Article I : NAME |
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| The name of the Society shall be the Swiss Society for Neuroscience. |
Article II : PURPOSE |
| The purpose of the Society shall be (a) to advance the understanding of the nervous system and its diseases, by bringing together scientists and clinicians of various backgrounds, and by facilitating the integration of research; (b) to promote the exchange between basic and clinical research, as well as with industrial research; (c) to promote education in the basic and clinical neurosciences; (d) to promote exchange and collaboration at the international level; and (e) to inform the general public on the results and implications of current research in the neurosciences. For this specific purpose, the Society may collaborate with other associations. |
Article III : MEMBERSHIP |
| Section 1. Members. The Society shall consist of five groups of Members: Ordinary Members, Student Members, Emeritus Members, Supporting Members, and Honorary Members. The Council shall have final responsibility for approval or disapproval of all applications for membership. |
| Section 2. Ordinary Members. Any resident of Switzerland who is engaged in research relating to the basic or clinical neurosciences is eligible to apply for Ordinary Membership. Applications may be submitted on-line at the Website of the Society or in writing to the Secretary of the Society. Two members of the SSN have to be named as reference. The eligibility of candidate members will be verified by the Secretary. Application from residents of other countries will be considered if they can advance convincing arguments for joining the Society. |
| Section 3. Student, Emeritus and Supporting Members. Pre-doctoral students at degree-granting institutions are eligible to apply for Student Membership by application directly to the Secretary of the Society. Their application must be endorsed by their supervisor. Student Membership has to be renewed on a yearly basis. Upon the award of a Ph.D., M.D., or equivalent degree, Student Memberships shall be terminated. Former Student Members shall then be eligible to apply for Ordinary Membership as described in Section 2. Ordinary members reaching the official age of retirement may apply for the status of Emeritus Member (by e-mail to the President of the SSN). The Emeritus Membership status is recognized starting the beginning of the year following the application. ll persons or organizations interested in the Society's objectives but not eligible for Ordinary, Emeritus or Student Membership, are eligible to apply for Supporting Membership. Student Members, Emeritus Members and Supporting Members cannot become Officers of the Society or Members of the Council. |
| Section 4. Honorary Members. Persons of outstanding distinction in Neuroscience are eligible for election as Honorary Members upon the nomination of the Council. Such members shall have the rights of Ordinary Members of the Society, excluding that of voting. |
| Section 5. Membership Fees. The Council shall set annual membership fees for the Ordinary Members, Student Members, Emeritus Members and Supporting Members according to the needs of the Society. In principle, the (reduced) membership fee is the same for Student and Emeritus Members. The Council shall decide on the distribution of funds collected as membership fees. |
| Section 6. Penalty for Non-Payment of Fees. A member who has not paid the membership fee within a period of one year after billing shall, upon being billed for the succeeding year, be notified of forfeiture of membership unless all indebtedness to the Society is met within sixty (60) days. Reinstatement following this sixty-day period shall require the request of the delinquent member, approval by the Council, and liquidation of all indebtedness. |
| Section 7. Duration of Membership. Any Member may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Secretary. |
Article IV : MEETINGS OF THE SOCIETY |
| Section 1. Regular Meetings. The Society shall meet at least every two years at a place, date and hour designated by Council; notice of the meeting shall be given in advance to all members. |
| Section 2. Conduct of Business. Business of the Society shall be transacted at the Regular Meeting. Conduct of the meeting shall adhere to standard parliamentary procedures. |
| Section 3. Notice of Meetings. The Secretary shall give notice of Regular Meetings and special meetings of the membership as a whole by mailing to each member a notice stating the place, day and hour of the meeting, and, in case of a special meeting, the purpose for which the meeting is called. Such notice of special meetings shall be mailed not less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting. Notice of the Regular Meeting is to be given no later than the prior Regular Meeting. |
| Section 4. Vote and Representation. Each Ordinary and Student Member who is present shall be entitled to one (1) vote at all meeting of the members of the Society or in postal ballots. |
Article V : PRESIDENT AND COUNCIL MEMBERS |
| Section 1. Council. The Society's affairs shall be conducted through a Council consisting of fourteen (14) members including the Officers, i.e. the President, President Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer. All members of the Council, shall be entitled to one (1) vote each, although the presiding officer shall vote only in the case of a tie. All members of the Council shall serve without compensation. |
