The Statute of the Association "Eko - Inicjatywa"

CHAPTER I
GENERAL ASSUMPTIONS

§ 1

The Association is called: "Eco-Inicjatywa", (hereafter called: "The Association")

§ 2

1. The Association operates in accordance with the Act of April 7, 1989 - "The Association Act" (Journal of Law, no. 20, item 104) and is a legal entity.
2. The Association has been established for an unlimited period of time.

§ 3

The Association operates in Poland, and its headquarters are located in Kwidzyn.

§ 4

The Association may use a stamp and sighs in accordance with the binding regulations.

CHAPTER II
GOALS AND MEANS OF OPERATIONS

§ 5

Following the principle that everyone has a right to live in a clean environment and balanced development, the Association has set goals of having a significant influence on environment condition improvement, the nature protection and human's health. This shall cause domination of preventive actions over other necessary forms of protection.
The Association provides its actions for the general community, however, it focuses on those in need, i.e. unemployed, inhabitants of former State Farms, the handicapped.

The Association has set the following goals:

1. Integration of local community within the environmental protective operations.
2. Integration of local, regional and cross-regional ecological ventures.
3. Improvement of ecological awareness.
4. Popularization of knowledge about the nature.
5. Promotion of  healthy lifestyles and environmental-friendly attitudes.
6. Support and establishment of other ecological movements.
7. Strengthen the regional identity.
8. Reduction of  unemployment.
9. Development and activation of local actions.
10. Integration of local handicapped community.
11. Promotion and support of philanthropy and voluntary actions
12. Support of village developments in accordance with "the balanced development" principle.
13. Promotion and support of education.

§ 6

The Association attains its goals by:
1. constructing  local and over-local coalitions and partnerships.
2. education, incl. organizing conferences, seminars, meetings, training courses, exhibitions.
3. providing  consulting and  training  services.
4. advertisements of competitions on ecological issues, or others in accordance with the Association goals.
5. arrangement of camps, bivouacs and other  tourist events  which comply with  ecological and educational programs.
6. coordination of local , regional and cross-regional ecological ventures as well as the other ones which comply with the Association goals.
7. attendance in local, regional and cross-regional ecological ventures as well as the other ones which comply with the Association goals.
8. cooperation with local and the State institutions, non-governmental organizations and privately-owned sector within the Association goals.
9. promotion of techniques and newly-developed pro-ecological solutions.
10. publication of own materials.
11. cooperation with domestic and foreign entities interested in the Association goals.
12. initiation, support and inclusion in programs for employment policy and unemployment reduction.
13. development of cooperation with community organizations, particularly ecological ones from the EU territory or those which are to become the EU members in future.

CHAPTER III
MEMBERS, THEIR RIGHTS AND LIABILITIES

§ 7

Members are divided into:
a. ordinary members
b. supportive members
c. honorable members

§ 8

Every individual who has full competency to legal actions may become an ordinary member of the Association. They are to lodge a membership declaration form, and consequently, they need to obtain the Board acceptance.

§ 9

An ordinary member has a right to:
1. choose and be chosen in order to be a member of the Board.
2. attend the Association General Meeting with the right of vote.
3. present conclusions and postulates on the Association activities.
4. use equipment and attend the Association events in accordance with rules defined by the Association.

§ 10

An ordinary member is obliged to:
1. comply with the statute regulations and the Board decisions.
2. attend actively in the Association goals realization actions.
3. pay regularly membership fees.

§ 11

Every individual or a legal entity which is interested in the Association core activities may become a supportive member if they propose financial or physical support, under the Board written acceptance.
A supportive member has the rights mentioned in § 9, items 3 and 4 above, and they also have a right of attendance during the General Meeting, bearing an advisory vote. The supportive member - a legal entity operates within the Association by an appointed representative.

§ 12

Particularly deserving individual may become an honorable member if only they are meritorious in goal achievements. The honorable membership is granted by the General Assembly upon the Board decision. The honorable member has all rights of an ordinary member, and moreover, they are exempt from membership fees.

§ 13

The membership shall expire:
1. Voluntary resignation presented to the Board.
2. Cancellation by the Board due to overdue membership fees for the period of over 12 months.
3. Exclusion due to not complying with the Board decisions.
4. Not complying with the statute, principles, regulations of the Association, or due to act to the detriment of the Association.
5. Loss of a legal entity status by a supportive member.

Members have rights to appeal against cancellation or exclusion within 30 days to the General Assembly. The General Assembly decision is final.

CHAPTER IV
THE ASSOCIATION AUTHORITIES

§ 14

The Association authorities are:
1. The General Assembly
2. The Board
3. The Auditing Committee
The term of authorities office is set for 4 years, and the authorities are elected by ballot or open voting, depending on the General Assembly decision. Unless the statute states differently, all decisions are made by the simple majority of votes with the attendance of at least half a number of all legal voters. In case of the Board Members or the Auditing Committee resignation within the term of office, the authorities have rights for keeping the term of office; however, a number of new members cannot exceed two, appointed by the vote.

§ 15

The General Assembly is the highest layer in the Association hierarchy. It may have an ordinary or extraordinary status.

