Article 6. Categories of Members
Article 8. Loss of Member Status
Article 11. Members’ Rights and Obligations
Article 12. Bodies and Officers
Article 14. National Governing Board
Article 15. National Chairperson and National Deputy Chairperson
Article 16. National Treasurer
Article 17. National Executive Committee
Article 18. National Secretary
Article 19. National Board of Internal Auditors
Article 20. National Internal Appeals Board
Article 21. Technical & Scientific Committees
Article 25. Prohibition on the Distribution of Income
Article 26. Public Fundraising
Article 27. Financial Year and Accounts
Article 28. Prohibition on the Transfer of Membership Fees
Article 31. Completeness of the Articles of Association
Article 32. Final and Provisional Rules
The Associazione Italiana Traduttori e Interpreti (AITI) is a cultural, non-partisan, non-denominational, non-profit professional association. It is democratic in structure and content and its activities comply with the principles of internal democracy, with offices in the association being elected and unpaid. The association is governed by these articles of association and, for any aspects not covered herein, by the related implementing rules. The association was established in Biella on 31 December 1950, with a notarial deed, under the hand and seal of Notary, Mr Preta, Volume no. 1265, Dossier no. 326.
The association's registered office is in Bologna, Via Don Luigi Sturzo 52/A. The association may nonetheless open branch offices in accordance with the procedures indicated in the implementing rules for these articles of association.
AITI has the following purposes:
- to propose changes to the law aimed at recognising the legal status of translators and interpreters as professionals;
- to promote the standing and raise awareness of the social, cultural and economic role of translators and interpreters before consumers and institutions;
- to protect the financial and legal interests of its members;
- to promote the continuing professional development and training of translators and interpreters, and compliance with professional ethical standards;
to certify its members’ competences, by issuing1 to issue its members with certification proving that they meet professional requirements, undertake continuing professional development and comply with the rules of fairness in performing their professional activities, stating a time limit for the validity of said certification;- to ensure compliance with the best possible ethical and social working conditions for employed and self-employed translators and interpreters, including by drawing up model contracts;
- to promote the collection and dissemination of information about the profession;
- to draw up and disseminate recommendations, rules and standards on professional best practices;
- to make it easier to enter the profession through forms of mentoring, encouraging professional behaviour and a professional mindset;
- to promote and provide the most suitable training courses for the various professional translation and interpreting roles;
- to propose changes to laws to ensure that interpreting and translation services used during criminal proceedings in Italian courts are provided by qualified and professional translators and interpreters in accordance with international regulations in this regard.
The association may perform all the activities set out in these articles of association and any other activity that is related to and deemed useful for achieving its purposes.
The association's governing bodies shall not conduct, or have others conduct activities with purposes other than those indicated above, with the exception of activities that are directly connected or ancillary to such activities, provided that they are undertaken solely in pursuit of the association's purposes.
The association may carry out any real estate, securities, financial or business transactions, as well as advertising or publishing operations, that are necessary or contribute towards the achievement of its purposes, and which are nonetheless ancillary or related thereto.
To achieve its purposes, the association may carry out the following activities, by way of example but not limitation, which are related to its institutional activities and instrumental to the achievement of its aims:
- organising conferences, lectures, campaigns, study and professional development sessions and book presentations;
- organising cultural, educational, training and professional development courses for members;
- joining committees, coordinating bodies, confederations or other national or international groupings of associations that pursue the same purposes as AITI;
- establishing or holding stakes in companies or foundations that aim to achieve the association's purposes;
- supporting projects through agreements, grants, loans, accords or contracts;
- accepting donations or contributions from public and private bodies;
- creating and/or distributing publications, sound and audio-visual recordings or other material linked to the association's purposes, and promoting and advertising the association's activities and image;
- performing any other activities related to the association's purposes deemed useful for achieving its aims.
There is no limit to the duration of the association.
