By-Laws for the UK Chapter of the IGS

This is the guiding code of ethics (22nd June 2015) for all IGS members.

1. NAME

The official name shall be the United Kingdom Chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society and shall be referred to herein as the UK Chapter. The legal address shall be in the United Kingdom. The UK Chapter shall be a Chapter of the International Geosynthetics Society.

2. OBJECTIVES

  • To collect, evaluate, disseminate, aid and promote knowledge on all matters relevant to geosynthetics, related products and associated technologies.
  • To improve communications and understanding regarding geosynthetics, related products and associated technologies, as well as their applications.
  • To promote advancement of the state of the art of geosynthetics, related products and associated technologies.
  • To encourage, through its Members, the harmonization of test methods and equipment and criteria for geosynthetics, related products and associated technologies.
  • To do all such other lawful things as shall further the above objectives.
  • The aims and activities of the UK Chapter shall be in accordance with the policy guidelines and activities of the International Geosynthetics Society.

The aims and activities of the UK Chapter shall be in accordance with the policy guidelines and activities of the International Geosynthetics Society.

3. MEMBERSHIP

The membership shall consist of Individual Members, Honorary Members, UK Chapter Sponsors, Student Members and Affiliates.

Individual Members of the UK Chapter must be Individual Members of the International Geosynthetics Society who normally reside within or are employed within the United Kingdom.

Honorary membership may be bestowed by the UK Chapter upon a limited number of persons on the basis of: distinguished position, scientific achievement, outstanding service or major contributions to the promotion of geosynthetics, related products, associated technologies and their applications. Honorary members of the International Geosynthetics Society who otherwise qualify as Individual Members of the UK Chapter shall automatically become Honorary Members of the UK Chapter.

UK Chapter Sponsors of the UK Chapter can be companies, contractors, distributors, fabricators, laboratories, government institutions, universities, consultants etc. which have an office in the United Kingdom. UK Chapter Sponsors may, or may not, be Corporate Members of the International Geosynthetic Society. The geographical bounds of the UK Chapter shall encompass the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland.

Student Members of the UK Chapter must be registered in full or part-time post graduate education at a UK University at the time of applying. They will cease to be student members if on the date of membership renewal they are no longer registered.

Affiliates are individual members of the International Geosynthetics Society whose geographical residence or employment is outside of the United Kingdom.

4. ORGANISING COMMITTEE

The Organising Committee of the UK Chapter shall ideally comprise the following:

  • Chair
  • Vice – Chair
  • Honorary Secretary
  • Honorary Treasurer
  • Membership Secretary
  • Activities Secretary
  • Communications
  • UK Chapter Sponsor Liaison

The Chair, Vice-Chair, Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer are defined as the Officers of the UK Chapter and the Organising Committee may function with only these members in place if required.

In addition the Organising Committee may also include one or more Ordinary members.

The first Chair and Vice-Chair shall be elected by postal ballot and assume office at the Inaugural Meeting for a term of office of two years. At the end of this period and every two years thereafter at the Annual General Meeting the Chair shall demit office. The Vice-Chair will become Chair and the new Vice-Chair shall be elected by the new committee at the first committee meeting following the AGM. Chair and Vice- Chair may serve one term in each post. In the event of the Chair being unable to complete his term of office the Vice-Chair shall become Chair.

The first Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and other member of the Organising Committee shall be elected by postal ballot and assume office at the Inaugural Meeting for a term of office of one year. These members may be re-elected, or new members elected at succeeding Annual General Meetings. In the event of a decision to dissolve, the Organising Committee shall seek recommendation at the next Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting regarding the clearing of all debts and the disposal of the assets of the UK Chapter.

In the event of any Committee Member (other than Chairman) being unable to complete their term of office the Organising Committee shall divide the duties of that Committee Member between them in an appropriate manner until the next Annual General Meeting.

Committee Members are expected to attend all Committee meetings.  Repeated absence from Committee Meetings may result in the Committee Member being removed from the Committee.

The Treasurer shall keep proper books and accounts and prepare a balance sheet as well as income and expenditure for presentation to the Annual General Meeting. The accounts should be prepared and passed to the auditors at least one month prior to AGM.

5. ADMISSION TO AND RESIGNATION FROM THE UK CHAPTER

Application for membership shall be submitted in writing to the Honorary Secretary; application via email is acceptable. The application should indicate evidence of the applicant’s eligibility for membership of the International Geosynthetics Society.

Any member or Chapter Sponsor may resign at any time by written notice delivered to the Honorary Secretary. Such resignation shall take effect on the date specified in the notice or at the termination of the current subscription period if no date is specified. Such resignation shall not relieve the member or Chapter Sponsor from the  obligation  to  pay  the  subscription  fee  for  the  year  in  which  the resignation takes place.

