1.1. Applications for membership will be accepted from any individual who is an pulmonology professional or is a medical or science undergraduate student and eligible for membership in any way recognized by the Society as detailed in the SAB bylaws.

1.2. When submitting an application for membership, you are confirming that you are a healthcare professional involved in pulmonology, research or advocacy, and agree to adhere to these terms and conditions and the bylaws of the Society. You are also providing us with the appropriate consent to handle your personal information according to our SAB Privacy Policy.

1.3. When submitting your application, you are making a request to subscribe to SAB which, if accepted by us (if you fulfil the acceptance criteria), will result in you receiving a request for payment. Once payment is received, your membership will then be immediately activated for the period that you have purchased. At the point of renewal of your membership, your payment is confirmation of your continued acceptance of the membership terms and conditions in place at the time of your payment.

1.4. If you are eligible for membership, your membership will be activated after acceptance of your application and upon receipt of payment of the membership fee. Notification of acceptance will be received at the email address you provided at the time of application.

1.5. You will be asked to confirm that information provided at the time of your membership application is true. We may ask you to provide us with additional proof to confirm that you meet the requirements to join the Society; if you are unable to provide such proof, we may at our sole discretion reject your application.

1.6. Your application may need to be reviewed by the Membership Committee, who will endeavour to provide a response within 14 working days of receipt of application. The Membership Committee has the right to accept or reject an application.

1.7. If you are undergoing a formal review of your professional conduct, then we may have to put your application on hold until the matter is resolved. It does not mean that your application will be subsequently unsuccessful.

The Society retains the right to refuse applications for membership but will offer the opportunity to appeal the decision.

1.8. SAB retains the right to amend its membership categories, benefits and criteria at its sole discretion, without prior notice, at any time. The details of any such amendments will be published on the SAB website. Please refer to the Membership section.

1.9. SAB retains the right to suspend or cancel an existing membership if this does not fit the current and most updated eligibility criteria or following a breach of these Terms and Conditions. SAB also retains the right to change a member’s type and category without prior notice.

1.11 Once your membership is active, you will be receiving our SAB newsletter as well as updates in topics of interest, as they become available. If you do not wish to receive any of these communications, you can unsubscribe from the list at any time.

1.12 All SAB members are visible in our Membership directory, which is available to facilitate the contact between members. If you do not wish for your name to be displayed in this directory, you can inform us and we will delete your name form the directory.

1.13. SAB members who are in attendance of SAB annual meeting(s) and/or sponsored events will have the potentiality of their first and last names listed and sent to SAB supporters, vendors, and/or commercial sponsors with their approval when registering.

2.1. Once a member of the Society, the membership payment will be due at the end of the membership period, according to the deadline, and for as long as you remain a member. When your membership is due for expiry, you will receive a notification either via email with a request for payment of the membership fee. You will receive email notifications reminding you about your renewal date before your membership expires, a notification about your membership being deactivated in event renewal is not made in due time, and subsequent notifications reminding you to reactivate your membership. You will continue to be solicited for membership payment unless you inform us that you wish to resign from the Society – please refer to Section 5. The decision to not renew your membership does not mean that you have resigned as a member of the Society but will result in your not having access to member benefits and not being recognized as an SAB member.

2.2. SAB retains the right to change the membership fees, the membership fees will be listed on the membership pages of sabronchoscopy.org. Emails will also be sent informing about any change in fee.

2.3. If renewal is not made by the due date, all the benefits connected to the membership will be automatically suspended. Membership will be reactivated only upon receipt of the due membership fee. During the period of the suspension, members are not entitled to access to any of the benefits, including the online tools and will not be recognized as a member of SAB.

2.4. SAB retains the right to change the definition and eligibility criteria for members in developing countries to pay for membership at a discounted rate.

2.5. SAB retains the right to offer and/or change any promotional offers and special prices and will advertise this information. Please note that there may be special membership promotions that are only available onsite at events where SAB is present.

3.1. If we make an error in processing your membership payment resulting in fees being collected after cancellation of membership or an incorrect amount being charged, you may be eligible for a refund of the incorrectly processed fee.

3.2. Members have the possibility to waive their membership within 14 (fourteen) days starting from the membership activation date. The membership fee will be reimbursed to the member but 25.00 (twenty five) USD for administrative costs will be deducted. No membership fees will be reimbursed after this 14-day period.

4.1. If you no longer wish to be a member, you can cancel your membership at any time by writing to SAB at least one month before the membership renewal date. Membership will be terminated at the end of the paid membership period; SAB will not refund any fees already paid for. If the membership has already expired, membership will be terminated immediately and we will remove you from any membership mailing lists.   Decision to not renew membership does not mean that you have terminated your membership.

4.2. Membership will be terminated if:

You do not adhere to the terms and conditions of membership;

You no longer meet the criteria for membership of the Society;

You are involved in any activity or demonstrate behaviour which the Membership Committee and/or Executive Board deems to be harmful to the reputation of the Society; or

The information you provided us is later discovered to be incorrect or not truthful.

5.1. The Membership Card is available in the “Members Only” section of the SAB website.

5.2. The Membership Card is a testament that you are a member of the Society and is not an endorsement or proof of your good professional standing and does not entitle you to special privileges other than those available to you through the membership category to which you belong.

6.1. As a member with voting rights, you will receive communications from the Society informing you of information related to the Annual Meeting.

6.2. SAB will ensure products and services offered to members are relevant to the medical pulmonology profession and are accessible to members.

6.3. SAB will ensure access to online membership benefits and access to SAB’s educational portal (please note that by accepting SAB’s membership terms & conditions you are also accepting the terms & conditions of using the SAB Website..

6.4. SAB will keep you informed and updated about the Society and any changes that might affect your membership rights.

6.5. SAB will stand by any promise, offer or promotion we make available to you during the course of your membership.

7.1. From time to time, SAB may change, suspend or withdraw any services, privileges or offers without warning and at its sole discretion. Members will be notified of any such changes via the SAB website and Society communications, such changes will be effective as soon as they are published.

7.2. If any provision in these terms and conditions conflict with terms in the bylaws of SAB, the provisions in the bylaws shall control.