EINIRAS Constitution

1. Introduction

In September 2011, a number of EINIRAS members met for a working conference in Strasbourg, France to discuss the future of the network. This document provided a summary of our discussions, together with a revised mission and constitution for the members to consider ahead of the next annual general meeting in Paris in 2012.

2. Challenges

EINIRAS faces a number of challenges. The first and foremost of these is existential. Over the past decade, attendance at EINIRAS' annual events has declined, and with it the contribution of members organisations. This decline reflects a number of broader trends, including the advent of the Internet as a provider of library and information services, and the decline of the specialist librarian as a permanent feature of European think tanks and research institutes. Recent budget cuts have exacerbated these trends.

Declining participation also suggests our failure to maintain a vibrant member community, or to reach out to new constituents active in International Relations (IR) and area studies. Today, the job of collecting and managing information is common to every IR professional. Perhaps the single greatest cause is be the fact that EINIRAS' founding goals have been achieved, and that the network's original mission has not been revised to reflect the changing interests and priorities of its members.

Despite this, we believe that the existence of a European information network dedicated to IR and area studies has never been more necessary or more important, and for three key reasons:

1. A changing information landscape - The information landscape has changed considerably over the past 10 years. Books and libraries have declined in importance as students and professionals turn to the Internet to satisfy their information needs. Paradoxically, the Internet has made the challenge of identifying credible information more difficult and time consuming. As the variety of information sources continues to proliferate, the challenge of harnessing and communicating their value will become more urgent.

2. Declining information and information technology (IT) literacies - Further to the above, the information and IT literacies of most IR and area studies professionals have failed to keep up with changes in the information landscape. By most accounts, these professionals are sorely lacking in the skills and disciplines needed to collect, manage, analyse and use information in support of their objectives. And while many librarians have these skills, they are often unable to apply them or demonstrate their value to their colleagues. This situation is in stark contrast to the sciences, which have embraced large and disparate data sets and simple data processing technologies to unlock new insights and advance innovation. Going forward, IR and area studies professionals will be expected to access and use an ever-broader array of information sources, as well as employ a wider range of data processing technologies. However, training here remains inadequate.

3. A rapidly changing risk environment - The challenges we face continue to proliferate in number. Today, “security” has been appended to almost every issue of importance on the national and international agenda. Managing or resolving these challenges requires more and better research, which itself requires more and better information. Further, it requires greater knowledge sharing and collaboration between EINIRAS members and their constituents. This is only possible through the adoption and use of common informational and technological standards.

In all instances, EINIRAS has a key role to play. Its traditional focus on improving information sharing and collaboration among research institutions provides the perfect platform on which to grow the organisation's mission. Mapping the information landscape, educating members in the use of new tools and technologies, and advancing the skills and literacies of a broad cross-section of IR professionals is critical to ensuring the security and prosperity of Europe and its neighbours.

To this end, Conference members defined four "pillars" of activity for a future EINIRAS. These are as follows:

Governance and Communication
Information Technology and Standards
Professional Development
Services

The pillars are intended to help us:

Champion the value of the network to new and existing members
Better manage and coordinate the network's activities
Provide greater focus for members to contribute their time, efforts and abilities
Support the development of information professionals in the EINIRAS network
Generate greater value for member organisations

3. A New Mission Statement

Further, the pillars are intended to define a new mission and to realise a new set of objectives that members can work toward. A revised mission is also intended to reflect the changing interests and priorities of members. Our mission is:

The European Information Network on International Relations and Area Studies is an association of organisations and individuals active in international affairs and its related disciplines. The network exists to expand and grow the skills and capabilities of its members, specifically with regard to the collection, management, analysis and use of information in support of their objectives. To this end, EINIRAS undertakes a range of projects and initiatives to support its constituents including:

