Since the foundation of the ISSCT in 1924, the Society’s Constitution has significantly evolved to improve its activities and operations.
The two major improvements to the Constitution in more recent years have been in 1986, with the setting up of an Executive Committee to ensure continuity and management during periods between Congresses, and in 1995 with the establishment of a Secretariat. Other minor changes have been effected at various Congresses.
At the seven Congresses, the Society has taken several further strategic initiatives to better respond to members’ expectations. The most important changes in 2001 have aimed at greater involvement of the Executive in the future management and control of Congress, and improved communication with Councillors and Affiliated Societies through changes in the appointment of Councillors. The latest changes have been the setting up of a Management Commission, the appointment of a Editor and Security measures for members attending Congresses and Workshops. In Brazil among the strategies adopted is the involvement of young technologists in ISSCT, reduction of cost of attendance at congress, possibilities of organising congresses by ISSCT and opening the society to African industries which hold promises for the future.
Those aspects of the ISSCT Constitution which constitute the Society’s Policy, and details of the Procedures to run the Society’s activities according to the objectives of the Constitution, have also been spelled out in three documents which can be accessed on this site. An Operations Manual of the Technical Program Committee has been prepared. It defines its roles and responsibilities and spells out in detail the procedures associated with the organisation of the technical program of an ISSCT congress and of ISSCT workshops. At the XXVIII Congress in Brazil a Congress Operations Manual has been adopted to better define the relations between ISSCT and the Congress Organizing Committee as well as the commitments and responsibilities of both parties.
At the XXX Congress in Tucumán, Argentina, amendments were made to the Constitution. A revised consolidated version has been approved and is available on this website.
Policy
(Amended August 2007)
Article 1 |
Name and Objects |
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| Clause 2.1 | The activities of the ISSCT must be freely accessible to members. Hosts of the Societies’ activities i.e. Congresses and Workshops must present some evidence of approval by their country’s authorities and their co-operation. (see also Article IX sub-clause 2.3.1). | |
| Clauses 2 (2-6) | The aim of the ISSCT is to facilitate communication among technologists in the sugar cane industry, in order to encourage free and frank interchange of technical information through Congresses and other activities, to promote research, and to support other worthy projects for the benefit of all.
The ISSCT’s mission statement is accordingly as follows: (Note: The Mission Statement is not included in the Constitution so that modifications may be more easily brought whenever circumstances change, without having recourse to Constitutional changes.) |
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| Sub-Clause 1.2 | The use of the ISSCT’s logo shall be restricted to the ISSCT. However, permission for use by a partner to promote the ISSCT’s activities may be given by the Chair of Executive who may delegate such authority to the General Secretary. | |
Article II |
The Members |
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| Clause 1 | There are two types of membership (I) Individual and Honorary Life Members, restricted to persons. (II) Membership of Organizations: For attendance at activities of the ISSCT, someone must be an individual member, irrespective of whether he forms part or not of a member Organisation (Affiliated, Associate, Institutional, Corporate). However, a country hosting an ISSCT activity may invite guests and keynote speakers who are not members or, in the case of a Workshop, local observers. Also, each Corporate member is entitled to a Corporate Representative who enjoys a free Individual membership. There is only one Affiliated Society in a country. It must be a National Society with similar objectives to the ISSCT in promoting sugar cane technology. Other Societies of Sugar Cane Technology in that Country are Associate members. |
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| Sub-Clause 2.1.4 & 2.1.5 |
Membership runs from the period immediately after the official Congress adjournment to the next adjournment.
Members shall enjoy some of the benefits of membership services (Newsletters, access to databases etc…) for a period of one year after Congress but such privilege may lapse after that period, if membership has not been renewed. |
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| Sub-Clause 3.2 | Honorary Life membership is restricted to 25 and steps shall be taken by the General Secretary for consideration of the election of new members whenever vacancies arise. | |
Article IV |
The Council |
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| Clauses 1 & 2 | The Council is composed of representatives of Affiliated Societies and is the supreme body of the ISSCT. It determines and decides on major policy matters regarding the administration and the activities of the ISSCT.
The Council has supreme power on the election of Executive, determination of membership dues, technical programme, and choice of Congress host. Otherwise, it delegates its authority to Executive for the formulation and implementation of decisions in these and other spheres. Executive reports to Council on its decisions. |
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| Sub-Clause 2.4 | Membership dues are determined by Council on the recommendations of Executive and are credited to the Accounts of the ISSCT. | |
| Clause 3 | The Chair of Executive is also Chair of Council. (The Vice-Chair of Executive is Vice-Chair of Council) | |
| Sub-Clause 4.1 | Councillors must be appointed by duly paid-up Affiliated Societies shortly before a Congress and their term of office shall last from the end of that Congress until the end of the next and is renewable.
