Statutes of the International Association of Agricultural Museums AIMA

(adopted in 1978, with revisions adopted by the General Assembly meeting in Poland in 1998 and General Assembly meeting in Czech republic 2004)

I. Name

International Association of Agricultural Museums (Abbr. AIMA)

II. Character and registered address

AIMA is an organization affiliated to the International Council of Museums (ICOM). The registered address of the association, its secretariat and the editorial address for an international bulletin have been determined by the General Assembly as the Wallachian Open Air Museum in Rožnov pod Radhoštěm.

III. Objectives and Tasks

AIMA comprises agricultural museums (including museum of agricultural technology, the food industry, forestry, horticulture, viticulture, fishing, hunting and other agricultural. servicing and processing industries), as well as open air museums and museums which have large agricultural departments or collections and research workers engaged in this field.

AIMA promotes cooperation between these categories of museums by aiding the exchange of exhibitions and exhibits, making detailed recommendations for collecting and documentation, and by providing a vehicle for the exchange of information relating especially to exhibition techniques and didactics. AIMA endeavors to stimulate research and exhibition activity to encompass not only the development of agricultural production but also changes in the work and way of life of the rural population (the social background) over successive historical periods. In this sense, AIMA intends to extend the work of agricultural museums to cover research, collection and the representation of agricultural development up to the present day, and through so doing to make an educational contribution - especially in the so for less developed countries.

By these means, AIMA is anxious to support the objectives of ICOM in emphasizing the "important part played by the museums and the museal profession in every community as well as in becoming better acquainted with and mutually understanding the nations" (ICOM -Statute 1974, section III, Art. 7).

IV. Bulletin (AIMA)

AIMA publishes a proceedings of its meetings, AMA (Acts Museorum Agriculturae), occasional bulletins and other materials. These are intended to further cooperation and advance the programme outlined in Section 3 above.

AMA is managed by an international editorial committee of five persons selected by the president with the advice of the Praesidium. The Praesidium may set a fee to cover the costs of publication in conjunction with Congress fees or separately.

V. Membership

AIMA has two categories of membership, institutional and individual members; and two classes of membership, active and inactive. The institutions and persons defined under Section 3 may become active or inactive members. Active members of either category are entitled to vote in the General Assembly and hold office and may receive all publications of the association; inactive members of either category receive, as a matter of course, only the announcements of congresses.

1. Active individual members are persons who have participated in the previous congress, and whom before the next congress declare their intentions to continue membership. If the Praesidium sets a membership fee structure, to be an active member during the three year period be the congress, the person must have made the appropriate contribution.
2. Active institutional members are institutions that have sent a representative to the previous congress and declare their intention to continue membership before the next one. If the Praesidium sets a membership fee structure, to be an active institutional member during the three year period before the congress, the institution must have made the appropriate contribution. It is expected that the major agricultural museums of the world will become or continue as active members.
3. The active members of either category take part in the general assemblies and other AIMA events. They have the right to vote, to elect and be elected. They may receive the AMA. An ICOM membership for members is recommended. Each active institution and individual member has one vote. The Praesidium decides on inclusion or exclusion. If necessary the General Assembly may reach a final decision by simple majority.
4. The title "honorary member" may be bestowed by the General Assembly on persons who have contributed significantly to the development of agricultural museological work or to AIMA. Honorary members have equal rights with ordinary active members.

VI. Organs of AIMA

AIMA has the following organs:

• General Assembly
• Praesidium
• Secretariat
• Editorial Committee of AIMA
• National Committees

1. General Assembly

The General Assembly, as the body of all members is the supreme organ. It meets at least every three years. If possible in conjunction with an international scientific congress and may, as a matter of principle, deal with any questions that arise. The General Assembly shall be convened in writing not later than two months prior to its session. Proposal for amendment to the statutes should be included in the agenda. For a quorum of the General Assembly the presence of more then half the ordinary members is required. Should this number not be reached, the General Assembly shell meet again at the same place within 24 hours and is then regarded as having a quorum.

Decisions on an amendment to the statues and the budget require a two-third majority of the General Assembly. Any other issues are decided by a simple majority. The General Assembly elects the president, three vice-presidents and other members of the Praesidium and decides on the venue and date of the next General Assembly.

