HSSS Charter

Article 1

A Scientific Association under the name “Hellenic Society for Systemic Studies” (abbreviated as HSSS) is hereby founded with its seat in Athens, Greece.

The seal of HSSS, in the English language, is composed of two concentric circles around a symbol of the sun while the title “HELLENIC SOCIETY FOR SYSTEMIC STUDIES 2003”, is inscribed inside the circles.

The Administrative Council (AC) of the HSSS has the authority to decide the institution of Local Chapters that are founded, organized and operated according to Special By-Laws approved by the AC. In addition, the AC may decide the creation of Collective Bodies or Work Groups on specialized application fields of Systemic Analysis that promote the goals of the Society. In case the AC does not approve such a creation, the regular General Assembly (GA) may take a pertinent final decision.

There exists no time limit on the operation of the Society.

Article 2

The goal of HSSS is the promotion of Systemic Analysis mainly in Greece. More specifically:

1. the growth and dissemination of methodologies and applications of Systemic Analysis in Science, Technology and Administration.

2. the recognition of Systemic Analysis in the Public Sector, private enterprises and Organizations of the Public and Private Sector.

3. the consolidation of the prestige of a Systemic Analyst

4. the promotion of research and teaching on Systemic Analysis in [academic] education and professional training

5. the exchange and distribution of information relative to Systemic Analysis in Greece and internationally.

6. the provision of possibilities to its members for professional and scientific advancement.

Article 3

The realization of the goal of HSSS is sought (among others) with the following means:

1.. implementation of lectures, discussions, seminars and organization of conferences and other scientific activities:

2. publication of a scientific journal, information bulletin and other publications.

3. collaboration with national and international scientific societies that seek similar aims.

The members of HSSS are distinguished into Regular, Special, Honorary, Collective, Sponsor and Student members following a decision of the AC.

Article 5

Regular Members, as a prerequisite, should:

1. have graduated from an accredited Higher Education Institution including Greek Universities or equivalent foreign academic institutions

2. hold a postgraduate degree (equivalent to a Master of Science title at least) in Systemic Analysis or a field related to Systems [Science] or, alternatively, to possess at least three years of proven professional or research experience in a related sector.

Article 6

Graduates of Higher Educational or Technological [Polytechnic] Institutions [Colleges] in fields detailed in the Article 5 may be admitted as Special Members.

Article 7

Persons who have contributed considerably to the progress of Systemic Analysis or have contributed exceptional services in the interest of promoting and aiding Systemic Analysis may be admitted as Honorary Members..

Article 8

Public or private legal entities, enterprises, banks and other organizations that are interested in the goals of HSSS may become Collective Members. Collective Members participate in the activities of HSSS via a representative..

Public or private legal entities, enterprises, banks and other organizations that provide financial donations and other assistance to HSSS may become Sponsor Members.

Students of Higher Education Institutions and Technological [Polytechnic] Institutions [Colleges] that have attended courses related to Systems [Science] may become Student Members.

Article 9

1. Regular Members have the right to speak in General Assemblies (GAs). They also have the right to vote, elect or be elected.

2. While Special and Honorary Members have the right to speak in GAs, they do not have the right to vote, elect nor be elected.

3. Collective Members have the right to speak in GAs and the right to vote via their representatives.

4. If the representative of a Collective Member is also a Regular Member of HSSS then he (or she) may maintain this identity although he (or she) is entitled to one vote only.

5. Sponsor Members and Student Members do not have the right to vote, elect nor be elected.

Article 10

1. The AC is responsible to make the decisions pertaining to the members of HSSS described in Article 4.

2. In order to be admitted to HSSS, candidates who wish to become Regular Members (if they are not founding members), Honorary Members and Student Members must submit a written recommendation of 2 [other] Regular Members of the Society, in which it is stated that they possess the required qualifications according to Articles 5, 6, 7 and 8 and that they accept fully and unconditionally all the Provisions of this Charter.

