These bylaws first became effective on October 31 1999, having
been modified since then, and should be read in conjunction with the
Articles and Memorandum of Association.
PART 1. DEFINITIONS
- The procedures defined in these bylaws are subject to the principles
defined in the Memorandum and Articles of Association of IVU, and
may not in any way exceed or overrule those documents.
- The bylaws may be altered by a simple majority ofl members voting
within the procedures defined in Part 7 below.
- Any Appendices to these Bylaws may be altered by a majority decision
of the International Council.
- Any decision made by a majority of the Members may become a part
of the bylaws.
- The Bylaws of IVU constitute an agreement between the Members of
IVU and are not subject to the laws of any country.
- 'Members' or 'membership' in these Bylaws refers to Full Member
Organisations unless stated otherwise.
PART 2. AIMS AND OBJECTIVES
- The International Council may pursue any objectives that it considers,
from time to time, to be appropriate, but these may not take priority
over the objectives defined in Section 4 of the Memorandum of Association.
PART 3. MEMBERS AND SUPPORTERS
- The IVU shall consist of all members and supporters as defined in
Section 2 of the Articles of Association.
- Full or Associate Membership becomes effective upon payment of an
annual subscription, and acceptance of the application by the Membership Secretary and subject to ratification by the International Council.
- New applicants for membership may be required to supply a copy of
their constitution, or their rules, to the membership secretary, which
may be subject to the approval of the International Council.
- Any society concern, commission, or corporate body which is in sympathy
with the aims and objectives of IVU, including animal welfare, humanitarian,
health or similar relevant objectives and which shall be acceptable
to the International Council, may become a Supporter of IVU. Individuals
and families may become Supporters of IVU.
- Supporters shall receive all the rights of membership and any other
benefits considered appropriate by the International Council but shall
have no voting rights unless as a delegate representing a Member organisation.
- Fellows of IVU shall be individuals who may be elected for life
by IVU members in recognition of their services to the world vegetarian
cause. Such positions shall be non-executive and non-voting. They
shall have no other rights than those given to individual supporters.
The number of Fellows at any one time shall be limited to 12.
- Patrons shall make a minimum donation to IVU, of such amount as
shall be from time to time decided by the members. Their names shall
appear on the list of honour and they shall be classed as lifetime
supporters for the purposes of Section 2.3 of the Articles of Association.
- Any proposed changes in the IVU Subscription Rates for any category
of members or supporters shall be sent by the IC to all Member Organisations
by email. A minimum of one month shall be allowed for members to make
their views known before any changes become effective. Full details
of all subscriptions, and the benefits available to each type of subscription,
shall be recorded in Appendix E of these Bylaws.
- Non-payment of subscriptions for a period of 3 months shall result
in the deletion of the society from the membership list and the loss
of voting and other rights. At its full discretion the International
Council may accept late subscription.
- All members and supporters of IVU shall abide by the Memorandum
and Articles of Association and the Bylaws of IVU.
- Members or supporters may be removed for conduct contrary to the
aims and objectives of the IVU by an affirmative vote of 2/3 of all
the members of the International Council, following a minimum of two
months' notice of the charges and the opportunity to present their
defence at a meeting of the International Council, either in person
or by electronic means.
PART 4. ORGANISATION
4.1. Congresses
- The IVU shall hold World Vegetarian Congresses for the purposes
of hosting the General Meeting of the Member Organisations and meetings
of the International Council, exchanging information on the merits
of vegetarianism, sharing experiences in the promotion of vegetarianism,
and promoting vegetarianism in the host country and surrounding areas.
- Each Congress shall be organised in accordance with the Memorandum
and Articles of Association of IVU and the venue for the next but
one Congress will be agreed during the current Congress. A Congress
shall normally be held every two years, but this may be varied according
to circumstances at the time.
- All matters appertaining to the organisation of World Vegetarian
Congresses shall be agreed by the International Council in accordance
with the guidance document 'Congress
Proposals & Organisation' which shall form Appendix A of these
Bylaws.
- Members of IVU undertake to publicise the details of each World
Vegetarian Congress.
4.2 General Meetings and Ballots
- At each World Vegetarian Congress a General Meeting shall be held
to deal with the business of IVU within the first three days of the
Congress. Sufficient time shall be allowed to deal with all current
business.
- Other General Meetings may be called as a result of a request by
a majority of members. Electronic ballots of members may be called
by the International Council. Either shall be able to deal with any
business which could be dealt with by a General Meeting at a World
Vegetarian Congress.
- IVU shall conduct all communications with member societies using
email. Email addresses must be supplied by member societies as a means
for them to take part in IVU discussions and voting, other than at
a General Meeting.
