HISTORY
ADDRESS FROM THE PRESIDENT
CHARTER
Charter
The Bulgarian American
Studies Association
A Non-Profit Association
A Non-Profit Association
І. GENERAL PRINCIPLES
Article 1. The ASSOCIATION is an
autonomous non-profit organization performing its activities in
accordance with the
Constitution and the legislation of the Republic of Bulgaria
Article 2. The ASSOCIATION is a legal entity, acquiring its status with its entry into the registers of the Sofia Municipal Court
ІІ. TITLE, SEAT,
EXECUTIVE ADDRESS AND DURATION
Article 3. (1) The title of the ASSOCIATION is BULGARIAN AMERICAN STUDIES ASSOCIATION
(2) THE SEAT AND THE EXECUTIVE ADDRESS: Sofia, Sredets Municipality,
Boulevard Tsar Osvoboditel 15, The St. Kliment Okhridski University of Sofia, Floor 5, Office 161
(3) The ASSOCIATION is founded for an UNLIMITED duration
Article 4. The title, the seat and the executive address shall be quoted in all documents and publications of the ASSOCIATION
ІІІ. GOALS AND MEANS OF
ACHIEVING THEM
Article 5. The
ASSOCIATION GOALS are:(1) To support the scientific and academic activities of the Bulgarian scholars of American Studies
(2) To support and assist the application of the knowledge and skills of the Bulgarian American Studies scholars in developing spiritual values, building civic society and promoting education, science and culture
Article 6. (1) THESE GOALS SHALL BE ACHIEVED THROUGH:
a) Forming a positive public attitude towards the activities of the Bulgarian American Studies scholars in developing spiritual values, building civic society and promoting education, science and culture
b) Voicing opinions and positions and providing assistance for the scientific and academic institutionalization of the Bulgarian American Studies scholars
c) Organizing training and workshops on the problems of American Studies, as well as for the development of the spiritual values, the civic society, education, science and culture in Bulgaria and USA
d) Leading initiatives of the national government and public agencies and non-government organizations for the development and institutionalization of the spiritual values, the civic society, education, science and culture and for the social integration and personal achievements of the Bulgarian American Studies scholars
e) Materializing international cooperation with congenial organizations
(2) Subject of economic activity:
Educational, publishing, information, consultancy activities, designing and participating in national and international projects
Article 7. THE ASSOCIATION PRINCIPLES:
- Freedom of choice and voluntary participation
- Recognition of all members' interests and providing opportunities for participation in the ASSOCIATION programs
- Equal status for all programs
- Cooperation, trust, free expression of thought, security
- Encouragement of initiative, activity and participation
- Promotion of new ideas and programs
- Support for creativity, individuality and innovation
- Openness and transparency of the ASSOCIATION to the public
- Independence and non-alliance
- Political neutrality towards nationality, race, gender, religion and language
ІV. THE TYPE OF ACTIVITY
Article 8. The ASSOCIATION is founded to accomplish its activities for the BENEFIT of the INDIVIDUALS
V. MEMBERSHIP,
EMERGENCE
AND TERMINATION. ORDER OF PROPERTY SETTLEMENT UPON TERMINATION OF
MEMBERSHIP
Article 9. (1) All physical persons at a lawful age, or legal entities, are eligible for membership in the ASSOCIATION, as long as they:
- approve of the Charter
- share its goals, or some of them, and do not counteract against the rest of them
- regularly pay their membership dues or their property contribution, or contribution in kind share equal to or higher than their dues, as is their will or their means
- participate in the activities of the ASSOCIATION
(2) The applicants submit a letter of application to the President of the ASSOCIATION and the General Assembly
(3) The founding members are members by rights
(4) The admission of new members is in concord with the decision of the General Assembly who must approve the application with a majority vote
Article 10. (1) Membership is terminated with a decision of the General Assembly:
- in compliance with the member's will articulated in a unilateral free-will declaration to the ASSOCIATION
- in case of expulsion from the ASSOCIATION
- in case of unpaid membership dues for a period of one year
- in case of termination of the ASSOCIATION
(2) Those whose will is to discontinue their membership should submit a written
notification to the President of the ASSOCIATION and the General Assembly one month prior to its taking effect
(3) The written notification for discontinued membership in the ASSOCIATION
may be withdrawn before the one month period of the notification has expired
(4) A member of the ASSOCIATION who has submitted a written notification for
discontinuation of membership in the ASSOCIATION cannot be a member of the Executive Board
(5) The membership cannot be discontinued in the case of the ASSOCIATION being
in a legal termination procedure
