Bylaws

Article 1. Name and seat

1.1. The name of the association is the Astral Survey Research Union, abbreviated ASRU (“the Union”).

1.2. The Union is based in Portland, Oregon, United States. It has no fixed premises, and its members may live in any country.

Article 2. Purpose

2.1. The purpose of the Union is to develop and apply open computational methods, including machine learning, to astronomical images, and to publish those methods, their results and their limitations for anyone to use.

2.2. In pursuit of this purpose, the Union may run research programs, publish data, software and technical notes, organize meetings and observing expeditions, and encourage public participation in astronomy.

2.3. The Union is organized and operated exclusively for scientific and educational purposes. No part of its net earnings shall benefit any member or private individual, except for reasonable reimbursement of approved expenses.

Article 3. Membership

3.1. Membership is open to any individual aged 18 or over who supports the purpose of the Union and agrees to follow its code of conduct.

3.2. Applications are decided by the Council member responsible for membership. An applicant who is refused may appeal to the full Council, whose decision is final.

3.3. Membership is free. Members may make voluntary contributions.

3.4. Every member has one vote at the General Assembly and may stand for election to the Council.

3.5. Membership ends by written resignation, by death, or by removal. The Council may remove a member who has seriously or repeatedly broken the code of conduct, after giving the member an opportunity to be heard. A removed member may appeal to the next General Assembly.

Article 4. General Assembly

4.1. The General Assembly of all members is the highest decision-making body of the Union.

4.2. An ordinary General Assembly is held at least once each calendar year. The Council may call an extraordinary General Assembly at any time, and must call one within 30 days if at least one fifth of members request it in writing.

4.3. Notice of a General Assembly, with its agenda, is sent to all members at least 21 days in advance.

4.4. Members may attend in person or by video call. A General Assembly is quorate if one third of members, or ten members, whichever is fewer, are present.

4.5. Decisions are taken by a simple majority of votes cast, except where these bylaws require otherwise. Abstentions are not counted as votes cast.

4.6. The General Assembly elects the Council, approves the annual report and accounts, approves the budget and work plan, and decides on amendments to these bylaws and on dissolution.

Article 5. Council

5.1. The Council consists of a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary, a Treasurer and up to three further Council members, all elected by the General Assembly.

5.2. Council members serve for two years and may be re-elected. No member may hold the same office for more than two consecutive terms.

5.3. The Council manages the affairs of the Union between General Assemblies, within the budget and work plan approved by the General Assembly. It meets at least once every two months, usually by video call, and decides by simple majority.

5.4. The President chairs the Council and the General Assembly and represents the Union. The Vice-President deputizes for the President. The Secretary keeps the minutes and the register of members. The Treasurer keeps the accounts and reports on them to the General Assembly.

5.5. If an office becomes vacant, the Council may appoint a member to fill it until the next General Assembly.

Article 6. Working groups

6.1. The Council may set up working groups for particular programs or tasks and appoint a lead for each.

6.2. Working-group leads report to the Council at least every three months.

Article 7. Finances

7.1. The financial year is the calendar year.

7.2. The Union’s funds come from voluntary contributions, donations and grants that are consistent with its purpose and independence.

7.3. Funds may be used only for the purposes of the Union. Members are not paid for their work for the Union. Expenses incurred on behalf of the Union may be reimbursed if approved in advance by the Treasurer.

7.4. The Treasurer presents accounts for the previous year to each ordinary General Assembly.

Article 8. Openness

8.1. The Union publishes its software under licenses approved by the Open Source Initiative, and its data, models and texts under open licenses, unless the conditions of a data source require otherwise.

8.2. The Union acknowledges every data source in the way that source requests, and credits the work of its members.

Article 9. Conflicts of interest

9.1. A Council member who has a personal or financial interest in a matter before the Council must declare it and take no part in the decision.

Article 10. Amendments

10.1. These bylaws may be amended by a General Assembly by a two-thirds majority of votes cast, provided the proposed amendment was included in the notice of the meeting.

Article 11. Dissolution

11.1. The Union may be dissolved by a General Assembly by a three-quarters majority of votes cast, provided dissolution was included in the notice of the meeting.

11.2. On dissolution, any remaining assets shall be transferred to one or more nonprofit organizations with purposes similar to those of the Union.

Article 12. Transitional provisions

12.1. The members present or represented at the Founding Assembly on November 7, 2026, are the founding members of the Union.

12.2. The Council elected at the Founding Assembly serves until the ordinary General Assembly in 2028.

12.3. The Council is authorized to incorporate the Union as a nonprofit corporation under the laws of Oregon, with articles of incorporation consistent with these bylaws. On incorporation, these bylaws become the bylaws of the corporation, subject to any amendments required by law.