Articles of Association

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Foreword

The ISPPM is an interdisciplinary association of people who are aware of the formative nature and vulnerability of human beings, especially from the time before conception to the early postnatal phase of life and early childhood.
This is why the ISPPM is concerned with the particular importance of mindful preparation for the child and a pregnancy and birth culture, both nationally and internationally, as it has developed over centuries in an intercultural, cultural-historical and scientific context. The members of the ISPPM take up the challenge of bringing the knowledge of the early formative factors for human offspring into society by…

• refer to and acknowledge research in prenatal psychology, obstetrics, prenatal medicine and related fields based on empirical knowledge and therapeutic practice,
• Helping to disseminate research knowledge from the fields of anthropology, biology, gynecology, obstetrics, prenatal care, genetics, midwifery, pediatrics, neonatology, neurobiology, pedagogy, philosophy, pre- and perinatal medicine, pre- and perinatal psychotraumatology, psychiatry and child psychiatry, psychology, psychoanalysis and psychotherapy, psychosomatics and other subjects,
• promote dialog across professional groups through workshops, symposia and congresses and seek and maintain international exchange,
• seek and maintain a dialog with those professional groups who bear particular responsibility in pregnancy, obstetrics and early childhood,
• disseminate the “Charter of the Rights of the Child before, during and after birth”,
• have an impact on social structures, e.g. through public relations work, development of curricula and courses of study for schools, training and further education,
• deal with national and international developments in obstetrics and take a stand on them by appropriate means,
• Maintain openness with regard to scientific, experience-oriented and cooperative interdisciplinarity,
• encourage their international members to establish independent national organizations,
• Public relations work through conferences and publications, specialist articles, press work through press releases, interviews and reports in specialist journals or other media.

In order to be able to fulfill these tasks, the ISPPM association was founded on March 7, 2010 with effect from October 31, 2010 in the tradition of the ISPP founded in Vienna in 1972 and adopted the following statutes… § 1 Name and seat of the association 1 The association bears the name “International Society for Pre- and Perinatal Psychology and Medicine e.V.”.
In the following text the abbreviation ISPPM is used.
(2) The registered office of the Association shall be Heidelberg.
(3) The Society shall be entered in the register of associations at the Local Court of Heidelberg.
4. the financial year is the calendar year § 2 Objectives and purposes of the association The association pursues exclusively and directly charitable purposes within the meaning of the section “Tax-privileged purposes” of the German Tax Code §§ 51ff. § 2.1 Objectives a) To promote a scientific and humanitarian approach to human development, which is understood as a continuum from the time before conception to the prenatal, birth and postnatal phases of life,
b) to emphasize the inseparable unity of the human being, which always encompasses all biological, psychological, spiritual and social aspects of life,
c) to support research to strengthen pre- and perinatal health, to collect, document and publish this research knowledge and to promote and support related branches of knowledge,
d) to develop holistic concepts of primary prevention on the basis of this knowledge and to introduce them into society, in particular into the professional fields of the specialist areas named in the statutes, or to promote, support and accompany their application there. § 2.2 The purposes of the Association are implemented in particular by a) organizing national and international conferences and congresses on topics of birth culture, birth sciences, pre- and perinatal psychology and medicine in research and practice,
b) Public relations and press work, lectures, symposia and publications,
c) Networking and cooperation, nationally and internationally, with specialists and specialist organizations,
d) Supporting the establishment of national organizations with the same purpose,
e) Initiating and supporting research projects at national and international level,
f) development and implementation of training and further education. § 3 Non-profit status The Association is a non-profit organization.
It does not primarily pursue its own economic purposes.
The Association’s funds may only be used for the purposes set out in the Articles of Association.
The members shall not receive any profit shares or, in their capacity as members, any other benefits from the association’s funds.
No person may benefit from expenses that are alien to the purpose of the association or from disproportionately high remuneration. § 4 Membership The Executive Board shall decide on the written application for membership.

1. Any natural person can become a member of the association.
2. A legal entity, e.g. a national or international association, can become a member.
   This is represented with voting rights by a person delegated by this association if this person submits a legally valid written power of attorney.
3. Membership ends upon death or resignation.
4. Memberships may be suspended by resolution of the Board of Directors or terminated by exclusion. Reasons may be: violation of the association’s objectives, violation of professional ethical guidelines or non-payment of the annual membership fee for two consecutive years, following a prior reminder and hearing.
   The member concerned must be informed of this in writing.
5. Resignation must be declared in writing to the Board of Directors with a notice period of 1 month to the end of a calendar year.
6. The resigned or expelled member remains obliged to pay the annual membership fee until the end of the financial year.
7. Active and passive voting rights are linked to membership and contribution payments.
8. The ISPPM may become a member – also on a mutual basis – of another national or international organization with similar objectives.