Supporting the training and development of information professionals, researchers and analysts working in IR and area studies in Europe, specifically with regard to 21st century information literacies
Developing a range of information services to support the needs of organisations and individuals working in government, research and academia, the media as well as the wider public
Promoting those standards to support the effective sharing and management of information between EINIRAS members
Outreach to likeminded networks and initiatives, including in pursuit of third party funding to support joint aims and objectives
The continued development of the network, its structures and objectives to support the needs of its constituents

4. An Expanded Member Network

EINIRAS wishes to broaden its member base and attract new interest in the organisation. To this end, the network should include:

Researchers and analysts in IR and area studies
Students interested in IR, area studies, or information science
Information professionals including research officers, knowledge managers, database managers and others wishing to contribute to EINIRAS' mission
IT professionals

Far from ignoring our traditional constituents, we believe a broader network will help underscore the role of the information professional in the modern think tank or research institution. Their role has never been more necessary or more important. However, these individuals often lack the resources to operate effectively, or to make a greater contribution to the mission and output of their sponsoring institutions.

Thus, particular emphasis will be given to expanding the skill sets of information professionals and ensuring they have the ability to do likewise (e.g. through a "train the trainer" program).

5. Funding

EINIRAS has traditionally relied on the good offices of its members to continue its activities. We will continue to do so going forward. However, for EINIRAS to engage in larger and more ambitious projects, third party funding will be required (e.g. from European Union institutions).

This will allow the network to either hire a permanent staff and secretariat or compensate members for their efforts to develop the products and services outlined in Section 6 below.

Where possible, we believe EINIRAS should also be permitted to engage in competitive proposals or tenders on those projects that could support the realisation of the network's goals.

Securing funding may necessitate changing the organisation's status into a non-profit entity capable of accepting third-party funding.

6. Goals

The Steering Committee, in collaboration with conference participants, has defined a series of goals for each pillar. These goals reflect the thinking of the Steering Committee. To this end, we welcome your input on how these objectives can be refined, improved, extended and implemented.

Pillar 1. Governance and Communication

Objective: To update and enhance the capacities of EINIRAS in order to meet the challenges faced by member institutions.

Under this pillar, EINIRAS will undertake the strategic and operational work necessary to realising its mission. This will include:

Managing and coordinating the network's activities
Defining new business requirements
Defining and implementing new management structures as necessary
Implementing changes to the network's mission
Growing and animating EINIRAS' membership network
Collaborating with other networks and initiatives
Internal and external communication (e.g. via the website)
Securing third party funding to achieve and extend the network's mission
Championing the work of members to a wider community of IR and area studies professionals

Pillar 2. IT and Standards

Objective: To anticipate, identify, adopt and exploit those standards and technologies that support our stakeholders’ activities.

Under this pillar, EINIRAS will work toward greater knowledge sharing and collaboration between members by continuing and advancing its original mandate:

The identification and communication of new tools and technologies to support the collection, analysis, management and sharing of information
The creation and / or sharing of resources to support the work of EINIRAS members
The development of member only tools, technologies and applications
The development of an EINIRAS' knowledge base to support the work of its stakeholders and constituents
The continued development of a European Thesaurus together with related cataloguing rules, etc.
The identification, adoption and exploitation of IT standards to support information sharing and collaboration among EINIRAS members

Pillar 3. Professional Development

Objective: To ensure EINIRAS stakeholders are suitably trained to cope with evolving concepts and technologies in their field.

Under this pillar, EINIRAS will support the development of new skills and competencies among those professionals working in IR and area studies. This will be achieved through the provision of workshops and seminars for researchers, analysts and information professionals working in these fields. Our activities here will include:

Defining the skills and literacies needed by 21st century IR professionals
Providing training and seminars to IR graduates and professionals
Developing accredited courses and training programs
Developing step-by-step tutorials on the use of new tools, technologies, and their application to IR and area studies research

Pillar 4. Services

Objective: The provision of free and member-only products and services to support EINIRAS stakeholders.

