ARTICLE 1
The name of the Association is THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR SHELL AND SPATIAL STRUCTURES (IASS). The IASS is a non-profit organization, originally formed in accordance with articles 60 to 67 of the Swiss Civil Law Code and now fulfilling all relevant Spanish laws governing operation and banking by non-profit organizations headquartered in Spain.
ARTICLE 2
The headquarters of the Association is in Madrid, or at such other location as might be established in the future. The official language of the Association is English.
ARTICLE 3
The aim of the Association is the advancement of the technology of shells and spatial structures. The term technology shall be understood in its widest possible meaning including architecture, conceptual design, analysis, research, and all aspects of the process of realization of projects involving shell and spatial structures of any material and including methods of execution.
ARTICLE 4
The aims of the Association shall be advanced through an exchange of ideas and information, using the appropriate means such as:
a) Organization of conferences, symposia and colloquia.
b) Publication of relevant literature.
c) Creation of working groups to investigate and report on special topics of the relevant technology.
d) Collaboration with other similar organizations.
e) Other suitable means as determined from time to time.
ARTICLE 5
The Association encompasses the following classification of membership:
a) Individual members: Individuals who share the aims of the Association.
b) Collective members: Organizations which share the aims of the Association.
c) Honorary members: Individuals with a distinguished record of outstanding achievement in the field of shells and/or spatial structures.
d) Student members: University students who share the aims of the Association.
e) Subscribers: Entities which subscribe to the publications of the Association.
f) Exchange: Courtesy and reciprocal subscription for collaborating or other similar organizations.
g) Awardees: Individuals who receive one-year dues-free memberships as part of prizes, awards or recognitions of the Association as established by the Executive Council.
In addition, in those regions or countries where economic conditions make it difficult for individuals to join the Association, IASS Chapters may be formed under policies and procedures approved by the Executive Council that enable reduced fees for Chapter Members and coordination by a Chapter Representative.
The following classifications of members of the Association shall be Voting Members: Individual, Collective, Honorary, and Chapter Representatives. Awardees shall have the voting rights of their natural classification, either Individual (voting) or Student (non-voting).
ARTICLE 6
The Association shall be governed by an Executive Council consisting of voting members and a secretary. Voting members shall be elected or co-opted.
There shall be not more than 18 elected members of the Council. They shall be elected for a period of three years by ballot of Voting Members of the Association, one third being elected each year.
Candidates for election to the Executive Council shall be Individual members of the Association who express willingness to serve and who are nominated in either of the following ways:
a) Through a secret vote of the members of the Executive Council.
b) On a written motion of a minimum of twenty Voting Members of the Association, submitted to the Council not later than on January 15 each year.
The list of candidates for Executive Council membership in any given election shall be greater than the number of vacancies.
The Council shall have the power to co-opt, by a secret vote, additional members. Candidates for co-option shall be Individual Members proposed by the President with the concurrence of the Working Bureau. The number of such members shall not exceed six at any time. Such co-opted members shall have full voting rights. The term of service of a co-opted member shall be established in each case by the Council, but it shall be not more than three years. After the three year term has elapsed, the Council may co-opt the same person for a period of up to an additional three years, with the aggregate total not more than six years, if a co-opted member is elected to the Council during his tenure, his seat as a co-opted member shall become vacant.
ARTICLE 7
The Executive Council shall elect from among its members the following officers of the Association: The President, four Vice-Presidents, and the Treasurer, all to three-years terms. One of the four Vice-Presidents shall be a member of the Administrative Organization which is currently LABORATORIO CENTRAL DE ESTRUCTURAS Y MATERIALES (MADRID). The President shall nominate, and the Executive Council shall appoint the Secretary of the Association, who shall also be a member of the Administrative Organization mentioned above. The Vice President and the Secretary from the Administrative Organization shall be entitled to dues-free Individual membership in the Association.
The Executive Council shall meet at least once a year, or at the request of the President, or at the request of a minimum of one fourth of the Council members, not later than two months after such request has been made. One half of the total membership of the Executive Council, excluding proxies, shall constitute a quorum. All voting in the Council shall be by a majority of two thirds of all members present, written proxies being allowed. Proxies shall be designated to a voting member of the Executive Council in advance by the absent member.
