Amended and approved June 2016
ARTICLE I. Name
The Association shall be known as the International Society for Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Inc. (IS-MPMI)
ARTICLE II. Purposes
The purposes of the International Society for Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Inc. (IS-MPMI) are to engage in activities which advance interdisciplinary science pertaining to molecular interactions of plants with microbes (bacteria, viruses, and fungi) as well as parasitic angiosperms, nematodes and insect pests (referred to as molecular plant-microbe interactions) affecting plant growth and productivity on a worldwide basis.
To that end the Society may engage in activities of the following nature:
- Sponsoring publications, which include original research and reviews, detailing advances in the field of molecular plant-microbe interactions.
- Organizing periodically an international Congress open to any individual interested in molecular plant-microbe interactions.
- Developing molecular data banks which can be exchanged among scientists for purposes of facilitating and assisting research in studies on molecular plant-microbe interactions.
- Sponsoring seminars and conferences related to molecular plant-microbe interactions.
- Awarding young and established scientists in the community for exceptional achievements in the field of molecular plant-microbe interactions.
- Encouraging national and regional organizations to affiliate with the Society.
- Providing periodic information and news in the field of molecular plant -microbe interactions to the Society members.
- Any other activities that will advance the science of molecular plant-microbe interactions and that are consistent with the role of the Society as a nonprofit organization, exempt under revenue ruling 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.
ARTICLE III. Membership
SECTION 1. Membership Types
Individuals or corporations interested in the advancement and promulgation of knowledge relevant to molecular plant-microbe interactions are eligible to join the Society. An individual or corporation that has fully paid the designated membership fees for a year shall be considered a member during that year. Five classes of membership shall exist:
- full member
- post doctorate
- student
- emeritus
- corporate (sustaining)
To be eligible for student membership, an individual must be enrolled in a degree program at a school of higher education; a major professor or department head must certify status annually.
To be eligible for post doctorate membership, an individual must be employed in a post-doctoral position at a school of higher education; a major professor or department head must certify the post doctorate status annually.
To be eligible for complimentary emeritus membership, an individual must have been a member of IS-MPMI for at least 25 years and be retired. Emeritus applicants must submit a request for transition to Emeritus Membership to IS-MPMI Headquarters; staff will confirm membership tenure of at least 25 years with database records and approve upon confirmation. Those not meeting the 25 year requirement will be offered a reduced Emeritus rate equivalent to student member dues rate.
SECTION 2. Privileges of Members
Members shall have the right to vote for candidates to the Board of Directors. The Board will then elect the President, and will appoint or elect other officers.
ARTICLE IV. Election of Board of Directors and Officers
SECTION 1. Board of Directors
The Board of Directors ("the Board") shall number maximally fourteen (14) members: the President, the President-Elect, the immediate past President, the Secretary, the Treasurer, the Editor-in-Chief of the journal Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions (MPMI), the Editor-in-Chief of the IS-MPMI Interactions and seven Directors. The immediate past President will serve the Board ex officio with full voting rights for two years. An immediate past Treasurer will serve the Board ex officio non-voting, in advisory role only, for two years. Directors will rotate off the Board after serving four years, unless they are an officer (President, President-Elect, Secretary, and Treasurer). Years served as an officer are added to the standard four years served as Director. All Board members shall rotate off the Board after a maximum of eight years of service, excluding ex officio service (immediate past President and immediate past Treasurer). In the case of a vacancy in a position of an elected Board member, the President will appoint a replacement from the same geographical area as the vacated elected member to complete that member’s four year term.
SECTION 2. Executive Officer
The Board shall appoint an Executive Officer to administer the business affairs and offices of the Society and any other duties assigned to him/her by the Board or the Officers. The Board shall also authorize the employment of whatever permanent or part-time help as may be necessary to conduct the affairs of the Society.
SECTION 3. Directors
Directors of the Board shall be elected by the members of the Society from a slate of candidates prepared by the Nominations Committee (see Article VI, Section 2) and approved by a two-thirds vote of the entire Board before going to the members for the vote. The slate will consist of names numbering at least twice the positions to be filled. The Nominations Committee shall take into consideration reasonable distribution of geographic location of the director nominees for the Board. Board directors shall be elected by a majority vote of electronic and/or mail ballots returned to the Society prior to the biennial International Congress.
SECTION 4. Officers
The officers elected by the Board shall be the President, the President-Elect, the Secretary, and the Treasurer. The President-Elect shall serve two years as President-Elect and the following two years as President. The immediate past President shall serve on the Board for an additional two years in an ex officio capacity with full voting rights. The Secretary shall serve two years. The Treasurer shall serve four years, followed by a two-year period as immediate past Treasurer in an advisory role with no voting rights.
The Editor-in-Chief (EIC) of MPMI nominee is recommended by the board and forwarded to the American Phytopathological Society (APS) Publications Board for consideration, with final approval of the MPMI EIC by the APS Council. The MPMI EIC serves a three-year term and is based on the start of a publication year.
The Editor-in-Chief of IS-MPMI Interactions is appointed by the President and shall serve two year term, which is renewable for one additional term.
