Members, Associate Members, Special Members and Associated Organizations
2.1 The members of the Federation are its Adhering Bodies, each of which represents a Scientific Community.
2.2 The associate members of the Federation are its Associate Adhering Bodies, each of which represents a Scientific Community.
2.3 The term "Scientific Community" in these Statutes and in the By-Laws shall be applicable to the biochemists and molecular biologists of a country or of an otherwise defined geographical area that has an independent budget for scientific purposes.
2.4 The term "Scientific Community" in these Statutes shall also be applicable to any group of communities, each in a country or in a defined geographical area that has an independent budget for scientific purpose, which, by written agreement, together set up or nominate a single Adhering Body or Associate Adhering Body to act for them jointly.
2.5 There shall be only one member or associate member of the Federation for each Scientific Community, or for each group of Scientific Communities which, under the provisions of Statute 2.4, agree to act jointly.
2.6 The term "Adhering Body" or "Associate Adhering Body" in these Statutes shall be applicable only to an Adhering Body or Associate Adhering Body which has been admitted to membership or associate membership in the Federation of African Societies of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
2.7 An Adhering Body or Associate Adhering Body shall be an Academy, Research Council or similar body, or a Scientific Society or group of Scientific Societies, within a Scientific Community.
2.8 Each Adhering Body shall be responsible for the payment of the Annual Subscription to the Federation on behalf of its Scientific Community.
2.9 An Associate Adhering Body is not required to pay an Annual Subscription to the Federation.
2.10 Each Adhering Body or Associate Adhering Body shall form or nominate a committee for international relations in biochemistry and molecular biology which shall advise on or be responsible for its representation in the affairs of the Federation. An existing Committee or body may be nominated as the committee for international relations in biochemistry and molecular biology by any Adhering Body or Associate Adhering Body. Where the words ‘committee for international relations in biochemistry and molecular biology’ are used in these statutes and By-Laws they shall be held to cover any Committee for international relations in biochemistry and molecular biology whose Adhering Body or Associate Adhering Body has been admitted to membership in the Federation of African Societies of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
2.11 Applications for membership or associate membership in the Federation of African Societies of Biochemistry and Molecular Biology shall be sent to the General Secretary and shall be accompanied by a statement of the nature of the Scientific Community and of the proposed Adhering Body or Associate Adhering Body and of the composition of the proposed committee for international relations in biochemistry and molecular biology. If the application is for membership, the number of the Group in which adherence is proposed shall be stated. If the application is for associate membership, the proposed Associate Adhering Body shall provide complete information justifying the need for exemption of payment of dues during the initial period of membership, the length of which is defined in Statute 2.18. The reception by the General Secretary of an application for membership or associate membership in the Federation shall be considered to be a proposal for the amendment of By-Law 1. This proposal, together with the comments of the Executive Committee thereon, shall be sent by the General Secretary to all the delegates appointed under the provisions of Statute 4. The proposed alteration of By-Law 1 shall then become effective if no adverse vote shall have been received by the General Secretary by post within a period of four months of his posting to the delegates the notification of the proposal. If the General Secretary receives one or more valid adverse votes, he shall refer the matter to the next Ordinary General Assembly under the provision of Statute 2.13.
2.12 Membership in the Federation of any Adhering Body or Associate Adhering Body shall be effective only when agreement has been reached for the amendment of By-Law 1 by the inclusion therein of the name of the Adhering Body or Associate Adhering Body.
2.13 If approval is not given to a proposed amendment of By-Law 1 under the provisions of Statute 2.11, the General Secretary shall inform all the delegates and associate delegates of the number of votes cast by postal ballot against the proposed amendment. Copies of such written reasons shall be distributed by the General Secretary to all the delegates and associate delegates at least one month before an Ordinary General Assembly. The proposed amendment of By-Law 1 shall be included by the General Secretary in the Agenda or Supplementary Agenda and shall be the first item of business of the General Assembly. A majority of the votes cast by the Ordinary General Assembly is required for admission to membership or associate membership.
