Statute

ART. 1 – Name – Registered Office

  1. The Association named “Italian Society of Electromagnetism” is headquartered in Rome, Via Eudossiana no. 18, at the Department of Information Engineering, Electronics and Telecommunications of the “La Sapienza” University of Rome.
  2. The Management of the Association may also be established in a place other than the registered office.

ART. 2 – Purposes of the Association

  1. The purpose of the Association is to promote, foster and protect the study and advancement of Electromagnetism in Italy, with specific regard to its engineering applications. The Italian Society of Electromagnetism, hereinafter referred to as the Society, is a non-profit scientific association.
  2. To achieve its purposes, the Society aims to:
    a) promote, coordinate and disseminate research in electromagnetism;
    b) cooperate with national and international institutions active in electromagnetism;
    c) promote and manage schools and training courses, and organize scientific meetings also in collaboration with other associations or institutions;
    d) encourage the establishment of study and cooperation groups on scientific, theoretical or applied issues, also for consultancy purposes towards other entities;
    e) promote participation, including through its structures, in international initiatives, particularly of the European Union, regarding research in electromagnetism;
    f) oversee the publication of bulletins, journals, scientific proceedings and the creation and management of an Internet website;
    g) carry out any activities useful for the optimal realization of the associative purposes.

ART. 3 – Members

  1. All natural persons active in the field of electromagnetism may become members in one of the following categories:
    a) ordinary member;
    b) offshore member;
    c) student member;
    d) life member;
    e) honorary member.
  2. Admission as an ordinary member is provisionally approved by the President. The provisional approval is valid until the end of the year in which it was granted, and becomes effective upon payment of the membership fee for that year. Provisional admissions are reviewed by the Scientific Council, which may confirm them as final or reject them with a reasoned decision. Once confirmed, membership is automatically renewed each year, subject only to payment of the membership fee within the deadlines set by the Governing Council.
  3. For offshore members, all provisions of paragraph 2 apply, except for the fee payment, which is replaced by sending a confirmation email of the membership.
  4. Admission as a student member may be requested by Master’s degree students, PhD candidates, and research fellows. Other categories identified by the Scientific Council may also apply. The membership request must be supported by the representative of the Research Unit to which the new member will belong and is provisionally approved by the President. The provisional approval is valid until the end of the year and becomes effective upon payment of the membership fee. Provisional admissions are reviewed by the Scientific Council, which may confirm or reject them. Once confirmed, student membership is automatically renewed each year upon payment of the fee until December 31 of the year in which the student status ends. During that year, the student member may request an extension using the initial procedure. The Scientific Council must set a reduced annual fee for student members.
  5. Ordinary members who retire or have already retired may request conversion to life membership, provided they are up to date with payments for the current year and the two preceding years. The status change is finalized upon payment of a one-time special fee and is automatically renewed.
  6. Public, private or mixed research and higher-education institutions, centers, and consortia, as well as enterprises, may join the Society as collective members. Applications, addressed to the President and reviewed by the Governing Council, are approved by the Scientific Council.
  7. Honorary members may be individuals who have reached an eminent position in electromagnetic science and technology. The number of honorary members may not exceed 15% of the Research Units referred to in Art. 4.
  8. Subject to the specifications contained in this and the following articles, all members have equal rights within the Association.
  9. All members may request a change in membership category, using the same procedure applicable to the initial admission to that category.

ART. 4 – Research Units

  1. The Association is organized into ordinary or aggregate Research Units.
  2. An ordinary Research Unit consists of ordinary members conducting their scientific activity at or in collaboration with the same university structure or public research institute. Each ordinary Research Unit designates its representative to the Scientific Council (Art. 11); the appointment is confirmed by the Governing Council (Art. 10), which must provide justification if it does not confirm the designated representative. Representatives serve for three years and may be reappointed.
  3. Aggregate Research Units consist of collective members. Each aggregate Research Unit designates its representative to the Scientific Council, with the same rules as for ordinary Units.
  4. Collective members cannot belong to any Research Unit. All other members may belong to only one Research Unit. Requests for affiliation must be submitted:
    a) by student members upon application for membership;
    b) by all other members after confirmation of their membership by the Scientific Council.
  5. Following the founding act, the Research Units already operating de facto are formally constituted in accordance with this Statute.
  6. The establishment of new Research Units, whether ordinary or aggregate, is deliberated by the General Assembly (Art. 9) based on proposals from the Scientific Council.

