​The WISPS Constitution sets out the Association's aims, organisational structure and governing principles, providing the framework for its activities and the professional support of women working in Spanish, Portuguese and Latin American Studies.​

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1. The name of the Association of Women in Spanish, Portuguese, and Latin American Studies (WISPS).

2. The aim of WISPS is to bring female Hispanists, Luso-Brazilian and Spanish Americanists in Great Britain and Ireland together and to support them in every aspect of their professional life.

3. Full membership is open to anyone identifying as a woman who is currently studying, teaching or working in any area of Hispanic, Luso-Brazilian and related studies at any level or who has done so in the past.

4. Associate membership is open to anyone identifying as a man and anyone identifying as a woman who is currently studying, teaching or working in any area of Hispanic, Luso-Brazilian and related studies at any level or who has done so in the past, and is resident outside the UK or Ireland. Associate members are designated as Friends of WISPS. Friends of WISPS are eligible to be added to the mailing list, may attend WISPS conferences and have access to the website but not other events such as study days. Friends of WISPS will not be able to apply for funding or take part in the AGM. The membership fee will be GBP17 per annum. 

5. All members shall pay an annual subscription due on 1st of October. Payment by Standing Order is preferred. Members resident outside the UK can pay by GoCardless or WISPS AIB account. Rates of subscription shall be decided by the Committee and ratified by the Annual General Meeting. Membership will lapse if the subscription remains unpaid six months after it is due.

6. The day-to-day business of WISPS shall be conducted by a Committee normally consisting of the following members: president, vice-president, association secretary, treasurer, conference secretary, a Lusophone representative (where not covered by other posts) and/or an elected member who undertakes tasks as designated by the Committee, a post-graduate representative, a grants officer, and a communications officer.
 

7. The committee members shall be as representative as possible of the different groups within WISPS.

8. The officers and committee members must be full members of WISPS. They are elected by the Annual General Meeting and normally serve for three years, renewal once. They must then wait for two years before they can stand for re-election to the same post.

9. The Vice-President normally becomes the President unless they do not wish to do so, in which case the post of President is electable among the membership. Posts that are coming up for election should be advertised via the mailing list. Candidates should provide a short campaign statement which will be circulated via email before the Annual General Meeting takes place.

10. Elections for all posts take place at the Annual General Meeting. Should candidates be unable to attend the meeting, they may be elected in their absence. Should more than one candidate put themselves forward for election, a closed ballot will take place at the AGM.  Should one or more candidates be absent, a closed ballot will take place at the AGM.

11. If nobody has put themselves forward before the AGM, a candidate is invited to apply from among those present and must be proposed and seconded.

12. The organisers of each Annual Conference are on the committee and serve for the year immediately preceding the Conference they are organising. If there is only one Conference Organiser, or the second Organiser is already a member of the Executive Committee, a Member without a Portfolio may be elected.

13. Should a member of the Executive Committee wish to resign, they may do so at any time. Should they wish  to  take  a  leave  of  absence  (for  Maternity  leave,  Sabbatical  leave  or Sickness  leave)  they  may  do  so  for  six  months,  their  role  being  covered  by  another member on the Executive Committee. Should they wish to leave for more than six months, an election will take place for a replacement at the next Annual General Meeting.

14. The Committee is authorised to spend the association’s funds to further the aims of WISPS and shall present accounts at the Annual General Meeting.

15. A Committee is quorate if three Committee members are present.

16. In the event of WISPS ceasing to exist, any existing funds in its possession shall be donated to a women’s organisation approved by the Final General Meeting.

 

Last amended 1 November 2024