Article 6. Categories of Members
Members have the same right to elect and be elected, to take part in both ordinary and extraordinary general assembly meetings and to challenge decisions taken by the national governing board and the general assembly. There are three membership categories:
QUALIFIED MEMBERS
Qualified members are natural persons who work as professional translators and/or interpreters on a predominant basis, in the forms permitted by law, and who have successfully completed the qualification procedures, meeting the requirements in terms of qualifications, experience and examinations as indicated in the admission rules.
ASSOCIATE MEMBERS
This category includes:
- translators and/or interpreters who do not meet the requirements relating to the regular pursuit of the profession and who have not taken the exam referred to in article 7 below to join the qualified member category;
- former qualified members who no longer work as translators and/or interpreters or who do so on a non-predominant basis;
- natural persons who have completed a full course in translation and/or interpreting, as proven by a relevant diploma/degree, even if they lack professional experience.
Upon applying to join the association, associate members must nevertheless submit documentation proving their qualifications, educational background and professional activities.
HONORARY MEMBERS
The honorary member category is for natural persons who have made a decisive contribution to the field of translation and/or interpreting, or who have supported AITI morally or materially. Admission to this category is decided upon by the national governing board following a proposal from the national chairperson or the relevant regional branch.
In order to ensure that information is correctly communicated to consumers, the association’s lists of members shall set out the three categories separately.
Membership of the association is open to Italian and non-Italian citizens, whether or not they are resident in Italy, who meet the admission requirements and support and can contribute to the association’s purposes and goals.
Admission requires the submission of a written application in which the candidate states that s/he:
- wishes to take part in the activities of the association;
- fully and unreservedly accepts the articles of association, the rules of the association, the code of ethics and the ethical and cultural principles stated therein;
- accepts the association's activities, purposes and methods;
- does not fall into any of the categories of incompatibility indicated in article 9 below.
The application must be accompanied by the applicant's educational qualifications and professional curriculum vitae and certification or self-certification proving her/his citizenship, residence and the absence of any convictions that could prejudice her/his ability to work as a translator and/or interpreter.
Admission is decided upon by a specific committee in accordance with the admission rules and is confirmed by the national chairperson.
Direct admission may only be requested for the associate member category.
Associate members may apply to become qualified members by providing documentation to prove that they work predominantly as a professional translator and/or interpreter. Where required, admission shall be subject to passing an exam for the specific professional qualification.
In order to retain qualified member status, members must continue to practise the profession on a predominant, regular basis and remain up to date with her/his continuing professional development by acquiring professional development credits as required under the specific national rules. The bodies of the association shall periodically check to ensure that qualified members continue to meet the necessary requirements to remain in this category.
New members will be required to pay the annual fee to their regional branch.
The rules governing relations between members and the association and the procedures aimed at ensuring these relations can take place are the same for all members. There shall be no time limits on participation in the activities of the association. Members have the right to vote to approve and amend the articles of association and the rules, approve the annual financial statements and elect the association's governing bodies.
There shall be no limit to the number of association members.
Article 8. Loss of Member Status
Member status may be lost as a result of:
- death;
- resignation;
- expiry, disqualification or removal.
Voluntary resignation shall not exempt members from paying any membership fees or other contributions that accrued prior to their resignation. Members who do not pay their membership fee by the end of February in a given year shall lose their member status. Former members may be readmitted to the association provided that the formal requirements set out in the national rules are adhered to and all arrears have been paid.
Any member who has acted against the interests and purposes of the association may be disqualified.
The national governing board may decide to remove a member on serious grounds if s/he performs actions that are deemed to dishonour the association's principles, or if her/his conduct hinders the sound running of the association and could harm the good standing of translators and interpreters with regard to professional ethics; a member may also be removed if s/he seriously breaches the code of ethics.
Removal from the association shall not give rise to any right to compensation or reimbursement of any kind. In all events, before the chairperson or a member of the national governing board is removed, s/he must first be removed from office, which requires a vote of no confidence by an extraordinary general assembly.
Disqualification or removal shall be decided upon by the national governing board, including after a proposal from a regional governing board, and after consulting the national internal appeals board. All members shall have the right to appeal to the national internal appeals board against disqualification or removal within two months of official notification of the measure.