- The General Meeting shall carry out such business as has been requested
of the Secretary by the International Council or Member Societies
at least two months prior to the commencement of the meeting. Items
submitted on the day may be accepted at the discretion of the General
Meeting.
- A quorum for General Meetings shall be fifty percent of the official
delegates attending the Congress.
- Electronic ballots shall only be valid if a minimum of 50% of members
respond to the call for a vote within 28 days of the ballot papers
being sent.
- A chairperson as shall be decided by the International Council or
the General Meeting shall take the chair at all General Meetings.
- Member societies may only vote at a General Meeting if their membership
has been valid for a minimum of three months.
- Each Member Society with a minimum of 12 members, and up to 150
members, shall be entitled to send one delegate to any World Vegetarian
Congress or meeting of Members of IVU who shall be empowered to speak
and vote on behalf of the Society.
- Societies which have more than 150 members shall be empowered to
send one additional delegate for each 500 members or part thereof
up to a maximum of 5 delegates. Each such delegate shall be empowered
to speak and to cast one vote on behalf of the member Society.
- Each member organisation may use one proxy vote at General Meetings,
but such proxies must be presented to the Secretary in writing by
the start of the relevant business meeting.
- Only delegates of member organisations shall be entitled to vote
at a General Meeting or ballot. All delegates must be vegetarians
and a member of the society for which they are a delegate.
- Each delegate may vote on behalf of only one organisation, either
at a meeting or in an eletronic ballot, and shall provide the Secretary with written authority for such vote.
- Voting at a General Meeting, except when concerning the Memorandum
or Articles of Association, shall be by a simple majority.
4.3 Elections
- The General Meeting shall elect the members of the International
Council (IC).
- All elected IC members shall be nominated by member societies. Voting
shall be by a secret ballot of official delegates of member societies
combined with an email poll of those member societies not sending
delegates to the Congress. Member Societies which would be entitled
to voting delegates at the General Meeting but are unable to send
a delegate in person may cast a single vote by email, listing their
choice of up to ten candidates. Such email votes shall be kept confidential
until all votes have been cast in the IC election at the General Meeting,
then counted with the other votes. Email votes should be sent to a
person nominated by the International Council who will be attending
the General Meeting and is not standing for election.
- Calls for nominations shall be made by the Secretary at least three
months prior to a General Meeting. Anyone nominated who wishes to
run shall be placed on the ballot, provided they are vegetarians and
members of a member organisation.
- The Secretary shall email a list containing the names of all candidates
to all voting member organisations one month prior to a membership
meeting. The list shall be accompanied by position statements submitted
by the candidates, of a length and format prescribed by the IC. The
election shall be held at the General Meeting.
- Ten Council members shall be elected by the General Meeting of member
organisations at a World Congress for a term of office lasting until
they or their successors have been elected at the next World Congress.
- The IC shall appoint a Chairperson and shall allocate responsibilities
to all other councillors as required.
- In the case of a contested election, the IC shall appoint an election
committee consisting of not less than two members, not standing for
election themselves. The Election Committee shall count the ballots
and shall declare those candidates receiving the most valid votes.
The new IC members shall assume office upon election.
- To fill an interim vacancy on the IC until the next regular election,
requires a 2/3 vote of all members of the IC. The IC may choose at
its discretion not to fill interim vacancies.
4.4 International Council
- The International Council (IC) shall be responsible to the membership
of IVU for the running of the affairs of IVU between General Meetings
or ballots.
- The IC shall consist of ten elected members plus one representative
of each IVU Regional Organisation. Each councillor shall be expected
to undertake agreed specific responsibilities on behalf of the Council.
- The IC shall meet at each World Vegetarian Congress and, as necessary,
between Congresses in order to carry out the business of IVU.
- Meetings of the IC may take place electronically or in person, seven
members shall constitute a quorum. Meetings in person may be called
with a minimum of two months' notice by the request of 1/3 of all
the members of the IC, but may be held no more than once in any 12
month period.
- Electronic Ballots of the IC may be called by the Chairperson or
by the request of 1/3 of all the International Council members. Two
weeks shall be allowed for replies before votes are counted. Anyone
not replying within that time shall be deemed to have abstained.
- It shall be expected that anyone elected to the IC shall arrange
to be reasonably contactable by email. Any councillor not contactable
by this means may be deemed have excluded themselves from discussions
and voting by electronic means.
- The Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, News
Editor, and any assistants/deputies required
shall be appointed by the IC. Other responsibilities shall be allocated
as required. The detailed list of roles and responsibilities shall
form Appendix B of
these bylaws.
- The IC may fill any vacancies which may occur on the Council between
Congresses and may co-opt up to three additional members who shall
have full, voting rights. All such positions shall be valid until
the next General Meeting or such earlier date as IC shall determine
by a 2/3 majority.