§ 5 Members hip fees The amount of the membership fees is determined by the General Meeting.
Membership fees are paid annually in the 1st quarter of the financial year by direct debit or by standing order.
Membership fees are calculated on a quarterly basis in the year of joining the ISPPM.
The association welcomes donations and donations in cash or in kind at any time.
Upon application, the minimum membership fee can be reduced for students, trainees, conscripts, single parents, the unemployed and pensioners by resolution of the Board of Directors.
Honorary members are exempt from the obligation to pay membership fees. § 6 Organs of the association The organs of the association are

1. The General Meeting
2. The Executive Board
3. The Extended Executive Board
4. Scientific advisory board

§ 7 General Assembly of Members§7.1 Tasks of the General Assembly of Members – invitation and passing of resolutions The General Assembly of Members comprises all individual members and honorary members of the association, as well as delegated persons who represent an association with voting rights.
The General Meeting takes place once a year on a date to be determined by the Executive Board.
The Board of Directors is free to choose the location of the General Meeting within Germany.
The General Assembly is responsible for passing resolutions on all matters of fundamental importance concerning the ISPPM, in particular

1. Acceptance of the annual report of the Executive Board
2. Acceptance of the cash report
3. Receipt of reports from members of the Executive Board and members of the Extended Executive Board
4. Discharge of the Executive Board
5. Right of nomination for club offices and tasks
6. Elections of the members of the Executive Board and the members of the Extended Executive Board
7. Right to nominate and elect the two cash auditors
8. Right of nomination for the appointment of honorary members and for the awarding of prizes
9. Determination of membership fees
10. Amendment of the Articles of Association
11. Dissolution of the association

The invitation to the General Meeting is issued by the Executive Board with a notice period of four weeks, stating the agenda.
The invitation is sent in text form.
The text form allows invitations to be sent by letter, e-mail (without electronic signature) and fax.
Motions for additions to the agenda must be submitted to the Executive Board in writing at least eight days before the meeting.
The General Meeting is not open to the public.
The chairperson of the meeting may admit guests.
Every General Meeting convened in accordance with the Articles of Association has a quorum regardless of the number of members present.
Unless otherwise stipulated in the Articles of Association or by law, a simple majority of the valid votes cast is sufficient for a resolution to be valid.
In the event of a tie, the motion is rejected.
Abstentions are treated as invalid votes.
Each member has one vote.
Each representative of a legal entity or an international association has one vote.
Minutes shall be taken of the General Assembly, which shall be signed by the President, the Secretary and the Recording Secretary. § 7.2 Elections The General Meeting shall decide and elect by open ballot on a show of hands.
A secret ballot or election must be held if this is requested by a member. § 7.3 Extraordinary General Meeting Extraordinary General Meetings shall be convened with four weeks’ notice if the interests of the Association so require.
The meeting shall be convened if the Executive Board so decides or if at least 25% of the members so request in writing, stating the purpose and reasons.
§ 8 The Executive Board The Executive Board elected by the General Meeting consists of:

1. the 1st Chairperson with the title of President

2. and
3. two deputy chairpersons with the title Vice-President

4. the treasurer

5. the secretary

6. the Chairperson of the Extended Executive Board

The term of office of the Board of Directors is 3 years.
Re-election is permitted.
Tasks of the Executive Board:

1. Coordination, implementation and delegation of association activities,
2. Management of the association and the association’s assets,
3. Preparation and organization of the General Meeting as well as the annual financial statements and the budget for the following year, elections, resolutions, reports, planning,
4. Deciding on the admission of members, legal entities, international representatives (§ 4) and Associated Societies,
5. External representation of the association,
6. Nomination of Board members prior to elections,
7. Decision on contribution reductions (§ 5),
8. The Board of Directors can set up temporary expert committees for special projects such as funding, congress or conference work and appoint temporary spokespersons,
9. Public relations and press work.
10. Resolutions can be passed in Board meetings and telephone conferences.

