THE STRATEGY

The International Society for Body Composition Research

ISBRC

Aim

To promote research on body composition in order to understand the link between structure and function in health and disease at all stages of life, and to promote development and application of body composition techniques relevant to public health and clinical practice.

Objectives

ISBCR will establish a forum for discussion and dissemination of information on Body Composition Research

  • ISBCR will host regular international conferences (e.g. triennially initially, but the frequency can change according to need), to reflect current trends in research of humans and animals, and to consider their application in public health and clinical practice. The meeting will draw together scientists, clinicians, policy makers, and others with an interest in body composition research, including those currently in training.
  • ISBCR will aim to establish an international journal devoted to Body Composition Research. It will include original articles, as well as reviews, in both basic and applied research.

ISBCR will establish itself as a champion of excellence in body composition research

  • Identify and integrate investigative teams and laboratories that can:
    • standardize nomenclature, protocols, and study designs
    • cross-validate new methodology
    • participate in large scale trials
    • work with manufacturers to establish and/or calibrate new instruments.
  • Encourage development of ‘reference methods’ and normative values, for national and international use.
  • Establish consensus documents
  • Gather and disseminate information, and establish links with other societies, other national and international agencies, and commercial companies.

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CONSTITUTION

Name

The name of the society is the International Society of Body Composition Research (ISBCR)

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee will comprise of at minimum a Chairman, Secretary, and Treasurer, approved by the International Scientific Committee. A process of succession planning should be established to ensure that members of the Executive Committee do not all retire at the same time. Each member will serve a period of 3 years, but this can be extended to a maximum of an additional 3 year term. The Executive Committee or any other Committee of the Society will be asked to provide nominations for election. The secretary will send a ballot list of the nominees to members of the Executive Committee and International Scientific Committee for voting, together with details of the deadline. Should any position become vacant for any reason between elections, the Executive Committee shall appoint a replacement officer for the remaining term (but the International Scientific Committee will be given the opportunity to raise objections to this appointment).

International Scientific Committee

The International Scientific Committee of the International Body Composition Group, which was established on an ad hoc basis, will form the initial Scientific Committee of the Society. Proposals for a more formal membership structure will require ratification by the current committees of the Society.

Minutes

Minutes shall be kept by the secretary of the Executive Committee and any other Committees of the Society.

Changes to constitution

Changes to the constitution can be suggested by the Executive Committee, the International Scientific Committee, and members of the Society (through a petition to the Executive Committee). A formal written statement of the proposed changes will be required for circulation, discussion, and decision by the members. The changes will be carried though with a majority vote.

Finance

A bank account or accounts has been opened in the name of the Society. The Executive and International Scientific Committee have authorized the Treasurer to sign the cheques on behalf of the Society.

The Society will ensure that there are appropriate structures and processes to generate and augment available income.

All money raised by or on behalf of the Society shall be applied to further the objectives of the Society and for no other purpose, provided that nothing contained in the constitution will prevent the payment in good faith of reasonable and proper remuneration to any employee of the Society, or the repayment of reasonable out-of-pocket expenses.

The Treasurer shall keep and maintain the accounts of the Association.

The accounts shall be audited at the same intervals as those for international meetings.

Statements of the accounts shall be submitted to the General Meeting of the Association.

A revenue surplus for running international conferences will be divided equally between the Society and the Local Organising Group. The Local Organising Group shall use the profits to promote work on body composition. The Society can use its finances to further the aims of the society, and to pump-prime the next meeting.

In the case of anticipated financial loss from a meeting, the Local Organising committee shall inform the Executive Committee as soon as possible, so that a decision can be taken to either cancel/postpone the meeting or to continue, with the understanding that the Society’s reserve funds will be used to support the meeting.

Meetings of the Society

Free papers to be submitted as oral and/or poster presentations shall be sought.

The papers will be selected and/or commissioned by a committee, such as the local organising committee.

The Local Organising Committee shall be approved by the Executive Committee.

In establishing the programme of the triennial meeting, the Local Organising Committee shall seek advice from the International Scientific Committee and the Executive Committee.

The annual scientific meeting is intended to generate a revenue surplus, which is to be used to further the objectives of the Society.

There will be a report at the triennial meeting from the (i) Chairman (ii) Secretary and (iii) Treasurer.

The Society will publish the Proceedings of its meetings in the IJBCR (The Official Journal of the Society – see ‘Membership’ (see separate file for proposal).

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Membership

Membership to ISBCR

  1. Any individual may apply for membership to the Society.
  2. Members shall abide by the regulations of the society, including payment of subscription fees.
  3. Any member may be subject to disciplinary action, including termination of membership for conduct that may bring disrepute to the Society, that is not in the best interest of the Society, or that is not for a good cause. This action shall be determined by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.
  4. The Executive Committee may define further membership requirements in the best interests of the Society.

Membership fee: £35 (~$60) per year (to include copies of the International Journal of Body Composition)

The benefits are as follows:

  1. Free copies of the International Journal of Body Composition Research (IJBCR) (http://www.ijbcr.com).
  2. Reduction in registration fees to international meetings of the society by £35 (~$60).
  3. Circulars, such as newsletters that provide information on new developments in body composition and forthcoming meetings.

A website will also be available at www.ibc2008.com through August 2008.

Relationship with International Journal of Body Composition Research

  1. The International Journal of Body Composition Research (IJBCR) will become the official journal of the International Society of Body Composition Research (ISBCR). It will be used to promote the aims of the Society. Currently the IJBC aims to cover all aspects of body composition, from physics to biomedicine, and from methodology to applications, in healthy subjects and patients of all age groups, as well as animals. These are consistent with the aims of the Society.
  2. The Editorial Board will be appointed by the ISBCR, with the approval of the ISBCR.
  3. The title of the journal will remain under the ownership of Smith-Gordon and Company Ltd. Any change in title will require approval by the Society.

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Committees

Executive Committee

Marinos Elia - Chairman
Dympna Gallagher - Treasurer
Angelo Pietrobelli - Secretary

International Scientific Committee

Nino Battistini (Italy)
Tim Cole (UK)
Cameron Chumlea (USA)
Peter Davies (Australia)
Paul Deurenberg (Singapore)
Marinos Elia (UK)
Myles Faith (USA)
Dympna Gallagher (USA)
Ross Hansen (Australia)
Steve Heymsfield (USA)
Joseph Kehayias (USA)
Nino De Lorenzo (Italy)
Hank Lukaski (USA)
Ehab I Mohamed (Egypt)
Richard Pierson Jr (USA)
Angelo Pietrobelli (Italy)
R.Ross (Canada)
Simon Ryde (UK)
Jaap Seidell (The Netherlands)
Boyd Strauss (Australia)
Ole Lauder Svendsen (Denmark)
Luciano Tato (USA)
Giulio Testolin (Italy)
Jack Wang (USA)
Leigh Ward (Australia)
Seichi Yasumura (USA)

IBC2008 Symposium ( New York) Local Organising Committee

Dorsey, Karen - Academic Scientific
Gallagher, Dympna - Academic Scientific
Heymsfield, Steven - Industrial Scientific
Pangburn, Janine - Conference Management
Pi-Sunyer, F. Xavier - Academic Scientific
Shen, Wei - Academic Scientific
Sikora, Tony - Conference Administration
Wang, Jack - Academic Scientific
Wang, Zimian - Academic Scientific