Membership of the association is not open to persons working in any capacity as intermediaries in the field of translation and/or interpreting, subject to the restrictions imposed by the national rules.
Persons who have been disqualified or removed from other professional associations on ethical grounds may not join the association.
Members shall pay an annual membership fee to their regional branch at the start of the year, with the amount being decided upon by an ordinary general assembly of the regional branch. Honorary members shall pay a symbolic fee. Membership fees are due from 1 January of the year to which they refer and must be paid by 31 January.
A thirty per cent late-payment surcharge on the current membership fee shall apply if payments are made after 31 January, but before the end of February.
Anyone who fails to pay the fee by the end of February of the relevant year shall lose their member status.
The general assembly may approve extraordinary contributions to be paid by all members or by the regional branches for particularly significant unforeseen events or in order to make up for budget deficits.
The national governing board may ask the regional branches to pay supplementary fees. These payments may be used to cover possible losses or deficits for the year or help cover temporary liquidity shortfalls. Members shall not ask for such payments to be reimbursed.
Contributions of any amount may be made to the endowment fund. Such contributions are non-refundable. Under no circumstances shall amounts paid to the association for the endowment fund be distributed, even if the association is dissolved or if the member is disqualified or dies.
Article 11. Members’ Rights and Obligations
Members have the right to:
- attend general assembly meetings and vote directly to approve and make changes to the articles of association, approve the financial statements and appoint the bodies of the association. All members also have the right to challenge before the national internal appeals board any provisions or resolutions passed by the association, within two months of notification of the measure;
- be a part of the association and take part in its activities; • freely express their opinion on matters relating to the association and the people involved in it;
- periodically receive information about the association and its activities;
- support the activities of the association on a personal and material basis, with the opportunity to have expenses reimbursed if previously agreed with the relevant offices.
Members shall:
- comply with the rules of these articles of association, the rules of the association, the code of ethics and the decisions of the association’s bodies;
- pay the ordinary and/or extraordinary membership fees to the association by the stated deadlines;
- ensure their continuing professional development;
- take out an appropriate professional indemnity insurance policy if required by law and/or by the rules of the association;
- work and behave in a way that helps the association fulfil its purposes through by getting involved in its activities;
- use up-to-date tools to liaise online with clients and the bodies of the association.
Failure to fulfil these obligations may lead to the application of disciplinary measures as provided for in the specific rules.
Members who provide their services to the association and hold office shall do so free of charge, with the exception of any expenses incurred for the activities carried out within the limits defined beforehand by the association.
If necessary, the association may hire staff, including from among its member base, to run the association and organise activities. The governing board may resolve to make lump-sum payments to the persons running and organising association activities, as well as to persons who carry out administration, management and secretarial work, with the exception of those who hold office in the association. Said payments must be reported in detail and paid within the limits and following the procedures provided for in applicable civil and tax laws.
Article 12. Bodies and Officers
The association has the following bodies and officers:
- General assembly;
- National chairperson;
- National governing board;
- National executive committee;
- National treasurer;
- National board of internal auditors;
- National internal appeals board.
All officers must be elected to ensure the association’s structure remains democratic.
The general assembly shall comprise all members.
Members have the right to vote at the general assembly meeting provided that they are up to date with their membership fee payments and contributions for the current year and are registered as members on the lists prepared by the national chairperson in collaboration with the national treasurer.
Members who only recently joined or are not included on the aforementioned lists may be allowed to vote, as long as they can prove that they have duly paid their membership fees.
An ordinary general assembly meeting is held once a year and extraordinary general assembly meetings are held whenever the national governing board deems it to be necessary or if this is requested by at least one fifth of the qualified members who are up to date with their payments.
The general assembly represents all members, who shall be bound by its decisions within the limits of the articles of association.
The national governing board shall decide on the location for the meetings each time they are to be held.
13.1 Calling Meetings
The national chairperson shall send out the notice calling the general assembly meeting at least thirty days beforehand. This notice must state the place, date and time of the meeting, as well as the items on the agenda.
