Statuto (Bylaws) – NA

STATUTO (BYLAWS)

I – NAME, LOCATION, PURPOSE AND DURATION

Art. 1 – Name and registered office

The North-American Section of the Istituto Nazionale di Studi Etruschi e Italici (hereafter: the INSEI-NA Section) is constituted in the form of an association that functions as the local section of the Istituto Nazionale di Studi Etruschi e Italici (hereafter: the Istituto).

The headquarters of the INSEI-NA Section are located at the institution with which the Section President is affiliated.

Art. 2 – Duration

The INSEI-NA Section has no limit on its duration. It may be dissolved according to the cases and methods expressly indicated in this Statute.

Art. 3 – Aims and purposes

The INSEI-NA Section is a non-profit organization and operates without discrimination as to race, color, creed, sex, gender, ethnicity, disability, citizenship, and political orientation. Its members are affiliates of North American universities, museums, research centers, and other institutions of higher learning who are active in the field of Etruscan and Italic studies. It operates with the guidance of its President, Governing Board, and Assembly (see below).

The INSEI-NA Section aims to promote, intensify and coordinate research and studies on the civilization of the Etruscans and other Italic peoples. It works in collaboration with the Istituto, of which it is a substantial extension, allowing the latter an immediate and active presence in local scholarly life as far as its competence and interests may lie. The INSEI-NA Section will therefore also have the task of keeping the aforementioned Institute informed of what at the local and particular level may fall within its competences and interests, and above all to collaborate in specific information on scholarly initiatives, events, and publications, and in the drafting, as requested, of bulletins to be published in Studi Etruschi.

To this end, it prepares itself to carry out any activity deemed necessary for the continuation of academic and social purposes. Specific goals are to be identified in meetings of the Board and the Assembly of the Section, and may be directed toward mutual concerns with the following North- American entities involved with Etruscan research: the journal Etruscan and Italic Studies, the Etruscan Foundation, and the Etruscan Interest Group of the Archaeological Institute of America. The INSEI-NA Section has direct supervision of the following entities: Etruscan News and the North-American fascicles of the Corpus Speculorum Etruscorum. The Section also willingly provides support as available and needed for conferences in North America or elsewhere on subjects relevant for Etruscan and Italic studies.

II . FINANCIAL ASSETS

Art. 4 – INSEI-NA Section resources

At present there are no financial assets within the operation of the INSEI-NA Section. These may be developed within the context of, and with the consent of, the Assembly, upon proposal by the President and/or Board.

Art. 5 – Membership fee

There is no membership fee. The Assembly, on the proposal of the President and/or Board, may decide whether to require a membership fee.

Art. 6 – Persons and capital goods

At present there are no staff members and no plan for remuneration within the INSEI-NA Section, all work being by voluntary contribution.

III. MEMBERSHIP AND OFFICERS

Art. 7 – Composition of the Association

The number of members is not limited. The following categories of members are foreseen:

a) INSEI-NA Full Members: These are “Membri Ordinari” and “Membri Corrispondenti” of the Istituto who are affiliated with a North-American institution and have submitted to the INSEI- NA President a written request to become INSEI-NA Members.

b) INSEI-NA Associates: These are scholars active in the field of Etruscan and Italic studies in North America whose nomination is proposed and justified in writing by at least two INSEI-NA Full Members, and whose entrance into membership is ratified by a majority vote of both the Board members and the Assembly members participating in the vote.

Art. 8 – Members’ Rights

All INSEI-NA Full Members and Associates have the right of access to any events organized by the Section. All INSEI-NA Full Members and Associates are eligible to participate in the actions of the Assembly.

Art. 9 – Duties of members

Each member must accept and comply with the regulations in these by-laws.

Art. 10 – Withdrawal, exclusion, and forfeiture of the member
Members may resign from the INSEI-NA Section by informing in writing the President and the Board. In all cases of interruption of membership the member automatically and immediately loses all rights, duties, qualifications and social offices within the INSEI-NA Section.

