1. Name

The name shall be: European Society for Animal Cell Technology, UK Branch (ESACT UK). The name will change to UK Society for Cell Culture Technology in 2002-2003

2. Aims

The aims of the society are:

2.1 To promote the communication of knowledge and experience between UK investigators, in particular less experienced scientists, whose work has a direct or indirect bearing on cell culture biotechnology and the products derived from it.

2.1.1 Definitions:

An investigator is normally a person who performs or directs scientific research of the nature indicated above; a UK investigator is one who works predominantly in the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland; less experienced scientists include those engaged in postgraduate or early postdoctoral studies, or equivalent levels of investigation (age is not a relevant consideration).

2.2 To hold a general meeting annually (Annual General Meeting, AGM) within the UK at which communications can be presented and discussed.

2.3 To set up and maintain the necessary organisation to achieve these aims.

3. Officers and Committee

3.1 The officers of the Society shall be a Chairman, Secretary, Treasurer and Meeting Secretary.

3.2 There shall be an Executive Committee of the Society consisting of the officers and up to four elected members. The quorum at any committee meeting shall be four members, including at least two officers.

3.3 The Executive Committee shall prepare the Agenda for meetings of the Society and between meetings shall act on behalf of the Society. It shall report any such actions, as indicated, to the next meeting of the Society.

3.4 The officers of the Society and the other committee members shall be elected at the AGM or, if necessary, at an Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM). Nominations may be made by the committee or by any two Ordinary Members and shall be sent together with the written consent of the nominee to the Secretary, so as to arrive at least one month before the AGM or EGM of the Society. Members unable to attend the meeting shall be entitled to vote by post. If other nominations are not received for the filling of vacancies, the Committee's nominees shall be deemed elected.

3.5 The Officers shall not normally hold the same office for more that three consecutive years. They shall not be eligible for re-election to that office for two years, but shall be eligible for election to other positions on the Executive Committee.

3.6 The Executive Committee may for special purposes co-opt members to participate in Committee Meetings, but such co-opted members would not be eligible to vote on resolutions proposed in committee.

4. Membership

4.1 The Society shall consist of Ordinary, Honorary and Associate Members whose work has a direct or indirect bearing on animal cell biotechnology or products derived from animal cells.

4.2 Ordinary Membership of the Society is open to all UK investigators as defined in 2.1 and 2.1.1 above. The names, qualifications and professional experience of candidates for Ordinary Membership of the Society must be sent to the Secretary on the form provided for this purpose, and the applications approved by the Executive Committee. A list of the newly approved members will be circulated or read out to the membership at the AGM or at an Ordinary Meeting of the Society for election.

4.3 Associate membership is open to applicants who are not eligible for Ordinary Membership and who, in the opinion of the Committee, could contribute to the aims of the Society. An Associate Member shall pay a special annual subscription and will enjoy all privileges of the Society save that they shall not be entitled to vote, or to hold office or to serve on the committee.

4.4 Nominations for Honorary Membership shall be put forward by the Executive Committee and shall be circulated to members with the agenda for the AGM. Members who cannot attend the meeting shall be entitled to vote by post. To qualify for election, a nominee must be supported by nine-tenths of the Members who take part in the voting. Honorary Members of the Society shall not number more than ten per cent.

4.5 When a person has been elected a member of the Society, the Secretary shall inform them of their election and shall send them a copy of the constitution and supplementary decisions.

4.6 The Executive Committee shall have the power to terminate a membership if such termination appears to them to be in the interest of the Society. An explanation of such a termination may be requested at the AGM.

5. Finance

5.1 Members shall pay to the Society's account an annual subscription payable in advance, due on 1st January, the amount of such subscription being determined by the Executive Committee, and agreed at an AGM or EGM of the Society and continuing in force until changed at a subsequent AGM or EGM. The Committee shall have the power to terminate membership if a member fails to pay his/her subscription after due notice has been given. Honorary Members shall not pay the annual subscription.

5.2 For membership of the society to become effective, a Banker's Order for the payment of the subscription shall be received by the treasurer within three months of the date of election, but the Committee shall have the power to relax this requirement in exceptional cases.

5.3 The funds and estates of the Society shall be derived from the annual subscriptions of members, income from meetings, donations, grants and other endowments accepted by the Executive Committee on behalf of the Society. They shall be administered by the Treasurer, acting on instruction given by the Executive Committee or by the Society at its AGM, for the furtherance of the objects of the Society.

5.4 The accounts of the Society shall be independently inspected annually, and a report made by the Treasurer to the General Meeting

5.5 In the event of the Society being dissolved for any reason, the surplus funds remaining after satisfaction of debts and liabilities shall not be distributed among the members but shall be transferred to a charity designated by the Committee.

6. Meetings

6.1 The AGM (and, when necessary, any Extraordinary General Meeting) shall be held at a place and time decided by the Committee. The Secretary shall circulate the Agenda in advance of the meeting. The quorum at any AGM or EGM shall be at least 20 ordinary members, or 10% of the membership, whichever is the greater.

6.2 Scientific meetings and symposia relating to the objects of the Society shall be arranged from time to time by the Committee. Such a meeting may include the AGM. At each AGM the Committee shall submit proposals for scientific meetings to be held during the ensuing year. Unauthorised reports of proceedings shall not be disclosed to the press.

7. Alterations to Rules

Alterations to any rule of the Society shall be made only at a General Meeting of the Society, provided that notice of such alterations has been given on the Agenda of the meeting and that the alteration is approved by a majority of at least 2:1 (for:against). Members unable to attend the meeting will be encouraged to express themselves in letters which will be read out at the meeting, but will not be entitled to vote by post. Notice of any proposed alteration, duly seconded, shall be given to the Secretary at least two months before the meeting.

contains amendments proposed by Committee Sep 2001