Notice of the meeting shall be given in writing and published online, or given in any other form provided that it is in writing.
In urgent cases, the national chairperson may call a general assembly meeting with twenty days’ notice.
13.2 Validity of General Assembly Meetings
Ordinary general assemby meetings shall be valid at first call when a simple majority of members who have the right to vote are present or are represented by proxy. If the meeting cannot be validly held at the scheduled time because it is inquorate, the second-call general assembly meeting shall be deemed valid regardless of the number of attendees.
13.3 Use of Proxies at General Assembly Meetings
Members who have the right to vote are entitled to be represented by means of a written proxy, duly signed and dated, given to another member who has the right to vote. No member may hold more than three proxies. The minutes of the general assembly meeting must state the number of proxies. Proxies must be filed with the association records.
The general assembly meeting shall be chaired by the national chairperson, assisted by the national secretary. The chairperson shall check the validity of the proxies and confirm that the general assembly meeting has been duly convened and is quorate. The minutes of the meeting must be signed by the chairperson and the secretary and recorded in the general assembly meeting minutes book.
13.4 Voting
An open ballot system is normally used for voting, while a secret ballot is used when electing members to office; the secret ballots may also be held electronically as specified by the national rules.
13.5 Ordinary General Assembly Meetings
The ordinary general assembly meeting shall discuss and pass resolutions on the following matters:
- election of the national governing board, the national board of internal auditors and the national internal appeals board;
- approval of the national governing board’s report on the activities carried out during the previous year;
- approval of the financial statements and the national treasurer’s report on the previous year, as well as the budget for the current year;
- approval of the national governing board’s proposals for joining or withdrawing from federations or groupings of associations in Italy and at international level;
- approval of rules to implement these articles of association;
- changes to the code of ethics;
- any item on the agenda regarding the industry in which the association operates and its purposes.
Resolutions are passed by simple majority, i.e. when fifty per cent plus one of the attendees vote in favour of them. In the event of a tie, the national chairperson shall have the casting vote.
13.6 Extraordinary General Assembly Meetings
The extraordinary general assembly meeting shall pass resolutions on the following matters:
- requests to amend the articles of association;
- any matter deemed necessary by the national governing board;
- the dissolution of the association;
- the appointment of liquidators.
With regard to the first two points, the extraordinary general assembly meeting shall be deemed to be duly convened and quorate when at least half of the members plus one are present and shall pass resolutions by simple majority. With regard to the dissolution of the association and the appointment of a liquidator, the resolutions of the extraordinary general assembly meeting shall pass when at least three quarters of the attendees vote in favour of the motion.
An extraordinary general assembly meeting made up of at least half of the members plus one may be held to pass a vote of no confidence in the chairperson or the national governing board; such a motion shall be approved if two thirds of the attendees vote in favour of it.
Should the chairperson and at least two thirds of the elected board members deem it advisable and in the interests of the association, further to a reasoned decision and consultation of the national internal appeals board, a referendum on amendments to the articles of association may be held remotely. Such a referendum shall be deemed valid provided that at least fifty per cent plus one of the members take part in the vote.
Any member may ask the national internal appeals board to invalidate resolutions passed by the general assembly that violate laws or the articles of association. Such requests must be justified and made in writing and submitted within two months of notification of the contested measures.
Article 14. National Governing Board
The national governing board shall serve a four-year term and comprise nine board members elected by the general assembly from among the members of the association. They may be re-elected for a maximum of one additional consecutive term. No fewer than seven of the nine board members must be qualified members. The national governing board shall appoint the national chairperson, the national deputy chairperson and the treasurer from among its nine board members.
The chairpersons of AITI’s regional branches automatically form part of the national governing board.
The national governing board shall meet to fill the various offices immediately after the general assembly meeting in which the board members are elected. Board members must attend at least one meeting a year or lose office. If a board member vacancy occurs, it shall be filled by the first runner-up.
