Meeting and a sponsored meeting of investigators of a clinical trial of growth hormone;
WHEREAS CPEG members desire complete autonomy over the organization of the group’s scientific meetings;
We, the members of CPEG, hereby adopt the following By-Laws.

The CPEG secretariat shall be in Canada, in the professional office of the Secretary.

3.1 Active: individual health professionals and scientists actively involved in pediatric endocrine care, research and/or education. Any qualified health professional or scientist practicing in the field of pediatric endocrinology and metabolism is eligible. Applicants shall be deemed qualified upon the support of any two (2) Active Members in good standing.
3.2 Founding: those Active Members who contributed financially to the establishment of the group in 2006, as described in Article 4;
3.3 Emeritus: individuals who have been Active Members for at least five (5) membership years or who had been members of CPEG prior to 2006, and who have retired from active practice (clinical/research/educational);
3.4 Associate: fellows, residents, graduate students in the field of pediatric endocrinology and metabolism. Applicants shall be admitted upon the support of one Active Member in good standing if this Member is the trainee’s supervisor, or of any two (2) Active Members in good standing.

A single contribution of five hundred Canadian dollars ($500) is required of Founding Members in the calendar year 2006.
Membership dues shall be assessed annually. The amount of the membership fee shall remain in effect until modified by approval at an Annual or Special General Meeting. The failure to contribute membership dues for two (2) consecutive years shall lead to automatic resignation from membership, and will require re-application for membership to resume. Only Active Members in good standing enjoy the privileges of Active Membership, including voting and the holding of an Executive office.

5.1 CPEG shall hold the following Meetings:
5.1.1 Annual General Meeting of CPEG members shall be held on such date, at such time and location as the Executive may determine from time to time. There shall be at least one Annual General Meeting per calendar year.
5.1.2 Special General Meeting may be called at any time by the President, by the Past-President, by the President-Elect, by a resolution of the Executive, or by signed written request to the Secretary of not less than one-fifth (1/5) of Active Members in good standing.
5.1.3 Scientific Meeting of CPEG shall take place at least once a year. The program committee shall be responsible for scientific content and a local organizing committee shall be named at least one year in advance.
5.1.4 Executive Meeting shall be held on such date, at such time and location as the Executive may determine from time to time. There shall be at least one Executive Meeting per calendar year.
5.2 Notice of Meeting shall be by electronic mail to each member’s address on file in the secretarial office. Notice shall be sent not less than sixty (60) days prior to the Meeting, except for Special Meetings for which notice shall be sent not less than fourteen (14) days and not more than sixty (60) days in advance.
5.3 Voting privileges at a General Meeting are retained by Active Members in good standing. A quorum at a General Meeting is established by the presence of one fourth (1/4) of such members. Resolutions are approved by simple majority vote of members present and voting. Voting shall be by secret ballot only for contested elections to the Executive or upon approved resolution. The President shall only vote on a resolution or amendment in the event of a tie or of a secret ballot.

6.1 The Executive consists of the following volunteer positions, to be filled by Active Members in good standing:
6.1.1 President shall: exercise supervision over the affairs of CPEG and of its Executive; chair the General and Executive Meetings; participate ex officio on all Standing Committees; have joint authority with the Treasurer to make payments on behalf of the Group; shall represent the Group in relations with other scientific organizations; have other duties as the Executive may determine, from time to time, by resolution. The non-renewable term of office shall be two years.
6.1.2 President-Elect shall: assume the duties of President in the absence or incapacity or failure to act of the President; have other duties as the Executive may determine, from time to time, by resolution; assume the office of the President at the end of the President’s term of office. The non-renewable term of office shall be two years or until a successor is elected.
6.1.3 Past President shall: participate ex officio on the Executive; resume the duties of the President in the absence or incapacity or failure to act of both the President and President-Elect; have other duties as the Executive may determine, from time to time, by resolution. A President must complete a full mandate to become Past President. The non-renewable term of office shall be a maximum of two years.
6.1.4 Secretary shall: issue Notices of General and Executive Meetings; record the minutes of General and Executive Meetings; act as scrutineer for all votes at General and Executive Meetings; take charge of the keeping and filing of all reports, minutes, correspondence and other documents pertaining to the business of the Group. The renewable term of office shall be two years or until a successor is elected. This position may be combined with that of Treasurer.
6.1.5 Treasurer shall: have general charge of the finances of the Group; have joint authority with the President to make payments on behalf of the Group; submit to the Executive an accounting of the finances of the Group after the close of each financial year and as requested from time to time by the Executive. The renewable term of office shall be two years or until a successor is elected. This position may be combined with that of Secretary.
6.1.6 Standing Committee Chair shall: act as member-at-large on the Executive; have other duties as the Executive may determine, from time to time, by resolution. The renewable term of office shall be two years or until a successor is elected.
6.2 Vacancy: Unless specified elsewhere in these By-Laws, the Executive shall name a replacement for any vacancy created prior to and until the next General Meeting.