ART. 5 – Composition and Updating of the Association

  1. Ordinary, student, honorary and collective members registered at the time of entry into force of the Statute amendments shall retain their status under the new provisions. Representatives of Research Units must communicate the year in which each student member loses eligibility for that status; the Scientific Council will deliberate termination of their membership.
  2. Honorary members are designated by the Governing Council upon proposal by the Scientific Council.

ART. 6 – Membership Fees – Withdrawal and Exclusion of Members

  1. The amount of annual fees is established by the Internal Regulations (Art. 19).
  2. Membership ends due to resignation, non-payment of fees for two consecutive years, or following a reasoned decision of the Scientific Council.
  3. The Scientific Council may also propose the exclusion of any member whose activity is incompatible with the moral, scientific or material interests of the Association. Exclusion decisions are adopted by the General Assembly.

ART. 7 – Sections

  1. Members who cultivate the same branch of electromagnetism may form a Section. Each member may join up to three Sections. Research Units and Sections pursue the Association’s objectives within their respective areas.
  2. Sections elect a representative who participates in meetings of the Scientific Council. Representatives serve for three years and may be reappointed.
  3. The establishment of Sections is approved by the Assembly on the basis of reasoned proposals evaluated by the Scientific Council. Modification or dissolution of Units or Sections is deliberated by the Assembly.

ART. 8 – Organs of the Society

The organs of the Society are:
a) the General Assembly;
b) the Governing Council;
c) the Scientific Council;
d) the President;
e) the Secretary;
f) the Treasurer.

ART. 9 – General Assembly

  1. All members listed in Art. 3(1) and the representatives of collective members constitute the Assembly. Each member has one vote.
  2. The Assembly shall:
    a) deliberate the creation, modification and dissolution of Research Units upon proposal of the Scientific Council;
    b) deliberate the creation, modification and dissolution of Sections;
    c) amend the founding act and the Statute;
    d) deliberate the dissolution of the Association and the allocation of its assets;
    e) upon proposal of the Scientific Council, appoint the Governing Council, the President, the Secretary and the Treasurer;
    f) approve budgets and annual reports;
    g) deliberate on the exclusion of members.
  3. The Assembly meets, including outside the registered office, upon convocation by the President at least once per year to approve the budget and the President’s annual report, and to address scientific and social issues listed in the agenda.
  4. Remote participation by audiovisual means is allowed, provided the collegial method, good faith and equal treatment of members are ensured. In particular:
    a) the President must be able to verify participants’ identity and legitimacy, ensure proper conduct of the meeting, and confirm voting results;
    b) the minute-taker must be able to adequately perceive the proceedings;
    c) participants must be able to join discussions and simultaneous votes;
    d) the convening notice must indicate the audiovisual locations organized by the Society, and the meeting shall be considered held where the President and the minute-taker are present.
  5. Deliberations are adopted by majority vote, with at least half of eligible members present; on second call, any number of attendees suffices.
  6. Amendments to the founding act or Statute require, on first call, an absolute majority of all members; on second call, the favorable vote of at least one third of the membership.
  7. Dissolution of the Association and allocation of its assets requires the favorable vote of at least three-quarters of the members.

ART. 10 – Governing Council

  1. The Governing Council is composed of five or seven members, including the President—who chairs it—the Treasurer, and the Secretary. Members are appointed by the General Assembly upon proposal of the Scientific Council.
  2. The Governing Council, acting as the true Administrative Board of the Association, is the managing body; therefore, it adopts all measures relating to any act of ordinary and extraordinary administration necessary for achieving the Association’s purposes, except for those matters reserved exclusively to the General Assembly by law or by this Statute. Specifically, it:
    a) manages ordinary and extraordinary administration;
    b) appoints members of the Scientific Council designated by the Research Units;
    c) approves membership applications reviewed by the Scientific Council;
    d) appoints honorary members proposed by the Scientific Council;
    e) drafts the Internal Regulations and any amendments thereto.
  3. The Council must be convened whenever at least two-fifths of its members request it, specifying the agenda items. In all other cases, it is convened by the President. Meetings may also be held in locations other than the registered office.
  4. Resolutions are adopted by majority vote of those present and are valid when at least half plus one of the voting members, including the President, are present.
  5. Remote participation by telematic means is permitted, provided the collegial method, good faith, and equal treatment among Council members are ensured. In particular:
    a) the President must be able to verify the identity and legitimacy of participants, manage the meeting, and ascertain and announce voting results;
    b) the minute-taker must be able to adequately perceive the events to be recorded;
    c) participants must be able to join discussions and simultaneous votes;
    d) the convening notice must indicate the telematic locations prepared by the Association, and the meeting shall be deemed held where the President and the minute-taker are present.
  6. Members of the Governing Council serve for three years and may be reappointed.
  7. If a member ceases to serve for any reason, the Assembly, upon receiving a proposal from the Scientific Council, shall appoint a replacement at the next meeting.
  8. Loss of membership in the Scientific Council entails loss of membership in the Governing Council.

