CHARTER

Definition and Purpose

1. FIMRe is an international association of organizations whose members, in a manner consistent with the governmental obligations and legal responsibilities of each, pledge to:

· facilitate the use of, and sharing among, mouse resource centers across national boundaries and barriers;

· commit to cooperative, standardized approaches to selection, archiving, protection, safe management, and distribution of mouse models;

· establish and follow commonly shared principles of operation as regards animal health, genetics, environmental management and quality control;

· work cooperatively to secure access to, and utilization of, available resources, services, and expertise in all aspects of archive management and distribution of mouse models;

· achieve a common ground on approaches to insure efficient, effective, and economical access to mouse models and services by the biomedical research community.

2. FIMRe’s goal is to facilitate the use of mouse models of human disease, behavior and development for the benefit of researchers who are investigating the function of each gene in the mouse genome.

Structure and Governance

1. The primary criterion for admission to FIMRe-center status is each organization must be a mouse repository, supported by the national government, which has an independent, sustainable operating budget, and dedicated infrastructure and resources. The applicant organization must also agree to the FIMRe principles of operations, and actively participate in FIMRe operations.

2. FIMRe is governed by a Board of Directors comprised of the current Director of each constituent organization.

3. The Chief Executive officer (CEO) of FIMRe is the Chairperson of the Board of Directors and is supported by the Vice-Chairpersons elected from each continent, North America, Europe, Asia and Australia. (South America and Africa are currently not represented.). The CEO and Vice Chairpersons are responsible for the activities and finances of FIMRe, with the concurrence of the Board.

4. The terms of office are 2 years, with the possibility of one additional 2-year term. Current FIMRe members are listed on page 1.

5. Prospective member organizations must make application through the Vice Chairperson of the relevant Continent, who will assist in preparing the case for admission, bring it to the convened FIMRe Board, and shepherd it through to a vote. Elimination of a member organization will proceed in a similar fashion with the relevant Continental Vice Chairperson moving for elimination

6. The Board of Directors is responsible for developing strategic and financial plans and, where appropriate, will appoint committees to address specific goals. It is responsible for:

· convening one to two meetings annually

· electing officers

· considering additions and eliminations of the membership

· ensuring the web site is maintained

· empowering educational group activities

· adopting the standards of operation agreed upon in committee

· producing an annual report

· preparing amendments to this document

· liaisoning with governmental, industrial and private funding agencies and academic institutions

· overseeing the ultimate dissolution of FIMRe

7. Although consensus on all matters will be sought, practice dictates passage of all votes by a two-thirds majority, provided a quorum is present.

Agreed to by floor vote of all delegates, passed unanimously. 5/22/06