Articles of Association in plain language (as at: 29.01.2020)

Important: This is a simplified declaration. Legally, the original articles of association always apply.

§ 1

Name, registered office, year

• The association is called: Zentrum für Selbstbestimmtes Leben Behinderter e.V. Abbreviation: ZSL e.V.
• The association is based in Erlangen and is entered in the register of associations.
• The association year is always from January 1 to December 31.

§ 2

Goals and tasks

The association supports people with disabilities and people with chronic illnesses.

The association wants:

• Equality
• Self-determination
• Full participation in society
• No discrimination (no disadvantage)

The association also provides advice and support. Personal assistance is particularly important.

Assistance means helping people in everyday life. The person concerned determines how help is provided.

This is how the association achieves its goals:

1. People with disabilities are the main decision-makers in the association.
2. Counseling is often by affected people for affected people. This is called peer counseling.

The association also represents these interests externally. The association campaigns against developments that endanger the lives of people with disabilities.

The association achieves its goals in this way, for example:

• He runs an advice center.
• He organizes assistance.
• It promotes work for people with disabilities (also via ACCESS - Inklusion im Arbeitsleben gGmbH in Erlangen).
• It supports projects on social issues, work, politics, health and education.
• It works together with other organizations.

Paid and voluntary staff work in the association. Voluntary means: without pay.

The association is not bound to any political party or religion.

The association is non-profit and charitable. This means that it works for the common good and helps people. The association does not work to make a profit.

§ 3

Membership

There are two types of membership:

1) Members with voting rights

• These can be people with disabilities or chronic illnesses.
• You must be at least 16 years old.

2) Supporting members

• These can be people or organizations.
• You support the association.
• They are allowed to speak and submit proposals.
• You are not allowed to vote.

This is how you become a member: You submit an application to the Association Council. The association council decides.

Membership ends as follows:

1. If the member dies.
2. By resignation: in writing to the Association Council.
3. By exclusion: this is decided by the General Meeting with a 2/3 majority. The member has 14 days to submit a written statement beforehand.
4. If you do not pay a contribution for 2 years.

§ 4

Rights and obligations

Members may ask questions, have their say and submit motions at the General Meeting.

Motions must be submitted at least 2 weeks before the General Meeting.

Members should support the association and help it to achieve its goals.

§ 5

Membership fee

• Members pay a contribution.
• The general meeting decides on the minimum contribution.
• The contribution must be paid by June 30.
• In special cases, the Association Council may reduce the fee, have it paid later or waive it.

§ 6

Organs of the association

The association has three important groups:

1. General meeting
2. Association Council
3. Management Board

§ 7

General Meeting (GM)

• All members and supporting members are members of the general meeting.
• The meeting is not normally open to the public. The Association Council may allow exceptions.

Invitation to the General Meeting:

• in writing or by e-mail
• with agenda
• at least 4 weeks before

Motions on the agenda:

• submit to the association council at least 2 weeks in advance
• Amendments to the articles of association or dissolution are only possible if this was previously announced in the invitation

Vote:

• The General Meeting can pass resolutions regardless of how many members with voting rights attend.
• Each voting member has one vote.
• There is a secret ballot if someone requests it.
• Representation is not permitted. You cannot vote „for others“.

The Association Council must convene the General Meeting:

• At least 1 time per year
• or if it is important
• or if 1/3 of the members request this in writing

The General Meeting decides, for example, on

• Election of the Association Council (for 3 years)
• Election of 2 auditors (for 3 years)
• Discharge of the Board of Directors and Association Council (meaning: „You have done your job properly“)
• Amount of membership fees
• Applications
• Amendments to the Articles of Association
• Memberships in other associations or societies
• Dissolution of the association

Majorities:

• Normal: simple majority
• Amendment of the Articles of Association: 2/3 majority
• Resolution: 3/4 majority

Protocol:

• There is a results protocol.
• It will be dispatched within 4 weeks.
• Objection is possible for 4 weeks. The association council then decides.

§ 8

Association Council

• The Association Council has a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 members.
• All of them are of legal age and members of the association with voting rights.
• Members of the Association Council may not be employed full-time by the Association.
• The Association Council is elected for 3 years.

Volunteers are reimbursed for expenses (e.g. travel costs).

There may also be an honorary lump sum. This is decided by the general meeting.

The Association Council can write down rules for its work. These are called rules of procedure.

Tasks of the Association Council:

• It discusses important objectives of the association.
• It elects the Executive Board.
• He makes contracts with the Management Board.
• It monitors the Executive Board.
• It may consult specialists (e.g. auditors).
• He receives important information from the Executive Board.
• It adopts the business plan (plan for money and expenditure).
• It adopts the annual financial statements.
• It may appoint special representatives (for specific tasks).

Meetings of the Association Council:

• Usually 1 time per quarter
• Invitation at least 2 weeks in advance
• Board members can be invited and may then speak and submit motions
• Resolutions are passed by a simple majority
• There is a protocol

§ 9

Management Board

The Executive Board is the management of the association. The Executive Board represents the association externally.

The association has one or more board members.

Normally, board members must be people with disabilities or chronic illnesses.

Exceptions are possible if the General Meeting agrees by a 2/3 majority.

The Association Council regulates this in rules of procedure:

• who is responsible for what
• which decisions need extra approval

The Executive Board works on a full-time basis. This means: as paid work with a contract.

If there are several board members, at least two together represent the association.

Election and term of office:

• The Board of Directors is elected by the Association Council.
• Term of office: 4 years.
• The Board of Directors remains in office until a new Board of Directors is in place.

Tasks of the Management Board:

• He manages the business of the association.
• He does everything that is not expressly decided by others.
• He represents the association in and out of court.

§ 10

Resolution

If the association is dissolved, the remaining money goes to:

ACCESS - Inklusion im Arbeitsleben gemeinnützige GmbH in Erlangen.

This money may only be used for charitable purposes.