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BYLAWS
of the
GEOLOGISCHE VEREINIGUNG e.V., BONN
(OnIy the Bylaws in the German language are legally binding)
I. General Rules
II. Legal Status of the Members
III. The Instruments of the Association
1. The Inner Board of Officers
2. Advisory Council
3. The Full Board of Officers
4. Assembly of the Members
IV. Final Remarks
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I. General Rules
1. The association is international and carries the name of "Geologische Vereinigung e.V.".
2. The headquarters of the association is Bonn.
3. The financial year is the calendar year.
4. The association is entered in the register of associations and is a legal entity.
1. The purpose of the Geologische Vereinigung is to promote the geosciences in general and also on a regional scale. It strives to more closely connect the geosciences with general intellectual and economic cultural aspects of society and sees its particular responsibility in furthering understanding and cooperation among geoscientists around the world.
2. The association restricts itself to pursuing the above mentioned scientific and common goals. The purpose set out in the bylaws will be pursued exclusively and directly.
3. In particular through publications and further common work during conventions and in the field, public speeches and similar means, the goals of the association will be pursued.
1. The necessary funds will be procured by membership fees and donations.
2. Possible gains can only be used towards the purposes addressed in the bylaws.
II. Legal Status of the Members
1. Legal persons of public and private law, groups of persons and individuals can become members of the association.
2. Admittance to the association will be given by the inner board of officers upon a written application. The inner board of officers may refuse membership without stating reasons.
3. Prerequisite for membership is the purchase of the "Geologische Rundschau".
1. Persons who have earned special merits in promoting the goals of the association can be appointed to honorary members by positive decisions by the full board of officers and the assembly of the members. The decision of the full board of officers needs to be unanimous, the decision of the assembly of the members needs a simple majority of the votes cast.
2. The honorary members nave all the rights of ordinary members without their duties.
1. A membership expires
a) by withdrawal. This is only possible at the end of the business year by means of a written statement, which has to be filed three months before termination of the business year to the board of officers;
b) through deletion from the membership list, if a member in spite of two written reminders stays in default of the membership dues. The cancellation has to be revoked in case of a payment thereafter;
c) through expulsion. This is permissible if a member has damaged the standing of the association or is acting against its goals. For this a unanimous decision of the inner board of officers is mandatory. Before expulsion the member is to be given the opportunity to explain the matters leading to his expulsion. The president pronounces the expulsion by stating the reason for it. After notification, the expelled is to be given a one month's grace period, in which he can appeal to the advisory council. The advisory council finally decides the issue with a two thirds majority.
1. The value of the membership fees will be decided by the assembly of the members. The president may in special cases lower, suspend of waive the membership fees.
2. The membership fees are due by March 31st of each calendar year, payable in full to the treasurer of to an account appointed by him.
III. The Instruments of the Association
1. The Inner Board of Officers
1. The inner board of officers consists of the president, three vice presidents, two secretaries, the permanent editors of the association's periodical, and the treasurer. The editors of the Geologische Rundschau may assume simultaneously another position in the inner board of officers.
2. The members of the inner board of officers are elected by the assembly of the members. They are elected for a term of three years, after each year 1/3 of the boardmembers will retire, reelection is however permissible.
3. Until a regular exchange of the members of the inner board is established, retirements will be decided by lot.
4. The right of proposing candidates is restricted to the full board of officers and groups of at least fifty members of the association. The proposals of such groups have to be submitted in writing at least six weeks prior to the assembly of members.
1. The board according to § 26 of the German Civil Law consists of the president and the treasurer. The inner board of officers can elect among themselves another member to the legal board of officers, as stipulated in § 26 of above mentioned law. Each of these officers is empowered to represent the association in court and extra court matters.
1. The inner board of officers has to conduct the business of the association in such a manner, as to comply to the bylaws of the association and the decisions of the members' assembly.
The board of officers decides upon the standing orders by itself.
2. Advisory Council
1. The advisory council consists of at least six, maximum 12 members. These members can not be members of the inner board of officers.