7.1 Fellowship Committee: shall oversee postgraduate scholarships, including fundraising, the selection of candidates, and any other business as deemed necessary for the proper administration of this program. The Chair of the Fellowship Committee may not be a program director of a pediatric endocrinology training program accredited by the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada.
7.2 Scientific Program Committee: shall organize the scientific content of the Annual Scientific Meeting.

The Executive shall, from time to time, name, by resolution, ad hoc committees with specific terms of reference.

9.1 Fiscal Year shall coincide with Membership Year, and shall begin on the first day of January and end on the 31st day of December in any given calendar year.
9.2 Accounts. The accounts of the Group shall be kept with a financial institution carrying a legal business within Canada, and approved by resolution at a General Meeting. The President and Treasurer (or designates, as may from time to time be necessary) shall retain joint signing authority for any disbursements.
9.3 Audit. The Treasurer shall, at least once yearly, submit an accounting of the finances of the Group to not less than two (2) Active Members, who do not sit on the Executive, for review. A full external audit shall be undertaken upon resolution at an Executive or General Meeting.

The rules contained in the current edition of Robert’s Rules of Order Newly Revised shall govern in all cases to which they are applicable unless they are inconsistent with these By-Laws or any special rules of order CPEG may adopt.

11.1 These By-Laws may be amended at any General Meeting by a two-thirds majority of members present and voting plus members voting by proxy, provided that a written Notice of Proposed Amendment is provided to Active Members at or before the provision to Active Members of the Notice of General Meeting.
11.2 Amendments may be made to the proposed By-Law Amendment by simple majority vote of Active Members present and voting, except that no Amendment to a proposed By-Law amendment may increase the modification of the Article to be amended.

Harvey Guyda has forwarded me a job posting (in the USA) that might be of interest to some members of CPEG:

PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO

The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Chicago is recruiting a physician-scientist to lead the Section of Endocrinology and/or to direct a program within the new Institute for Molecular Pediatric Science (IMPS), to be housed in a newly constructed multi-disciplinary research institute with world class facilities. Candidates must have an outstanding record of achievement in a research field related to pediatric endocrinology. The successful applicant will be a leader in the field, with a strong commitment to research, clinical excellence, teaching of medical students and residents, mentoring of junior faculty, and collaboration.

The University of Chicago offers numerous opportunities to collaborate with leading biomedical researchers in a variety of settings, including IMPS, an active General Clinical Research Center, the Committee on Molecular Nutrition and Metabolism, and the Howard Hughes Medical Institute. The clinical environment in the Section of Endocrinology is superb, comprising a large clinical practice, with state-of-the art facilities including the new Comer Children’s Hospital (opened February 2005), and La Rabida Children’s Hospital, which is devoted to the comprehensive care of children with chronic diseases, including diabetes. The Section also maintains an NIH-funded pediatric endocrinology training grant. Additional opportunities exist for leadership within the pediatric arm of the University’s General Clinical Research Center.

