IABEP Statute
§ 1. Name – Address – Duration
The Association’s name is International Association for the Biomonitoring of Environmental Pollution (hereby named IABEP). It is constituted as a non-profit organization. The registered office address of the association is the residential address of its president.
The duration of IAPEB is indefinite.
The membership years close on 31st (thirty-first) December of each year; the first financial year ends on 31 st (thirty-first) December 2023 (two thousand and twenty-three).
§ 2. Goals
The purpose of IABEP is to promote the use of biomonitoring techniques to measure the effects of pollution worldwide. In order to achieve this, IABEP shall: a) encourage the study of biomonitoring techniques, b) stimulate communication and discussion among those interested in biomonitoring of pollution by organizing conferences, workshops, field visits, awards, among others.
§ 3. Power to raise money
IABEP has the power to raise money by membership fees or other means as approved by the Council, but only for activities within its goals and for its administration.
2.MEMBERS
§ 4. Membership
Any person, regardless of nationality, may apply for membership in IABEP. The application is addressed to the Council. The Council considers each application before any acceptance; the decision is ratified by the General Assembly during the first available meeting.
§ 5. Members’ obligations
Members of IABEP are expected to pay the membership fees, and participate in the association activities, especially its general assembly.
Any member who is more than two years in arrears in payment may be excluded by the Council.
Membership fees are determined by the Council.
§ 6. Types of membership
The following types of membership are possible: regular, student, honorary and corporate.
Student members must be regularly enrolled in a university course or its equivalent.
Honorary membership can be proposed by any IABEP member to the Council, and approved by the General assembly.
3.ORGANIZATION
§ 7. IABEP organs
The IABEP statutory organs are the General Assembly and the Council (also called IABEP Council).
All meetings may also be conducted electronically via audio and/or videoconference, to the extent permitted by law.
§ 8. IABEP General Assembly
All members that are up-to-date with their membership fees have the right to participate to the General Assembly. The General Assembly shall act by a majority vote of those present, notwithstanding the provisions of § 10, 11, 13 and 14.
Every General Assembly session is directed and chaired by the President of the Council or, in his/her absence, by the most senior member of the Council.
§ 9. IABEP Council
The Association is administered by the Council which consists of three to five members elected from among the members of the General Assembly, including the President of IABEP. The Council appoints from among its members the Secretary-Treasurer.
The Council administers the affairs and funds of IABEP.
The Council may designate and extinguish Committees or Working Groups, that shall manage topics of particular relevance for biomonitoring.
The President of IABEP is given power of representation vis-à-vis third parties and in court and ensures the execution of resolutions passed by the Assembly and the Council.
§ 10. Council’s term of office
The Council’s term of office is 3 years.
The Council may be dissolved before the scheduled end of its term by its own initiative or by a vote of a two-thirds majority of the members present at the General Assembly.
§ 11. General Assembly meetings
The IABEP association will hold its General Assembly, convened by the Council, once a year to approve the budget. The assembly may also be convened when it is deemed necessary or when requested by at least one tenth of the members, in the manner deemed most suitable to bring it to the attention of all members.
Requests for additional meetings must be received by the Council at least six months in advance.
Any member can address topics for discussion to the Secretary at least four months prior to the general assembly meeting, in order to ensure the appropriate communication to the members before the meeting itself.
Additions to the agenda need to be adopted by vote by a two-thirds majority of those present at the General Assembly.
§ 12. Voting procedures
Voting procedures usually take place at the IABEP General Assembly.
Decisions are made by a majority vote of those present.
Newly elected Council and decisions determined by vote come into force directly after the results of the ballot are announced.
Election rules are determined by the Council.
§ 13. Amendments to the Statute
Proposals to amend the Statute must be sent to the Secretary at least four months prior to the General Assembly meeting or other voting event in order to ensure the appropriate communication to the members.
Amendments must be approved by not less than two-thirds of the members present at the general meeting or other voting event, as described in § 8. IABEP’s non-profit status is not subject to amendments.
§ 14. Dissolution of IABEP
A motion to dissolve IABEP must be approved by at least two-thirds of all members that are up-to-date with their membership fees.
If IABEP is dissolved, any funds remaining after all outstanding liabilities are discharged shall be used for scientific purposes in the field of pollution biomonitoring as agreed by the last Council.
Trieste, October 12, 2023
