Statutes

§ 1 Name, registered office, and purpose of the association

  1. The association bears the name “Anaesthesia in Developing Countries,” with the addition of “e.V.” after its entry in the register of associations. It has its registered office in Göttingen.
  2. The association pursues exclusively and directly charitable purposes within the meaning of the section “Tax-privileged purposes” of the German Tax Code. The purpose of the association is to promote international understanding, tolerance, and the idea of international understanding.
  3. The association is a union of scientists, physicians, members of medical assistant professions, and other individuals and institutions with the aim of contributing to the improvement of governmental and non-governmental development cooperation in the fields of anesthesiology, intensive care and emergency medicine, and pain therapy. This is to be achieved by incorporating and promoting cultural aspects in development cooperation in order to deepen understanding of foreign peoples and cultures.
  4. The purpose of the statutes is realized in particular through:
    1. Public relations and educational work (raising awareness of the specific anesthesiological needs in
    developing countries),
    2. training events and preparatory courses for medical and non-medical personnel working in
    developing countries,
    3. promotion of research projects, scientific events, training and further education measures, and
    publications in developing countries,
    4. anesthesiological sponsorship and partnerships with clinics and institutions in developing
    countries,
    5. consulting and support in establishing training and research cooperations (search, selection,
    preparation, and dispatch of specialists for governmental and non-governmental organizations),
    6. appropriate medical and technical assistance,
    7. awarding of scholarships and promotion of exchange programs for anesthesia personnel in
    developing countries,
    8. implementation of short-term projects (short teaching stays),
    9. placement of medical specialists for relief efforts in civil disasters.

§ 4 Membership

  1. Natural persons as well as non-commercial legal entities and associations of persons such as corporations, companies, clubs, associations, institutions, and foundations of any legal form that wish to support the purposes of the association may become regular members.
  2. Other legal entities and associations of persons may become supporting members.
  3. Persons who have rendered outstanding services to the association or its purposes may be appointed honorary members by the general meeting upon the recommendation of the executive committee. Honorary members are not required to pay membership fees.
  4. The board decides on the admission of members. Membership becomes effective upon delivery of the written declaration of admission. The board’s rejection of admission is final. There is no right to admission.
  5. Membership ends upon death, resignation, or expulsion.
  6. Voluntary resignation can only take place at the end of the year and must be declared in writing to the Executive Board three months before the end of the calendar year.
  7. The Executive Board may temporarily expel a member for violating the objectives of the association. The general meeting shall decide on the final expulsion by secret ballot with a two-thirds majority of the members present. The member must be given the opportunity to comment beforehand.
  8. The resigning member shall have no financial claims against the association arising from their membership.
  9. Members, with the exception of honorary members, shall pay annual dues in accordance with the resolution of the general meeting. Members who have not paid their membership dues by the end of the calendar year shall be sent a reminder. If two annual membership fees are outstanding, membership may be canceled by decision of the executive committee.
  10. All full members of the association who have paid the annual membership fee shall have one vote each. Legal entities, other associations of persons, and companies shall also have one vote each. They shall notify the executive committee in writing of the person who shall exercise their rights.

§ 5 Rights of members
1. All members have the right to participate in general meetings and elections, to be elected to any
association body and to be appointed to any honorary position, with the exception of supporting
and honorary members.

§ 6 Organs

  1. The association has the following organs:
    1. Executive Board
    2. Advisory Board
    3. General Meeting

2. The creation of additional organs may be decided by the General Meeting. The relationship between
the organs is governed by the statutes.

§ 7 Executive Board

  1. The Executive Board of the association consists of five persons. It includes the chairperson, two deputy chairpersons, the treasurer, and the secretary. The managing director is a member of the Executive Board without voting rights and in an advisory capacity.
  1. Two voting members of the Executive Board together are authorized to represent the association in and out of court.
  2. The Executive Board is appointed by resolution of the General Meeting for a term of two years. It remains in office until the next Executive Board is appointed in accordance with the Articles of Association. Re-election is possible. It may be voted out of office before the end of its regular term by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast. The term of office ends upon resignation from the association. The members of the Executive Board perform their duties on a voluntary basis.