ARTICLE 8
The Executive Council shell have all the powers necessary to the discharge of its duties arising from its functions as the governing body of the Association.
The Council may delegate such of its powers as it may deem proper to the Working Bureau which shall conduct the day to day management of the Association's affairs. The Working Bureau shall consist of the President, the four Vice-presidents, the Treasurer, the immediate Past President and the Secretary. The Working Bureau shall meet at least once a year.
ARTICLE 9
The Executive Council shall be assisted in its work by the Advisory Board. Members of the Advisory Board shall be former members of the Executive Council, and Individual members with a record of achievement in the field of shells and/or spatial structures. The members of the Advisory Board shall be elected by a two-thirds vote of the Executive Council. They may attend the meetings of the Executive Council and may participate in its deliberations but do not possess voting rights.
ARTICLE 10
The President shall be the chief officer of the Association. He shall preside at the meetings of the Working Bureau and the Executive Council, and shall represent the Association.
ARTICLE 11
The Association shall have the following standing committees:
a) Technical Activities Committee to stimulate, coordinate and oversee the technical activities of the Association, including the Working Groups and the technical symposia and colloquia.
b) Election Committee, chaired by the Vice President from the Administrative Organization.
c) Financial Committee, chaired by the Treasurer.
d) Editorial Committee, chaired by the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the IASS.
e) Membership Committee.
f) Honors and Awards Committee.
g) Liaison Committee Representation, chaired by the Vice President from the Administrative Organization.
From time to time, the President in consultation with the Executive Council may organize and appoint committees to oversee awards, prizes, and recognitions of the Association and ad hoc committees for other special purposes. At the discretion of the President, such additional committees may be permanent or be of limited duration.
Except as specified above, the chairs of all committees shall be appointed by the President in consultation with the Working Bureau and the Executive Council. Additional members of each committee shall be appointed by the President in consultation with the chair of the committee and with the Working Bureau and the Executive Council.
ARTICLE 12
The Executive Council may from time to time create Working Groups as described in article four of the Statutes. Each Working Group shall consist of members of the Association and will be presided over by a Chairman appointed by the President. Each Working Group shall report to the Executive Council in writing once a year. The report of the investigations of each Working Group shall be submitted to the Executive Council who will have the right to approve or disapprove the publication of such report under the auspices of the Association.
ARTICLE 13
The funds of the Association shall consist of the membership dues, subscription fees, donations, subsidies, grants, interest on accumulated capital, and any other type of legally permitted income.
ARTICLE 14
The amount of the dues or subscription fees to be paid by members of different classifications shall be determined from time to time by the Executive Council. Failure to pay these dues of fees for a period of two years shall result in a cancellation of membership.
ARTICLE 15
The limit of the annual deficit which the Executive Council may authorize on behalf of the Association shall be no more than one half of the amount of the total income in the previous calendar year provided that the total current reserve is at least twice the authorized annual deficit.
ARTICLE 16
The Executive Council may from time to time award the EDUARDO TORROJA MEDAL, in recognition of outstanding and distinguished contributions to the development of the field of shell and spatial structures, or for exceptional service to the Association.
The Executive Council may establish other awards, prizes and recognitions of the Association, including the criteria, policies, and procedures for the selection of recipients.
ARTICLE 17
These Statutes of the Association may be modified or changed by the following procedures:
a) Proposed modifications or changes are circulated to Executive Council members at least two months before the next Council meeting.
b) Executive Council votes to place the modification or change on the ballot.
c) Ballot vote for modifications or change of a majority of two thirds of those Voting Members of the Association who cast ballots.
ARTICLE 18
The Association has an anticipated duration of 99 years, unless it is earlier dissolved through the following process:
a) Vote of at least a two thirds majority of the Executive Council to dissolve, after the opinion of the members of the Advisory Board had been obtained.
b) Ballot of two thirds of those Voting Members of the Association who cast ballots voting to dissolve.
Upon dissolution, any existing funds shall be devoted to whatever non-commercial purpose the Executive Council may decide, in accordance with applicable laws.
