CONSTITUTION

Article I: Name

Section 1

The name of this organisation shall be "European Association for Aquatic Mammals".

Section 2

This association is defined as an organisation of people interested in marine mammals in human care ,in a zoological environment or in the wild, and will include veterinarians, biologists, zoo and marine park directors and managers, trainers (husbandry professionals), researchers, students and other persons who devote a significant amount of time to the welfare of marine mammals through research, medical care, training, education, conservation, management and related activities. Membership shall also be granted to others interested in promoting the aims of the Association.

Article II: Aims and Objectives

Section 1

To promote the free exchange of knowledge and further scientific progress pertaining to research, medical care, training, education, conservation, management and other aspects of aquatic mammals.

Section 2

To provide an organisation for individuals who devote a significant amount of their professional activity to research, medical care, training, education, conservation, management and other aspects in the aquatic mammal field. To offer information on these aspects to the whole membership.

Section 3

To advance, by continued study, the theoretical basis for the maintaining of aquatic mammals in human care and/or a zoological environment and to promote the application of the results of this work to practical methods of husbandry.

Article III: Membership

Section 1

Membership of this Association shall be divided into the following categories:

  1. Full member
  2. Associate member
  3. Student member
  4. Honorary member
  5. Institutional member

Section 2

Qualifications for membership

  1. Full membership shall be limited to veterinarians, biologists, zoo and marine park directors and managers, trainers (husbandry professionals), researchers and others who devote a significant proportion of their professional activities to research, medical care, training, education, conservation and/or management involving aquatic mammals, who have at least three years of experience in this field (or 4 to 6 months per year for the seasonal workers) and whom the Board of the European Association for Aquatic Mammals consider eligible.
  2. Associate membership shall be open to any other persons who have a strong interest in aquatic mammals and who do not meet the requirements for full membership but who are also interested in furthering the aims of the Association. Associate members shall have no right to vote or hold office in the Board of the Association.
  3. Students in full time education who have an interest in aquatic mammals may be approved by the Board as student members and for a maximum of 6 years. Student members shall have no right to vote or hold office in the Association.
  4. The Board shall have the opportunity to propose, at the annual meeting, as honorary members those members who have contributed to the affairs of the Association in previous years and who are now retired or have changed their appointment and no longer fit the requirements for membership. Such members shall not hold office but may vote at business meetings and their fees may be remitted.
  5. Institutional membership shall be open to organisations employing staff, who spend a significant amount of time on the keeping of live, or studies on live or dead aquatic mammals, and whom the Board considers eligible for membership. Such members shall be represented at business meetings by a single named member of staff who shall have full voting rights and who may hold office in the same way as an individual member. Changes of such nominated representatives from institutions shall be notified in writing to and shall be approved by the Board prior to the relevant business meeting.

Section 3

The Board shall have the power to change the category of membership of an individual member in cases where this is deemed necessary.

Article IV: Officers

Section 1

The officers of the Association shall consist of the President, President-Elect, immediate Past-President, Secretary and Treasurer.

Section 2

The term of office as the President, the President-Elect and immediate Past-President shall be two years, beginning at the end of the relevant symposium.

Section 3

The President-Elect shall assume the duties of the President at the conclusion of the Annual meeting at which his/her successor is elected.

Section 4

The immediate Past-President shall become Acting-President to fill the unexpired term, if for any reason the President is unable to fulfil the duties of office.

Section 5

The term of office for the Secretary and Treasurer shall be three years, beginning at the close of the annual business meeting at which he/she is elected and continuing until his/her successor is installed. The Secretary and Treasurer shall be eligible for re-election for a maximum of two terms of office.

Section 6

Vacancies which might occur between two meetings shall be filled by the Board from qualified members. These changes in the Board must be ratified at the next annual general meeting.

Article V: Board

Section 1

The Board shall be composed of the officers.

Section 2

Candidates for the posts of Secretary, Treasurer and President-elect shall be proposed and seconded by members with voting rights. Elections will be held at the relevant business meetings. The holders of these posts will be elected by simple majority of those voting. Votes may be cast by those present at the meeting who's dues are currently paid in full. Paid up members not attending the meeting may vote by proxy, post,E-mail of fax. Such votes must be received by the Secretary no later that 10 days prior to the meeting. Voting papers detailing the candidates for the various posts shall be sent out by the Secretary not less than 50 days prior to the meeting and nominations of candidates must reach the Secretary not less than 65 days prior to the meeting. If there is a single candidate for a particular post or posts it will not be necessary to send out voting papers.

Section 3

Terms of office for the Board members shall begin at the close of the annual business meeting and continue until their successors are installed

Section 4

The Board shall be the executive body of the Association and shall have responsibility for administering the Association's affairs. In addition a representative of the host facility could be invited to attend when matters concerned with the annual conference are discussed or a member or other professional could also be invited to attend a Board meeting when matters pertaining to his/her involvement with work for the Association are to be discussed. The Board will meet at least twice a year in a formal Board meeting.

Section 5

The Board shall have power to co-opt either for a specific meeting or for a longer period as they consider necessary.

Article VI: Meetings

Section 1

The time and place of the annual business meeting and all special meetings shall be chosen by the Board. The annual general business meeting will be held during the annual conference if one is held that year.

Section 2

The site for the annual conference will be chosen 2 years in advance. Candidate hosts can present their facilities at the relevant business meeting and the candidate facility will be elected by a simple majority of the voting members present

Section 3

Notice of the time and place of all meetings of the members shall be sent to them by post at least 50 days prior to such meetings

Article VII: Amendments

Section 1

Amendments to this constitution shall be effected by two thirds of the members who vote. This may be done at a regular or a special meeting provided that such amendments have been mailed to all members eligible to vote at least 50 days prior to such a meeting. Those members unable to attend the regular or special meeting may cast their vote by post, proxy, E-mail and fax. Such votes are to be received by the Secretary no later than ten days prior to such a meeting.

