§ 1. Name, address, duration
The name of the Association is the International Association for Lichenology, hereby abbreviated and referred to as the IAL. IAL is constituted as a non-profit organization. The registered office of the IAL is c/o Department of Life Sciences, University of Trieste, Via Giorgieri 10, 34127 Trieste, Italy. The duration of the IAL is indefinite. The financial year ends on the 31st (thirty-first) of December of each year. The first financial year ends on 31 (thirty-first) December 2026 (two thousand and twenty-six).
§ 2. Goals – The purpose of the IAL is to promote the understanding of lichens and lichenology world-wide. To achieve this, the IAL shall: a) encourage the study of lichens, b) advocate lichenological interests in the international arena, c) stimulate communication and discussion among those interested in lichens, d) organise symposia, field meetings, conferences, e) make awards, and f) support the conservation of lichens, among other activities. The IAL is affiliated to the International Union of Biological Sciences (IUBS) and the International Association of Botanical and Mycological Societies (IABMS).
§ 3. Membership – Members of the IAL are those whose dues have been paid. Any person, regardless of nationality, religion, and gender, may apply for membership in IAL. Memberships are confirmed after applications are vetted by at least one IAL Council Officer. Any member who is more than two years in arrears in payment may be suspended by the IAL Council. The membership years close on 31st (thirty-first) December of each year; the first membership year ends on 31st (thirty-first) December 2026 (two thousand and twenty-six).
§ 4. Power to raise Money – The IAL exists only for non-profit status. IAL has the power to raise money by dues or other means as approved by the Council, but only for activities within its goals, scientific purposes, awards, and for its administration.
§ 5. Dues – Membership dues will be determined, upon advice of the IAL Council, by a vote by the membership via electronic or paper ballot as described in § 12.
§ 6. IAL organs – The IAL constitutional organs are the General Assembly, the Council (also called IAL Council), the Auditors, and the Nominating Committee. All meetings of the constitutional organs may be conducted in person or electronically via audio and/or videoconference, to the extent permitted by law.
§ 7. General Assembly – All members that are up-to-date with their membership fees have the right to participate in the General Assembly. The General Assembly shall act by a majority vote of those present, notwithstanding the provisions of § 12, 14 and 15. The IAL will hold its General Assembly, convened by the Council, once a year to approve the budget. The assembly may also be convened when it is deemed necessary by the Council or when requested by at least one tenth of the members, in the manner deemed most suitable to bring it to the attention of all members. The IAL shall hold one General Assembly at the IAL Congress, a major international congress covering all aspects of lichenology, to be traditionally organized every fourth year. Announcements of additional meetings or General Assemblies must reach the membership at least six months in advance. Any member can suggest topics for discussion to the Secretary at least two months prior to the General Assembly, so that these will be disseminated to the membership before the General Assembly. Decisions on changes in dues or constitutional rules, as well as election of new Council Officers will be taken by a vote of the membership, as described in § 12, 14 and 15. Additions to the agenda require a two-thirds majority of those present at the General Assembly.
§ 8. Council – The elected Council Officers of the IAL are a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, an Editor, and three Council members-at-large. These Council Officers form, together with the President of the Local Organizing Committee of the next IAL Congress, the Council of the IAL. The Council administers the affairs and funds of IAL and shall meet or in other ways communicate, as decided by the President or at the request by Council Officers. The President, or in her/his absence the Vice-President, or any member of Council designated by the President, shall preside at all meetings of IAL and the Council. The President of IAL is given power of representation vis-à-vis third parties and in court and ensures the execution of resolutions passed by the Assembly and the Council. The Secretary shall keep minutes of meetings and shall conduct correspondence as requested by Council. The Treasurer, or in her/his absence the Assistant Treasurer, shall keep an account of all receipts and expenditures and have a statement presented at General assemblies and as requested by Council. The Assistant Treasurer shall assist the Treasurer as requested by the Council. The Editor shall prepare the International Lichenological Newsletter (ILN), whose content and format shall be at her/his discretion subject to review and recommendation of Council. To be valid, decisions of Council — held by a majority vote — require that all Council members have been informed and that at least six of them participated. Council may temporarily fill positions vacated between elections. If at any time fewer than seven elected Officers remain on Council, a new Council must be elected at an extra General Assembly or other voting procedure as outlined in § 12. The Council nominates IAL representatives to the IUBS and the IABMS, when needed. The Council may designate Committees that shall manage topics of particular relevance to the IAL. Such Committees will last until the next Council takes over or until the topic is resolved. The term for Council Officers is four years. The maximum period for any Council Officer is two consecutive terms. Council Officers, with the sole exception of the Editor, cannot serve more than one consecutive term in the same position.
