The Companies Acts 1985 and 1989
Company Limited by Guarantee and not having a Share Capital
Memorandum of Association of The International Vegetarian
Union
- The Company's name is the "International Vegetarian Union"
- The "International Vegetarian Union" in this document
is referred to as the "IVU". IVU defines vegetarianism as a diet of foods derived from plants, with or
without dairy products, eggs and/or honey.
- The IVU's registered office is to be situated in England.
- The IVU's aim is "To promote vegetarianism throughout
the world".
In order to achieve this aim the main objectives shall be:
- To encourage the formation of local, national and regional vegetarian
organisations, and co-operation between them.
- To promote both World and Regional Vegetarian Congresses to
publicise and develop interest in the vegetarian cause and to
give opportunities for vegetarians to meet together.
- To raise funds to support member societies wherever possible.
- To encourage research into all aspects of vegetarianism and
the collection and publication, in all media, of material on all
aspects of vegetarianism, by IVU itself and by all member societies.
- To represent the vegetarian cause on appropriate international
bodies and to speak on behalf of the global cause when appropriate.
- The IVU shall be a non-profit-making organisation. No member of
the International Council shall receive any fee, payment or salary
other than the reimbursement of reasonable expenses as agreed by the
full council. Anyone who is paid to carry out any work on behalf of
IVU may be invited to attend sessions of the International Council
in an advisory capacity, but shall not be entitled to vote.
- The liability of the members is limited. Every member of the IVU
undertakes to contribute such amount as may be required but not exceeding
one UK pound, (£1) to the IVU's assets if it should be wound
up while he or she is a member or within one year after he or she
ceases to be a member, for payment of the IVU's debts and liabilities
contracted before he or she ceases to be a member, and of the costs,
charges and expenses of winding up, and for the adjustment of the
rights of the contributors among themselves.
- Dissolution of the IVU may be effected after one year's notice
of such a proposal is given to all members and a vote being taken
of all members with a minimum of 75% voting in favour. Upon dissolution,
after all liabilities have been met, the remaining assets shall be
given to vegetarian charitable organisations selected by the International
Council.
The Companies Acts 1985 and 1989
Company Limited by Guarantee and not having a Share Capital
Articles of Association of The International Vegetarian
Union
1. INTERPRETATION.
- The Company's name is the "International Vegetarian Union"
which in this document is referred to as the "IVU".
- The board of directors of IVU is known as the "International
Council"
2. MEMBERSHIP
- Full Membership is open to any non-profit organisation whose primary purpose is to promote vegetarianism.
- Associate Membership shall be open to any non-profit organisation
which advocates vegetarianism. Associate Members shall have no voting
rights but may receive any other appropriate benefits.
- All members shall be autonomous and IVU shall not participate in
their internal affairs except by express invitation.
- A Supporter of IVU may be any individual, family or organisation
that supports the aims and objectives of IVU, regardless of whether
they are vegetarian or not.
- Individuals may become IVU Supporters on payment of an annual or
life contribution or by volunteering their time to work on any appropriate
project.
- Organisations, either profit or non-profit, and families may become
supporters for an annual contribution. Supporters shall have no voting
rights but may receive any other appropriate benefits.
3. GENERAL MEETINGS
- The affairs of IVU shall be governed by its members through General
Meetings and/or by postal/electronic ballots.
- General Meetings shall normally be held in conjunction with World
Vegetarian Congresses, but may be also be called by a majority of
members.
- Members may vote at General Meetings by postal/electronic means
without being required to attend in person.
- The IVU may form partnerships with Regional Organisations to promote
the aims and objectives of the IVU in defined areas of the world.
- Between General Meetings the affairs of IVU shall be managed by
the International Council, which shall be both elected by the members
and appointed by the Regional Organisations.
- The International Council may arrange postal/electronic ballots
of members on any issue which could be determined by a General Meeting.
- Responsibility for the day-to-day affairs of the IVU shall be delegated
to all individual councillors, and carried out according to the decisions
of the International Council.
- Each Full Member Organisation shall have one vote, provided that
organisation has been a member of IVU for a minimum of 6 months. Any full
member organisation which itself has more than 150 individual voting members
shall have one extra vote.
4. REGIONS
- IVU may enter into partnerships with Regional Organisations (ROs)
to act on behalf of IVU in defined geographic regions. There shall
be only one partnership in any one region.
- All matters regarding the relationship between IVU and each partner
RO shall be subject to separate contracts which shall be available
for inspection by all members at any time.
- Each RO shall have complete autonomy of action within the region,
provided such actions are compatible with the Articles and Bylaws
of the IVU, and the contract between IVU and the RO.
- Each RO shall be required to appoint a representative as a member
of the International Council, s/he shall have full voting rights.
- All members or supporters of each RO shall become members or supporters
of IVU, and vice versa where appropriate, according to the relevant
membership criteria for each organisation.
- If there is no RO partner for a defined region then the International
Council shall endeavour to appoint a Regional Co-ordinator as a full
voting member of the council. The International Council shall encourage
the formation of ROs in areas where none exist.
5. ALTERATIONS
- Alterations to these articles shall require the approval of 75%
of all members who exercise their right to vote.
- The principles defined in these articles shall be further defined
by procedures set out in bylaws.
- The bylaws may be altered by a two-thirds (66%) majority of all
International Council members.
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