ART. 11 – Scientific Council

  1. The Scientific Council is composed of the representatives of the Research Units into which the Association is organized, according to the designations (non-binding) referred to in Art. 4. It also includes the representatives of the Sections (Art. 7) and the honorary members.
  2. Representatives of the Sections are also members of the Scientific Council.
  3. The Scientific Council:
    a) directs and organizes the scientific activities of the Society;
    b) proposes to the Governing Council the appointment of honorary members;
    c) proposes to the General Assembly the creation of Research Units;
    d) provides opinions on the creation of Sections;
    e) selects from among its voting members the Governing Council, the President, and—upon the President’s proposal—the Secretary and the Treasurer. These are then formally appointed by the Assembly based on the Scientific Council’s (non-binding) designations;
    f) proposes to the Assembly the exclusion of members.
  4. A President who also serves as a representative of a Research Unit must resign that representation upon becoming President. The Research Unit shall elect a new representative.

ART. 12 – President

  1. The President is the legal representative of the Society; ensures that resolutions of the General Assembly, the Governing Council, and the Scientific Council are executed; and, assisted by the Secretary and the Treasurer, takes all initiatives to promote the growth and strengthening of the Society.
  2. The President serves for three years and may be elected no more than twice consecutively, except as provided in Art. 13.

ART. 13 – Term of Offices

  1. Offices have a duration of three calendar years starting January 1, 2003; the first term of administrators therefore ends on December 31, 2005, unless the founding act establishes a shorter duration.
  2. If, for any reason, a representative of a Research Unit or Section to the Scientific Council ceases to serve, the Unit or Section shall appoint a replacement. The Governing Council shall ratify the appointment at its next meeting, exercising its authority under Art. 4.
  3. A President whose first term was shorter than 30 months may be elected for a third consecutive term.

ART. 14 – Secretary

  1. The Secretary assists the President in carrying out his duties, circulates official acts, and ensures their preservation.
  2. The Secretary serves a three-year term and may be re-elected. The Secretary’s term automatically ends with the term of the President.

ART. 15 – Treasurer

  1. The Treasurer prepares the budget for approval and undertakes all administrative actions necessary under Art. 10, paragraph 3.
  2. The Treasurer serves a three-year term and may be re-elected. The Treasurer’s term automatically ends with the term of the President.

ART. 16 – Assets of the Society

  1. The assets of the Society consist of membership fees, bequests, donations, and any other contributions allocated to the assets for the achievement of its purposes. They also include proceeds from congresses, seminars, courses, etc.
  2. Funds arising from the sale of assets, bequests, donations, or otherwise destined to increase the assets must be deposited and managed with recognized credit institutions.

ART. 17 – Financial Year and Auditing

  1. The financial year of the Society runs from January 1 to December 31 of each calendar year.
  2. For each financial year, the General Assembly appoints three auditors—two regular and one alternate—who report to the Assembly, within the following year, on the financial performance of the Society.

ART. 18 – Annual Report

No later than March 31 of each year, the President shall send members a report on the activities carried out by the Society during the previous calendar year. This report is submitted to the General Assembly for approval.

ART. 19 – Internal Regulations

The Society shall have Internal Regulations governing its internal operations. Said Regulations, and any amendments thereto, are drafted by the Governing Council and submitted to the General Assembly for approval.

ART. 20 – Final Provision

The Association is a non-profit entity pursuant to Legislative Decree 460 of 4 December 1997; therefore, under Art. 5 of that decree, it complies with the following rules:
a) it is prohibited to distribute, even indirectly, profits or operating surpluses, as well as funds, reserves or capital during the Association’s lifetime, unless required by law;
b) in the event of dissolution for any reason, the assets must be transferred to another association with similar purposes or to public utility purposes, subject to the opinion of the supervisory body referred to in Art. 3, paragraph 190, of Law 662/96, unless otherwise required by law;
c) membership fees or contributions are non-transferable inter vivos.