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Following the great success of the First Islamic Manuscript Conference last year, we are delighted to announce that the Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation and the Centre of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at the University of Cambridge will host the Second Islamic Manuscript Conference, entitled The Islamic Manuscript II: A Conference to Establish The Islamic Manuscript Association, from 7-9 August 2006 at Emmanuel College, University of Cambridge.
The Second Islamic Manuscript Conference will open with a constitution signing ceremony, a general meeting, and a celebratory dinner on the first day. The remainder of the conference will be dedicated to presentations on those subjects with which TIMA is concerned: accessibility, cataloguing, conservation, copyright, and digitization. These topics will be discussed as they pertain to furthering the work of TIMA, not as subjects in and of themselves. As explained in the draft constitution, the object of TIMA shall be to standardize the terms of and facilitate access to digital and microfilm images of manuscripts as well as construct a mechanism for protecting the rights of institutions possessing manuscripts. It will assist in the creation of universal cataloguing standards and encourage and assist with conservation. It will assess the needs of manuscript collections around the world, draw up a list of priorities for action, and seek international funding for fulfilling those objectives. Furthermore, it will encourage scholarship related to Islamic manuscripts. In general, it will promote the welfare and interests of Islamic manuscripts. TIMA is non-profit and non-denominational.
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The Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation is a not-for-profit educational trust established to advance, support and promote the protection, preservation, study, and dissemination of the Islamic intellectual, cultural, and artistic heritage. It prepares the highest quality critical editions of works of traditional Islamic literature and strives for the revivification of all Islamic arts, particularly those of the book.
The headquarters of the Foundation is located in Vaduz, Liechtenstein. It has offices in Cairo, Egypt; Cambridge, England; and Stuttgart, Germany.
The Foundation's founder and chairman is Mr. F. R. Gouverneur. Mr. Gouverneur is an elected member of the Islamic Research Academy of Al-Azhar and a member of the board of directors of the Al-Azhar Center for the Sunna and Prophetic Sira. He is also a visiting scholar at the Centre of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at the University of Cambridge. See the Foundation’s website: www.thesaurus-islamicus.li |
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The Centre of Middle Eastern and Islamic
Studies (CMEIS) was founded in 1960 by Professor Arthur Arberry to
foster an interest in the Middle East, particularly the modern Middle
East, amongst Cambridge scholars, students and the general public, and
to support research.
Today the Centre plays an active role in
promoting Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies amongst academics and the
public though lectures, seminars, and conferences. CMEIS helps to
establish and develop links between individuals and institutions with an
interest in Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies and to encourage
communication between academics, the media, and the public. The Centre
is supported by experts from the University of Cambridge and affiliated
institutions.
See the Centre’s website:
www.cmeis.cam.ac.uk
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Preamble
The Islamic Manuscript Association comprises persons and institutions sharing a common interest who have, freely and on their own volition, entered into an Association which will facilitate the exchange of knowledge and experience between its members and coordinate their work, therefore serving both to benefit them and Islamic manuscripts. Members may leave the Association at any time.
Article 1. Name
1.1 The name of this body shall be The Islamic Manuscript Association (TIMA).
Article 2. Object
2.1 The object of The Islamic Manuscript Association shall be to standardize the terms of and facilitate access to digital and microfilm images of manuscripts as well as construct a mechanism for protecting the rights of institutions possessing manuscripts. It will assist in the creation of universal cataloguing standards and encourage and assist with conservation. It will assess the needs of manuscript collections around the world, draw up a list of priorities for action, and seek international funding for fulfilling those objectives. Furthermore, it will encourage scholarship related to Islamic manuscripts. In general, it will promote the welfare and interests of Islamic manuscript collections. The Islamic Manuscript Association is non-profit and non-denominational.
2.2 It shall assist in the dissemination of information about work in progress, new projects, organize periodic conferences addressing various aspects of Islamic manuscripts and related fields, etc. The Association shall be organized and operated exclusively for charitable and educational purposes. The Association shall organise occasional workshops on codicology and palaeography.
Article 3. Membership
3.1 Any person, library, or other organization interested in Islamic manuscripts may become a member upon approval by the Executive Committee and payment of the dues provided for in the Bylaws. The Executive Committee may suspend a member for cause after hearing by a two-thirds vote of the members of the Executive Committee and may reinstate a member by a three-fourths vote of the members of the Executive Committee.
Article 4. Meetings
4.1 Meetings shall be held as provided for in the Bylaws.
Article 5. Board
5.1 The Board of The Islamic Manuscript Association shall be the governing body of the Association.
5.2 The Board shall determine all policies of the Association, and its decisions shall be binding upon the Association.
5.3 The Board shall consist of 10 members including the Chairman. Board members shall be chosen as specified in the Bylaws of the Association.
5.4 The Chairman shall be elected as specified in the Bylaws of the Association. The Chairman shall serve for a term of two years and may be re-elected for one more term. The Chairman shall be a person known for his or her work with Islamic manuscripts who is willing and able to represent internationally the mission of the Association.
