Article I to XI

ARTICLE

ISSCT CONSTITUTION
(Amended August 2007)

Article I: Name and Objects

Article II: The Members

Article III: The Structure
of the ISSCT

Article IV: The Council

Article V: The Executive Committee

Article VI: The Technical Programme Committee, Technical Panel,
Commissions, Technical Section Committees and Workshops

Article VII: The Secretariat

Article VIII: The Congress Officers and Organizing Committee

Article IX : The Congress

Article X: Finance

Article XI: General

Article I: Name and Objects
Clause 1.	Name, insigna and address
	1.1	The name of the society shall be the
		INTERNATIONAL SOCIETY OF SUGAR CANE TECHNOLOGISTS
		and shall be referred to as ISSCT throughout this Constitution.
	1.2	The Society shall adopt the initials "ISSCT" in the form of the logo currently in use, as a permanent insignia of the organisation for use on letter heads, books, badges, ties and other distinctive objects issued or sponsored by the ISSCT. The use of the logo shall be restricted to the ISSCT.
	1.3	The flag of the ISSCT shall comprise the same insignia in gold letters mounted in the centre of a green background. The flag shall be displayed during the Congress
	1.4	The address of the ISSCT shall be that of the Secretariat.
Clause 2.	Objects
	The objects of the ISSCT shall be:
	2.1	to bring together sugar cane technologists to promote the technical discussion of field and factory problems of the sugar cane industry by means of congresses, held as far as practicable every three years, and other appropriate activities, such as workshops, which are freely accessible to members;
	2.2	to provide facilities for the observation of sugar production methods and related activities in the host country during the period of congress and, under certain circumstances, in neighbouring countries;
	2.3	to foster the free and frank interchange of technical information;
	2.4	to form technical commissions and working groups to deal with the common problems of sugar cane technology;
	2.5	to promote co-operative research and development between the regions on topics to be specified by the commissions, and to report regularly on these topics at congresses or through the appropriate media, implementing research agreements whenever necessary;
	2.6	to support worthy projects, designed for the benefit of all concerned;
	2.7	to provide a basis for the affiliation of national or local societies of sugar cane technologists with the ISSCT.
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Article II: The Members

