Statute of the International Lupin Association (ILA)

BACKGROUND
The International Lupin Association (ILA) was formed in Lima, Peru, in April 1980 and following that meeting an Statute was written. In May 1982 the Statute was approved in Torremolinos, Spain to govern the Association. The Statute was modified by the General Assembly of ILA held at Asilomar, California, USA on 16th May 1996 and on 24th June 2015 the General Assembly of ILA held at Milan, Italy, proposed to introduce some changes for approval at the General Assembly at Cochabamba, Bolivia in 2019.

ARTICLE 1.  General provisions

1- The ILA is a voluntary, autonomous and permanent society with unlimited lifetime.
2- The Association conducts socially useful activities in the area of science, education and policy advise.
3- The activity of the ILA is based on voluntary work of the members.
4- The Association allocates all its incomes on statutory activities.
5- The ILA can be the member of other national or international societies or organizations realizing similar activities.
6- The ILA can give diplomas, honorary titles, distinctions, special awards and grants to individuals and organizations well-deserved in the realization of the ILA aims.

ARTICLE 2.  Objetives
The objectives of the International Lupin Association (ILA) shall be exclusively technical and scientific and never political or for the purpose of making a profit.  These shall be:

1- To organize regularly general meetings to promote research on the genus Lupinus (for now on under the accepted common name of lupin) by encouraging international cooperation to research in areas such as: lupin germoplasm, biology, plant physiology and morphology, taxonomy, genomic, agronomy,  technology , chemistry, economy, nutritional aspects, traditional and innovative uses of lupin seeds and plants.
2- To organize scientific or technological meetings with the participation of the ILA members and other participants which can include invited speakers, specialists, researchers, farmers or any person interested to provide information and/or to promote the cultivation, technology and knowledge of lupins.
3- Provide information on lupin advances to all members of the ILA in order to facilitate communication among members and other institutions.

To accomplish these objectives, the International Lupin Association (ILA) will execute the following activities:

1- Organize international conferences with the assistance of an ad hoc organizing committee.
2- Facilitate international scientific cooperation by creating working groups in distinct areas of specialization on lupins by promoting communications between specialists.
3- Promote courses, either alone or in collaboration with other national or international institutions, to provide training in every aspect of lupin biology, cultivation and utilization.
4- Edit, publish and distribute, booklets, newsletters, catalogues, manuals and computer software, as either a hard copy or in electronic format, as proposed by ILA members. The material could be distributed to active members of the ILA, libraries, international institutions, association or persons interested in lupins at no cost or with a determined cost.
5- Publish periodically a newsletter and/or a journal in electronic format which will be distributed to members of the ILA.
6- Assist in the establishment of national lupin associations and facilitate communication among them.
7- Conduct any other activityto achieve the objectives of the Association.

ARTICLE 3. Members

1- Any person, of any qualification or profession having an interest in any area of research, cultivation or utilization of lupins may be a member of the International Lupin Association by sending the application form to the Secretary and being sponsored by one member of the ILA or being recommended by an affiliated organization in their country. Also, any institution or commercial concern having an interest in lupins may apply for corporate membership of the ILA.
2- Active membership is granted by the Executive Committee with simple majority of votes and to become an active member the membership dues should be fully paid.
3- Membership of the ILA may be terminated in case of non-payment of subscription, infringement of the regulations of the association, or by resignation.
4- Honorary Members of the ILA are individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the aims of the Association. Honorary Corporate Membership may also be granted to national or international institutions which have given notable assistance to the ILA.

ARTICLE 4. Authorities
The International Lupin Association has the following governing bodies:
A. The General Assembly: Constituted only by active and honorary members.
B. The Executive Committee: Constituted by elected President, Vice President, Secretary General and four members.
C. The Advisory Board: Constituted by ten elected members from different countries and technical/scientific expertise.
D. The Audit Board: Constituted by two elected members.
E. The Conference Organizing Committee: Constituted by a Coordinator and assistants designated by the Coordinator.
F. The Honorary Board: Constituted by those members designated by the Executive Committee.

A. THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
The ILA General Assembly is the highest authority of Association and it is open to all active and honorary members of the ILA. The General Assembly is the superior policy-making body of the Association and all its decisions shall be made by majority vote.

Meetings shall be open to all active and honorary members of ILA and will be held during the international lupin conference.

To consider the General Assembly in a valid session,at least half of the active members should participate in the meeting. If the number of members required is not obtained, a second session may be set the same day, but no earlier than half an hour after the first one with the members present. Then, the General Assembly can effectively debate, regardless of the number of active members attending the meeting.

Only active members of the ILA may be nominated for any of the governing bodies, elect the members of the Executive Committee, or vote at meetings of the ILA General Assembly. Persons who are not active members of the ILA may attend the meeting, and may, by invitation of the Chair, be granted speaking rights.

Meetings will be chaired by the President of the Executive Committee, the Secretary General, and one member of the Audit Board familiar with the ILA constitution.  Nominations for any post may be submitted verbally at the meeting, or they may be submitted in writing prior to the meeting.  Written nominations may be submitted to the President, the Secretary, or either member of the Audit Board prior to the meeting.

Where more than one nomination is received for any one post, the election will be carried out by secret ballot, and that ballot may not be chaired by a nominee.

