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ASSOCIATION BY-LAWS
FOUNDED ON: 4th May 2012 in Paris, France
PURPOSE: International Management Research and Education
GEM&L BY-LAWS
MANAGEMENT AND LANGUAGE RESEARCH GROUP
CHAPTER I : PURPOSE – NAME – HEAD OFFICE – DURATION
Article 1
The members who established the present by-laws founded an association, governed by the French law of July 1, 1901 and the French decree of August 16, 1901, bearing the title: “Management and Language Research Group (GEM&L).”
Article 2
The purpose of the Association is to develop insights into three main dimensions: management education, research and professional practice.
It aims to :
- affirm the place of language and languages in management research and training;
- rethink the mission of “language and intercultural” teaching from a transversal and transdisciplinary perspective;
- build the link between management sciences and related disciplines and training in international management, by organizing conferences, symposiums, seminars and webinars;
- develop a network of teachers and researchers interested in this field of reflection and investigation;
- to defend the professional, moral and material interests of its members.
Article 3
The Association is established for an unlimited period of time.
Article 4
The Association has its registered office at 30 Avenue des Minimes, 31200, Toulouse, France.
-The office may be transferred to any other place by simple decision of the Administrative Board, subject to ratification by the members attending the Ordinary General Assembly.
Article 5
The Association pursues its goals through:
- publication of bulletins, newsletters, social media posts, articles, reviews and any type of work falling within the scope of its activity;
- organization of meetings, conferences, symposiums, seminars, and the like;
- representation at meetings and events involving any administrative authority concerned;
- sharing, by any means, all information that could be of interest to its members and, in general, all initiatives specific to serving its interests.
CHAPTER II : COMPOSITION OF THE ASSOCIATION
Article 6
The Association consists of:
1- honorary members;
2- benefactor members;
3- active members.
-Honorary members are individuals or legal entities who have rendered outstanding services to the Association. Honorary members are exempt from membership fees.
-Benefactor members are individuals or legal entities who pay a special annual contribution set each year by the Administrative Board.
-Active members are individuals who have paid the annual membership fee set each year by the Administrative Board.
Article 7
Each benefactor or active member of the Association must pay an annual membership fee, which is set by the Administrative Board.
Article 8
Admission of a member to the Association automatically entails adherence by the latter to the By-Laws and Internal Regulations.
Article 9
To become a member of the Association, individuals must apply to the President or to someone representing the President, be approved by the Administrative Board and pay the required membership fee. In case of refusal, the reasons will not be indicated.
Article 10
Membership is lost through:
1- resignation;
2- death;
3- expulsion pronounced by the Administrative Board for non-payment of the membership fee or for serious reasons. The member concerned shall be invited by registered letter to provide explanations before the expulsion decision is made.
Article 11
The death, resignation or expulsion of a member of the Association does not lead to the dissolution of the latter which continues to exist among the other members of the Association. Members who resign or are expelled are required to pay any remaining unpaid fees as well as the fees for the current year upon resignation or expulsion.
CHAPTER III : ASSOCIATION RESOURCES
Article 12
The Association’s revenues come from:
1- contributions paid under the terms of the law;
2- subsidies and donations that may be granted to it;
3- income from goods and securities belonging to the Association;
4- income derived from the organization of events related to the activity of the Association:
5- income from the various publications, possibly from advertising in these publications
or during events organized by the Association;
6- income drawn from events not linked to the activity of the Association on an exceptional basis.
CHAPTER IV : ADMINISTRATION OF THE ASSOCIATION
Article 13
The Association is administered by an Administrative Board made up of members (minimum of five, maximum of ten) elected for a three-year term by secret ballot and by a relative majority of the active members present at the Ordinary General Assembly.
The Administrative Board chooses, by secret ballot, an Executive Committee composed of at least:
1- a President
2- a General Secretary
3- a Treasurer
-If necessary, the Administrative Board can decide to extend its Executive Committee and create new positions (Vice-President, Deputy General Secretary and Deputy Treasurer, etc.).
-The Administrative Board may propose to the Ordinary General Assembly the appointment of one or more (unpaid) Honorary Presidents of the Association.
-The Administrative Board also chooses someone to manage the conferences and workshops that the Association organizes.
-The members of the Administrative Board are eligible for re-election.
-In the event of a vacancy, the Board provides for the replacement of the members of the Executive Committee. The powers of these new members end on the date when the term of the replaced members should normally expire.
-Any member up to date with their membership fees is eligible for the Administrative Board.
Article 14
The members of the Association cannot receive any payment for the functions entrusted to them in this capacity.
Article 15
The Administrative Board meets at least twice a year when convened by the President or at the request of at least half of its members.
