of the Association for Tree Ring Research
Article 1
The Association is called "Association for Tree Ring
Research".
The Association is headquartered in Jülich.
Article 2
The Association shall exclusively and directly pursue non-profit
purposes within the meaning of the section "tax-favoured purposes" of
the German Financial Code. The purpose of the Association shall be the promotion
of science, teaching and research on the subject matter of tree rings in plants
of any origin.
The purpose of the Statutes shall be implemented, in particular, by the
following goals:
-
the initiation and coordination of
scientific activities in the field of tree ring research,
-
support for proposals on projects of
tree ring research and support for funding applications,
-
informing the public about new
developments and results in tree ring research,
-
promotion of international
cooperation.
The Association shall, moreover, aim at obtaining the following benefits
and privileges for its members:
a) Training
-
support and organization of field
weeks,
-
support and organization of
laboratory weeks,
-
invitations to lectures and courses
from various areas of tree ring research (e.g. in the field of wood anatomy,
stable isotopes in tree rings, etc.).
b) Information
-
announcement of scientific
workshops, conferences etc. in connection with tree ring studies and
announcement of vacancies (opportunities for diploma, Master's or PhD theses)
-
compilation of technical
developments, current dendrochronological topics, addresses etc.
The Association shall maintain contacts with neighbouring specialized
organizations.
Article 3
The Association shall work on a non-profit basis. It shall not primarily pursue profitability purposes.
Article 4
Members of the Association for Tree Ring Research can be any persons
working with tree rings for the clarification of practical and theoretical
problems or interested in promoting relevant activities. Persons having acquired particular merits in the Association's field of
activity can be appointed consultant members by a unanimous resolution of the
Executive Committee.
Article 5
Applications for membership to be made in writing shall be decided by
the Executive Committee. Membership shall begin upon payment of the first
membership fee.
Resignation shall be effected by a written declaration
submitted to the Executive Committee. Resignation can only be declared by the end of a
financial year.
Article 6
Members are charged annual membership fees. The
amount and due date of the annual membership fee will be determined by the
Meeting of Members.
The financial year shall be the calendar year.
Article 7
Membership is non-transferable. It expires upon death or by notice of termination. A member's rights will be suspended in the event of arrears amounting to
three annual membership fees until the liability is fulfilled. Members can be deleted from the list
of members by a resolution of the Executive Committee if their payment of
membership fees is in arrears despite two written reminders. Members having damaged the
Association's reputation or impairing the Association's interests can be
excluded at the suggestion of the Executive Committee by a two-thirds majority
vote of those present at an ordinary Meeting of Members.
Article 8
The Association's funds may only be used for purposes in conformity with
the Statutes.
Members shall not receive any allowances from the
Association's funds.
No person shall benefit from expenditure or allowances
alien to the purpose of the Association or from unreasonably high
remunerations.
Article 9
The organs of the Association are:
1. the Meeting of Members,
2. the Executive Committee,
3.
the Advisory Council.
Article 10
The Executive Committee pursuant to § 26 BGB (German Civil Code) is
composed of:
1. the chairman,
2. the vice-chairman,
3. the secretary,
4. the treasurer.
The Executive Committee shall be responsible for all matters not
assigned to any other organ of the Association by the Statutes.
Each member of the Executive Committee shall be entitled to solely
represent the Association.
Article 11
The Executive Committee shall be elected by the Meeting of Members by
secret ballot for two years. The right of nomination shall lie with the members of
the Association and the Executive Committee. The
candidates must either be present during the election or must have previously
declared their acceptance of candidature in writing. For the
Executive Committee's functions listed in Article 10, separate ballots shall be
performed in the order specified there. For each
ballot, a new list of candidates shall be drawn up following a proposal from
the Meeting of Members. If no candidate obtains a simple majority vote in the
first ballot, a second ballot shall decide between the two candidates who have
received most votes.
Article 12
Each member shall have one vote at the Meeting of Members. An ordinary Meeting of Members shall take place at least once a year, if
possible, within the first six months. Each Meeting of Members shall be convened in writing
by the Executive Committee four weeks in advance, specifying the agenda and
venue. The Meeting of Members shall constitute a quorum irrespective of the
number of members present.
An extraordinary Meeting of Members shall be convened by the Executive
Committee if required in the Association's interest or if requested in writing
by one fifth of the members, specifying purpose and reasons.
The Meeting of Members shall adopt resolutions, in general, by a simple majority
of the valid votes cast. The Meeting of Members may also adopt resolutions by a
written procedure, in which only those votes are taken into consideration which
have been received by the Executive Committee within three weeks after the
Executive Committee's request for voting. The date
of postmark shall be valid both for the Executive Committee's request for
passing a resolution and for voting by the members.
Minutes of the Meeting of Members shall be drawn up and must be signed
by the secretary.
Article 13
The Meeting of Members shall be responsible for the following matters:
-
determination of membership fees
-
approval of the budget drawn up by
the Executive Committee for the following financial year, receipt of the
Executive Committee's annual report, discharge of the Executive Committee
-
election and dismissal of two
auditors
-
election and dismissal of the
members of the Executive Committee and of the Advisory Council
Article 14
The Advisory Council shall consist of not more than 9 members. The members of the Advisory Council shall be elected by the Meeting of
Members.
The Executive Committee shall have a right of
nomination.
The members of the Advisory Councils shall ensure an
adequate representation of all subject areas of the Association. The Advisory Council shall give advice to the Executive Committee on
scientific issues, e.g. in the evaluation of projects relating to topics of
tree ring research or relevant applications. Furthermore,
it shall exercise an advisory function for special topics (e.g. isotope
research, etc.).
Article 15
The Statutes can be modified by a two-thirds majority vote. If no two-thirds majority is attainable by the number of those present
at a Meeting of Members, a modification of the Statutes shall nevertheless be
deemed approved, if a two-thirds majority vote is attained by the written
approval of members not present.
Article 16
The dissolution of the Association can only be approved by a majority of
three quarters of the valid votes cast by the members present at a Meeting of
Members.
In the event of the Association being dissolved or
tax-favoured purposes no longer applying, the assets shall be used for
tax-favoured purposes. Resolutions on
the future use of the assets may only be executed after approval by the tax
office.