Please send a CV and a personal statement of your research accomplishments and future interest to the Search Committee Chair:
Rebecca B. Lipton, PhD
The University of Chicago
Associate Professor of Pediatrics
5841 S. Maryland Ave.
MC1027
Chicago, IL 60637
lipton@uchicago.edu
The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer

Congratulations, it's a bouncing baby professional association! I have incorporated all approved amendments to the proposed draft Bylaws, and I will post the updated baby photos in the next day or so. Those of you who were in Toronto for labour and delivery, congratulations, thank you, please admire the text and comment if you believe my record has not been faithful to the will of the assembly. Those of you who weren't there, please offer your congratulations to the thirty-plus parents who pushed and breathed and generally worked hard and in good faith to hammer out the details.

calls for scattered showers. High 12C, low 5C. A perfect reason to stay inside all evening with your closest Ped-Endo friends from this great land of ours and to do something we Canadians are so darn good at: hammer out a Constitution that everyone can sign on to with pride and affection from sea to shining... oh, never mind. Just show up, ok?

when you create a new organization "from scratch"...
My three-year-old daughter has borrowed (on her library card) the latest (2000) edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised, and she assures me she won't really be using it for the next week or so, so I can check into some of the niceties of parliamentary procedure. Thank you, Catherine sweetie!
I think (but I will check to see if) it's fair to say that, upon adopting a constitution out of thin air, executive positions are pretty much available to anyone who wants to run for office. But can we agree that only Kusiel makes any sense at all as Past-President? Please note (a comment to a post lower down) that I would be happy to step aside for another Secretary, and assume only the duties of Treasurer, should that be the will of the Group.
I doubt it will be necessary, but I will do my best to be prepared (ballots, etc.) for the possibility of a contested election. Until I get to know the real rules for this sort of thing, anyone who might wish to run for election should be prepared to self-identify when "Nominations from the floor" are announced. Go ahead and start campaigning in the comments to this post. Especially for Secretary. Anyone? Besides all these crickets?
(UPDATE: To clarify Kusiel's acclamation-in-my-mind to Past-Prez, I suppose a contested election could mean that Guy Van Vliet assumes that title instead. I doubt it will happen, but I would not want to pre-suppose, or be seen to be pre-supposing...)

when creating an organization "from scratch"...

How about this: Since Founding Members (does anyone think "Charter Member" is better? Please comment under "Membership" below) are required to contribute a significant sum, then only Founding Members (who have already chipped in the $500, or who pledge to do so when they sign an attendance sheet next week(UPDATE: Better yet, bring your cheque to the meeting itself! Save on postage!)) will retain voting privileges at the Constitutional Conference, and at the election of Executive members, and at the Business Meeting that will immediately follow. As always, comments welcome.

It is understood that ALL CPEG members in 2006 are expected to become Founding Members with the $500 contribution, as per the unanimous resolution at the February 2006 meeting in Edmonton. Not just the ones who can attend in Toronto next week. All the more reason that those who cannot attend should have their voices heard on this weblog.

Did we miss anything? If anyone feels there is a major section that has been left out, please place your suggestions here. If your suggestion could be more appropriate as an add-on to an existing article, please add your comment there. For example, if the Group feels there should be text that spells out more clearly the rules regarding running and voting for office, or the rules to impeach an executive member, or how to handle sudden vacancies, or how to handle a zero-candidate election, etc., please add your comments to the Article 6 post. If there is something that comes a bit more "from out of the blue" then please post your thoughts here. Thanks.

The CPEG-RSVP Index has reached record territory: Forty-two!
Babic Barnes Bogarin Bridger Brousseau Bui Chanoine Clarson Couch Cummings Deal Dean Fishman Girgis Haim Hamilton Huot Kirsch Krishnamoorthy Lawson Legault Marks Metzger Morrison Nakhla Pacaud Panagiotopoulos Perlman Punthakee Sanderson Sbrocci Scott Sellers Stein Stephure Stewart Stock Taback Urbach Van-Vliet Wherrett Wicklow.
Not on that list, but coming to T.O. next week? Please let me know by email, not by blog comment. RSVP deadline is the end of the day today!

If you want to follow a sequence of posts to a weblog, you must usually start at the bottom of the web page and work up. If this is your first visit, you may wish to do just that for entries from Sept 1 until Oct 6.