Article 11

1. Regular, Special and Student Members of HSSS are obligated to pay the following dues:

1.1. an one-time-only registration fee

1.2. annual subscription dues

1.3. any additional fees stipulated by the GA which aim for the achievement of the goals of HSSS.

2. Honorary Members are not obliged to pay the aforementioned dues.

3. Collective Members do not have to pay a registration fee.

4. Student Members pay one third (1/3) of the annual subscription dues of Regular Members.

5. The amount of the Registration Fee and the Annual Subscription Dues of HSSS members (that come into effect on January 1st of each year) are determined by a decision of the GA following a recommendation by the AC.

6. Members that have paid off their annual subscription dues are considered to be financially in order.

Article 12

1. Any member may withdraw from HSSS on one’s own volition by submitting a pertinent application.

2. A member who delays the payment of his or her dues for at least three (3) years may be expelled from the Society by a decision of the GA following a proposal of the AC. A written notification of the member precedes this action.

3. A member for whom it may be substantiated, with supporting evidence that his or her behavior damages the interests of HSSS, may be expelled from the Society ipso jure [at once] by the HSSS by a decision of the GA following a proposal of the AC.

Article 13

1. The (monetary) resources [income] of HSSS include:

1.1. annual subscriptions and the one-time-only fee of members right registration of [registration fee]

1.2. special fees that are determined by the GA

1.3. income from journals, leaflets and other publications of the Society

1.4. attendance fees in seminars, conferences etc

1.5. State subsidies

1.6. donations, bequests or other subsidies as well as any other resources that are not contrary to the Charter of the Society, following a decision of the AC, that does not offend the public’s sense of decency, the public order (in general) and the intellectual aims of HSSS

1.7. interest and income that emanates from the assets of the Society

2. The amount of journal subscriptions dues, publication price and attendance fees in seminars and congresses is determined by a decision of the AC.

Article 14

1. The HSSS is managed by the Administrative Council (AC) that is elected by the Regular Members with secret balloting [voting] according to the Articles of Chapter [Part] F.

2. Members of the AC may be elected only among Regular Members who are financially in order and enjoy full legal rights.

3. The composition of the AC includes a President, a Vice-President, a Deputy Vice-President, a General Secretary, a Treasurer and a Special Secretary all with a two-year tenure; five (5) AC councilors with a two-year tenure are also included.

Article 15

1. The regular GA of the Society elects eleven (11) regular and five (5) surrogate members of the AC of the Society from the Regular Members as defined in Article 5 with procedures provided in the Article 30 of the Society’ charter.

2. A member of the AC may at the most be vested with one office [rank] among of those reported in paragraph 3 of Article 14.

3. In case of resignation or retirement [withdrawal] (on any grounds) or forfeiture of members of the GA, the AC calls upon surrogate members on the basis of their voting ranking to occupy the empty positions. In the case of resignation of the entire AC, no substitution by surrogate members takes place; new elections are held instead..

4. The AC may be recalled by a regular or a special GA meeting that is convened for this purpose according to paragraph 4 of Article 25.

Article 16

1. Elections for a new AC are held by a Returning Board (RB), the members of which are elected by the regular GA on a date determined by the AC. Voting procedures and the participation of regular members in balloting are determined in Chapter F.

2. Within 10 days after the elections and following an invitation by the President [Chairperson] of the departing AC, members elected for participation into the new AC of the Society are gathered and the responsibilities of these new members are determined. The President, the Vice-President, the General Secretary, the Treasurer and the Special Secretary are voted by secret balloting. In case of equality in the votes the, voting is repeated with the two prevailing candidates.

Article 17

1. The AC convenes bimonthly on a regular basis following an invitation of the President that sets the agenda; the AC may also convene on an extraordinary basis when an important occasion warrants it. The invitation should be dispatched to members of the AC at least six (6) business days before its assembly and must be accompanied by all necessary material for the discussion of the items on the agenda.