Clause 1.	Membership
	Membership of the ISSCT shall be open to all persons and organisations involved in the study, application or dissemination of sugar cane technology. The following classes of membership shall be recognised.
	1.1	Individual members: scientists, technologists and administrators concerned with the technical progress of the sugar cane industry.
	1.2	Honorary life members
	1.3	Affiliated members: national societies of sugar cane technologists, with objects consistent with those of the ISSCT.
		1.3.1	No affiliated member shall be recognised except on a national basis;
		1.3.2	Exceptionally however, because of the wide geographical separation, France shall be represented at each Congress alternatively by its metropolitan Society "Association Française de la Canne à Sucre (A.F.C.A.S.)" and its Réunion Society "Association Réunionnaise pour le Développement de la Technologie Agricole et Sucrière (A.R.T.A.S.)". One shall be the Affiliated Member and the other the Association Member.
	1.4	Association members: other societies of sugar cane technologists in countries represented by an affiliated member.
	1.5	Institutional members: research institutions, libraries, companies and other organisations which are non-profit making and support the objects of the ISSCT.
	1.6	Corporate members: industrial and commercial organisations, which are associated with the sugar cane industry and which support the objects of the ISSCT occasionally.
Clause 2.	Admission of members
	An applicant qualifying for membership shall forward name, sphere of interests, address and membership dues to the General Secretary.
	2.1	Membership application and renewal
		2.1.1	The General Secretary with the collaboration of the Congress Secretary-Treasurer shall, as soon as possible after Congress, forward with the first Congress Newsletter to each member a renewal notice and advice of current membership dues, and all pertinent information on ISSCT activities and office bearers.
		2.1.2	Upon receipt of membership dues and application forms from affiliated, association, individual, institutional or corporate members, the General Secretary shall issue the requisite certificate of membership. A membership card shall be forwarded showing the class of membership, the period of admission and other relevant data.
		2.1.3	The General Secretary shall forward the membership card directly or through the Congress Secretary-Treasurer or the organizer of a Workshop, to the applicant.
		2.1.4	Membership shall run from the period starting immediately after the official adjournment of a Congress until the official adjournment of the next Congress.
		2.1.5	Membership services shall cease when membership dues have not been renewed after a period of one year following a Congress.
		2.1.6	Should the General Secretary be in doubt as to whether an applicant qualifies for membership and the class of membership, then the application shall be referred to the Compliance Standing Committee.
	2.2	Membership dues and determination Membership dues which are meant to support the activities of the ISSCT, membership services and for financing the running costs of the Secretariat, shall be paid to the accounts of the ISSCT Secretariat. However, the General Secretary may make special arrangements with Affiliated Societies or Organizers of Congress and Workshops for payment to be made through them. The following shall be taken into consideration for the determination of dues for different categories of membership.
		2.2.1	Membership dues for individual members shall be set at a level: (I) to encourage continuity of membership but sufficient to recoup, on a pro-rata basis, the costs of membership services, correspondence and communication; (II) to finance the publication and distribution of technical newsletters, the maintenance of a website, databases and any other approved technical activities such as workshops, through the Technical Programme Committee and the Secretariat.
		2.2.2	Membership dues for Affiliated and Association members shall be sufficient to cover the cost of correspondence, a copy of the Proceedings and Congress Newsletters.
		2.2.3	Membership dues and benefits for Institutional members shall be the same as for Affiliated members.
		2.2.4	Membership dues for Corporate members shall include, in addition to provisions in sub sections 2.2.2, 2.2.3 above, the exclusive right to rent space and exhibit at Congress, and entitlement to one named representative who will be allowed to participate in the activities of the ISSCT without any additional membership fee. Such dues shall be set at a level to provide funds also for the Secretariat, for co-operative research and other activities.
	2.3	Individual membership is personal and is not interchangeable.
Clause 3.	Honorary Life Membership
	Honorary life membership may be conferred upon individual members who have distinguished themselves in the sugar cane industry and have made an outstanding contribution to the ISSCT over a considerable period of time.
	3.1	Honorary life members shall be recommended by the Executive, elected by Council and announced at a Plenary Session of Congress. Nominations for such election shall be submitted to the Executive on the prescribed form (Form 4), signed by a proposer and two seconders, together with the Curriculum Vitae of the nominee, to be screened by the Compliance Standing Committee. Among the proposer and seconders, at least one shall be a member of Council or Executive and at least one shall not be from the country of origin of the nominee.
	3.2	The number of Honorary life members shall not exceed twenty-five and shall be selected from current or past members of the ISSCT. Exceptionally such distinction may be awarded to non-members.
	3.3	Honorary life members, who shall not be required to pay membership dues and who shall have full status, shall be deemed to be paid-up at all times.
Clause 4.	Participation in activities
	4.1	Attendance at Congresses and participation in all activities of the ISSCT are restricted to paid-up members, except for a limited number of personalities and institutions who are special guests of the host organisation and of the Executive, to promote an activity. Every commercial organisation taking part in the Congress Trade Exhibition or presenting a demonstration of equipment, services or other items, or sponsoring Congress events or other ISSCT activities, must be a Corporate member of the ISSCT, unless there is agreement between the Congress Organising Committee and the Executive to the contrary. Such agreement may, for example, apply to the involvement in the trade exhibition of small independent companies based in the immediate vicinity of the place where the Congress is held and may be allowed a reduced fee representing a sharing of ISSCT Corporate membership.
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Article III: The Structure of the ISSCT
Clause 1.	The ISSCT shall carry out its objects through the following structure:
	1.1	the Council
	1.2	the Executive Committee (referred to, in this Constitution, as the Executive)
	1.3	the Technical Programme Committee, the Technical Panel and the Commissions
	1.4	the Secretariat
	1.5	the Congress Officers and Congress Organizing Committee
	1.6	the Congress
	1.7	the Workshops
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Article IV: The Council
Clause 1.	Membership of Council
	The Council shall consist of:
	1.1	the Executive;
	1.2	the Councillors appointed by the Affiliated members;
	1.3	the Officers of the host country responsible for Congress;
	1.4	the General Secretary (ex-officio);
	1.5	the rotating representative of the Association member from France, who shall have observer status without the right to speak or vote.

