Association Code

Part A. General Statements

Nature, Mission and Objectives

The mission of the International Seaweed Association (ISA) is to promote applied phycology on a global basis, and to stimulate interactions among research workers and industrialists in all relevant institutions and industries in all countries.

Within this mission, the objectives of the ISA are primarily directed towards seaweeds, but also include other algae including cyanobacteria, as well as algal constituents. Included are studies on basic biology and chemistry of utilized or potentially utilizable algae; algal biotechnologies; responsible resource management and conservation programmes; improved harvesting, cultivating, and processing of algae; and utilization of algal products and their derivatives.

A core function of the ISA is to secure the continuation of the International Seaweed Symposia (ISS), normally to be held at regular intervals as specified herein.

The International Seaweed Association Council (ISAC) manages the affairs of the ISA.

Membership

Membership in the ISA is open to all persons engaged an activity listed above, or interested these objectives. There are four classes of membership:

(1) Honorary Life Membership may be bestowed by the Association on individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the Association and/or to the fields of research, development and application of seaweeds or their products. Nominations for Honorary Membership may come from any Senior Member of the ISA, and should be directed to the Secretary of the ISAC. The ISAC will consider nominations and for those supported, will announce the award during the closing ceremony of the relevant ISS.

(2) Senior Membership is available to all persons who pay the designated registration fee at the current ISS.

(3) Student Membership. Student members may be nominated by participating organizations or by individuals, and shall pay the appropriate fee at the current ISS. Student membership is restricted to those undertaking formal tertiary training up to and including the Ph.D. degree or its equivalent. Student membership is not open to those in employment undertaking studies on a part-time basis.

(4) Institutional Membership is open to institutions involved in activities relevant to the objectives of the ISA. All institutions, whether teaching, research, industrial or governmental, may be considered. Membership fees will be fixed by the ISAC. The ISAC may waive fees for those institutions which have made a significant contribution in support of the ISA and/or the ISS.

In all classes of membership, except Honorary Life Membership, the period of membership is considered to begin upon registration and payment of the designated registration fee at the current ISS, and to remain in effect until the start of the succeeding ISS. Members in all categories will normally receive one copy of the Proceedings of the International Seaweed Symposium as part of their registration fee.

Members who are unable to attend an ISS may retain their membership by paying a fee determined by the ISAC. Persons or institutions wishing to join the ISA between International Seaweed Symposia may do so by paying a fee determined by the ISAC.

Organisation

1(a) The continuity of the ISA is maintained and directed through the ISAC. Any Senior Member or Honorary Life Member of the ISA is eligible for membership in the ISAC.

1(b) Membership of the ISAC shall not exceed twelve and shall not be fewer than ten.

1(c) Membership of the ISAC should reflect (insofar as is practical) a balance among disciplines, geographical regions, and institutions, as well as a mix of research, governmental, and industrial members. To this end, the Chairperson of the ISAC will appoint a Nomination Committee which will solicit nominations and supporting documents from all ISAC members. In addition, any member of the ISA may at any time nominate any eligible member for election to the ISAC by forwarding a letter and supporting documents, including curriculum vitae, to the ISAC Secretary. The Nomination Committee will select from among the nominees at least two candidates for each open seat on the ISAC, and report these selections to the ISAC Chairperson, who in turn will instruct the ISAC Secretary to conduct the election by mail ballot. Election shall be by majority vote of ISAC members. Election of new members will normally be conducted during the year immediately preceding an ISS.

1(d) The ISAC will meet immediately before the ISS, and at other times as necessary. A quorum of the ISAC is 50% of its actual membership.

2(a) The Chairperson of the ISAC will be President of the ISA, and the Vice-Chairperson its Vice-President. The Vice-Chairperson will be elected by a majority of ISAC members present at the ISAC meeting immediately preceding the ISS. Only members newly elected to the ISAC, or completing their first term of membership, shall be eligible for election as Vice-Chairperson.

2(b) After one term, the Vice-Chairperson of the ISAC will automatically become Chairperson. Should the Vice-Chairperson be unable to accede to the Chair, a Chairperson shall be elected from among ISAC members completing their first or second term of membership.

2(c) The tenure of the Chairperson is for one term only, extending from the closing ceremony of one Symposium to the closing ceremony of the Symposium immediately following.

2(d) In the period between meetings of the ISAC, the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson, and the Immediate Past Chairperson will constitute the Council Executive.

3(a) The tenure of membership on the ISAC shall normally be three full terms, i.e. from the closing ceremony of one Symposium to the closing ceremony of the third subsequent Symposium. Councillors may not be re-elected.

3(b) Continuing membership on the ISAC depends on active participation in the affairs of the International Seaweed Association, including attendance at the ISS. Members of the ISAC who are unable to attend an ISS must inform the Chairperson or the Secretary in writing, prior to the ISAC meeting immediately preceding the ISS. A councillor who misses two consecutive Symposia is automatically disqualified from membership on the ISAC, and that position will immediately be considered vacant.

3(c) Councillors who fail to attend an ISS and the ISAC meeting immediately preceding it will not be considered for election to any office, unless the reason for non-attendance is accepted by the ISAC.

3(d) Casual vacancies on the ISAC may be filled by ballot of ISAC members. Members so elected will serve only for the remainder of the vacancy. If the vacancy extends for one full term or more, such members may not be re-elected.

3(e) Honorary Members who are not otherwise members of the ISAC may participate (without voting rights) in meetings of the ISAC, and may serve on ISAC committees.

4. Minutes of the previous ISAC meeting, summaries of meetings of the Council Executive held between International Seaweed Symposia, and the financial statement will be made available to all ISAC members attending the relevant ISS. A summary report will be made by the Chairman at the closing ceremony of the ISS.

5. The ISAC will establish and maintain terms of reference for hosting ISS and for all awards offered in connection with activities related to the ISA and ISS. These and any other procedural matters may be described in a Manual of Operations. In the event of disagreement between this Code and the Manual of Operations, this Code shall take precedence.

6. Following election of a new Vice-Chairperson, the ISAC shall appoint "at pleasure" a Secretary, a Treasurer, and an Editor-in-Chief. Persons filling these positions may or may not be from within the elected membership of the ISAC.

7. In the absence of the Chairperson, the Vice-Chairperson will assume the responsibilities of the Chair at all times.

8. The Council Executive will meet as necessary to ensure that the objectives and functions of the ISA are maintained in the inter-sessional periods and to propose a budget for expenditures in the forthcoming period. This group will also be responsible for coordination with the National Organizing Committee to overview the organization, planning and conduct of each ISS.