The International Society for Ethnopharmacology
Constitution
§ 1) The Association
The International Society for Ethnopharmacology is an Association (‘Verein’) constituted on the basis of §§ 60 ff of the Swiss Civil Code of 10 December 1907 (Schweizerisches Zivilgesetzbuch) in its most recent version. Its constitution follows the Swiss Civil Code and will automatically incorporate changes to this code. The Association is established at its first meeting on 17.05.2016 and succeeds the same Association established under Michigan Law in 2006.
§ 2) Objectives
The objective of the International Society for Ethnopharmacology (henceforth ISE) is the promotion of Ethnopharmacology as a scientific field of research in any manner appropriate to the purpose and in full recognition of the international ethical framework in the field and in science in general.
More specifically, the ISE is an Association with the scientific purpose of fostering ethnopharmacology, as a transdisciplinary field of research. More specifically the ISE is dedicated to interdisciplinary study of the physiological actions of plant, animal, and other substances used in indigenous medicines of past and present cultures and to the understanding of local and traditional uses of plants and other substances used to prevent or treat diseases or in any other form relevant to human health. The ISE is committed to the preservation and conservation of such practices for future generations and to the sustainable use of such medicines.
§ 3) Membership
The ISE shall consist of Members. The acceptance of Membership shall be deemed to imply an agreement to be bound by all the existing Regulations of the ISE.
Membership is open to scientists interested in Ethnopharmacology. Evidence of interest shall include publication on any aspect of Ethnopharmacology, as books produced by scientific presses and/or articles in professional, peer-reviewed journals, research and related activities on Ethnopharmacology, including applied Ethnopharmacology and outreach activities in the field. Members are encouraged to present original papers of scientific merit at the meetings of the ISE.
Members will pay an annual membership fee, the amount of which will be determined periodically at a General Meeting of the ISE. An additional fee will entitle the Member to a reduced-cost individual subscription to the Journal of Ethnopharmacology.
Any Member whose membership fees are overdue is no longer entitled to ISE benefits and after three years of unpaid fees will automatically be excluded from the Association.
Honorary Members may be elected on an ad hoc basis, recognising their outstanding contributions to the Association. These members have the same rights as ordinary members.
Candidates for the Executive Committee should detail their qualifications in a curriculum vitae that includes publications and scientific papers presented at professional meetings.
§ 4) Affiliated members
Based on a proposal by the Executive Committee the general meeting (see § 6) may invite national or regional societies to become affiliated members of the ISE. Such societies have to accept and support the vision of the ISE (see § 2) and contribute to the promotion of Ethnopharmacology as a field of research. Members of affiliated societies, who want to become members of the board or want to vote in the general meeting, must be a personal member of the ISE.
§ 5) Scientific Meeting
The ISE shall convene a Scientific Meeting annually for the presentation and discussion of papers, at a time and place to be decided by the Executive Committee. Written proposals have to be submitted by prospective Meeting hosts at any time, and will be judged by the Executive Committee. Should the authors of an approved proposal be unable to establish the availability of sufficient funds in the first three months of planning, they should advise the President that they wish to be released from the responsibility. At that juncture, ISE authorization will be rescinded, and other proposals will be considered.
The objective of the Scientific Meeting is to stimulate research and foster the scientific development in Ethnopharmacology and to encourage the dissemination of recent research and work-in-progress to a body of peers and to interested participants.
The program shall be arranged by the local organizer(s) in collaboration with the ISE Executive Committee. A minimum of five Members of the ISE Executive Committee will be included on the Scientific Committee that develops the theme and scholarly/research content of the program.
The local organizing committee is responsible for raising funds sufficient to cover conference costs, including preliminary circulars, and will cover the registration fees and travel & accommodation costs for ISE Board Members who are active in the development of the scientific program and who also present papers at the Meeting.
§ 6) General Meetings of members
A General Meeting of Members will be held, preferentially during the Scientific Meeting of the ISE. The members present constitute the quorum.
The Executive Committee shall meet both during and at the close of the Scientific Meeting.