14.1. National Governing Board Meetings
The national governing board shall meet at least twice a year. Meetings shall be called in writing by the chairperson, or the deputy chairperson if the chairperson is absent, at least twenty days before the date of the meeting.
Board meetings shall be held at the place chosen by the national governing board on a case-by-case basis. The national governing board shall meet whenever the chairperson or the executive committee think fit or if requested by at least half of the board members.
National governing board meetings shall be chaired by the national chairperson, or a member of the board if the chairperson is absent. The meeting shall only be valid if a majority of board members is present, including by proxy.
National governing board members may be represented by proxy. Proxies may only be given to members with the right to vote and no more than two proxies may be held by a single member. Resolutions are carried by a majority of votes and, in the event of a tie, the chairperson shall have the casting vote.
National governing board meetings may also be held virtually by means of telecommunication.
14.2 Powers of the National Governing Board
The national governing board shall discuss and decide on all items on the agenda provided that they are in line with the general provisions of the general assembly. All board members may propose topics for inclusion on the agenda, by informing the chairperson at least thirty days before the date of the meeting.
Furthermore, the national governing board shall:
- examine the financial statements and budget drawn up by the treasurer;
- draw up the implementing rules of these articles of association;
- ensure that the rules of these articles of association are properly applied by the regional governing boards and coordinate regional activities;
- decide on all issues concerning the ordinary and extraordinary administration of the association that generally help it achieve its purposes and that do not fall under the exclusive power of the general assembly pursuant to these articles of association;
- oversee administrative affairs; hire employees; enter into labour contracts; appoint consultants and advisers; open accounts with banks; deal with the financial aspects of the association; enter into loan and financing agreements and anything else necessary for the sound running of the association;
- decide on motions to disqualify or remove members, set up study and working committees and appoint members to these committees;
- give the executive committee or other members of the governing board the authority to implement the decisions that have been made;
- establish and decide on lump-sum payments to persons running and organising the association’s activities or to persons carrying out accounting, management or secretarial work;
- decide what portion of membership fees the regional branches must pay the national treasury;
- approve any measures adopted by the chairperson for emergency circumstances.
Board members shall leave office when their term expires, as a result of voluntary resignation or a vote of no confidence at a duly convened and quorate extraordinary general assembly meeting, attended by at least half of the members plus one, at which at least three quarters of the attendees vote in favour of the motion.
If the chairperson, the deputy chairperson or the treasurer resigns or leaves office for any reason before the end of her/his term, the national governing board shall appoint a successor at its next meeting. In any case, the entire national governing board shall lose its mandate if the number of board members falls below five.
Minutes shall be taken at the meetings of the governing board and signed by the chairperson and the secretary, and recorded in the minutes book of the governing board.
Article 15. National Chairperson and National Deputy Chairperson
The chairperson shall be in charge of signing documents on behalf of the association and shall act as its legal representative before third parties, including in legal proceedings, shall ensure that the decisions of the national governing board and the general assembly are implemented and that there is compliance with the articles of association and rules of the association.
The chairperson may delegate, in writing only, one or more members to sign specific documents or categories of documents.
The chairperson shall remain in office for a four-year term and may be re-elected for a second consecutive term.
In the event of proven need, or for urgent matters, the chairperson may act on behalf of the national governing board, and shall submit such activities for its approval at the next board meeting.
In the event of the absence, unavailability or resignation of the chairperson, the deputy chairperson shall act in her/his place.
The chairperson shall leave office in the following circumstances: when her/his term expires, as a result of her/his voluntary resignation or after a vote of no confidence at a duly convened and quorate extraordinary general assembly meeting, attended by at least half of the members plus one, at which at least three quarters of the attendees vote in favour of the motion.
Article 16. National Treasurer
The national treasurer shall be in charge of handling the revenues, expenditure and assets of the association in accordance with the financial statements approved by the general assembly and the decisions of the national governing board.
The national treasurer shall manage receipts and payments, and draw up the annual financial statements and the budget to be submitted to the national governing board for inspection and to the annual general assembly meeting for approval. S/he may appoint a deputy treasurer from among the members of the board to act in her/his place in the event of her/his unavailability or absence. The treasurer may use the services of an external accounting expert appointed by the national governing board.
