Ratified by the members by ballots January 15, 2006
Art. 1
Name and Domicile
Under the name of the International Society for Sandplay Therapy (ISST) there exists a therapist’s association located in Zurich in accordance with Art. 60ff of the Swiss Civil Code (ZGB).
Art. 2
Definition
Sandplay Therapy is a therapeutic method developed by Dora Kalff and based on the psychological principles of C.G. Jung. Sandplay is a creative form of therapy in using imagination, “a concentrated extract of the life forces both physical and psychic”(C.G. Jung). It is characterized by the use of sand, water and miniatures in the creation of images within the “free and protected space” of the therapeutic relationship and the sand tray. A series of Sandplay images portrayed in the sand tray create an ongoing dialogue between the conscious and the unconscious aspects of the client’s psyche , which activates a healing process and the development of personality.
Art. 3
Purpose and Goals
ISST is an international organization of legal and natural persons trained in Sandplay Therapy as defined above who are engaged in the practice of this form of therapy and its further development through scientific research.
Its goals are:
- Promotion of the study of Sandplay Therapy.
- Propagation and dissemination of knowledge about Sandplay Therapy.
- Promotion of qualified standards of training and practice on the basis of ethical therapeutic conduct.
- Organization and execution of congresses and conventions.
The society pursues these goals with due consideration of the autonomous status and professional interests of its ISST-certified members of the ISST Member Societies as well as its Individual Members.
The members of ISST pledge themselves to creating and following rules of equal rights which forbid all discrimination on the basis of race, religion, ethnicity, gender and sexual preference in relation to applications for membership in professional organizations, training programs and public events organized by ISST.
Art. 4
Languages
German and English are the official languages of ISST. Statutes and regulations are legally binding only in the German and English languages. In case of doubt, the English formulation is decisive. Official documents of ISST are also to be translated into Italian and maybe translated also into other languages if necessary.
MEMBERSHIP
Art. 5
Membership
There are three categories of members:
- The ISST Member Societies (legal persons).
ISST Member Societies are Sandplay associations that are accepted as the ISST Member Societies of ISST. The ISST Member Societies are members of ISST; their ISST-certified members are indirect members of ISST. The norm is one ISST Member Society per nation. For exceptions see rules of procedures. - Individual, direct Members (natural persons)
An Individual Member is a Sandplay Therapist who is accepted into the ISST and is not a member of an ISST Member Society.
This status is valid for:
a. Sandplay Therapists who practice in a geographical area where there are not enough (min. 5) ISST-certified Sandplay Therapists for the establishment of the ISST Member Society;
b. Particular circumstances which allow for exceptions subject to the decision of the Board. - Honorary members
These are, first and foremost, the Founding Members.
The terms of admission to the various forms of membership are stipulated in the Rules of Procedure for the execution of the statutes (see Art. 19, Par. 1, Nr. 3.).
All categories of members are elected by the Board (see Art.19, Par.1.Nr.4).
Art. 6
Voting Rights
In the General Assembly the ISST Member Societies have one vote for each five of their ISST- certified members. The total number of votes to which the ISST Member Society is entitled is determined by the number of its ISST-certified members on January 1st of the year in which the vote is to be taken.
One- to- five Individual Members receive one vote; a further vote is allowed for each one- to- five additional Individual Members.
Honorary Members are counted with the Individual Members if they do not belong to an ISST Member Society.
Before a meeting begins, Individual Members elect among themselves a person or persons who they delegate to cast their vote.
The voting power of an ISST Member Society or of the total number of Individual Members is limited in any case to 25% of the votes cast in the General Assembly.
Art. 7
Obligations
Individual (direct) members and the ISST members of the ISST Member Societies, (indirect members) are entitled to attend all meetings of the Board and to address such meetings with permission of the President. However, they do not have voting rights (see Rules of Procedures).
Direct and indirect members shall receive the Society’s publications.
The ISST members of the ISST Member Societies and the Individual Members have the right to identify themselves as members of the ISST.
The ISST Member Societies and the Individual Members are obligated to pay annual dues in the amount stipulated by the General Assembly (see Art. 14, Nr. 4 and Art. 24).