IV – GOVERNING BODIES

Art. 11 – The organs of the INSEI-NA Section

The governing organs of the Section are as follows:

1. the President
2. the Board
3. the Secretary-Treasurer
4. the Assembly

The PRESIDENT shall be elected among the INSEI-NA Full Members for a period of three years by (a) a secret-ballot majority vote of the Assembly members participating in the vote; and (b) a secret-ballot majority ratification vote of the INSEI-NA Full Members participating in the vote. At the end of the term of office, he/she may be re-elected. In the event of a vacating of the office for any reason, a special election shall be held. The new President thus elected shall remain in office until the expiration of the current term of office.

The President is the legal representative of the INSEI-NA Section, answers to the INSEI for its operation, convenes and presides over the Board and the Assembly, takes care of the fulfillment of the deliberations of the Istituto within the Section, coordinates the performance of the scientific activity and scheduled events of the Section, participates, by convocation, in the meetings of the Board and the Assembly of the Istituto to report and discuss the problems of interest to the INSEI- NA Section itself.

The election must be communicated to the Presidency of the Istituto within 15 days.

No later than December of each year the INSEI-NA President is required to send to the President of the Istituto a report relating to the year, accompanied by an information note on the scientific work.

The BOARD is elected by the Assembly, assists the President in his/her duties and is composed as follows. The Board will have six elected members, of whom four are INSEI-NA Full Members and two are INSEI-NA Associates. The President serves ex officio as a seventh Board member. At least two Board members must be “Membri Ordinari” of the Istituto. All members of the Board remain in office for three years and can be re-elected.

Elections take place electronically by secret ballot, with separate votes for the representatives of the two categories. Those who have achieved the highest number of votes are elected in order.

Results must be communicated to the Presidency of the Istituto within 15 days.

In case of vacancy for any reason, special elections are held: the term of any new Board member shall expire at the end of the mandate of the Board in office.

The elections of the Board take place at the same time as those of the President and for a mandate of the same duration.

The Board normally meets – in person and/or online, with a one-month advance notice – once a year, or more often at the judgment of the President or at the request of a third of its members. It
determines, in harmony with the general guidelines and institutional purposes of the INSEI-NA Section, its work program and assists the President in carrying it out.

The Board is responsible for oversight of Etruscan News, ensuring that the publication comes out in a timely way and follows high scholarly and journalistic standards. The editorial staff and layout technician shall answer directly to the Board. The fascicles of the Corpus Speculorum Etruscorum shall also be subject to review by the Board. The chair of the CSE American committee is appointed by the Istituto, and must keep the Istituto office fully informed of progress on the fascicles.

The SECRETARY-TREASURER is elected by the Board, in the first meeting following the election, among its members. It acts as Secretary of the Board and of the Assembly and keeps the minutes of meetings.

In the event of availability of funds to manage, the Secretary-Treasurer has the responsibility for the management.

The ASSEMBLY is made up of all Full and Associate Members in order to discuss collegially the program of scholarly activity and the initiatives that the INSEI-NA Section intends to take.

The Assembly ratifies the appointments of the INSEI-NA Section Associates.

Each member has the right to make proposals to the President and/or the Board members. Proposals must be received at least one month in advance, and in any case in time to be submitted to a preliminary examination by the Board.

The Assembly usually meets once a year for the fulfilments of its responsibilities. The date of the Assembly is determined by the President in consultation with the Board, and is communicated with a two-month advance notice.

Art. 12 – Board – Resolutions – Minutes

The decisions of the Board are taken by a majority of votes of those present. In the event of a tie, the vote of the President shall be twofold. The deliberations of the Board are valid if at least four members of the Board take part in the meeting.

The meetings of the Board and the related resolutions must be recorded by the Secretary or, in his/her absence, by the oldest member of registry age. The minutes of the Board are available to members who request them.

Art. 13 – Change of By-Laws
The by-laws may be amended through a vote by (a) a majority of the Board members present and voting; and (b) a majority of persons present and voting at the Assembly. The President and the Board shall provide proposals for amending sections of the by-laws at least one month in advance of the Assembly meeting.