Kidney Relief in Disasters Task Force

I. Objectives

The main purpose of the Kidney Relief in Disasters Task Force is to support all kidney healthcare professionals and their patients in countries within the ERA geographical area affected by a natural/man-made disaster.

II. Tasks

1. The Kidney Relief in Disasters Task Force is required to conduct a minimum of one workshop per annum and provide CME courses as and when necessary. It is also required to produce at least one official article per year for publication in one of ERA’s official journals aimed at addressing topics related to given support to healthcare professionals in the kidney field facing natural/man-made disasters. All the communication materials should be translated from English into other European languages.
2. Generating campaigns with the National Societies of Nephrology:

• To enhance the collaboration between ERA and the National Societies with the aim of organizing CME courses and workshops.
• To formulate preparedness plans for situations where there is disruption in the delivery of kidney related services in a region.
• To distribute basic information on the website to help people prepare for possible emergencies.
• To foster interaction among different stakeholders related to the subject of kidney intervention in emergency areas.
• Collaborate with National and International Societies to achieve these aims.

III. Task Force members, nominations, and terms 

1. The Task Force has been established for a period of three years to carry out specific tasks. The Council will regularly review the achievements of the Task Force, at least once a year. Finally, the Council may decide to extend the duration of the Task Force if necessary, but in this case a rotation of Task Force members is advisable.
2. The Task Force should have up to 10 members: a Chair, one Ex-Officio Member and up to 8 Ordinary Task Force Members. Depending on the nature of the initiatives, more members can be added to the group.
3. The Ex-Officio Member must be a current Council Member at the time of nomination and will represent the Task Force within the Council.
4. All the members in the Kidney Relief in Disasters Task Force will only have a term of 3 years.
5. All Board members should be ERA Full members.
6. The Chair and Ordinary Board Members should be individuals with a demonstrated interest or knowledge of the subject, who are motivated and committed to dealing with natural/man-made disaster issues, or who are otherwise useful to the Task Force.
7. Eligible candidates for the position of Chair as well as the position as Ordinary Board Members should use this candidacy application template.
8. The Chair will be selected by the Council from among the eligible candidates.
9. The Ordinary Task Force Members are nominated by the Board and must be approved by the Council before their term can start.
10. Any member can end their position within the Board by voluntary resignation, by exclusion due to serious and well-founded reasons, or by not attending two consecutive Board meetings without a valid reason.
11. All the members of the Task Force should actively support the goals and thus the tasks. The Council will be supporting and overseeing the development of the results on a yearly basis. If after a year the Task Force is unable to fulfil the main tasks, the Council will be able to substitute Task Force members as needed.
12. A diploma will be given to all Task Force Members ending their term.

IV. Task Force Board meetings

1. As mentioned above, the Ex-Officio Member will represent the Kidney Relief in Disasters Task Force within the Council. However, the Chair of the Kidney Relief in Disasters Task Force Board can be invited when deemed necessary to attend Council Meetings.
2. During elections/voting held within the Task Force, in case of an equal number of votes, the Chair has the casting vote.
3. The Kidney Relief in Disasters Task Force is supported in its activities by the ERA HQ.
4. The Kidney Relief in Disasters Task Force Board Members should meet regularly to pursue their tasks/goals, possibly via teleconference, however, the Kidney Relief in Disasters Task Force has a budget to organize one face to face meeting at the ERA HQ in Parma.
5. For the rules regarding the reimbursement policy for the Kidney Relief in Disasters Task Force Board Members who participate in face-to-face meetings one must refer to the General Rules for ERA Committees.

All ERA Kidney Relief in Disasters Task Force publications and initiatives must clearly mention the fact that the Task Force is an official body of ERA and must comply with what is written regarding this matter in the General Rules for ERA Committees. The sentence approved by Council related to this matter is: “This article (to be adapted accordingly) was written by (to be adapted accordingly) on behalf of the ERA Kidney Relief in Disasters Task Force which is an official body of the ERA (European Renal Association).

Last update: January 2024