Constitution of The International Education
and Resource Network
Originally signed at the meeting of the iEARN
Management Team, Puerto Madryn, Argentina, July 12, 1994. Revised:
February 2003
Chapter I: Goals and Principles
Chapter II: Membership
Chapter III: Organs
Chapter IV: The iEARN Assembly
Chapter V: The Executive Council
CHAPTER I
The Goals of iEARN are:
1. To develop friendly relations among youth of all nations based
on respect for the principle of equal rights and self-determination
of peoples;
2. To encourage youth from all countries to learn and work co-operatively
and collaboratively using telecommunications and other technology,
to strengthen universal peace, to identify and take active part
in resolving global problems facing the world;
3. To promote and encourage respect for human rights and for fundamental
freedoms for all without distinction as to race, sex, language,
culture, or religion;
4. To facilitate identification and sharing the different but complementary
experiences of educational, academic and other national organizations
with enduring educational infrastructures, and traditions throughout
the world;
5. To share high-quality educational and other resources available
in individual Member centres;
6. To provide a global infrastructure for a conceptual and action-based
educational network that is open to all;
7. To share and transfer telecommunications technology, teaching
methods and other resources with youth organizations, schools or
individuals wishing to achieve the iEARN purpose and goals;
8. To assist in establishing training and support programs in each
Centre;
9. To expand the network of financially and operationally sustainable
iEARN Centres throughout the globe;
10. To work with umbrella organizations, academic bodies, universities,
non-government organizations, and governments to establish a global
community of concerned organizations and citizens with the express
purpose of supporting the youth of the world in developing and implementing
educational and humanitarian projects, especially projects of change
and healing for the health and welfare of the planet;
11. To develop and maintain high-quality educational innovation;
12. To raise funds through local and global funding agreements to
support these programs and goals.
iEARN and its Members, in pursuit of the Goals stated in Article
1, shall act in accordance with the following Principles.
1. iEARN is based on the principle of the global solidarity and
equality of all its Members.
2. In order to ensure to all Members the rights and benefits resulting
from Membership, each Member shall fulfill in good faith the obligations
stated in the present Constitution.
3. All Members shall settle any disputes in the spirit of mutual
respect in such a manner that the basic purpose and goals of iEARN
are not endangered.
4. In accordance with the goals stated in Article 1, no infrastructure
or facilities of iEARN can be used for hate or bias or to disseminate
or encourage racial, national, cultural, or religious prejudice.
5. iEARN will only intervene in matters within domestic jurisdiction
when invited by individuals or sites within that centre or country.
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CHAPTER II
The founding Members of iEARN are the Copen Family Fund and the
iEARN Centres which existed at the time of the iEARN Meeting at
Puerto Madryn, Argentina in July 1994 and signed this Constitution.
iEARN recognizes iEARN Centres as described in article 4.1 and iEARN
Representatives as described in article 4.5.
1. An iEARN Centre is a consortium of sites or affinity of special
interest groups, and can include individuals, with a management
infrastructure to support training, development, and research; which
shares the vision and purpose, and supports goals and principles
of iEARN as stated in the Preamble and the Constitution, and meets
other requirements that will be instituted by a decision of the
iEARN Assembly.
2. There would generally be one Centre in a country unless there
is a legitimate and sensible reason for more than one. The other
Centre(s) must have a specific aim and agenda that does not conflict
or contradict the operations of the existing Centre. All Centres
cooperate in the vision of iEARN.
3. New applicants for Centre Membership should conform to Article
4.1, and, in the judgment of iEARN be able and willing to carry
out these obligations. An admission to Centre Membership will be
effected by a decision of the iEARN Assembly upon the recommendation
of the Executive Council.
4. If an existing iEARN centre has concerns that an applicant for
Centre Membership is unable to execute the responsibilities as stated
in the Constitution or may endanger its essential interests, a review
process will be automatically implemented which will require the
institution of a review panel consisting of the Executive Council
and the conflicting parties. The decision of the review panel to
accept the applicant must be unanimous.
5. A consortium of sites or special interest groups which have not
applied for Centre Membership and are based in the country where
there is no iEARN centre can be accredited by the Assembly as an
iEARN Representative provided the Assembly is satisfied that the
Representative is able and willing to promote iEARN activities and
meets the goals and purposes of iEARN.
6. The procedure of Article 4.1 will also apply in the case of adoption
of new sites into existing centres.Article 5An iEARN Centre or Representative
which/who has violated the Principles contained in this Constitution
may be expelled from iEARN by the Assembly upon the recommendation
of the Executive Council. Any Centre or Representative which/who
has been recommended for expulsion by the Executive Council will
be accorded principles of fairness and natural justice, including
the ability to put their case before the Assembly and answer any
allegations. At least one month must elapse between recommendation
of expulsion and vote by Assembly on the expulsion.
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CHAPTER III
1.The principal organs of iEARN are the iEARN Assembly and the
Executive Council.
