WPDA BY-LAWS

Registered in Milan, Italy.
December 10, 1998 - Amended September 07, 1999

Name and Headquarters - Article 1
The Association "World Parkinson’s Disease Association", based in Via Zuretti 35, Milan, Italy, is hereby formed and will be governed by the following by-laws to be amended as the need may arise. The official language will be the English language.

Goals - Article 2
The Association is a not-for-profit organization with no political affiliations. To maintain its total and absolute independence and impartiality, the Association will not endorse, defend or promote the interests of any medical, hospital or pharmaceutical entity or any other entity with lucrative or promotional purposes. In the development of its activities, the Association will not discriminate against race, color, social condition, political or religious affiliation.
The goals of the Association are as follows:
1) To improve the quality of life of Parkinson’s patients worldwide.
2) To broaden public awareness and contribute to the development and sharing of greater knowledge and information about Parkinson’s disease;
3) To establish guidelines for a "continuum educational program" for patients of this disorder and make it available in writing and on-line;
4) To encourage the standardization of diagnostic procedures and of medical and surgical therapies;
5) To support research on Parkinson’s disease even through eventual promotional campaigns
6) To establish and maintain contacts with national and international organizations with the aim of promoting laws, regulations and measures in favor of patients suffering from Parkinson’s disease

Goals Implementation - Article 3
In order to attain the above objectives, the Association will establish computerized connections, take part in and/or finance research activities, urge pharmaceutical companies and government institutions of the various countries to support the guidelines recommended by the associations of Parkinson’s patients, coordinate and promote interchange of information among its members with the aim of solving problems of mutual interest and pursue any other activity which may prove useful for attaining the Association’s goals.

Membership - Article 4
Only organizations officially recognized by the governing authorities and laws in effect in each individual country, may be members of the Association. The applications for membership shall be reviewed and decided upon by the Association’s Board of Directors on an individual basis. Duration of membership in the Association will be indefinite, provided the requirements for membership are satisfied. Membership fees will be recommended by the Board of Directors to the General Assembly with the understanding that the fees will be waived for the first two years of the Association.
Members are entitled to:
a) Take part to the meetings of the General Assembly with one voting representative per association. Voting will be regulated according to standard voting rules and regulations. The members can be represented at the General Assembly by a delegate holding a proxy in writing. No more than two (2) proxies can be held by the same delegate.
b) Select the members of the Association’s committees.
c) Membership fees will not be transferable to another member and will not be refundable. Members who for any reason will terminate their membership will loose their rights to the Association’s assets.

Assets - Article 5
The assets of the Association shall consist of:
a) Real estate and financial assets which will become the Association’s property;
b) Reserve funds resulting from operating surplus.

The revenues of the Association shall be as follows:
1) membership fees;
2) gifts and donations;
3) income deriving from fundraising and investment of funds;
4) any other proceeds which contribute to increase the Association’s assets.
The funds collected shall be used for:
a) paying the operating costs of the Association
b) financing scientific research in individual countries;
c) attaining the Association’s objectives.
The Board of Directors shall not distribute, directly or indirectly, any of the assets of the Association unless as authorized by the various Committees or required by law.

Financial Year - Article 6
The financial year shall run from January 1st to December 31st. The financial report of the Association shall be prepared by the Board of Directors each year by April 30th and shall be submitted for review and approval by the General Assembly at the time of its regularly scheduled meeting.

Association’s Committees - Article 7
The Association shall be composed by:
a) The General Assembly
b) The Board of Directors
c) The Executive Committee
d) The Scientific Committee

A) General Assembly
All paid up members shall belong to the General Assembly and shall be entitled to take part in the meeting of the Assembly. The General Assembly shall be convened at least every year through direct notice in writing and by Internet to each and every member. The notice convening the Meeting shall be sent at least 60 days before the date of the meeting and shall contain the agenda. An extraordinary General Assembly meeting shall also be convened following a justified request signed by at least one-third of the members.
The General Assembly shall review and approve the financial statements for the prior year, the budget for the following year, establish the policies and general goals of the Association, appoint the members of the Board of Directors and recommend the members of the Scientific Committee. The General Assembly shall be chaired by the President of the Board of Directors or in his/her absence by the Senior Vice-president. Minutes will be taken of the decisions made during the General Meeting, signed by the President and the Secretary and included in a minutes book kept by the Secretary of the Association.

B) Board of Directors
The Board of Directors shall consist of up to 10 members appointed at the meeting of the General Assembly. The Board of Directors must represent all the countries worldwide. It shall therefore, hopefully include:
a) The President,
b) A representative from Africa, who shall act as a Vice-president;
c) A representative from North America, who shall act as a Vice-president;
d) A representative from Central and South American, who shall act as a Vice-president;
e) A representative from Asia, who shall act as a Vice-president;
f) A representative from Europe, who shall act as a Vice-president;
g) A representative from Oceania, who shall act as a Vice-president;
h) The Scientific Coordinator;
I) A Secretary;
j) A Treasurer
Each Director shall have a two-year tenure and can be reelected for a second two-year term. In the event of either resignation or death of a Director, the Board shall replace him/her with a nominee satisfying the requirements of the Director no longer available. The nominee will maintain the position until the time of the following election. The Board of Directors shall meet at least once per year, even through internet (telematic) connection, whenever the President judges it necessary or at the request of at least half of its members.
The Board of Directors shall establish the guidelines to be followed in order to attain the Association’s objectives as defined by the General Assembly. The Board of Directors shall also appoint the members of the Executive Committee. The Board of Directors shall be chaired by the President and, in his/her absence, by the Senior Vice-president. Minutes of decisions taken shall be signed by the President and the Secretary and shall be held in a bound book.
No remuneration or compensation will be paid to members of the Board of Directors or of any committee of this Association. Only the cost of travel and accommodation of the members of the Executive Committee on approved official business upon presentation of proper documentation (receipts, invoices, etc.) will be paid by the Association.

C) The Executive Committee
The Board of Directors may delegate some of its functions to an Executive committee made up by some of its members. The Executive Committee will be in charge of the day-to-day management of the Association and is responsible for calling the Meeting of the General Assembly. The Executive Committee is made up by the President, a general manager, a treasurer, a secretary and the Scientific Coordinator.

D) Scientific Committee
The Scientific Committee consists of three or more Parkinson Disease experts, a coordinator member of the Board of Directors and a scientific secretary nominated by the Executive Committee.
The Scientific Committee shall represent the various parts of the world and shall review and encourage the dissemination of information about Parkinson’s disease. It shall also select the research projects that the Association may support and the location where such projects shall be undertaken.

Committees Decisions - Article 8
Validity of Association’s By-laws and decisions taken by the General Assembly, Board of Directors and the Executive Committee (each of the Association’s Committees to be valid) require the approval by a specific number of members (called a quorum). At the first call of the meeting a valid quorum shall be represented by one-third of the Committee members, present in person or by proxy. If a valid quorum is not present at the first call, a second and final call shall be made one hour later. The members present at this time shall represent a valid quorum and items on the agenda will be taken under consideration and decided upon. An absolute majority shall be also required in both instances for a decision to be valid according to the By-laws of the Association.

Termination - Article 10
In the event the termination of the Association shall be decided by the General Assembly, the General Assembly shall also appoint one or more official receivers. The assets remaining after paying all the debts shall be donated to another public not for profit Parkinson Association, also selected by the General Assembly or to another not-for-profit organization, according to Article 3, paragraph 190 of the 23 December 1996, no. 663, unless otherwise ruled by the law.