EUSFLAT

Bylaws

Chapter I: Name - Aims - Registered Office and Scope

Article 1.

An Association under the name of EUropean Society for Fuzzy Logic And Technology is hereby constituted, protected by that which is laid out in Article 22 of the 1978 Spanish Constitution, and established in the Law of Associations 1/2002 of March 22 (published in March 26, 2002), together with other remaining legal ordinances. The Association is of a non-profit making nature. The regulations of the Association will be determined by the EUSFLAT Statute hereby included.

Article 2.

This Association has the following aims:

Promote and disseminate the methods, techniques and developments of Fuzzy Logic and Soft Computing. Technologies.
Assemble a group of specialists belonging to different academic fields and professional practices.
Advise those associates and companies who so desire, on subjects regarding Fuzzy Logic and Technologies and other related matters.
Increase the organization of those professionals who make up the Association, overseeing their interests should this be necessary.
Establish relations with other national or international Associations with similar aims.

Article 3.

The following activities can be undertaken for the best possible accomplishment of these objectives:

The organization of seminars and round tables on Fuzzy Logic and Technologies, among other subjects.
The organization of training, research and improvement courses on the aforementioned techniques.
Validation of products related to Fuzzy Logic and Technologies and similar fields, along with the undertaking of activities which imply the transfer of technology from this field.
The compilation, selection and distribution of publications on the aforementioned subjects. Editing publications.
The promotion of research and development of subjects related to Fuzzy Logic and Technologies and also other similar fields.
The promotion and collaboration in the preparation of conferences on the aforementioned subjects.
Any other activities coherent with the Association's aims.

Article 4.

The Association establishes its registered office in the Departamento de Ciencias de la Computación e Inteligencia Artificial, ETSI Informática,Universidad de Granada, c/ Daniel Saucedo Aranda s/n, Granada 18071, Spain (http:/www.eusflat.org). The Association's range of activity will cover the whole of Europe.

Chapter II

Article 5.

The Association will be managed and administered by the EUSFLAT Board, which includes an Executive Board made up of a president, a vice-president, a secretary and a treasurer. The EUSFLAT Board will be formed by the Executive Board and other members in charge of specific tasks, with the necessary number for the running of the Association, two being the minimum number. All the EUSFLAT Board posts will be non remunerative and designated by the Ordinary General Assembly. The mandate of the EUSFLAT Board will be for a duration of two years, but will be automatically extended for one year in order to organize new elections in case no new Board was elected during the corresponding General Assembly.

Article 6.

The EUSFLAT Board and the Executive Board will meet as often as the President so decides. The EUSFLAT Board can also meet on the initiative or request of four of its members. Meetings will be deemed constituted when more than half the total number of members attends and any agreements must be established by a majority vote in order to be valid. In the case of a tie, the President will have the casting vote.

Article 7.

The faculties of the EUSFLAT Board are as follows:

To direct the activities and oversee the economic and administrative management of the Association, agreeing to carry out the necessary contracts and actions.
To put the agreements of the General Assembly into practice, watching over the accomplishment of the Association's objectives.
To draw up and present for approval by the General Assembly the yearly budget, statement of accounts and yearly report.
To decide upon the admission of new associates and collaborating entities.
To name delegates for any specific activity of the Association.
To carry out any other faculty that is not within the exclusive competence of the General Assembly of members.

The Executive Board will be in charge of the general coordination of the EUSFLAT Board.

Article 8.

The President will have the following authority:

Represent the Association in any relation with of public or private bodies.
Call, preside over and adjourn the meetings held by the General Assembly, the EUSFLAT Board and its Executive Board.
Supervise the deliberations of both EUSFLAT Board and its Executive Board.
Order payments to be made and sign documents, minutes and correspondence, thus authorizing them.
Take any urgent measures that the smooth running of the Association recommends or that become necessary or convenient during the development of its activities.
This no way excludes the President's obligation, in such cases, to subsequently inform the EUSFLAT Board.

Article 9.

The Vice-president will take over the President’s authorities and duties in the case of his/her justified absence.