The President shall chair all meetings of the ISE and of its Executive Committee, or shall appoint an agent to act in her or his place.
Election using an electronic voting system shall be possible if approved by two thirds of the Association’s Board.
§ 6) Executive Committee
“Officers” refers to current Members of the ISE Executive Committee.
The Executive Committee of the Association shall consist of the President, Past President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer. Up to seven additional Board Members shall be elected by the members. The Executive Committee, the Board members, webmaster and student representative constitute the ISE Board.
In order to facilitate the link with affiliated societies the Executive Committee shall – in coordination with the affiliated society – appoint an officer responsible for the links with the affiliated society. This person will also be a member of the board of the affiliated society and may be a member of the ISE’s Board.
A Candidate for the Executive Committee may – with his or her written consent — be proposed to the Executive Committee. In the event that more candidates are proposed than existing open positions, election will be by secret ballot of the members.
The President and the Treasurer are authorized to represent the ISE in any legal capacity.
The President-Elect shall hold office for two years beginning on the day succeeding the General Meeting at which the election was ratified, and as President for the subsequent two years.
The President will remain on the Executive Committee as past President for two years following her or his term as President. An interim President may be named by the Executive Committee in the event that the office beomes vacant through resignation or otherwise.
The secretary shall be elected at the General Meeting. He/she shall record minutes of all meetings and other official matters as they transpire; and shall receive written nominations for Officers and Board Members, and proposals for future Scientific Meetings.
The treasurer shall be proposed by the Executive Committee and elected at the General Meeting. She/he will collect ISE membership dues and related monies, hold funds in account for the Association, forward JEP subscription monies and subscribers’ labels to Elsevier Scientific, and report the status of accounts to the Executive Committee. The daily management of the accounts and other administrative duties may be delegated to an external organisation.
Up to seven Board Members shall be elected by the members (normally at the General Meeting). Not more than two Board Members shall reside in any one country. One of the board members shall be a student and will be elected by the student members of the Association.
§ 7) Auditors
Two auditors shall be proposed by the Executive Committee and elected at the General Meeting. The Auditors shall review accounts with the Treasurer.
§ 8) Voting
Voting in the Executive Committee and at the General Meeting shall be by a simple majority of those present, except when amendment of the Constitution or dissolution of the Association is at issue, in which cases a two-thirds majority of those present shall be required. The President shall have a casting vote at any meeting. The quorum for an Executive Committee Meeting shall be four Members. A General Meeting cannot be held unless there are at least two ISE members not belonging to the Executive Committee present.
§ 9) Monies Accruing
All monies accruing to the Association shall be used in pursuance of the Purpose of the Association as stated. Monies shall not be used in any way for the remuneration of the Officers or Board Members, except for the reimbursement of reasonable expenses incurred in attending Meetings, in which case decisions will be the discretion of a majority of the Executive Committee, as funds permit.
§ 10) Scholarships, Prices & Awards
To stimulate research in the field of ethnopharmacology, the Association may establish scholarships, prices and awards, the specifications of which will be regulated by the Executive Committee. It will also appoint a committee responsible for travel awards for participation in the annual conference.
§ 11) Publications
The Executive Committee will oversee the Association’s requirements for the diffusion of information directly pertinent to the Association.
§ 12) Language
The official language of the ISE shall be English, for meetings and in correspondence.
Exceptionally, other languages (French, German, Italian, and Spanish) might be permitted for the presentation of conference papers and in ISE publications.
§ 13) Dissolution of the Association
The dissolution of the Association may only be determined at a General Meeting provided that a majority of two thirds of the eligible voting members present are in favour. In this case all assets shall be expended for educational purposes or shall be transferred to another association or foundation with similar scientific objectives, as decided by the General Meeting.
§ 14) Amendments to the Constitution
Proposed amendments must be supported by at least five Members or by the Executive Committee and submitted in writing to the Secretary or the Executive Board.
Any Member may submit a written counter-proposal to the Secretary, at least three weeks before the next General Meeting.
Version approved by the General Meeting of the Society on 17/05/2016 (vers 4.0 – Michael Heinrich)