Statut Stowarzyszenia

STATUTE OF ECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION EKO-UNIA

The present Statute of the Eco-Union Association take changes from third March 2007 into account.

Chapter I

General Resolutions

Name, Area of Action, Seat

§1

1. The Association is named the Ecological Association Eco-Union (henceforth the Association).

2. The Association is a registered association acting on the basis of the

law on associations and having the status legal person.

§2

1. The seat of the Association is Wroclaw.

2. The Association can establish its own departments which encompass one or more Voivodeships.

3. The Association acts on the territory of the Polish Republic and abroad.

§3

1. The Association can become a member of national and international

associations with similar nature of activity.

Chapter II

Aims and Forms of the Association’s Activity

§4

1. The activity of the Association aims at realization of sustainable development principle.

2. The Association acts in the public tasks sphere considered as public benefit activity. The tasks include:

I. Activity in aid of ecology and animal protection and conservation of natural heritage, including:

1. Supporting and coordinating civic initiatives towards the realization of the

constitutional principle of sustainable development – eco-development.

2. Searching for systemic, technical and technological solutions which enable achieving the aim.

3. Promoting initiatives in aid of cooperation with subjects carrying out pro-ecological activity.

4. Taking up actions aiming at improving legal state of environmental protection and realization of sustainable development principle.

5. Actions aiming at the sustainable development of the fisheries sector, the Baltic Sea protection and coastal fishery areas.

II Activities supporting the development of communities and local societies, including :

1. Actions in aid of advisory and training assistance and sustainable rural development.

III. Actions aimed at supporting the national tradition and Polish character and national, civil and cultural consciousness development.

IV. Science, education, upbringing including:

1. Young people and students education.

2. Adults education including teachers.

3. Initiating different forms of activity among young and adult people.

4. Intercultural education.

5. Supporting scientific activity in the field of environmental protection and sustainable development.

V. Actions for health protection and promotion

VI. Actions supporting economic development, including enterprise development:

1. Development of economic consciousness and supporting of enterprise in line with the principle of sustainable development.

VII. Sightseeing and recreation for children, youth and adults, including:

1. Actions supporting tourism development.

VIII. Dissemination and protection of woman rights and actions aimed at men and women equal rights.

IX. The culture, art, protection of culture and tradition goods, including:

1. Taking up and supporting cultural initiatives.

X. Actions in aid of handicapped people.

XI. Dissemination of physical culture and sport.

XII. Promotion of employment and professional stimulation of people who are unemployed or threatened with dismissal, including:

1. Actions aimed at creating so called “green workplaces”.

2. Professional stimulation of villages residents.

XIII. Dissemination and protection of freedom, human rights, civil liberties and actions supporting democracy development, including:

1. Actions for civil society building and tolerance propagation.

XIV. Dissemination and protection of consumers rights.

XV. Actions in aid of European integration, contacts development and cooperation between societies, including:

1. Actions aimed at creation of agreement basis and meeting places between European nations.

2. Liquidation of barriers which make the cooperation and meetings between European nations difficult.

XVI. Voluntary service promotion and organization.

§5

The Association realizes its targets through:

1. Publishing, training, instructions activity.

2. Lecture delivering, seminars and courses organization.

3. Initiating and supporting of civil and government actions aimed at applying modern techniques of environmental protection.

4. Collecting information about environmental protection, sustainable development, civil society building and tolerance promoting .

5. Legal assistance.

6. Cooperation with institutions and organizations whose programs and activity are similar to the Association.

7. Organization of trainings, conferences, workshops, public parties, meetings, exhibitions and also other forms of action.

8. Information activity.

9. Contact establishing and experience exchange with other organizations and institutions in the country and abroad.

10. Contact establishing and cooperation with authorities of social, cultural and political life and with the government, national authorities, businessmen, organizations, universities and scientists.

Chapter III

Members- Their Rights and Obligations

An ordinary member of the Association should be a natural or legal person, who is at least 18 year’s old, has capacity to undertake legal transactions and is not deprived of public rights.

§7

A natural or legal person can by a supporting member.

§8

Conditions of admitting a member to the Association are:

1. Submitting written joining declaration and adopting admitting resolution by the Board within one month.

2. You may appeal against the Board’s decision not to admit you as a member within 14 days to the General Meeting.

§9

Ordinary members has rights to:

1. Elect and be elected to the Association’s authorities.

2. Take part in the Association’s activity.

3. Take up and submit initiatives which aim at intensifying the Association’s activity.

4. Benefit of the Association’s support

§10

Ordinary obligations of members are:

1. Active participation in the Association’s work.

2. Promoting the Association’s activity.

3. Following the Articles of the Associations and the Authorities’ resolutions.

4. Regular payment of membership fees.

§11

Supporting member does not have voting rights and right to be elected to the Association’s authorities. They have only a consultative voice.

§12

I. Loss of the membership follows as a result of:

1. Leaving the Association.

2. Exclusion on the basis of the Association’s resolution because of breaking the Articles of the Association.

3. Expelling on the basis of the Board’s resolution because of not paying fees for 2 years, lack of active participation on the Association’s works, harming the Association’s reputation.

