Article 1 (Name)

The name of this organisation shall be the "Association of Track and
Field Statisticians" (A.T.F.S.).
 

The purpose of this organisation shall be to promote the development and
rationalising of track and field statistics throughout the world.  This
purpose is to be achieved primarily through the publication of World and
National all-time and year lists of best performers and performances for
both men and women.  From these an accurate basis will be provided for
making of both statistical analyses and seeding lists.
 

This organisation shall be an independent and non-political body governed
by its own Constitution.
 

English shall be the official language of this organisation.  The study
of other internationally prominent languages shall, however, be encouraged
to promote a better and closer understanding among members.
 

There shall be the following categories of membership in this association:
 
1. Member:   Any track and field statistician who has conducted research
   nationally or internationally shall be eligible for consideration for
   admission to the ATFS.  Applications for membership, which are to be
   made on the appropriate form and sent to the Secretary-General, must be
   supported by at least one member of the organisation.  Applications will
   be processed by the President and Secretary-General and promulgated in
   the Bulletin.  Failing objections, they will be ratified at the next
   Convention.
 
   The membership fee shall be 50 Swiss Francs per annum; if, because of
   national currency regulations, this amount cannot be paid, special
   arrangements must be made with the Treasurer.  Every member whose
   account is in order shall receive a copy of the Annual and of the
   Bulletin as issued.  Any member whose account is not in order for two
   consecutive years may be automatically dropped from membership.
 
2. Patron:   Any person or organisation who wishes to give financial
   support to this Association by annual subscription equal to at least
   five times that of the Member's subscription rate shall be eligible
   for this category of membership.
 
3. Honorary Member:   Any person whose service to the ATFS in particular,
   or to track and field athletics in general, may be granted the status
   of Honorary Member by nomination of the Executive Committee and vote
   of the Convention.   Honorary Members are not subject to the payment
   of membership fees.
 

1. Conventions shall be held every 2 years in the host city of the Olympic
   Games and World and European Championships.   Only such a Convention
   shall have power to: (a) Ratify amendments to the Constitution;
                        (b) Dissolve the Association.
 
2. A quorum at all Conventions shall consist of members from at least 12
   countries.
 
3. Conventions shall be presided over by the President, or, in his/her
   absence, by the Secretary General, whom failing by any chosen member
   of the Executive Committee.
 
4. Representation of absent members shall be made by correspondence
   addressed to the Secretary General at least 10 days before the
   Convention.
 

The management of the affairs of the Association shall be entrusted to an
Executive Committee, consisting of a President, a Secretary-General, a
Treasurer, all past Presidents and eight other members.   If among this 
number any ATFS recognised areas are not represented, one member shall be 
added to the Committee from each such area.   This member shall be the 
person from that area receiving the greatest number of votes in the 
Executive Committee ballot.
 
(Note: the ATFS recognised areas are as follows :-  Africa; Asia; Europe;
North America; Central America & Caribbean; South America; Oceania)
 
Elections shall be held by mail ballot immediately following the meeting
held at the World Championships in the year preceding the Olympic Games,
and the Committee shall remain in office for the next four years.
Nominations shall be made either from the floor of the Convention or by
correspondence received by the Secretary-General prior to the Convention.
In the event of one or more vacancies occurring between elections, either
through death or resignation, the Executive Committee shall have the power
to co-opt one or more members.
 

Amendments to this Constitution may be proposed by any member upon
submission to the Secretary General.  The amendment shall be passed by
the vote of members present at the Convention and by absent members
voting by mail.
 

The Executive Committee may, if it deems advisable, appoint special
sub-committees for work on particular projects.
 
                                        (Revised at Tokyo, 28 August 1991)