Article 11. (1) A member of the ASSOCIATION can be expelled if:
- this member systematically fails to perform his/her duties
- this member does not pay membership dues
- this member does not meet the membership requirements
- this member derogates the good name of the ASSOCIATION
(2) The decision of expulsion of a member is taken by the Executive Board and becomes operative after the approval of the General Assembly
(3) Members who have terminated their membership or have been expelled cannot have property claims against the ASSOCIATION
VІ. RIGHTS AND DUTIES
OF
THE MEMBERS. ORDER OF DETERMINING THE AMOUNT AND METHODS OF PAYMENT OF
PROPERTY FEES
Article 12. (1) The ASSOCIATION members share equal rights and duties
(2) The ASSOCIATION members have the right:
- to participate in the management of the ASSOCIATION
- to participate in the ASSOCIATION activities
- to be informed of the ASSOCIATION activities
- to use the information available in the ASSOCIATION
- to participate in the events and activities organized by the ASSOCIATION
- to discontinue their ASSOCIATION membership with a one month written
notification
- to benefit from the property and results of the activities of the ASSOCIATION
(3) The ASSOCIATION members are obliged:
- to obey the Charter
- to obey the decisions of the executive agencies of the ASSOCIATION
- not to take actions derogatory of the good name of the ASSOCIATION
- to pay regularly their membership dues to the amount determined by the General
Assembly
- to vouch for the liabilities of the ASSOCIATION up to the amount of their property contribution. A member bears no personal liability for the ASSOCIATIONS debts
VІІ. EXECUTIVE BODIES,
CONSTITUTION AND REPRESENTATION. AUTHORITIES OF THE EXECUTIVE BODIES.
REGULATIONS FOR
THE ASSOCIATION REPRESENTATION
Article 13. The executive bodies of the ASSOCIATION are the General Assembly and the Executive Board
Article 14. (1) The General Assembly is the supreme executive body of the ASSOCIATION. It incorporates all regular members of the ASSOCIATION
(2) The General Assembly is CONVENED by the Executive Board on its initiative, or upon the request of one-third of the members of the ASSOCIATION in the city where the ASSOCIATION is seated. Should the Executive Board not send in a one month period a written invitation for convening a General Assembly, it shall be CONVENED by the court in the city where the ASSOCIATION is seated with a letter of request of the interested members or a person appointed by them
Article 15. The written invitation should contain the agenda, the date, the time and the venue of holding the General Assembly, as well as an indication as to who has initiated it. The invitation is published in the State Gazette and is posted on the announcement board in the facility where the executive body of the ASSOCIATION is located no later than a month prior to the announced day. The invitation can also be sent to the members electronically
Article 16. The General Assembly is declared legitimate if more than one half of the members are present. In case of shortage of quorum the session adjourns for one hour later at the same venue and with the same agenda and can be held regardless of the number of members who have convened
Article 17. Each member of the General Assembly has the right to one vote. No voting by proxy is allowed
Article 18. The decisions of the General Assembly are made with a majority vote of the members present, however for decisions concerning amendments of or riders to the Charter, or decisions concerning reorganization or termination of the ASSOCIATION a majority vote of 2/3 (two-thirds) of the members present is mandatory
Article 19. No decisions can be made on issues not included in the agenda announced in the letter of invitation
Article 20. No one member has the right to vote on decisions concerning himself/herself, or his/her spouse, his/her relatives in the line of descent - without any limitations, and collaterally - to the fourth degree, or in kinship by marriage - to the second degree included, as well as for the legal entities where he/she may be a manager, or may enforce or impede decision making
Article 21. The decisions of the General Assembly, made in contradiction to the law, the Charter or to prior decisions of the General Assembly may be contested at the General Assembly upon request of the interested members of the ASSOCIATION or its body, submitted within a one month period of learning of it but no later than one year after the decision was made
Article 22. The General Assembly:
1) amends and adopts riders to the Charter
2) adopts other internal regulations
3) elects and releases the Executive Board
4) admits, releases and expels members
5) determines whether or not to open or close affiliated sections
6) makes decisions regarding the participation of the ASSOCIATION in other organizations
7) makes decisions regarding reorganization or termination of the ASSOCIATION
8) adopts guidelines and program of the activities of the ASSOCIATION
9) approves the budget of the ASSOCIATION
