INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM on the PROPERTIES  of WATER

 

(ISOPOW)

 

A Standing Committee of IUFoST

 

 

 

Preamble

 

Nine International Symposia on “The Properties of Water in Foods” (the so-called ISOPOW meetings) have been held since the ISOPOW concept was first proposed in 1974.  The ISOPOW meetings and occasional ISOPOW Practicum meetings have been held at roughly four-year intervals, at various locations worldwide.  The selection of the venue, host Organising Committee, and overall promotion of the ideals embodied in the ISOPOW concept has been the responsibility of various ISOPOW Committees, meeting on a regular, but ad hoc basis.  To build on the proven success of the ISOPOW concept, and to place the ongoing responsibility for organising future ISOPOW Symposia onto a more secure basis the current ISOPOW Central Committee has signed a Memorandum of Agreement with the International Union of Food Science and Technology (IUFoST). Within this Agreement, ISOPOW will become a Standing Committee of IUFoST, recognised as an authoritative and expert body on water relations.

 

 

 


ISOPOW ARTICLES

 

1.         Name

 

The Organisation will be known as the International Symposium on the Properties of Water  hereafter referred to as ISOPOW.

 

2.         Membership

 

Membership of the ISOPOW is open to Individuals, with an interest and commitment to support and progress the objectives of ISOPOW, which will be interpreted as an interest and/or involvement in progressing the understanding of the properties of water in food and related biological systems, and furthermore, the exploitation of this understanding in improved raw materials, products and processes in the food, agrofood or related bio-industries. Current members will be considered as those who have attended previous ISOPOW Symposia or Practica.

 

3.         Objects

 

The primary object of ISOPOW is the promotion of the ISOPOW Symposia Series and the establishment of the principles on which these are organised, in particular when, where, by whom and how.  The Principal Responsibility for the achievement of the objects of ISOPOW will be vested in a “CENTRAL COMMITTEE”.

 

 

4          Membership of the Central Committee

 

The membership of the Central Committee shall be comprised of a balanced representation of nationalities, academia and industry reflecting the ideals of ISOPOW.

 

Members of the Central Committee shall be elected to serve a term of office of four (4) years in the first instance.  After four (4) years have elapsed since they first became members of the Central Committee they will be required to resign, but may offer themselves for re-election to the Central Committee,  with any additional nominations, which have been brought to the attention of the President or Secretary of ISOPOW. 

 

4.1      Current (01/05/2000) Membership of the Central Committee

 

The membership of the Central Committee is attached as appendix 1.  To preserve the continuity of ISOPOW, it will be taken that the present Central Committee members began their respective terms of office as of 1 Oct 2004. 

 

4.2      Central Committee Sub-Committees

 

The Central Committee may set up Sub-Committees for any purpose consistent with these Articles and specify their nature and purpose.

In particular, Central Committee will identify “corresponding members” from various geographic regions, who will disseminate information concerning matters of scientific relevance to ISOPOW.

 

4.3      The Officers of the Central Committee/ISOPOW

 

The Central Committee of ISOPOW shall have as its Principal Officers a President, a President-Elect, a Secretary and a Treasurer. The Officers of the Central Committee shall be elected by the full membership of the Central Committee by consensus, or should consensus not be achieved, by a simple majority vote. No candidate for a particular Office shall be allowed to vote in the election process for that Office.

 

4.4      Ad Hoc Meetings of the Central Committee

 

The global distribution of the membership of the ISOPOW Central Committee makes it difficult to schedule Central Committee meetings at which a full attendance can be expected. However, full Central Committee meetings will be scheduled to coincide with all ISOPOW Symposia meetings.  Full attendance by Central Committee members is anticipated.  To ensure that the necessary ongoing business of ISOPOW can be progressed between scheduled ISOPOW Symposia informal AD HOC MEETINGS of the ISOPOW Central Committee may be called by the President of ISOPOW.  Such meetings may only be accorded the status of ISOPOW Central Committee AD HOC MEETINGS if (a) the President or President-Elect is present. (b) not less that three (3) additional members of the ISOPOW Central Committee are also present.  AD HOC meetings may make, and only make, ISOPOW RECOMMENDATIONS.  Such recommendations can only be ratified and become ISOPOW BINDING RECOMMENDATIONS when voted upon by the full ISOPOW Central Committee. When necessary, such recommended ratification can be obtained by the President via mail communication with all members of Central Committee.

