🏛 Statute of the Iranian Society for Horticultural Science

Chapter I – General Provisions and Objectives

Article 1:
In order to expand, promote, and advance scientific knowledge, develop the quantity and quality of professional expertise, and improve educational and research activities in related fields, the Iranian Society for Horticultural Science — hereinafter referred to as “the Society” — is hereby established.

Article 2:
The Society is a non-profit institution engaged in scientific, research, and technical activities. It acquires legal personality upon registration, and the Chairperson of the Board of Directors shall be its legal representative.

Article 3:
The main office of the Society is located in Karaj, at:
Institute of Plant Breeding and Seed and Seedling Production, Beginning of Mardabad Road, Karaj – Office of the Iranian Society for Horticultural Science.
Branches of the Society may be established in other regions of the country upon approval by the Commission of Scientific Societies.

Note:
The Board of Directors may, if necessary, change the address of the main office, provided that such a change is announced in an official and widely circulated newspaper and officially reported in writing to the Commission of Scientific Societies under the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.

Article 4:
The Society shall exist for an unlimited duration from the date of approval of this statute and shall be bound by the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

⸻

Chapter II – Duties and Activities

Article 5:
To achieve the objectives stated in Article 1, the Society shall undertake the following activities:
    1.    Conducting scientific and cultural research at national and international levels among researchers and specialists involved in horticultural science.
    2.    Cooperating with executive, scientific, and research bodies in preparing, evaluating, and revising plans and programs related to education and research in the Society’s field of activity.
    3.    Encouraging and honoring outstanding researchers and professors.
    4.    Providing educational and research services.
    5.    Organizing scientific gatherings at national, regional, and international levels.
    6.    Publishing scientific books and journals.

⸻

Chapter III – Types and Conditions of Membership

Article 6:
The Society shall have the following types of membership:
    1.    Full (Regular) Membership
    2.    Associate Membership
    3.    Student Membership
    4.    Honorary Membership
    5.    Institutional (Corporate) Membership

1. Full Membership

Founding members and all individuals holding at least a Master’s degree in horticulture or related fields may become full members.

Note:
Associate members holding a Bachelor’s degree in horticulture with over five years of experience, or practitioners with significant activity in horticulture, may also become full members upon approval of the Board of Directors.

2. Associate Membership

Eligible individuals include:
a) Those holding a Bachelor’s degree in agricultural sciences.
b) Individuals involved in horticultural sciences, technologies, or professions.

3. Student Membership

All students studying horticulture or other agricultural sciences may become student members.

4. Honorary Membership

Iranian or foreign individuals whose scientific standing in horticultural sciences is of special significance, or who have rendered valuable services to the Society’s objectives, may be accepted as honorary members upon approval of the Board of Directors.

5. Institutional (Corporate) Membership

Organizations active in relevant scientific or research fields may join the Society as institutional members.

Note:
Institutional members shall be considered as associate members.

⸻

Article 7:
Each member shall annually pay a membership fee determined by the General Assembly.

Note 1: Payment of membership fees does not confer any ownership rights over the Society’s assets.
Note 2: Honorary members are exempt from membership fees.

Article 8:
Membership shall be terminated in any of the following cases:
    1.    Written resignation.
    2.    Non-payment of annual membership fees.

Note: Termination of membership must be approved by the Board of Directors.

⸻

Chapter IV – Organizational Structure

Article 9:
The main bodies of the Society are:
a) The General Assembly
b) The Board of Directors
c) The Auditors (Inspectors)

⸻

a) The General Assembly

Article 10:
The General Assembly consists of all full members and shall be convened in two forms: Ordinary and Extraordinary.
    1.    Ordinary General Assembly: Held once every two years and is valid with the attendance or written votes of more than half of the full members.
    2.    If the first meeting lacks quorum, the second meeting shall be held at least 20 days later and shall be valid with any number of attendees.
    3.    Extraordinary General Assembly: Convened in urgent cases by the Board of Directors, the auditors, or upon written request of one-third of full members.

Note 1: Invitations to the General Assembly must be issued in writing and through a public notice at least 15 days prior to the meeting.
Note 2: If the Board of Directors and auditors reject the request of one-third of the members, such members may directly convene the meeting.
Note 3: The agenda of the Extraordinary General Assembly shall be limited to the matters stated in the written request.

Article 11:
Duties of the General Assemblies (Ordinary and Extraordinary):
    1.    Election of the Board of Directors and Auditors.
    2.    Approval of the Society’s general policies.
    3.    Review and approval of proposals from the Board of Directors and Auditors.
    4.    Determination of membership fees, budgets, and financial statements.
    5.    Approval of amendments to the Statute.
    6.    Dismissal of the Board of Directors or Auditors.
    7.    Approval of the dissolution of the Society.
    8.    Review and approval of annual reports and financial accounts.

