This organization is officially named “The Rethinking AIDS Group”. Alternatively it can be referred to as “Rethinking AIDS”, or “RA” for short.

RA Purpose

The specific purpose of “Rethinking AIDS” (RA) is to develop, promote and publicize verifiable scientific discourse on the definition, causation, prevention and treatments of AIDS.

The Group for the Scientific Reappraisal of the HIV/AIDS Hypothesis consists of a collective of independent, international scholars, physicians, writers, activists and scientific researchers united in their conviction that the mainstream of the medical community has failed to prove that HIV is the cause of an ever changing constellation of diseases currently known as AIDS.

RA advocates that students, academics, physicians, scientists, government officials and the general public be encouraged to think critically and speak openly about all subjects related to HIV and AIDS and believes that such discussions should be freely undertaken without fear of professional, social, political, economic or criminal intimidation or harassment.

RA will encourage appropriately trained scientists and laboratories to undertake the AIDS related research projects such as those approved at the Johannesburg conference in July 2000.

RA will identify and make public scientific research on HIV/AIDS that has been suppressed, censored or prevented.

RA Membership

There shall be three categories of members:

1. Signatories, past and future, of the initial 1991 RA statement shall automatically be considered as “Members of the RA Group”,
2. Signatories who make a financial contribution in support of RA’s aims shall be referred to as “Contributors”,
3. Signatories who have been/or will be appointed to membership of RA Board of Directors (BD) will be referred to as “Board members” or “Directors”.

RA Board of Directors

The Board of Directors will include three paid Officers, elected by the Board, namely: one President, one Treasurer, and one Webmaster. These three officers are elected by a two-thirds majority of the entire board for a renewable three-year term.

New members can be nominated by two current members of the board. They will be appointed by a two-thirds majority vote of the entire board. The minimum number of board members is five. The maximum number is twenty-one.

All members of the Board of Directors shall personally certify that they have absolutely no conflict of interest with any of the manufacturers of ARV drugs and/or of “HIV” tests.

A board member can be removed by a two thirds vote of the entire board.

Responsibilities of the President

1. Represent RA in international debates and meetings related to the purpose of RA;
2. Provide continuous advice and guidance to the RA Webmaster and Treasurer;
3. Convene and chair one annual Board of Directors meeting providing at least 45 days notice;
4. Lead fund-raising campaigns.
5. To provide an annual summary of accomplishments and goals for the next year.

Responsibilities of the Treasurer

1. Bookkeeping of all income and of all expenditures, and maintaining RA assets to comply with local State and Federal requirements;
2. Prepare an annual budget and financial report for presentation and approval during the annual Board of Directors meeting;
3. Maintain a database of contributors and contributions ;
4. Handling of all tax filings and communications with local, state and federal governments on fiscal matters.

Responsibilities of the Webmaster

1. Continuously update the RA website, publicizing scientific and verifiable AIDS related information.
2. Maintain and continuously update a database of all signatories, contributors and directors., database referred to as the “RA Directory”.
3. Proceed with emailings to RA Members, after approval by two members of the board.
4. Coordinate content with PR task force.

The RA Public Relation Task force (PRTF)

A small (maximum of 4 members) Public Relation Task Force shall be appointed. Its function shall be to efficiently communicate, by press releases to the media, RA views and positions on current developments and events related to AIDS science and to AIDS public policies. All press releases shall require the speedy approval of the Board of Directors. The Task force may include a member(s) who is not on the RA Board of Directors.

Responsibilities of the Entire Board

1. Identify appropriate “Correspondents” and delegate to them specific responsibilities to communicate with the media worldwide , as well as to regularly submit AIDS related remarks/comments for posting on the RA website. These Correspondents (Members of RA, but not necessarily members of the Board of Directors) will be geographically distributed worldwide, insuring the international nature of RA.
2. Comply with the conflict of interest policy (when defined).
3. Be available to engage in Public Relations (PR) activities for RA.
4. Annually, the non-officer board members will review the performance of the President, Treasurer and Webmaster. A detailed report will be provided to the person holding the position being reviewed.
5. The board will annually review and approve the budget.

Sources of Funds

1. All people and organizations who support the aims of RA should be encouraged to become contributors.

Expenditures

1. RA funds should only be used to further the aims of RA. Publishing books, fims, organizing AIDS related conferences, foster all possible internet communications, etc, are main examples (non exhaustive) of possible RA expenditures.
2. Expenditures over US$1000 require the approval of a two-thirds majority of the entire board.

Amendment

The by-laws can be amended by a two-thirds vote of the entire board.

Version Information:

Approved June 11, 2006. New York City. Final revision: January 24, 2007.