I have just posted the various draft articles in such a way that you may review them in the top - bottom fashion of a printed document. So, for reviewing the drafts, please start with the post just below this one and work your way down.

Please post only general comments on the draft to this post (20:47). Please post specific comments, suggestions, observations, complaints, requests, etc. to the appropriate blog entry. Remember to type your name as the last line of your comments, so that you can feel free to post as "anonymous" (saves all sorts of registration hassles) and we will still know who is who.

(UPDATE: To view and/or post comments, just click on the bottom right phrase that shows the number of existing comments, and a new window with comments should pop up; this new window also includes a text-entry box for you to add your own comment. Remember to include your name as the last line!)

We look forward to the ensuing critique, including (especially?) from those who will be unable to join us in Toronto next week.

Thanks!

WHEREAS the Canadian Paediatric Endocrine Group (CPEG, or the Group) was formed in 1996 as a section of the Canadian Society for Endocrinology and Metabolism (CSEM) in order to:
(i) foster collaboration (research and education) among its members;
and
(ii) promote the best interests of the patients served by its members;

WHEREAS CPEG has met twice yearly in conjunction with the CSEM Annual Meeting and a sponsored meeting of investigators of a clinical trial of growth hormone;

WHEREAS CPEG members desire complete autonomy over the organization of the group’s scientific meetings;

We, the members of CPEG, hereby adopt the following Articles of Association.

The association is named:
Canadian Paediatric Endocrine Group (CPEG)
Groupe canadien des pédiatres endocrinologues (GCPE)

The CPEG secretariat shall be in Canada, in the professional office of the Secretary.

The following categories of members are recognized:
3.1 Active: individual health professionals and scientists actively involved in pediatric endocrine care, research and/or education. Any qualified health professional or scientist practicing in the field of paediatric endocrinology, including diabetes mellitus, is eligible. Applicants shall be deemed qualified upon the support of any two (2) Active Members in good standing.
3.2 Founding: those Active Members who contributed financially to the establishment of the group in 2006, as described in Article 4;
3.3 Emeritus: individuals who have been Active Members for at least five (5) membership years and who have retired from active practice (clinical/research/educational);
3.4 Associate: fellows, residents, graduate students in training programs in the field of pediatric endocrinology. Applicants shall be admitted upon the support of one Active Member in good standing if this Member is the trainee’s supervisor, or of any two (2) Active Members in good standing.

A single contribution of five hundred Canadian dollars ($500) is required of Founding Members in the calendar year 2006.
Membership dues shall be assessed annually. The amount of the membership fee shall remain in effect until modified by approval at an Annual or Special General Meeting. The failure to contribute membership dues for two (2) consecutive years shall lead to automatic resignation from membership, and will require re-application for membership to resume. Only Active Members in good standing enjoy the privileges, including voting and the holding of an Executive office, of Active Membership.

5.1 Annual General Meeting of CPEG members shall be held on such date, at such time and location as the Executive may determine from time to time. There shall be at least one Annual General Meeting per calendar year.
5.2 Special General Meeting may be called at any time by the President, by the Past-President, by the President-Elect, by a resolution of the Executive, or by signed written request to the Secretary of not less than one-fifth (1/5) of Active Members in good standing.
5.3 Scientific Meeting of CPEG shall take place at least once a year. The program committee shall be responsible for scientific content and a local organizing committee shall be named at least one year in advance.
5.4 Notice of Meeting shall be by electronic mail to each member’s address on file in the secretarial office. Notice shall be sent not less than 30 days prior to the Meeting, except for Special Meetings for which notice shall be sent not less than 14 days and not more than 30 days in advance.
5.5 Voting privileges at a General Meeting are retained by Active Members in good standing. A quorum is established by the presence of one fourth (1/4) of such members. Resolutions are approved by simple majority vote (fifty percent plus one) of voting members present. Amendments to these Articles of Association require two-thirds majority of voting members present or represented by proxy. Voting shall be by secret ballot only for contested elections to the Executive or upon approved resolution. The President shall only vote on a resolution or amendment in the event of a tie.

