EUROPEAN DEAFBLIND NETWORK
CONSTITUTION
ARTICLE 1 - NAME, LEGAL FORM
AND REGISTERED ADDRESS
1. Name, Legal Form and
Registered Address
The
association is called the European Deafblind Network (EDbN). It is a non-governmental,
charitable and non-profit making organisation. The organisation must have at
least one registered address in a European Union country.
ARTICLE 2 -AIMS, FUNCTIONS AND
RELATIONS WITH OTHER ORGANISATIONS
2.1 Aims
The aim of EDbN is to improve
the situation of deafblind people in
2.2 Functions
a) To
support and help deafblind people, their families and the people who work on
their behalf.
b) To
work for an improvement in the living conditions of deafblind people, and for
their rehabilitation and integration in
c) To
promote the exchange of information and experiences between organisations of
and for deafblind people and other organisations.
d) To
promote and carry out research and studies in all areas that affect deafblind
people.
e) To
collect and distribute information about the situation of deafblind people in
f) To provide
technical and material support for national organisations of deafblind people,
their families and professionals working on their behalf.
g) To support
national organisations in
h) To implement
necessary measures to achieve the aims of EDbN.
2.3 Relations with other
organisations
EDbN establishes and maintains
relations with the European Union (Parliament, Commission and Council), with
the institutions of the United Nations, with international organisations in
ARTICLE 3 –MEMBERSHIP
3.1 Forms of Membership
There are the following forms
of membership:
a) Full membership
b) Associate membership
c) Honorary membership
3.2 Full Membership
3.2.1Full Membership of EDbN
is open to associations and organisations
- of deafblind people
- of their families
- of professionals working for
and on behalf of deafblind people and / or their families.
3.2.2
Applications for Full Membership must be made to the Management Committee. In
case of rejection the applicant can request a decision by the Council.
3.2.3
For each of the three groups only one association or organisation per country
can hold Full Membership. The organisation is represented in EDbN by a person,
who must be a member of the organisation, chosen by the other members.
3.2.4
If a member represents more than one group it is entitled to send the
corresponding number of delegates. This is also the case if a member is active
in more than one country.
3.3 Associate Membership
3.3.1 Associate Membership of
EDbN is open to other organisations
3.3.2
Associate Membership is decided by the Management Committee and requires the
agreement of the Council.
3.4 Honorary Membership
Honorary Members are chosen by
the Management Committee in recognition of their contribution to, and support of, the interests of deafblind
people.
ARTICLE 4 -GOVERNANCE OF EDbN
4.1 The governance of EDbN
consists of the following bodies:
-the Council
-the Management Committee
4.2 Council
4.2.1 council is the supreme
governing body of EDbN.
4.2.2 Meetings of Council are open
and consist of delegates representing the Full Members. Each delegate has one
vote. Providing that notification for Council Meetings is in accordance with
this Constitution they are quorate regardless of the number of delegates
present.
Associate and Honorary Members
may participate in Council Meetings in a non-voting capacity. -
4.2.3 Council meets
at least every two years. Additional meetings may be convened at the request of
one third of the Full Members, at the request of the Management Committee or
when a new Management Committee is to be elected.
4.2.4
Meetings of Council are announced in writing, with an agenda, by the Secretary
at least 12 weeks in advance. The date of the postmark is taken as the date of
dispatch.
4.2.5
Applications and motions to be considered by Council must be received by the
Secretariat eight weeks before the meeting. They must be circulated to the
members immediately.
4.2.6 Council has in
particular the following responsibilities:
a) to determine
policy
b) to
discuss all recommendations presented by the Management Committee and make the
necessary decisions
c) to
receive reports from all the committees and give or withhold approval
d) to
set budget parameters strategically
e) to receive the
Treasurer's report and give or withhold approval
f) to determine the
membership fee
g) to
elect the Chairman of EDbN. The Chairman chairs both Council and the Management
Committee
h) to
elect the Management Committee
i) to
approve the Vice-Chairmen, Treasurer and Secretary, appointed by the Management
Committee
j) to consider all
proposals presented to it
k) to
elect two members of Council to act as auditors who examine and report on the
management of EDbN's finances
l) to consider
resolutions to amend the Constitution. For such a resolution to be carried a
75% majority of all votes cast is required. Resolutions to amend the
Constitution must be circulated to all members at least four months before the
Council Meeting at which they are to be discussed .
m) to
make decisions concerning the dissolution of EDbN. For such a resolution to be
carried a 75% majority of all votes cast is required. A resolution to amend the
Constitution must be circulated to all members at least four months before the
Council Meeting at which it is to be discussed
4.2.7
Only the delegates of Full Members are entitled to vote. Each delegate has one
vote which is not transferable to another Full Member. Voting is through
consensus or through the raising of hands, unless a delegate requests a secret
ballot. In this case a secret ballot is held.
4.2.8
All voting, with the exception of amendments to the Constitution and the
dissolution of EDbN, requires a simple majority of the votes cast.
4.2.9
Elections are carried out by secret ballot. If the number of candidates is
equal to the number of positions to be filled they can be elected in one
ballot. The candidates elected are those who receive the majority of votes in
the first ballot. In the second ballot the vote is between the two candidates
who received the most votes cast in the first ballot. If neither of them
receives a majority of the votes then a third ballot is held and the candidate-
who receives the most votes is elected.
4.3 The Management Committee
4.3.1 The Management
Committee's function is to undertake the business of EDbN.
4.3.2
The Management Committee consists of the Chairman, two Deputy Chairmen, six
Committee members plus the Secretary and Treasurer. Each of the three groups from
which Full Membership is drawn must be represented by three members on the
Committee. The Chairman should be elected from these three groups in rotation
4.3.3
The Management Committee is elected for a period of four years. The term of
office ends with the election of a new Committee.
4.3.4
The meetings of the Management Committee are announced in writing (with a full
agenda including all items to be voted on) by the Secretary at least eight
weeks in advance. The date of the postmark is taken as the date of dispatch.
4.3.5 The Management Committee has a
quorum when at least six elected members are present and each of the three
groups of Full Members are represented.
4.3.6
The Management Committee can appoint a Secretary and TTeasurer to carry out its
tasks. The Secretary and the Treasurer carry out their tasks under the
supervision of the Management Committee.
4.3.7
If a Committee member retires between elections the Management Committee may
appoint a replacement from the same Full Membership group as the retiring
member.
4.3.8 Voting at Management
Committee meetings is by a two-thirds majority.
4.3.9
If there is a calendar year with no Council Meeting the Management Committee is
to draw up a written report for all members.
ARTICLE 5 -FINANCES
5.1
Financial year
The financial year shall be
determined by Council.
5.2 Membership fees
The membership fees determined
by Council are to be paid in the first month of the year. If the deadline for payments
is missed the member concerned forfeits its entitlement to vote in Council or
Management Committee meetings of EDbN. It can, however, apply to the Management
Committee for a different settlement date.
5.3 Budget
5.3.1
The Council decides on a strategic budget to cover a period of four years. Each
year the Management Committee is to provide a budget that is in accordance with
the strategy and which is to be made available to the members in the first
quarter of the financial year.
5.3.2
It is the role of the Management Committee to balance income and expenditure in
the budget and ensure that expenditure does not exceed the available funds.
5.3.3
The auditors must be given access to all documents at any time. Their report
must be circulated immediately to members.