Article 10.

The Secretary will be responsible for the supervision of the administrative work of the Association, issue certificates, keep the files, look after the documentation of the entity, make sure that the Authority is informed of designations to the EUSFLAT Board, the holding of Assemblies and the approving of the budgets and statement of accounts presented by the EUSFLAT Treasurer, coordinate the editing of all the Association's publications and take minutes of all the meetings of the EUSFLAT Board, its Executive Board and the Association Assemblies.

Article 11.

The Treasurer will manage the funds belonging to the Association, collecting same and complying with the orders for payment issued by the President.

Article 12.

The EUSFLAT Board members will have the obligations corresponding to their post as members of the EUSFLAT Board, along with those arising from the delegations or working commissions assigned by the Board itself.

Article 13.

In the case where a EUSFLAT Board member leaves his/her Board post before the end of the Board office, the EUSFLAT Board can nominate another EUSFLAT member to take over all the responsibilities and authorities of the Board ex-member. His/her Board membership must be approved in a General Assembly, and he/she will have no voting powers until the definitive election by the General Assembly.

Article 14.

The Members of the EUSFLAT Board will resign due to any of the following causes:

By personal choice.
Due to any legal incapacity that may occur.
Through loss of the necessary conditions for election.
Due to the legal termination of the mandate.
Due to the passing of a motion of censure, the party concerned having had a prior hearing. The said motion of censure will be justified in writing and carried out before to the EUSFLAT Board. It must necessarily be supported by 15% of the members of the Association. It must be subject to a debate in the Special Assembly called for that purpose.

Chapter III

Article 15.

The General Assembly is the supreme body of the Association and will be formed by all the members.

Article 16.

The meetings of the General Assembly will be both of an ordinary and special character. The ordinary meeting will be held once a year; the special meetings will be held when circumstances require, in the opinion of the President, when the EUSFLAT Board so agrees or when it is proposed in writing by 15% of the associates. In the latter case, from the time of the request for a Special General Assembly to its convocation, there must be a period of time not greater than two months.

Article 17.

The convocation of General Assembly Meetings will be made in writing, expressing the place, date and time of the meeting, along with the agenda. From the time of the convocation to the day put forward for the holding of the Assembly in the first convening, there must be at least 15 days.

Article 18.

The General Assemblies, both Ordinary and Special, will be considered validly constituted in the first call when the majority of associates with the right to vote attend, and in the second call regardless the number of associates attending with the right to vote. The agreements will be accepted by a simple majority of the votes of those attending, in the case of an ordinary assembly, and by a two-thirds majority in the case of a Special Assembly and when electing the EUSFLAT Board.

Article 19.

The faculties of the Ordinary General Assembly are as follows:

Approving, should the case arise, the measures of the EUSFLAT Board.
Examining and approving the statement of accounts.
Approving or rejecting the proposals of the EUSFLAT Board with regard to the activities of the Association.
Setting the ordinary or special contributions.
Approving the editing of publications, along with the resources destined to this end.
Naming the members of the EUSFLAT Board.
The setting up of Sections and Working Groups.
The setting up of or integration within federations.
Any other faculty that is not within the exclusive competence of the Special Assembly.

Article 20.

Areas corresponding to the Special General Assembly:

Debating on and approving censure motions of members of the EUSFLAT Board.
Modification of the EUSFLAT Statute.
Dissolution of the Association.
Allocation and disposal of property.
Expulsion of members and suppression of honorary membership, on the proposal of the EUSFLAT Board.
Petition of declaration of public utility.

Chapter IV: Members

Article 21.

Those persons who are of age with legal capacity and interested in the development of the Association's aims may form part of said Association. Admission to the Association must be requested via the EUSFLAT Board.

Upon the proposal of the EUSFLAT Board, the General Assembly can create collaborative entitlements to acknowledge individual, group or institutional support or contribution towards improving the aims of the Association. Regulation of Collaborating Entities or supporting entitlements should be approved in General Assembly.
Also upon the proposal of the EUSFLAT Board, the General Assembly can create awards for scientific and technological excellence, or to acknowledge relevant researchers or activities. Regulation of awards should be approved in General Assembly.