2. The President is obligated to convene the AC if this is requested by at least three (3) AC members with a [written] petition on which the topics suggested for discussion should be written.

3. The AC is found in quorum and may hold its session if half plus one of its members are present.

4. The decisions of the AC are taken by the majority of present members and are registered in a minutes signed by the General Secretary.

5. Copies or extracts of the minutes of the AC are issued by the General Secretary and are signed by the General Secretary and the President..

Article 18

A member of the AC who is absent for more than three (3) (regular or special) meetings may be expelled from its position with a decision of the AC. A member of the AC who is absent in most regular meetings within a calendar year is expelled from its position ipso jure. A member of the AC that is expelled from its position is substituted according to Article 16, paragraph 2.

Article 19

In case the departing member has held an office in the AC, the voting procedure for filling the position of this member takes place on the very next meeting of the AC in the presence of the new AC member.

Article 20

The AC manages the HSSS in a responsible manner according to Laws and this Charter and decides on every subject that concerns the achievement of the goals sought with the exception of those matters and actions that are to be decided by the GA as anticipated and stipulated by the following articles of this Charter. More specifically, the :

1. manages the property of HSSS and determines the annual subscription dues of its members

2. hires the necessary clerical personnel and determines its remuneration

3. hires or leases real estate for the needs of HSSS

4. executes the decisions of the GA and applies the Charter

5. decides, on behalf of HSSS, on its participation in or cooperation with other scientific societies for its participation in conferences that take place in Greece or abroad, by appointing its representatives

Article 21

1. The President of the AC, in addition to his or her other duties determined in this Charter, monitors and directs the activities of the Society and proposes to the AC the annual action plan and the budget of the Society; represents the Society in all its relations to third parties, extra judicially, in the courts and to state authorities; executes the decisions of the AC and signs all outgoing documents in general (along with the General Secretary) as well as the warrants of payment (along with the Treasurer)..

2. In special cases of representation of the HSSS (ISSS, EURO etc), it lies within the authority of the President, following a consenting opinion of the AC, to relegate the representation of HSSS to another member of the AC.

1. When the President is absent or is hindered, he or she is substituted by the Vice President or, in case of absence of the Vice President, the Deputy Vice President. The President, following a consenting opinion of the AC, may relegate some of his or her duties to the Vice and Deputy Vice President who are obligated to exercise them with responsibility and effectiveness.

Article 22

1. The General Secretary directs the Secretariat, maintains files and the seal of HSSS, supervises the maintenance of the registry of HSSS members and is responsible to the AC for its regular briefing. The General Secretary is responsible for authoring minutes for the AC, carries out and completes all correspondence of HSSS signing it along with the President. The General Secretary brings to the attention of the President incoming documents. Finally, the General Secretary cooperates with the President in drafting an agenda for every meeting, attending to the collection of all items pertaining to the matters that are to be discussed.

2. The General Secretary compiles an annual [assessment] report for the activities of the AC..

Article 23

The Special Secretary substitutes the General Secretary in case of absence..

Article 24

1. The Treasurer is in charge of managing monetary and other movable assets of the HSSS; the Treasurer may collect directly or via an employee who has been specifically authorized by the AC, any monetary amount owed to HSSS by its members or offered to HSSS by the State, banks, Limited Liability Companies or any other organizations or individuals; the Treasurer may deposit into the bank all income except an amount (smaller than a maximum limit determined by the AC) that is used for the operational expenses of HSSS; the Treasurer may receive from the bank any monetary amount with a check signed by the President or, in case of absence, by the General Secretary; the Treasurer may carry out payments with money orders countersigned by the General Secretary; every three months or whenever requested by the AC, the Treasurer submits a short report on the situation of HSSS funds; the Treasurer draws the annual balance sheet and management report and submits these to the AC for approval. The fiscal year is considered to coincide with the calendar year.

2. In case the Treasurer is not in a position to fulfill his or her duties, he is replaced by a member of the AC, appointed by the AC.