 

4.5      ISOPOW International Organising Committee

 

The main function of ISOPOW (i.e. organisation of ISOPOW Symposia) shall be entrusted by the President and Central Committee to an International Organising Committee whose membership shall exist only for the purpose of organising the relevant ISOPOW Symposium. This International Organising Committee must include at least one Central Committee member.

 

5.         Financial Aspects

 

5.1      Status

 

ISOPOW shall be a non-profit making Association, run by the Central Committee on behalf of the collective  membership

Membership of ISOPOW will not incur membership dues such as an annual subscription.  The financial resources necessary to enable the Officers of ISOPOW to carry out their duties will be generated by gifts, donations, bequests by Individual or Corporate Members, and by a sum not exceeding one hundred ($100) dollars being added to the Registration fee for each ISOPOW Symposium.

 

5.2      ISOPOW Central Bank Account

 

An interest-bearing account, the ISOPOW Account, will be established within IUFoST to hold the funds of the ISOPOW .  Two signatures will be required on all ISOPOW Central Account cheques one of which will be a nominated IUFoST official and the other either the President or Treasurer of ISOPOW.

 

The TREASURER shall be responsible for maintaining good, accurate and auditable records of the financial situation of ISOPOW as per the ISOPOW Bank Account.  The Treasurer will prepare, and circulate, a full CURRENT FINANCIAL STATUS of ISOPOW at any time if, and as, requested by the President of the Central Committee.

 

For each formal meeting of the Central Committee the Treasurer will produce and distribute an ISOPOW CURRENT FINANCIAL STATEMENT.

 

Any expenses properly incurred by the Secretary and/or Treasurer (e.g. postage) or other ISOPOW Officers will - after authorisation by the President or President-Elect - be chargeable to the International ISOPOW Account.  Any financial transactions involving ISOPOW  funds, in an amount equivalent to fifty (50) US Dollars or greater will require the Treasurer to seek prior authorisation by the President, or President-Elect.

 

6.         Rules for the Organisation of ISOPOW Symposia

 

6.1      When

 

ISOPOW Symposia shall normally be held every four years or at other times, and with other meeting styles, (e.g. ISOPOW Practicums) as agreed by the Central Committee.

 

6.2      Where

 

An offer from an ISOPOW member to host an ISOPOW Symposium shall be made to the President or Secretary who shall convey it to the International Central Committee in a timely manner.

 

Such an offer to host an ISOPOW Symposium should normally be conveyed to the President or Secretary not less than one year before the next ISOPOW Symposium.  Prospective hosts for ISOPOW Symposia should plan on a four (4) year lead-time, to enable the high standard and prestige of ISOPOW Symposia to be maintained.

 

Decisions on the location of future ISOPOW Symposia shall be discussed and agreed only by the  ISOPOW Central Committee.  Every effort will be made by the Central Committee to announce the appropriate timing and location for future ISOPOW Symposia during the preceding Symposium.

 

6.3      By Whom

 

The organisation of an ISOPOW Symposia shall be the primary responsibility of the host organisation selected provided that it shall set up an International Science Advisory Committee adequately representative of the range of members’ interests, and shall regularly consult and inform it on all non-domestic matters concerning the proposed ISOPOW Symposium.  An ad hoc Local Organising Committee, responsible for the administration of events, and the representation of local Scientific interests is also recommended.

 

6.4      Finance

 

The financial aspects of a specific ISOPOW Symposium shall be the primary responsibility of the local organisers, provided that they make arrangements for the collection and transfer to the ISOPOW  account of that part of the registration fee earmarked in accordance with Article 5.1, and any other profits generated by attendance at meetings , publication of Proceedings or other publication approved by the Central Committee.

Whenever possible, Central Committee will release a portion of its account to facilitate start up of  approved meetings. This payment should be regarded as a loan, and all meetings should aim to be self financing, including the repayment of this loan.

 

 

Updated by Peter Lillford (Immediate Past President)--Oct 2004