Clause 2.	Functions
	The functions of the Council shall be:
	2.1	to elect members of the Executive from eligible nominees;
	2.2	to select the Affiliated member to host the next Congress;
	2.3	to receive the audited accounts of the ISSCT and ratify the report of the Executive, including its recommendations for the appointment of Commissioners, those responsible to Chair Sections and the election of Honorary Life Members;
	2.4	to determine dues for each class of membership;
	2.5	to ratify, on the recommendation of the Executive, the selection of the host of the Secretariat, and the appointment of the General Secretary;
	2.6	to receive the report of the General Secretary, through the Executive;
	2.7	to approve the report of the Technical Panel;
	2.8	to receive the report of the Congress Secretary-Treasurer issued on behalf of the Congress Organizing Committee (COC).
Clause 3.	Chair and Vice-Chair of Council
	The Chair of Executive shall be Chair of Council, and the Vice- Chair of Executive shall also be Vice-Chair of Council.
Clause 4.	Appointment of Councillors
	4.1	Councillors shall be appointed by Affiliated members shortly before a Congress and their appointment announced at the last meeting of Council at Congress. Their term of office shall last from the end of that Congress until the end of the next Congress and is renewable.
	4.2	The method of choice of Councillors shall be decided by each of the Affiliated members.
	4.3	In case a Councillor is unable to attend a Congress, his Affiliated Society shall nominate someone from their country to act in his stead and shall notify the General Secretary accordingly at least one month before the opening of Congress.
	4.4	A Councillor or his representative is accredited to attend meetings of Council and exercise the right to vote only if the Affiliated member he represents has paid its membership dues.
Clause 5.	Quorum and voting at Council meetings
	5.1	One-half of the members of Council having the right to vote shall constitute a quorum.
	5.2	Voting on resolutions or by-laws shall be by a majority show of hands.
	5.3	A secret ballot shall be held for the election of Honorary Life Members, members of the Executive and for the choice of the Affiliated member to host a Congress or may be invoked when any Councillor requests it. In these circumstances, Council shall appoint scrutineers: the General Secretary and two members of Council.
	5.4	The Congress officers shall have no voting rights.
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Article V: The Executive Committee

