HELLENIC SOCIETY
FOR EARTHQUAKE ENGINEERING – H.S.E.E.
STATUTES
In Athens today an
Association is being established as National Section – Member of the
International Association for Earthquake Engineering – I.A.E.E. based in Tokyo,
and of the European Association for Earthquake Engineering – E.A.E.E., based in
the hometown of the elected, each time, General Secretary of the Association.
Article 1
Firm Title
The Association has
the title «Hellenic Section for Earthquake Engineering» and the distinctive
title H.S.E.E.
In the relations of
the Association abroad with foreign persons or legal entities, the English translation of the as above title i.e.
«Hellenic Society for Earthquake Engineering – H.S.E.E» will be used.
Article 2
Seat
The Seat of the
Association is the Athens Municipality, where the Central Office of the
Technical Chamber of Greece is also located at 4 Karagiorgi Servias street.
By a unanimous
decision of its Executive Committee (E.C.), the Association can establish
offices in other Greek cities and abroad.
Article 3
Scope
The scope of
H.S.E.E. is:
a) The co-operation with the above mentioned
International Associations, of which this Society is a member according to
their Statutes.
b) The co-operation with the National Members of
these Associations, through information exchange, visits, etc.
c) The promotion of Scientific and Technological
Developments and Applications in the field of Earthquake Engineering in our
country, through research, publications, co-operation with Universities and
other Institutions, by maintaining a library and archives of related subjects,
by organizing conferences, seminars, lectures etc.
d) The official participation in International
Conferences for Earthquake Engineering and the organization of similar events
in Greece.
e) The participation in the revisions of the
Greek Code for Earthquake Resistant Design, whenever necessary, and the
contribution to earthquake risk mitigation, in general.
f)
The advancement of the spirit of
co-operation and the protection of scientific and professional status of its
members and of all Engineers – members of the Technical Chamber of Greece –
through common actions on earthquake engineering related subjects.
g) The selection and appointment of the
representatives to the I.A.E.E. and the E.A.E.E., and of the members for
working groups of these Associations.
h) Any other activity related to Earthquake
Engineering from a scientific point of view (theoretical or applied), within
the goals of the Technical Chamber of Greece, the I.A.E.E. and the E.A.E.E.
Article 4
Members –
Representation – Rights – Obligations - Responsibilities
4.1. Regular members
of the H.S.E.E. can be licensed Civil Engineers, members of the Technical
Chamber of Greece who:
(a) Have at least one (1) publication in a
scientific journal in the area of earthquake engineering or
(b) Have at least one (1) participation with
presentation of a paper in a Conference of Earthquake Engineering organized by
the Technical Chamber of Greece, the I.A.E.E., the E.A.E.E., or in other
similar events of comparable status, or
(c) Have at least 10 years documented earthquake
engineering design experience.
Membership is also
granted to Engineers of other specialties who are members of the Technical
Chamber of Greece or to Seismologists, with at least ten (10) years of
experience on subjects of Earthquake Engineering or Engineering Seismology and
have at least one (1) participation with presentation of a paper in a
Conference of Earthquake Engineering organized by the Technical Chamber of
Greece, the I.A.E.E., the E.A.E.E., or in other similar events of comparable
status, by a justified decision of the
E.C., after an application is submitted.
4.2. Interested persons should apply for H.S.E.E.
membership to the E.C., by submitting also documents that prove their
eligibility according to paragraph 4.1 of these Statutes. Submission of an
application for membership implies full knowledge of and agreement with these
Statutes
The decision is
taken by a majority vote of the present members of the E.C. and must be
properly justified.
Membership to the
H.S.E.E. may also be granted to a person who meets the requirements of
paragraph 4.1, after a justified recommendation by an E.C. member and by a
unanimous decision of the E.C.
Membership
cancellation after a written request by a member or after total inactivity for
five years is made by a majority vote of the present members of the E.C.
Appeals for
membership denial or cancellation are examined and a final decision is made by
the first General Assembly, regular or special, after the appeal.
4.3. All members have equal rights and
responsibilities.
More specifically,
regarding responsibilities, every member has the duty to conform completely to
the Laws, the present Statutes and the decisions of the E.C. and the General
Assembly, in accordance with the Law.
The members have the
right to be informed on the contents of the books kept by the H.S.E.E., such as
property books, register, receipts and payments, and to participate in the
General Assembly.
The members have the
right to vote, to elect and to be elected.
Members who have not
paid their dues lose their right to vote, elect and be elected.
4.4. The membership dues is fifteen (15) Euros
per year, subject to change by a decision of the E.C.
4.5.
Scientists or established high
status and with exceptionally large contribution in the areas of interest of
the Society, are bestowed honorary membership by a decision of the General
Assembly after a unanimous recommendation by the E.C.
Article 5
General Assembly
The General Assembly
is the supreme governing body of the Society Department. It is formed by all
the members of H.S.E.E.