10) makes decisions regarding the liability and amount of the membership dues or the property
contribution shares
11) approves the report of the activities of the Executive Board
12) repeals decisions of the other bodies of the ASSOCIATION that are in contradiction to
the law, the Charter, or other internal regulations determining the activities of the
ASSOCIATION
The decisions under items 1, 3, 7, 9, 11 and 12 cannot be delegated to other agencies of the ASSOCIATION
Article 23. Votes are taken by an open ballot, unless it is decided otherwise. The decisions of the General Assembly are binding on the other agencies of the ASSOCIATION
Article 24. The Executive Board is a standing executive agency of the ASSOCIATION
Article 25. The Executive Board:
- makes provisions for the execution of the decisions of the General Assembly
- makes arrangements for the property of the ASSOCIATION
- drafts and deposits the projected budget with the General Assembly
- drafts and deposits the report of the activities of the ASSOCIATION with the General Assembly
- determines the order and organizes the achievement of the ASSOCIATION activities and bears the responsibility for such action
- determines the executive address of the ASSOCIATION
- represents the ASSOCIATION and determines the limits of representation of the individual members
- makes decisions on issues within the terms of reference of the General Assembly during the period between its sessions
- makes decisions on all issues that are by law not in the terms of reference of another agency
- performs other duties, as envisaged by this Charter
Article 26. The Executive Board is elected for a term of 3 years. It consists of 7 (seven) members, elected by the General Assembly. The Executive Board elects from among its members a President and a Vice President
Article 27. The President and the Vice President REPRESENT the ASSOCIATION jointly, or individually, in accordance with the definitions of the Charter and the decisions of the General Assembly
Article 28. The President hires, dismisses and manages the ASSOCIATION staff and signs civil contracts with third parties
Article 29. The President may authorize other persons to perform some of his/her assigned duties
Article 30. The President makes all his/her decisions autonomously and in person on the basis of the decisions of the General Assembly or the Executive Board
Article 31. The President may resign with a letter of resignation sent with a three month notification. The letter of resignation is sent to the Executive Board who shall consider it at its session. The Executive Board may accept the resignation on the instant without waiting for the expiry of the three month notification.
Article 32. In the case of decease or termination of membership of the President, the Executive Board has the obligation of electing his/her replacement in the instant
Article 33. The ASSOCIATION may open affiliated sections; the decisions regarding their opening and closing is made by the Executive Board. The Executive Board makes decisions on the authority, the representation, the range of activities, the launching and suspension of complementary business activities, the property agreements, the rights and responsibilities, as well as the type of activities performed by the affiliated sections
Article 34. At all sessions of the General Assembly of the ASSOCIATION records are kept and entered into special books of records, containing:
- date and venue of the session convened
- list of members present
- agenda
- statements and decisions made
- signatures of the Chair of the General Assembly and the record keeper
VІІІ. PROPERTY AND FINANCES
Article 35. The ASSOCIATION may be in possession of movable or real property with no members' shares of it
Article 36. The ASSOCIATION collects the funding needed for its activities and acquires its property through:
- affiliation fees
- membership dues
- donations
- grants
- complementary business activities
ІХ. TERMINATION OF THE
ASSOCIATION, METHOD OF DISPOSITION OF THE PROPERTY ASSETS AFTER THE
INDEMNIFICATION OF THE DEBTORS
Article 37. The ASSOCIATION is terminated with a decision of:
- the General Assembly
- the court if its activities are in contradiction to the law, to the Charter or the public order, or if it has become insolvent. Upon the indemnification of the ASSOCIATION debtors, its property is distributed in equal shares between the founding members, the Executive Board and the members of the General Assembly
Article 38. The termination of the ASSOCIATION is entered ex officio in the records when decreed by the court, and as reported by the Executive Board in all other cases
Х. OTHER PROVISIONS
Article 39. The functioning and activities of the ASSOCIATION are not subject to duration limitations
Article 40. All issues not settled in the Charter and all emerging arguments are subject to settlement in accordance with the provisions of the current legislation
Article 41. The Charter comes into effect from the moment of its entry into the court registers
THE CHARTER IS APPROVED
BY:
[Attached list of signatures]
CONFERENCES AND EVENTS