The election of officers and appointments by the Board, and their installation, shall be made at the Board's meeting during the biennial IS-MPMI Congress. During the Board’s meeting officers are elected in the following order: 1) President-Elect, 2) Secretary, 3) Treasurer (if applicable), and 4) Editor-in-Chief IS-MPMI Interactions. Their duties start immediately after the Congress.
SECTION 5. Board Installation
When, due to unexpected circumstances, the IS-MPMI Congress is not held in alternating years, the terms of incumbent Board members and officers shall be extended until the next Congress is held. At that time new board members shall be elected and installed in the usual manner.
ARTICLE V. Duties of the Board of Directors and Officers
SECTION 1. Board Meetings
Regular (actual, telephonic or electronic) meetings of the Board shall be held at least annually at such time and place as may be determined by the Board. Meetings may be called at any time by the President or any four Board members. Notices of both regular and special meetings shall be given at least three weeks before any such meeting and shall state the purposes thereof.
SECTION 2. President
The President shall be the Chief Executive Officer of the Society and shall serve as Chair of the Board for a period of two years. The President shall preside at all meetings of the Society and of the Board; shall appoint all committees not otherwise provided for in the Bylaws; shall fill all vacancies in appointive positions; shall have the general direction of the affairs of the Society; and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board.
SECTION 3. President-Elect
The President-Elect shall serve as President in case of the absence or inability of the President to serve. This service shall not affect succession to the office of President two years following election as President-Elect. The President-Elect, upon request by the President, may preside at any meeting of the Board.
SECTION 4. Secretary
The Secretary shall be responsible for keeping the minutes of meetings of the Society and the Board; for distributing minutes of such meetings to members of the Board; shall attend to the giving and serving of all notices of the Society; and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board. The Secretary shall be appointed by the Board for a two-year term.
SECTION 5. Treasurer
The Treasurer shall be responsible for the custody of funds and securities of the Society; shall report to the President and Board as to the financial condition of the Society; and shall perform such other duties as may be prescribed by the Board. The Treasurer shall be appointed by the Board for a four-year term followed by a two-year ex officio term.
SECTION 6. Resignation
Any officer of the Society may resign at any time by giving written notice to the Board.
SECTION 7. Removal
The Board shall have the power, by a two-thirds vote of the entire Board, to remove an individual from a position as an officer for conduct prejudicial to the interest of the Society, provided that any such officer shall have received at least thirty days notice of the time of the vote concerning the officer's possible removal, together with a copy of the charges against such officer, so that such officer may have an opportunity to provide a written rebuttal to such charges to the Board.
ARTICLE VI. Committees
SECTION 1. Finance Committee
The Finance Committee shall consist of the President, the Treasurer, the Secretary, the Executive Officer, and at least one other member of the Board appointed by the President. The Finance Committee shall recommend annual membership dues and a budget each year to the Board, including costs of Society publication. A two-thirds vote of the Board shall be required for approval of the membership dues and budget.
SECTION 2. Nominations Committee
The Nominations Committee shall be composed of the President, President-Elect, and at least two other members of the Board appointed by the President. The Nominations Committee shall prepare a slate for election of Board members by members of the Society consisting of names numbering at least twice the positions to be filled. The Nominations Committee shall take into consideration reasonable distribution of geographical location of Board members. A two-thirds vote of the entire Board shall be required to approve the slate recommended by the Nominations Committee.
SECTION 3.Conference Committee
The Conference Committee shall be appointed by the President and shall minimally include the President-Elect, the Treasurer, and the heads of the current and immediate past local organizing committees. The Conference Committee, in consultation with the President, shall consider other meetings of similar interest, recommend the site and local organizing committee for future Conferences to be sponsored by the Society, and shall provide guidelines for interaction between the Board, its agents and representatives, and the local organizing committee in financial and administrative decisions.
SECTION 4. Awards Committee
The Awards Committee shall be appointed by the President and will be composed of at least three members of the Board. The Awards Committee shall organize the review of candidates for the IS-MPMI Lifetime Achievement Award and the IS-MPMI Early Career Achievement Award and will forward awardee recommendations to the Board for approval.
ARTICLE VII. Amendment of Bylaws
These bylaws may be amended, altered, changed, added to or repealed by the affirmative vote of at least two-thirds of the members of the Board. Any such changes must be ratified by simple majority vote of the membership of the Society. Said vote may occur at any regular or special meeting or by electronic and/or mail ballot.
ARTICLE VIII. Dissolution
SECTION 1. Assets
The Society shall be organized as non-profit corporation. No money or assets of the corporation shall be distributed to directors of the corporation, except as compensation for services, nor shall the corporation make any loans of any kind of corporate assets.
SECTION 2. Dissolution
In the event of dissolution of this Society by vote of the membership or legal action, after the discharge of all debts and obligations, any funds and property remaining thereafter shall be conveyed to another qualified non-profit organization(s) dedicated to the perpetuation of objectives similar in nature to those of the International Society for Molecular Plant-Microbe Interactions, Inc., providing that such organization(s) at the time of dissolution shall be exempt under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1954 as amended or under such successor provisions of the Code as may be in effect at the time of dissolution, and also provided that the conveyance of such funds and property is consistent with the Articles of Incorporation of the Society and the provision of Chapter 317, Minnesota state as amended to date of dissolution.
