1. Purpose of the Society

The European Society for Textual Scholarship provides an international and interdisciplinary forum for the exchange of ideas and research in the theory and practice of textual scholarship.

2. Members

In order to be a voting member of the Society, one must pay dues each year as determined by the Board. Members will receive one copy of the official publication of the Society, Variants: the Journal of the European Society for Textual Scholarship .

Honorary Members of the Society may be elected for one year upon the recommendation of the Board. Honorary Members do not pay dues.

An Annual Meeting shall be convened at a time and place determined by the Board, for a report by the President on the actions of the Board and the other Committees, as well as for the election of a new Board or of Honorary Members. Each person holding a voting membership shall have one vote. 

3. Board

The Board is the governing body of the Society. The Board is elected by the Members. The number of elected members of the Board is maximum 12, representing as many European countries as possible.

3.1. Election of the Board

Any member of the Society may be nominated to become a member of the Board. Since 2006, the Board Members are elected for terms of four years. Current members of the Board can be nominated for a second term with the support of a current member of the Society. Members of the Board shall not seek re-election for a third term, but they can be nominated again after a break.

The election of the Board is organized by the Secretary of the Society. Three months before the end of the term of the elected Board, the Secretary will ask the current members of the Board whether they stand for re-election, and will simultaneously send an open call to all members of the Society to ask for candidates. All current members of the Society may nominate themselves to become a member of the Board. Each of the nominees must send a CV to the Secretary and must be supported by, at least, one other member of the Society. All nominations should be sent to the Secretary within one month. If the number of candidates exceeds the number of vacancies, the Secretary will send the list of candidates to all members. The members can vote via email. The President and the Secretary are responsible for counting the votes. They communicate the results, first to the candidates and then to all members of the Society.

3.2. Ex officio members of the Board

A representative of the Society for Textual Scholarship shall be an ex officio voting member of the Board.

The European Society for Textual Scholarship will name a representative to be an ex officio voting member at meetings of the Board of the Society for Textual Scholarship.

The General Editor of Variants is ex officio voting member of the Board.

3.3. Activities of the Board

The Board shall meet each year in conjunction with the Annual Meeting. There may be other meetings in places previously agreed by the Board. When a meeting is impractical, the President may ask the Board to decide particular matters by mail ballot or its equivalent.

Decisions of the Board shall be by a simple majority of voting members present. A tie vote shall be construed as a failure to pass the measure proposed. For a vote to be valid, at least half of the Board should be present at the Board Meeting. If the quorum is not attained, the President may decide to vote via email or via proxy.

The Board shall establish and appoint other Committees if required. All actions of such Committees shall be subject to review and approval by the Board.

The Board shall receive proposed amendments to the bylaws submitted by members of the Society. The Board shall determine if a proposed amendment so submitted shall be presented for adoption at the Annual Meeting. The Board may also propose amendments to the bylaws, to be ratified by the majority vote of members in good standing present at the Annual Meeting.

The Board shall make decisions about any matters arising not contemplated by the bylaws.

 4. Officers: President, Secretary, Treasurer

The Board will appoint all Officers. The Officers of the Society will also be the administrators of the Foundation “Variants”, which holds the bank account used for all financial transactions concerning Variants , the official publication of the Society.

4.1 Nomination of the Officers

To be eligible as President, Secretary or Treasurer, one must have previously served at least one year as a member of the Board. No person may simultaneously hold more than one office.

The President, Secretary and Treasurer serve for a period of three years and can be elected for a second term. They shall not seek re-election for a third term, but they can be elected again after a break.

When the officers’ three-year term comes to an end, the Secretary shall organize the appointment of the Officers. All eligible members of the Board may nominate themselves for a position as Officer. They apply by sending a letter of application, together with a CV, to the Secretary. The Secretary sends the list of candidates to the members of the Board, who can vote during the Board meeting or via email. The President and the Secretary are responsible for counting the votes, unless they are themselves running for re-election, in this case two other members of the Board should be chosen to take this responsibility. They communicate the results first to the candidates and then to all members of the Society.

4.2. Activities of the Officers

The President is the presiding Officer of the Society. The President chairs the meetings of the Board and the Annual Meeting.

The Secretary is responsible for maintaining all non-financial records and documents of the Society, including the minutes of meetings of the Board and the Annual Meeting. In the absence of the President, the Secretary chairs the meetings of the Board and the Annual Meeting. The Secretary is responsible for the organization of elections.

The Treasurer is responsible for maintaining the accounts and financial records of the Society, in accordance with the decisions and policies of the Board, and for maintaining the membership list and all records of past and present members.

4.3. Removal and resignation

Any officer may be removed for cause by a majority vote of the entire Board. The President receives resignations of Officers, Editors and Board members and communicates them to the Board. The Board may appoint someone to fulfill a vacant function ad interim, until the end of the term and next election.

 5. Annual Conference

The Society shall sponsor a Conference every year, at a time and place determined by the Board.

The Board shall appoint the Program Chair(s), who will have the primary responsibility for the Conference. The Program Chair(s) may be assisted by a Program Committee, appointed by the Program Chair(s) with the approval of the Board.

The Programme for the Conference shall be subject to review and approval by the Board.

All speakers, respondents, and chairs at the Conference must be members of the Society and must pay the registration fee, except for individuals specially invited by the Program Chair(s) in consultation with the Board.

Non-members of the Society may attend the Conference upon payment of a registration fee.

See the guidelines for organizers in Appendix.

6. Journal

The General Editor and Associate Editor of Variants: the Journal of the European Society for Textual Scholarship shall be appointed by the Board, for a renewable term of 3 years.

All current members of the Society may nominate themselves for the position of General Editor or Associate Editor. Candidates send a CV and a statement about his / her vision of the job to the Secretary. Their candidacy must be supported by, at least, one other member of the Society. The election follows the same procedure as for the Officers. Resignation and Removal of the Editors also occur according to the same rules as for the Officers.

The Editors shall be responsible for the regular publication of Variants. The Editors may be assisted by one or more Book Review Editor(s).

The Board retains final authority over all administrative matters concerning Variants and serves as editorial board.

See appendix about the production of Variants.