The official homepage of the Research Network Youth & Generation, a part of the ESA Research Network

STATUTES OF THE RESEARCH NETWORK 'YOUTH & GENERATION' OF THE EUROPEAN SOCIOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION (ESA)

§ 1 Background

The Research Network Youth and Generation is a continuation of The Research Network Youth and Generation in Europe that was created at the end of European Sociological Associations conference in Budapest in 1995.

§ 2 Statement of purpose

The purpose and intention of the Research Network Youth and Generation is in accordance with the 'Guide-lines for Research Networks of the ESA', to advance research and development in the field of youth sociology, transdisciplinary youth studies, and intergenerational issues, and to provide the main forum for sociological advancement and debate within this field on a European scale.

§ 3 Tasks and activities

The Research Network Youth and Generation provides a forum for youth researchers in Europe to meet, present, and discuss their research, as well as encourages European and international exchange and collaboration. In order to obtain its goal, the network uses the following instruments:

§ 4 Membership

Membership of The Research Network Youth and Generation is open to any social scientist who is a member in good standing of the European Sociological Association and works in the field of sociology of youth, transdisciplinary youth studies, or intergenerational issues. Membership of The Research Network Youth and Generation is not a requirement for presenting or participating in paper sessions in European Sociological Association's biannual conference or for joining the email discussion list.

§ 5 Organisation

The Research Network's highest authority is the Business Meeting. The Business Meeting is arranged in connection with the European Sociological Association's biannual conference. The conference announcement serves as an invitation to the Business Meeting. The Business Meeting considers and acts on the Board's report, membership dues, the Board's plan of work activities, and election of the Coordinator and the Board, as well as other issues and points of business which can be proposed from Board members or suggested by individual members. Such items can be proposed beforehand such that they appear on the meeting agenda, or raised at the meeting under the agenda item of miscellaneous. The official language of the Research Network is English.

§ 6 Board and Elections

Between Business Meetings, the Research Network is led by the Coordinator and the Board. The Board will consist of five members: a Coordinator, a Deputy Coordinator, a Secretary, and two additional members.

The Business Meeting elects the Board's members. Board membership is for a period of two years.

Re-election for one consecutive period is possible. The Board shall contain no more than two members from the same country. An effort shall be made to ensure a fair gender and national representation, and to ensure that each Board consists of some continuing and some new members.

§ 7 Board's Responsibilities

I. Biannual reports to the ESA

The Board must send a report on their activities to the Vice President of ESA every two years. The report should be received within two months of the biannual conference, and include:

• A list of the names and contact details of the Coordinator and other the members of Board that were elected at the Business Meeting, and who were in post over the preceding 2 years.
• A brief report on Research Network paper sessions and other activities undertaken at the conference.
• A brief report on Research Network activities undertaken over the two years preceding the ESA conference, e.g. any Research Network midterm conferences or seminars held, publishing or other dissemination activities, number of issues of newsletters produced, etc.

II. Organisation of paper sessions for each bi-annual ESA Conference

• Sending out requests for abstracts, and receiving abstracts.
• Selection of abstracts and notifying acceptance (or not) of abstracts.
• Organising the accepted abstracts into a thematically organised programme of paper sessions, and submitting this Research Network programme to the Local Conference Organiser.
• Assigning Chairs to each paper session and notifying the Local Conference Organiser.
• Co-operation with the Local Conference Organiser about all aspects of the Research Network programme of paper sessions.
• Keeping in regular contact with papergivers, and trying to ensure that all accepted paper are presented.
• Notify the Local Conference Organiser as soon as possible if any papergiver is unable to attend the conference.
• Organise joint paper sessions with other Research Networks (optional).
• Organise a Business meeting at the ESA Conference.

III. Between the biannual conference activities

• Collect and distribute information about research conferences within the field
• Collect and distribute information about partner search for establishing research groups, research projects, etc.
• Collect and distribute other information that facilitates research and cooperation within the field
• Organise or encourage the organising of midterm conferences and seminars
• Organise or encourage  the publication of conference proceeding and other publishing activities
• Manage the Internet discussion email facility 'esa-youth'
• Establish and manage a website for the Research Network.

§ 8 Final Regulation

These statutes were proposed, discussed, amended, and approved at the Business Meeting 10 September 2005 at European Sociological association's Conference in Torun, Poland. They supersede any previously approved rules for the Research Network Youth and Generation in Europe.

Changes in and amendments to these statutes, must be proposed in writing by a member in good standing and distributed through the e-mail discussion list no less than 60 days before a Business Meeting, where it must be approved by two-thirds of the votes in the Business Meeting Assembly.