2.Such subsidiary organs as may be found necessary may be established
in accordance with the Constitution.
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CHAPTER IV
Composition
The iEARN Assembly shall consist of all the Member Centres of iEARN.Functions
and Powers
The iEARN Assembly, subject to this constitution, sets policy and
determines organization matters. The Assembly will be the supreme
decision making body of iEARN
1. The iEARN Assembly may call the attention of the Executive Council
to situations which are likely to endanger mutual trust and cooperation.
2. The powers of the iEARN Assembly set forth in this Article shall
not limit the general scope of Article 8.
1. The iEARN Assembly makes decisions for iEARN.
2. The decisions of the iEARN Assembly are taken during its annual
face-to-face meetings either by physical or virtual presence and
online at any time.
3. Between face-to-face meetings, the Assembly gives the Executive
Council power to make recommendations for decisions. Such recommendations
will be placed online and via e-mail before Assembly members. If,
after twenty days, no member has posted a request for an Assembly
vote on the recommendation, that recommendation will become an Assembly
decision.
4. If at least one member requests an Assembly vote on the Executive
Council recommendation, discussion and vote will proceed.
5. Any member of the Assembly may place a proposal before the Assembly
for discussion and vote during and between annual meetings.
The iEARN Assembly shall receive and consider reports from other
organs of iEARN.
The Assembly shall, if it considers it in the interest of iEARN
internationally, register as an NGO in any country it decides.
1. The iEARN Assembly shall consider and approve the iEARN budget
proposed by the Executive Council.
2. iEARN expenses shall be borne equitably by the Members as apportioned
by the iEARN Assembly.
Voting
1. Each Member of the iEARN Assembly shall have one vote.
2. The iEARN Assembly shall convene annually.
3. A face-to-face meeting of the iEARN Assembly requires a quorum
of two-thirds of all Members. Members not able to attend in person
may state their availability to participate online and be included
as present when determining a quorum. Any Member not present but
willing to cast its vote online can do so.
4. Any decision changing or amending the Constitution shall be made
at the annual iEARN Assembly meeting. Such decisions will require
a two-thirds majority of all Members. If for reasons beyond the
control of iEARN no face-to-face annual meeting is held within 18
months of the last meeting, an on-line decision-making process will
be invoked. Such decisions will require a two-thirds majority of
all Members. If the amendment suggested affects Articles 4.4, 4.6,
and/or 14.4, a decision in order to take effect must be a unanimous
one by all Members.
5. Decisions of the Assembly will be made by a simple majority of
votes cast, including such important questions like the acceptance
of new Members, expulsion of Members, budgetary questions, and entering
into agreements with other organizations.
Procedure
The iEARN Assembly and/or the Executive Council shall meet in such
special sessions as circumstances may require. Special sessions
shall be convoked at the request of the Executive Council or of
a majority of the Members. The iEARN Assembly will function continuously.
The iEARN Assembly shall adopt its own rules of procedure. It shall
elect its Facilitator for each meeting.
The iEARN Assembly may establish such subsidiary organs as it deems
necessary for the performance of its functions.
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CHAPTER V
Composition
1. The Executive Council shall consist of three persons from three
different iEARN Centres, with due regard being specially paid to
global solidarity and equity.
2 The Members of the Executive Council shall be elected for a term
of two years. One or two Members will be elected each year. No one
can be elected to the Executive Council for more than two consecutive
terms.
Functions and Powers
1. In order to ensure prompt and effective action by iEARN, its
Members confer on the Executive Council primary responsibility for
the day-to-day decisions on behalf of the Assembly, subject to article
8 and 10.
2. In discharging these duties the Executive Council shall act in
accordance with the Preamble and Constitution of iEARN and whatever
other decisions are made under the present Constitution by the iEARN
Assembly.
The Executive Council shall submit an annual report to the Assembly
and any special reports requested by it.
Voting
1. Each Member of the Executive Council shall have one vote.
2. Decisions of the Executive Council shall be made by an affirmative
vote of two Members.
Procedure
The Executive Council shall be so organized as to be able to function
continuously.
The Executive Council may establish such subsidiary organs as it
deems necessary for the performance of its functions.
The Executive Council shall adopt its own rules of procedure and
operation, including the method of selecting its Officers and hiring
staff.
Any Member of iEARN who is not a Member of the Executive Council
may participate, without vote, in the discussion of any question
brought before the Executive Council whenever the Member considers
that its interests are specially affected or that she/he has something
to contribute.
A non-Member of iEARN, if it is a party to a dispute under consideration
by the Executive Council, shall be invited to participate, without
vote, in the discussion relating to the dispute. The Executive Council
shall lay down such conditions as it deems just for the participation
of a non-Member of iEARN.
Signed at the city of Puerto Madryn, Argentina, the twelfth day
of July, one thousand nine hundred and ninety four.
Amended: February 2003
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