Statute
Based on Articles VI, IX, and X of the Law Regulating Associations, Social, and Political Organizations in Serbia, the General Assembly during a session held on 03.09.2008, drafted the
STATUTE OF THE SERBIAN NEUROSCIENCE SOCIETY
GENERAL PROVISIONS
ARTICLE 1
In accordance with all applicable laws, this Statute regulates issues regarding the organization, management, and general operation procedures of the Serbian Neuroscience Society (hereinafter referred to as “the Society”).
The Statute contains declarations regarding the Society’s:
• mission and the manner in which it is carried out
• structure and organization
• name and headquarters
• conditions and manner of application for membership, discontinuation of membership, as well as the duties, responsibilities, and rights associated with membership
• inner structures and their duties, responsibilities, and rights
• representation and advocacy
• fundraising, funds management, and dispensation of funds
• public declarations regarding best practices, funds management and allocation
• decisions regarding annexation into/of national and international organizations
• amendment of the Statute and Bylaws
• decision to disband the Society
• asset allocation in the event of disbandment
• trademarks (name, emblem, official seal, etc.)
NAME AND HEADQUARTERS
ARTICLE 2
The Society’s official name is:
THE SERBIAN NEUROSCIENCE SOCIETY
ARTICLE 3
The Society’s official headquarters are located at:
Despota Stefana Street #142
11000 Belgrade, Serbia
TYPE OF BUSINESS
ARTICLE 4
The Serbian Neuroscience Society is a civic association.
TRADEMARKS
ARTICLE 5
The Society has an official seal and stamp which is round in shape, upon whose edge is written, in Serbian: “DRUŠTVO ZA NEURONAUKE SRBIJE”, while in the center, it reads “BEOGRAD”.
GOALS AND MISSION
ARTICLE 6
The main goals of the Society are:
• the development, facilitation, and coordination of scientific research in the field of neuroscience
• being informed with regards to the current research in the field of neuroscience in Serbia
• organizing seminars, lectures, and conferences in the field of neuroscience, and the continuous flow of information and new discoveries
• the creation of strategies for future projects and funding for the development of neuroscience in Serbia.With this goal in mind, the details of various foundations, EU funds, American-Serbian projects, etc., would be made available to all members of the Society
• the setting up of contacts and joint co-operation projects with like-minded associations and institutions within Serbia and abroad
• the setting up of a network of ex-pat scientists currently working abroad in the field of neuroscience
• the inclusion into an international information system
• arranging for the procurement of research equipment and the exchange of technical resources, while simultaneously developing better procedures for the use of current assets
• stimulating and advancing research by fostering competitive research projects and awarding benefits for the best project, the best masters project, the best doctoral thesis, etc., in the field of neuroscience
• popularizing the field of neuroscience both in the public and expert domains
ARTICLE 7
The Society will carry out the aforementioned goals and tasks in accordance with the Constitution and the Law Regulating Community Associations, as well as in accordance with any other legal provisions whose intent is the development and advancement of the scientific and technological sectors within society.
THE CONDITIONS AND MANNER OF APPLICATION FOR MEMEBERSHIP; DUTIES, RESPONSABILITIES, AND RIGHTS ASSOCIATED WITH MEMBERSHIP
ARTICLE 8
The Society’s membership is composed of:
• Full members
• Honorary members
ARTICLE 9
Any citizen involved with scientific or technical research within the field of neuroscience, or any other field similar to neuroscience, can become a Full member.
ARTICLE 10
Full membership status of any applicant shall be determined by the Board of Executives based on a submitted application and the reference of any two members of the Society.
ARTICLE 11
Honorary membership can be bestowed upon any person whose work merits the advancement of neuroscience.
Honorary members are elected by the General Assembly based on the written recommendation of the Board of Executives, or by the recommendation of no less than ten (10) Full members.