§ 9. Auditor and Vice-Auditor – The Auditor and Vice-Auditor are elected non-Council members. The Auditor, assisted by the Vice-Auditor, will review the financial records of the IAL on behalf of its membership, and present a report at the General Assembly. In her/his absence, the Vice Auditor will act as Auditor. The term for Auditor and Vice-Auditor is four years. The maximum period for Auditor and Vice-Auditor is two consecutive terms.
§ 10. Nominating Committee – The Nominating Committee is composed of three elected non-Council members, and they elect a chair among themselves. The Nominating Committee is responsible for organizing the nominations and voting procedures as described in § 12. The term for the Nominating Committee members is four years. The maximum period for the Nominating Committee members is two consecutive terms.
§ 11. Nomination and election of Council officers, auditors and nominating Committee – The Nominating Committee must publish a call for nominations reaching the membership at least six months prior to the voting event. Any member of the IAL may submit nominations or be nominated (including self-nominations), and the call for nominations should encourage diversity and a balanced representation of the membership. The Nomination Committee is to strive for having at least two nominations per post. Nominations, to be valid, need the written consent of the nominees, and need to reach the Nominating Committee at least two months prior to the general meeting or other voting event. Nominations from the floor at general meetings are allowed only when no nominee for a given post is elected. Elections will be made by majority vote as described in § 12. Voting will take place irrespective of the number of nominees for a post.
§ 12. Voting procedures – Voting procedures will normally take place at or before the General Assembly of the IAL Congress, via electronic or paper ballot. The Nominating Committee will organise the voting procedures for the election of Council Officers, Auditors and the new Nomination Committee, in discussion with Council. The Nominating Committee will oversee ballot counting for these elections independently. Other voting procedures are organised by the Council. Decisions will be taken by a majority vote; a tie vote shall be resolved by Council and if still necessary by the President. To be valid, a vote requires the participation of at least 10% of the membership. All results from voting procedures including elections will be announced at the General Assembly of the IAL Congress, or via email, as well as in the IAL Newsletter. All changes voted upon come to effect directly after the announcement, including newly elected Council Officers. The current Officers, Auditors and Nominating Committee continue to serve until a voting procedure has taken place.
§ 13. Awards – The initiation of IAL awards is decided by the general meeting. IAL award recipients are decided on by the Council. The IAL has currently the following six awards:
1) The Mason Hale Award recognizing excellence in research by young lichenologists for outstanding work resulting from doctoral dissertations or similar studies.
2) The Acharius Medal recognizing the life-work of distinguished lichenologists.
3) The Sylvia Sharnoff Education Award for an outstanding web page devoted to lichens.
4) The Dharani Awasthi Award for a prominent young researcher working and living in a low-income country, who has completed a Ph.D. within five years prior to the submission deadline.
5) The Aino Henssen Award for a prominent researcher early in their career, who has completed a Ph.D. within five years prior to the submission deadline.
For the above awards, a call for nominations must reach the membership at least six months in advance of the next main conference, traditionally the IAL Congress and the International Mycological Congress.
6) The Margalith Galun Awards for outstanding student contributions at the IAL Congress (best oral and poster presentations).
These awards will be decided by the Council and presented during the closing ceremony of the IAL Congress.
§ 14. Change of Constitutional Rules – Proposals of changes must be sent to the Secretary at least four months prior to the General Assembly or other voting event, so that they may be disseminated to the membership before the voting. Changes in these rules may be made only upon approval by not less than two-thirds of the members present at the General Assembly or other voting event, as described in § 12. No rule change shall be allowed which will change the non-profit status of the IAL.
§ 15. Dissolution of the IAL – A motion to dissolve the IAL must be approved by at least two-thirds of all members that are up-to-date with their membership fees. If the IAL is dissolved, any funds remaining after all outstanding liabilities are discharged shall be used for scientific purposes in the field of lichenology as agreed by the last Council.
— Approved by the IAL General Assembly, Trieste, July 30 2026.