Statutes
Preamble of Global Fluid Power Society (GFPS)
GFPS was created in 2016, as merge of two long-lasting fluid power organizations: Fluid Power Net International (FPNI) and Network of Fluid Power Centres in Europe (FPCE).
GFPS inherits the spirit of both FPNI and FPCE and currently represents the largest scientific network of fluid power institutions in the world.
Mission Statement
The Global Fluid Power Society (GFPS) is a worldwide community for networking in the area of fluid power and fluid techniques.
Global Fluid Power Society 's general objectives are to:
- Bring people "together"; to better know about fluid power activities and trends in research, education and industrial applications
- Contribute to the needs of its members for information about fluid power developments and publications by various activities
- Strengthen the standing of fluid power and fluid techniques in industry, due to its superior advantages when appropriate control is used making it an optimal technology for many applications
- Promote fluid power and fluid techniques as an autonomous scientific/technical discipline in academia to attract talented young people and to help young scientists in solving fluid power problems
- Promote the multi-disciplinary nature of modern fluid power systems by establishing close contacts to the relevant scientific communities
It will reach these objectives by the following activities
- Publishing the International Journal of Fluid Power
- Organizing workshops, seminars, and the PhD symposium
- Providing literature information about fluid power, in particular establishing a database
- Promoting the scientific development of students, and Post Docs by measures, such as exchange programs or specific workshops
- Acting as a forum for the discussion and setting of the dates of fluid power events, such as conferences and workshops.
Organization of GFPS
1. GFPS is organized as a non-profit organization, Global Fluid Power Society INC., registered in the United State (State of Indiana) since 2016.
GPFS consists of:
1.1 The General Assembly
1.2 The Board of Directors
1.3 The Advisory Board
1.3 The Chairman of the Board (or President) and
1.4 The Secretary of the Board
2. GFPS will fund its activities by
2.1 The participation fees. The participation fee for the different types of GFPS participants is decided by the General Assembly based on recommendations of the Board of Directors. The current fee, for one-year period is:
regular academic institution: $ 300
small academic institution: $ 70 for each individual
fluid power industry or organization: $ 500
2.2 Donations by private individuals or corporations
3. GFPS Participants
3.1 Any institution or center performing research and development (R&D) in the field of fluid power person is eligible for "standard" participation in GFPS. Such institution - or center – needs to be sufficiently stuffed with scientific and supporting personnel and equipped with laboratories, workshops and offices in order to be able to conduct major projects independently. Also, it needs to have already achieved an internationally respected reputation in the field of fluid power technology through research, consultancy and teaching. Organizations of fluid power industries are also eligible to apply for participation to GFPS. The board of Directors has the responsibility of approving any request for participation to GFPS.
Participants have full access to all services offered by GFPS.
Each institution participating to GPFS carries one vote in the General Assembly.
Each institution participating to GFPS, with the exception of "small academic institutions", can nominate a member of the Advisory Board.
The participation to GFPS has a duration of one year, at it has to be renewed every calendar year.
3.2. Approval and termination of participation
3.2.1 Participation to GFPS can be applied for and approved by the Board of Directors. The Board must inform all members yearly about the granting, termination and refusal of membership.
3.2.3 Any participant can terminate their membership annually via a written declaration to the Secretary of the Board.
3.2.4 The Board of Directors can exclude a participant
- if the participant does pay the participation fee, after two appropriate periods of grace, or
- if the participant consciously derogates the reputation of GFPS.
3.3 Rights and duties of participants
3.3.1 Each participant will have voting rights to the General Assembly, will have access to services, and will be eligible to become a part of the Board of Directors as stated in 3.1
3.3.2 Each participant will have the right to use the GFPS logo, subject to the rules of usage issued by the Board.
4 Duties and responsibilities of the operating groups within GFPS
4.1 General Assembly
The General Assembly is the GFPS participants’ ”forum" with a annual assembly meeting. The General Assembly has the following functions:
4.1.1 Fixing the participation fee based on recommendations from the Board of Directors. The participation fee can allow for specific regional situations.
4.1.2 Changing the statutes of GFPS based on recommendations from the Board of Directors or five of the standard participants.
4.1.3 Confirming contracts with other organizations, companies etc. based on recommendations from the Board of Directors in cases where these contracts have a decisive influence on the main activities of GFPS as stated in the mission statement
4.1.4 Confirming business strategies and budget plans as proposed by the Board of Directors
4.1.5 Confirming the establishment of committees for specific tasks as proposed by the Board of Directors
4.1.6 Establishing rules of internal procedure based on recommendations from the Board of Directors. These rules could include the possibility of electronic ballots via e-mail or world wide web.
