Articles of Association
1) Legal form The Group shall take the form of an Association under Article 60 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code.
2) Headquarters The Group’s headquarters is situated at Vetta, on the summit of Monte Generoso, in the confernece room placed at its disposal by the Monte Generoso railway company, Ferrovia Monte Generoso S.A. The Group’s postal address is c/o Ferrovia Monte Generoso S.A., via Lüera 1, CH-6825 Capolago, Ticino, Switzerland.
3) Objective The objective of the Group is to promote didactic research and the dissemination of astronomy, drawing on the resources of the Monte Generoso Astronomical Observatory, owned by Ferrovia Monte Generoso S.A. To this end, all Members may use the Observatory’s infrastructures under special conditions. In return, they share their experience, studies and results with the Monte Generoso Astronomical Observatory in a spirit of mutual assistance. The Group also aims to establish and maintain relations between astronomy enthusiasts from the Insubrica region. In so doing, the Group shall:
1. organise periodical observations from the Monte Generoso Observatory
2. promote periodical meetings for the exchange of ideas, news and results
3. present reports on observation work and activities
4. publish research and the outcomes of observations
5. organise conferences and observations in the interests of the dissemination of astronomy
6. organise periodical training courses in astronomy for interested members of the public.
4) Membership Membership is open to anyone interested in astronomical science. Members of the Group shall either be:
1. Regular Members
2. Junior Members (up to the age of 25)
3. Patron Members
4. Honorary Members
5) Members’ Assembly An assembly of the Members shall be held at least once a year, as a rule by the end of June. The Members’ Assembly shall decide:
1. the operational and financial budget for the past year
2. the operational and financial budget for the following year
3. the level of the annual membership fee.
The Members’ Assembly appoints five Directors to form the Board of Directors. The Assembly adopts and amends the Articles of Association. If requested by at least one third of Group Members, extraordinary meetings of the Assembly may be called by the Board of Directors and convened within a period of 30 days.
6) The Board of Directors shall consist of five Members, appointed by the Members’ Assembly. It proposes and manages all the activities of the Group. It presents an annual activity report to the Assembly. It presents a general annual activity programme to the Assembly. It collects the annual membership fees. It manages the day-to-day activities of the Group. It maintains contacts with Ferrovia Monte Generoso S.A. Its term of office shall be one year. The term of office of the individual Directors shall be renewable no more than four times. The Board of Directors is coordinated by a “primus interpares”, selected by the five Directors from among themselves, to be known as the Coordinator. The Coordinator may delegate certain activities to external parties.
7) Coordinator The Coordinator shall be responsible for the coordination of the work of the Board of Directors. S/he shall chair the meetings of the Board of Directors and the Members’ Assembly. S/he represents the Group to the outside. S/he acts as secretary, whereby this task may also be delegated. The Coordinator’s term of office shall be one year, renewable a maximum of four times.
8) Board of Auditors The Board of Auditors is comprised of two Members whose term of office is only renewable once. They present an annual audit report, to be submitted by 30 March.
9) Resolutions The adoption of resolutions by both the Members’ Assembly and the Board of Directors shall require the agreement of one half of the Members present, plus one vote.
10) Voting rights To enjoy voting rights, Members and Directors must be up to date with the payment of their annual membership fees. Voting rights may be delegated to a maximum of two delegates per Member.
11) Collaboration The Group does not wish to compete with groups or societies of a similar character. On the contrary, it wishes to collaborate to the greatest extent possible in the sole interest of promoting astronomical science. The Group closely collaborates with Ferrovia Monte Generoso S.A., which offers special conditions to all Members for the use of both the railway and the Vetta observatory. Specific rules shall be drawn up concerning the latter.
12) Liability All personal liability of the individual Members is excluded. The Association shall only be liable for a maximum of a sum equivalent to its capital stock.
13) Dissolution The Group may be dissolved at any time. The dissolution of the Group may be resolved by the Members’ Assembly with the consent of at least one half of the registered Members, plus one vote. In the case of the dissolution of the Group, its assets shall be transferred to Ferrovia Monte Generoso S.A. and assigned to a potential new group, to be established within a period of two years. If two years elapse without the establishment of a substitute group, the assets shall be transferred to another existing astronomical society.
14) Entry into effect These Articles of Association shall enter into effect on the date of their adoption by the Members gathered at the Constitutive Assembly of the Group.
Approved by the Members’ Assembly