Statute of the charitable association Canopus

Article. I

Definitions

1)       Association’s name: Canopus /further “association“/.
     2)       Registered office: Synkovská 14, Praha 6, 160 00, Czech Republic
     3)       Association is a not-for-profit organisation, founded in accordance with the Act number 83/1990 of the Code of Law, about associating of citizens, in the current version. It is a legal entity according to § 2, article 3 of the cited Act and it acts in the entire territory of the Czech Republic.

 Article. II

Objects of the association 

1)       The objects and mission of the charity are
-           By edificational and educational activities, to contribute to gaining knowledge of the laws of inner and social life and the strenghtening of good character qualities and abilities;
-           by charitable work to alleviate pain and suffering;
-           to publish and disseminate the works of valuable spiritual literature.

2)       The objects and mission are achieved mainly by:
a)        edificational activities in the spiritual and educational field, which in concrete terms consists of
-                 introducing the public to the essence of writings of selected authors of spriritual teachings,
-                 organising of lectures, exhibitions and similar events
b)       charitable work
-                 in particular caring for elderly persons within the possibilities of  the association,
-                 developing of charitable activity by one’s involvement in removing of suffering of people and following up of work of charitable institutions 

Article. III

Membership 

1)       Natural persons over 18 years of age or legal entities which agree with the objects of the association can be members of the association.

2)       Membership in the association begins on the day of decision of the Executive Board of the association based on a written application.

3)       Membership in the association ends:
For natural persons:
a)                   on the day of delivery of a written declaration of a member that they resign their membership in the association to the Executive Board,
b)                   by death of the member,
c)                   by expulsion.
For legal entities:
a) on the day of liquidation of the legal entity in line with the respective regulations.

4)       A member of the association may be expelled from it, if they seriously breach the Statute of the association or in another way repeatedly breach the objects of the association. The Executive Board decides about expulsion of a member by a two-thirds majority. The affected member may file an appeal to the General Assembly against the decision of the executive board within 30 days since the delivery of the decision about expulsion from the association. 

Article. IV

Rights and duties of members

1)       A member of the association has the right:
-                 to be informed about the General Assembly meeting in a timely manner,
-                 to take part in the meeting and decision-making of the General Assembly of the association,
-                 to take part in the elections of the Executive Board of the association as a voter as well as to be voted for,
-                 to be informed about the acitivites of the association,
-                 to resign their membership in the association.

3)       A member of the association is obliged:
-                 to adhere to the Statute of the association and to take part in achieving the objects of the association by their own activity,
-                 to pay the membership fees on time and in full. 

Article. V

Bodies of the association

 The bodies of the association are:
a)        General Assembly of the association
b)       Executive Board of the association 

Article. VI

The General Assembly of the association

1)    The General Assembly of the association (further “General Assembly“) is the highest body of the association and consists of all its members.

     2)   The General Assembly convenes at least once in a calendar year. It is convened in writing by the president or a member of the Executive Board nominated by the president. The General Assembly has to be convened if at least half of the members of the association requests it in writing.

     3) The quorum of the General Assembly is defined by the presence of an absolute majority of all of the members of the association . In case less than half of the members are present, a new meeting of the General Assembly has to be convened within 15 days. This new meeting is considered to have a quorum regardless of the number of members present. A valid decision is one voted for by an absolute majority of the members present, except for specific cases determined by this Statute .

4)       The General Assembly is supposed to, in particular:
-                 to decide about changes in the Statute,
-                 to approve the plan of activities of the association for the period of a calendar year,
-                 to  decide about the amount and kind of the membership fees and the deadline of their payment,
-                 to elect and to remove from function the members of the Executive Board of the association,
-                 to decide about the dissolution of the association,
-                 to decide about all matters reserved by it, with the exception of those which are delegated to other organs by this Statute. 

Article. VII

The Executive Board of the association

1) The Executive Board of the association (further “executive board“) is a statutory and executive body of the association, which reports to the General Assembly.

    2) The Executive Board has a minimum of three members, and a maximum of nine members. The term of office of the members of the executive board is three years.

   3) The Executive Board steers the activities of the association in the period between the meetings of the General Assembly. The Executive Board is lead by the president of  the Executive Board (further “president“), who is elected from among its members. Further to that, the vice-president of the association  (futher “vice-president“) is elected from among the members of the Executive Board.

  4) The Executive Board convenes al least three times a year and is convened by its president, during his or her absence by the vice-president.

  5) The Executive Board does in particular:
-                 coordinate the activities of the association between the meetings of the General Assembly,
-                 convene the General Assembly,
-                 prepare background documents for the General Assembly meetings,
-                 issue internal regulations of the association,
-                 ensure the administrative operation of the association and its accounting,
-                 ensure proper management of the budget of the association.

  6) The Executive Board has a quorum, if an absolute majority of all its members is present. Unless this Statute does not determine otherwise, a decision approved by an absolute majority of the present members is valid. In the case of equality of the votes, the vote of the president has a decisive power.

  7) In case the number of members of the Executive Board falls under three, the remaining members will co-opt a new member for the board at the following meeting, until the time when the next General Assembly will convene.

Article. VIII

Legal representation

1) The association is externally represented by the president or the vice-president of the Executive Board, both of them independently, or any other person authorised to do so in writing by the Executive Board.
     2) The procedure of signing in the name of the association is the following: next to a written or printed name of the association, the president of the Executive Board or jointly two members of the Executive Board or a person authorised to do so in writing by the Executive Board, will add their personal signature(s).

Article. IX

Financial and non-financial goods of the association
 

1) The incomes of the association are constituted in by:
-                 the membership fees
-                 dividends of the property of the association
-                 donations of natural persons or legal entities
-                 donations by inheritance
-                 grants, subsidies, etc.

    2) The property of the association may be used solely in compliance with the Statute of the association. Its use has to be as cost-effective as possible. The association is entitled to use its property for covering expenses related to its activites.

    3) Financial management of the association follows the generally binding legal rules and regulations. The fiscal year of the association is identical with the calendar year. 

Article. X

Dissolution of the association

 1) The association ceases to exist by a voluntary dissolution or by merging with another association. The dissolution is decided by the General Assembly by a two-thirds majority of  all its members. In case of liquidation, the General Assembly appoints a liquidator during its last meeting.

     2) The entire remaining property will be, following the dissolution of the association, transfered to another subject with the same or silimar object the one for which this subject was founded, without charge.

Article. XI

Common, transitory and final provisions

The change of these Statute is solely possible in writing and within 15 days of the approval of such change this must be announced to the Ministry of Interior of the Czech Republic.