Article VIII: Termination

Section 1

A motion to terminate the Association may only be made by the Board and such a motion may only be presented at a special meeting of the voting members and must be passed only by a vote in favour of three quarters of all those entitled to vote. Notice of such a meeting shall be sent by the Secretary to all members at least 50 days prior to the meeting together with the reason or reasons for the proposal. Members unable to attend this special meeting may cast their vote by proxy, post, E-mail or fax. Such votes must be received by the Secretary no later than ten days prior to the meeting.

Section 2

In the event of termination, the monies and property of the Association shall be given to another organisation or organisations with similar aims to the Association, the identity of such an organisation or organisations having been approved by the members voting for termination.

BYLAWS

Article I: Membership

Section 1

Membership applications (Full, Associate or Student) shall be submitted to the Secretary on a form authorised by the Board and signed by the applicant and two full members. One of the signing members must be prepared to support their proposal for membership either orally or in writing, if required by the Board. If the Board approves the application for membership the person shall become a temporary member until the following business meeting when their definitive membership will be approved (or not) by the voting members present.

Section 2

Completed applications will be countersigned by the Secretary and forwarded to the Board for review. The Board will, in turn, consider all applications and make recommendations concerning election to membership at the next business meeting.

Section 3

Membership of the Association shall be refused or terminated by the Board for the following reasons:

Section 4

If a full member leaves his/her professional employment with aquatic mammals or retires, the member's status will be changed to associate member. However, if the member has been active in the aquatic mammal field for at least 10 years and has been a full member of the EAAM for at least 5 years, he/she will retain his/her full member status. The Board can propose to retain a member's status at the next business meeting.

Section 5

It is the responsibility of members to inform the Secretary of any changes in their addresses and professional status. Failure to do so may lead to automatic cancellation of membership.

Article II: Dues

Section 1

All members shall pay annual dues as specified and approved by voting members of the Association. All dues shall be payable at the time of the annual business meeting. The Board shall be authorised to waive membership dues partly or entirely in cases of hardship or on retirement because of age.

Article III: Duties of Officers

Section 1

The President shall preside at all meetings; shall serve as chair of the Board and shall appoint all committees

Section 2

The immediate Past-President shall take the place of the President should the President be unable to attend meetings at which he/she would normally take the chair. The immediate Past-President will become Acting-President to fill out the unexpired term if for any reason the President should be unable to fulfil the duties of office.

Section 3

The President-Elect shall be responsible for the organisation of the scientific programme for the two annual meetings during his/her term of office and take whatever measures he/she considers necessary to carry this out, subject to approval by the Board.

Section 4

The Secretary shall record complete minutes of business meetings of the Association and the Board, shall sign all legal documents; shall be custodian of all properties of the Association and shall send a notice of the annual business meeting to members not less than 50 days prior to the meeting.

Section 5

The Treasurer shall receive all dues, fees and contributions; shall pay all debts of the Association subject to the approval of the Board; shall prepare a budget for the ensuing year which shall be approved and ratified by the Board; and shall submit a report and accounts for approval at the annual business meeting.

Section 6

Should the Secretary and/or Treasurer be unable to undertake their duties the Board will take on their duties until a successor is appointed. The Board may appoint persons to these posts but their appointments must be ratified at the next annual general meeting.

Section 7

The Board may from time to time recommend to the annual business meeting that the duties of the Secretary and Treasurer be carried out by the same person.

Article IV: Duties of the Board

Section 1

The Board shall be the governing body of the Association; shall give majority approval for the payment of all bills; shall receive reports of all committees; shall be responsible for the correspondence with the EAAM, shall have authority to revoke membership of the Association by a unanimous vote of all members of the Board ; and shall have the authority to waive membership dues partly or entirely.

Section 2

Two members of the Board must be present to constitute a quorum at a Board meeting.

Article V: Meetings

Section 1

The scientific meetings shall be held at appropriate times and places as determined by the Board and approved by the members at a previous meeting.

Section 2

Special meetings may be called by the President. The time and place of such meetings shall be decided by the Board.

Section 3

At least twenty per cent (20%) of the voting membership, but in no case less than twenty full members, shall constitute a quorum. A quorum is mandatory for voting on important issues during AGM, as requested by the membership.

Article VI: Order of Business

Section 1

The order of business at the annual general meeting shall be as follows:

  1. Call to order and opening of meeting
  2. Election of new members
  3. Reading of minutes
  4. Old business
  5. Matters arising from the minutes not covered elsewhere in the agenda
  6. Secretary's report
  7. Treasurer's report
  8. Reports of committees
  9. New business
  10. Nominations for officers
  11. Election of officers
  12. Presentation of candidate conference hosts
  13. Election of the annual conference host for the meeting 2 years ahead
  14. Any other business
  15. Close of meeting

Article VII: Elections

Section 1

If there is more than one candidate for any particular post the voting procedure for full members attending a meeting shall be in the form of a secret ballot.

Section 2

The procedures at meetings will be carried out according to Robert's Rules of Order (modern edition)

Article VIII: Parliamentary Procedure

Section 1

A Parliamentarian to serve in an advisory capacity may be appointed by the President at any annual or special meeting of the Association.

Article IX: Amendments

Section 1

Amendments to these Bylaws may be effected by posting the proposed amendment(s) to all members at least 50 days prior to the meeting. The said amendment(s) shall be voted on at the annual business meeting, and a simple majority will be required to approve the amendment. For those not attending the meeting votes may be cast by post, proxy, E-mail or fax and such votes must reach the Secretary not less than 10 days prior to the meeting.