4.1.7 Voting for or the dismissal of Board members, the Chairman, or the Secretary. For a positive vote, a simple majority (more than 50%) is sufficient. For a dismissal, at least two third of votes are necessary.
4.2. The Board of Directors
4.2.1 The Board of Directors consists of 5 members from participating institutions including the Chairman, the Secretary and the Editor in Chief of the International Journal of Fluid Power. In order to reflect the specific international composition of the membership, the Board members shall be comprised of:
1. At least one member from Europe
2. at least one member from North America and South America
3. at least one member from Asia
The editor in chief of the International Journal of Fluid Power is member of the board ex officio.
4.2.2 For a valid board decision a majority of votes relating to the number of Board of Directors members is necessary, thus in case of five members three votes. Decision making can also be made by circulation, in particular using electronic mail.
4.2.3 The Board has the following functions:
4.2.3.1 Proposing participation fees, modification of the statutes, a strategy plan, a budget, and the establishment of committees for specific tasks to the General Assembly
4.2.3.2 Acting as central discussion and opinion forming forum for the Chairman and the Secretary
4.2.3.3 Keep informed, collect and discuss proposals of the Advisory Board
4.2.3.4 Acting as contact points to organizations in their continent or to the group they are representing respectively
4.3 The Chairman of the Board
The Chairman has the following functions:
4.3.1 Heading the Board, i.e., organizing meetings, discussions (e.g., via e-mail), votes of decisions
4.3.2 Heading the General Assembly: inviting participants to the meetings (in particular the regular biannual meeting), organizing votes and elections, (in particular of the Board members)
4.3.3 Represents GFPS to the public, government and Industry, in particular signing contracts
4.4 The Secretary of the Board
The Secretary has the following functions:
4.4.1 Treasurer of GFPS
4.4.2 Administrator of the participants list
4.4.3 Deputy to the Chairman
4.4.4 Organization and maintenance of the homepage of GFPS
4.5 Advisory Board
The Advisory Board is formed by individuals nominated by participating institutions, and approved by the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors can revoke the role of a member of the Advisory Board in case of misconduct.
Each participant, with the exception of "small institution" can nominate one member of the Advisory Board. The nominated individual can have an affiliation different from the nominating institution, and his role in the Advisory Board is active as long as the nominating institution is an active participand of GFPS. The nominating institution can also sobstitute the nominated Advisory Board member, through a written communication to the Board of Directors.
The function of the Advisory Board is to provide advise to the Board of Directors, and assist the Board of Directors in representing and promoting GFPS in the different countries of the world.
5. Constitution of Regional Sections of GFPS
5.1 The Board or five GFPS participants the General Assembly can establish Regional Sections of FPNI. Such Sections do not constitute a separate legal body and do not need to be approved by the General Assembly.
5.2 Participation rights and duties in Regional Sections are identical to those of GPFS.
5.3 Regional Sections shall develop their own activities which are related to the specific regional (continental) opportunities and situations, such as funding, co-operation in education, research, or consulting.
5.4 Each Regional Section can define its own management structure, but must have as a minimum a chairman and a general assembly. It must follow the membership and voting rules of 3.1.
6. Arbitral court:
For the arbitrage of conflicts within GPFS an arbitral court must be established. It consists of three GFPS participants. Each of the parties in the conflict nominates one member of this court. The third member, who is also the chairman of the court, is a member of GFPS and voted by the General Assembly by a simple majority. In case of equal votes, decision is made by drawing lots.
The decision of the arbitral court is final.
7. Rules for closure of GFPS
The voluntary closure of GFPS can only be decided by a 2/3 majority vote by all present GFPS participants of a meeting of the General Assembly, called specifically for this purpose.
If a closure decision is made by the General Assembly, a liquidation process has to be initiated. For this purpose, the General Assembly must appoint a liquidator.
Any residuary property of GFPS is distributed among its participants proportionally to their charges, but maximally to the extent of their charges. The amount of residual property exceeding the sum of these charges will be used for sponsoring educational or research activities in fluid power. The general assembly may decree rules for this, e.g., during the closure decision. Otherwise, it shall be for the liquidator to decide on the assignment of the residual property.