| Section 2. Election of Council Members. Eight (8) members of Council shall be elected for a four (4) year term and may not serve a second term unless they are elected or appointed as Officers of the Society. Elections shall be conducted at the Regular Meeting by ballot of all Ordinary and Student Members present. Four (4) Members of the Council are to be elected at alternate elections. Thus, elections shall take place every two (2) years. Council members must be Ordinary Members of the Society. |
| Section 3. Nomination of Council Members. Lists of candidates for the position of Council Members shall be prepared by the Council or a Nominating Committee. Nominations may be submitted in writing by any Ordinary or Student Member up to three (3) months before a Regular Meeting in an election year. An Ordinary or Student Member may nominate up to four (4) persons, one for each Council position to be filled. The Council or the Nominating Committee shall present a list containing at least one name for each position, taking into consideration an equal representation of the basic and clinical neurosciences. The Nominating Committee shall pay due regard to nominations received from the Membership. |
| Section 4. Co-opted Members of Council. The Council is empowered to co-opt two (2) additional Members of Council, in addition to the eight (8) elected Members, in order to ensure that a proper geographical and scientific balance is represented on Council at all times. Co-opted Members of Council will serve a four (4) year term. |
| Section 5. Election of President. The President will serve a two (2) year term following two (2) years as President Elect, and will be elected from the list prepared by the Council or Nominating Committee. Nominations may be submitted in writing by any Ordinary or Student Member three (3) months before a Regular Meeting in an election year. An Ordinary or Student Member may nominate one person. |
| Section 6. Regular Meetings. The Council shall convene at the Regular Meeting and at other times and places as it deems necessary. If deemed necessary by the President, Council may transact business by mail ballot provided that not less than six (6) members of the Council shall have approved in writing any proposed transaction. |
| Section 7. Vacancies. All vacancies in the Council shall be filled by the designation of the President after consultation with the Council from the list of Ordinary Members, until the next election, which shall fill such vacancies for the unexpired term. |
Article VI : OFFICERS |
| Section 1. Appointment. With the exception of the President and President-Elect, who shall be elected (as described in V.5), Council is empowered to appoint a Secretary and a Treasurer from among its own Members. |
| Section 2. Duties of the President. The President shall be the chief executive officer of the Society, shall preside at meetings of the Council and business meetings of the Society, shall be responsible for executing policies determined by the Council, shall see that all Orders and Resolutions of the Council are carried into effect. |
| Section 3. Duties of the President-Elect. The President-Elect shall assist the President in his/her duties, and shall substitute for the President in his/her absence. |
| Section 4. Duties of the Secretary. The Secretary shall assist the President and the President-Elect in carrying out the business of the Society. |
| Section 5. Duties of the Treasurer. The Treasurer shall have the custody of the Society's funds and securities, and shall keep full and accurate account of receipts and disbursements in books belonging to the Society, and shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Society in such depositories as may be designated by the Council. He/she shall disburse the funds of the Society as he/she may be ordered by the Council, and shall render to the President and the Council at its regular meetings, or when the Council so requires, an account of all the transactions as Treasurer and of the financial condition of the Society. The Treasurer shall substitute for the President if neither he/she nor the President-Elect can serve. |
Article VII : COMMITTEES |
| Section 1. The Council shall have power to delegate any of its powers to a committee to act for and in place of the Council when not in session or for special purposes, designating their duties and powers in the resolution of appointment. Such resolutions must be adopted by a majority of the Council members. |
| Section 2. Standing Committees. Standing Committees may be appointed at the discretion of Council to undertake specific duties. Members and chairpersons of Standing Committees are appointed by nomination of the President and approval of the Council. |
Article VIII : PUBLICATIONS |
| The Society, at the direction of the Council, may arrange to have material published that bears upon its specific aims. Such publications may include reports, monographs, or periodicals by printed or electronic media. |
Article IX : FINANCIAL YEAR |
| Section 1. Period. The financial year of the Society shall commence on the 1st day of January and end on the 31st day of December. |
| Section 2. Treasurer's Report. A report of the financial state of the Society shall be made by the Treasurer at the Regular Meeting and whenever requested by Council. |
Article X : AMENDMENTS |
| On resolution by majority action of the Council, or by a written proposal signed by not less than ten (10) Ordinary Members, these Articles may be amended by a simple majority of votes cast at the Regular Meeting of the Society. Written notice of the substance of the proposed amendment is to be sent to all members not less than thirty (30) days prior to the time at which it shall be submitted to a vote. Changes in the Articles shall go into effect following their adoption at the Regular Meeting of the Society. |
By Laws
Articles of the Association