Statutes - Revised

ELGRA STATUTES

Adopted at the ELGRA General Assembly on April 17th, 1991, Porz, Germany and accepted by the Vereins-Register Munich on Feb 8th 1993 under number 9702. Revised version adopted at the ELGRA General Assembly on April 3, 2003, Munich, Germany.

1. The „European Low Gravity Research Association, ELGRA“ is an international Association of European scientists and scientific groups concerned with the investigation of phenomena under low effective gravity. ELGRA is pursuing only non-profit objectives according to the section „Tax favoured purposes“ of the German tax law. The means of the Association can be used only for objectives defined in the Statutes. Members do not receive allowances from the means of the Association. No individual may be favoured either by payments not related to the objectives of the Association or by disproportionately high reimbursements. In case of dissolution or cessation of the Association or of abolition of its hitherto objectives the property of the Association is assigned either to a Public Corporation or to another „tax favoured“ Association with the purpose to be used, e.g., to promote scientific activities according to PARA 2 of these Statutes.
It has its seat in Munich and is listed in the register of associations.

2. The objectives of the Association are:

a. To encourage and promote research in Europe using low gravity conditions for the investigation of gravitational effects in various phenomena and technological processes.
b. To encourage co-ordination of the European efforts in this area, in particular with regard to the definition, preparation and conduct of experiments in space.
c. To promote interdisciplinary cooperation between research teams from various scientific disciplines.
d. To promote the participation and active incorporation of students in space activities.
e. To represent the common interest of its members.

3. The association shall endeavour to achieve the objectives specified in PARA 2 by
mechanisms which will include:

a. The organisation of scientific conventions, conferences and colloquia.
b. The provision of a forum for the discussion of research programmes.
c. The promotion of the exchange and dissemination of information.
d. Advising scientists and research teams
e. The provision of information to national and European authorities and industrial firms, and in particular the aerospace industry.
f. The setting up of committees for specific tasks.
g. The encouraging and promoting the formation of National Associations.

4. Membership:

a. Membership can be granted to individuals as well as to corporate bodies, e.g., scientific Institutes and Laboratories, which are engaged in the field of activity of ELGRA.
b. Student membership can be granted to any registered student expressing an interest in the field.
c. The General Assembly of members shall decide whether an applicant for membership or student membership shall be accepted. An application requires the acceptance by the least a two-third majority of the General Assembly. This function may be delegated by the General Assembly to a membership committee.
d. An application can be rejected without reasons being stated for such rejection.
e. A member may leave the Association at the end of a calendar year. Six month notice must be given. The notice must be given to the president in writing.
f. The General Assembly shall decide under what conditions membership or student membership shall lapse.
g By a voting majority of at least 80%, the General Assembly can exclude a member, in particular if the prerequisites for membership are no longer met.

The president must submit in writing the proposal for exclusion to the member concerned at least two weeks before the General Assembly and must read out to the Meeting a statement by the member.

5. Bodies of the Association:

The bodies of ELGRA are:

a. The Management Committee
b. The General Assembly of the members

6. President and / Management Committee:

a. The Management Committee shall consist of the President, Secretary and one Vice-President all of whom are legal representatives of ELGRA, and a number of other Members, this number to be determined by the General Assembly. The President and the Vice-President should represent the fields of Life and Physical Sciences.
b. The President presides over the Association, represents it and administers it in agreement with the Management Committee. He chairs the meetings of the Management Committee, and the General Assembly. He is responsible for implementing the decisions of the General Assembly.
c. The President, Secretary and Vice-President, henceforth known as the Officers, and the remainder of the Management Committee will be elected by the General Assembly by a simple majority in a secret ballot. They shall serve for two years and may be re-elected once for the same position.
d. The Management Committee shall have the power to invite representatives of other European organisations to its own meetings or to the General Assembly, to serve in an advisory capacity only.
e. The Management Committee shall convene at least once per year.

7. General Assembly:

Each member can be represented by only one person at the General Assembly.

a. The General Assembly shall be convened at least once every two years. Two months written notice of the meeting shall be given by the Secretary, and the proposed agenda shall be sent out not less than four weeks in advance.
An Extraordinary General Assembly can be convened by the President or by 20% of the members.
b. The Secretary General will draw up minutes of the General Assembly. The protocol of the General Assembly must be signed by the President.
c. A quorum of the General Assembly shall be 20 members or 20% of the membership whichever number is the smaller.
d. Unless provided otherwise, decisions shall be valid when adopted by a simple majority. The President will have a casting vote.
e. Tasks of the General Assembly
- 1. Discussion and adoption of the working programme of ELGRA
- 2. Adoption of the minutes of the previous General Assembly. Adoption of President’s report. Adoption of Treasurer’s report.
- 3. Election of the Officers or other members of the Management Committee.
- 4. Election of two auditors.
- 5. Determination of the membership subscription.
- 6. Amendments to the Statute together with the determination and amendment of implementing provisions.
- 7. Any other business.
- 8. Dissolution of ELGRA.

8. Decision Making:

a. On matters that require voting by secret ballot, at most one vote can be cast by any person who is present at the General Assembly and no other votes are allowed. On other matters voting by proxy is allowed.
b. Outside the General Assembly decisions can be taken by written procedure. In this case, the Management Committee shall formulate the proposals and specify the closing date and the address for the reception of the vote. The proposals shall be submitted to the members at least two months before the closing date.
c. The written procedure can also be used for changes of the Statutes or for matters requiring a secret ballot.

9. Annual Subscriptions:

These shall be determined by the General Assembly. It is to be collected at the beginning of the calendar year. The subscription period coincides with the calendar year.

10. Amendments to the Statutes:

Proposed amendments to these Statutes must be submitted by the Management Committee or by at least 20% of the members, at least two months before the next General Assembly.
An Amendment to the Statutes will become effective with at least two-third of the votes.