top of page

Statute

International Society of Gastronomic Sciences and Studies (ISGSS) Statute

​

Art. 1 (Constitution)

The named association “International Society of Gastronomic Sciences and Studies,” henceforth “ISGSS,” is hereby established. The association is non-profit, for an indefinite term, and headquartered in the University of Gastronomic Sciences, Piazza Vittorio Emanuele II 9, Pollenzo, 12042, Bra, Cuneo.

 

Art. 2 (Purpose and Tasks)

The ISGSS aims to promote the study of and foster the development of the scientific community in the field of gastronomic sciences and studies. It shall pursue scientific purposes and carries out its activities in academia and in the fields of scientific research and higher education.

The specific interest of the ISGSS is to generate reflections along with theoretical and methodological tools around gastronomy in order to implement the sustainability and sovereignty of food systems, thereby valuing and protecting the biological and cultural diversity that characterizes them. The ISGSS aims to build robust bridges across disciplines that investigate issues relating to the world of food and gastronomy, and to promote the study of gastronomy globally.

​

In particular, the ISGSS:

  1. outlines and promotes skills, environments and research tools in the field of gastronomic sciences and studies, especially promoting the inclusion of gender and scholarship from the Global South;

  2. worksfortheprotectionofgastronomicexpertiseinuniversitiesandpromotestheteachingof relevant disciplines in all schools of all levels;

  3. promotesthepresenceofspecificgastronomicskillsinanypublicorprivatefacilitywherethey are useful;

  4. organizesmomentsofscientificcomparisonandin-depthstudyamonginternationalscholarsin the field of gastronomy;

  5. ensures the exchange of information and documentation among its members as an indispensable condition for the effective existence of a scientific community and its authoritative representatives in every forum;

  6. carries out periodic surveys of the state of research, its lines of development, and its social relevance including in respect to the new frontier of “citizen science”;

  7. supports an active presence of gastronomic sciences and studies within the international scientific debate with reference to the great problems of the future (particularly in regard to ecological transition, sustainability, and food sovereignty) and to the responsibilities of the scientific world towards local and Indigenous communities;

  8. promotestherecognitionofthecultoredellamateriainthegastronomicsciencesasasuigeneris professional capable of working successfully for the sustainability of food systems in the fields of public institutions, NGOs, education, and the private sector;

  9. andpromotesoutreachactivitiesregardinggastronomicsciencesforcivilsociety.

​

Art. 3 (Members)

The ISGSS is composed of:

  1. regular members,

  2. and sustaining members.

Regular members are scholars from: universities and research centers; independently working on or in gastronomy; representatives of local and Indigenous communities; those in the field of gastronomic sciences who are undergraduate, graduate, postgraduate, or doctoral students and those are retired; and stakeholders who have distinguished themselves in the field of gastronomy. These members have active and passive voting rights.

Sustaining members are persons, entities, and companies that financially support the work of the ISGSS. These members do not have voting rights.

 

Art. 4 (Organizing Bodies of the ISGSS)

The organizing bodies of the ISGSS are:

the Members’ Assembly;

the Board of Directors;

the President;

and the Board of Arbitrators.

All roles and activities of the organizing bodies are free of charge.

 

Art. 5 (Assembly)

The Assembly consists of all members and meets annually at minimum (in in-person or virtual means), and preferably in conjunction with a congress of the ISGSS (hosted annually or biennially). It is duly constituted with the presence of a majority of regular members in the first summons, and constituted with at least two-fifths of the members in the second summons. It passes resolutions by simple majority vote with the exception of voting on the movement of headquarters and dissolution of the ISGSS, for which a qualified majority of two-thirds of those present, rounded up, is required.

The Assembly is called by the President, in consultation with the Board of Directors, by electronic mail, at least thirty days before the date set for the meeting, and must include the day, time, and place of the meeting, the agenda, and the date and time of the second call. An extraordinary meeting of the Assembly is called by the President, in agreement with the Board of Directors or upon a request signed by at least one-third of the regular members, to deliberate on specific urgent measures. The request, bearing the agenda to be discussed at the Assembly, should be forwarded to the President, who will convene the Board of Directors. The convocation of an extraordinary meeting will take place no later than the 45th day from the date of the submission request.

Members entitled to vote may be represented by other members entitled to vote by means of a proxy contained in a signed letter to be certified by at least two other members entitled to vote and by the Chair of the Assembly. No more than two proxies are permitted for each member. Proxies contribute to the formation of the quorum.
The Assembly is chaired by the President of the ISGSS. In case of their absence or impediment, the President will be replaced by the Vice President. The Chair of the Assembly shall appoint a Secretary of the Assembly who will take minutes during the Assembly meetings.

