STATUTES and BY-LAWS OF THE EUROPEAN BIOLOGICAL RHYTHMS SOCIETY (EBRS)

(20.12.1978, Amsterdam, NL; modified 7.1981, Gießen, FRG; 24.7.1993, Copenhagen, DK and 5.9.2005, Frankfurt, Germany)

I. OBJECT OF THE SOCIETY

Article 1
The European Biological Rhythms Society, officially constituted as the European Pineal Study Group on November 22, 1978 in Amsterdam is a scientific association aiming at the promotion of research on biological rhythms in its broadest sense in Europe by
a) facilitating the interactions and collaborations between different teams working on biological rhythms,
b) transmitting the importance of biological rhythms research to the general public and funding agencies,
c) providing education and training to students,
d) sending out periodically a newsletter to all members,
e) organising regular congresses or symposia on biological rhythms,
f) by all other legitimate means which may help the society to attain its objectives.

Article 2
The society will endeavour to co-operate with any international society devoted to research on biological rhythms and to affiliate similar national societies working in the field in Europe.

II. COMPOSITION

Article 3
The European Biological Rhythms Society consists of ordinary members, emeritus members, supporting members and honorary members. Ordinary members may include members of national societies formally associated with the European Biological Rhythms Society.

Article 4
All scientists active in research in the field of biological rhythms may apply for ordinary membership.

Article 5
Ordinary members have all rights as defined in these Statutes:
a. they may take part with full voting rights in the meetings and discussions of the General Assembly, and may attend all congresses and symposia organised by the Society;
b. they may read papers or show posters at the congresses and symposia;
c. they have the right to be elected as members of the Board.
Ordinary members shall pay an annual membership fee, the amount of which shall be proposed by the Secretary-Treasurer and fixed by the General Assembly.

Article 6
An ordinary member who has retired shall be declared emeritus member at the next General Assembly. Emeritus members have the same rights as ordinary members with the exception that ordinary members having become emeritus members have no right to be elected to the Board. Emeritus members are exempt from paying a membership fee.

Article 7
Supporting members are persons or representatives of organisations regularly contributing annual dues to the Society or having given a substantial donation. Supporting members have the right to attend the General Assembly, but are not entitled to vote.

Article 8
Applications for ordinary membership must be accompanied by a recommendation of at least two ordinary members and have to be approved by the Board by a simple majority.

Article 9
Honorary members can be nominated by the General Assembly following a resolution of the Board, or by a motion proposed during the General Assembly, which is supported by a simple majority. Honorary members can be ordinary or emeritus members of the Society or non-members who distinguished themselves in the field of biological rhythms or closely related fields. They are exempt from paying a membership fee.

III. ADMINISTRATION

Article 10
The activities of the Society shall be governed by the Board, which is responsible to the General Assembly.

Article 11
The Board consists of the president, the vice-president, the secretary-treasurer and 7 ordinary members. The president, the vice-president, the secretary-treasurer and 5 of the ordinary members must be representatives of Europe. Scientists working in one of the European countries are considered to be representatives of Europe, independent of their nationality. All members of the board will be elected by ballot of the members of the Society by a simple majority for a period of three years upon the proposal of a nominating committee. The terms of the president and vice-president are limited to one three year period; thereafter the vice-president will become president for the next period. Former presidents serve as advisors to the Board. The secretary-treasurer and all ordinary board members may be re-elected. The nominating committee consists of the acting president and vice-president, and 3 ordinary members of the society.

Article 12
The president and secretary-treasurer are the legal representatives of the Society. On consultation with the president, the vice-president may act as such.

Article 13
The Society shall meet as a rule in General Assemblies once every three years. A General Assembly shall be held during a congress.

Article 14
For special reasons, the president of the Society, with the consent of the Board, may summon an extraordinary session of the General Assembly; the president shall also call such a session at the request of one-third of the members.

IV. ASSEMBLIES AND SCIENTIFIC METTINGS

Article 15
The agenda for any session of the General Assembly shall be drawn up by the Board and sent to all members at least one month prior to the date of the session. Business matters not included in the agenda shall not be discussed in the General Assembly save with the consent of at least two-thirds of the members present.

Article 16
At the General Assembly questions of scientific or administrative nature shall be decided by a simple majority of votes of the ordinary and emeritus members present and voting. In the case of a tie the vote of the president decides.

Article 17
Scientific meetings will be organised having the character of either a congress or a symposium. Symposia are scientific meetings of members involved in research pertaining to a special field of biological rhythms. On the request of 20 ordinary members, such symposia will be organised at irregular intervals in a European country. Congresses are scientific meetings of members involved or having been involved in research pertaining to different fields of biological rhythms. They are of an interdisciplinary character and will be organised by the Board every three years in a European country. The chairman of the local committee will be responsible for the scientific programme. The local committee will be responsible for the organisation of the congresses and symposia. The Board may support members organising symposia.