4. Depriving of legal personality (concerns supporting members).

5. Death.

II. You may appeal to the General Meeting against the Board’s resolution about exclusion or expelling within 14 days from the date of delivering the resolution.

Chapter IV

Principles of the Association's activity

§13

1. The resolutions of the Association's authorities are passed by simple majority of votes in open voting. At least half a members' number should be present at the voting and 1/3 of assemble authorities can vote in secret voting.

2. The Audit Committee Members can participate in the Board meetings with consultative

vote.

3. Only members or delegates have right to vote during the General Meeting of Members or Delegates and only members can vote during Department Meeting of Members.

4. In case of the Board member resignation, the Association Board can co-opt a new member. Also in case of the Audit Committee member resignation, the Committee can co-opt a new member. The number of co-opted members can not be higher than 1/3 of general number of chosen members.

5. Term of the authorities’ office is 2 years.

Chapter V

Association Authorities

§14

The Authorities of the Association are:

1. The General Meeting of the Association Members or Delegates,

2. The Board of the Association,

3. The Audit Committee.

§15

The General Meeting of the Association Members or Delegates is the highest authority

of the Association. The General Meeting can be ordinary or exceptional.

§16

1. The Association Board calls The General Meeting of the Association Members or Delegates. Member of Department who is a member of the Association at least one year can be a delegate for the term of the authorities office.

2. The Board summons The General Meeting of the Association Members or Delegates on the basis of:

(1) resolution of The Association Board,

(2) application of the Audit Committee,

(3) demand of at least 1/3 members,

(4) demand of at least 1/3 departments,

3. The General or Exceptional Meeting of Members or Delegates should take place within 3 months from the date of passing the resolution or submitting the application or demand.

4. Notification about the General Meeting should be sent out on paper within 1 month from the Meeting day. In the case of situation when the General Meeting did not take place in the appointed time, The Association Board calls next meeting at another date.

5. Delegates election to the Association Convention takes place when number of members is higher than the limit of 500 people. In this case one delegate parallels five members of the Association, unless general number of members is higher than 1000, in such case one delegate parallels 10 members. In case when quotient is not a whole rational number, one additional delegate is chosen. Term of delegates' office is equal with the Association Authorities office.

§17

General or Exceptional Meeting of Members or Delegates is legally valid, when:

1. At least half of the associated members or chosen delegates take part at first fixed time.

2. At second fixed time- independently from number of members or delegates present on the meeting.

§18

Competences of the General Meeting of Members or Delegates are:

1. Adopting changes in the Articles of the Association,

2. Adopting programs of the Association's activity,

3. Dismissing and electing authority members of the Association. Chosen authorities shall

be constituted within 7 days from the election day. The Audit Committee consisting of 3-5 persons chooses its chairman and works on basis of regulations approved by the General Meeting.

4. Considering reports about activity of the Association Authorities and granting a vote of acceptance,

5. Adopting resolutions about purchasing and alienation of immovable which are the Association's property,

6. Setting an amount of membership fees,

7. Adopting inner regulations of statutory Association organs,

8. Approving Board’s resolutions concerning joining or leaving other national or international associations with similar forms of activity,

9. Concerning other issues related to Association activity, its departments, organs or members and not reserved for other organs,

10. Passing resolutions concerning dissolution of the Association.

§19

1. The Association Board summons the General Members Meeting at least once a year.

2. In case when number of Association members is higher than 100 people, delegates of Association members participate in the General Meeting.

3. Articles of the Association concerning the General Members Meeting relate also to the General Meeting of Delegates.

4. Gatherings of members group choose delegates to the General Meeting. The Association Board defines principles of delegates election.

§20

1. Resolutions of the General Meeting are legally valid when at least half of ordinary members are present.

2. Resolutions are passed on the basis of procedure described in §13 Article 1.

3. Exceptions from this principle are resolutions concerning changes in the Articles of the Association or Association dissolution. The qualified majority of 2/3 present General Meeting participants is required for the resolutions to be valid.

§21

Voting is open. Chairman of meeting orders secret voting on demand of at least 1/3 present members.

§22

The Association Board consists of 5-7 members elected by the General Meeting.

The Association Board consists of: Chairman, two Vice-chairmen and two to four Board Members.

§23

1. The Association Board can complement the line-up of the Board in amount not higher than 1/3 of the line-up.

2. The Audit Committee can complement its line-up in amount not higher than 1/3 of the line-up.

The General Meeting summoned on basis of procedure described in §16 Art. 3 is responsible for complement in case of the complement higher than 1/3 of the line-up.

§24

Competences of the Board are:

1. Realisation of the General Meeting's resolutions,

2. Defining activity and budget plans of the Association, including projects carried out by the Association,

3. Taking care of the Association's property and making decisions on property issues except issues defined in §18 Art. 5 and 10.