Under this pillar, EINIRAS will define and develop a range of value-added products and services to support the efforts of its members. These services might include:

Indexes of recommended resources
Pathfinder tools and resources
Inter-library loans
Country profiles
Internal wiki
External blog
Best practice recommendations on the use of free and commercial tools

Realising these objectives will require the contribution and effort of all members, no matter how small. Nevertheless, with renewed commitment and purpose, we are confident EINIRAS' will enjoy a long and prosperous future.

EINIRAS Constitution

1. Name

The name of the organisation shall be the "European Information Network on International Relations and Area Studies" (EINIRAS).*

2. Structure and Organisation

i. There shall be a President, General Meetings, a Steering Committee and Task Groups.

The President

ii. The President shall be the official representative of the network and be responsible for the promotion of its aims, for strategic planning, for fund-raising, for ensuring adequate communication and for the holding of General Meetings at appropriate intervals. The President shall be elected for a period of three years ending no later than the end of the calendar year in which the third year is completed, and may stand for re-election. (For election procedures, see Appendix A.)

Annual General Meeting

iii. A General Meeting open to all members shall normally be held annually, and shall be held at least every second year. Observers may be invited by the President to attend the General Meeting.

iv. Voting shall be by a simple majority of all the members present, except as provided for by paragraph 6 and Appendix A of this constitution. Proposals which are to be put to an electronic vote shall be sent to members eight weeks before the voting deadline. Electronic voting shall be by a simple majority of the full members responding by the deadline for voting.

Steering Committee

v. The Steering Committee shall comprise the President, an elected full member representing each Task Group, the chairpersons of the previous, current and next General Meetings, and another two elected full members. The term of office of the elected full members shall be three years. Re-election shall be possible. Others may be invited to attend the meetings of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee's role is to support and advise the President, who reports to the General Meeting, to encourage co-operative activities by members and by the network, and to seek third-party funding that can be used to advance the organisation's aims and objectives.

Task Groups

vi. Task Groups may be formally set up or dissolved at General Meetings with the approval of a simple majority of the full members present. Each shall elect one of its full members to serve on the Steering Committee. Participation in the Task Groups is entirely voluntary. Task Groups shall report to the General Meeting.

vii. Task Group meetings may be held as often as necessary, including via remote technologies, to ensure their aims and objectives are met in due course.

3. Aims and Objectives

EINIRAS has the following aims:

Supporting the training and development of information professionals, researchers and analysts working in IR and area studies in Europe, specifically with regard to 21st century information literacies
Developing a range of information services to support the needs of organisations and individuals working in government, research and academia, the media as well as the wider public
Promoting those standards to support the effective sharing and management of information between EINIRAS members
Outreach to likeminded networks and initiatives, including in pursuit of third party funding to support joint aims and objectives
The continued development of the network, its structures and objectives to support the needs of its constituents

4. Membership

i. Membership to EINIRAS is open to all organisations and individuals active in the field of international relations and area studies and interested in the aims of the network. This includes entities beyond Europe's borders.

ii. Full membership shall be open to institutions and organisations. Full members are allowed to vote, each holding one vote.

iii. Corresponding membership shall be open to individuals interested in the aims and activities of the network. Individual members that participate in one or more Task Groups will also be allowed to vote.

iv. Honorary memberships may be granted by the Steering Committee to those individuals who have rendered particular service to EINIRAS.

v. All members may attend meetings and contribute to discussions, task groups and other EINIRAS business.

vi. Membership applications shall be addressed to the President and shall be determined by the Steering Committee on an ongoing basis.

5. Finances

i. Financial contributions to the work of the organisation shall be processed and accounted for in accordance with the requirements of the bodies providing the funds concerned, and a report shall be submitted to the General Meeting.

ii. A General Meeting may decide by a simple majority of the voting members present to levy fees. Any proposals for such fees shall be circulated to all members at least six weeks before the General Meeting.

iii. Should fees be levied, the Steering Committee shall be responsible for reporting to the General Meeting on the use of these funds.

iv. Auditing procedures shall be established by the General Meeting as required.

v. Fees may be levied from each individual participant or participating member for the organisation of the General Meeting. Such fees shall be discussed and approved by the Steering Committee.

vi. EINIRAS is permitted to apply for and receive third-party funding to support its aims and objectives. Such funding may be secured from EU institutions, national governments, foundations or other bodies as necessary. These funds can be used to support conferences, workshops or other events, recruit dedicated staff to manage EINIRAS' affairs, or to compensate EINIRAS members for their efforts on those projects and initiatives that further the network’s objectives.

