Old version of the constitution

INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL FOR APPLIED MINERALOGY
CONSTITUTION

1. DEFINITIONS

   The Council shall mean the International Council for Applied Mineralogy.

   Applied mineralogy shall be as defined in this constitution and as added to by the Council from time to time.

   Applied mineralogist shall mean any practitioner of applied mineralogy.

   Relevant body shall mean a society, association, or other body that exists for the purpose of representing the interests of applied mineralogists in a country or that is considered by it's members to serve that function.

   Founding country shall mean any of the following countries: Australia, Canada, France, Germany, Poland, South Africa, United States of America.

   Constituent body shall mean any relevant body that has accepted membership of the Council.

   Member shall mean a person nominated by a constituent body to attend a meeting of the Council.

2. DEFINITION OF APPLIED MINERALOGY

   Applied mineralogy covers the complete spectrum of mineralogical activity in 1) the exploration for, and exploitation of, base metals, precious metals, base minerals, industrial minerals, building and construction materials, and carbonaceous materials, 2) the investigation and development of refractories, ceramics, cements, alloys and other industrial materials, and 3) the study and maintenance of the environment.

3. THE COUNCIL

   There shall exist an International Council for Applied Mineralogy that shall be representative of applied mineralogists throughout the World. The Council can be affiliated to any other body but shall nevertheless be autonomous and shall retain its identity.

4.  AIMS

   The aims of the Council shall be:
   

   • to ensure the regular continuation of the International Congress on Applied Mineralogy (ICAM) as a congress in it's own right,
     
   • to co-ordinate or arrange for any other conferences, symposia, seminars, or meetings devoted to applied mineralogy,
     
   • to promote the scientific and technical interests of applied mineralogists,
     
   • to serve as a liaison body and to encourage interaction between applied mineralogists, on one hand, and any other body, on the other, as determined from time to time by the Council. 

5. MEMBERSHIP
   • Membership of the Council shall be open to any relevant body.
     
   • Any relevant body not represented on the Council can, after written application to the Council, be elected to membership in a general vote taken by the members of the Council, whether that vote is conducted at a meeting of the Council or by post.
     
   • Not more than two (2) persons shall be nominated by a constituent body to represent it on the Council.
     
   • Regardless of the number of constituent bodies in any one country, there shall be not more than two (2) members from any one country with the power to vote at a meeting of the Council.
     
   • The Council shall not withhold membership from any relevant body for any political reason.
     
   • Membership shall not be withdrawn from any member or constituent body, but any constituent body can withdraw its membership at any time on written notification to the Council.

6. OFFICE BEARERS

   • The office bearers of the Council shall be drawn from the members and shall consist of a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary General, and any others that may be decided upon at a meeting of the Council.
     

   • The Vice-President automatically becomes President at the end of his term as Vice-President.
     

   • A new Vice-President shall be elected at each normal meeting of the Council from nominees from the country hosting the Congress (refer 8.1).
     

   • Nominations for the office bearers, excluding the President, can be submitted either in writing to the Secretary General before a meeting of the Council or verbally during a meeting. No member may be elected as an office bearer during a meeting of the Council if he or she is not present at that meeting.
     

   • The office bearers shall be elected in a secret ballot conducted during a normal meeting of the Council and shall hold office until the next election of office bearers.
     

   • An office bearer can continue to represent his constituent body during his term of office.
     

   • Should an office bearer vacate his office for any reason whatsoever before his term of office expires, the Executive Committee shall have the power to co-opt any member to fill that office until the next election of office bearers.

7. THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
   • The affairs of the Council, as determined at meetings of the Council, shall be conducted by an Executive Committee.
     
   • The Executive Committee shall consist of the Office Bearers of the Council and one (1) member from each of the founding countries. If there is more than one member from any founding country, the member of the Executive Committee shall be elected by all the members from that country.
     
   • The Council can empower the Executive Committee to act on its behalf in any matter and can delegate to it any authority that the Council may wish. Such decisions shall be taken at a normal meeting of the Council and shall continue until specifically rescinded by the Council at a meeting of the Council.
     
   • The Executie Committee can meet at any time and in any place convenient to its members. Such meetings shall be convened by the Secretary General acting on behalf of the President.
     
   • At every normal meeting of the Council, the President shall report, in writing, on the activities of the Executive Committee since the previous meeting, and this report shall be open for discussion by the Council.

8. MEETINGS OF THE COUNCIL
   • A normal meeting of the Council shall be held during every International Congress on Applied Mineralogy (ICAM).
     
   • Before each normal meeting, the Secretary General will obtain the name(s) of the member(s) proposed by each constituent body.
     
   • Special meetings can be held between normal meetings and in any place convenient to the members. Such meetings shall be convened by the Secretary General acting on behalf of the President.
     
   • The President of the Council shall be the chairman at every meeting of the Council. In his absence the Vice-President shall be chairman, failing that, the members present can elect a chairman for that meeting.
     
   • At every meeting of the Council, a quorum shall consist of members from any three (3) countries plus one (1) office bearer.
     
   • In the event of there not being a quorum present at a meeting, a postponed meeting shall be held at a time and place decided upon by the chairman. At such a meeting, the members present shall constitute a quorum.
     
   • At a meeting of the Council, the chairman shall have a casting vote as well as a vote as a member.
     
   • Unless stated otherwise in the constitution, decisions taken on a vote shall be by a majority of at least one (1) member.
     
   • Any matter intended for discussion at a normal or special meeting of the Council must be received in writing by the Secretary General at least ninety (90) days before a normal meeting of the Council or at least thirty (30) days before a special meeting of the Council and must be communicated in writing by the Secretary General, together with a notice of the meeting, to every member of the Council at least sixty (60) days before a normal meeting or ten (10) days before a special meeting.

9. ALTERATIONS TO THE CONSTITUTION
   • No alteration to this constitution can be made except by a majority comprising at least two-thirds of the members present at a normal meeting of the Council or by mail ballot and must be agreed to by the members from all the founding countries.
     
   • Any proposed alteration to the constitution must be received in writing by the Secretary General at least ninety (90) days before a normal meeting of the Council and must be submitted by the Secretary General to every member of the Council at least sixty (60) days before that meeting for discussion at that meeting.

10. THE INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS ON APPLIED MINERALOGY
    • At every normal meeting of the Council, a majority decision shall be taken on the host country and year for the next International Congress on Applied Mineralogy (ICAM).
      
    • An invitation shall be extended to the member(s) from that country at the meeting, if present, or otherwise conveyed to the constituent body or bodies of that country by the President.
      
    • The constituent body that is invited to host a congress shall furnish an official assurance from the government of it's country that no prospective delegate to the congress will be refused an entry visa for any political reasons. Should such an assurance not be furnished within six (6) calendar months of the invitation, the Executive Committee shall withdraw the invitation and place it with a constituent body in another country. The choice of country shall rest with the Executive Committee unless an alternative host country was agreed at the meeting of the Council.

11. LANGUAGE
    • The language of the Council shall be English, and all the business of the Council shall be conducted in English only.
      
    • Any International Congress on Applied Mineralogy can be conducted in any language or languages decided upon by the organizers of that Congress, provided that English shall be one of the languages. If only one language is used, that language shall be English.