The International Alfred Schutz Circle for Phenomenology and Interpretive Social Science

ARTICLE I:           NAME

The name of the association shall be known as The International Alfred Schutz Circle for Phenomenology and Interpretive Social Science (hence short: Schutz Circle).

ARTICLE II:          STATEMENT OF PURPOSE

(1) The general commitment of the Schutz Circle is to treasure the intellectual heritage of the Austrian-American sociologist and philosopher Alfred Schutz (1899-1959). It is established to promote a fruitful and free exchange of ideas and research topics within the thematic and theoretical horizon of the Schutzian paradigm. Its mission is to encourage convergent tendencies with this school of thought – not necessarily in the letter, but more importantly in the spirit of Schutz. Therefore the organization is open to interested persons who are not Schutz scholars themselves. Furthermore, the Schutz Circle addresses scientists not only from various disciplines at the interface between philosophy and the social sciences, but also from the cultural and historical sciences, as all these fields of study fall within the horizon of Alfred Schutz’s thinking. Further interest is in establishing dialogues with different empirical research perspectives that engage in the kind of qualitative social science Schutz paved the way for.

(2) Bi-annual conferences shall be organized where a program of academic papers and critical discussions is presented. In order to reflect the international orientation of the Schutz Circle, the conferences shall be held on alternating continents. At every conference an assembly is to be held as a forum for elections, for the formal approval of the action of the Treasurer, and for general discussion.

(3) Schutzian Research shall serve as the official journal of the Schutz Circle, in which scholarly papers may be published. The decision on the acceptance of submitted papers as well as on the potential granting of a reduced subscription fee for members of the Schutz Circle is the responsibility of the Editorial Board of Schutzian Research.

ARTICLE III:         MEMBERSHIP

(1) Granting of Membership:

Membership in good standing shall be open to all persons having demonstrated a concern with the perspectives and interests of the Schutz Circle, and the Circle is interested in fostering rich diversity in its membership. Membership for a two-year-duration shall be granted upon payment of the conference fee (see Art. V) and involves full voting privileges. Members are entitled to present papers at the bi-annual conferences.

(2) Revocation of Membership:

It shall be the right of the Schutz Circle to revoke membership for professional conduct deemed as inappropriate. Revocation shall be forthcoming with a vote of the Executive Committee, conducted by secret ballot, a two-thirds majority of the Committee voting for revocation.

ARTICLE IV:        OFFICERS AND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

(1) The Schutz Circle shall be guided by an Executive Committee consisting of at least five (5) and no more than (7) persons. Within this Committee shall be the following Officers: one (1) Chairperson, and one (1) Treasurer. The purposes of this Executive Committee shall be to direct the affairs of the Schutz Circle, to nominate and to solicit additional nominations from the general membership of the Schutz Circle (present or past) for individuals to serve as future members of the Executive Committee and as Officers, and to form any other committees and select their chairpersons as may be necessary for particular functions. The Executive Committee moreover decides upon the location of the conferences. Decisions are made by simple majority. In the event of a tie, the chair of the EC will break the tie (even though the chair would be in effect voting again). In order to reflect the international orientation of the Schutz Circle, the Executive Committee shall foster diversity and, as far as possible, include representatives of the different world regions.

(2) Members of the Executive Committee shall be elected for four-year terms and may serve any number of consecutive terms. Members of the EC stepping down from their position shall be replaced at the subsequent assembly. On this occasion members of the Schutz Circle may propose a new member for the EC in addition to any replacement that the current members of the EC might choose.

(3) Members of the Executive Committee and Officers shall be elected at the bi-annual assembly of the Schutz Circle by majority vote of those members present and voting. The kind of ballot is to be decided upon at the assembly. If, in the judgment of the Executive Committee, an insufficient number of members are present at the assembly a mail ballot for elections may be held.

(4) For the purpose of organizing each upcoming conference, the Executive Committee shall appoint an organization committee of local representatives. The organization committee is responsible for the conference organization and for formulating the program of presentations in consultation with the Executive Committee.

(5) After retiring, Chairpersons become ex-official members of the Executive Committee who have a voice, but no vote.

ARTICLE V:          DUES

(1) Dues shall be levied at the bi-annual conferences in form of a conference fee. The amount of dues shall be determined every other year anew by the Executive Committee and the local organizers of the forthcoming conference. Besides the regular fee a reduced fee shall be established for people with low income, such as PhD-students.

(2) The Treasurer of the Executive Committee shall manage all monies. The officeholder is principally bound to responsible dealings and expenditures, and must seek approval for large expenses from the members of the Executive Committee. The Treasurer is obligated to give information about the financial situation to members of the Executive Committee at any time they wish, and is further obligated to present an expense report on occasion of the bi-annual conferences at which his/her action is to be formally approved by the members.

ARTICLE VI:        CHANGING THE CONSTITUTION

The Constitution may be amended or changed by submitting, in writing, to the Executive Committee two months in advance of the bi-annual assembly, any proposed amendment or change for presentation at the bi-annual assembly. The Constitution may be changed by a vote of two-thirds of those members present and voting at the assembly.

(Decided at the general assembly in Tokyo, May 7^th, 2016)