6. Amendments to the Constitution

Proposals to amend the constitution shall be circulated to all members at least three months before a General Meeting. Amendment of the constitution shall be by a two-thirds majority of the voting members present at the General Meeting, provided that that majority constitutes at least half of the full membership.

Appendix A

i. Elections for the office of President shall be held by secret ballot at a General Meeting.

ii. The Steering Committee shall appoint an electoral officer, who will normally be the chairperson of the forthcoming General Meeting.

iii. The electoral officer shall decide on a closing date for nominations when making the arrangements for the General Meeting, and shall give all members at least six weeks’ notice of this.

iv. Nominations shall be submitted in writing to the electoral officer, with the candidate’s consent, by the specified date.

v. The names and personal statements of those standing for election and the date and time of the ballot shall be sent to all full members at least two weeks before the General Meeting, and shall also be made available at the meeting.

vi. Full members unable to attend a General Meeting at which elections are to be held may vote by proxy. The proxy shall be assigned to another full member and the electoral officer informed in writing of the arrangement. No member shall hold more than two proxies.

vii. Election shall be by absolute majority of the votes cast. Should the leading candidate obtain less than 50 per cent of the votes cast, a second ballot shall be held between the two candidates who received the most votes.

viii. If only one candidate is nominated, a formal ballot shall still be held, and that candidate shall be elected provided that she/he obtains 50 per cent of the votes cast.

------------------------------------------

* The name was decided by the steering committee on 26 July 1996 in Ebenhausen, Germany, after a referendum of the member institutes according to a decision of the general meeting in Paris, France, 17 September 1995.