Art. 8
Termination of Membership
Membership can be terminated:
- Through the dissolution of the ISST Member Society;
- Through the death of an Individual Member;
- Upon resignation of the ISST Member Society or the Individual Member which must be tendered in writing to the domicile of the Society at least eight weeks before the end of the fiscal year; upon resignation the person loses his/her right to train;
- Upon failure to pay dues according to the Rules of Procedures;
- Upon expulsion by the General Assembly according to the Rules of Procedures.
The proposal to expel the ISST Member Society or the Individual Member (but not a specific member of the ISST Member Society) can be made by the Board. The Board must inform all members of such a proposal in writing at least three months before a General Assembly. A majority of 2/3 of votes cast by the General Assembly is required for the expulsion of a member; the Society is not required to state the grounds for expulsion. The Board has the right to suspend the ISST Member Society or the Individual Member and to terminate or continue the membership according to the decision of the General Assembly (see Rules of Procedures).
Art. 9
Congresses
The Society shall organize international congresses regularly with the co-operation of a local organizing committee. The details will be determined by the Rules of Procedures.
Art. 10
Ethics
The Board of ISST shall develop standards of ethical practice which are binding for Individual Members. These standards provide a model for the ISST Member Societies in the development of their own ethical standards.
ORGANIZATION
Art. 11
The Bodies of ISST
The Bodies of ISST are:
- The General Assembly
- The Board
- The Financial Auditor
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Art. 12
The General Assembly
The General Assembly is the governing body of the Society. Regular meetings of the General Assembly shall be convened during the congresses.
An extra-ordinary meeting of the General Assembly shall be convened upon decision of the Board by written request by not less than one-fifth of the members with a statement of the grounds for the request (ZGB Art. 64, Par. 3).
Art. 13
Notice of Convening the General Assembly
Notice of convening the General Assembly must be sent at least four weeks prior to the meeting; the invitation must be in writing and include an agenda; except in the circumstance of an extra-ordinary meeting for which an 8 weeks notice must be sent.
Art.14
Tasks of the General Assembly
The tasks of the General Assembly are:
- To ratify the minutes of the last meeting of the General Assembly
- To approve the annual reports of the Board; to give a final approval of the financial statements; to take notice of the budget.
- To discharge the Board;
- To determine membership dues;
- To elect the President, who in this position, will not represent an ISST Member Society;
- To elect the Treasurer, who in this position, will not represent an ISST Member Society;
- To confirm the Board and its substitute members;
- To elect the Financial Auditor;
- To amend the Statutes;
- To adopt resolutions about items on the agenda;
- To reach decisions about the dissolution of the Society or its merger with another legal person
Art.15
Resolutions
Unless otherwise stipulated, resolutions and elections are decided by a simple majority of members present and represented (see Nr. 6 and Art. 15, Par. 2).
Vote by proxy is allowed in accordance with the Rules of Procedures.
Amendments of the Statutes require a 2/3 majority of all eligible voting members.
Casting of the vote can take place through show of hands or secret ballot.
In exceptional cases the casting of the vote can take place by mail, fax, or e-mail. In this case a simple majority, resp. a 2/3 majority of all ISST members is needed.
Art. 16
Proposal of Motions
Members of the General Assembly can propose motions to the President up to three months before the date of convening. No vote can be taken on points of business, which are not presented by this deadline.
THE BOARD
Art. 17
Elections of the Board
The Board consists of at least five or more members who are elected by the General Assembly. With the exception of the President and the Treasurer, who are elected directly by the General Assembly, the Board constitutes itself.
Every ISST Member Society has the right to nominate a member of the Board and a substitute who are then confirmed by the General Assembly. Each ISST Member Society has the right to nominate one Board Member for each one- to- thirty (Amended to 50 at 2013 (Poland) Board Meeting.)
(1–50) group of members, with one additional member for above thirty (50) members of the ISST Member Society.
In analogy, Individual Members have the right to nominate one Board Member for a one-to-fifty (1-50) group of Individual Members. If there are above fifty (50) Individual Members, they have the right to nominate another member in the Board.
Art. 18
Tenure of office
The President, the Treasurer and the further Board members are elected for a term of four years to a maximum of two consecutive terms. If the President, the Treasurer or an other Board Member is replaced before his/her term has been completed, the new President, the new Treasurer and the new Board Member would step into the previous term to its original completion.