Councillors are appointed by Affiliated Societies according to their own procedures. However, it is desirable to have one Councillor to be appointed for the period from one Congress to another to ensure better communication and continuity in participation in the affairs of the ISSCT. Exceptionally, France shall be represented alternately by a Councillor from its Metropolitan Society (AFCAS) and from its Reunion Society (ARTAS) at successive Congresses. (See Article II sub-clause 1.3.2) |
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| Sub-Clause 4.4 | A Councillor is accredited to attend meetings of Council and exercise the right to vote only if the Affiliated member he represents has paid its membership dues. | |
| Sub-Clause 4.3 | A Councillor who is unable to attend Congress may nominate someone from his country to represent him and should inform the General Secretary accordingly, in writing by fax or e-mail, at least four weeks before the opening of Congress. | |
Article V |
The Executive Committee |
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| Clauses 1, 4 & 5 | Notwithstanding the functions of Council stated in Article IV Clause 2, the Executive is empowered to act on behalf of Council. The Executive Committee is thus responsible for deciding and organising all the activities of the ISSCT according to the Policy of the Council. It shall report to Council on its course of action, requiring ratification or approval only on matters which are beyond its prerogatives but on which it shall make recommendations to Council for ratification or approval. In particular, the Executive shall approve the Interim and Final Accounts, the Budget and the appointment of Commissioners and Chairmen of Sections. | |
| Sub-Clause 1.4 | No member shall occupy the position of Executive member and Councillor simultaneously. | |
| Clause 2 | Candidates nominated for election to Executive must have a specified record of distinguished service to the ISSCT and to the sugar industry in an administrative or technical capacity. This specification will be screened by the Compliance Committee. | |
| Sub-Clause 2.1.3 | To be able to attend, as far as possible, meetings of the Executive; and to attend all Congresses, which are held while an Executive member. | |
| Sub-Clauses 6.1 & 6.2 |
Executive members are elected by Council for two consecutive Congresses.
A member of Executive shall not serve for more than 4 consecutive Congresses. In case a member of Executive resigns or dies, he shall not be replaced until the next Congress when an election will take place for his replacement. |
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Article VI |
Commissioners and Technical Sections |
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| Co-ordination of the ISSCT’s technical activities is the responsibility of the Executive member elected to be Chair of the Technical Programme Committee which includes also the five Commissioners, the General Secretary and the Editor. He shall report progress and his recommendations to Executive.
The Editor is also the Secretary of the Technical Programme Committee and of the Technical Panel. Commissioners, Deputy-Commissioners, Chairmen and members of Technical Sections are appointed by Executive on the recommendation of the Technical Programme Committee. Suggestions for these positions shall be formulated within the different sections. Commissioners and Section Chairmen shall endeavour to ensure continuity in seeking the right nominations for the different positions within their Commission/Section and that the members chosen have the capacities and facilities required for serving. These appointments are also made in consideration that the interests of the ISSCT are broadly represented. |
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Article IX |
Commissioners and Technical Sections |
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| Co-ordination of the ISSCT’s technical activities is the responsibility of the Vice-Chairman of Executive. He is Chairman of the Technical Programme Committee which includes also the four Commissioners. He shall report progress and his recommendations to Executive.
The Permanent Editor is also the Secretary of the Technical Programme Committee and of the Technical Panel. Commissioners, Deputy-Commissioners, Chairmen and members of Technical Sections are appointed by Executive on the recommendation of the Technical Programme Committee. Suggestions for these positions shall be formulated within the different sections. Commissioners and Section Chairmen shall endeavour to ensure continuity in seeking the right nominations for the different positions within their Commission/Section and that the members chosen have the capacities and facilities required for serving. These appointments are also made in consideration that the interests of the ISSCT are broadly represented. |
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Articles VIII & IX |
Congress, Congress Officers and Congress Organizing Committee |
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| Congresses are held every three years approximately and their venue is decided by Council on the recommendation of Executive, following suitable applications from Affiliated members. (See also Art IV Clause 2).
The administrative and financial responsibility of organising the Congress lies with the Congress Organising Committee. Executive monitors the organisation to ensure that the interests of the ISSCT are fulfilled. The technical content and structure of meetings at Congress is the responsibility of Executive which delegates it to Technical Programme Committee. The ISSCT, through its Executive, Technical Programme Committee and Proceedings Editorial Committee, has complete control over the technical management of Congress and the publication of the Proceedings. The host Congress Organising Committee is responsible for all local arrangements for the Congress to ensure the necessary local input and flavour but Executive keeps close control on key issues, especially to ensure the best cost/benefit return to ISSCT Members. The Congress Organising Committee is appointed by the Affiliated member which is hosting the Congress. The above policies apply also for the organisation of pre- or post-congress tours. The Chair of COC presides over the Inaugural Plenary Session of Congress. For the other meetings, decision on who presides lies with the Executive. There is at least one Mid-term Meeting in the Congress host country, where Executive, Technical Programme Committee and Congress Organising Committee meet to ensure co-ordination and monitoring. The costs of hosting the participants are met by COC which also meets the travel arrangements of the General Secretary and of the Editor. Travel costs of other Executive and TPC members to attend the Mid-term Meeting are funded by ISSCT. The processing and initial acceptance of Papers and Posters are under the direction of the TPC. Final editing and publication are under the responsibility of the Proceedings Editorial Committee under the Chair TPC; this committee includes the Editor who acts as Secretary and works in close collaboration with the General Secretary. English is the official language of the ISSCT. However, arrangements are made for French and Spanish abstracts of communications as well as simultaneous translations of at least some sessions in these languages at Congress. The expenses for the attendance of the General Secretary and the Editor at Congress, including air travel expenses and congress package costs, shall be met by COC from funds accruing from registration fees. |