ISCAR Sections

General Definition of ‘Section’

A section is a ‘meaningful entity that contributes actively to ISCAR’s purpose of promoting mutual scientific communication and research cooperation among its members, within the scope described in ISCAR Article 3(a)’. ‘Meaningful’ is understood contextually such that the organizing principle for a section could be, for example, thematic, linguistic, national, or regional. ‘Entity’ is understood as an organized structure, formed by the members of the section, that actively creates conditions for scientific communication (e.g., symposia, conferences, newsletters, publications, courses, mailing lists).

Section Organization and Functioning

There is no minimum required size for a section, but members are encouraged to form sections around a principle that will assemble at least 6 members.

All ISCAR sections are open to participation by all ISCAR members.

• at least one person must be identified as the liaison between the section and the Executive Committee;
• at least one person must be identified as the contact person for ISCAR members who want to communicate about the section;
• any changes of the liaison or contact person must be reported to the Executive Committee no later than one month after the change; and
• at the beginning of the Association year (1 January), the liaison must send a brief report to the ISCAR Secretary about:
  1. how many members are in the section,
  2. what activities the section have conducted over the past year,
  3. what activities the section plans for the coming year,
  4. other information or comments that the section wants to communicate to the Executive Committee.

Cooperation and communication across sections is encouraged.

A section is understood as internal to the Association. It may not represent the Association in any business matters or present itself as representing ISCAR, though it may identify itself publically as ‘Section on <section name> within ISCAR’

Resources from ISCAR

ISCAR will provide access to its webserver so that a section can maintain a website for the section. ISCAR will also provide assistance with a mailing list if necessary.

Requests for other resources or assistance should be addressed to the Executive Committee and sent by email to: section@iscar.org

Process of Section Formation

Any ISCAR member may propose a new section, which must be formed as a written application to ISCAR’s Executive Committee, and sent by email to section@iscar.org

Only ISCAR’s Executive Committee may approve the formation of a new section. The Executive Committee may decide whether approvals are to be made by the full Committee or a subcommittee appointed for this purpose. Disagreements about approval that cannot be resolved after dialogue, will be decided with a written, secret ballot, with a simple majority being sufficient for approval.

• name of section
• description of the section’s purpose and scope (e.g., who is likely to be a member, what content and themes will be in focus)
• brief description of expected activities
• brief comment on possible overlap with existing sections, and why a separate section would be desirable
• name and email address of the liaison
• name and email address of the contact person.

The Executive Committee may request further information or clarification in relation to a submitted proposal.

All proposals for sections that are organized primarily around a national or regional principle must be coordinated with the relevant member(s) of the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee should send a decision about the proposal’s acceptance or rejection no later than two months after the proposal was received, or an explanation about why more time is needed. Rejected proposals should receive a brief explanation about why it was rejected.

Process of Section Termination

1. the liaison does not communicate with the Secretary at the beginning of the Association year;
2. the liaison sends a request to the Secretary that the section be terminated;
3. the section engages in activities that are contrary to the Association’s articles and standing orders;
4. at least three fourths of the Executive Committee agree to terminate the section.

Termination of a section must be communicated to the liaison by the Secretary and to the members, by the Association’s normal communication media, no later than one month after the termination.

Relation to ISCAR’s Articles and Standing Orders

The Executive Committee should try to replace this Executive Order with a modification to Article 11 and a corresponding Standing Order by the 2008 Members’ Meeting.

This Order was accepted by unanimous agreement of the Executive Committee, and is effective from 1. May 2005.