Important: this is a translated version of the German version of the statutes, presented in the document above, which is the legally binding one.
Name and domicile
Under the name “REFORESTATION WORLD” exists an association in the sense of Art. 60 ff. ZGB, with office registered in 8126 Zumikon. It is independent and without political and denomination affiliations.
Aim and purpose
The purpose of the association is the promotion of (re)forestation and the protection of forests worldwide. In doing so, the association is essentially oriented towards Goal 15 of the Agenda 2030 of the Swiss Confederation as well as the UN Sustainable Development Goals. The association supports only non-profit projects. The association does not pursue commercial or self-help purposes and does not seek profit.
Resources
In order to pursue the association’s purpose, the association has the following means at its disposal:
Membership fees
Income from own events
subsidies
Income from service agreements
Donations and contributions of all kinds
The membership fees are determined annually by the association’s general meeting. The business year corresponds to the calendar year.
Membership
Natural and legal persons who support the purpose of the association can become members.
Persons who have made a special contribution to the Association may be awarded honorary membership by the Association Assembly on the recommendation of the Board.
Applications for membership are to be addressed to the Board of Directors; the Board of Directors decides on the acceptance.
Expiration of membership
The membership expires:
for natural persons by resignation, exclusion or death.
for legal entities by resignation, exclusion or dissolution of the legal entity.
Resignation and exclusion
Resignation from the association is possible at the end of each calendar year. The letter of resignation must be sent in writing to the board of directors at least eight weeks before the ordinary general meeting of the association. The full membership fee must be paid for the year in question.
A member can be excluded by the board at any time without giving reasons. The decision to exclude a member is made by the Board of Directors; the member may appeal the decision to the General Assembly of the Association.
Organs of the Association
The organs of the association are:
a) the Assembly of the Association
b) the Board of Directors
c) (possibly) the Auditors
d) (possibly) the Main Office
The Assembly of the Association
The supreme body of the Association is the Association Assembly. An ordinary general meeting of the association takes place annually within the first six months of the year.
The members are invited in writing 15 days in advance to the general meeting, stating the agenda. Invitations by e-mail are valid.
Proposals to the General Assembly must be sent in writing to the Board at least 10 days before the General Assembly.
The Board of Directors or 1/5 of the members may at any time request the convening of an extraordinary meeting of the Association, stating the purpose of the meeting. The meeting must be held no later than six weeks after receipt of the request.
The General Assembly is the supreme body of the Association. It has the following inalienable tasks and competences:
a) Approval of the minutes of the last meeting of the Association.
b) Approval of the annual report of the board
c) Acceptance of the auditor’s report and approval of the annual financial statement
d) Discharge of the Board
e) Election of the President and the other members of the Board as well as the Auditors.
f) Determination of the membership fee
g) Approval of the annual budget
h) Taking note of the program of activities
i) Passing resolutions on motions of the Board and of the members
j) Amendment of the statutes
k) Decision on exclusions of members
l) Decision-making on the dissolution of the Association and the use of the liquidation proceeds.
Any duly convened meeting of the Association shall constitute a quorum, irrespective of the number of members present. The members pass resolutions by a simple majority. In the event of a tie, the chairperson shall have the casting vote. Amendments to the statutes require the approval of a 2/3 majority of those entitled to vote. At least one record of the resolutions passed shall be drawn up.
The Board of Directors
The board of directors consists of at least one person. The term of office is two years. Re-election is possible. The Board of Directors manages the day-to-day business and represents the Association externally, unless it has delegated certain business to an office. It issues regulations. It can appoint working groups (expert groups). It may employ or commission persons for the submission of the Association’s objectives against appropriate compensation. The Executive Board has all competences which are not assigned to another body by law or according to these statutes.
The following departments may be represented on the Board:
a) Presidium
b) Vice Presidency
c) Finances
d) Actuarial office
Accumulation of offices is possible. The Board of Directors constitutes itself. The board meets as often as business requires. Any member of the Board may request a meeting, stating the reasons. Unless a member of the Board of Directors requests oral deliberation, resolutions may be passed by circular letter (including e-mail).
The members of the Board of Directors work on an honorary basis and are in principle only entitled to compensation for their actual expenses and cash outlays. For special services of individual board members, an appropriate compensation may be paid.
The Auditors
The general meeting of the association elects one or two natural persons as auditors for a period of two years. The audit can also be entrusted to a legal person alone. The accounts of the Association shall be closed annually. The Auditors are obliged to audit the annual accounts of the Association and to report on the results of their audit to the Ordinary General Meeting of the Association.
Authority to sign
Externally, the association is represented by the board of directors. The board of directors determines who is authorized to sign and how the signature is to be made.
Liability
Only the association’s assets are liable for the association’s debts. A personal liability of the members is excluded.
Dissolution of the association
The dissolution of the Association can be decided by a resolution of an ordinary or extraordinary meeting of the Association and can be dissolved by a majority vote of 2/3 of the members present.
The funds remaining after the dissolution of the Association shall be donated to a tax-exempt institution, domiciled in Switzerland, with the same or similar purpose. A distribution among the members is excluded.