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Constitution Contact Board Members Membership Disclaimer		EINIRAS Constitution 1. Introduction In September 2011, a number of EINIRAS members met for a working conference in Strasbourg, France to discuss the future of the network. This document provided a summary of our discussions, together with a revised mission and constitution for the members to consider ahead of the next annual general meeting in Paris in 2012. 2. Challenges EINIRAS faces a number of challenges. The first and foremost of these is existential. Over the past decade, attendance at EINIRAS' annual events has declined, and with it the contribution of members organisations. This decline reflects a number of broader trends, including the advent of the Internet as a provider of library and information services, and the decline of the specialist librarian as a permanent feature of European think tanks and research institutes. Recent budget cuts have exacerbated these trends. Declining participation also suggests our failure to maintain a vibrant member community, or to reach out to new constituents active in International Relations (IR) and area studies. Today, the job of collecting and managing information is common to every IR professional. Perhaps the single greatest cause is be the fact that EINIRAS' founding goals have been achieved, and that the network's original mission has not been revised to reflect the changing interests and priorities of its members. Despite this, we believe that the existence of a European information network dedicated to IR and area studies has never been more necessary or more important, and for three key reasons: 1. A changing information landscape - The information landscape has changed considerably over the past 10 years. Books and libraries have declined in importance as students and professionals turn to the Internet to satisfy their information needs. Paradoxically, the Internet has made the challenge of identifying credible information more difficult and time consuming. As the variety of information sources continues to proliferate, the challenge of harnessing and communicating their value will become more urgent. 2. Declining information and information technology (IT) literacies - Further to the above, the information and IT literacies of most IR and area studies professionals have failed to keep up with changes in the information landscape. By most accounts, these professionals are sorely lacking in the skills and disciplines needed to collect, manage, analyse and use information in support of their objectives. And while many librarians have these skills, they are often unable to apply them or demonstrate their value to their colleagues. This situation is in stark contrast to the sciences, which have embraced large and disparate data sets and simple data processing technologies to unlock new insights and advance innovation. Going forward, IR and area studies professionals will be expected to access and use an ever-broader array of information sources, as well as employ a wider range of data processing technologies. However, training here remains inadequate. 3. A rapidly changing risk environment - The challenges we face continue to proliferate in number. Today, “security” has been appended to almost every issue of importance on the national and international agenda. Managing or resolving these challenges requires more and better research, which itself requires more and better information. Further, it requires greater knowledge sharing and collaboration between EINIRAS members and their constituents. This is only possible through the adoption and use of common informational and technological standards. In all instances, EINIRAS has a key role to play. Its traditional focus on improving information sharing and collaboration among research institutions provides the perfect platform on which to grow the organisation's mission. Mapping the information landscape, educating members in the use of new tools and technologies, and advancing the skills and literacies of a broad cross-section of IR professionals is critical to ensuring the security and prosperity of Europe and its neighbours. To this end, Conference members defined four "pillars" of activity for a future EINIRAS. These are as follows: Governance and Communication Information Technology and Standards Professional Development Services The pillars are intended to help us: Champion the value of the network to new and existing members Better manage and coordinate the network's activities Provide greater focus for members to contribute their time, efforts and abilities Support the development of information professionals in the EINIRAS network Generate greater value for member organisations 3. A New Mission Statement Further, the pillars are intended to define a new mission and to realise a new set of objectives that members can work toward. A revised mission is also intended to reflect the changing interests and priorities of members. Our mission is: The European Information Network on International Relations and Area Studies is an association of organisations and individuals active in international affairs and its related disciplines. The network exists to expand and grow the skills and capabilities of its members, specifically with regard to the collection, management, analysis and use of information in support of their objectives. To this end, EINIRAS undertakes a range of projects and initiatives to support its constituents including: Supporting the training and development of information professionals, researchers and analysts working in IR and area studies in Europe, specifically with regard to 21st century information literacies Developing a range of information services to support the needs of organisations and individuals working in government, research and academia, the media as well as the wider public Promoting those standards to support the effective sharing and management of information between EINIRAS members Outreach to likeminded networks and initiatives, including in pursuit of third party funding to support joint aims and objectives The continued development of the network, its structures and objectives to support the needs of its constituents 4. An Expanded Member Network EINIRAS wishes to broaden its member base and attract new interest in the organisation. To this end, the network should include: Researchers and analysts in IR and area studies Students interested in IR, area studies, or information science Information professionals including research officers, knowledge managers, database managers and others wishing to contribute to EINIRAS' mission IT professionals Far from ignoring our traditional constituents, we believe a broader network will help underscore the role of the information professional in the modern think tank or research institution. Their role has never been more necessary or more important. However, these individuals often lack the resources to operate effectively, or to make a greater contribution to the mission and output of their sponsoring institutions. Thus, particular emphasis will be given to expanding the skill sets of information professionals and ensuring they have the ability to do likewise (e.g. through a "train the trainer" program). 