5.5 A majority of the Board shall constitute a quorum.
Article 6. Executive Committee
6.1 The Executive Committee shall consist of the officers of the Association and as many members as necessary in order to direct the different sub-committees (cataloguing, digitisation, fundraising, etc.) essential to the Association’s work.
At present, and for the purposes of establishing TIMA, the Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation, as founder and funder of the Association, shall appoint the officers of the Association: the president, executive director, assistant director, and treasurer. This is in order to facilitate the establishment and running of the Association. Other persons on the Executive Committee shall be appointed and removed by the Board. The Board shall determine the duration of their service.
6.2 The Executive Committee shall report on its activities not later than the next meeting of the Board. The Executive Committee shall act for the Board in the administration of established policies and projects. The Executive Committee shall be the body which manages within this context the affairs of the Association, but shall delegate management of the day-to-day operation to the Association's Executive Director. The Executive Committee shall make recommendations to the Board with respect to matters of policy.
6.3 A majority shall constitute a quorum of the Executive Committee.
Article 7. Officers and Sub-committees
7.1 Only members of the Association shall have the right to hold office. The officers of the Association shall be a president, an executive director, an assistant director and a treasurer. At present, and for the purposes of establishing TIMA, the Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation, as founder and funder of the Association, shall appoint the officers of the Association. This is in order to facilitate the establishment and running of the Association.
7.2 When a vacancy occurs in the office of president, executive director, assistant director or treasurer, it shall be filled by Executive Committee appointment in consultation with the Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation.
7.3 The president, executive director, assistant director and treasurer shall perform the duties pertaining to their respective offices and such other duties as may be approved by the Executive Committee. The president, for the Executive Committee, and the executive director for the headquarters staff, shall report annually to the Board. The executive director shall be in charge of headquarters and its personnel; shall carry out the activities provided for in the budget; and shall perform such other duties as may be assigned to the office.
7.4 Other persons on the Executive Committee shall be appointed and removed by the Board at the Annual General Meeting. The Board shall determine the duration of their service.
7.5 The Executive Committee shall fix the compensation of all paid officers and employees.
7.6 All officers and all elected members of the Executive Committee shall serve until the adjournment of the meeting at which their successors are chosen.
7.7 Sub-committees to address issues of cataloguing, conservation, conference management, digitisation, fundraising, journal development, project co-ordination, or aspects of academic research, etc. may be formed. They shall report to the Board.
Article 8. Activities
8.1 The focus of the Association’s activities shall be an annual conference and the publication of its proceedings, the publication of a journal and the publication of a regular newsletter. Additionally, the Association will facilitate, through its headquarters, communications between its members. The Association shall occasionally publish texts of rare manuscripts and will co-ordinate with members in this regard. The Association shall organise occasional workshops on codicology and palaeography.
Article 9. Bylaws Amendments and Editorial Changes
9.1 All proposals for amending the Bylaws shall be proposed to or by the Board. A proposed amendment or new bylaw shall become effective when it shall have been approved by two-thirds of the members of the Association.
Article 10. Constitutional Amendments
10.1 All proposals for amending the Constitution shall be proposed to or by the Board. A proposed amendment shall become effective when it shall have been approved by two-thirds of the members of the Association.
Article 11. Location
11.1 The addresses of The Islamic Manuscript Association are:
Article 12. Disbanding
12.1 In the event of the Association disbanding, any remaining funds in its possession will be donated to any organisation selected by the Board which works to further aims compatible with those of the Association.
BYLAWS
Article 1. Membership
1.1 Classification of Membership.
Patrons
• Any person who makes a monetary donation of at least £1000 to the Association will be made a patron of the Association with the same rights and privileges as a member. A patron will receive lifetime membership. Donations must be approved by the Executive Committee. Patrons will be placed into one of four categories depending on the amount of their donation:
1. Platinum: £20,000+
2. Gold: £10,000 - £19,999
3. Silver: £1,000 - £9,999
Honorary Members
• Honorary Members — Persons nominated by the Board and elected for life by the Board.
Institutional Members
• Library and University Members — Nonprofit libraries and nonprofit institutions of higher learning. The representative of the institution shall be officially appointed. Applications for membership must be approved by the Executive Committee. Institutional members pay dues set in accordance with Section 1.2 of this Article.
• All other nonprofit organizations — Library associations, academic organizations, and nonprofit organizations other than libraries and institutions of higher learning. The representative of the institution shall be officially appointed. Applications for membership must be approved by the Executive Committee. Institutional members pay dues set in accordance with Section 1.2 of this Article.
Individual Members
•Members — Includes librarians, other library employees, academics and others working professionally with Islamic manuscripts. This category comprises persons who do not have the authority to speak on behalf of an institution or organization. Applications for membership must be approved by the Executive Committee. Members pay dues set in accordance with Section 1.2 of this Article.