2.14 Any proposed change in the nature of the Adhering Body or Associate Adhering Body or in the number of the Group in which adherence to the Federation is effective by an Adhering Body shall be presented by the existing Adhering Body or Associate Adhering Body to the General Secretary. Under the provisions of Statute 7.3c, the Executive Committee shall thereupon decide whether or not Membership or associate membership in the Federation by an Adhering Body or Associate Adhering Body respectively shall continue without confirmation or whether approval by the delegates of the proposed change or changes shall be sought. Such approval shall be sought by the means, laid down in Statute 2.11, whereby a new application for membership or associate membership is considered.
2.15 Adherence to the Federation by each Adhering Body shall be under the provisions of one of the three Groups, numbered I and II and III. The amount of the Annual Subscription payable by the Adhering Body to the Federation shall be determined by the provisions of Statutes 5.4h and 9.2 and of By-Law 18, and the maximum number of delegates eligible to take part in each General Assembly on the nomination of the Adhering Body shall be that determined by the provisions of Statute 4.2
2.16 Each Adhering Body shall have the right to request the General Secretary to bring before a General Assembly for consideration any matter which falls within the aims of the Federation as defined in Statute 1.
2.17 Any Adhering Body or Associate Adhering Body which has hitherto fulfilled its obligations may apply to withdraw from membership in the Federation on giving three months’ notice of intention to withdraw to the General Secretary. The withdrawal shall become effective at the stated date unless the Executive Committee rejects the notice of withdrawal for a serious reason, the nature of which has been communicated to the Adhering Body or Associate Adhering Body in question before the stated date. An Adhering Body or Associate Adhering Body which withdraws from the Federation, or any A dhering Body or Associate Adhering Body whose membership has been terminated under the provisions of Statutes 5.5 c or 5.11 c, loses all rights and privileges of membership or associate membership in the Federation.
2.18 The tenure of an Associate Adhering Body shall be for a period during which its associate delegate has had an opportunity to attend two Ordinary General Assemblies. Within six months after the second General Assembly, an application for membership in the Federation or extension of associate membership shall be submitted by the Associate Adhering Body as described in Statute 2.11. Alternately, the Associate Adhering Body may submit notice of termination of membership (Statute 2.17). Where the application is for membership, the provisions of Statutes 2.11, 2.12 and 2.13 shall apply. Where the application is for extension of associate membership, the Associate Adhering Body shall provide complete information justifying the need for exemption of payment of dues during any additional three-year period. An application for extension is to be reviewed by the Executive Committee which shall make its recommendation to the delegates. The General Secretary shall conduct a mail ballot of the delegates with votes to be received within 4 months from the date of despatch of the ballot. A two-thirds vote of approval is required, with at least 50% of the delegates voting. If a vote of approval is not secured, or if an application for membership or extension of associate membership is not received by the due date, the associate membership shall lapse. Extensions of associate membership for subsequent three-year periods shall follow the same procedure as for the first three-year renewal.
2.19 No member of the Federation can apply for associate membership.
2.20 Special Members are industrial organizations and production units, research and development institutions and laboratories, and any other bodies or individuals interested in the aims of the Federation having been approved under the following conditions.
2.21 Each Special Member shall be responsible for the payment of annual subscription to FASBMB in one or more units.
2.22 Special Members receive advance notices about congresses and symposia sponsored by FASBMB, and other appropriate information.
2.23 Special Members shall be admitted by the Executive Committee on the recommendation of the Special Membership Committee.
2.24 Special Members can apply to withdraw from membership on notice of intention to withdraw to the General Secretary, but the subscription fees already paid to the Federation shall not be refunded.
2.25 Existing international organizations whose aims and purposes are in harmony with those of the Federation may be admitted into membership of the Federation as Associated Organizations.
The Executive Committee, having satisfied itself that the aims and activities of an organization seeking to become an Associated Organization of the Federation are in harmony with those of the Federation, may recommend acceptance of the organization by the General Assembly provided that:
a. the period of existence of the applicant organization has been adequate to establish its stability and the quality of its activities;
b. the statutes and by-laws of the organization do not conflict with those of the Federation;
c. the activities of the organization neither duplicate nor are in conflict with the legitimate functions of the Federation.
The method of admission by the delegates to the General Assembly shall be the same as that prescribed for Adhering Bodies and Associate Adhering Bodies in Statutes 2.11-2.13.