Current executive committee of the International Society of Pteridinology

President: Prof.Dr.Bohuslav Melichar
Onkologická klinikam Lékarská fakulta Univerzity
Palackého a Fakultní nemocnice, I.P.
Pavlova 6
775 20 Olomouc, Czech Republic
Phone: +420 583 444 295, Fax: +420 588 442 522
e-mail: bohuslav.melichar@fnol.cz

Secretary: Prof. Dr. Katharina Kurz
Department of Internal Medicine
Innsbruck Medical University
Anichstrasse 35
6020 Innsbruck, Austria
e-mail: katharina.schroecksnadel@i-med.ac.at

Treasurer: Univ.-Prof.Dr.Dietmar Fuchs
Institute of Biological Chemistry Biocenter
Innsbruck Medical University
Innrain 80, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria
Phone: +43 512 9003 70351, Fax: +43 512 9003 73330
e-mail: dietmar.fuchs@i-med.ac.at

Clause 1. Name, headquarters, and area of activity
The association bears the name “ The International Society of Pteridinology”, which may be abbreviated to “ ISP”. The headquarters of the association are in Vienna, and its area of activity includes all states in the world. Branches of the association can be established in other countries.

Clause 2. The functions of the Society

The Society is non-profit making and has the task of furthering pteridine research and its applications in colleges, research establishments, and hospitals. One of the functions of the Society is to represent the interests of pteridinology and of those people who works in this area.

The Society will endeavour to achieve these aims by:
a) Uniting people who are interested in pteridine research and its applications,
b) Organizing scientific conferences in pteridinology for disseminating and discussing new developments and possible improvements to methods,
c) Further education events,
d) Publishing or arranging for publication in the field of pteridinology,
e) Furthering cooperation between the individuals working in pteridine research and application laboratories,
f) Cultivating relations with appropriate organizations who pursue related aims,
g) Protection of the legal interest of those people working in the field of the functions of the Society and clarification of the legal position by establishing responsibilities.

Clause 3. The Society’s funds

The financial resources to carry out the functions of the Society will be raised by means of:
a) A single grant and the annual contributions of the members.
b) Income from events; such income must be expended exclusively on the promotion of scientific works in the field of pteridinology and related spheres of work. 
c) Subsidies from private and state sources.
d) Donations and other gifts.

The Society is liable for all the financial commitments according to the existing law in Austria.

Clause 4. Members of the Society and their admission 

Any person who is interested in pteridine research and its applications and in related field of work is welcomed to become member of the Society.
Before confirmation of the constitution, members are admitted by the founding committee. This membership will become effective only on the occasion of the inaugural meeting. 
The International Society of Pteridinology compromises ordinary members, honorary members, and corporate members.
a) Ordinary members: Individual people can be admitted to the ordinary membership. Candidates should submit an application seconded by two members to the management committee. The latter then decides upon their admittance into the Society during a committee meeting. The decision cannot be contested and no reason need be given. Candidates who have been rejected can make a fresh application for membership only after one year has elapsed. Members who have been admitted have voting rights and pay a membership fee.
b) Honorary members: People of outstanding merit in the field of pteridine research and its application or related fields of work can be nominated honorary members by the general meeting at the request of the managing committee. Honorary members have voting rights, entitlement to vote and eligibility to be elected and do not pay any membership fee. 
c) Corporate members: Institutions and firms who want to promote the aims of the Society can be admitted as corporate members. They pay the Society an annual membership subscription, the amount of which is agreed with the management committee, and will be represented by a nominee. This nominee has only one vote at the general meeting, even if he is himself an individual member. The management committee decides on the admittance of corporate members.

Clause 5. Termination of membership

Membership is terminated:

a) On death in the case of individual people; on termination of the body corporate in the case of such corporate membership.
b) By voluntary resignation, notice of which must be given in writing. Any member who resigns remains obliged to pay the membership fee for the current year. 
c) When membership fee has not been paid throughout 2 years.
d) By expulsion due to non-fulfilment of the obligations as set out in the constitution. The expulsion will be proposed by the management committee on the basis of a simple majority vote, and will be ratified by the general meeting. 

Clause 6. Rights and duties of Society members

All members are entitled to participate in the general meeting and in the scientific events, and to put forward motions. Confirmed payment of membership fee is valid as membership card.
It is the duty of all members to protect the interests of the Society to the best of their abilities, to abide by the constitution and rulings, and to refrain from any action which could be detrimental to the reputation of the Society. All members must pay the stipulated membership fee. 

The membership subscription is determined for the financial year by the general meeting. It is payable in April of each year.


