The member of the International Coordinating Committee (ICC) of the International Center for Research and Training on Seabuckthorn (ICRTS):

Aware of seabuckthorn’s potential to address problems of land degradation, rural and economic development, and human health.

Conscious of the responsibility for awareness creation nationally and internationally.

Convinced that the role and impact as well as efficiency of individual bodies can be enhanced through effective co-operation and consultation.

Have decided to create an international association, which will facilitate adequate representation of all member‿interest, promote and sponsor seabuckthorn vis-a-via decision-makers and policy-makers, advance synergy and complementary co-operation, and expedite unrestricted exchange of information among the members.

Article Ι--Name of the Association

The name of the association shall be INTERNATIONAL SEABUCKTHORN ASSOCIATION, hereafter referred to as ISA or the Association.

Article ІІ--Seat

The Association’s Management Board shall decide the initial seat of ISA. The seat may rotate among the member of the Management Board as decided by them from time to time.

Article III--Legal Status and Capacities

The Association shall be established as an autonomous body and have the capacity of a legal person to perform activities appropriate of its objectives. The Association may in particular:

a. enter into contracts or agreements with governments, public or private national or international organizations, agencies or individuals,

b. accept property including loans, grants, and donations in cash or in-kind from the sources mentioned under Ш.a, and hold, administer, own, operate, use of dispose of the same,

c. collect subscriptions from members and proceeds from the sale of publications issued by the Association.

Article IV--Objectives and Mission

The Association’s objectives and mission are to promote the utilization of the multipurpose plant seabuckthorn to contribute to the environmental protection, economic development and human health through:

a.awareness creation,

b.information collection and dissemination,

c.promotion and implementation of collaborative research and development activities, and regular meetings.

Article V--Functions and Activities

In pursuing its objectives and mission, the Association shall engage in the following activities, which are considered conductive to the fulfillment of its goals:

a. promotion of awareness vis-à-vis decision-makers and policy-makers, provide information services (collection, analysis, and exchange); this may include activities such as:

i establishment of decentralized information storehouses (libraries),

ii publishing of a Newsletter,

iii establishment and management of a Web Site

b. development of collaborative projects for own financing and donor financing, and implementation of such projects,

c. organization and convening of meetings.

Article VI--Membership
1. Membership in ISA shall be open to individuals, national and international institutions, organizations, enterprises, or sections thereof, etc., worldwide that have an interest in seabuckthorn. In countries with several ISA members, chapters shall be established and the members of the chapter shall designate a focal point for the Association.

2. The following types of membership are possible:

a. Full Member: Research institutes, commercial organizations, individuals engaged in research and development of seabuckthorn who wish to participate in the activities of the Association.

b.Associate Member: Individuals engaged in research and development of seabuckthorn who are invited by the Management Board to participate in the Association’s activities, or individuals contributing in the field of seabuckthorn research and development who are invited by the Management Board on the recommendation of a leader of a Special Committee, Working Group, etc., in order to contribute to the work in that group. Associate members shall have no vote in the General Assembly.

c. Honorary Members: Individuals who have rendered particularly important service to the Association and appointed by the Executive Committee/Board on the recommendation of the General House.

3. Membership in the Association may be sought by submitting an application to the President. Approval of new members shall be decided by the Management Board members and shall require a two-thirds majority in the Management Board. Admission of Honorary Members shall be decided by the General House.

4. For withdrawal of membership in the Association, the President or Vice President shall be notified at least 3 months before the end of the calendar year. Withdrawal shall take effect in the year following the notification. The Management Board shall decide the termination of membership upon failure to settle the annual subscription for two consecutive years. Membership rights shall be regained upon payment of the arrears.

5. Fully paid members shall have the following rights:

a. Participation in the plenary sessions of the Association (General Assembly).

b . Submission of proposals to the Association.

c. Assistance in the organization of meetings organized by or under the auspices of the Association.

 
d. Periodical receipt of the Association’s news and publication.

e. Participation in all scientific meetings organized by or under the auspices of the Association.

f . Participation in shaping the Association.