Clause 1.	Membership of Executive
	1.1	The Executive Committee of the ISSCT shall consist of ten members elected by Council from nominations received, plus the General Secretary.
	1.2	The mandate of an Executive Committee shall extend from the end of one Congress to the end of the following one.
	1.3	In electing members of the Executive, the Council shall ensure that the interests of the ISSCT are broadly represented.
	1.4	Any member elected on the Executive Committee shall not represent an Affiliated Society on Council and shall resign from that position if previously appointed.
	1.5	The General Secretary shall act as Secretary of the Executive, but without voting rights.
Clause 2.	Election to Executive
	2.1	Qualifications
		A member of the ISSCT, whose nomination is submitted to the Compliance Standing Committee for election by Council to the position of member of the Executive, shall have the following qualifications and obligations:
		2.1.1	a record of distinguished service to the ISSCT and the sugar industry in an administrative and/or technical capacity;
		2.1.2	have held membership for the last nine years, during which at least two Congresses will have been attended;
		2.1.3	be able to attend, as far as possible, meetings of the Executive; and attend all Congresses, which are held while an Executive member;
		2.1.4	be proficient in English;
		2.1.5	be reasonably proficient in e-mail and internet communication systems and be willing to use these skills and collaborate actively in the management of ISSCT activities during the inter-congress period;
		2.1.6	have held a senior professional post for at least six years;
		2.1.7	the Chair of the Technical Programme Committee must be elected from among members qualified to be able to comply particularly with clauses.
	2.2	Nominations
		Nomination of candidates for election to the Executive shall be made on the prescribed form (Form 5), supported by a proposer and a seconder, both members of the ISSCT, together with a written Curriculum Vitae including a record of qualifications specified in sub-clause 2.1. Such nominations shall be submitted to the General Secretary no later than 30 days before the start of Congress. Any signed evidence of the validity of the documents may however be received by noon at latest on the first day of Congress. The documents must be submitted to the Compliance Standing Committee which must report on the eligibility of the nominees to the first meeting of Council at Congress.
	2.3	Vacancies
		Under normal circumstances, there should be five vacancies to be filled at each election by the Council for a period of two consecutive Congresses. In exceptional circumstances there are more when any member does not continue his second term; the additional vacancy should then be filled for one term only. In case there are fewer nominations than the vacancies to be filled, the Council shall appoint an appropriate member with the desired qualification who shall also serve for one term only.
Clause 3.	Election of Chair and Vice Chair of the Executive and Chair of the Technical Programme Committee
	3.1.	At each Congress the New Executive shall elect its Chair and Vice Chair of the Executive Committee and Chair of the Technical Programme Committee.
	3.2.	Should the Chair be absent from a meeting or be temporarily unable to exercise his duties, the Vice-Chair shall automatically be required to act as Chair.
	3.3.	In case the position of Chair becomes vacant due to resignation or incapacitation for unforeseen reasons, the Vice-Chair shall automatically become the new Chair.
	3.4	Should the Vice-Chair resign or be incapacitated for unforeseen reasons during the inter-congress period, the Chair shall propose another member of Executive to replace him, for approval by members of Executive.
	3.5	Should an outgoing Chair of Executive continue to serve on Executive, he shall be designated Immediate Past Chair and assigned specific duties for the Congress period immediately following his term as Chair, at the discretion of the incoming Chair.
Clause 4.	Duties of Executive
	The duties of the Executive shall be:
	4.1	to ensure that the Constitution is upheld and the aims and objects of the ISSCT are achieved;
	4.2	to review and recommend changes in the Constitution, as required and with the collaboration of the Constitution and Resolutions Standing Committee;
	4.3	to report objectively to Council on the qualifications of Affiliated members desirous of holding the next Congress, on the basis of the adequacy of their facilities and technical standards for that Congress;
	4.4	to report to Council, hosts desirous of holding a workshop,
	4.5	to recommend to Council the names of individual members who qualify for Honorary Life Membership;
	4.6	to assist and guide the Commissions in order to ensure that the technical standards of the ISSCT are maintained;
	4.7	to be responsible to Council for the assets of the ISSCT, and to ensure that such assets are used according to the budget;
	4.8	to review periodically the accounts of the ISSCT and approve the audited Interim and Final Accounts as per Article X: Clause3;
	4.9	to appoint an Editorial Committee for each Congress as outlined in Article IX sub-clauses 7.1 and 7.2;
	4.10	to select the Affiliated or Institutional member to host the Secretariat, and appoint the General Secretary in consultation with the host organisation, subject to Council ratification;
	4.11	to appoint a Permanent Editor, preferably a present or past member of the ISSCT, who has had a proven record in the editing of scientific publications, at a fee in accordance with the budget;
	4.12	to assist the Congress Organising Committee, if so requested;
	4.13	to report to Council on matters of interest to the ISSCT;
	4.14	to appoint at its last meeting at the Congress, the three standing committees specified in Clause 5.
	4.15	to take appropriate action in the event that the Congress Organising Committee and/or an Affiliated member breaches any articles or by-laws of the Constitution, for which it is empowered by Council.
Clause 5.	Standing Committees
	For the purpose of conducting its duties, the Executive shall appoint three standing committees to deal with issues as specified below. It may also appoint temporary adhoc sub-committees to study other issues not covered by the three standing committees.
	5.1	Compliance Committee This shall consist of the Chair of the Executive, the General Secretary, the Chair of the forthcoming Congress and any other Councillor. Its duties shall be:
		5.1.1	to examine and express its opinion to the Executive on nominations received for Honorary Life Membership;
		5.1.2	to receive nominations for election to the position of member of the Executive and ascertain that they comply with the qualifications and obligations as defined under Clause 2 above;
		5.1.3	to present to the General Secretary a list of eligible candidates for the above election for submission to a Council meeting during Congress ;
		5.1.4	to receive applications for Affiliated membership and review their eligibility for membership;
		5.1.5	to examine and make recommendations on any question brought up by the General Secretary regarding membership;
		5.1.6	to study and report to the Executive on all matters related to languages.
	5.2	Finance Committee
		5.2.1	This shall be chaired by a member of the Executive who is not from the Country hosting the Secretariat, and comprise someone from the Congress Organizing Committee. Its duties shall be to monitor the budget with the assistance of the General Secretary and audit of the finances of the ISSCT and make relevant recommendations to Executive and Council.
		5.2.2	The term of office of the Finance sub-committee shall coincide with the budget period and shall start the next month following the end of a Congress and continue until the Interim accounts for the subsequent inter-congress period have been fully audited and signed by the Chair of the outgoing Executive.
	5.3	Constitution and Resolutions Committee
		This shall comprise of three members of the Executive. Its duties shall be:
		5.3.1.	to review the Constitution and propose amendments as and when necessary, working in close collaboration with the Chair and the General Secretary.
		5.3.2.	to prepare a list of resolutions taken at Congress for presentation to delegates at the final plenary session.
Clause 6.	Duration of Membership
	6.1	A member of the Executive Committee shall normally be elected by Council to serve over the period of two Congresses, except as otherwise provided in the Constitution, but shall not serve for more than four consecutive Congresses.
	6.2