Article 17. National Executive Committee
The national executive committee shall comprise five members, namely the chairperson, the deputy chairperson, the treasurer and two members appointed by the national governing board from among its ranks. The executive committee shall implement the decisions of the national governing board and may use an administrative office with paid staff to carry out ordinary administration.
Article 18. National Secretary
The national secretary shall be appointed by the chairperson from among the members of the national governing board or the members of the association and may be replaced. The national secretary shall assist the chairperson in organising and running the association; s/he shall take part in national governing board and national executive committee meetings and general assembly meetings, taking the minutes; s/he shall store the minutes of the meetings of the association’s bodies, the correspondence and all the documentation linked to the association’s activities; s/he may use, and be accountable for, the services of other members to assist her/him in these duties, after informing the chairperson.
Article 19. National Board of Internal Auditors
The national board of internal auditors shall comprise three standing members and two alternate members. One member may be a qualified expert. One of the three standing members shall be elected chairperson.
The five members of the board shall remain in office for four years and may be re-elected for another consecutive term.
The board shall be required to speak at general assembly meetings and may attend the meetings of the national governing board. It shall carry out administrative control and audit the accounts.
Members acting as internal auditors shall not fill any other office at national or regional level and shall not be appointed as proxies for voting. They shall not vote on the approval of the financial statements at annual general assembly meetings.
Article 20. National Internal Appeals Board
The national internal appeals board shall comprise three standing members and two alternate members elected by the ordinary general assembly. One member of the board may be elected from outside the association. One of the three standing members shall be elected chairperson.
The five members of the board shall remain in office for four years and may be re-elected for another consecutive term. The board shall:
- decide on appeals made against alleged breaches of the articles of association, national regulations or the code of ethics;
- decide on appeals concerning disciplinary matters.
Members of the national internal appeals board shall not fill any other office at national or regional level and shall not be appointed as proxies for voting.
Article 21. Technical & Scientific Committees
The national governing board shall appoint advisory, technical or study committees that operate during its term of office. Experts who are not members of the association may be appointed to these committees.
Regional branches may be established with a minimum of fifteen members. New regional branches may only be established after the approval of the national governing board. In special circumstances, the national governing board may authorise the establishment of regional branches with fewer than fifteen members provided that there is a minimum of seven members. The professional business addresses of these members must be in the region where the branch is to be established.
If an AITI regional branch or macro-branch cannot be established in all regions of Italy, the national governing board shall appoint a regional representative whose duties are set out in the implementing rules.
The regional branches shall elect a regional chairperson who is the legal representative of the branch and a member by right of the national governing board. The branches shall adopt these articles of association and draw up their own regional rules in line with these articles and the implementing rules.
The regional rules shall govern the internal organisation of the branch and must be approved by the national governing board.
The branches shall carry out locally relevant administrative tasks and are financially independent within the bounds of the articles of association, and the coordinating decisions of the general assembly and the national governing board. The regional branches shall transfer the membership fees due to the national entity via the national treasury within the deadline specified in the implementing rules.
The national governing board shall monitor the validity of the administrative documents of the regional branches in consultation with the internal appeals board.
The national governing board may, by reasoned decision, dissolve the regional branches if they act in breach of the articles of association or commit serious legal offences or do not comply with the national governing board’s request to replace any regional governing board or chairperson who has acted in breach of these articles or committed serious legal offences. Branches may also be dissolved if they cannot function as a result of the resignation of members or the inability to make decisions on a majority basis.
In the event that a regional branch acts beyond its powers or against the interests of the association or other regional branches, the national governing board shall ask it to amend its decisions so they comply with the general rules.
Appeals may be filed with the national internal appeals board within two months of receipt of the official notice of said measures.
