Constitution and
By-Laws of the Japan Society of Island
Studies
Name
Article 1. The organization shall
be named the Japan Society of Island Studies.
Purpose
Article
2. The Society proposes to contribute to the advancement of island
studies
by conducting research; and by communicating on an inter-professional
and
inter-disciplinary basis, to strengthen links between the different
disciplines involved in island studies.
Offices
Article 3.
The Society shall have an office for a specified period in the
Nagashima
Research Room of Nara Women's University (Faculty of Life and
Environment),
Japan.
Activities
Article 4. The Society shall undertake the
following activities for the
realization of the purposes mentioned in
Article 2:
1. Hold academic symposiums, research conferences, etc.;
2.
Publish and distribute reviews and papers on islands and/or insular
communities, including a periodical to be published by the Society;
3.
Carry out, assist and/or encourage research activities;
4. Establish and
maintain a collection of books and other documents
pertaining to islands,
including the creation of bibliographies pertaining
to same;
5. Undertake
other activities that may be needed for the realization of the
purposes of
the Society.
Branch societies and working groups
Article 5.
The Society may establish branches or working groups as
needed.
Membership
Article 6. The Society shall be composed of
regular members, student members,
associate members, and sponsors. These are
defined as follows:
1. Regular and student members are scholars in the
area of islands or insular
communities and other persons who are interested
in the encouragement and
enlargement of island studies, and who support the
purposes of the Society.
They may be accepted as members after applying to
the Society's administration.
2. Regular and student members will receive the
Society's periodical and may
submit articles for publication in it; and may
participate in the proceedings
of general meetings and other Society
activities.
3. Associate members shall receive the Society's periodical, but
shall not
have the right to participate in the Society's formal
meetings.
4. Sponsors are corporations and other public and private groups
which support
the purposes of the Society and have been authorized for
membership. Sponsors
may participate in the Society's meetings and
activities, but shall not take
part in general meetings.
To become
members, interested parties shall apply to the administration of the
Society.
Membership Fees
Article 7. Each member shall pay
an annual membership fee whose amount shall
be set at the annual general
meeting each year
General Meetings
Article 8. The Society
shall have an annual general meeting and may have
special general meetings
of the membership.
Article 9. The annual general meeting shall be held
each year.
Article 10. A special general meeting may be held at other
times:
1. If required by the President and Council;
2. Following a appeal
to the President by more than twenty regular members.
Article 11. The
representatives of the Society shall be responsible for setting
the time and
place for the annual general meeting, and shall draw up an agenda
for
it.
Article 12. A quoram for the annual general meeting shall be set a
more than
one-fifth of all members, including the designated representatives
of absent
members.
Article 13. Decisions shall be reached by majority
vote (50%, plus one of those
voting). Ties shall be broken by the deciding
vote of the Speaker, who shall
be selected by the members
attending.
Article 14. The ordinary business of the annual general
meeting shall include:
1. Projects and reports of the Society's
activities;
2. Financial report;
3. Other items as identified by the
President.
Composition of Board
Article 15. The Society shall
have a Board consisting of the President,
permanent directors, regular
directors, and a Treasurer.
Artcle 16. Board members shall be elected by
the members of the Society at the
annual general meeting.
Article 17.
The term of office for Board members (except permanent directors)
shall be
three years.
Commissioners
Article 18. The Society may also
utilize "Commissioners," who may assist the
Board and advise on
special matters or projects.
Article 19. Commissioners shall be appointed
by the President.
Finances
Article 20. The Society's finances
shall ordinarily be supplied by membership
fees, subsidies, contributions,
etc.
Article 21. The Society may establish special accounts and access
other funds
in addition to the regular finances as needed.
Article
22. The financial year for the Society shall begin on 1 April and end
on 31
March of the following year.
Process for Amendment
Article 23.
Amendments to the Society's constitution or by-laws shall require
approval
of two-thirds of the membership on attendance at the annual general
meeting.
This constitution and by-laws shall go into effect on 19
July 1998.