Aims and Objectives of the Society

The Irish Pattern Recognition and Classification Society (IPRCS), referred to as the Society hereafter, aims at:

• Advancing pattern recognition, classification and kindred disciplines including clustering, neural networks, multivariate data analysis, image processing, and their applications across all fields.
• Advancing interdisciplinary research and development in the chosen fields, aiming at innovation and novelty, based on high calibre mathematical theory, algorithms and implementation.
• Enjoying close and mutually reinforcing links with other societies of similar type, e.g. in optical engineering, remote sensing, statistics, operations research, marketing, economic research.
• Affiliation as a member organisation to relevant international organisations such as IAPR (International Association for Pattern Recognition) and IFCS (International Federation of Classification Societies).
• Distribution of newsletters and other sources of information from kindred international organisations such as IAPR, IFCS and relevant professional bodies.
• Organisation of major international conferences, workshops and colloquia.
• Organisation of professional seminars and courses.
• Organisation of special interest groups on topics related to the Society.
• Representing activities in the island of Ireland in relevant international professional initiatives, e.g. networks and centres of excellence.
• Communication and dissemination of knowledge among research workers in the chosen fields, locally and internationally.
• A directory of members, with interests and links to lists of publications, and other professional organisations, will be maintained.
• Providing a standing committee for the conferences on IMVIP, Irish Machine Vision and Image Processing, whose sole purpose is to select a venue for the next year, after which responsibility passes to the local organisers.

The Society is composed of:

• Ordinary Members
• Institutional Members
• Student Members
• Retired Members
• Honorary Members

Any organisation or individual agreeing with the Society's aims and who pays the institutional membership fee may avail of an institutional membership.

Student membership is open to registered students, in Ireland or elsewhere, who agree with the aims of the Society.

Honorary membership is awarded in special cases by accord at the annual general meeting of the Society.

Membership can be ended by resignation, non-payment of dues or by majority decision of the officers of the Society.

Article 3

Agreements can be entered into with other kindred professional organisations, in Ireland or elsewhere, to allow benefits in regard to journal subscriptions, organisation memberships fees, conference attendance fees, and so on, to be passed on to members of the Society. Reciprocal arrangements and agreements can be entered into.

Administration

Article 4

The Society is administered by a Board, presided over by a Chairperson and with Officer responsibilities for the following roles: Secretary, Webmaster, Treasurer, and Public Relations.

The Chairperson and Officers are elected for a period of three years.

Designated representatives of the Society in international organisations and bodies are mandated by the Board.

In the case of vacant positions, the Board can co-opt a replacement. Additions to the Board are by majority decision of the Board.

The Chairperson is the legal representative of the Society. Expenditure must be authorized by the Chairperson. The Chairperson can delegate responsibility.

Article 5

The annual general meeting (AGM) is open to all members of the Society. The AGM is presided over by the Chairperson or, in his/her absence, by an Officer delegated by him/her.

Decisions are made by simple majority decision with the exception of changes to the Constitution. Voting for Society officers is similarly by simple majority vote. Voting by mail or email is authorized.

Articles of this Constitution can be changed by vote. At least one-quarter of the membership must agree to any such change. The dissolving of the Society requires the vote of one-half of the Society's membership.

Article 6

Points of clarification in regard to the Constitution can be made by the Society's Board. Any decision made in this regard must be ratified by the next AGM.

Such decision-making by the committee is aimed in particular at the fixing of membership dues and taking changed and unforeseen circumstances into account.

Article 7

This Constitution comes into being by the majority approval of the Board.