Article I: NAME
The name of the Society shall be the Swiss Society for Neuroscience (SSN). The SSN is an association according to Swiss civil code 60 ff (ZGB; Artikel 60). The seat of the society is the work address of the president.
Article II: PURPOSE
The purposes of the SSN is (a) to advance the understanding of the nervous system and its diseases; (b) to bring together scientists and clinicians of various backgrounds, and facilitate the integration of research; (c) to promote the exchange between basic, clinical and industrial research; (d) to promote education in basic and clinical neurosciences; (e) to promote exchange and collaboration at the national and international level, and (f) to inform the general public on the results and implications of current research in the neurosciences. For this purpose, the SSN may collaborate with other associations.
Article III: MEMBERSHIP
Section 1. Members
The Society shall consist of five classes of members: Regular members, Student members, Emeritus members, Supporting members, and Honorary members. The Council shall have final responsibility for approval or disapproval of all membership applications.
Section 2. Regular Members
Any resident of Switzerland who is engaged in research relating to the neurosciences is eligible to apply for Regular membership. Applications may be submitted on-line at the SSN Website or in writing to the Secretary of the SSN. Two members of the SSN have to be named as references. 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 SSN.
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 SSN. Their application must be endorsed by their supervisor. Student memberships are for a maximum of four (4) years. In the 5th year, the membership is automatically turned into a Regular membership. Applications for extensions of Student memberships have to be sent to the Secretary.
Regular 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 at the beginning of the year following the application.
Persons or organizations interested in the Society’s objectives but not eligible for Regular, Emeritus or Student membership, are eligible to apply for Supporting membership.
Student, Emeritus and Supporting members cannot become Officers of the SSN or members of the Council.
Section 4. Honorary Members
Persons of outstanding merits in Neurosciences are eligible for election as Honorary members upon nomination by the Council. Such members shall have the rights of Regular members of the Society.
Section 5. Membership Fees.
The Council shall propose annual membership fees for Regular, Student, Emeritus and Supporting members according to the needs of the SSN for approval by the members at the business meeting. The Council shall decide on the distribution of funds collected as membership fees.
Section 6. Penalty of 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 SSN 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 SSN members shall meet at least every two years at a place and time designated by Council. Notice of the Regular Meeting is to be given no later than at the prior Regular Meeting. In addition, notice of the meeting shall be given in advance by e-mail to all members.
Section 2. Notice of Special Meetings
The Secretary shall notify members of special meetings, indicating the purpose, the place and time of the meeting. Notice of special meetings shall be distributed not less than ten (10) days before the date of the meeting.
Section 3. Conduct of Business
Business of the SSN shall be transacted at the Regular Meeting. Conduct of the meeting shall adhere to standard parliamentary procedures.
Section 4. Vote and Representation
Each Regular, Emeritus and Student member who is present shall be entitled to one (1) vote at all meetings of the members of the SSN 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 eight (8) 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
Six (6) members of Council shall be elected for a four (4) year term and may not serve a consecutive 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 members present. Three (3) members of the Council are to be elected at alternate elections. Thus, elections shall take place every two (2) years. Council members must be Regular members of the SSN.
Section 3. Nomination of Council Members
Lists of candidates for the position of Council Members shall be prepared by the Council. Nominations must be submitted to the President in writing by any Regular, Emeritus, or Student member up to three (3) months before a Regular Meeting in an election year. A member may nominate up to three (3) persons, one for each Council position to be filled. The Council shall present a list containing at least one name for each position, taking into consideration an equal representation of basic and clinical neurosciences.
Section 4. Co-opted Members of Council
The Council is empowered to co-opt two (2) additional Council members, in addition to the six (6) elected members, in order to ensure adequate geographical and scientific representation in the Council. Co-opted Council members will serve a four (4) year term.
Section 5. Election of the President
The President will serve a two (2) year term following two (2) years as President-Elect. The President-Elect will be elected from the list prepared by the Council. Nominations may be submitted in writing by any Regular, Emeritus or Student member three (3) months before a Regular Meeting in an election year. A Regular, Emeritus 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 four (4) 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 Regular 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-Elect, who shall be elected (as described in Article V.5), Council is empowered to appoint a Secretary and a Treasurer from its members.
Section 2. Duties of the President
The President shall be the chief executive officer of the SSN, shall preside at meetings of the Council and business meetings, 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. The Secretary is in charge of the membership database and the minutes of business and council meetings.
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 SSN, and shall deposit all monies and other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the SSN in such depositories as may be designated by the Council. He/she shall disburse the funds of the SSN 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 SSN. The Treasurer shall substitute for the President if neither he/she nor the President-Elect can serve.
Article VII: COMMITTEES
Section 1. Council
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 January 1st and end on December 31st.
Section 2. Treasurer’s Report
A report of the financial state of the SSN 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) Regular members, these Articles may be amended by a simple majority of votes cast at the Regular Meeting of the SSN. 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 SSN.
Article XI: Liability
Only the property of the association is liable for all liabilities of the SSN. Swiss civil code (ZGB; Article 75a).
Zürich, 31.3.2011