Statutes & Membership

This society shall be known as "The European Working Group on Coxiella, Anaplasma, Rickettsia and Bartonella"

1. To encourage basic and applied research in all aspects of rickettsiology and Rickettsial diseases.
2. To foster the exchange of information and or materials among scientists engaged in research on rickettsiae and rickettsial diseases through periodic meetings, and other means as may be appropriate.
3. To encourage recruitment and training of young scientists in rickettsiology and rickettsial diseases.
4. To consider and make recommendations on scientific and policy matters pertaining to rickettsiae and rickettsial diseases as may be desirable or necessary for the advancement of basic and applied knowledge in this field.
5. To advise governmental and health agencies, when appropriate, on matters relevant to rickettsiae and rickettsial diseases.
6. To foster scientific exchange between rickettsiologists from all over the world.
7. To interact in an appropriate manner with other scientific organizations as required and desirable.

1. Regular membership. All persons who are interested in the objectives of the society are eligible for regular membership. A regular member is one who has paid the dues. Regular members will be entitled to receive all society communications and to vote on matters submitted by mail or at the business session of the conference.
2. Honorary membership. The society may elect as honorary members such persons who are deemed deserving of this honor on the basis of contributions to the fields of interest and endeavor encompassed by the purpose of this society. Honorary membership shall be a lifetime membership and shall not require payment of dues or conference registration fees.

The officers of the society shall include a president, a vice president, and a secretary-treasurer. These officers shall be elected at the business session of each conference. They shall take office at the conclusion of the conference, at which they were elected and shall serve until their successors have been elected and installed in office. It is preferable that the secretary-treasurer is a member of the organisation hosting the conference.

There shall be an Executive Council consisting of elected officers representing, the veterinary diseases, human diseases, epidemiology, microbiology and ecology of rickettsiae and rickettsial diseases, to be elected at the time of the election of officers. The council shall serve until the conclusion of the following conference. The function of the Excecutive Council will be to conduct the day-to-day business of the society within quidelines set for Article 2, as well as to conduct the business meeting of the entire membership to be held at each conference.

Appropriate ad hoc committees may be appointed as needed by the president to report to the Excecutive Council on special matters.

1. The decision has been made for more study groups to try to hold the conference parallel to that of ESCMID, but the actual choice of the next time and meeting place shall be voted on by the membership at each conference, upon recomendation by the Executive Council.
2. Invitations to hold the conference will be solicited at least one conference in advance.
3. Invitations to attend the conference shall be issued by the secretary. Generally, invitations will be extended only to members or previous members of the working group and to other scientists who are active in the field of rickettsiology from whatever field they originally come.
4. Registration fee. A registration fee shall be paid by each registrant attending the conference, honorary members excepted. This fee shall be fixed by the Excecutive Council based on recommendations of the Progarmm Commitee and shall be sufficient to defray expenses incurred by the conference. Surplus funds shall be turned over to the succeeding treasurer to be allocated for the expenses incurred during the next conference.
5. Student fees. Special reduced registration fees may be set by the Excecutive Council for interested persons who clearly have student status.

Dues for the succeeding term shall be set by the Excecutive Council. Dues will be assessed annually to cover the membership period, January to December. Membership dues will be independent of attendance at the conference.

Meeting information, news in the field of rickettsiology and a bibliography will be published every three months in a newsletter as well as on a website. Articles cited in the bibliography will be available on request for members of the society. This shall be the duty and the responsability of the secretary-treasurer.