The competences of ILA General Assembly are as follows:

1- The election of members for the Executive Committee, Advisory Board and Audit Committee.
2- Acceptance of the elected new members of Executive and Audit Committees
3- The adoption the ILA Statute and its changes.
4- The approval of the Executive and Audit Committees reports. .
5- The location of the permanent seat of the Association.
6- The appointment of new members and honorary members of the ILA.
7- The approval of the annual membership dues as proposed by the Executive Committee.
8- Adopting of resolutions concerning any other organizational matters requiring acceptance of the ILA General Assembly.
9- The approval of the next international conference locationand date as proposed by ILA membersand appointing a Coordinator for the Conference Organizing Committee based on the recommendations of the ILA Executive Committee.Receive expressions of interest from other members wishing to hold subsequent conferences.

B. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The Executive Committee has seven members: President, Vice President, Secretary General and four active members, one of which will be a past president whenever it is possible. In case of resignation of President, the vacancy will be filled in the following order: by the Vice President, the Secretary General, or an active members of the committee. All Executive Committee positions shall be representative, honorary and unpaid, they have three years term and can be reelected for another term.

The Executive Committee will:

1- Make decisions in all matters concerning the ILA not reserved to other authorities of the Association.
2- Plan and execute activities described in the Statute and guidelines of General Assembly.
3- Prepare and execute the Association budget.
4- Adopt resolutions concerning the amount of member dues.
5- Convene and preparethe agenda for the General Assembly
6- Submit reports on the current activity for the ILA to the General Assembly.
7- Report current activities of the Association and manageany property of ILA.
8- Cooperate with other non-profit organizations.
9- Represent the Association in outside business.
10- Propose to the General Assembly the nomination of Honorary Active Members of ILA.

The President of the ILA will schedule a meeting of the Executive Committee at least every three years before the international conference. He will inform by e-mail to all members of the Executive Committee about the date and the agenda of the meeting one month before the proposed date.

A half of the Executive Committee members is required for the validity of the meeting.

The Secretarywill prepare reports from debates of members participating in the meeting and file reports of any administrative activity carried out by ILA.

The Treasurer will be responsible for collecting the membership dues and execute the budget as requested by the Executive Committee. Also, he will keep the financial records of ILA and present statement of income and expenditure and a balance sheet at each ILA General Assembly.

C. THE ADVISORY BOARD
The Advisory Board has 10 members representing different countries and expertise inthe lupin fields of agriculture, research, extension, industryand marketing.All Advisory Committee positions shall be representative, honorary and unpaid.They are elected at the General Assembly, have three-year term and can be re-elected for another term.

The main responsibility of the Advisory Board is to provide updated information in the field of each member expertise about new developments and trends, as well as recommended future directions of ILA activities. It will contribute in the editing of ILA publications. Also, it will maintain a dynamic communication with the Executive Committee.

D. THE AUDIT BOARD
The Audit Board has two members representing different countries. All Audit Board positions shall be representative, honorary and unpaid. They are elected at the General Assembly, have three-year term and can be reelected for another term.

The main responsibility of the Audit Board is to act as auditors, and oversee the financial, constitutional and governance matters of the ILA. A written and verbal report will be presented at the General Assembly covering the three aspects of the Audit Boards work. Audit Board members will maintain their independence as guardians of the ILA constitution, financial affairs, and governance.

E. THE CONFERENCE ORGANIZING COMMITTEE
ILA conferences will be organized every three years – unless the General Assembly decides otherwise.
The Conference Organizing Committee shall be appointed by the General Assembly. The Conference Organizing Committee has a Chairman appointed by the General Assembly and assistants appointed by the Chairman.
All Conference Organizing Committee positions shall be representative, honorary and unpaid.
The mission of the Conference Organizing Committee is to organize the following ILA Conference at the host country attending all administrative, financial, scientific, and extension matters related to the conference. The Committee will receive financial support from the Executive Committee and it will report periodically the conference organization progress and submit a final report on all administrative and financial matters to the Executive Committee.
The Committee’s term will be up to the end of the conference event and its financial settlement.

F. THE HONORARY BOARD: Those individuals or corporations who have made outstanding contributions to the aims of the Association can be nominated as honorary members. The Executive Committee will examine the reasons for nomination and if they have enough merits then the nominated person or corporation will be designated an honorary member.

Article 6. Financial aspects
The funds necessary for the functioning of the Association shall be obtained from:

1- Membership dues of ILA members.
2- Financial donations from national and international institutions.
3- Sale of conference proceedings and other items related to conference activities. Sale taxes will be paid as deemed by local regulations.

The individual members annual dues may be set at the General Assembly of the ILA on the recommendation of the Executive Committee. To be an active member of the Association members shall pay the annual society due as determined by the General Assembly. There shall be reduced dues for students. Similarly, the ILA will try to reduce the membership dues payment for those persons who cannot afford the society dues.
National and International institutions can make voluntary donations to improve the functioning of the Association.
All members of the Executive Committee bear in solidarity the responsibility for the assets of the Association.
The ILA statutory authorities shall be entitled for the reimbursement of costs incurred in connection with fulfilling a function and realization of Association aims.

ARTICLE 7. Statute changes
Any change of the Statute shall be proposed by the General Assembly or Executive Committee and be approved by at least two-thirds of the members present at the General Assembly.

ARTICLE 8. Dissolution
Dissolution of the International Lupin Association (ILA) has to be approved by a decision of two thirds of the active members present at the General Assembly which must be attended by at least three-quarters of the members of the Association.
When dissolution is agreed, the General Assembly shall determine the disposal of the assets, rights, installations and facilities of the Association which remain after the discharge of current liabilities.
No member of the ILA may benefit financially from its dissolution.