The association draws on the following economic resources to operate and carry out its activities:
- ordinary and extraordinary membership fees or voluntary contributions from members;
- voluntary contributions from third parties;
- contributions from members taking part in courses, meetings, conferences or other events organised by the association;
- contributions from state or local authorities, public bodies or institutions;
- revenue from moveable property and real estate received by the association for any reason;
- gifts, inheritances, legacies or bequests;
- any reimbursements resulting from agreements with national or international public or state bodies;
- revenues from any other commercial or production activities linked to the associations’ activities and instrumental in the achievement of its purposes;
- revenues from occasional events and public fundraising activities;
- any other revenues that contribute to building the association’s assets in line with these articles of association.
Financial resources received by the association shall be placed in a special treasury account with a previously designated bank.
The national chairperson and treasurer are the only members authorised to manage severally the bank accounts of the association.
If the national chairperson or treasurer resigns, s/he shall be replaced by the national deputy chairperson, who shall manage the current account until a new chairperson or treasurer is appointed. If the entire national governing board resigns or loses office, the chairperson of the national board of internal auditors shall have the sole power to manage the bank accounts of the association until new elections are held and a new national governing board is appointed.
Assets comprise all contributions made to the association for any reason and the moveable or instrumental goods received by the association through its activities.
The association’s assets may be used solely to carry out the activities established under these articles of association. Individual members may not ask for the assets to be split, or make any claims on them.
Article 25. Prohibition on the Distribution of Income
No income or surpluses of any kind, funds, reserves or capital may be distributed, including on an indirect basis, during the life of the association, unless the use or distribution is required by law; any income or surpluses shall be used for institutional or directly related activities.
Article 26. Public Fundraising
If occasional public fundraising events take place, they shall comply with the prevailing civil and tax laws. The association shall draw up the necessary accounting report which shall clearly and precisely describe the expenses incurred and revenues received.
Article 27. Financial Year and Accounts
The association’s financial year begins on 1 January and ends on 31 December.
The national governing board shall draw up financial statements and a budget every year, clearly and accurately indicating the income, contributions and bequests received, the assets owned, and the expenditure and charges incurred, broken down by specific item.
The annual financial statements must be accompanied by a report drawn up by the treasurer on behalf of the national governing board, setting out the activities, events and initiatives organised by the association. The documents must be submitted for the approval of the general assembly no later than four months after the close of the financial year.
The financial statements and report shall be lodged at the association’s registered office and made available to all members fifteen days prior to the date set for their approval.
Article 28. Prohibition on the Transfer of Membership Fees
Membership fees or contributions shall not be transferred or reassessed.
In the event of the dissolution, termination or winding up of the association, an extraordinary general assembly shall appoint a board of three liquidators and shall decide on the allocation of the net assets, which shall not include distribution among the members, or on methods to obtain the funds needed to cover outstanding debts.
In the event of the dissolution of the association for any reason, its assets shall be transferred to another association that has similar objectives or operates in the public interest, in consultation with the relevant oversight body, and provided that no other allocations are required by law.
Before resorting to ordinary legal proceedings, members shall undertake to submit any matters relating to disputes with the association’s bodies or its members to the national internal appeals board.
Article 31. Completeness of the Articles of Association
The technical and administrative operations of the association are governed by the implementing rules of these articles of association, drawn up by the national governing board and approved by the ordinary general assembly.
The prevailing laws for non-profit organisations shall apply to any issues not specifically governed by these articles of association and implementing rules.
Article 32. Final and Provisional Rules
These articles of association were approved by the extraordinary general assembly held in Bologna on 26 May 2012 and have been in force since that date.
With the entry into force of these articles of association, members in the “apprentice” category, pursuant to article 5 of the previous articles of association approved on 3 June 1990, shall automatically become “associate” members.
The rules concerning the payment deadlines for membership fees set out in article 10 of these articles of association shall enter into effect on 1 January 2013. Until then, the provisions of article 7 of the previous articles of association approved on 3 June 1990 shall apply.
The provisions concerning admission to membership set out in article 7 of these articles of association shall enter into effect on 1 January 2013. Until then, admissions shall follow the existing schedule approved by the bodies of the association.
Bologna, 26 May 2012