IGS Constitution passed January 30th, 1987

[Hans-Leo Teulings]

​

The original, full document has been attached and also posted into this posting.

The main changes that have been implemented since then are:

o IGS conferences will be every 2 years (at odd years, while ICFHR conferences will be every 2 years at even years).
o Extended abstracts of 4 pages will be requested. The abstracts will not qualify as publications so that there will not be a conflict when transferring copyright to the publishers of full papers which will be invited after the conference.
o IGS has moved to Nevada, USA as a non-profit (See IGS incorporation documents).

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International Graphonomics Society (IGS)



Society for the Science and Technology of Handwriting

and Other Graphic Skills



Constitution



(Bill passed January 30th, 1987)​

Article 1: Name

The name of the Foundation is International Graphonomics Society: Society for the Science and Technology of Handwriting and Other Graphic Skills. The official abbreviation is IGS. The latter abbreviation will be used hereafter.





Article 2: Foundation

The IGS is legally established as a Stichting (Foundation) under the Law of the Netherlands. Registration took place at Nijmegen on January 30th, 1987. The Society is established at Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Its existence is acknowledged in the Register of the Kamer van Koophandel (Chamber of Commerce) at Nijmegen.





Article 3: Aims and Goals

(1) The purpose of the IGS is to advance the research and technology of handwriting and other graphic skills, where 'graphic' is to be understood as involving the manual use of writing and drawing instruments, either mechanical or electronical, leaving visible traces for communication. (2) The aims and goals include the dissemination and application of scientific and technological knowledge in all sectors of society where handwriting and other graphic skills play a role or may be expected to play a role. (3) The means to achieve these goals are organizing conferences and workshops and publishing their proceedings, promoting international cooperation and exchange of views and expertise, stimulating publications, acting as an intermediary between science and technology on the one hand and the various application fields on the other, providing and transmitting information on all aspects of graphic behavior, and initiating contacts with scientists in other related disciplines and in various organizations. (4) A specific instrument to achieve these goals is the regular publication of a newsletter or bulletin for internal and external communication.





Article 4: Board of the IGS



(1) The responsibility for the achievement of the goals of the IGS rests on the Board. This body acts as the initiating and executive committee charged with the policy, the administration and the monitoring of the activities of the IGS. (2) The Board has not fewer than five and not more than nine members. Any vacancies in the Board, the occurrence of which reduces the number of Board members below five, shall be filled within six months by the appointment of new members by the remaining members. (3) A person is qualified for Board membership if he or she is active in research in one or more of the areas of the field of graphonomics. The Board members shall at least to some extent represent the different areas of the field and the different countries where graphonomic research is prominent. (4) Board members normally serve a term of five years, which may be followed by one or more appointments for another term of five years. It is to be avoided that more than two-thirds of the Board members are replaced at the same moment. (5) In the case that during such a term a Board member resigns, is dismissed, or dies, his or her successor in the Board serves to the end of the current term. (6) From among its members the Board appoints a President and a Secretary. The address of one of these will serve as the office address of the IGS for the current term. The administration of the IGS is kept at the latter address under the responsibility of the pertaining Board member. (7) The first Board has the following members and offices: Arnold J.W.M. Thomassen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands: president; Alan M. Wing, Cambridge, United Kingdom: secretary; Henry S.R. Kao, Hong Kong: member; Pietro Morasso, Genova, Italy: member; Réjean Plamondon, Montreal, Quebec, Canada: member; Marvin L. Simner, London, Ontario, Canada: member; Nils Søvik, Trondheim, Norway: member; George E. Stelmach, Madison, Wisconsin, United States: member; Xu Liancang, Beijing, People's Republic of China: member. (8) The first address of the office of the IGS is as follows: International Graphonomics Society (IGS), Department of Experimental Psychology, P.O. Box 9104, 6500 HE Nijmegen, The Netherlands.





Article 5: Decisions of the Board

(1) The Board is entitled to enter into agreements involving the acquisition, alienation or mortgaging of registered goods, and into agreements in which the Society commits itself as guaranty or severally liable co-debtor. (2) In important matters the Board decides by personal votes of the Board members. All Board members are given the opportunity to vote. A decision is reached if a majority of the voters or exactly one half of the voters including the president is in favor of the decision. Any decision requires at least three votes in favor. (3) Decisions can be made by voting during meetings or by mail. If a decision is made during a meeting where one or more Board members are absent, and if these members were not informed on the proposed decision, while the votes of these members could have changed the outcome, the decision is provisional until these Board members have voted or at least have been given the opportunity to vote. (4) Board members receive the minutes of the meetings and records of the decisions reached by mail. Records of all decisions and their procedures shall be kept in the IGS files.





Article 6: Representation

(1) The IGS is represented by the Board. In legal matters, the Board is generally represented by the President and the Secretary, or by the President alone. In the latter case, the President is required to consult the Secretary in advance. (2) If the Board decides to be represented by one or more other members of the Board or by other persons, a written notice of the decision is drawn up and signed by the President and the Secretary.





Article 7: The Advisory Council

(1) The IGS has an Advisory Council with the task to supply the Board with advice in certain maters. Members of this Council are appointed by the Board. Any person actively engaged in the science and technology of handwriting and other graphic skills may apply to the Board for membership of the Council. Membership of the Board is compatible with that of the Council. (2) The normal term for membership of the Council is five years. A term may be followed by one or more further terms. The Board informs the Council members of their membership and of the continuation of their membership. (3) The Advisory Council is consulted either by mail or in a meeting on the following matters: candidates for vacancies in the Board; themes and places for conferences and workshops; and any matters of policy in which the Board judges the advice by the Advisory Council desirable. (4) The Advisory Council may advise the Board in any matters the Advisory Council judges in the interest of the IGS. Any nine members of the Council may arrange a meeting in order to prepare such an advice to the Board.







Article 8: Members



(1) The persons who are members of the Board and those who are members of the Advisory Council are denoted as Members. (2) Members have the right to profit from the activities of the IGS and to ask special support from or seek protection by the IGS. Members are offered IGS publications at reduced rates whenever possible. (3) Members receive the communications of the Board and the newsletter or the bulletin of the IGS, including invitations to attend IGS meetings, conferences and workshops and to contribute to these. (4) Members may be requested to perform reviewing activities in connection with IGS publications or with proposals for research and other projects. (5) The Board decides each year which will be the membership dues for the following year. These fees include the subscription to the newsletter or the bulletin of the IGS. (6) The Board may decide to dismiss a Member. In the case that the Member to be dismissed is a member of the Board, the decision involves the Board membership as well.





Article 9: Associates

(1) Apart from Members, the IGS has Associates. These may be legal or natural persons that have shown interest in the activities of the IGS. They have upon their request been accepted by the Board as Associates, and they have paid the required fee for Associates as decided by the Board for the appropriate year. (2) Associates of the IGS receive the newsletter or the bulletin of the IGS and they are given the opportunity to attend the conferences of the IGS. In the case of an organization being an Associate, its attendance to conferences is limited to two persons.


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