ECRO Constitution  -  english version

I. Purpose of the Organization

Article 1

The purpose of the Organization is to promote and to coordinate research on chemoreception by all legal means.

Article 2

This purpose shall be realized by:

1. stimulating contacts and cooperation between European scientists and with their colleagues outside Europe in the field of chemoreception,
2. arranging funds for contacts and exchanges between laboratories especially for young scientists,
3. arranging funds and distributing grants for European research laboratories and individual scientists engaged in research on chemoreception,
4. mediation in the establishment of specific research contracts between industrial firms or other organizations and scientists working in the field of chemoreception,
5. the formation of a group of competent experts to advise about chemicals of known structure and purity for use by members of the Organization,
6. any other means to promote the objectives of the Organization described under Article 1.

II. Members

Article 3

The Organization has three kinds of members:

1. Honorary members. These members are scientists of outstanding merit in the field of chemoreception. They may be nominated by the Board of the Organization and approved by the members at the General Assembly.
2. Individual members. Individual membership can be granted to all scientists actively engaged or directly interested in research on chemoreception. Applications for individual membership are subject to the approval of the Board.
3. Donating members. Donating membership is open to all institutions and companies who support the aims of the Organization and who wish to use its services. The acceptance of applications as donating members is subject to the approval of the Board.

III. Composition of the Assembly and of the Board

Article 4

The General Assembly, composed of honorary members, individual members and donating members is, as prescribed by law and this constitution, the decisive body of the Organization. It exercises control and oversees the management of the Organization.

Article 5

The General Assembly shall meet at least every two years and more often if requested to by three members of the Board.

Article 6 

At least three months in advance of a meeting of the General Assembly, the Secretary shall notify the members of the Organization of the date and place of such a meeting and such notice shall further set forth a proposed agenda of the meeting. Candidates for honorary membership must be proposed in writing to the Secretary at least two months before the meeting.

Article 7 

The Organization shall be directed by the Board which shall consist of a President, a President elect, a past President, a General Secretary, an Executive Secretary/Treasurer and not less than 1 and not more than 3 other members. Each President will serve for a single term of two years. Membership of the Board is open to individual members and representatives of the donating members. Not more than two members of the Board shall have the same nationality. Not more than two members of the Board other than the Executive Secretary/Treasurer shall be representatives of the donating members. Members of the Board, with exception of the Executive Secretary/Treasurer, should not serve for more than 2 consecutive periods of 2 years. If, in the interest of the Organization, circumstances demand it, this can be extended by further periods of 2 years.

Article 8 

The election of the new members to the Board will take place biannually in the two months prior to the General Assembly. The elections will designate the President who will serve during the subsequent term (President elect), the General Secretary, the Executive Secretary/Treasurer and one other member. These four board members, together with the President and the Past president, shall elect the rest of the Board. A call for nominations of candidates will be made by the General Secretary three months before the elections and will stay open for two months. During this period nominations should be proposed in writing to the General Secretary. The elections will be held by electronic means via the web site, and will stay open for one month; the results will be published on the web site and the Board will be presented officially to the subsequent General Assembly.

Article 9 

As the legal representative of the Organization, the Board shall have, hold and administer all the property, funds and affairs of the Organization. Meetings of the Board shall take place at the same date and venue as meetings of the General Assembly, or at other times at the discretion of the President.

IV. Finances of the Organization

Article 10 

The annual dues payable by individual members are fixed by the General Assembly. In the event of a member cancelling his membership, such funds received from that member are secured by the Organization. In addition, the financing of the activities of the Organization can be provided by grants from companies or individuals. The finances of the society will be audited biannually by two auditors elected by the General Assembly for a period of 2 years. They can be re-elected.

V. Change in the Constitution and Dissolution of the Organization

Article 11 

Internal rules or regulations can be established by the Board and presented for approval to the General Assembly. These rules are destined to regulate various points not covered by the constitution.

Article 12 

The constitution can only be modified by a two-thirds majority of the members present at the General Assembly.

Article 13 

In the event of dissolution of the organization, decided by the majority of the members through an electronic consultation, the board will nominate one or several liquidators, and the assets, if any, will be transferred to an organization devoted to promoting research in the Chemical Senses to be designated by the Board.

Paris, 29 September 1970
J.LE MAGNEN, President

Subsequently modified by the General Assembly held in Dijon, September 15 2004 (articles 7, 8 and 13).