2. For the election and the terms of the members of the advisory council the rules set down in § 8 parts 2 to 4 will apply accordingly.
1. The advisory council has to advise the inner board of officers in all matters of the association.
2. The advisory council meets at least once a year with the inner board of officers.
3. The advisory council only has a quorum in matters mentioned in § 6, part 1, letter c. In this case the president chairs the meeting, he has, however, no right to vote.
4. The advisory council meeting is convened by the president of the association. The members of the advisory council decide upon the standing order themselves.
3. The Full Board of Officers
1. Inner board of officers and advisory council form together the full board of officers.
2. They decide upon their standing order themselves.
3. The full board of officers meets together in cases stipulated by the bylaws (§ 5, § 8, part 4). The assembly of the members may entrust more responsibilities to the full board of officers.
1. In memory of its founder the association has established the foundation of the Gustav-Steinmann-Medal. lt. will be awarded to scientists who have achieved special merits for the goals of the association in the sense of § 2. The medal will be awarded after unanimous decision of the full board of officers.
2. The Geologische Vereinigung awards the Hans Cloos Prize to young scientists who are generally under the age of 35 and have made significant contributions to the geosciences in the form of outstanding, independent and internationally published geoscientific research activities or outstanding contributions to our understanding of geoscientific processes. This award with a value of Euro 10,000.00 is presented during the annual meeting of the Geologische Vereinigung, but is not necessarily awarded each year. Award nominations should be made at least four months prior to the annual meeting of the Geologische Vereinigung. Following examination by an independent reviewer, the prize is unanimously awarded by a committee composed of members of the Board.
4. Assembly of the Members
1. The inner board of officers decides upon the place of the assembly of the members.
2. The convention has to be announced at least two months before the assembly of the members together with the agenda. The day of the convention and the assembly is not to be counted in this respect. As proof for the orderly convention the testimony of one member of the inner board of officers is sufficient, stating that the written invitations have been mailed in time.
1. A regular meeting of the members takes places one each fiscal year. Among the tasks to be completed at the assembly of the members are: presentation and acceptance of the annual and treasurer’s reports, closing of annual accounts, approval of the inner board of officers and the advisory council, holding of elections, and appointment of two auditors.
2. The inner board of officers can call for further assemblies of the members at their discretion. The inner board of officers has to call for an assembly, if the advisory council or at least one fifth of the member of the association desires so.
1. The president or one of the vice presidents chairs the assembly, he decides on the agenda as well as the mode of voting and establishing the results.
1. Voting and balloting by acclamation is permissible as long as no member of the assembly contradicts. In case of contradiction of one member of the assembly the ballot has to be in writing.
2. Every member has one vote. If nothing else is requested, the simple majority of the votes decides. If a simple majority cannot be reached in the first round, a final ballot between the two candidates having obtained the most votes is to take place. If both candidates get the same amount of votes, the decision will be made by drawing lots.
3. If a decision of a change in the bylaws or about the dissolution of the association is to be voted upon, a three quarters majority is mandatory.
1. Minutes have to be taken at meetings, especially on the decisions of the assembly. These minutes have to be signed by the chairman of the assembly and one of the secretaries.
Decisions have to be quoted verbatim.
1. Within the first five months of the business year the inner board of officers has to issue a statement of the account and a financial report of the past business year. lt will be scrutinized by two auditors. Their findings will be transmitted by the president to the assembly of the members (§ 17).
IV. Final Remarks
1. Service for the association is voluntary. There is no remuneration. The inner board of officers decides on any reimbursement of expenses. If members retire or the association is dissolved, disbursements or inducements to the members are not permitted. No single person must be favoured with administrative expenses which are alien to the purpose of the association or expenses, which are uncommonly high.
2. In the case that the association is dissolved, the assets of the association will, after payment of all debts, go to the Senckenbergische Naturforschende Gesellschaft with its seat in Frankfurt/Main, for the exclusive benefit to the purposes of the association.
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