STATUTES

ARTICLE 1: NAME

This Association has been constituted as an European cultural association under the name of the European Federation of Associations of Industrial and Technical Heritage, and its acronym E-FAITH.

ARTICLE 2: OBJECTIVES

The Federation is a non-profit making organization whose objectives are to promote the research in and study, recording, conservation, development and management, and interpretation of Industrial and Technical Heritage and to facilitate co-operation in Europe between those engaged in these activities. The scope of the Federation's activities will embrace the European's countries.

2.1) To promote co-operation between affiliated associations through:
• the exchange of information;
• the promotion of co-operation between affiliated associations, involved in areas of common interest;
• helping the development of projects between affiliated associations;
• the advancement of Industrial and Technical Heritage's studies;
• the organization of events whose purpose is to raise awareness about European dimensions of Industrial and Technical Heritage.

2.2) To ensure that all levels of European institutions and their governing bodies attach the same importance to Industrial and Technical Heritage as to others aspects of European cultural life.

2.3) To co-operate with other organizations involved in heritage protection.

2.4) To promote institutional events at European level, that contribute to the improvement of the image of Industrial and Technical Heritage or the enhancement of these objectives.

2.5) To stimulate associations across Europe.

2.6) To support existing associations by ensuring that their problems and concerns are brought to the attention of various European institutions.

2.7) To do all such other things as will further the above objectives or any of them.

ARTICLE 3: MEMBERS

Full Members: all registered and legal non-profit and non-governmental associations whose main objective is the co-operation with Museums of Science and Technology and/or the protection and promotion of Industrial and Technical Heritage. Supporting members: organizations whose objectives coincide partially with E-FAITH objectives and individuals who in the opinion of the board should be invited to become a supporting member. Applications should be presented in writing in the Secretariat, together with all the necessary documentation corroborating compliance with the conditions required to become a member. Admissions will be approved by the Board of Directors. The General assembly will determine any exceptional case. The Members and the Supporting members will pay annual fees which will be determined at the General Assembly. A full member or a supporting member wishing to resign from E-FAITH must notify the president in writing before 1st October. If the full member or supporting member fails to do so, he shall be liable for the subscription due for the following year. No member or affiliate who resigns or is expelled shall be entitled to any reimbursement of subscription, or have any rights to claim over the assets of E-FAITH. Outstanding dues for one year will result in automatic exclusion from the federation. No full member shall be entitled to vote or no supporting member shall have the right to attend meetings for so long as its subscription remains unpaid.

ARTICLE 4: GOVERNING BODIES The governing bodies are:

• the General Assembly;
• the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE 5: GENERAL ASSEMBLY

5.1) The General Assembly is the highest governing body of the E-FAITH and it is presided over by the President or the member of the Board of Directors whom the President will designate.

5.2) The General Assembly is open to all members. Only Full Members have the right to vote.

5.3) Main obligations of the General Assembly are:
• to approve the accounts for the previous year;
• to pass the budget; (see article 11)
• to elect the Board of Directors;
• to appoint the auditors;
• to introduce modifications in the statutes; (see: Article 10)
• to dissolve the Federation; (see: Article 9)
• to pass internal norms at the suggestion of the Board of Directors;
• to expel a member of the federation. (see: Article 13)

5.4) The General Assembly meeting will take place each year. It will be called one month in advance and should take place in the first term of the year. An Extraordinary General Assembly meeting can be called at the suggestion of two-thirds of the Full Members, on condition that its agenda be different from that of regular assemblies. It will be called two months in advance.

5.5) The delegates have the following right to vote: every Full Member one vote. Each member must send the name of the person who will represent it in the Assembly. No one delegate shall act as proxy for more than three members in addition to his own. Voting by post is not allowed. Only proposals appearing on the meeting's agenda can be voted. Decisions will be taken by simple majority. In the cases of dissolution of the Federation or modifications in the statutes it will be necessary to obtain two-thirds of the delegates' s votes plus proxy votes.

ARTICLE 6: BOARD OF DIRECTORS

6.1) Structure Only Full Members have the right to nominate someone to sit on the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors will be composed of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and no more than five members. One person cannot be President for more than eight consecutive years.

6.2) Elections The elections shall take place every year.

6.3) Candidates To present their candidature for elections, the nominees should have written endorsement of his own association and two others associations. If during the year some resignation or dismissing would be produced, no new elections will take place, except that the resignation or dismissing affect to President and Vice-President at the same time. In this case a new election will take place in two months time. If the President resigns or is dismissed, the Vice-President will act as President.

6.4) Functions Safeguarding proper functioning of the Association, stimulating the accomplishment of its main objectives, implementation of the General Assembly agreements and verification of the activities of the Executive Committee. The Board of Directors will hold regular meetings at least once every four months, and will report to the General Assembly each year.

6.5) Power to delegate The Board of Directors has the right to delegate some of its powers or functions to one or some of his members.

ARTICLE 7: DISSOLUTION OF THE FEDERATION

7.1) The dissolution can only be decided at a General Assembly. In case of dissolution, a commission of three members will be created. They will be designated by the General Assembly and will possess full authority to implement the decision.

7.2) In case of dissolution, once the outstanding debts and responsibilities are settled, the remaining property or assets will be turned over to a European association of a similar profile.

ARTICLE 8: MODIFICATIONS OF THE STATUTES Any proposition to modify the statutes shall come from the board of directors or from at least one/fifth of the full members of the association. The board of directors shall announce to the members at least two months beforehand the date of the General Meeting which shall discuss such a proposal. The General Meeting can only take valid decisions if two/thirds of all members entitled to vote are present or represented. A decision is only valid when it attains a majority of two/thirds of the votes. If this General Meeting does not attain two/thirds of all members' voting rights, a new meeting shall be convened, in the same way as the first meeting, except that the meeting will have to be called together one month in advance. This Second General Meeting will be able to take valid decisions irrespective of the number of present or represented members entitled to vote.

ARTICLE 9: BUDGET The fiscal year ends on the 31st of December. The Board of Directors will submit the accounts and the budget for the following year to the General Assembly for approval. The General Assembly should convene in the first third of each year.

ARTICLE 10: GENERAL PROVISIONS All the payments must be signed by two members of the Board of Directors, after having been approved by the Treasurer. The accounts must be audited.

ARTICLE 11: EXPULSION OF A MEMBER OF THE FEDERATION The expulsion of a member will be automatic if dues have not been paid for one year. In case of grave failure to comply with the obligations, the Board of Directors can propose a motion of expulsion of a member A committee consisting of representatives of three Full member associations will then give its decision in the matter. The final decision will fall on the General Assembly.

Approved at Poperinge and Harelbeke, November 13 - 14th 1999

Statutes registered at the State Registration Office at Kortrijk (Belgium), 14.07.2000, book 6/15, fol. 24/19