§ 16

An ordinary General Meeting takes place once a year, as a result of the Board decision in order to present reporting issues, and every four years for voting and reporting purposes. All authorized members are notified of the date, place and suggested agenda at least 14 days in advance before the General Meeting. Unless the statute states differently, the General Assembly decisions are made by the simple majority of votes with the attendance of at least half a number of all legal voters during the first election. The number of members during the second date does not matter.

The General Assembly competence is to:
1. establish the main financial and substantial goals of the Association activities.
2. pass a resolution on the Board exoneration in case the term of office terminates; such a formal motion is lodged by the Auditing Committee.
3. elect a chairman, members of the Board and the Auditing Committee.
4. set the membership fee.
5. vest an honorable membership.
6. pass resolutions on the statute amendments or the Association dissolution.
7. examine appeals against the Board resolutions.
8. resolve internal regulations.
9. resolve the Association annual action plans.
10. accept the Association annual actions.
11. revoke the Board due to the Auditing Committee resolution; at least 2/3 of the the total number of voters is obligatory.
12. examine other issues, not included in the Association authorities competence.

§ 17

The Extraordinary General Meeting is convened by the Board:
a. by their own decision;
b. on the Auditing Committee request;
c. on a written request, forwarded by at least 2 ordinary members of the Association.

The Extraordinary General Meeting should be convened within one month of the date of a written motion and should only discuss issues mentioned in the motion.

§ 18

The Board is the highest authority in the period between General Meetings. The Board consists of  a chairman and four members. Two of the Board members are appointed a secretary and a treasurer. The Board meetings are convened on the Chairman's request, at least once a quarter of the year.

§ 19

The Board competence is to:
1. represent the Association outside and act on the Association behalf.
2. manage the Association assets within powers granted by the General Assembly.
3. implement the General Assembly resolutions.
4. prepare financial and actual reports.
5. convene the General Meeting.
6. prepare an annual action plans of the Association.
7. accept, expel and exclude members.
8. settle disputes among members, concerning the Association activities.

The members of the Board do not receive any remuneration for the statute activities.
The members of the Board may receive remuneration, in accordance with a pending project.

§ 20

1. The Auditing Committee is an auditory and supervisory organ of the Association. The Committee consists of three members who appoint their leader.
2. The Auditing Committee is an independent organ and its members cannot:
a) be members of a managing organ, nor under any circumstances be in a degree of family relationship, affinity or employment subordination;
b) be convicted due to a binding sentence;
3. Due to performed functions, members of the Auditing Committee receive a return of incurred and justified costs or remuneration, not exceeding the level defined in the art. 8, item 8 of the Act of March 3, 2000 on Remuneration of Persons Managing Some Legal Entities (Journal of Laws no. 26, item 306; 2001: no. 85, item 924, no. 154, item 1799; 2002: no. 113, item 984, and 2003: no. 45, item 391, no. 60 item 535).

The Auditing Committee competence is to:
1. control the complex activities of the Association on yearly basis at least;
2. move resolutions to the Board and request all necessary explanations;
3. lodge a formal motion to convene an extraordinary general meeting.
4. present reports to the General Assembly on their activities and lodge a formal motion on the Board exoneration in case the term of office terminates.

Members of the Auditing Assembly may attend the Board meetings, bearing consultative voice.

CHAPTER V
REVENUES AND ASSETS OF THE ASSOCIATION

§ 21

All assets of the Association may consist of real properties, movables and funds.
Funds shall be collected from:
a. membership fees;
b. donations, grants, inheritances, legacies; 
c. revenues from the statute activities and public collections;
e. income from business activities in accordance with existing legal regulations.

§ 22

The Association may provide business activities within the range leading towards its goal achievements. The Association shall allocate its revenues from business activities for its statute activities.

§ 23

Entire income of the Association activities shall be allocated for its goal achievements.

§ 24

A declaration of will on the Association property matters shall be submitted by:
a. two persons - the Chairman and one of the Board members, appointed by the Board.
b. or three members of the Board, excluding the Chairman.

All documents are not binding unless they have been signed by at least one person: the Chairman or a member of the Board, authorized by the Board.

§ 25

The Association shall not:
1. grant loans nor secure liabilities using its own assets towards its members, organs, employees or related to them third parties such as: spouse, lineal family relationship or affinity, collateral family relationship or affinity by the second degree or if they are related by adoption, care, tutelage, hereafter called: "close acquaintances."
2. transfer property to its members, nor to members of organs or employees, and their close acquaintances, based on other principles than third party relations, particularly if the transference is performed free of charge or on preferable conditions.
3. use property by to its members, nor to members of organs or employees, and their close acquaintances, based on principles other than the third party relations unless such a usage is directly related to the Association core activities.
4. purchase goods nor services on special conditions from businesses in which members of the organization or organs or employees and their close acquaintances operate.

CHAPTER VI
THE CHANGE OF THE STATUTE AND  DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION

§ 26

The General Assembly is authorized to pass a resolution of the statute change or dissolution of the Association at the presence of  2/3 of majority of voters, at least half of a total number of all authorized voters during the first scheduled date; during the second scheduled date there is no necessity for any required number of voters.
In case of the Association dissolution, the General Assembly shall decide on the Association assets appropriation and shall appoint the Liquidation Committee, which shall perform liquidation procedures.