6. DISMISSAL

Members who act counter to the aims and interests of the UK Chapter can be dismissed for cause by a joint decision of the International Geosynthetics Society Council and the UK Chapter. A majority decision of voting members at the Annual General Meeting or at an Extraordinary General Meeting shall cause a case for dismissal to be submitted to the IGS Council.  Members being considered for dismissal for cause must be afforded an opportunity to make representation to the Annual General Meeting or an Extraordinary General Meeting before it reaches its decision.

7. SUBSCRIPTION AND FINANCE

The annual subscription fees shall be determined and collected by the Organising committee and notified to the Annual General Meeting. An entrance fee may be levied and is not refundable. It cannot exceed a one-year membership subscription fee. The subscription fee may differ for the different classes of membership (i.e. for Individual Members, Chapter Sponsors, Student Members and Affiliates). The subscription fee for Chapter Sponsors will be inclusive of three Individual memberships to the UK Chapter but will only grant one vote and one corresponding name of each Chapter Sponsor with the IGS.

Honorary Members shall not be liable for subscription fees.

Students shall not be liable for subscription fees.

The annual subscription fee shall become due on the first day of January each year unless otherwise decided. Any member whose payment is in arrears may be subject to penalty charges as established by the Organising Committee, or after due notice, be dismissed for non-payment. In addition to entrance fees and subscription fees from Members, the UK Chapter may receive income from:

  • Gifts, legacies, etc.
  • Other activities such as sale of publications
  • Sponsored conferences etc.

The Honorary Treasurer shall annually prepare a budget of income and expenditure for the forthcoming year and following then approval of the budget with or without amendments the Honorary Treasurer may make all disbursements, which have been so approved. No other disbursement shall be made from the funds of the UK Chapter except upon approval from time to time properly recorded in the Minutes of the Chapter. All accounts shall be audited annually. Auditors will be appointed by the Annual General Meeting.

On occasions, provision of funding to support relevant activities in appropriate geosynthetic or other relevant bodies, such as Geosynthetics and related Geotechnical Technical Committees, may be granted, upon the approval by the majority of the IGS UK Committee. The sum to be granted shall be at the Committee’s discretion.

8. VOTING

Individual, Chapter Sponsors, students and Honorary Members shall have one vote each. Affiliates shall have no vote. At all General Meetings, whether Annual or Extraordinary, a quorum must be established. For this purpose, a quorum shall be equivalent to a tenth of the Individual membership of the UK Chapter for that year. The Chairman shall have a casting vote and a simple majority shall be decisive.

Each member may appoint any other member at a meeting to act as their proxy. Notice of authority to act as proxy must be given in writing to the Honorary Secretary at least 24 hours prior to the meeting. No members shall represent more than five members by proxy. An Annual General Meeting shall be held at a time and place decided by the previous Annual General Meeting.

An Extraordinary General Meeting may be convened at any time to transact special business. The Honorary Secretary shall convene an Extraordinary General Meeting within 60 days upon request signed by 20% of the voting members or at the direction of the Organising Committee.

The Honorary Secretary shall give at least 30 days’ notice of an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting.

9. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The business of an Annual General Meeting will include the debate on the approval of:

  • Reports by the Chair
  • Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer;
  • the appointment of auditors;
  • the approval of the accounts;
  • the approval of the subscription fees; and
  • the election of Officers for the next term of office.

The Annual General Meeting determines the maximum number of Honorary Members the Organising Committee may elect. The Annual General Meeting decides, by vote, actions to be taken by the Organising Committee (e.g. specifying time intervals for Conferences, etc). Any members may add an item to the agenda of the Annual General Meeting by submitting a written statement to the Secretary not less than 15 days prior to the opening of the Annual General Meeting.

Only fully paid Individual Members, Student Members and Honorary Members may vote. Votes at the Annual General Meeting shall be taken by a show of hands, except for personal matters, such as electing Officers, in which case a secret vote by ballot shall be taken. A secret vote shall also be taken if demanded by not fewer than 20% of votes of members present. Ballots and votes of the Annual General Meeting shall be carried by a simple majority of votes. In the event of any tie, whether on a show of hands or on a ballot, the Chairman of the Annual General Meeting may use his vote to decide the issue. The minutes of the Annual General Meeting shall be sent to members.

Two independent auditors will be appointed annually at the AGM.  The auditors will not be members of the Organising Committee.

10. LANGUAGE

The official language of the UK Chapter will be English.

11. AMENDMENTS TO THE BYE LAWS AND DISSOLUTION

Alteration or amendment to these bye laws, proposed at an Annual General Meeting or Extraordinary General Meeting shall not be made until after a simple majority has been obtained by a vote at that Meeting.

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