Corporate Members
• Corporate Members — Includes organizations other than nonprofit libraries and nonprofit institutions of higher learning or persons employed at such organizations. Corporate members shall not have voting privileges. Applications for membership must be approved by the Executive Committee. Corporate members pay dues set in accordance with Section 1.2 of this Article.
1.2 Membership Dues, Rights, and Privileges
1.2.1 Only members of the Association shall have the right to vote, hold office, and receive membership rates for conference fees, publications, etc. Members shall receive copies of the
Journal of the Islamic Manuscript Association, newsletter and a roster of members. The dues to be paid shall be as follows:
1.2.2 Members falling into two or more categories of membership shall pay the highest applicable dues and shall receive corresponding privileges. The Board shall have the authority to make adjustments in the scale of dues for cases not clearly covered in Sec. 1.2.1. 1.2.3 Upon approval of the Board, special promotional membership rates may be made available from time to time. 1.2.4 Members whose dues are unpaid upon the expiration date of their membership year and who shall continue such delinquency for one month after notice of the same has been sent, shall be dropped from membership. Lapsed members may be reinstated upon payment of dues for the current year. 1.2.5 The membership year for the Association and for the divisions shall be twelve consecutive months, effective the first day of the month following receipt of dues payment. 1.2.6 The Islamic Manuscript Association dues schedule shall be reviewed yearly. 1.2.7 Only institutional members and individual members responsible for collections are entitled to vote on issues specifically related to the management of library collections. Article 2. Meetings 2.1 Annual Meetings. There shall be an annual meeting of the Association held at the time and place of the annual conference. 2.2 Special Meetings. Special meetings of the Association may be called by the Executive Committee, and shall be called by the President on request of not less than ten percent of the voting members of the Association. Article 3. Board 3.1 Board membership requirement. No person may serve on the Board unless a member of The Islamic Manuscript Association. 3.2 Meetings. The Board shall hold at least one meeting each year. Such a meeting shall be held at the time and place of the annual conference of the Association. Other meetings may be called by the president and shall be called upon request of the majority of the Board. 3.3 Officers. The president, executive director and the treasurer of the Association shall serve as officers of the Board, the assistant director serving as its secretary. The assistant director shall not have the right to vote. 3.4 All officers of the Executive Committee shall automatically be members of the Board. 3.5 The Board shall consist of an honorary Chairman, the four officers of the Executive Committee, and five elected members of the Association. All Board members with the exception of the Chairman and the officers of the Executive Committee are elected by the members of the Association at the Annual General Meeting. All elected Board members shall serve for terms of two years and may be re-elected more than once. The Chairman is elected by a two-thirds majority of the Board. The Chairman shall serve for a term of two years and may be re-elected more than once. 3.6 A vacancy in the membership of the Board representing the Association at large shall be filled at the following election to complete the unexpired term. If, however, filling this vacancy requires immediate action the Board will appoint a person to that vacancy until the time of the next election. Article 4. Executive Committee 4.1 At present, and for the purposes of establishing TIMA, the Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation, as founder and funder of the Association, and the Centre of Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at the University of Cambridge, as host of the Association, shall appoint the officers of the Association: the president, executive director, assistant director, and treasurer. This is in order to facilitate the establishment and running of the Association. Other persons on the Executive Committee shall be appointed and removed by the Board. The Board shall determine the duration of their service. Article 5. Finances 5.1 The fiscal year of the Association shall be from April 1st to March 31st. Receipts from dues, income from investments not designated for specific purposes, and all other receipts not designated for specific purposes shall be placed in a General Account available for appropriations to the annual budget. 5.2 An audited report shall be made annually to the membership. The Board shall nominate an auditor for the accounts every year. The membership will ratify this nomination at the Annual General Meeting. 5.3 All funds raised by The Islamic Manuscript Association from membership dues, conferences, and any other activities undertaken by the Association will be spent only on the Association. The Thesaurus Islamicus Foundation will donate, at its discretion, an amount of money to the Association which is to be used exclusively for the Association's work. April 2006 | ||||||||||||||||||
The purpose of the Second Islamic Manuscript Conference will be the signing of the constitution
and the formal establishment of The Islamic Manuscript Association (TIMA).
For this reason we welcome to the conference those who are willing to work over
the coming months to finalize TIMA's draft constitution and who will,
in August 2006, sign that constitution and commit their institutions to TIMA's mission.
Therefore, between now and the conference,
we kindly request that all institutions and persons interested in joining TIMA be in communication
with us so that we can come to an agreement on the constitution as well as all other aspects
of the organization of TIMA, namely nominations for the membership of the board of directors
and the association's subcommittees, before the conference is convened.
We look forward to the participation of a large number of the world’s most important Islamic manuscript libraries and scholars of Islamic manuscripts. The working languages of the conference will be Arabic, English, Persian and Turkish. Space at the Second Islamic Manuscript Conference is limited. If you are interested in becoming a founding member of TIMA please contact the organizers at the address below. Should you be unable to join TIMA at the forthcoming conference but are interested in the Association, please contact us as we are interested your comments and suggestions. We will keep you informed of our work and await your participation at a later date.