The Assembly:

  1. electsthePresident,theBoardofDirectors,andtheBoardofArbitrators,

  2. approves the annual activities program and budget to be carried out, presented by the Board of Directors, thereby exercising control of the cultural and associative policy conducted by the

    Association’s organizing bodies,

  3. approvestheannualdraftedandfinalizedbudgets,

  4. establishes membership dues,

  5. approves the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws, and any amendments thereof, by the

    majority outlined in Article 11,

  6. resolvesthedissolutionoftheISGSS,

  7. anddecidesonanymeasurestosuspendordisqualifymemberswhoareinarrears,orwhoare

    responsible for acts contrary to the purposes of the society, or violate the Bylaws and Regulations following consideration by the Board of Arbitrators.

 

Art. 6 (Board of Directors)

The Board of Directors is composed of seven to eleven members, including the President, and serves for three years. The actual number of board members is set by resolution by the Board of Directors when the elections are called, with a minimum of seven and a maximum of eleven. For the first election, the role of the Board of Directors is exercised by the Promoting Committee. Board of Directors members are eligible for reelection for a maximum of two consecutive terms. A representative elected by the members will also serve in the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors is convened by the President, who presides over it or, in absence or impediment, the Vice President. Resolutions of the Board require the presence of half plus one of the Board members currently in office and are taken by a majority vote of those present.

The Board of Directors:

  1. elects from its members by absolute majority the following: the Vice President, the Secretary, and the Treasurer. The positions of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined. The positions of Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer expire on the same schedule as the Board of Directors.

  2. decides on the establishment of working groups for specific initiatives and sets their duration;

  3. appoints experts as may be required for specific areas of consulting, choosing them from the

    membership pool;

  4. decides on the admission of aspiring members;

  5. resolves internal regulations;

  6. approves the draft and final budgets to be submitted to the Assembly for approval;

  7. in accordance with the President, decides on the convening of the Assembly of members, both

    for regular and extraordinary meetings, and their agendas;

  8. decides on the program and budget of the activities of the ISGSS;

  9. develops proposals regarding publishing initiatives and audiovisual or multimedia tools

    concerning gastronomic disciplines;

  10. develops proposals regarding dissemination initiatives concerning gastronomic disciplines;

  11. exercises any broader deliberative powers not expressly granted to the Assembly;

  12. and, if the office of one or more members of the Board of Directors becomes vacant for any

    reason, with the exception of the President, and provided there are no more than half of its members, they will be replaced starting with the most voted unelected of the candidates, with the latter expiring at the natural expiration of the Board.

 

Art. 7 (President)

The President, elected from among the regular members, is the legal representative of the ISGSS and convenes and presides over the Assembly and the Board of Directors. In case of their impediment or absence, they are replaced by the Vice President. The President holds office for a term of three years and may be elected for no more than two consecutive terms. Only members who can remain in service at their respective institutions for the entire duration of their elected period are eligible.

Voting is by secret ballot. Members may express only one preference. In case of resignation or other impediments that would discontinue the role in the office, a new election is held for the President who will continue the role until the natural end of the previous term. The President ensures the implementation of the resolutions of the Assembly and the Board of Directors, ensuring continuity of activity and organization. They prepare programs and projects of initiatives within the guidelines established by the Assembly and the Board of Directors. In cases of necessity and urgency, the President adopts the measures it deems appropriate, submitting them to the Board of Directors for ratification.

The President has legal representation and can make financial commitments which must be ratified by the Board of Directors. They may then access current accounts in the name of the ISGSS, including giving proxies to the Treasurer and Secretary. The Board of Directors may propose to the Assembly, by an absolute majority of its members, that the President may be dismissed.

 

Art. 8 (Board of Arbitrators)

The Board of Arbitrators consists of three members elected by the Assembly. The Board of Arbitrators elects from its members the President. The Board is responsible for examining - at the request of the Board of Directors, the President, or a member - cases of alleged violations of the Bylaws or Regulations by individual members of bodies of the ISGSS. The Board of Arbitrators holds office for four years and its members are eligible for reelection for no more than two consecutive terms.

 

Art. 9 (Auditor)

The Auditor consists of one member elected by the Assembly. They hold office for five years and is eligible for reelection for no more than two consecutive terms.

 

Art. 10 (Assets)

The assets of the ISGSS are constituted from:

the annual dues of regular members;

donations from members;

donations and bequests from individuals or legal entities;

movable or immovable property acquired during the life of the ISGSS;

and from any income derived from contracts and agreements for third-party activities.

 

Art. 11 (Amendments to the Regulations and Bylaws )

The Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws may be amended by the Assembly by an absolute majority of those entitled to vote. Proposed amendments must be vetted and instructed by the Board of Directors and then delivered to the members by the President in writing at least 30 days before the date of the gathering of the Assembly.

bottom of page