CONSTITUTION OF

 

Article I.        
Name:
The Society shall be known as The International Society for African Philosophy and Studies (ISAPS).  Being the successor to the same organization previously known as The International Society for African and African Diaspora Philosophy and Studies (ISAADPS), it assumes all functions and activities performed by the aforesaid ISAADPS and, for all present and future purposes, shall be treated as one organization.

 

Article II.
Aims and Objectives:
The Society shall

a.     Promote the study of African and African Diaspora philosophy and studies world-wide from a broad analytical perspective;

b.    Provide a regular forum for discussing philosophical issues pertaining to African and African Diaspora politics, aesthetic sensibilities, values, metaphysics, and cultural traditions;

c.     Assist colleagues and departments in practical ways with the teaching of African and African Diaspora philosophy and studies;

d.    Produce an academic journal and other publications for exchange of ideas;

e.      Host international conferences to discuss issues in African and African Diaspora philosophy and studies.

Article III.
Membership:

a.     Everyone who subscribes to the aims and objectives of the Society and who pays the appropriate dues can be a member;

b.     Dues shall be fixed at the Annual Business Meeting of the Society;

c.      Membership shall subsist from one Annual Business Meeting to another.

Article IV.
Officers:
The Society shall have a President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer.  In addition, the Society shall appoint Regional Representatives as and when necessary to coordinate its activities in those areas where the strength of membership warrants such.

a.     Duties of Officers:        

(i)         The President shall

(a)  preside over the activities and overall running of the Society;
(b)  preside or authorize another to preside over the Annual Business Meeting of the Society;
(c)  generally recommend activities that would further the progress of the Society;
(d)  discharge such other duties as may be assigned by the corporate Society.

(ii)         The Secretary shall

(a)  be responsible for the records of meetings, the file of significant documents as well as all incoming and outgoing correspondence of the Society;
(b)  compile and maintain an up-to-date membership list based on the advice of the Treasurer;
(c)  prepare an annual report of the Society’s activities over the course of the year and present same to the Annual Business Meeting of the Society;
(d)  discharge such other duties as may be assigned by the corporate Society.

 

(iii)        The Treasurer shall

(a)  be responsible for collecting membership dues from members and lodging the same in a Corporate bank account;
(b)  create and maintain an up-to-date bank account for the Society’s finances;
(c)  prepare and present a Treasurer’s Report to the Annual Business Meeting of the Society;
(d)  explore and advise the Society on sources of revenue to enhance its financial health;
(e)  checks shall be drawn on the society’s account and will be signed by two officers of the society;
(f)    discharge such other duties as may be assigned by the corporate Society.

b.    Election and Tenure of Officers:

(i)         Officers shall be elected by simple majority of members present at the Annual Business Meeting

            of the Society.

(ii)         A member can be nominated in absentia as long as the nominating member knows that the

            nominee has consented to serve.
(iii)        An officer can serve for no more than two consecutive terms of two years each.
(iv)        Only paid-up members of the Society are eligible to stand for election.

a.     Article V.
Other Activities:
The Society shall hold an Annual Conference designed to provide a platform principally for its members to present ongoing research and report ideas in furtherance of the aims and objectives of the Society.  The venue for a future Annual Conference shall be decided at the preceding Annual Conference;

b.    The Annual Business Meeting shall be convened as part of the Annual Conference of the Society.

Article VI.
Adoption of Revised Constitution:
This revised Constitution supersedes the previous Constitution adopted at the inauguration of the Society at its founding in Kingston, Jamaica, in 1995. It shall from this 10^th day of March, 2001, be the sole governing instrument of the Society.

Guidelines for Hosts of the Annual Conferences of the International Society for African Philosophy and Studies (ISAPS)