4. Accepting, striking off and expelling the Association members,

5. The General Meeting of Members summoning,

6. Defining way of membership fees' collection,

7. Outside representing of the Association,

8. Appointing and defining activity areas of Agency for statutory tasks realisation

of the Association.

9. Controlling and supervision of the Agency,

10. Management of the Association's activity,

11. Approving of the Association employees.

§25

The Board resolutions are passed with simple majority of votes in presence of 1 of total number of its members, including the Association Chairman or his/her Deputy.

§26

The Chairman of the Association calls Board sessions at least every 2 months.

§27

The Audit Committee is a control organ of the Association. It consists of members

appointed by the General Meeting.

§28

Tasks of the Audit Committee are:

1. Monitoring of the whole of Association activity, especially its financial economy, at least once a year,

2. Monitoring of membership fees paying,

3. Submitting remarks and suggestions concerning the Association activity to the Board,

4. Submitting reports and the Board activity’s evaluation during the General Meeting

and submitting applications for vote of acceptance for the Board,

5. Monitoring the activity of the Department Audit Committees.

Chapter VI

Property of the Association

§29

1. Properties of the Association are:

(1) membership fees

(2) donations, inheritance and bequests,

(3) incomes from own activity,

(4) public contributions,

(5) donations,

(6) profits gained by the Association Agencies.

2. Declarations of will and legal acts shall be signed on behalf of the Association by two Board members, always including Chairman and Vice-chairman. The Board grants authorisations on behalf of the Association.

3. Incomes from own activity shall be allocated exclusively for statutory aims.

Chapter VII

Agencies Operating a Business Activity

§30

1. Agencies are to realize statutory aims of the Association by executing tasks not having been realised by members of the Association within social works and carried out by hired employees.

2. Head of the Agency is elected for indefinite period by the Association Board.

3. The Agency Head's tasks are:

a) submitting applications to the Association Board for employment, dismissal of the Agency employees and supervising employees of the Agency,

b) suggesting an amount of salaries and bonuses for the Agency employees to the Association Board on the basis of regulations accepted by the Board,

c) planning and organising works of the Agency,

d) financial management of the Agency.

Chapter VIII

Association Departments

§31

1. Departments of the Association can be established when at least 15 members work in the area of a Voivodeship (or several Voivodeships).

2. Authorities of the Association Departments are:

1) Department Meetings of Members

2) Department Board

3) Audit Committee of the Department

§32

Department Meetings of Members

Paragraphs 15, 16, 15, 23 are in force, whereas Exceptional Department Members Meeting can be also called on the basis of the Association Board resolution.

§33

Competences of the Department Members Meeting:

1. Adopting a plan of the Department activity in line with the Articles of the Association and Association Authorities resolutions,

2. Considering reports and applications of the Board, Department Audit Committee, appraising activity of the Department and adopting resolutions in this regard,

3. Dismissal and appointing the Board, Audit Department Committee. Elected Department Authorities should be constituted within 7 days from the election day,

4. Election of delegates to the General Meeting of Delegates,

5. Concerning other issues related to Department activity and not reserved for other organs.

§34

The Department Board manages the Department activity and is responsible for its work to the Department Members Meeting and the Association Board. It consists of 5-7 people, including: Chairman of the Department, two Vice-chairmen of the Department and two to four Board Members.

§35

Competences of the Department Board are:

1. Realising of statutory rulings, resolutions of the Department Members Meeting and

resolutions, rulings and directives of the Association Authorities,

2. Adopting work plans and preliminary estimate of Department's incomes and expenditures,

3. Management of the Association property on the basis of authorisations received in this regard from the Association Board,

4. Accepting, striking off and expelling the Association members,

5. Department Audit Committee's applications concerning and realising,

6. Department Members Meeting summoning,

7. Presenting reports on its activity.

§36

Sittings of the Department Board take place if necessary, but at least every two months.

§37

1. Audit Committee of the Department is a control organ of the Department.

2. It consists of 3-5 people, including: chairman, chairman deputy and no more than three members.

§38

Competences of the Department Audit Committee are:

1. Monitoring of the whole of Department activity, especially its financial economy at least once a year,

2. Giving remarks and suggestions concerning activity of the Department and its members to the Department Board,

3. Filing reports and evaluation of the Department Board activity during Department Members Meeting and submitting application for vote of acceptance.

§39

Sittings of the Audit Committee take place if necessary, but at least twice a year.

Chapter IX

Dissolution of the Association

§40

1. Dissolution of the Association can take place by virtue of Ordinary or Exceptional Members Meeting Resolution by qualified majority in accordance with § 20 Art.3 of the Association Articles.

2. The Association property shall be allocated for a chosen social aim or in aid of another

non-governmental pro-ecological organisation defined in the Resolution referred to in Article 1.

Chapter X

Final Provisions

§41

For issues not regulated by the Articles of the Association, rulings as of 7 April 1989- The Associations Act (Dz.U [Journal of Laws] of 1989, No. 20, item 104) are valid.

STATUTE OF ECOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION EKO-UNIA

The present Statute of the Eco-Union Association take changes from third March 2007 into

account.