6. Each member’s duties are to promote the activities of the Association to the best of his or her abilities, to observe the statutes and decisions of each organ, and, expect for corresponding and honorary members, to pay their dues punctually.

Article VII--Membership Fees

The General Assembly shall determined fees for fully paid members. Fees can be different categories, i.e., organizational, commercial, ordinary, associate and student members. Corresponding and honorary members may be exempted from membership fees. In addition, service fees for the Association’s newsletter and other publication shall be determined for non-members.

Article VIII--Sources of Funds
Sources of funds for the Association shall be membership fees, loan, grants and donations, and proceeds from sales of the Association‿publications.

Article IX--Organs

The organs of ISA shall be:
a. The General Assembly
b. The Management Board
c. The Secretariat
d. Special Committees
e. The Editorial Board

Article X--General Assembly

1. The General Assembly, hereinafter called the Assembly, shall meet once every two years. The Assembly shall be the supreme governing body of the Association. The functions of the Assembly are to:
a. determine the general policies,
b. elaborate the program of work and budget,
c. supervise implementation and review progress,
d . develop recommendations to governments and organizations,
e. ratify decisions made by the Management Board that need ratification,
f. elect the Management Board members,
g. elect the Auditor or decide the way for election of Auditor,
h. make decision of fees,
i. amend the constitution, if deemed appropriate, by a two-thirds majority of the members,
j. delegate part of its powers to the Management Board for a specified period of time,
k. give every member the right to submit individual proposals or to appeal against the actions of the organs of the Association to the Assembly, with advance submissions to the President for inclusion in the Assembly’s agenda,

l. dissolve the Association, if and when appropriate.

2. Preparation of the biennial Assembly’s agenda shall be the responsibility of the Management Board and the agenda shall be distributed to all members no less than 3 months before the scheduled date for the session. The venue and approximate date for the Assembly shall be decided at the previous session.

3. Every fully paid member of the Association shall have a vote in the Assembly. Decisions shall be taken by a majority of given votes. Associate and student members and honorary members shall have the right to participate in the Assembly’s deliberations but shall not hold office or have the right to vote.

4. Election of Management Board members shall be by secret ballot. Nominations for office in the Management Board shall be submitted to the Assembly at the beginning of the regular session.

5. Local operational costs of the sessions of the Assembly shall be done by the host member unless decided otherwise by the Assembly or the Management Board.

Article XI--Management Board

1. The Executive Management Board, hereinafter called the Management Board, shall meet at least once a year. It shall consist of 7 members, including a President, two Vice-Presidents, and one Secretary General-cum-Treasurer, to be elected by the General Assembly.

2. The President and the Vice-Presidents of the Management Board shall, at the same time, act as President and Vice-Presidents of the Association.

3. The term of the Management Board members shall be two years. Management Board member’s terms can be renewed once by another two years. The Management Board shall implement the policies and conduct the business of the Association in accordance with the Constitution and the directives adopted by the Assembly. The Management Board shall prepare budget estimates of the Association for consideration and approval by the Assembly. The Management Board shall report to the Assembly on implementation and progress of the Association’s program of work.

4. If, during the period between the meetings, a member of the Management Board ceases to hold office, the Management Board has the right to appoint a substitute, who will hold the office until the next meeting.

5. Local operational costs of the sessions of the Management Board shall be done by the host member unless decided otherwise by the Assembly of the Management Board.