Article 22.

There may also be Honorary Members within the Association. These will be people who, by having significantly contributed towards dignifying and developing the Association, become worthy of such a distinction. The naming of Honorary Members will correspond to the General Assembly on the proposal of the EUSFLAT Board. Honorary membership will signify a life-member acknowledgement that can only be suppressed if agreed in a Special General Assembly on the proposal of the EUSFLAT Board.

Article 23.

Members will cease to be so due to any of the following causes:

By personal choice, informing the EUSFLAT Board in writing of this decision.
Due to non-fulfillment of economic obligations.
By decision of the Special Assembly under the proposal of the EUSFLAT Board on the basis of deeds or words that discredit the Association, seriously perturb the meetings organized by the said Association or the normal coexistence of the associates.

Article 24.

The members will have the following rights:

Take part in any of the activities organized by the Association in fulfilling its aims.
Enjoy all the advantages and benefits of the Association.
Take part in the Assemblies with the right to vote.
Elect and be eligible for management posts.
Receive information on the agreements adopted by the Association bodies.
Make suggestions to the EUSFLAT Board for a better accomplishment of the Association objectives.

Article 25.

The members will have the following obligations:

Fulfill the current EUSFLAT Statute and valid agreements of the Assemblies and the EUSFLAT Board.
Pay the contributions established.
Carry out, in such a case, the obligations inherent in the post held.
Contribute, by means of correct behavior, to the good name and prestige of the Association.

Article 26.

The Honorary Members will have the same rights and obligations as other members, with the exception of the requirement of the membership fee payment.

Article 27.

For reasons of scientific interest, a group of at least 15 members may form a Section. This must be applied for to the EUSFLAT Board, presenting, along with the application, the working regulations of the Section and the specific activities they are willing to promote within EUSFLAT or in collaboration with another organization. In order to assure coordination with EUSFLAT interests, a delegate of EUSFLAT will be nominated by the EUSFLAT Board.

Chapter V: About the Manager

Article 28.

The EUSFLAT Board has the power to name a Manager, who will not be a member of the Association, granting him/her the executive faculties deemed appropriate. The Manager will inform the EUSFLAT Board of his/her management. The said Board will establish, in such a case, the payment to be received by the Manager.

Chapter VI: About Committees and Working Groups

Article 29.

Committees and Working Groups may be established when considered appropriate at any given moment.

The Committees’ mission will be to carry out the orders of the Board of Directors and will be granted specific powers and facilities to this end. Committees may be formed in order to study and develop specific topics or activities as established by the EUSFLAT Board, who will provide consultation with regard to said topics. The members of these Committees will be elected from those persons who, due to their professional training, personal contacts or social standing, are considered to be most appropriate. The presidency of these Committees will always be occupied by a member of the EUSFLAT Board. The members forming the said Committees will attend, in such a case, the Board meetings in which their specific subjects are to be dealt with.
Working Groups will be proposed by a group of EUSFLAT members sharing a common scientific field of interest. Regulation of Working Groups should be approved in General Assembly.

Chapter VII: Economic Resources

Article 30.

The economic resources envisaged for the development of the aims and activities of the Association will be as follows:

The assets at the Association's disposal.
Admission, periodic or special contributions.
Grants, inheritance or legacies that may be legally received from physical persons or legal entities.
Contributions from Collaborating Entities.
Any other licit resource.

Article 31.

The limit of the budget will be determined yearly by the Ordinary General Assembly, being initially estimated at € 6,010.12. The Association has not institutional assets.

Chapter VIII: Dissolution

Article 32.

The Association will be voluntarily dissolved when agreed upon by Special General Assembly convened to this end.

Article 33.

In the case of dissolution, a settlement committee will be named which, once all debts have been covered, will donate any surplus there may be to charity.

Additional Ordinance

Any aspect not included in the Statutes herein laid out will be subject to the current Law of Associations and complementary ordinances of Spain.