CHAPTER A'

NAME - SIEGE - PURPOSE

Article 1 - NAME

The name of the organization shall be "The Hellenic Society of Rheology" and will have its legal siege in Athens, Greece.

Article 2 - PURPOSE

The purpose of the Society shall be the advancement of rheology and its applications by encouraging communication among Greek rheologists and promoting collaboration, development and use of rheology in the Greek Universities, research institutes and industries. Rheology is here defined as the science of the deformation and flow of matter.

Article 3 - PROMOTION OF PURPOSE

The purposes of the Society shall be promoted (a) by meetings, (b) by organizing national and/or international symposia or congresses in Greece at least once a year, (c) by publications, (d) by collaboration with the Hellenic Polymer Society and other societies of common scientific ground, (e) by participating via a Greek representative in the European Society of Rheology and the International Committee on Rheology, (f) by bestowing awards to individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the field of rheology, (g) by giving scholarships for graduate studies to young scientists, (h) by other appropriate means.

Article 4 - PROHIBITIONS

It is prohibited to pursue purposes alien to the purposes of the Society, especially political.

CHAPTER B'

MEMBERSHIP

Article 5

Any person or institution interested in the purposes of the Society may apply for membership.

Article 6

Members are registered by the executive committee by a majority vote.

Article 7 - DUTIES OF MEMBERS

Members must (a) abide by the decisions of the executive, (b) pay their annual dues, (c) participate in the activities of the Society, (d) participate in the general assemblies and offer their services to the Society without remuneration or fees.

Article 8 - MEMBER DISMISSAL

A member may be dismissed from the Society by secret majority vote in cases where (a) did not abide by the purposes of the Society, (b) acted against scientific principles, (c) pursued activities against the Society and its purposes.

CHAPTER C'

DUES

Article 9

The finances of the Society come from (a) dues paid by the members, (b) donations and other grants given to the Society by industries, institutes, the state, etc. (c) monies obtained from publications, meetings, symposia, congresses, etc. organized by the Society.

CHAPTER D'

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Articles 10 - 13

The general assembly is the highest authority of the Society. It must convene at least once a year usually between 1/9 and 30/4, or as deemed necessary by the executive or the 1/5 of the members. The call for the assembly must be carried out by the President and sent by the Secretary by mail at least 20 days before the general assembly is due for convening.

Article 14 - QUORUM

Quorum shall be half the members plus one. In case of no quorum, the assembly is reconvened within 15 days with the number of members present. The agenda is set by the executive committee. The decisions are made by majority vote. In case of personal matters, the decisions are carried by a 2/3 majority vote.

Article 15 - AMENDMENTS TO THE CONSTITUTION

To change the constitution or the dissolution of the Society it is necessary to have an absolute quorum and to have a majority vote of 3/4 of the members. Change of the purposes of the Society requires consensus of all members.

Articles 16 - 18 - NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS

Every 2 years the general assembly elects a new executive committee and a new comptrolling committee. At a suitable time prior to an election, a nominating committee of 3 members of the Society shall be appointed by the President. The elections will be by secret ballot by mail in time to have responses from every member. The elected officers are those 5 members who have won the majority of votes. The agenda and the minutes of every meeting are kept by the Secretary and are distributed to all members.

CHAPTER E'

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Articles 19 - 26

The Society is governed by a 3-member executive committee consisting of a President, a Vice-President and a Secretary/Treasurer. Their election is valid for 2 years. Elected are also 3 Members-at-Large for the Society. The executive sets up other committees for various functions such as committee for meetings, symposia, etc., committee for awards, committee for publications, etc. (The functions of each member of the Executive are spelled out in the original text).

CHAPTER F'

COMPTROLLER COMMITTEE

Article 27

The Society is checked by a 3-member comptrolling committee elected at the same time as the executive committee for a 2-year period.

CHAPTER G'

GENERAL

Article 28 - 33

Cases not foreseen by the present constitution are to be remedied by the general assembly within the legal framework of Greece. The Society has as its symbol a round seal with its name around it, the year of its foundation (1996) and other specifics to be decided by the executive committee.