In the event of a tie, the President has the casting vote.
Members of the Executive Board work on a voluntary basis.
Expense allowances (e.g. travel expenses and congress contributions) may be granted against receipt to the extent permitted by law and tax law.
The offices of the association and its bodies (in particular the Executive Board and Extended Executive Board) are generally held on an honorary basis.
Following a decision by the Executive Board, members of the association’s bodies who work on a voluntary basis or other persons who work part-time in the non-profit area of the association may – subject to budgetary possibilities – receive remuneration for their activities on the basis of a contract under civil law, which must, however, be appropriate in terms of amount, taking into account the nature and scope of the activity, and which also comply with the applicable statutory provisions (in particular those relating to non-profit status, income and wage tax law and social security law).
Reimbursement of expenses actually incurred is only possible against proof, whereby even lump-sum payments obviously do not exceed the expenses actually incurred.
Invitations to Board meetings (including telephone conferences) are issued by the President with 10 days’ notice, stating the agenda.
In individual cases, the notice period may be shortened.
The Executive Board within the meaning of § 26 BGB is the Executive Board (§ 8).
Two members of the Executive Board represent the association jointly.
The President or a Vice President must be involved. § 9 Extended Executive Board The members of the Extended Executive Board are elected by the General Assembly for a term of 3 years.
Each member of the Extended Board is entrusted with responsibility for a specific area of activity.
He/she works independently and performs his/her duties in mutual cooperative consultation with the Executive Board.
If the respective area of work is supervised by a working group, the member of the Extended Board acts as spokesperson for the working group.
The following tasks in particular can be assumed by the Extended Executive Board:

1. To promote the objectives stated under § 2.1 d) in society
2. Establish and maintain networks and links with important professional groups, such as midwives, gynecologists, neonatologists, osteopaths, psychotherapists and other important professional groups
3. Regional, national and international congress and conference work
4. Public relations and press work
5. Management support
6. Funding
7. Member care and recruitment
8. Maintain Internet presence
9. Contact with the respective national organization (see § 11)
10. Translation work

Each member of the Extended Board reports in writing or verbally to the General Meeting on planned and implemented activities in the area of work for which they are responsible.
As a rule, the Extended Board meets annually.
Telephone conferences can take place by arrangement.
The Extended Board can pass resolutions within the scope of its duties.
Expense allowances and reimbursement of travel expenses for members of the Extended Board are governed by rules of procedure to be adopted by the Board.
If members of the Extended Board are entrusted with the management of the Association, an employment relationship may be established with them or persons assisting them.
The members of the Executive Board (see § 8) are also members of the Extended Executive Board. § 10 The Scientific Advisory Board The Executive Board appoints specialists in Germany and abroad as members of the Scientific Advisory Board on the basis of specific qualifications.
The Scientific Advisory Board advises the ISPPM in achieving its objectives and performing its tasks. § 11 Internationality Membership is open to people of all nations.
Because the ISPPM deals with fundamental topics of the pre-, peri- and postnatal continuum that are of global importance, its members cultivate international exchange.
An exchange takes place between members and organizations that are associated with the goals of the ISPPM.
All ISPPM bodies can initiate international working groups with specific tasks.
These working groups report on their projects at the regular international congresses.
Costs for participation at international level are borne by the respective national organizations/members.
National organizations that are represented in the ISPPM with at least 10 members, or are members of the ISPPM as an institution, have the right to delegate a member (with voting rights) as their representative to the Extended Board. § 12 International Educational Committee (IEC) – International Committee for Education and Training. The International Educational Committee is a special working group of the ISPPM within the meaning of the Extended Board, § 9. The IEC is appointed and dismissed by the Extended Board.
The task of this committee is the development of a curriculum in the field of prenatal psychology and medicine, the accreditation and certification of training and further education, and the provision of impulses in these areas.
The IEC reports to the Executive Board and the General Assembly. § 13 Auditors Two auditors are elected by the General Assembly for a period of 3 years.
They may not be members of the Executive Board or the Extended Executive Board.
Immediate re-election is not permitted.
Auditors can be proposed and elected directly at the General Meeting. § 14 Amendments to the Articles of Association The approval of 3/4 of the members present is required for resolutions of the General Meeting to amend the Articles of Association. If a resolution on an amendment to the Articles of Association is planned, the members must be informed of this in writing with the invitation. § 15 Dissolution of the association The dissolution of the association can only be decided at a general meeting that has been convened in good time, stating this item on the agenda.
The meeting has a quorum regardless of the number of members present.
A majority of ¾ of the valid votes cast is required for the dissolution resolution; abstentions are treated as invalid votes.
If the association is dissolved or abolished or if its tax-privileged purposes cease to exist, the association’s assets shall be transferred to the Deutscher Kinderschutzbund e.V., Schöneberger Str. 15, 10963 Berlin or its legal successor with the obligation to make them available exclusively and directly for charitable purposes. § 16 Entry into force The above Articles of Association were adopted at the Members’ Meeting on March 7, 2010 in Alfter near Bonn and enter into force on October 31, 2010 and after entry in the register of associations.
Adopted in Alfter on 7.3.2010, amended on 21.10.2011