Statutes & Membership

ESGEM is an active group of workers who share an interest in epidemiological typing systems. Individual membership is open to all workers actively involved in the development and application of microbial typing systems. Corporate membership is open to all companies and organisations who are willing to support the aims and interests of ESGEM.

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Approved at the ESGEM Business Meeting, held at the 13th ECCMID, Glasgow, May 2003

ESGEM is a group of workers who share an interest in epidemiological typing systems. In particular, ESGEM aims to critically evaluate typing systems and make recommendations for their appropriate use. ESGEM also aims to promote research collaboration with individuals and companies active in this research area in order to foster the development of further technological advances in microbial typing and to develop guidelines for inter-laboratory standardisation of typing systems for specific pathogens. By these means, ESGEM provides a forum for the exchange of ideas and the development of consensus strategies when practical needs arise.

Individual membership is open to all workers actively involved in the development and application of microbial typing systems. There are no membership fees for individuals at the present time. Applications for individual membership of ESGEM should be submitted to the Secretary of ESGEM. Wide representation from different European and worldwide countries is sought. Likewise, a balance between clinicians and scientists working in hospital, reference, public health, research or university laboratories is sought to promote a wide exchange of views. It is not necessary to be a full member of ESCMID to become a member of ESGEM. All ESGEM members are automatically considered to be Associate Members of ESCMID.

Corporate membership is open to all companies and organisations who are willing to support the aims and interests of ESGEM. This category of membership allows company representatives to participate actively at all ESGEM meetings, activities and discussions, to propose and sponsor future ESGEM symposia or workshops, to have direct access to the ESGEM membership, and to create links to their own websites. There is an annual corporate membership fee, currently of 1000 euros. Companies interested in corporate membership should contact the ESGEM Secretary, who will arrange for the application to be considered by the Executive Committee. Corporate Members do not have voting rights and are not eligible for election to the Executive Committee. The participation of Corporate Members in studies organised by the ESGEM will be defined on a contractual basis in the study protocol to guarantee the scientific independence of ESGEM and to avoid conflicts of interest between the parties.

ESGEM currently has two corporate members. The executive committee would like to welcome further interested companies to apply for corporate membership.

An ESGEM Executive Committee consisting of six members will be elected every two years by a ballot of all individual ESGEM members. Members of the ESGEM Executive Committee must be regular members of ESCMID. Once in post, the Executive Committee will themselves decide on a Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer from amongst the Executive Committee members. All positions on the Executive Committee are honorary. The term of office for Executive Committee members shall be two years, with two possible re-elections.

An ESGEM Business Meeting, open to all members of ESGEM, will be held during each ECCMID at which the Executive Committee will report on the activities of ESGEM and the decisions taken by the Executive Committee. A budget shall be presented to the membership at each Business Meeting and the type of financial support stated. Additional ESGEM Business Meetings may be arranged as required at the discretion of the Executive Committee.