-The presence of half of the members is necessary for the validation of any decisions which are taken by the majority of the members present or represented; in the event of a tie vote, the President’s vote is decisive to break the tie.
-The decisions of the Administrative Board are recorded in minutes kept in a special register and co-signed by the President and by the General Secretary. Copies or extracts of these minutes are signed by the President or by two members of the Administrative Board.
Article 16
The Administrative Board is vested with the broadest powers to manage the affairs of the Association and to authorize all acts and operations permitted to the Association and which are not reserved for the General Assembly. In particular, it discusses and decides on all the proposals presented to it, on the allocation of financial resources, on requests for admission, leave, and/or removal of members. The Board oversees the application of and compliance with the by-laws and regulations; it takes all measures it deems appropriate to ensure the proper functioning of the Association. The Board takes all urgent and necessary measures for the good of the Association.
Article 17
The President is responsible for carrying out the decisions made by the Administrative Board.
-The President co-signs with the Treasurer the invoices, withdrawals and transfers of sums, the deeds of sale and purchase of all titles and securities and all cash operations. The President chairs the General Assemblies and meetings.
Article 18
The General Secretary writes the minutes and correspondence, keeps the register of the Association’s members, and stores the archives. The Treasurer is the custodian of the Association’s funds, keeps the books of revenues and expenses, and collects subscriptions, donations, etc.
Article 19
The Association is represented in court and in all acts of civil life by its President and, if the latter is unable to attend, by a delegate appointed by the Executive Committee of the Administrative Board. The representative of the Association must benefit from the full exercise of their civic rights.
CHAPTER V : GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Article 20
The General Assembly, either Ordinary or Extraordinary, is made up of the active members of the Association and meets on the day, time and place indicated in the meeting invitation sent by a member of the Administrative Board (typically the General Secretary).
Article 21
Invitations are sent at least three weeks in advance by any means (letter, email, or through social media, etc.)
-The agenda is set by the Administrative Board.
Article 22
The General Assembly is chaired by the President of the Administrative Board or, in their absence, by a member of the Administrative Board designated by the President. An attendance sheet is drawn up, signed by the members of the Association on entering the meeting and certified by the President and the General Secretary. Only members of the Association can represent another Member.
Article 23
Each member of the General Assembly has one vote and may represent up to two members not attending the General Assembly. Any proxy must be nominative. Only members up to date with their membership fees can participate in a General Assembly.
Article 24
The Ordinary General Assembly meets once a year and if necessary by extraordinary convocation.
-It approves or adjusts the accounts for the closed financial year, votes on the budget for the following financial year and, more generally, discusses and decides on all questions of general interest and on all those submitted to it by the Administrative Board.
-The discussions and decisions by the General Assembly are valid regardless of the number of members present or represented, when voting by proxy is permitted.
-It elects the members of the Administrative Board when the latter is subject to renewal.
-Decisions are taken by absolute majority of the members present and, where applicable, represented.
Article 25
The Extraordinary General Assembly is made up of active members of the Association.
-It can modify the by-laws and articles of the association in all their provisions, subject to a proposal by the Administrative Board.
-In particular, it may decide on the early dissolution or extension of the Association, its merger or its union with other associations of the same kind with the same objective/purpose.
-The Extraordinary General Assembly meets when convened by the Administrative Board, which sets the agenda. To be validly held, the Extraordinary General Assembly must consist of at least half of the members eligible to take part. If this proportion is not reached, the Assembly is convened again at two-week intervals and, this time, its decisions and votes are valid, regardless of the number of members present or represented, but only the items on the agenda of the previous Assembly can be taken into consideration.
-The decisions of the Extraordinary General Assembly, whatever the quorum, are taken by a two-thirds majority of the members present or represented.
Article 26
The deliberations of the Extraordinary General Assembly are recorded in minutes recorded in a special register and signed by the Chairperson of the Meeting or by two members of the Administrative Board.
CHAPTER VI : DISSOLUTION – LIQUIDATION
Article 27
The rules related to dissolution must comply with the by-laws and regulations in force.
CHAPTER VII : ADMINISTRATIVE PROVISIONS
Article 28
All cases not provided for in the By-Laws and Articles of the Association are subject to the discretion of the Administrative Board.
-Rules and procedures can be drawn up by the Administrative Board to be approved by the Ordinary General Assembly. In particular, these procedures typically relate to the internal functioning of the Association.
Article 29
The Administrative Board will fulfill the formalities relating to any declarations, publications, etc. prescribed by French law, all powers being given to the Board for this purpose.
Agreed upon and signed in Toulouse, France, on April 7, 2016
Philippe Lecomte Mary Vigier
President of GEM&L General Secretary