It meets regularly
once a year during the period of November – December.
It meets also
whenever the E.C. deems it necessary or whenever it receives a request, with
the subjects of the agenda, signed by at least the 1/8th of the
membership of the Society.
In case the E.C.
will not call a General Assembly within twenty days from the day of the
request, the General Assembly may be called by a Committee representing the
applicants.
The General Assembly
is considered in quorum when more than the 50% of the members are present.
In case of
non-quorum, the General Assembly is called again within a fixed period (not
earlier than seven days and no later than twenty one days after the first
meeting), and it is considered in quorum if more than the 25% of the members
are present.
If once more quorum
is not achieved, the General Assembly is called again within a fixed period
(not earlier than seven days and no later than twenty one days after the second
meeting), and it is considered in quorum regardless of the number of members
present.
The General Assembly
has the following powers:
a) Elects the E.C.
and the Auditor Committee, and absolves the E.C. and the members from their
responsibilities.
b) Bestows Honorary
Memberships after recommendation by the E.C.
and takes final decisions on membership cancellations, according to article
4 of the present Statutes.
c) Elects the
National Representative in the International Association for Earthquake
Engineering (I.A.E.E.) and the National Representative in the European
Association for Earthquake Engineering (E.A.E.E.), upon expiration of the
corresponding terms.
The National
Representatives in the above Associations can be the same person.
The terms of office
of these Representatives are in accordance to the Statutes of the I.A.E.E. and
E.A.E.E.
d)
Modifies and makes additions to
the Statutes.
Regarding such modifications or additions,
these must be announced to all members of the Society and to the Board of the
Technical Chamber of Greece, at least two (2) months in advance, whereas a
positive decision is made with a quorum of at least 50% and a ¾ majority
vote of the members present.
e) It makes final
decisions on any issue internal to HSEE.
f)
It
decides for dissolving the Society in accordance with article 9 of these
Statutes.
Article 6
Management – Representation
6.1
The
management and administration of the Society affairs are assigned to the
Executive Committee (E.C.). The E.C. consists of seven (7) regular members and
(4) substitutes, which replace in order those regular members who are unable to
participate or are absent.
The E.C. members are elected by secret ballot every three (3) years,
during a regular General Assembly meeting.
The substitute members participate in the E.C. meetings, but if they do
not substitute for a regular member, they have no right to vote. The members
elect among themselves by secret ballot, the Chairman, the Vice Chairmen, the
General Secretary and the Treasurer. The E.C. is in quorum when at least five
(5) of its members are present.
6.2
The
E.C. has the following responsibilities:
a)
It
carries out the decisions of the General Assembly
b) It advances the
goals of the Society, as defined in article 3 of these Statutes
c) It maintains
contacts with the I.A.E.E. and E.A.E.E., cooperating with the National
Representatives, as well
as with other similar international or national societies.
d) It gives account
of its actions to the General Assembly every year, presenting the
financial and executive
account
e) It decides about
the enrollment of new members and makes recommendations to the
General Assembly for
bestowing honorary memberships.
f)
It
prepares the General Assembly meetings.
g) It decides and
makes recommendations to the Technical Chamber of Greece (TCG)
about the operation of
the office of the H.S.E.E.
h) It prepares the organization of conferences,
seminars, lectures, discussions etc., in
cooperation with the
TCG.
i)
It
decides about formation of and membership to Committees, working groups, etc.,
with the aim of better
advancement of the goals of the H.S.E.E .
j)
In
the first 15 days of October of its 3rd year in office, it calls a
regular General
Assembly, to which it
gives account of its actions.
6.3
The
E.C. meets at least once every 3 months. The meeting is held after a written
invitation by the Chairman, which includes the agenda, sent at least ten (10)
days earlier. An E.C. member who is absent from three (3) consecutive meetings,
or from five in the year, could be replaced permanently by the first of the
substitute member in order, by decision of the E.C. Moreover, members who may
resign, are replaced in a similar manner by substitute members.
6.4
The
minutes of the E.C. (meetings) are read and certified by the members during its
next meeting.
6.5
Immediately
after its election, the E.C. convenes as such and elects the Chairman the Vice
Chairmen, the General Secretary and the Treasurer, each with the following
responsibilities:
(a) Chairman
i. Represents the
HSEE to all legal entities or physical persons, public or private, to the State
authorities and in Courts, in Greece or in foreign countries, and also to
international Organizations and to the authorities of the European Union and
binds HSEE with his signature.
However, with respect to the IAEE and
the EAEE, the Chairman represents HSEE only in cooperation with the elected
National Representatives, and binds it by cosigning with the National
Representatives.
ii. He Convenes the General Assembly and the E.C.
iii. He writes and recommends the agenda for the
meetings of the two “bodies”
iv. He chairs the meetings of the two bodies and
executes their decisions. In cases when two proposals receive equal number of
votes, the one for which the Chairman has voted is considered as having the
majority vote.
v.
