Our Articles of Association
We are a non-profit organisation recognised as being of general interest under the French law of 1901. Our articles of association are presented in full on the dedicated page.
I. FORM – NAME – PURPOSE – REGISTERED OFFICE – DURATION – FINANCIAL YEAR
Article 1 – Form
In 2021, an association was formed governed by the law of 1 July 1901, the decree of 16 August 1901 and these statutes (the ‘Association’).
Article 2 – Name
The name of the Association is: EKOLO MUNDO
Article 3 – Purpose
The main purpose of the ‘EKOLO MUNDO’ association is to promote, enable and encourage the transmission, exchange and sharing of innovative and/or traditional know-how that promotes ecological, economic, social and solidarity-based transition, in a spirit of respect for human values.
To this end, the Association shall endeavour to research, collect, disseminate, share, exchange and transmit all practices, tools, techniques and research, whether completed or in progress, related to this transition throughout the world and available in the public domain.
The Association’s means of action are:
The creation of one or more digital platforms for dissemination and collaborative exchange
The publication of journals and all types of works in paper or electronic form;
The organisation of events for the dissemination and sharing of know-how and research,
All types of interventions with the relevant audiences;
Any social, cultural or technical activity that promotes the establishment and development of the association’s main purpose.
Solidarity-based or financial support for those involved in the ecological transition, by connecting skills, providing financial assistance or any other action that enables the dissemination of expertise and initiatives related to the ecological, social and solidarity-based transition.
All initiatives, innovations, practices, modern or traditional research in the fields of housing, water management and conservation, agriculture and agroecology, energy conservation or clean energy, soft mobility, social and solidarity-based organisation, green and solidarity-based finance, circular and solidarity-based economy, and all activities promoting ecological transition around the world will thus be identified and disseminated through a digital platform for the dissemination of information and collaborative exchange, facilitating the transfer of skills and know-how between the various stakeholders concerned.
Article 4 – Registered office
The Association’s registered office is located at 404 rue Valery Larbaud, Montpellier (34090).
It may be transferred to any other location by simple decision of the Board of Directors or the General Assembly.
Article 5 – Duration
The duration of the Association is unlimited.
Article 6 – Financial year
The Association’s financial year shall begin on 1 January and end on 31 December.
II. MEMBERS OF THE ASSOCIATION
Article 7 – Composition
The Association is composed of:
Active members, natural persons,
Active members, natural persons, pay the active member subscription, are eligible for the Board of Directors and have the right to vote at the General Meeting. They participate in the life of the Association.
They acquire their membership by paying the subscription and by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
College of partners, active members, legal entities,
Active members, legal entities, are the private or institutional partners of the Association. They pay a membership fee, are eligible for the Board of Directors, but do not have the right to vote at the General Assembly.
They acquire their membership status by paying their membership fee and by a majority vote of the Board of Directors.
They are grouped together in the partners’ college and are represented on the Board of Directors by one member elected from within the partners’ college.
Strategic Council, active members, natural persons
The Board of Directors proposes free membership of the Strategic Council to eight independent figures linked to the ecological, social and solidarity transition, recognised for their commitment and ethics.
The purpose of this council is to support the association in its development and to ensure compliance with ethical rules throughout its existence.
This strategic council is elected for a three-year term. Its members are eligible for re-election. These individuals are chosen by unanimous agreement of the Board of Directors.
The strategic council is a source of proposals and may request a meeting of the board of directors if necessary, with the agreement of all members of the strategic council.
Article 8 – Admission of new members
The admission of members is decided by the board of directors, which rules on applications for admission at each of its meetings.
The eligibility of candidates is based on their commitment and their current or potential contributions to the association’s activities.
The reasons for acceptance or refusal of admission shall be recorded in the written minutes of the Board of Directors.
Article 9 – Removal of members
Membership of the Association shall be lost through:
a) Non-payment of membership fees
Membership shall be terminated following non-payment of the membership fee within a maximum of three months after the date of the General Meeting for the current financial year.
b) Resignation
Members may resign by sending their resignation to the President by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt, with membership being lost at the end of the current calendar year.
c) Expulsion
The Board of Directors has the power to expel a member for serious reasons. The expulsion must be justified and recorded by the Board of Directors, which must summon the member by registered letter to provide an explanation. If the member does not respond to the summons, they may be expelled in absentia, and this expulsion shall be notified by registered letter with acknowledgement of receipt. The expelled member may request that the expulsion decision be reviewed by the general meeting.
d) Death
In the event of death, the member’s heirs and beneficiaries shall not acquire membership of the Association.
III. ENDOWMENT – RESOURCES OF THE ASSOCIATION – MEMBERSHIP FEES
Article 10 – Membership fees
The amount of the annual membership fee is specified in the Association’s internal regulations. The annual membership fee is paid by active members.
Annual membership fees may be increased by decision of the General Assembly.
In the event of the admission of new members during the last quarter of the financial year, they shall be exempt from paying the membership fee for the current financial year.
