STATUTES OF THE SWISS CLUB TOKYO
Revised version- ratified at the Annual General Assembly on June 10th., 2014 in Tokyo
Title I. – Name – Aim – Duration
Article 1. A Swiss Society called “SWISS CLUB TOKYO” (hereafter called “Club”) is founded by the Swiss residents in the Tokyo area.
Article 2. The Club is a non-political and non-profit organization. lts aim is to further the relationship between Swiss nationals themselves and with their horneland (particularly through the intermediary of the Organization for Swiss living abroad of the New Helvetic Society).
Article 3. The Club is founded for an unlimited period.
Title II. – Organization
Article 4. The Club has its social headquarters at the address of the President.
Article 5. The social and financial year commences on June 1 and ends on May 31.
Article 6. The Club provides for:
Any person of Swiss nationality, of good reputation and aged at least 18 years, can be admitted as a member.
Any person, whatever nationality, presented by two Swiss members can be admitted as a member. The number of other nationality members must not exceed one third of the total number of Swiss members.
Honorary members: The title of honorary member is purely honorary and can be conferred on any person who has rendered appreciable services to the Club. Honorary members are exempt from paying an annual subscription.
Donor members: The title of donor member can be conferred on any person who has made an appreciable donation to the Club. Donor members are exempt from paying an annual subscription.
Historical members: The title of historical members can be conferred on any person who is a member for more than 30 years. Historical members are exempt from paying an annual subscription
Article 7. Membership may be lost:
by resignation addressed in writing to the President at least 3 months before the end of the social year.
by exclusion pronounced by the General Assembly for serious reasons.
by not paying the membership fee for two consecutive years.
Article 8. The annual subscription due from members is fixed by the General Assembly from time to time.
Article 9. All members, of whatever category, must undertake to respect the Statutes and aims of the Club.
Title 111. – Authoritative Bodjes
Article 10. The supreme authority of the Club is the General Assembly of members.
The General Assembly decides:
ln the last resort, admission and exclusion of members.
lt fixes the general directives for the activity of the Club.
lt decides on the annual subscription due from members.
lt elects the Executive Committee and the auditors for the accounts.
lt receives the annual report of the Executive Committee.
After hearing the financial report and auditior’s report, it approves the accounts for the past year.
lt fixes the budget for the coming year.
lt debates the items on the agenda.
Article 11.
Decisions are taken by majority vote. ln the case of equality of votes, the President has the deciding vote.
Article 12.
An Ordinary General Assembly is held once a year. An Extraordinary General Assembly may be convened by the Executive Committee. lt must be convened if one fifth of the members demand it.
Article 13.
The Executive Committee is composed of a President, a Honorary President, a Vice President, a Treasurer, a Secretary and several Assessors. lt is elected for one year by the General Assembly. lts members are eligible for re-election. The President, Honorary President, Vice President and Treasurer have to be of Swiss nationality.
The Executive Committee draws up proposed directives for the activity of the Club and submits them to the General Assembly.
lt is charged with the administrative and financial management of the Club.
lt adopts the rules of the sections.
lt decides on admission or exclusion of members. lt is possible to appeal against its decisions before the General Assembly. The decision of the latter is final.
Article 14. The Executive Committee meets whenever circumstances demand it.
Article 15. The President, or, in case of impediment, the Vice President, represents the Club vis-a-vis a third party.
Article 16. Two auditors are nominated by the General Assembly for one year. They audit the accounts presented by the Executive Committee and report to the General Assembly.
The accounts kept by the Treasurer are accessible at all times.
Article 17. The Club guarantees freedom to form sections, such as the youth group, the welfare fund, the entertainment committee etc. Their rules and budgets must be submitted for the approval of the Executive Committee.
Article 18. The president of each section must present a report of their activities to the President of the Executive Committee at least 15 days before the General Assembly. ,
Title IV. – General Provisions
Article 19. All disputes and differences within the Club are settled by the Executive Committee, or, on demand, by a court of arbitration formed as follows:
The two parties in dispule each choose an arbitrator from among the members and the two arbitrators so chosen select a third arbitrator. Should agreement not be reached on this nomination, the Swiss Ambassador must act as third arbitrator.
Article 20. The resolution of dissolution of the Club can be passed only by affirmative vote of a 2/3 majority of all members present or represented at a General Assembly specially convened for this purpose who represent at least 2/3 of all members of the Club. ln
case of dissolution the assets of the Club must be given into the safe-keeping of the Swiss Embassy in Tokyo for a period of 10 years. Thesefundsare at the disposal of any new club which is formed within this fixed period of time, whose aims are similar to those of the former Club. lf at the expiration of the said period no new club has been formed, these funds may be used to help deserving Swiss nationals in the region.
Article 21. Any modification or repeal of the present statutes or adoption of new statutes shall require affirmative vote of a 2/3 majority of all members present or represented at the Annual General Assembly or at an Extraordinary General Assembly at which 2/3 or more of all members are present or represented; provided that written notice must be given to each and every member of the Club of the former text and the proposed new text of the relevant part of the Statutes at least 30 days before the day set for such General Assembly.
Article 22. The present Statutes, adopted by the General Assembly of founder members of the Swiss Club, came into force on the day of September 20, 1976.
The present Statutes were modified and ratified at the General Assembly on June 1 0 t h . 2014 i n T o k y o
SWISS CLUB TOKYO
September 18th. 2014
Beatrice Ito, Honorary President