Articles of Association
Article 1
Section 1:
Under the corporate name "The Swiss LSE Alumni Association" a non-profit Association exists pursuant to Article 60 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code. The duration of the Association is unlimited. The corporate name may be abbreviated to SLSEAA.*
Section 2:
The purpose of the Association is
- to serve as a point of contact between the School and its alumnae, alumni and friends,
- to strengthen the network of alumnae, alumni and friends of the School for professional, academic and social purposes,
- to assist the School in fundraising for specific objectives, in attracting students and staff and in organising special events, and
- to enhance the visibility of the School in Switzerland and abroad.
The Association may acquire, hold and sell assets.
Article 2
Section 1:
The Association shall be composed of Members. All graduates of the School in addition to current and former students and members of staff of the School can become Ordinary Members of the Association. Other persons may become Associate Members of the Association. A Member may be elected Honorary Member.
Section 2:
Ordinary and Associate Members, but not Honorary Members, are required to pay annual dues of Swiss Franc 40.
Section 3:
The body of Ordinary Members shall have the power to adopt and amend these Articles of Association, to appoint and remove the Officers and Auditors of the Association and define their duties, to elect Honorary Members, to approve the annual report and the annual accounts, to grant discharge to the Officers of the Association and to pass resolutions regarding issues which are reserved to the Membership by law or these Articles of Association or which are presented to it by the Officers of the Association.
Section 4:
The body of Ordinary Members shall assemble in the first half of each calendar year for a General Meeting to execute its powers by majority vote. Every Member shall be notified in writing thirty days in advance of the date of such General Meetings. The body of Ordinary Members may also execute its powers by postal ballot in between two General Meetings by majority of returned ballots.
Section 5:
No Member may be expelled from the Association except on refusal to pay debts owed to the Association.
Article 3
Section 1:
Ordinary Members may be appointed Officers of the Association. The term of office of an Officer shall, subject to prior resignation or removal, expire upon the day of the next but one General Meeting of the year of appointment. Newly appointed Officers shall complete the term of office of their predecessors. Resignations take effect upon the appointment of a suitable successor. Officers may be re-elected without limitation.
Section 2:
The Officers shall have the power to manage the Association, issuing any acts to that end and attending to all matters not delegated to or reserved for others by these Articles of Association or by law. The Officers shall issue an annual report of their activities and prepare the annual accounts.
Section 3:
The duties of individual Officers shall be clearly set out and executed in close consultation with but not undue interference from the other Officers.
Section 4:
Upon appointment, an Officer shall take the following Oath: "I do solemnly swear to faithfully execute the duties of my office, to protect and promote the interests of the School in Switzerland and abroad, and to uphold the Articles of Association and any acts based thereon."
Section 5:
An Officer shall be removed from office on impeachment for and conviction of serious dereliction of duties, violation of these Articles of Association and crimes against the Association defined by law. Any Ordinary Member may submit charges against an Officer, forming the basis upon which a majority of the Officers has the power to impeach and a two-thirds majority of Ordinary Members voting the power to convict. Judgment in cases of impeachment shall not extend further than removal from office and disqualification to hold and enjoy any office under the Association.
Article 4
Section 1:
The Association shall have one or more Auditors. Any natural and legal person may be appointed an Auditor. Auditors are not required to be or become Members of the Association. Auditors may not be Officers of the Association and may not undertake any duties for the Association, which are not compatible with their auditing mandate.
Section 2:
The term of office of Auditors shall, subject to prior resignation or removal, expire upon the day of the next but one General Meeting of the year of appointment. Newly appointed Auditors shall complete the term of office of their predecessors. Resignations take effect upon the appointment of a suitable successor. Auditors may be re-elected without limitation.
Section 3:
An Auditor shall be removed from office based on the standards and due process to which Officers of the Association are subjected.
Article 5
Section 1:
The Financial Year of the Association begins on 1 January and ends on 31 December.
Section 2:
The annual accounts, consisting of an expenditure and revenue statement, a balance sheet, annexes and other commentaries, shall be drawn up in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles.
Article 6
Section 1:
A three-fourths majority of Ordinary Members may at any time resolve the dissolution and liquidation of the Association in accordance with the provisions of the law and these Articles of Association.
Section 2:
The liquidation shall be carried out by the Officers of the Association to the extent that a three-fourths majority of Ordinary Members has not entrusted the same to other persons. The liquidators are authorised to dispose of the assets by way of private contract. After the debts have been satisfied, the net proceeds shall be given to the School.
Article 7
Section 1:
Invitations, notices and other correspondence to Members shall be mailed to the addresses recorded in the Membership Register.
Section 2:
A three-fourths majority of Ordinary Members may at any time amend these Articles of Association.
Section 3:
These Articles of Association shall be adopted, if a two-thirds majority of Ordinary Members present at the General Meeting of 25 March 2001 vote upon this effect, and shall replace the Statutes of 7 November 1998.
* Last sentence in preamble removed upon request by the London School of Economics and Political Science.