Österreichische Physiologische Gesellschaft
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Statutes

1. Society Name and Seat: The association is called Österreichische Physiologische Gesellschaft - Austrian Physiological Society - and unites scientists active in the field of functional medicine. The Society is seated in Vienna.

2. Purpose: The purpose of the Society is to promote scientific cooperation among its members as well as to further contact with other domestic and foreign groups and societies interested in functional medicine.

3. Ways of reaching the goals: The Society's goals should bei attained through scientific meetings as well as through personal contact among the members. The expenses arising from this will be covered by the membership dues and by voluntary contributions.

4. Admission into the Society: Prior to constitutionalization of the Society, registration of the members ensures with a proponent. After constitutionalization every person can become a member of the Society at his own request, which must, however, be supported by two members of the Society. The prerequisite is active scientific work in the field of human or veterinary medicine and proof of suitable qualification. The General Assembly decides about admission to the Society.

5. Membership: The Society consists of regular and honorary members. Regular members are those who regularly pay their membership dues. Honorary members are named such by the General Meeting upon suggestion of the Executive Board.

6. Member Duties and Rights: Every member must pay membership dues, the amount of which will be determined by the General Assembly. Every member has both active and passive voting right in the General Assembly, as well as the right to take part in the events of the Society.

7. Withdrawl and exclusion from the Society: Every member can withdraw from the Society at any time. The Executive Board has the right to propose to the General Assembly that members who are detrimental to the Society be excluded from it; the General Assembly passes resolutions of exclusion with a simple majority.

8. Administration: The Society is administered through the Executive Board, the General Assembly, the Court of Arbitration and the Auditors.

9. Executive Board: The Executive Board consists of six members of the Society, who are elected by the General Assembly for a term of two years. The Executive Board comprises the Chairman, Secretary and Treasurer as well as their deputies. The duties of the Executive Board are to carry out the business of the Society, to carry through the decisions made by the General Assembly and to summon the General Assembly. The Chairman calls meetings of the Executive Board and heads them. He represents the Society outside of the association. The Executive Board passes its resolutions with a simple majority, whereby the vote of the Chairman is decisive in the case of an equality of votes. The Society's letters and announcements must be signed by the Chairman and countersigned by the Secretary or Treasurer.

10. Court of Arbitration: The Court of Arbitration has the final decision in all disputes involving the relations of the Society as well as between the Executive Board and the individual member or between the members. The Court of Arbitration is constituted as follow: each of the opposing parties elects two members of the Society to be arbitration judges, and these four members then elect a fifth member of the Society as chairman of the Court of Arbitration. The Court of Arbitration makes its decisions without being bound to definite norms, according to the best of its knowledge and conscience and passes its decisions with a simple majority. If no agreement can be reached in deciding upon the chairman, lots are drawn from among the suggested names.

11. General Assembly: The General Assembly is called at the proposal of the Executive Board or that of at least ten members. The summons must be presented in writing at least two weeks prior to the date of the General Assembly. The Executive Board is obligated to summon a General Assembly every second year. Proposals to the General Assembly must be presented to the Executive Board at least eight days prior to the General Assembly.

The rights of the General Assembly are the following:

Decisions for changing the Statutes of the Society or for dissolving the Society require a qualified majority of two thirds of the valid votes. The General Assembly is chaired by the Chairman, or, if this is impossible, by his deputy. In the case that the latter too cannot attend, the oldest member of the Society present chairs the General Assembly. The General Assembly is competent to pass resolutions if at least half of the members are present. In the case that the General Assembly is not competent to pass resolutions at the time set for the meeting, a new General Assembly which is competent to pass resolutions takes place one half hour later at the same place and with the same agenda, without consideration of the number of members present. All elections and resolutions are passed by a simple majority. In the case of equality of votes the Chairman casts the deciding vote.

12. Dissolution of the Society: Voluntary dissolution of the Society is decided by a two-thirds majority in a General Assembly called specially for this purpose.

13. Auditors: The two auditors are elected by the General Assembly for a term of two years. Reelection is permitted. The auditors control the business of the Society and examine the balance sheet. They must report to the General Assembly on the results of their examination.