V. BUDGET

Article 18
The revenues of the Society consist of:
a. the annual membership fees of the ordinary members;.
b. subventions from governments, governmental and non-governmental organisations, and persons supporting the activities of the Society;
c. annual contributions or donations of supporting members,
d. interest from capital.

Article 19
The secretary-treasurer shall prepare a budget estimate for the period between the two General Assemblies. The General Assembly shall appoint two active members of those present to audit the accounts which will be presented by the Secretary-Treasurer.

Article 20
Members whose membership fees have been in arrears for three consecutive years shall, after due notice from the Secretary-Treasurer, be regarded as having resigned, three annual payments in arrear being debts outstanding. In special cases, the Board may decide to depart from this rule.

Article 21
Funds derived from donations shall be used by the Society in accordance with the expressed wishes of the donors, if any. Funds not specially earmarked by the donors shall be added to the general funds of the Society.

VI. REGULATIONS

Article 22
The General Assembly may draw up regulations relating to the conduct of its business, including delegation of powers to the members of the Board, on all matters not provided for in the Statutes.

Article 23
Amendments to the present Statutes may be proposed by the Board or by at least twenty of the active members. For adoption by the General Assembly, an affirmative vote of two-thirds of the ordinary and emeritus members present and voting is required. An amendment that fails to pass the first time may be subjected to a vote by mail, resubmitted to the next following General Assembly and adopted if it gains two-thirds of the total votes cast either by mail or in person.

BY-LAWS

I. ELECTION OF MEMBERS

Article 1. All scientists active in research in the field of biological rhythms may apply for ordinary membership. Candidates have to be supported by at least two ordinary or emeritus members. Ordinary and emeritus members have the right to present candidates for membership in the Society.

Article 2. At regular intervals the candidatures will be examined by the Board, after which admission to membership will be decided upon by a simple majority of the members of the Board.

II. Election of the Board and Nominating Committee

Article 3. At least two months before a General assembly at which the term of the board expires the secretary-treasurer shall communicate to all members of the society the names of the candidates to be elected as vice-president, secretary-treasurer and ordinary board members for the next term. The potential candidates will be proposed by the Nominating Committee. For the office of the vice-president, who according to the statutes will become president in the successive term, the nominating committee must propose two alternate candidates. The number of candidates for ordinary board members should not exceed 20. Candidates for ordinary board members may be submitted to the nominating committee, their nomination requiring support by at least three members of the society, not including the candidate. These proposals shall have reached the nominating committee at least three months before the General Assembly. Voting is by ballot and a simple majority; ballot forms will be sent to all members (by post or by e-mail) and should be returned to the secretary-treasurer one month before the General Assembly (by post, fax or e-mail).

The nominating committee consists of the president, the vice president and three ordinary members of the society, the latter will be chosen by the board by a simple majority and must not serve as candidates for the board. The vice-president will be the chairman of the nominating committee. All voting in the nominating committee is by simple majority.

Article 4. The President is charged with the conduct of the Board meetings and of the General Assembly. In his absence, the Vice-President shall be designated as alternate. In emergencies, the President is entitled to take action, in consultation with one of the other members of the Board, subject to the approval of the next Board meeting.

Article 5. The Secretary-Treasurer shall conduct the general correspondence of the Society, keep the files, organise and convene the meetings of the Board and the General Assemblies, and record the minutes of the Board meetings and of the General Assemblies. At the General Assembly, he shall deliver a report on the activities of the Society during the past period of three years.

Article 6. The Secretary-Treasurer shall control, under his/her personal responsibility, all financial resources of the Society. He/she shall collect the membership fees and donations, and invest the funds in consultation with the Board. In the General Assembly the Secretary-Treausrer shall deliver a financial accounting of the past period with supporting evidence, and give budget estimates for the next period between two General Assemblies. For expenditures other than those provided for in the budget estimate he/she will need the authorisation of the Board.

Article 7. The Board may, on application by the Secretary-Treasurer, appoint an assistant secretary-treasurer from among the active members to assist her/him in the execution of his/her functions or to replace him/her in his/her absence.

III. MEMBERSHIP FEES

Article 8. Ordinary members shall pay an annual membership fee which shall be determined by the General Assembly following a proposal of the Board.

Article 9. Supporting members shall pay an annual membership fee which at least surpasses twice the annual membership fee of the active members, or give a donation which amounts to at least ten times the annual membership fee of the active members.

IV. ASSEMBLIES

Article 10. The minutes of the Board meetings shall be sent to all members of the Board. They shall be submitted for approval at the next Board meeting. The minutes of the General Assemblies shall be sent to all members of the Society. They shall be submitted for approval at the next General Assembly.