5. Funding EINIRAS has traditionally relied on the good offices of its members to continue its activities. We will continue to do so going forward. However, for EINIRAS to engage in larger and more ambitious projects, third party funding will be required (e.g. from European Union institutions). This will allow the network to either hire a permanent staff and secretariat or compensate members for their efforts to develop the products and services outlined in Section 6 below. Where possible, we believe EINIRAS should also be permitted to engage in competitive proposals or tenders on those projects that could support the realisation of the network's goals. Securing funding may necessitate changing the organisation's status into a non-profit entity capable of accepting third-party funding. 6. Goals The Steering Committee, in collaboration with conference participants, has defined a series of goals for each pillar. These goals reflect the thinking of the Steering Committee. To this end, we welcome your input on how these objectives can be refined, improved, extended and implemented. Pillar 1. Governance and Communication Objective: To update and enhance the capacities of EINIRAS in order to meet the challenges faced by member institutions. Under this pillar, EINIRAS will undertake the strategic and operational work necessary to realising its mission. This will include: Managing and coordinating the network's activities Defining new business requirements Defining and implementing new management structures as necessary Implementing changes to the network's mission Growing and animating EINIRAS' membership network Collaborating with other networks and initiatives Internal and external communication (e.g. via the website) Securing third party funding to achieve and extend the network's mission Championing the work of members to a wider community of IR and area studies professionals Pillar 2. IT and Standards Objective: To anticipate, identify, adopt and exploit those standards and technologies that support our stakeholders’ activities. Under this pillar, EINIRAS will work toward greater knowledge sharing and collaboration between members by continuing and advancing its original mandate: The identification and communication of new tools and technologies to support the collection, analysis, management and sharing of information The creation and / or sharing of resources to support the work of EINIRAS members The development of member only tools, technologies and applications The development of an EINIRAS' knowledge base to support the work of its stakeholders and constituents The continued development of a European Thesaurus together with related cataloguing rules, etc. The identification, adoption and exploitation of IT standards to support information sharing and collaboration among EINIRAS members Pillar 3. Professional Development Objective: To ensure EINIRAS stakeholders are suitably trained to cope with evolving concepts and technologies in their field. Under this pillar, EINIRAS will support the development of new skills and competencies among those professionals working in IR and area studies. This will be achieved through the provision of workshops and seminars for researchers, analysts and information professionals working in these fields. Our activities here will include: Defining the skills and literacies needed by 21st century IR professionals Providing training and seminars to IR graduates and professionals Developing accredited courses and training programs Developing step-by-step tutorials on the use of new tools, technologies, and their application to IR and area studies research Pillar 4. Services Objective: The provision of free and member-only products and services to support EINIRAS stakeholders. Under this pillar, EINIRAS will define and develop a range of value-added products and services to support the efforts of its members. These services might include: Indexes of recommended resources Pathfinder tools and resources Inter-library loans Country profiles Internal wiki External blog Best practice recommendations on the use of free and commercial tools Realising these objectives will require the contribution and effort of all members, no matter how small. Nevertheless, with renewed commitment and purpose, we are confident EINIRAS' will enjoy a long and prosperous future. EINIRAS Constitution 1. Name The name of the organisation shall be the "European Information Network on International Relations and Area Studies" (EINIRAS).* 2. Structure and Organisation i. There shall be a President, General Meetings, a Steering Committee and Task Groups. The President ii. The President shall be the official representative of the network and be responsible for the promotion of its aims, for strategic planning, for fund-raising, for ensuring adequate communication and for the holding of General Meetings at appropriate intervals. The President shall be elected for a period of three years ending no later than the end of the calendar year in which the third year is completed, and may stand for re-election. (For election procedures, see Appendix A.) Annual General Meeting iii. A General Meeting open to all members shall normally be held annually, and shall be held at least every second year. Observers may be invited by the President to attend the General Meeting. iv. Voting shall be by a simple majority of all the members present, except as provided for by paragraph 6 and Appendix A of this constitution. Proposals which are to be put to an electronic vote shall be sent to members eight weeks before the voting deadline. Electronic voting shall be by a