Changes in the provisions of the Statutes may be proposed by any AIMA member. These amendments must be reviewed by the presidium before the General Assembly considers them and the Presidium may modify them. They are presented to the General Assembly by the proposer or another AIMA member for consideration with a recommendation from the Presidium. The Assembly adopts the proposal in all or parts provisionally, modifies and adopts provisionally, or rejects. Final adoption takes place after reconsideration at the General Assembly of the following Congress.

2. Praesidium

a. Membership: The Praesidium consists of ten to fourteen members i.e. the president, three vice-presidents, six to ten additional members and ex-officio the Secretary of AIMA.

A nominating committee chosen by the outgoing presidium nominates members for the following three year period. The committee presents its proposals at the General Assembly which votes by acclamation. Presidium members may serve two terms, then must rotate off. After one term off the Presidium, an AIMA member may again serve for another two terms. The presidents may serve three continuous terms, including the one in which they serve as president. The assumption is that the president for the following three years is the host of the next congress. The president has a three years term (of office) and may serve three continuous terms as a member of the Presidium. The president may invite, in case of absence of a Presidium member, deputies as guests to the Presidium sessions (supplementation of the Presidium, Lindlar, 11/1999).

Alternate Presidium Members: To encourage continuity in the governing of the organization, the Presidium (or the president acting between presidium meetings) may designate alternate members who will attend meetings in vote in place of a regular presidium member if the regular member is unable to attend. It is assumed that this alternate may be a past presidium members or a person interested in serving in the future.

b. Functions of the Presidium: The Presidium directs, during the time between the sessions of the General Assembly, the activities of the association along the lines of the agreed working programme. Should a vacancy arise, the Presidium (or the President acting between presidium meetings) may in the meantime, i.e. until the next General Assembly, co-opt a willing and interested member of AIMA to serve out the term, if an Alternate Member has not been already chosen.

c. Functions of the President: The President is the representative of the association in respect of the International Council of Museums (ICOM) as well as other international and national organizations. He convenes the General Assembly and the sessions of the Presidium and chairs both these gatherings. He may be represented in his work by one of the vice-presidents.

3. The Permanent Secretariat

The Permanent Secretariate is the organ of the Presidium and is directed by the General Secretary of AIMA. The General Secretariate is approved by the General Assembly every three years.

CIMA secretary is the organ of the president and is responsible for preparation for and proceeding of CIMA and for the publication of papers from CIMA. The CIMA secretary serves for three years.

The tasks of the sectretariate include the following:

• Keeping the permanent records of AIMA membership, and regularly updating them.
• Keeping financial record, and developing and monitoring a budget as necessary.
• Working with the Editorial Committee to publish papers and articles in the congress proceedings.
• Working with the Editorial Committee to develop and publish other materials for AIMA.
• Assisting in the preparation of the next congress, including correspondence, collection of papers and other materials.
• Correspondence with members, national and regional AIMA committees.
• Liaison with ICOM and UNESCO, including arranging for announcements of meetings, etc.
• Liaison with major agricultural museums in the world.
• Encouraging international museum exchanges, including exhibitions, literature, personnel, etc.
• Maintaining the AIMA archive, including all AMAs and other publications.

4. Editorial Committee of AMA

AMA is edited by an international committee which consists of a managing editor and four members. The Editorial Committee is responsible for the international character of AMA and for its-continuous issue. The committee is convened by, the presidium and meets, once every year.

5. National Committees

The National Committees, in so far as they exist in individual countries, consist of members residing in those countries. The National Committees have the task of communicating between the leading organs of the association and its members in the various countries. Their field of activity is laid down in articles 24-30 of the ICOM Statute of 1974.

VII. Official languages

The official languages of AIMA are English, French, German and Russian. The official languages of CIMA are English, French, German, Russian, and the language of the host country.

VIII. Relationship to the International Council of Museums-(ICOM)

The relations between AIMA and ICOM is laid down in Article 34 of the ICOM Statute of 1974.

IX. Dissolution

AIMA cannot be dissolved unless two thirds of its members vote that way. A vote of dissolution may also take place in written form. In case of dissolution the assets of the Association shall become the property of the International Council of Museums (ICOM).

Wallachian open-air museum in Rožnov

Czech Republic, 24th September 2004