The Executive Board is responsible for managing the association’s affairs. It passes resolutions by a simple majority; in the event of a tie, the chairperson has the casting vote. The Executive Board has a quorum if the meeting has been duly convened and at least three members are present. If all members of the Executive Board agree, resolutions may also be passed outside of a meeting in writing.

The Executive Board passes resolutions in meetings that take place at least twice a year and are announced in writing at least one week in advance, stating the agenda.

  1. It prepares all events of the association, in particular the general meetings, sets their agenda, and implements the resolutions of the general meeting. The Executive Board draws up the budget and issues guidelines for achieving the association’s purposes.
  2. The Executive Board is authorized to appoint a managing director who supports the Executive Board in its work in return for remuneration.

§ 8 Advisory Board

  1. The Advisory Board consists of five members of the association who are appointed to the Advisory Board by the Executive Board and confirmed by the general meeting as members of the Advisory Board for a term of three years. The members of the Advisory Board must be anesthetists.
  2. The Advisory Board members shall have the function of country representatives. At least the regions of French-speaking Africa, English-speaking Africa, Asia, and Latin/South America shall be represented by one country representative each.
  3. The Advisory Board shall be chaired by the Chair of the Executive Board or one of his deputies.
  4. The advisory board has the task of advising the executive board and supporting it in the management of the association’s affairs, in particular by providing suggestions for the management and activities of the association .
  5. The advisory board shall be convened at least once a year in conjunction with the general meeting. In particularly important matters, the Executive Board shall give the Advisory Board the opportunity to comment and form an opinion in a meeting to be convened specifically for this purpose.

§ 9 General Meeting

  1. The General Meeting shall be convened once a year. The meeting shall be convened in writing by the Executive Board with four weeks’ notice, at the same time announcing the agenda.
  2. An extraordinary general meeting may be convened by the Executive Board or at the request of a quarter of the members, subject to the above-mentioned notice period.
  3. Motions to the general meeting must be submitted in writing to the Executive Board at least one week before the meeting.
  4. Unless otherwise specified, the general meeting shall decide by a simple majority of the members present. by a simple majority of the members present. A tie vote on a motion shall be deemed rejected.
  5. When casting their votes, members may be represented by other members with written proxy.
  6. Elections shall be held by acclamation or, upon request, by secret ballot (ballot papers). Representation by proxy shall apply accordingly. In the event of a tie, the decision shall be made by lot.
  7. Minutes shall be taken of every general meeting.
  8. At the beginning of the meeting, a chairperson and a secretary shall be appointed. Both shall sign the minutes. If several chairpersons were active, the last chairperson shall sign the entire minutes. Every member of the association is entitled to inspect the minutes.
  9. Amendments to the articles of association, resolutions on the dissolution of the association, and resolutions on the creation of additional bodies or the exclusion of members require a two-thirds majority of the members present.
  10. The general meeting is responsible for:
    1. Receiving the annual report on the past financial year,
    2. approval of the annual accounts and granting of discharge after the auditors’ report,
    3. election of the executive committee,
    4. deliberation and resolution on matters of the association submitted by the executive
    committee to the general meeting,
    5. election of two auditors to audit the annual accounts and cash management
    6. Amendment of the articles of association,
    7. Dissolution of the association.

§ 10 Dissolution of the association

  1. The general meeting may dissolve the association by a two-thirds majority vote of the members present who are entitled to vote. The motion to this effect must be announced in the invitation.
  2. In the event of dissolution of the association or discontinuation of its previous purpose, the association’s assets shall fall to a public corporation or another tax-privileged corporation for use for the purposes specified in §1.
  3. Members shall not receive any share of the association’s assets upon leaving the association or upon dissolution of the association.

§ 11 Entry into force

  1. The above statutes were established at the founding meeting on March 23, 1994. They shall enter into force upon entry in the register of associations.

Göttingen, March 23, 1994