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Statutes

The Articles of Association of the APW clearly and transparently define the purpose, membership, organization and decision-making structures of our association.

I. Name and registered office of the consortium

§ 1

An association within the meaning of Art. 60 of the Swiss Civil Code exists under the name ‘Arbeitsgemeinschaft pro Wahrnehmung - APW’, hereinafter referred to as the Working Group. The registered office of the association is in the canton of Thurgau.

II Purpose of the consortium

§ 2

The purpose of the working group is

  1. To support people with disabilities, especially those with sensory impairments and their relatives, to enable them to be as independent as possible in everyday life so that they can bear their fate more easily.
  2. Association of people working in the field of perceptual disorders.
  3. Promoting the training and further education of therapists for people with perceptual disorders.
  4. Support for research in the field of perceptual disorders.
  5. Joint representation of the concerns of people with perceptual disorders as well as those who work in the field of perceptual disorders.

III Means

§ 3

The working group seeks to achieve its goal through:

  1. Direct support for people with sensory disorders and their relatives.
  2. Organization and implementation of conferences and courses in the field of perceptual disorders as well as participation in such conferences and courses organized and implemented by third parties.
  3. Promoting the exchange of information and experience with experts working in the same and neighboring fields.
  4. Cooperation with associations that are active in the same or neighboring areas.
  5. Preparation and submission of statements to the public and the authorities on the findings of perceptual disorders, problems of people with perceptual disorders and their therapists.

 

§ 4

The financial resources consist of:

  1. Annual contributions from members
  2. Support from the authorities and donations from third parties. The liability of members for association debts is excluded. Resigning members have no claim to the Association's assets.

IV. Organization

A. The General Meeting

§ 5

The bodies of the working group are

§ 6

The General Meeting is convened by the Board of Directors at least 30 days in advance. The invitation is sent to all members in writing together with the agenda. The General Meeting should normally take place at least once a year (in February / June). Extraordinary General Meetings are organized by resolution of a General Meeting, the Board of Directors or one fifth of the members, provided that such a request is made in writing to the Board of Directors, stating the purpose.

§ 7

Resolutions are passed by a majority of all voters present at a meeting (absolute majority), unless otherwise stipulated by law. A majority of those voting is sufficient for motions of order (relative majority). Section 19 remains reserved.

§ 8

The General Meeting is chaired by a member of the Executive Committee of the Board and the minutes are taken by a secretary appointed by the Board. The meeting elects the required number of scrutineers by open ballot.

§ 9

Elections and votes are conducted by a show of hands unless 10 members request a secret ballot. Members who have participated in the management in any way are not entitled to vote on resolutions concerning the discharge of the managing bodies. Likewise, a member is not entitled to vote if the resolution concerns legal transactions or legal disputes of the Association with him or her or his or her spouse or relative in the direct line.

§ 10

The General Meeting has the following powers:

  1. Election of the Board of Directors and the auditors.
  2. Acceptance of the annual report of the Board of Directors and the annual financial statements as well as the report of the auditors; discharge of the executive bodies; handling of complaints against them.
  3. Resolution on the amount of the annual membership fee. However, the annual contribution may not exceed CHF 300 for individuals, CHF 200 for families and CHF 600 for legal entities.
  4. Amendments or additions to the Articles of Association.
  5. Dissolution of the working group or its merger with other associations with the same or similar objectives.
  6. To pass resolutions on all other matters reserved for the General Meeting by law, by the Articles of Association or referred to it by the Board of Directors.
  7. Discussion of motions from members that have been submitted to the Chairman's Office in writing at least 20 days before the meeting. Important motions are sent to members at least 8 days before the meeting.

B. The Executive Board

§ 11

The Executive Board consists of at least 5 members. All Board members work on a voluntary basis. The Board of Directors constitutes itself. It has the authority to form a management committee consisting of 1-3 Board members. The term of office is three years, after which all members of the Board of Directors are eligible for re-election. Members newly elected during a term of office shall take up the term of office of those in whose place they have been elected. Voluntary resignation must be announced to the Board of Directors three months in advance.

§ 12

The Board of Directors meets at the invitation of the Chairman's Office, stating the agenda, place and time, as often as business requires. Meetings are convened at least 6 days in advance. In urgent cases, the notice period may be shortened. Valid resolutions on items other than those on the agenda can only be passed unanimously and only if all members are represented or expressly declare their agreement. The presence of at least 2/3 of the members of the Board of Directors is required to pass a resolution. Resolutions are passed by a relative majority. The Board of Directors may also pass resolutions by circular letter, although each member of the Board of Directors has the right to request that the matter be discussed at a meeting of the Board of Directors.

§ 13

The Board of Directors has the following tasks:

  1. To pass resolutions on all matters of the Association that are not expressly assigned to the General Meeting or the auditors. In particular, it is responsible for the overall management and general supervision of the interests of the Association.
  2. Implementation of the resolutions of the General Meeting.
  3. External representation of the working group. The legally binding signature is held by a member of the Executive Committee together with the treasurer.
  4. Convening of the Annual General Meeting.

C. The auditors

§ 14

Two auditors are elected alternately by the General Assembly for a term of 3 years. They do not have to be members of the Association. They examine the accounts, receipts, bookkeeping and cash balances and report on the annual financial statements and the results of their auditing activities at the General Assembly.

V. Members

§ 15

Any individual, family, legal entity or organization that works with people with disabilities, especially in the field of perceptual disorders, especially in the field of therapy for people with perceptual disorders, or has an interest in doing so and pays the annual membership fee, can become a member of the working group.

§ 16

The Board of Directors may appoint honorary members to persons who have rendered outstanding services to the Association or who have made great achievements in the field of perceptual disorders. Honorary members have the same rights as ordinary members, without their obligations.

§ 17

Membership is granted by the Executive Board upon application to one of the Executive Board members. Every new member receives the Articles of Association. Membership expires upon resignation, expulsion or death/dissolution. It also expires automatically if the annual membership fee has not been paid by the end of the set reminder period despite a single reminder. Resignation from the working group is effected by written declaration to the Executive Board. It takes place at the end of a calendar year (date of postmark), but does not release the member from the obligation to pay due membership fees. The Executive Board shall decide on the expulsion of members. The member may lodge an objection to this decision within 30 days, on which a decision will be made at the next General Meeting.

VI Closing of accounts

§ 18

The association year begins on January 1 and ends on December 31 of the same year to which the association accounts are to be closed. Members' annual contributions are due upon receipt of the invoice in the first half of the year.

VII Dissolution

§ 19

The General Assembly may at any time, provided that at least half of the members are present and a majority of two-thirds of those present and entitled to vote are in favor, resolve to dissolve the Association at a meeting convened for this purpose. Liquidation shall then be carried out by the Executive Board unless the General Meeting appoints special liquidators. If the working group is dissolved by merging with another association with the same or similar objectives, the General Assembly shall determine the more detailed modalities. If the Association is dissolved, the assets shall be transferred to a tax-exempt, non-profit institution based in Switzerland that is active in the field of perceptual disorders.

VIII Final provision

§ 20

The Articles of Association were adopted at the constituent meeting on 29.06.1974 and last amended at the AGM on 01.06.2024. They enter into force in the current version on 01.06.2024. 02.07.2024/cs

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