Notes:
    1.    The General Assembly shall be chaired by a Presidium consisting of one Chairperson, one Secretary, and two Supervisors.
    2.    Members of the Presidium are elected by the General Assembly.
    3.    Members of the Presidium cannot simultaneously be candidates for the Board or auditors.
    4.    The Extraordinary General Assembly is held specifically for decisions related to items (5), (6), and (7).

⸻

b) The Board of Directors

Article 12:
The Board of Directors shall consist of seven (7) main members and two (2) alternates, elected by secret ballot from among full members for a four-year term.
    1.    Reelection is permitted.
    2.    Board membership is honorary.
    3.    The Board shall, within one month after election, hold its first meeting to elect the Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary, and Treasurer.
    4.    All binding documents and securities shall bear the signatures of both the Chairperson and Treasurer, affixed with the official seal of the Society.
    5.    The Board shall meet at least once every three months.
    6.    Meetings are valid with a majority of members present, and decisions are made by majority vote.
    7.    Minutes of meetings shall be recorded, signed, and maintained in the official logbook.
    8.    Absence without valid excuse for three consecutive or five non-consecutive sessions is considered resignation.
    9.    In case of resignation, dismissal, or death, an alternate shall replace the member for the remainder of the term.
    10.    Auditors may attend Board meetings without voting rights.
    11.    The Board must call for elections two months before the end of its term.

Note:
The outgoing Board shall remain responsible until the new Board is officially approved by the Commission of Scientific Societies.

Article 13:
Duties and powers of the Board of Directors:
    1.    Managing current affairs of the Society according to the Statute.
    2.    Establishing and supervising scientific groups.
    3.    Performing financial and legal transactions within the framework of the Statute.
    4.    Preparing annual reports and financial statements for submission to the General Assembly and supervisory authorities.
    5.    Representing the Society in legal matters and appointing attorneys if necessary.
    6.    Selecting representatives to attend national and international scientific events.
    7.    Implementing approved scientific programs and projects.
    8.    Attracting financial and material support.
    9.    Granting research and educational fellowships.
    10.    Approving the Society’s membership in other scientific associations.
    11.    Submitting required reports to the Commission of Scientific Societies of the Ministry of Science.

⸻

c) Auditors (Inspectors)

Article 14:
The Ordinary General Assembly shall elect two main auditors and one alternate for a four-year term.
Note: Reelection of auditors is allowed.

Article 15:
Duties of the Auditors:
    1.    Reviewing the Society’s financial records and reporting to the General Assembly.
    2.    Examining the annual report of the Board of Directors and overall performance.
    3.    Reporting any violations of the Statute to the General Assembly.

Note:
All financial and non-financial documents must be accessible to the auditors at any time.

⸻

Chapter V – Scientific Groups and Committees

Article 16:
The Society may establish the following groups and committees:
    1.    Specialized scientific groups
    2.    Provincial branches (with a minimum of 50 members and subject to Board approval)
    3.    Education and Research Committee
    4.    Publications Committee
    5.    Statistics and Information Committee
    6.    Membership and Public Relations Committee
    7.    Scientific Meetings Committee

Note:
The by-laws for the establishment and duties of these groups and committees shall be approved by the Board of Directors.

⸻

Chapter VI – Financial Resources and Miscellaneous Provisions

Article 17:
Financial resources of the Society include:
    1.    Membership fees
    2.    Income from educational, research, and consulting services
    3.    Donations and contributions

All income shall be used exclusively to achieve the objectives stated in Article 5.

Article 18:
All revenues and expenditures shall be recorded in official books and submitted every two years — after approval by the General Assembly — to the Commission of Scientific Societies, Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.

Article 19:
All funds of the Society shall be deposited in an account in the name of the Society at one of the national banks.

Article 20:
None of the founders or members shall be entitled to withdraw profits or engage in personal transactions with the Society.
In case of dissolution, all remaining assets shall, at the discretion of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology, be transferred to an educational or revolutionary institution.

Article 21:
All financial and non-financial records of the Society shall be kept at the main office and made available to supervisory authorities when required.

Article 22:
Any amendment to this Statute shall become valid only after approval by the Commission of Scientific Societies under the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology.

Article 23:
The Society shall abide by the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran, and its members are prohibited from engaging in political activities or affiliations in the name of the Society.

Article 24:
In the event of dissolution, the General Assembly shall appoint a liquidation committee to settle debts and collect receivables. The remaining assets shall be transferred — under the supervision of the Ministry of Science, Research and Technology — to an educational or research institution within the country.