Statutes
SWISS HARP – Statutes
Article no 1
Name:
Under the name ‘Swiss Harp’
‘Schweizerische Harfen-Vereinigung’
‘ Association Suisse de la Harpe’
‘ Associazione Svizzera dell’Arpa ‘
Duration and place :
a non-profit association is formed in accordance with Art. 60 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code.
The association is formed for an indefinite period.
The registered office is at the place of the secretariat.
The financial year of the association coincides with the calendar year (1 January to 31 December).
Article no 2
Purpose:
a) The association aims to bring together harpists, amateurs and professionals, and
friends of the harp. Its purpose is to help them to realise their musical ideals. To this
end, it organises seminars, musical meetings, exhibitions, encounters with
personalities from the world of art, etc. Through these events, it seeks to encourage
its members to express themselves and to perform musically.
b) The association informs its members of everything that is related to the harp:
– calendar of events
– job advertisements
– appointments and promotions
– new publications
– small advertisements
– articles of general interest
– contacts with other national and international associations
Information is provided by means of letters, journals and the website.
a) The association seeks to make the harp better known to the general public through the
media – radio, television, press and various publications.
(b) The Association shall inform its members of all matters relating to the harp:
– Calendar of events
– Job advertisements
– Appointments and promotions
– New publications
– Small advertisements and notices
– Articles of general interest
– Contact with other national and international associations
This information shall be provided by means of letters, journals and the website.
(a) The Association shall endeavour to make the harp better known to the general public
through the media – radio, television, press and various publications.
(b) The Association shall promote the composition of music for the harp, the publication
of works, the re-edition of old music and harp music literature.
(c) The Association shall, within the limits of its financial resources, support the
activities of its members, such as harp courses, meetings of musicians, grants for studies
or artistic tours.
Article no 3
Appeal:
Any person who plays the harp or who supports the aims and objectives of the
Association as a friend and benefactor may become a member of the Association.
Legal persons may become supporting members of the Association.
A member whose professional activity is directly or indirectly connected with the
manufacture of and trade in harps shall not derive any advantage whatsoever from his
membership of the Association for his own business activities.
Honourary members:
A person who has made a special contribution to the Association may be appointed
honourary member by the General Assembly.
Article no 4
Admission:
Any person wishing to join the Association must submit a written
application for admission to the Secretariat. The Board shall decide on admission.
Withdrawal:Withdrawal shall be by written notice at the end of a financial year.
The withdrawing member shall in any case be liable for the full annual membership fee
for the current financial year.
Expulsion:
Membership shall cease on the death of a member or on the dissolution of a legal
person.
A member may be expelled,
a) if he fails to pay his membership fee, or
b) if he disrupts the order of the Association. In this case, the decision of the
Board may be appealed by the person concerned at the General Assembly, which shall
make the final decision (appeal).
Article no 5
Income and assets:
The financial resources of the Association shall consist of:
a) Annual membership fees of members. The annual membership fees for the various
categories of members shall be set by the General Assembly,
b) Donations and bequests,
c) Subsidies,
d) Income from the Association’s activities
e) Income from assets
Article no 6
Membership fee:
Members shall pay an annual membership fee, the amount of which shall be
determined by the General Assembly. Each member may voluntarily classify himself as a patron
These members
pay at least the contribution set by the General Assembly. Students and
pupils, pensioners and recipients of old-age and disability pensions pay half the
contribution set by the General Assembly.
Honourary members do not pay a contribution.
Honourary members:+ Emmy Hürlimann
+ Vera Dulova
Julien-François Zbinden
Chantal Mathieu-Balavoine
Article no 7
Liability:
The Association’s assets are liable for the Association’s debts.
Article no 8
General Assembly:
The General Assembly is the supreme body of the Association.
The General Assembly shall meet at least every two years in the first half of the
calendar year.
It shall be convened by the Board of Directors at least four weeks in advance,
with the agenda attached.
The powers of the General Assembly are:
a) the election of the President, the Board of Directors and the auditors,
b) the determination of the location of the Secretariat,
c) the appointment of honourary members,
d) all reports of the Board of Directors must be approved by the General Assembly
e) amendment or supplementation of the statutes,
f) the setting of the annual contribution,
g) the decision on all motions submitted on the agenda
h) the examination of any motion submitted in writing to the Board of Directors at
least three weeks before the General Assembly,
(i) the hearing of appeals under Article 4(b).
Decisions shall be taken by a majority of the members present.
An extraordinary general meeting may be called by a fifth of the members by written
request.
Article no 9
The Board:
The Board shall consist of 5 to 11 members elected by the General Assembly for a
period of two years. They may be re-elected.
The term of office of the President may be extended only once by re-election; in
exceptional circumstances, a President may be elected for a third term of two years.
The Board may replace members who leave office during their term of office; it may
also fill any vacancies up to the maximum number of members provided for in the
statutes. The election of these new members must be confirmed by the next General
Assembly.
The Board shall take decisions by a majority of the members present; in the event of a
tie, the President or his/her Vice-President shall have the casting vote.
The Board shall elect its own officers, except the President.
The Board and all holders of office in the Association shall serve on a voluntary basis.
Any holder of office in the Association shall have the right to attend Board meetings
with an advisory vote.
The legally binding signature for the Association shall be that of the President and/or
Vice-President, together with that of another member of the Board.
Article no 10
Auditing:
The General Assembly shall elect two auditors who shall audit the accounts
submitted to them.
The auditors may be re-elected.
Article no 11
Dissolution:The dissolution of the Association may only be decided by an Extraordinary General
Assembly convened for this purpose 30 days in advance.
At least ¾ of the members of the Association must be present.
The decision to dissolve the Association requires the majority of the members
present.
In the event of dissolution, the assets of the Association shall be transferred to the
‘Swiss Interpreters’ Association,’ the ‘Foundation for the Promotion of Performing
Artists’ or a similar organisation.
Article no 12
Entry into force:
These statutes were adopted by the ordinary General Assembly on 8 May 2011
and shall enter into force immediately, replacing all previous statutes.
Ligerz, 8 May 2011
Consuelo Giulianelli
President
Denise Gilgen
Treasurer