The full, updated FORTE constitution can be found here: FORTE Internal Regulation
The FORTE 2017 Road Map is available here: FORTE Road Map
NAME
The name of the association shall be “THE FEDERATION OF ORTHOPAEDIC TRAINEES IN EUROPE (FORTE)”
OBJECTIVES
- to promote and improve the standards of orthopaedic and trauma training in Europe
- to standardize and uniform the orthopaedic and trauma education throughout Europe
- to provide a basis for international links for orthopaedic and trauma trainees across Europe
- to act as a communication center with information about courses and educational opportunities.
- to organize educational activities
- to build fellowship opportunities
- to represent the interests of trainees in orthopaedic and traumasurgery in Europe.
- to improve social connections among its members.
MEMBERSHIP
Active Membership of FORTE shall be open to individuals who are Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeons in training or until three years after completion of residency, who work within the national boundaries represented by EFORT (European Federation Of National Associations Of Orthopaedics And Traumatology) or who are members of national societies represented at EFORT: OGO, BVOT, SORBCOT, BOTA, HUOT, COTA/HUOT, CrOS, CAOST, CSOT, DOS, ETOS, SOY-FOA, SOFCOT, BVOU, DGOOC, DGU, HAOST, MOT/HOA, IBF, IOA, SIOT, LTOA, LSOT/LTOD, SLOT, MAOT, NOV, NOF, PTOITR, SPOT, SOROT, AOTRF, SOTA, SOTS, SOA/ZOSZD, SECOT, SOF, SGOT-SSOT, TSOT/TOTBID, BOA.
Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgeons in fellowship training are also eligible for active membership during the duration of the program and until two years after its completion. All members should provide adequate documentation in support of their status in training positions.
Only members are entitled to vote at Business Meetings. Members may continue up to two years after appointment to substantive specialist post.
MEETINGS
There shall be a Biennial General Meeting timed to coincide with the EFORT congress.
Business Meetings may be held on other occasions decided by the Committee, usually in the intervening year (eg minimum efort + Instructional course).
The President shall call a Special Business Meeting within 28 days of receiving a request, signed by no fewer than 50 members specifying the nature of the business.
EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE AND OFFICERS
The Executive Committee shall consist of the Officers and other representatives from member states. The Presidents of national orthopaedic trainees associations shall attend on the Executive Committee ex officio, subject to subscription status. Those member states with no orthopaedic trainees association may send one representative with the agreement of the President, in addition to those appointed as Officers or those in defined executive roles within the committee.
The ExCom shall be composed of five members of the BOD, namely the President, Vice-President (Immediate Past President), Secretary General, the President-Elect and Treasurer. The quorum for its meetings shall be all five (5) members personally present. No member of the ExCom should normally be a resident in the same country.
Candidates for election as Officers shall be sponsored by two members of the Association and must be supported by their national association, where possible. The candidate can be proposed in absentia but the proposer and seconder must both be present at the meeting. The candidate and the proposer will have the opportunity to speak briefly prior to the election.
The Officers and Committee members shall be elected biennially by a majority vote at the Biennial General Meeting. Terms of Office shall start on the last day of the Meeting. The President shall serve for a one year term. Two individuals will therefore be elected for the two year period. The first will serve a year as President and the following year as Past President, continuing in a Vice Presidential role. The second will begin as President-Elect in the same Vice-Presidential capacity before taking over as President at one year. All other appointments will normally serve for two years. In exceptional circumstances appointments may be made at other Business Meetings, with the agreement of the executive committee.
The President shall be the Chief Officer of FORTE and shall chair all meetings of the Federation and perform his duties in accordance with usage and parliamentary practice. The President shall chair the BOD, the ExCom and the General Assembly; he shall be an ex-officio member of all Committees and Commissions as provided for in the Bylaws. President is elected for one year term, with possibility of renewal in case of approval by the BOD, for the maximum of 2 years mandate.
10 voting members shall form a quorum at Executive Committee meetings.
The ExCom shall be responsible for the general administration and management of the Federation, the preparation of meetings, the execution of decisions taken by the BOD and the publication of selected documents and contributions.
The ExCom shall have the authority to take all necessary decisions on behalf of the Federation in urgent matters, subject to notification of the BOD. Meetings of the ExCom shall be announced to all members at least 15 days before the meeting.
The ExCom shall have the power to amend the composition of the Committee. Amendments shall be notified at the General Assembly and the majority vote of the members at that meeting shall be final.
The ExCom shall have the power to request the resignation of any member deemed by them to have been guilty of conduct contrary to the interests of the Federation. Any member whose resignation is requested by the ExCom shall be suspended until the next General Assembly, where they shall have the right to appeal and enter a defense. The ExCom shall state the reasons for suspension and the majority vote of the members at that General Assembly shall be final.
A newly elected committee shall have the right, at their discretion, to ask the outgoing President to remain on the Executive Committee for a further one year to offer support and advice to the new committee.
SUBSCRIPTIONS AND FINANCES
The ExCom shall draw up a scale of dues and subscription rates for the Federation’s publications. The scale shall be subject to the approval of the Board of Directors.
The Honorary Treasurer and President shall be authorised signatories for the Associations finances. No member shall incur any expense on behalf of the Association without the written authority of an Officer.
ALTERATION OF RULES
Proposals for changes to the Constitution may be made by the BOD or by petition to the Secretary General signed by at least five (5) percent of the Federation’s members. The proposed changes must be communicated to all members not less than forty-five (45) days before the meeting of the General Assembly.
Changes to the Constitution proposed and put to the vote at a properly convened General Assembly must be approved by at least two-thirds (2/3) of the members present constituting a quorum and validly casting their votes.