simple majority of the full members responding by the deadline for voting. Steering Committee v. The Steering Committee shall comprise the President, an elected full member representing each Task Group, the chairpersons of the previous, current and next General Meetings, and another two elected full members. The term of office of the elected full members shall be three years. Re-election shall be possible. Others may be invited to attend the meetings of the Steering Committee. The Steering Committee's role is to support and advise the President, who reports to the General Meeting, to encourage co-operative activities by members and by the network, and to seek third-party funding that can be used to advance the organisation's aims and objectives. Task Groups vi. Task Groups may be formally set up or dissolved at General Meetings with the approval of a simple majority of the full members present. Each shall elect one of its full members to serve on the Steering Committee. Participation in the Task Groups is entirely voluntary. Task Groups shall report to the General Meeting. vii. Task Group meetings may be held as often as necessary, including via remote technologies, to ensure their aims and objectives are met in due course. 3. Aims and Objectives EINIRAS has the following aims: Supporting the training and development of information professionals, researchers and analysts working in IR and area studies in Europe, specifically with regard to 21st century information literacies Developing a range of information services to support the needs of organisations and individuals working in government, research and academia, the media as well as the wider public Promoting those standards to support the effective sharing and management of information between EINIRAS members Outreach to likeminded networks and initiatives, including in pursuit of third party funding to support joint aims and objectives The continued development of the network, its structures and objectives to support the needs of its constituents 4. Membership i. Membership to EINIRAS is open to all organisations and individuals active in the field of international relations and area studies and interested in the aims of the network. This includes entities beyond Europe's borders. ii. Full membership shall be open to institutions and organisations. Full members are allowed to vote, each holding one vote. iii. Corresponding membership shall be open to individuals interested in the aims and activities of the network. Individual members that participate in one or more Task Groups will also be allowed to vote. iv. Honorary memberships may be granted by the Steering Committee to those individuals who have rendered particular service to EINIRAS. v. All members may attend meetings and contribute to discussions, task groups and other EINIRAS business. vi. Membership applications shall be addressed to the President and shall be determined by the Steering Committee on an ongoing basis. 5. Finances i. Financial contributions to the work of the organisation shall be processed and accounted for in accordance with the requirements of the bodies providing the funds concerned, and a report shall be submitted to the General Meeting. ii. A General Meeting may decide by a simple majority of the voting members present to levy fees. Any proposals for such fees shall be circulated to all members at least six weeks before the General Meeting. iii. Should fees be levied, the Steering Committee shall be responsible for reporting to the General Meeting on the use of these funds. iv. Auditing procedures shall be established by the General Meeting as required. v. Fees may be levied from each individual participant or participating member for the organisation of the General Meeting. Such fees shall be discussed and approved by the Steering Committee. vi. EINIRAS is permitted to apply for and receive third-party funding to support its aims and objectives. Such funding may be secured from EU institutions, national governments, foundations or other bodies as necessary. These funds can be used to support conferences, workshops or other events, recruit dedicated staff to manage EINIRAS' affairs, or to compensate EINIRAS members for their efforts on those projects and initiatives that further the network’s objectives. 6. Amendments to the Constitution Proposals to amend the constitution shall be circulated to all members at least three months before a General Meeting. Amendment of the constitution shall be by a two-thirds majority of the voting members present at the General Meeting, provided that that majority constitutes at least half of the full membership. Appendix A i. Elections for the office of President shall be held by secret ballot at a General Meeting. ii. The Steering Committee shall appoint an electoral officer, who will normally be the chairperson of the forthcoming General Meeting. iii. The electoral officer shall decide on a closing date for nominations when making the arrangements for the General Meeting, and shall give all members at least six weeks’ notice of this. iv. Nominations shall be submitted in writing to the electoral officer, with the candidate’s consent, by the specified date. v. The names and personal statements of those standing for election and the date and time of the ballot shall be sent to all full members at least two weeks before the General Meeting, and shall also be made available at the meeting. vi. Full members unable to attend a General Meeting at which elections are to be held may vote by proxy. The proxy shall be assigned to another full member and the electoral officer informed in writing of the arrangement. No member shall hold more than two proxies. vii. Election shall be by absolute majority of the votes cast. Should the leading candidate obtain less than 50 per cent of the votes cast, a second ballot shall be held between the two candidates who received the most votes. viii. If only one candidate is nominated, a formal ballot shall still be held, and that candidate shall be elected provided that she/he obtains 50 per cent of the votes cast. ------------------------------------------ * The name was decided by the steering committee on 26 July 1996 in Ebenhausen, Germany, after a referendum of the member institutes according to a decision of the general meeting in Paris, France, 17 September 1995.

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EINIRAS Constitution

EINIRAS Constitution

Appendix A