Clause 7. The management committee

Society is managed the general meeting, the chairman, the secretary, the treasurer and the arbitration court.

a) The Society will be headed by a management committee which will be made up of the chairman, the secretary, the treasurer, and three members. This management committee can, if required, call in advisers, who have no voting rights. 
b) With the exception of the chairman, the management committee originates itself. This management committee is the validated by the vote of the general meeting and proposes a suitable person for the office of chairman. The Chairman is elected by the general meeting.
c) The members of the management committee remain in office for a period of two years and can be re-elected.
d) The management committee makes its resolutions in a management committee meeting by simple majority in the presence of more than half of its members. If, in the event of an equal number of votes, a second vote does not result in any change, the chairman will decide.
e) If, for no sufficient reason, a member of the management committee does not fulfil his duties, the remaining members of the management committee can propose a new election for this member of the management committee.

8. The general meeting

a) The Society will hold at least one general meeting every financial year. The convening notification will contain the agenda and must be sent to the members at least four weeks before the appointed date. The chairman or a deputy nominated by him from the management committee will preside over the general meeting. At the first general meeting of the financial year, the chairman of the management committee presents the annual report and the balance sheet. Every general meeting is quorate if one third of those members of the association who are entitled to vote is present.
b) If a quorum is not present, then a new general meeting will take place half an hour later. This general meeting will be quorate regardless of the number of members present. It will decide by simple majority. If at least a quarter of all those present who are entitled to vote request a secret ballot, this must be implemented. In the event of an equal number of votes, the chairman will decide; he can, however, also request a second vote. A record is to be made of the chairman and the secretary. Motions for the general meeting must be given to the management committee in writing at least two weeks before the meeting. Motions to amend the constitution must be given at least two months in advance of the meeting.

Clause 9. Functions of the general meeting

The business functions of the general meeting are:

a) To accept the annual report and the annual statement of accounts and to formally approve the management committee.
b) To elect the chairman, and to ratify the management committee.
c) To fix the membership subscription.
d) To adopt resolutions concerning important motions.
e) To vote on any amendments there may be to the constitution. For such a resolution to be adopted validly a two-thirds majority of the members present is required.
f) To nominate honorary members and, if the case arises, to deprive members of honorary membership.
g) To expel members.
h) To adopt resolutions concerning appeals against the rulings of the court of arbitration.

Clause 10. Duties of the management committee

The management committee concerns itself with all questions which relate to the Society. In particular, its tasks are:

a) To convene the general meeting and to present the annual report.
b) To organize scientific conferences. A conference chairman will be appointed to prepare these conferences. He will be a member of the management committee for the duration of this activity. To assist him, a member of the management committee will be appointed secretary.
c) To prepare further education events. 
d) To standardize the applied methods and to elaborate standards.
e) The chairman represents the Society externally. Copies and written notifications from the Society must be signed by the chairman and by another member of the management committee. If the management committee so decides, a member of the management committee can be authorized to be a sole authorized signatory on behalf of the Society. 
f) Management of the finances is the responsibility of the treasurer.
g) To examine applications for admittance and motions, to put forward motions to the general meeting.
h) To put forward proposals for the nomination of honorary members.
i) To put forward motions with regard to the expulsion of members. 
j) To observe the legal condition which stipulates that the association may not allow any person expenses which are not related to the purpose of the association or disproportionately high emoluments. 
k) To respect the non-profit making purpose of the association.

Clause 11. The financial year

The financial year begins on 1st January and ends on 31st December. 

Clause 12. Auditors


The annual statement of accounts will be examined by two auditors, who will be elected for two years by the general meeting at the recommendation of the management committee. One of them will be replaced each year.

Clause 13. The court of arbitration

Disputes within the Society are decided by an arbitration court to which each of the parties delegates a representative. These representatives select an independent umpire from the management committee. If no agreement is reached on the selection of an umpire, then it will be decided by lot between the people who have been proposed. The arbitration court makes its decision by majority vote. Appeal to the general meeting is possible.

Clause 14. Dissolution of the Society

a) A motion for the voluntary dissolution of the Society can be put forward only by at least a third of all members. 
b) With the invitation to the general meeting, a detailed description of the reasons for voluntary dissolution has to be enclosed. The motion has also to include a proposal for the transfer of the assets of the Society. 
c) A three-quarter majority is necessary for a decision at this meeting.
d) In the event of a voluntary dissolution, the assets of the Society will be made available by the management committee to the university faculties of the founder members for research work in the field of pteridines. The assets will be distributed in equal parts to these faculties.

The faculties of the founder members are:
Faculty of Science, Aston University
Faculty of Medicine, Innsbruck University
Faculty of Chemistry, Konstanz University 
Faculty of Medicine, Vienna University
Faculty of Form and Science, Vienna University