Charter of the Association of Members and Friends of the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin e.V. – Fellowclub -
§ 1
Purpose of the Association
The Association of Members and Friends of the Wissenschaftskolleg (“Fellowclub” in the following”) serves research primarily by supporting the Wissenschaftskolleg in its work and cultivating the contacts among the Fellows and to the Wissenschaftskolleg that develop during the Fellows’ stay at the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin. It promotes former Fellows’ visits to the Wissenschaftskolleg, in particular by means of an annual meeting in Berlin and through the Wissenschaftskolleg’s relations with the Fellows’ home institutions.
§ 2
Name, Seat, Public Utility, Business Year
(1) The Association bears the name “Association of Members and Friends of the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin e.V. – Fellowclub –” and is located in Berlin. It is entered in the Register of Associations.
(2) The Association pursues directly and exclusively purposes of public utility in the sense of the section “Steuerbegünstigte Zwecke” (“tax-privileged purposes”) of the Fiscal Code (AO 1977). The Association’s funds may be used solely for the purposes outlined in the Charter. The members receive no shares in profits and no other payments from the Association’s funds. Members who leave have no claim to Association assets. If the Association is dissolved, its assets fall to the Wissenschaftskolleg zu Berlin e.V., which shall use it solely for purposes of public utility in accordance with § 1.
(3) The business year is the calendar year.
§ 3
Members
(1) All Fellows and Guests of the Wissenschaftskolleg who have been affiliated with the Wissenschaftskolleg for at least 3 months can become members. Aside from the founding members, membership is acquired by making a written declaration to the Executive Board.
(2) Other persons who wish to contribute to fulfilling the purpose of the Association can be admitted at the suggestion of the Executive Board through a resolution of the Members’ Assembly.
(3) The members pay no dues.
(4) Membership can be ended by written declaration to the Executive Board.
§ 4
Organs of the Association
The organs of the Association are the Members’ Assembly and the Executive Board.
§ 5
Members’ Assembly
(1) The Members’ Assembly sets the guidelines for the work of the Fellowclub. It determines the annual budget. It receives the Chairperson’s annual report and the annual bookkeeping and approves the activity of the Executive Board. The annual bookkeeping will be examined by the Secretary of the Wissenschaftskolleg.
(2) The Members’ Assembly elects the Executive Board and the Administrative Director in accordance with the following regulations.
(3) The Chairperson shall convene the regular Members’ Assembly in writing on the occasion of the annual meeting. The members should receive the invitation with the agenda four weeks before the Members’ Assembly, at the latest.
(4) The Chairperson can convene extraordinary Members’ Assemblies, in accordance with Para. 3, Point 2. It must convene one if a tenth of the members call for it.
(5) For each Members’ Assembly, the members at the Meeting elect a Chairperson and a Secretary who keeps the minutes of the Meeting.
(6) The Members’ Assembly has a quorum if at least seven members are personally present. Ideally, resolutions should be unanimous; they must have the assent of a majority of the members present. The same applies to elections. The Chairperson may bring about resolutions via written correspondence. To pass a resolution requires a majority of the members who cast a ballot.
(7) Full members who are prevented from taking part in a Members’ Assembly can transfer their votes to another full member. No member may cast more than three votes.
§ 6
Executive Board
(1) A member is elected Chairperson. The Chairperson represents the Association in and out of court in accordance with § 26 BGB. In cooperation with the Administrative Director ( § 7), he carries out the ongoing business of the Association and draws up the annual budget.
(2) If the Chairperson is prevented from executing his or her office, one of his or her Vice-Chairpersons or the Administrative Director shall represent him or her unless the Chairperson or the Members’ Assembly has made other arrangements. The Vice-Chairpersons are elected from among the members.
(3) The Members’ Assembly elects the Chairperson for a term of three years. The Chairperson can be voted out of office only for an important reason. Reelection is possible.
§ 7
Administrative Director
(1) The Members’ Assembly appoints the Administrative Director on the suggestion of the Chairperson. He shall receive compensation for expenses.
(2) In accordance with the Chairperson’s guidelines, the Administrative Director carries out the business of the Association on his own responsibility. He or she prepares the annual meeting and the Members’ Assembly.
§ 8
Association Funds
The funds the Association requires will be raised through donations.
§ 9
Concluding Stipulations
(1) The Charter goes into effect upon its registration in the Association Register.
(2) Changes to the Charter require a three-quarter majority of the members who attend the meeting.
(3) Para. 2 applies if the Association is dissolved.
The Association was founded in 1984 and has been registered in the Association Register since 1985. The last change to the Charter was made on Oct. 24, 2002.