Constitution of Asian Neurogastroenterology and Motility Association

                                                                   Dated: 21st March 2008

1. This Association will be named as Asian Neurogastroenterology & Motility Association, in short ANMA
2. The aims of the Association would be: (a) to pursue a standardized care of patients suffering from gastrointestinal motility disorders and functional GI diseases in Asia, (b) to do research on these diseases in Asia, (c) to exchange knowledge in these diseases through regular conferences and meetings, and (d) to encourage and advance the knowledge in gastrointestinal motility and functional GI diseases in Asia in all possible ways.
3. The Association will also perform multi-center research activities and will draw management guidelines in related diseases for the Asia. The funds for such research may be obtained from various government and non-government legal sources.
4. The Association will have biennial scientific meetings and several mid-term meetings in different aspects of GI motility and functional bowel diseases.
5. Doctors from Asia who are interested in neurogastroenterology and GI motility will be eligible for members of the Association after submitting the membership forms and paying membership dues.  (Membership dues can be waived for a certain period after launching of the Association until the Steering Committee decides to cease the exemption.)
6. The Association will have the following staffs: one President, one Secretary, one Treasurer, and one Scientific Chair. The President will be elected at the Steering Committee one year before the term of the previous President ends. The president will appoint the other staffs. And if necessary, the president can appoint additional staffs after getting approval of the Steering Committee. The period of service for all staffs would be for three years.
7. The Association will be guided by the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee will meet at least once every year. The Steering Committee will consist of around 10-15 members, who will be appointed after nominations and a vote at the Steering Committee meeting. The Steering Committee members will serve for a period of 4 years. The Steering Committee will be involved in the organization of biennial scientific meetings and in the decision regarding other important activities.
8. The Constitution may be amended at the annual Steering Committee meeting with an agreement by two-thirds of the Steering Committee members in attendance.