Statutes

(This is a translation ; only the original in French has legal value)  

STATUTES

Article1: Form and Title

Between those adhering to the present statutes is created an association ruled by the Law of July 1, 1901 and the decree of August 16, 1901, with the title:

International Association of Worldloppet Skiers (IAWLS).

Article 2: Goals

The goals of this association are:

a) to help cross country skiers interested in Worldloppet races with practical advice,

b) to serve as a link between the skiers and the organizers in view of improving the quality of the races.

Article 2bis: Means

For the accomplishment of these goals, the association uses the following means:

a) Setting up and maintaining a web site, www.worldloppetskier.com,

b) Corresponding with the members by email,

c) Contacting Worldloppet race organizers,

d) Corresponding with the Worldloppet Ski Federation.

The English language is used in the association’s operation, other languages can be used whenever useful and possible.

Article 3: Duration

The association is created for an unlimited duration.

Article 4: Registered Office

The registered office of the association is situated in the city of Valence ( Drôme), France. It may be transferred by decision of the president.

Article 5: Composition

The association is composed of:

a) Members who pay an annual membership fee fixed by the General Assembly,

b) Honorary members, whose nomination is decided by the Committee on the basis of outstanding services rendered to the association; they are dispensed of the payment of the membership fee,

c) Benefactors, physical or moral persons who pay an entry fee and an annual fee approved by the General Assembly,

d) Associated members, moral persons such as another association pursuing similar goals; they do not pay a membership fee.

Article 6: Admission

To become a member of the association, it is necessary to be approved by the Executive Committee. The members accept the present statutes and agree to pay an annual membership fee. Associated members are accepted if they include at least three physical persons who are members of IAWLS.

Article 7: Exclusion

The members can lose their quality of member for one of the following reasons:

a) Resignation sent to the Executive Committee,

b) Exclusion decided by the Executive Committee for non-payment of the membership fee,

c) Death,

d) Exclusion for serious reasons such as damage created to the image of the association. The offender is offered the possibility to give explanations to the Executive Committee which, after considering these explanations will take the eventual decision of exclusion unanimously.

Article 8: Resources

The resources of the association are the following:

a) Membership fees paid by the members,

b) Subsidies paid by the state, by Départements and by communes,

c) Financial support given by sponsors,

d) Interests and revenue from capital owned by the association,

e) Any other resources authorized by law, existing or future.

Article 9: Executive Committee and Office

The association is managed by the Executive Committee of six to ten members elected for a term of three years by the General Assembly. In principle each continent on which there is a Worldloppet event should be represented. Executive Committee members are re-eligible.

The Executive Committee elects amongst its members an Office composed of

a) a president,

b) a secretary,

c) a treasurer.

The president can also be treasurer.

Filling of a vacancy will be decided by the Executive Committee when a suitable candidate is available. If the Executive Committee nominates a replacement member, the official nomination will take place at the following General Assembly, and the mandate of three years starts with that nomination.

For the election by the General Assembly of new Executive Committee members, the Executive Committee prepares a list of candidates by giving priority to candidates who have in the past shown their aptitude by contributing to IAWLS activities.

Article 10: Meetings of the Executive Committee

The Executive Committee will meet at least once a year, following the convocation by the president or a request formulated by at least a third of its members. The meeting is valid if at least half of the members are present. Decisions are valid if they are supported by at least three quarters of the members present. The president can decide to take the votes of absent members by email. This is necessary in all cases where the statutes require an unanimous decision.

Article 11: General Assembly

The General Assembly consists of all categories of members of the association listed in article 5. Each member has one vote. The participation is open to those whose membership was approved by the Executive Committee at least two weeks before the assembly, and who have paid their membership fee for the current year.

It is chaired by the president, or if not present, by the secretary, the treasurer or the Executive Committee member who has cumulated the longest duration in this function.

Article 11.1: Ordinary General Assembly

The ordinary general assembly takes place once per year.

The convocation is sent by the secretary by email to each member, or announced on the association’s web site, one month before the date of the assembly. The convocation includes the agenda.

The ordinary general assembly:

a) discusses and approves the president’s moral report,

b) discusses and approves the treasurer’s financial report,

d ) fixes the membership fees,

e) discusses and decides on any other questions on the agenda.

Each member can receive a proxy from not more than two other members. Proxies by email are accepted, they must be addressed to the secretary 2 weeks before the assembly. Associated members can give one proxy which has to be signed by the highest ranking official of the organization.

The ordinary general assembly is a quorum if at least 20 % of the members are present or represented.

If this quorum is not reached, a second convocation is immediately made for an ordinary general assembly the same day at the same place and at an hour agreed by simple majority of those present. The second assembly is a quorum whatever the number of members present.

The decisions are made by simple majority of those present or represented. For a modification of the statutes, however, a majority of two thirds of those present or represented is required.

In case of indecision, the president’s vote is determinant.

Article 11.2: Extraordinary General Assembly

At the request of the president, or of at least 50 % of the members of the association, an extraordinary general assembly is held.

The conditions of convocation, proxies, quorum and majority are the same as for the ordinary general assembly.

Article 12: By-laws

The Executive Committee can establish by-laws concerning items not covered by the present statutes, in particular for the internal operation of the association. The by-laws are approved by the General Assembly at simple majority.

Article 13: Dissolution

The dissolution of the association requires a majority of two thirds of the members present or represented at a General Assembly. If the association has assets, one or more liquidators are nominated by the General Assembly, and the attribution of the assets is decided according to the Article 9 of the Law of July 1, 1901, and the decree of August 16, 1901.

These statutes were adopted at the constitutive general assembly

Falls Creek, August 27, 2005

The President                                                                          The Secretary