ARTICLE 12
Society members are required to:
• adhere to the rules and provisions as set out by the Society’s Statute
• actively advance the Society’s goals and mission
• carry out the Society’s decisions
• at all times maintain appropriate decorum
• regularly pay membership dues
Honorary members are exempt from paying dues.
ARTICLE 13
Society members have the right to:
• attend Society meetings and events
• publish the results of their research in the Society’s journals and publications, provided that said research has been approved for publication by appropriate authority
• elect and be elected to executive positions and participate in the organizational structure of the Society
• to give their opinions, advice, and suggestions
ARTICLE 14
Membership ceases when:
• a member leaves of his own accord, resigns
• a member is excluded from the Society
ARTICLE 15
Resignations by members shall be tendered to the Board of Executives for finalization.
A member can be expelled from the Society in case his actions cause damage to the Society and its standing, does not abide by the Society’s rulings and decrees, or interferes with the Society’s mission and goals. The decision to terminate membership shall be brought before the General Assembly under recommendation by the Board of Executives or no less than ten (10) members.
INTERNAL STRUCTURE
ARTICLE 16
The Society consists of the following offices:
• the General Assembly
• the Board of Executives
• the President
• the Secretary
• the Treasurer
ARTICLE 17
The General Assembly is composed of all members of the Society and shall hold regular meetings annually.
ARTICLE 18
The General Assembly can be called to meeting out of term under appropriate circumstance and as needed.
The initiative for an out of term meeting of the Assembly shall be brought to bear by the President and the Board of Executives, along with no less than twenty (20) members.
The General Assembly shall be called to session by the President of the Assembly.
The general workings of the Assembly shall be monitored by the President of the General Assembly, and in case of his absence, any other member elected to such instance.
Minutes of the meetings of the General Assembly shall be kept by the Secretary, and shall be signed by both him and the President of the General Assembly.
Announcements of meetings shall be made no less than ten (10) days before the scheduled meeting.
ARTICLE 19
The General Assembly shall have quorum if at least half of all Full members are present.
Regulations need a simple majority of Full member votes to pass, unless the issue under consideration is the disbandment of the Society, in which case a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote is required.
ARTICLE 20
The General Assembly shall:
• maintain and amend the Statute
• determine benchmarks of achievement and the general course along which the Society shall operate
• take under consideration and adopt recommendations set out in evaluation reports submitted by the Board of Executives
• draft yearly budget plans upon the recommendation of the Board of Executives
• take under consideration and adopt recommendations set out in financial reports
• monitor the Society’s various offices
• make decisions about annexation of and/or into other organizations, both domestic and international
• elect or impeach members of the Board of Executives
• draft rules and regulations concerning general work practices
• have discretion over the termination of members
• elect Honorary members
• decide on creating new offices
• decide on terminating the operations of offices
• determine the amount of membership dues
• preside over the issue of disbanding the Society
• preside over any other legal matters as presented by law and/or this Statute
ARTICLE 21
The Board of Executives is composed of eleven (11) members of the Society, elected by General Assembly. The Board of Executives shall elect from within its own ranks, a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.
The Society’s President is responsible for representing the Society in public.
ARTICLE 22
The Board of Executives shall:
• coordinate the Society’s regular operations and projects
• shall propose general projects and budgets
• schedule and prepare meetings of General Assembly
• make proposals for members of office, as well as any other committees whose concern is the Society’s general workings and projects, and monitor their progress
• organize scientific conferences
• oversee the admission of new Full members
• bring forth considerations for Honorary membership
• bring forth considerations for the creation of new offices
• oversee the publication of Society materials and monitor the legality and best practices of the Society’s publications and projects
• elect publication editors by way of tender
• elect scientific and editorial boards and councils
• elect a committee for public awards ceremonies as well as any other committees as needed
• elect the Society’s President, Secretary, and Treasurer
• make determinations on the expulsion of members
• make determinations on the price of the Society’s publications
• shall maintain operating regulations
• conduct any other work endowed upon it by the General Assembly
ARTICLE 23
The Board of Executives shall hold regular meetings. Meetings shall be held as needed, or by initiative of the President or no less than three (3) members of the Board of Executives.
