Regulations for Granting the Title "Honorary President"

Introductory Remarks:

The Statutes of the Union designate in IV.3.5.: "The title of Honorary President can be offered on one or more eminent personalities. The decision to do so will be taken at the General Meeting, on a motion of the Executive Council, or of one fifth at least of the member nations at the General Meeting.

By the following regulations, the Executive Council establishes procedures to shape an Executive Council motion for granting Honorary Presidency.

The Executive Council is not entitled to establish conditions for motions brought in by at least one fifth of the members of the General Meeting (GM). Nevertheless, even in this case the conditions given below under A. are recommended as guidelines.

A. Conditions

A candidate for the Honorary Presidency should fulfil at least one of' the following conditions:

-to be an outstanding scientist in one of the fields covered by the Union.

-to have performed exceptional services on behalf of the Union, or in support of the goals of the Union.

As a rule, a former President of the IUVSTA should not be nominated.*

*(This paragraph intends to avoid any kind of automatism. Mr. Welch is an exception on account of his eminent merits concerning the WELCH Foundation).

B. Procedure

1. Each member of the Executive Council and each Chair of a Division is entitled to propose a Candidate for Honorary Presidency. This proposal should be submitted in writing to the Secretary General well in advance of an Executive Council meeting.

2. Examination of the Proposal:

If the proposal is supported by at least two other persons who are Executive Council members or Divisional Chairmen, the proposal is forwarded to the STD which will examine the proposal carefully in consultation with President and Secretary General and further give a recommendation to the EC.

The initiator of a proposal will be entitled to explain and to defend his recommendation in front of the STD.

3. Motion to the GM:

On the basis of the committee's recommendation, the Executive Council will discuss and decide whether a motion in favor the proposed candidate will be sent to the GM, and suggest the wording of a proposed citation