He is in charge of
correspondence. The correspondence with the IAEE and the EAEE is carried out
with the elected National Representatives and cosigned by the Chairman and the
respective national representative. Every outgoing correspondence is
communicated to the Technical Chamber of Greece.
vi. He informs the National Representatives to
the IAEE and EAEE on matters of their concern and is also fully informed by
them in writing on all pertinent subjects.
The same person cannot serve as Chairman
for more than two (2) consecutive terms
b) Vice Chairmen
i They replace the Chairman in his duties,
whenever he is absent or it he has some problem, after consultation with him
and by an E.C. Decision. The Chairman may delegate some of his responsibilities
to the Vice Chairmen, after the E.C. gives its approval
ii They alternately chair the E.C. meetings
whenever the Chairman is absent
c) General Secretary
i
He is the Head of the office of the HSEE, responsible for its proper
functioning
ii
He is responsible for keeping the Minutes of the E.C. and of the General
Assembly
meetings as well as the correspondence.
iii
He keeps the Member roster
iv
He informs the Chairman and the E.C. about all the above matters.
d) Treasurer
i.
He is charged with receiving any
payments to the HSEE and with keeping the
necessary documentation.
ii.
He makes recommendations to the
E.C. on matters that require financial means.
iii.
He keeps the Ledger and any
other financial documents as the Law requires.
(e)
National Representatives
i
They are elected according to Article 5ă
They participate in the meetings of
the HSEE’s executive bodies and in the activities of the respective
International Associations, with the aim of advancing science, advancing the
cooperation with them and the utilization of the Greek human potential in the
working groups and other activities of such Associations and, further, they
make binding agreements with them by co-signing with the Chairman of the HSEE.
ii)
They inform directly the
executive bodies of the HSEE (General Assembly and E.C.) on whatever subject
concerns the International Associations, or others with whom they might
exchange correspondence.
iii)
Upon termination of their term,
they submit to the E.C. a detailed statement of their activity in relation to
the activities of the International Associations. This statement is
communicated to the General Assembly and discussed before the new National
Representative is elected.
iv)
They can attend the E.C.
meetings but have no voting right.
The position of
Chairman is incompatible with that of National Representative.
Article 7
Means – revenues
of the HSEE
The means of the
HSEE for realizing its goals are:
a) The membership dues
b) The contribution of the TCG in office space,
secretarial support, (personnel, consumables, etc), membership dues of the HSEE
to international scientific Associations
c) Any donations from Greece or from abroad,
including such from the European Union
d) Any other donation from its members or from
third parties.
The E.C. is
authorized to prepare the Operating Rules of the HSEE within the framework of
these Statutes and the Law.
Article 9
Dissolution of
the HSEE-Property
The Association is
dissolved by a General Assembly decision voted by at least a 4/5 majority of
the present members, which must exceed the absolute majority of the HSEE
membership at the time of the vote.
The pertinent
proposal must be submitted at least six (6) months in advance.
The last General
Secretary is responsible for recording the assets of the HSEE and to transfer
the archives, the stamp and all the assets and property of the HSEE to the
Executive Body of the Technical Chamber of Greece.
In case of
dissolution of the Association, the General Assembly decides and appoints the
Liquidator
In case that a
pertinent decision cannot be reached, the liquidation is performed according to
the articles of the Civil Code, or by a Court appointed Liquidator.
In case that after
dissolution and liquidation of the Association, there is still some remaining
property, this is donated to legal entities with similar goals and activities
as the HSEE, by care of the Liquidator who also selects such legal entities.
For any disagreement
or dispute among members of the Society or between members and the Society, as
to the application and interpretation of the present Statutes, the Courts of
Athens will decide.
Article 11
Final provisions:
The first E.C.
consists of the following regular and substitute members:
(a)
Regular members:
1. Anagnostopoulos
Stavros
2. Vagelatou Olympia
3. Vettas Panayotis
4. Karydis Panayotis
5. Penelis Georgios
6. Tasios Theodosios
7. Fardis Michail
(b) Substitute members
8. Kolias Vasileios
9. Kappos Andreas
10. Abakoumkin
Victor
11. Vlachos Ioannis
Task of the
provisional E.C. is the legal establishment of the Society, the public
announcement of the creation of the H.S.E.E. for the call of membership
applications, the review and decision upon such applications, the preparation
of the Operating Rules, as well as the call and execution of elections of the
H.S.E.E., in parallel to its duties as foreseen in the present Statutes.
The duration for
completion of the tasks of the provisional E.C. is set to one year, after
approval of the present Statutes by the appropriate public Authorities. The
present Statutes consisting of eleven (11) articles were signed today in Athens
by the founding members as follows:
Athens, 24 April, 2002
FOUNDING MEMBERS
NAME PROFESSION
SIGNATURE