Article XII--Duties of the President and the Vice-President

The President, the Vice-Presidents and the Secretary General form the Executive Group.
1. The President shall preside over the Assembly sessions. He/she shall be the Association’s spokesperson and represent the Association’s interests vis-à-vis third parties. The President shall have a major responsibility for awareness creation and cultivation of dialogue with decision-makers and policy-makers, and for international visibility of the Association and its activities. He/she shall also engage in resource mobilization to facilitate and finance the Association’s activities.
2. The Vice-Presidents shall perform the President’s duties in his/her absence, and such other duties as may by assigned to them by the President. They shall also support the President by assuming awareness creation and resource mobilization responsibilities for agreed jurisdictions. One Vice-President will coordinate program in the field of environmental protection and the other Vice-President will coordinate meetings organized or sponsored by ISA specially biennial ISA Conference.
3. Between meetings, the President shall take any necessary decisions, with the agreement of the members of the Management Board and subject to confirmation by the next General Assembly.
4. The President is endowed with the necessary powers to ensure the operation and representation of the ISA.

Article XIII--Secretariat

1. The Secretary General of the Management Board and the Association shall be appointed by the Management Board from among the staff of the institution where the Association has its seat.

2. Under the supervision of the President, the Secretary General shall implement the decisions of the Assembly and the Management Board, and run and manage the day-to-day functions of the Association. Specific duties and responsibilities of the Secretary General include the following:

a. organization of the Assembly and Management Board sessions, preparation of minutes, publication and distribution of reports and proceedings of the Association,
b. organization of conferences, workshops, and other meetings upon request of the Committee,
c. preparation of the detailed program of work and budget of the Association,
d. management of the Association’s financial affairs and submission of audits to the Assembly,
e. publish the Association’s Newsletter and provide information services to members and non-members,
f . undertake any other duties entrusted to him/her by the Management Board.

Article XIV--Special Committee

1. The Association shall establish Special Committee for those purposes deemed appropriate by the Assembly. Special Committees shall be constituted by the President, with the concurrence of the Management Board.

2. All individual members of the Association are entitled to join one or more Special Committees.

3. Each Special Committee will normally have a Chairperson and a Co-chairperson, besides other members.

4. Special Committees are responsible and report to the Management Board at each of the Committee’s/Board’s session. The Management Board shall have the power to dissolve Special Committees and to dismiss and appoint Special Committee members by majority vote.

5. If a Chairperson of a Special Committee is unable to carry out his duties, he/she will be replaced by the Management Board.

6. Members shall be eligible for re-appointment in the same Committee only twice.

Article XV--Editorial Board

The Association shall appoint an editorial Board, consisted of Regional Coordinators for the geographical regions as represented in the Association. The Editorial Board members shall be responsible for the timely delivery of reports the Secretariat, as agreed by the Management Board. Reports shall be ready for the publication in the Association Newsletter. The Secretariat shall be responsible for the publishing and distribution of the Newsletter (see XIII.2.e)

Article XVI--Special Provisions

1. The President may constitute Task Forces and Special Programs, in agreement with the Executive Management Board.

2. The Association shall recognize outstanding performance by providing awards to individual members who have made significant contributions in the field seabuckthorn research and development.

3. The name of awards, costs and individuals to be awarded will be decided by a Special Committee, constituted by the Management Board.

4. An Arbitration Committee shall be constituted to sort out disputes between members. The Arbitration Committee shall be formed by each party to a dispute by electing two members of the Management Board to act as Arbitrators, who in turn shall elect another member of the Management Board to act as Chairperson, or Chairperson to be elected directly by the Management Board. The decision of the Arbitration Committee is binding to both parties. Appeal against the decision is possible.

Article XVII--Rules and Regulations

1. The Rules and Financial Regulations of the Association shall be prepared by the Management Board and adopted by the General Assembly. The financial year shall be the calendar year.
2. Quorum at all meetings of the Assembly shall be 33% of the full membership.
3. Constitutional amendments shall require a two-thirds majority of the Assembly.
4. The Association shall operate purely on a non-profit basis.
5. The Association can be dissolved only by a two-thirds majority of the membership at a meeting of the Assembly. The Management Board shall prepare rules and regulations for settlement of the Association’s assets and liabilities in case of dissolution.