ARTICLE 24
The President of the Board of Executives is also the Society’s President
The President shall:
• represent, and speak for, the Society
• regulate the lawfulness of the Society
• organize and prepare meetings of the Board of Executives
• call for a meeting of the General Assembly if tasked to do so by the Board of Executives
• monitor the decisions of the Society’s various offices
ARTICLE 25
The Secretary of the Board of Executives is also the General Secretary.
The General Secretary shall:
• participate in the organization of meetings and carry out all appropriate administrative tasks therein
• manage the legal aspects of the Society
• disburse and lawfully manage funds based on the decision of appropriate authority
The Treasurer shall:
• manage the fiscal and economic aspects of the Society
• manage the paying of dues and tender the appropriate reports for evaluation to the Board of Executives and the General Assembly
• disburse and lawfully manage funds based on the decision of appropriate authority
DEPARTMENTS
AMENDMENT 26
The General Assembly, upon recommendation by the Board of Executives, or no less than ten (10) members, shall decide on the forming of departments.
Departments shall be made up of members interested in that field of neuroscience.
Departments shall have their own President and Secretary, to be elected by the members of that department on a bi-annual basis, subject to the Board of Executives’ approval.
AMENDMENT 27
Departments shall tender to the Board of Executives, no later than February 15th, progress reports for the previous year, as well as proposals for projects for the following year.
AMENDMENT 28
The decision to terminate a department shall be made by the General Assembly when deemed appropriate.
PROCUREMENT AND DISBURSAL OF ASSETS
AMENDMENT 29
The Society shall gather funds for its research by means of membership dues, private donations, gifts, citizen’s bequests, government funding, and any other means applicable by and in accordance with the law.
TRANSPARENCY
AMENDMENT 30
The Society shall inform the public of its operations, procurement, and dispersal of funds, as set out by Amendment 29, in the following manner:
• notifications board
• press conferences
• publication of articles within public venues
• as conditions require, a newsletter
PUBLIC AWARDS
AMENDMENT 31
As a show of gratitude and appreciation for the successful work of its members, the Society shall publically bestow its members with awards.
The Society can recommend its members to receive awards, grants, certificates, etc., on the city, county, and state levels.
As an exemplary showing of support, the Society can award certificates, plaques, honorary diplomas, etc., to members of the public, corporations, and any institutions both domestic and international.
AMENDMENT 32
The Society shall have the following public acknowledgments:
• Honorary Membership
• Honorary Presidency
AMENDMENT 33
The Society shall grant awards to:
• members with exemplary results, research projects, lectures, and other activities
• students who have achieved exemplary results in the course of their schoolwork, competition, or other activities
•corporations and institutions for their continued support for the advancement of the Society’s mission and goals
CHANGES AND AMENDMENTS TO THE STATUTE
ARTICLE 34
Changes and amendments to the Statute shall be approved in the same manner as prescribed for the passing of the Statute.
Changes and amendments shall be considered upon recommendation of the Board of Executives, or no less than three (3) members.
The General Assembly shall adopt any changes and amendments by majority vote of Full members during the course of sessions designated for the purpose of amending the Statute.
DISBANDMENT
AMENDMENT 35
The Society shall disband:
• upon the decision of the General Assembly
• in case the number of members falls below that required for establishing the Society
• in case the Society is prohibited from operating
• if it is determined that the Society has ceased to produce results for a period longer than one year
AMENDMENT 36
The decision to disband shall be made by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the General Assembly.
AMENDMENT 37
Upon disbandment and after having settled any and all outstanding accounts, the remaining assets and funds shall be allocated to the district where the Society was founded.
AMENDMENT 38
This Statute shall come into effect on the day it is approved and adopted.
Belgrade, 3. September 2008.
President
Acad. Prof. Dr. Ljubisav Rakić