IOS - International Organization for Succulent Plant Study
IOS Statutes and Byelaws
Version ratified by the IOS Congress August 2008
STATUTES
Art. 1: Name
The name of the Organization is 'International Organization for Succulent Plant Study' ('Internationale Organisation für Sukkulenten-Forschung'; 'Organisation Internationale de Recherches sur les Plantes Succulentes'; 'Organización Internacional para el Estudio de Plantas Suculentas')
Art. 2: Objects
The objects of IOS shall be to promote the study and conservation of succulent and allied plants and to encourage international collaboration amongst those interested in them.
The objects of IOS will be achieved by the following means:
Art. 3: Status
IOS is a member of the International Union for Biological Sciences (IUBS).
Art. 4: Membership
IOS consists of:
1. Personal Members
2. Institutional Members
Art. 5: Admission
Applications for Personal or Institutional Membership shall be submitted on an official form provided by the Secretary or downloaded from the IOS website and accompanied by a payment equivalent to the current biennial subscription. All applications shall be considered by the Executive Board, at whose discretion admission shall be granted.
Applications for Student Membership shall be approved and countersigned by the student's Supervisor.
Student Membership shall be for two years in the first instance, renewable on request for a further two years only. Student Members shall have the same privileges as other Personal Members but shall not be required to pay the biennial subscription and shall not have voting rights.
Honorary Membership may be conferred on individuals who have rendered the IOS services or to IOS members who have excelled in succulent plant activities. Nominations shall be submitted to the Secretary at least three months before a Congress. Nominations approved by the Executive Board shall be ratified by the Congress.
Applications for Institutional Membership may be made by any recognized Institution or Organization interested in the objectives of IOS. Institutional Members shall have similar rights to those of one Ordinary Member and shall pay the same biennial subscription.
Art. 6: Withdrawal of membership
Membership of IOS may be terminated by resignation, by non-payment of the subscription, or by decision of the Executive Board when the member no longer fulfils the conditions stipulated in these Statutes or acts against the interest of IOS, subject to appeal at the next Congress.
Art. 7: Management
The management of IOS shall be vested in an Executive Board consisting of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer.
The Executive Board shall be responsible for putting into effect the decisions of the Congress, for preparing the Organization's budget and carrying out its provisions, and shall assist the President in every activity that furthers the aims of the Organization. The Executive Board shall have the power to make, amend or delete bye-laws to assist the operation of the Statutes.
Bye-laws may also be deleted by a simple majority vote at the Congress. It is desirable that the Executive Board should be composed of members of different nationalities.
Art. 8: Vacancies
Vacancies in the Executive Board occurring between Congresses shall be filled by nomination from the Executive Board.
Art. 9: Tenure
All members of the Executive Board shall hold office between two consecutive Congresses. The officers shall be eligible for re-election, but the President and Vice-President shall not normally serve more than two consecutive terms of office.
Art. 10: Board Meetings
The Executive Board shall meet in person at least once per year. The quorum for a meeting shall be three members.
Art. 11: Election of Executive Board
Written nominations, proposed and seconded by members of IOS and bearing the consent of the member nominated, shall be invited prior to each Congress for the posts of President, Vice-President, Secretary, Assistant Secretary and Treasurer. Nominations in writing must be in the hands of the Secretary not less than three months before a Congress. If more than one nomination is received for any post, there shall be a postal ballot of all members, to be decided by a simple majority.
Art. 12: Finance
The activities of IOS shall be financed by the subscriptions of members and by donations, bequests and such other income as may be available. The amount of the subscription for the succeeding two years shall be fixed by the Congress.
Art. 13. Exemptions.
Honorary and Student members shall not be required to pay the subscription. Members who have been fully paid-up members for at least ten years and have attained 70 years of age, and who wish actively to continue supporting the IOS, may apply for exemption from payment of the subscription when renewing their membership.
Art. 14: Congresses
Congresses shall be held (so far as is possible) biennially.
Art. 15: Congress Venue and Organization
The venue for the Congress shall be chosen by the Executive Board taking account of the wishes of members. A Local Organizer shall be appointed to act in liaison with the Executive Board. All financial and programme arrangements shall be subject to the agreement of the Executive Board.
Art. 16: General Meeting
A General Meeting of members shall be held at each Congress for the transaction of the following business: Presentation, discussion and ratification of the Organization's reports and accounts for the preceding inter-Congress period and plans for the future, with the appropriate budget; election of Honorary Members; election of the Executive Board for the ensuing inter-Congress period; election of auditors; fixing of the subscription for the following two years; discussion of other matters raised by or submitted to the Executive Board prior to the Congress.
All Members except Student Members shall have one vote. The chairman of the Meeting shall have the casting vote.
Art. 17: Amendments to Statutes
Amendments to these statutes may be proposed by the Executive Board or in writing by at least four members. Proposals must be in the hands of the Secretary at least three months prior to a Congress. To be adopted, any proposal involving a change to the Statutes, or the dissolution of the Organization, must be supported by two-thirds of the members present at the General Meeting.
Art. 18: Disposal of Assets and Properties
In the event of the dissolution of the Organization, the Executive Board shall be empowered to dispose of the Organization's assets and properties to one or more kindred organizations.
BYELAWS
1. Language. The official language of IOS is English, but contributions in other major scientific languages are acceptable, and it is desirable that a translation should be given of important notices and other communications.
2. The biennial subscription is due on 1 January following a Congress, payable in Swiss currency or the full equivalent amount in other currencies. All bank charges, commission etc are payable by the subscriber.
3. Publications. The Organization's official publications are IOS Bulletin and Repertorium Plantarum Succulentarum, which shall be issued annually and free of charge to members
4. IOS Documentation Centre. The Zurich Succulent Collection (Sukkulenten-Sammlung Zürich), Switzerland is designated the 'IOS Documentation Centre' ('IOS Dokumentations-Zentrum') and is recognized by IOS as the official repository for research material of all kinds donated to IOS, including living plants, herbarium specimens, publications and illustrations, and for all archival material relating to IOS.
All items other than live plants specifically donated to IOS and housed at the Centre are on permanent loan. Books etc will be stamped to this effect and incorporated into the Library of the Collection.
All members are recommended to deposit the original or duplicate material of taxa described by them at the Centre, and are invited to donate other living or herbarium material, accompanied by full documentation.
The Documentation Centre is open to members for consultation by prior arrangement with the Director.
5. Reference Collections. IOS will promote the establishment of a network of 'Reference Collections'. The Assistant Secretary shall be responsible for implementing the scheme and for regulations concerning qualification, objectives, and registration procedure.
6. IOS Research Fund. The IOS Research Fund shall be administered by a Committee of the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer assisted by external assessors as necessary. Application for grants may be made at any time to the Secretary, but at least four months before funds are required. Applications should include a Project Plan, timetable and budget,names of collaborators, institutional contacts, other actual or potential sources of funding, and names of referees. Successful applicants will be expected to present a written report and/or oral presentation at an IOS Congress and part of their grant may be allocated as a contribution to travel expenses incurred in presenting the report to an IOS Congress.
Status: as printed in Bulletin 15 (1).
Last update: 10 Mar 2010