- Vacancies among elected members of the IC may be filled by the Council
for a term lasting until they or their successor shall have been elected
at the next World Congress.
- All decisions at meetings of the IC shall be by majority vote. Where
there is even voting the Chairperson of the meeting shall have a casting
vote.
- The venue for meetings of the IC shall be decided by the members
of the International Council.
- Meetings of the IC shall be open to all members of the IVU. Only
councillors shall vote at meetings.
- The IVU shall have no headquarters or central office. Responsibilities
shall be divided amongst all members of the International Council
in different parts of the world.
- Council members may be removed from office for conduct contrary
to the aims and objectives of the IVU by an affirmative vote of 2/3
of all Council members, following a minimum of two months' notice
of the charges and the opportunity to present their defence at a meeting
of the IC.
PART 5. REGIONS
- Regional Organisations (ROs) may become partners of IVU as defined
in Section 4 of the Articles of Association.
- The International Council (IC) shall conduct discussions with any
RO interested in forming a partnership in a defined geographic region.
Any such partnership shall be subject to ratification by the IVU Members
at the earliest opportunity.
- The IC and the RO shall negotiate and agree a contract which is
appropriate to the circumstances of each region. The contract may
not conflict with the IVU Memorandum or Articles of Association or
Bylaws but may add any matters of relevance to the needs of the region.
- Each RO shall determine its own constitution which may not conflict
with any of the clauses contained within the Memorandum or Articles
of Association or Bylaws of IVU. Any such contradiction shall invalidate
the partnership.
- Each RO shall nominate a Liaison Officer to the IC who shall be
agreeable to the IC. In the event that the Liaison Officer is unable
to attend an IC meeting then the RO may nominate a temporary replacement,
subject to agreement by the IC. If an RO does not exist for a defined
region, the IC may appoint a regional representative with a title
appropriate to the circumstances of the region. All such positions
shall be valid until the next General Meeting or such earlier date
as IC shall determine by a 2/3 majority.
- Regional representatives shall be responsible for regular contact
between the IC and all IVU Members in the defined region. S/he shall
encourage the formation of local/national societies within the region,
and shall encourage the establishment of a suitable regional organisation
to form a partnership with IVU.
- Termination of a partnership with a RO shall be decided by the IVU
Members, to which the IC may make recommendations.
- During the years when there are no World Congresses, each of the
ROs shall be encouraged to hold Regional Vegetarian Congresses or
support others holding such events. IVU shall endeavour to assist
in any way considered appropriate by the RO.
PART 6. FINANCES
- The fiscal year of the IVU shall begin and end on dates to be determined
the IC subject to advice from the treasurer.
- The Treasurer shall open or authorise to be opened banking accounts
in the name of the IVU in such country or countries as the IC shall
decide. The IC shall determine the signatories for IVU accounts.
- The treasurer shall propose a budget to the IC, for the following
financial year, not less than three months before the start of the
financial year. The IC shall determine the budget not less than one
month before the start of the financial year. Any alterations to the
budget during the course of the year shall require the vote of a majority
of the IC.
- A statement of IVU accounts shall be prepared by the treasurer for
each year, and these shall be presented for approval by the IC within
three months of the end of the financial year. The treasurer shall
provided the IC with interim financial reports as requested.
- Auditors shall be appointed by the International Council but subject
to approval by the General Meeting of member organisations. Audited
annual accounts shall be presented at each Congress for the period
since the last Congress.
PART 7. ALTERATIONS
- Proposed alterations to the Memorandum and Articles Association
shall be submitted to the Secretary no later than three months before
the opening of the next World Congress and shall be circulated to
the member organisations and the members of the International Council
no later than two months before the opening of the next World Congress.
Additional amendments (to the proposed alterations) may be proposed
at the General Meeting.
- All proposed alterations shall be reviewed by the International
Council which may make a particular recommendation to the General
Meeting.
- Proposed alterations shall become effective immediately upon approval
with a minimum of 75% of the delegates present at the General Meeting
voting in favour.
- The Memorandum or Articles of Association may also be altered by
email ballot subject to the same rules as above, with the date of
the ballot be equivalent to the opening of the congress, and those
responding being equivalent to those present. The quorum by either
method is 50% of all voting members and the votes per delegate being
as in the bylaws for the General Meetings.
- Proposed Bylaw amendments must be submitted by the authorised representatives
of two member societies of IVU, or by a majority of the IC. The IC
shall schedule a vote on proposed amendments within three (3) months
of receipt of said proposals.
- Only voting members may vote on proposed amendments to the Bylaws.
- The Bylaws shall be so amended only upon the affirmative vote of
a majority of those responding.
- Voting on Bylaw amendments may be made at a General Meeting or by
electronic ballot.
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