INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY FOR PLANT ANAEROBIOSIS STATUTES

Approved by a General Meeting of the Society held at the 8 th International Conference of ISPA, University of Western Australia on Thursday 23 rd September 2004

1: Name

The name of the organization shall be the International Society for Plant Anaerobiosis (ISPA) referred to herein as the Society.

2: Objective

The objective of the Society is to integrate the activities of the international research community concerned to understand responses of plants to impeded aeration brought about by a wide variety of means including waterlogging of soil, submergence, space flight, natural tissue impedance, storage conditions and packaging of produce. This objective will be accomplished by means agreed by an Executive Committee that shall include:

a) The organization of a periodic International Conference, ideally every three years.

b) The organization of sessions devoted to plant aeration and related topics at other major international conferences (e.g. International Botanical Congresses).

c) Supporting and encouraging regional meetings and workshops, and publication of papers in refereed journals, books or other media that are generated by the conferences and meetings it arranges.

d) Supporting and promoting publication of papers in refereed journals, books or other appropriate media that are generated by the conferences and sessions it arranges.

e) Maintaining a web site devoted to matters relevant to ISPA that will include a searchable list of members and their contact details. f) Promote the involvement of early-career scientists in the activities of the Society.

3: Membership

Membership is open to individuals or organizations from any country with an interest in plant aeration and related topics. Members can join at any time with subscription payable to the Treasurer. The cost of membership is EURO 20 or an equivalent amount paid in an exchangeable currency. This payment confers membership and voting rights for a period of three years from the time payment is received.

4: Administration of the Society

Executive Committee

The affairs of the Society shall be conducted by an Executive Committee consisting of a President, Honorary President or Past-President, Executive Secretary, Membership Secretary, Treasurer, Website Manager and International Conference Director. It will be supported by an International Advisory Panel comprising four area representatives (one from each of Australasia, Asia, Europe, the Americas). At the discretion of the Executive Committee, other geographical areas (e.g. Africa, South America) could be represented if their membership merits this.

The Executive Committee has the power to:

i) Create and modify regulations in ways that facilitate the objective outlined in Article 2 after first seeking the views of the wider membership.

ii) Between General Meetings, appoint replacement members to the Executive Committee and the International Advisory Panel, and form ad hoc committees.

iii) Levy a membership fee, payable by all members and at a level agreed at each General Meeting.

iv) Prepare and approve a budget and use these monies solely in pursuit of the aims of the ISPA.

v) Seek potential hosts for International Conferences and for the position of International Conference Director.

vi) Seek sponsorship internationally, to aid the running of Conferences and the aims of the Society.

All actions by the Executive Committee are subject to examination and ratification at a General Meeting of paid-up members to be held at each International Meeting and chaired by the President.

1. The President shall be appointed to take overall responsibility for the running of the Society from the last day of one International Meeting to the last day of the succeeding meeting, and may be re-appointed for one additional term. Upon standing-down, the President becomes the Past-President until the successor President, in turn, becomes Past-President.

2 . The President conducts the business of the Society in conjunction with other members of the Executive Committee. The President will chair the General Meeting. At the General Meeting, the President will deliver a report on the activities of the Society prepared jointly with the Executive Secretary.

3 . The President together with other members of the Executive Committee is responsible for maintaining the membership of the Executive Committee. The President and Vice-President will both hold seats on the Programme Committee of each International Meeting.

4 . The Executive Secretary carries out the official correspondence of the Society, maintains: the minutes of Executive Committee meetings, the minutes of the General Meeting, and ensures that business is transacted in accordance with the Society's Statutes The Executive Secretary is appointed to administrate the Society's business from the last day of one International meeting to the last day of the succeeding meeting, and may be re-appointed for one additional term.

5 . The Treasurer is responsible for the financial affairs of the Society, for securing subscriptions and chasing slow renewals and for presenting financial reports to the Executive Committee and General Meeting. The Treasurer is appointed to administrate the Society's finances from the last day of one International Meeting to the last day of the succeeding meeting, and may be re-appointed for one or more further terms.

6 . The Membership Secretary is charged with the tasks of creating and/or updating an electronic membership list, posting this list on the Society's web site and refreshing this on a regular basis thus rendering it of maximum utility for the organizers of the International Meetings.

7. The Website Manager is charged with the tasks of creating and/or maintaining an informative and comprehensive web site that carries up-to-date information concerning (i) contact details of its paid-up membership; (ii) details of the make-up of the Executive Committee and International Advisory Panel; (iii) Agendas and Minutes of the Executive Committee and of the General Meeting; any other items relevant to the remit of the Society.

8. Members of the International Advisory Panel representing the geographical regions are appointed for the interval between the last days of succeeding International Meetings and may be re-appointed for one additional term. The Executive Committee must seek the views of the International Advisory Panel on all major issues and to note formally its inputs into the Executive Committee's decision-making. Each member of the Advisory Panel is expected to initiate proposals to the Executive Committee that reflect the needs of members, especially those of the region they represent.

Elections

1. At each General Meeting, the outgoing Executive Committee should propose one candidate for election to each position on the Executive Committee and on the International Advisory Panel. Candidates for all positions can also be nominated by individual members. These proposals should be seconded, have the agreement of the candidate and be presented to the Secretary no later than 24 h prior to the General Meeting.

2. Elections shall occur at the General Meeting. Each paid-up member will be able to vote for each position on the Executive Committee and on the International Advisory Panel. They may also vote on other issues requiring the support of the membership. For voting purposes, a member is defined as someone who has paid dues since the previous General Meeting. The President will vote only if his/her vote is decisive.

5: Conferences and meetings

The Society will endeavour to promote an International Conference every third year and to rotate the Conference between the geographical areas represented on the Executive Committee. The Society will also endeavour to promote sessions on topics of interest to ISPA members at conferences arranged by other organisations. To ensure transparency concerning conference finances, the accounts of each International Conference shall be available to the Executive Committee within 6 months of every Congress. These accounts should itemize all sources of income for the Conference and its outgoings together with a profit and loss statement. ISPA can have no responsibility for debts arising from any conference organised under its aegis, but at least half of any financial profit gained from an International Conference should be returned to the Executive Committee to help fund future activities of the Society. There shall be a General Meeting of the Society at each International Conference and at other times deemed appropriate by the Executive Committee.

There will also be a meeting of the Executive Committee held at each International Conference to which members of the International Advisory Panel are also invited as non-voting participants. A principal task of the Executive Committee will be to help ensure the success of each International Conference and other scientific meeting sponsored by ISPA.

The Statutes can be amended at any General Meeting by a 2/3 vote of the membership in attendance. The Executive Committee or a group of 10 or more members may propose changes by giving notice to the Secretary at least two months prior to the General Meeting.