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Satzung / Statutes 1 Name, location, and general purpose The International Society for Philosophical Practice, located in Bergisch-Gladbach, Germany, pursues exclusively and directly purposes of benefit for the public due to the paragraph tax-deductible purposes of the tax law. 2 The special purposes The special purposes of the ISPP are oriented towards the notion of Philosophical Practice, which is a way of mental help, counselling but not treating. Thus, Philosophical Practice is no healing cure or therapy. 1.On the one hand, the purpose of the ISPP is to create appropriate preconditions to give persons with concrete questions and life problems an effective and humane help on the grounds of practical philosophy which respects and supports the advice-seeking person also as member of a group or institution as autonomous and self-responsible. 2.On the other hand, the purpose of the ISPP is to increase the consciousness of and to support with scientific-theoretical intent the long tradition of practical and practicised philosophy by means of appropriate research. 3.Finally, it is the goal of the ISPP to encourage international cooperation betwenn the national societies for Philosophical Practice and to coordinate it as far as it is requested. The ISPP understands it as its special task to initiate and to accompany the planning and organising of international conferences for Philosophical Practice. 3 The realisation of the purposes The purposes of the statutes as mentioned in 2 are realised by the following means inter alia: 1.Organising events (lectures, discussions, colloquiums etc.), open and accessible for everybody, which go into comprehensive public matters and current life questions as request for philosophical theory and practice, and which endeavour with special emphasis the clarification and possible solutions of current problems related to meaning and orientation; 2.awarding of research tasks which are appropriate to support philosophical insigths in practical intent; 3.supporting the enforcement and the theory of Philosophical Practice; 4.training of practising philosophers; 5.implementation of facilities of further education in order to support and to promote practising philosophers in the pursuit of their work in favour of the persons and institutions to be counselled; 6.initiation of a continuous exchange of experiences among all practising philosophers, also on an international level; 7.initiation of a mutually supportive cooperation between the society and other counselling institutions, colleges, schools, institutions for adult education, etc.; 8.initiation of cooperation with the established medical profession with the intent of giving persons help in addition to medical care and treatment by means of open, free, and sensible dialogue. 9.The ISPP understands it as its task to work out in cooperation with organisations of academic philosophy the possibilities and requirements of a different way of dealing with philosophy at university. This different way of dealing with philosophy aims at preparing philosophy students for the challenges of the profession of a philosophical practitioner. 10.The ISPP declares it as its aim to realise its purposes by publishing a yearbook. If possible, the publishing committee shall be international. 11.The ISPP appoints an international Committee for the development of the philosophy of Philosophical Practice . 4 Membership The ISPP membership can be attained by I.) juridical and II.) natural persons. Juridical persons (I.) are the national societies for Philosophical Practice as represented by their chairpersons. Natural persons (II.) are full members (regular and practising) and extraordinary members (advising and supporting). I.) The national societies for Philosophical Practice The national societies for Philosophical Practice are invited to join the ISPP cooperatively. The respective chairpersons of these societies looks after their rights concerning decision making. II.) 1. Full members a) Regular members Anybody who confirms the purposes of the ISPP and who has absolved or is currently absolving university studies in philosophy or of similar relevance can apply for full mem bership. The committee decides on admission due to the petition of the applicant b) Practising members Practising members are full members who are entitled to run a practice in philosophical counselling due to the instruction guidelines of the ISPP. The working party of practising members decides on admission of new practising members with two-thirds majority. The decision for admission is not due to professional aspects but due to the interests of those who need competent and responsible help and who have to be protected from being counsel led in an improper and incompetent manner. In practising their profession, the practising members are authorised to refer to their ISPP membership. 2. Extraordinary members a) Advising members The working party of advising members supports the ISPP work in its striving for the development of the theory of Philosophical Practice and of practical philosophy in general. b) Supporting members Anybody who confirms the purposes of the ISPP and who commits himself to paying the minimum fee as decided by the general meeting can acquire supporting membership. In general, everybody who confirms the purposes of the ISPP can apply for membership. A member can leave at any time; a justification for the decision to leave is not necessary. In justified cases, the ordinary general meeting can decide for a revocation of membership. All members of the ISPP get written invitations by the committee for all public ISPP events. Furthermore, all members are invited to the main general meeting which is to be summoned once in three years. The main general meeting as the meeting of the full and extraordinary members is meant to allow for discussing the society's past activities as well as its long- range plans and intentions. 5 The society's organs 1. The general meeting The ISPP holds a general meeting at least once a year, to which all associated societies and all members are invited. The say of the associated societies, as represented by their chairpersons or by legitimate representatives, are considered as being of special importance. The supporting members have the right to discuss and to inform but not to vote. Place and date of this meeting are set by the committee. The invitation is effected at least four weeks in advance. The committee has to summon an extraordinary general meeting within two months time in case that 20% of all full members apply for such a meeting in a written form. An extraordinary meeting has a quorum in the presence of at least 20% of all full members. The general meeting has the following duties: a) Receipt and discussion of the progress report of the past year's activities. b) Approval of the accounts for the past year and exoneration of the committee. c) Recall and election of the committee. d) Planning for the next year. e) Election of an account auditor for the next year. f) Laying-down of the minimum fee for full and extraordinary members. g) Confirmation of admission of new full (regular) members and revocation of membership in justified cases. h) Resolution on erection and change of instruction guidelines. i) Election of the working party of practising members by the non-practising members. For deciding on these duties (a to i), the simple majority of the present members is sufficient; the general meeting has a quorum if at least seven members are present. k) Decisions on changes of the statutes or on the elimination of the society: Both decisions can only be brought about by a two-thirds majority of the present members entitled to vote. Furthermore, the general meeting deals with all the questions which due to the committee should be presented to the general meeting. 2. The committee The committee consists of the president, his deputy, and the treasurer. The committee mem bers are elected by the general meeting with simple majority for the period of one year. Written election is necessary if a member demands it. Every single member of the committee is entitled to represent the society in court and out of court. The committee performs its duties honorary. The committee`s expenses are reimbursed. The committee decides on the admission of full (regular) and supporting members. Further more, the committee decides on questions which shall be presented to the general meeting in addition to its duties. At least one practising member should be represented in the committee. 3. The working party of practising members It consists of all practising members and of representatives of the full and extraordinary members respectively and of the members in training who all have an equal say. The working party meets when required, but at least once a year. Its duties are: a) Organisation, carrying through and advising of the instruction guidelines. b) Decisions on practising membership. c) Decisions on justified revocation of practising membership. This decision has to be presented and justified in front of the general meeting. The general meeting can protest against such a decision with a two-thirds majority. All decisions of the working party of practising members are made with two-thirds majority. If it seems reasonable, the working party can delegate parts of its duties to a special commit tee consisting of at least three members. 6 The means The ISPP acts selfless. It does not pursue, at least not in the first place, economic purposes. The society's means are only to be used for purposes due to the statutes. Members do not receive sums from the society's funds. No person shall be favoured by expenses which are alien to the society's purpose or by disproportionate reimbursements. The training of practi sing members can be supported financially by the ISPP. 7 The financial year The financial year is the calendar year. 8 Resolution of the society In case of its resolution or annulment or in case of loss of its previous purposes, the society's assets are transferred to the Study foundation of the German people ( Studienstiftung des Deutschen Volkes ), which has to use these assets exclusively for benefit for the public or for charitable or ecclesiastical purposes. Administrative office: Hermann-Loens-Strasse 56 c, 51469 Bergisch Gladbach, Telefon: 02202-951903, Fax: 02202-951907. e-mail:[email protected]
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