Article 11 – Resources
The association’s annual resources consist of:
Membership fees;
Subsidies and funding from public or private institutions, local authorities, private or public foundations, companies, etc.
Revenue generated by actions or events organised by the association;
Funding obtained through crowdfunding projects;
Income generated by external activities such as consulting, training, and conducting scientific mediation workshops;
External activities such as scientific research missions or professional expertise;
Revenue generated by publications, studies or works;
Any other remunerative activity falling within the scope specified by the association’s purpose.
IV. ADMINISTRATION AND MANAGEMENT
The association gives itself a period of three years from its creation to perfect its administrative organisation, as provided for in the statutes.
Article 12 – Board of Directors
12.1 Composition
The Association shall be administered by a board of directors composed of at least seven members, elected by the general meeting for a term of three years from among the active members of the association. The members of the board of directors shall be renewed every three years at the general meeting, by secret ballot.
In the event of a vacancy, the Board of Directors may provisionally replace its members. Their permanent replacement shall be decided at the next General Meeting.
Outgoing members are eligible for re-election.
12.2 Exclusion
The unjustified absence of a director from three Board meetings during the financial year is grounds for exclusion from the Board.
The unjustified absence of a director from half of the Board meetings during the financial year is grounds for non-renewal.
12.3 Meetings
The Board of Directors meets whenever it is convened by its Chair, or the Secretary, or the Treasurer, or at the request of a quarter of its members, or at the request of the entire Strategic Council.
The presence of an absolute majority of the members of the Board of Directors is required for the deliberations to be valid.
Each director may hold no more than one proxy.
In the event of a tie, the chairperson shall have the casting vote.
The Board of Directors is required to report on its decisions and discussions to the members. Minutes of the meetings shall be kept. The minutes shall be signed by the chairperson and the secretary. They shall be drawn up without blanks or deletions, in a bound notebook, on numbered sheets, and kept in the Association’s archives.
Article 13 – Association Executive Committee
13-1 Appointment
The Board of Directors shall choose from among its members, by secret ballot, an Executive Committee composed of a minimum of two members, namely a Chair and a Secretary.
V. GENERAL MEETINGS
Article 14 – Composition of the General Meeting
The General Meeting of the Association shall comprise active members, who are natural persons.
Article 15 – Powers of the general meeting
It approves the accounts for the previous financial year, votes on the budget for the following financial year, deliberates on the items on the agenda and, where applicable, appoints new members to the board of directors (postal voting may be provided for in relation to elections).
15.1 Amendment of the Articles of Association
The Articles of Association may be amended by the General Meeting on the proposal of the Board of Directors or on the proposal of one tenth of the members comprising the General Meeting.
In either case, the amendment to the Articles of Association must be communicated in advance to all members with a clear presentation of the points to be changed. The points to be amended shall be voted on one by one. The Articles of Association submitted to the vote shall be sent to all members fifteen (15) days in advance.
These proposed amendments shall be included in the agenda of the next General Meeting, which must be sent to all members of the Meeting at least 7 days in advance.
In all cases, the statutes may only be amended by a majority vote.
15.2 Dissolution
The general meeting, called to decide on the dissolution of the Association and convened specifically for this purpose, under the conditions set out in the previous article, must include at least half plus one of the current members.
If this proportion is not reached, the meeting shall be reconvened, but at least fifteen days later, and this time it may validly deliberate regardless of the number of members present or represented. In all cases, dissolution may only be voted on by a two-thirds majority of the members of the Association. Abstentions and invalid votes shall be counted as votes against dissolution.
In the event of dissolution, the general meeting shall appoint one or more commissioners to liquidate the Association’s assets. It shall allocate the net assets to one or more similar institutions, whether public or recognised as being of public utility, or to institutions referred to in Article 6, paragraph 2, of the amended Law of 1 July 1901.
Article 16 – General Assembly meetings
It shall meet once a year and whenever it is convened by the President or at the request of at least one quarter of its members.
The meeting must be composed of at least one quarter of the members in office. If this proportion is not reached, the meeting shall be reconvened, but at least fifteen days later, and this time it may validly deliberate, regardless of the number of members present or represented.
Each member present may hold no more than one (1) proxy in addition to his or her own.
In the event of a tie, the chairperson shall have the casting vote.
The annual report and accounts shall be sent each year to all members of the Association.
Except where the provisions of the previous article apply, paid agents who are not members of the Association shall not have access to the general meeting.
Article 17 – Minutes of general meeting proceedings
Minutes shall be taken of the proceedings.
The minutes shall be signed by the chairperson and the secretary.
They shall be drawn up without any blanks or deletions, on numbered sheets, and kept in the Association’s archives.
Article 18 – Extraordinary General Meeting
If necessary, or at the request of 1/4 of the members, the President may convene an Extraordinary General Meeting, in accordance with the procedures set out in these Articles of Association and solely for the purpose of amending the Articles of Association or dissolving the Association or for acts relating to real estate.
The procedures for convening the meeting shall be the same as for the Ordinary General Meeting.
Decisions shall be taken by a two-thirds majority of the members present.
Done at Montpellier, on 24 October 2022