It is possible that a Board member can be elected as President. In this case he/she starts a new term of four to eight years in the function of president.
Art. 19
Duties of the Board
The Board is responsible for all tasks, which are not in the jurisdiction of the General Assembly, such as:
- Invitations and proposals to the General Assembly;
- Presentation of an annual financial statement and a budget for the next fiscal year;
- Issue of Rules of Procedures in relation to the Statutes as well as rules in general;
- Election of all categories of members.
- Representation of the ISST in public and appointment of persons who shall hold signature authority;
- General business management;
- Implementation of resolutions of the General Assembly.
The Board maintains a professional secretariat to conduct the administrative tasks.
Art. 20
Passing of Resolutions
The Board may pass resolutions when at least half of its members or their substitutes are present.
A resolution is passed by a simple majority of the members present. In case of a tie, the President will cast the deciding vote.
A vote by mail, fax and/or e-mail is permitted; it shall be recorded in the minutes of the following Board session. In this case a simple majority of all Board members is needed.
Art. 21
Conducting of Business
The Board can delegate the management of certain tasks to a group consisting of the President and/or several members of the Board. To this purpose, rules must be laid down which regulate the tasks and competences as well as the obligation to report back to the Board.
The Board has the right to install standing and/or ad-hoc committees for the execution of specific tasks whose members are not required to be members of the Board. For this, a resolution of delegation must be passed which describes the task, authority, competence, means and obligation to report.
Art. 22
The Financial Auditor
A financial Auditor must be a chartered accountant and shall be elected for a period covering the time between regular meetings of the General Assembly. The Auditor examines the Society’s financial records and submits a written report to the General Assembly.
FINANCES AND ACCOUNTING
Art. 23
Financial Means
The income of the Society consists of:
- Membership dues;
- Gifts and legacies;
- Revenue from the Society’s capital and property;
- Income resulting from further activities.
Art. 24
Membership Dues
The General Assembly determines dues to be paid by Individual Members (see Art. 14, Nr. 4).
Dues to be paid to ISST by the ISST Member Societies are calculated as follows: the number of ISST members of the ISST Member Society, as of Jan. 1st of each year, is to be multiplied by the dues stipulated for Individual Members. The ISST Member Societies are obligated to report in writing each year before January 31st to the Treasurer the number of their ISST members by January 1st .
Dues must be paid to ISST by March 31 of the current year.
A special dues rate will apply for members who are retired or disabled and who wish to retain their membership but have difficulty in paying the full amount. Such amount will be determined by the ISST Board.
For regulations for resigned members see the Rules of Procedures.
Individual Members who do not duly pay their dues get one reminder and a fine. After the set term they lose their membership without further notice; they shall be stricken from the membership list and no longer have the right to claim membership in the ISST. See Rules of Procedures.
ISST members of the ISST Member Societies who do not duly pay their dues to their Society get one reminder from their Society. After the set term they lose the right to claim membership in the ISST; they shall be stricken from the lists. The ISST Member Society remains obligated to pay the dues for that member according to Art. 24, Par.1. See Rules of Procedures.
Members who are expelled because of failure to pay dues can be re-instated after payment of the debt and hence once more receive the right to identify themselves as members of the ISST.
Art. 25
The Fiscal Year
The fiscal year corresponds to the calendar year.
Art. 26
Liability
The liability of ISST shall not exceed its actual funds and the ISST. Member Societies and the Individual Members are not liable for debts or obligations of the ISST.
DISSOLUTION AND MERGER
Art. 27
Dissolution and Merger
The dissolution of the Society and its merger with another legal person can be determined by resolution through the General Assembly or a vote by mail. The disposal of the Society’s assets after liquidation shall be determined at that time.
A 3/4 majority of all members is required for the passing of a resolution to dissolve by mail vote. The quorum necessary for passing the resolution at a General Assembly is 2/3 of the eligible votes.
If the vote concerning dissolution fails for lack of the necessary quorum and if the Society’s bodies cannot be installed in accordance with the Statutes, a second General Assembly can be convened, by which the simple majority of votes cast are decisive for the resolution.
CLOSING PROVISIONS
Art. 28
Ratification
These Statutes take effect immediately upon ratification.
President ISST Secretary ISST
Ruth Ammann, Yvonne Trüeb
Zürich, January 15. 2006