The Executive consists of the following volunteer positions, to be filled by Active Members in good standing:
6.1 President shall: exercise supervision over the affairs of CPEG and of its Executive; chair the General and Executive Meetings; participate ex officio on all Standing Committees; have joint authority with the Treasurer to make payments on behalf of the Group; shall represent the Group in relations with other scientific organizations; have other duties as the Executive may determine, from time to time, by resolution. The term of office shall be two years, non-renewable.
6.2 President-Elect shall: assume the duties of President in the absence or incapacity or failure to act of the President; have other duties as the Executive may determine, from time to time, by resolution; assume the office of the President at the end of the President’s term of office. The term of office shall be two years, non-renewable.
6.3 Past President shall: participate ex officio on the Executive; resume the duties of the President in the absence or incapacity or failure to act of both the President and President-Elect; have other duties as the Executive may determine, from time to time, by resolution. The term of office shall be two years, non-renewable.
6.4 Secretary shall: issue Notices of General and Executive Meetings; record the minutes of General and Executive Meetings; act as scrutineer for all votes at General and Executive Meetings; take charge of the keeping and filing of all reports, minutes, correspondence and other documents pertaining to the business of the Group. The term of office shall be two years, and may be renewed. This position may be combined with that of Treasurer.
6.5 Treasurer shall: have general charge of the finances of the Group; have joint authority with the President to make payments on behalf of the Group; submit to the Executive an accounting of the finances of the Group after the close of each financial year and as requested from time to time by the Executive. The term of office shall be two years, and may be renewed. This position may be combined with that of Secretary.
6.6 Standing Committee Chair shall: act as member-at-large on the Executive; have other duties as the Executive may determine, from time to time, by resolution. The term of office shall be two years, and may be renewed.
6.7 Vacancy: The Executive shall name a replacement for any vacancy created prior to the next General Meeting.

7.1 Fellowship Committee: shall oversee postgraduate scholarships, including fundraising, selection of candidates, and any other business as deemed necessary for the proper administration of this program.
7.2 Scientific Program Committee: shall organize the scientific content of the Annual Scientific Meeting (????WHAT ABOUT THE PEDIATRIC COMPONENT OF CDA/CSEM????)

The Executive shall, from time to time, name, by resolution, ad hoc committees with specific terms of reference.

9.1 Fiscal Year shall coincide with Membership Year, and shall begin on the first day of January and end on the 31st day of December in any given calendar year.
9.2 Accounts. The accounts of the Group shall be kept with a financial institution carrying a legal business within Canada, and approved by resolution at each Annual General Meeting. The President and Treasurer (or designates, as may from time to time be necessary) shall retain joint signing authority for any disbursements.
9.3 Audit. The Treasurer shall, at least once yearly, submit an accounting of the finances of the Group to not less than two (2) Active Members, who do not sit on the Executive, for review. A full external audit shall be undertaken upon resolution at an Executive or General Meeting.
(9.4 Indemnity for Executive Members? Directors’ Insurance?? Anyone know how this works??)

for members of the Strategic Planning Committee to review and offer their thoughts. The improved draft Articles of Association will be available for general review and commentary around Wednesday of next week. A general email announcement will invite you to check out this blog at that time. You will also receive a bilingual version of the Minutes of the February Edmonton meeting, and a tidied-up name-and-address list, in that email. Watch this space, and have a great long weekend.

Have you RSVP'd yet for the CPEG meeting on the evening of October 19? If you have, that's great, thank you, I look forward to seeing such a large crowd participate in the building of a more perfect union (oh, wait, that phrase is already taken, isn't it...) If you have not yet RSVP'd, and you would like to feel entitled to the supper service, please let me count your head: send me an email ASAP. I am still missing many RSVP's from the Ottawa-Kingston-GTA-London-Hamilton corridor, the bunch closest to the venue itself.

Please feel free to leave a comment as "Anonymous" when using the comments feature (it will let you avoid "signing in" and registering as a user), but please enter your name as the last word in the text field, so we know who is who when reading a comment. Feel free to post a practice comment to this post, if you like, to see how the thing works. Thanks!