Art. 1
An Association is formed called the Italian Society of Sensory Science. The Association has its headquarters in Florence at Via Donizetti no. 6, care of the Department of Agrarian Biotechnology of the University of Florence.
Art. 2
The Association is a not-for-profit organization. Its aim is to contribute to the progress of sensory science and its applications, also with consideration for the perception of these topics by the public and education at various levels.
Art. 3
In order to carry out that which is proposed, the Association may:
- Promote studies, research and discussion;
- Set up observers, laboratories and study commissions;
- Present lectures or seminars by members or others invited by the Board of Directors;
- Organize conventions;
- Collect and diffuse information;
- Edit or sponsor the publication of periodicals, newsletters, monographs, collections or any other type of bibliographic or documentary material:
- Maintain contacts with similar Associations and other national, international or foreign institutions, as well as with ministerial, regional and local technical bodies;
- Favour collaborations and intra- and interdisciplinary exchanges;
- Administer funds and contributions for study, award scientific work and honour persons who have acquired exceptional merit in fields of interest to the Association;
- Institute service centres;
- Undertake any other actions or initiatives to carry out the resolutions described in article 2.
Art. 4
The Association is composed of:
- regular members;
- honorary members;
- supporting members.
Art. 5
Regular members are those who, for professional activity, can actively participate in the life of the Association and can offer to said Association active collaboration with regard to the aims stated in the statute.
These members are active and passive electorates and make up the General Assembly.
Art. 6
Honorary members are those who have made important and undisputed contributions to the areas of interest to the Association, but are neither active nor passive electorates.
Art. 7
Supporting members are physical or juridical persons or non-profit corporations who pay a yearly sum which is not inferior to ten times that of the membership dues for a regular member.
These members participate in the life of the Association but are neither active nor passive electorates.
Art. 8
Admission as a member of the Association is decided by the Board of Directors.
Members are required to respect the Statute and Regulations of the Association.
Membership in the Association may be revoked by withdrawal or exclusion for serious motives.
Art. 9
The assets of the Association is composed of:
Moveable and immoveable assets belonging to the Association;
Contributions, donations, bequeaths, grants from physical persons or agencies or corporation bestowed with the specific aim or increasing the assets;
Possible budget surpluses destined to increase the assets.
Art. 10
To carry out its statutory aims the Association has at its disposal:
- Membership dues;
- Voluntary donations by members;
- Grants and contributions bestowed by private parties or agencies;
- Proceeds from initiatives promoted by the Association.
Art. 11
The bodies of the Association are:
- The President;
- The Board of Directors;
- The General Assembly of Members;
- The Board of Auditors;
- The Board of Arbitrators.
Art. 12
The President is the legal representative of the Association and is able to carry out all acts of patrimony management in the name of, and on behalf of the Association.
He/She summons and presides over the General Assembly and the Board of Directors, supervises the activities of the Association and execution of deliberations by the bodies of the Association. He/She reports annually to the General Assembly regarding these activities.
In case of his/her absence or impediment, the President is substituted by the Vice-President.
The President's term lasts three years and he/she may not be confirmed more than once.
Art. 13
The Association is directed by a Board of Directors composed of the President, Vice-President, and four Directors, one of whom will serve as Treasurer; all are elected by the General Assembly. When the President of the previous Board of Directors does not already hold a position on the Board, he/she holds a consultative vote.
The Board of Directors serve for a three year term and they may be reconfirmed. For the duration of their term, the members of the Board of Directors may not hold other Association positions as stated in Art. 15 and 16 of the present Statute.
The members of the Board of Directors receive no retribution for their position.
The Board of Directors have the task of carrying out the general directives indicated by the General Assembly and of promoting, within the context of such directives, all initiatives aimed at achievement of the statutory goals.
The Board of Directors also:
- Names, as nominated by the President, a Secretary to be chosen from the members who are active and passive electorates, even if he/she is not part of the Board;
- Takes responsibility for all necessary measures for the administration, organization and functioning of the Association;
- Predisposes of an estimated budget and final accounting subjected to approval by the General Assembly; the budget to be requested with reference to 31 December of each year;
- Approves requests for membership in the Association, nominates regular or supporting members;
- Approves nominations of honorary members.
The Board of Directors is summoned by the President as necessary or when meeting is requested by at least four its elected components. Quorum is reached when at least four components of the Board are present. Representation by proxy is not permitted. The Board of Directors deliberates to majority of those present; in case of a tie, the President's vote prevails.
Art. 14
The General Assembly is composed of regular members of the Association. All other members may attend the General Assembly but do not have the right to vote.
The General Assembly is summoned by the Board of Directors to a regular session at least once per year to approve the budget and in special session whenever deemed necessary. The General Assembly can, in addition, be summoned for just cause by at least one tenth of the voting members.
The call to General Assembly is communicated in writing, including the items on the agenda, and is sent to members at least 15 days prior to the meeting.
The General Assembly is presided over by the President of the Association, or in his/her absence by the Vice-President; the President nominates a Secretary.
The Assembly has all powers provided for by the law and in particular:
- Discusses and deliberates reports on the activities of the Association, determines the course of general policies and directives for action to carry out with regard to the statutory aims;
- Elects the President, Vice-President, Directors, Treasurer, components of the Board of Auditors and of the Board of Arbitrators;
- Approves the estimated and final budgets;
- Determines membership dues;
- Names honorary members as proposed by the Board of Directors;
- Deliberates modifications to the current Statutes, as set out in Art. 17;
- Deliberates the Association Regulations as mentioned in Art. 18;
- Deliberates in case of dissolution of the Association, as set out in Art. 19.
Each regular member has the right of one vote.
The General Assembly reaches quorum at the first summons with the presence, either in person or by proxy, of half of the voting members whose membership dues have been paid in full; at the second summons, the General Assembly is valid with any number of participating members. The General Assembly deliberates to majority of those present.
Representation by proxy is permitted with a limit of four proxies for each member.
Minutes of the General Assembly, signed by the President and the Secretary, will be given to the General Assembly.
Art. 15
Control of administration, checking of accounts, verification of estimated and final budgets, and examination of accounting documents and sheets are assigned to the Board of Auditors, composed of three active members elected by the General Assembly.
The Board of Auditors elects a President among themselves.
Auditors hold their position for three years and may be reconfirmed. During their term, Auditors may not hold other Association positions as outlined in Art. 13 and 16.
The Board of Auditors prepares reports of the estimated budget and final accounting, which must be presented to the General Assembly together with the budgets prepared by the Board of Directors.
Art. 16
Resolution of controversies which may arise among members or between members and the Association with regard to Association activities, with the exception of those which may not be object of transaction among the parties, is assigned to a Board of Arbitrators, composed of three members elected by the General Assembly.
The Arbitrators term lasts three years and they may be reconfirmed. During their term, Arbitrators may not hold other Association positions as outlined in Art. 13 and 15.
Art. 17
Modifications to the current Statute shall be deliberated by the General Assembly. Deliberations in this regard are valid when two-thirds of the members are present, in person or by proxy, and ratification requires a favourable vote by two-thirds of the voters.
Art. 18
The rules for internal functioning of the Association are established by the Regulations, as prepared by the Board of Directors and approved by the General Assembly.
Art. 19
The duration of the Association is unlimited.
Dissolution of the Association may not be effectuated unless it follows deliberation by the General Assembly, by way of open ballot; ratification requires a favourable vote by at least three-quarters of the voting members, present in person or by proxy.
Devolution of the assets of the Association will be arranged by the General Assembly which decided to dissolve the Association.
Art. 20
Reference will be made to current laws for any omissions in the present Statute.
