STATUTES / STATUTES

International working group for the promotion of fungus-resistant grape varieties
(Headquarters: Wädenswil, Switzerland)

STATUTES OF PIWI INTERNATIONAL

STATUTES / ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION

In the case of persons and functions occurring in the text, female/miscellaneous persons are always included. (For reasons of easier readability of the text, the female and miscellaneous forms are omitted).

1. name and seat

PIWI-International

Subtitle: International community for the promotion of fungus-resistant grapevine varieties.

  1. The official seat of the association is Wädensil in Switzerland.
  2. The financial year is the calendar year

§ 2 Purpose and mission

Sustainability in agriculture and thus also in viticulture is a major challenge. The cultivation of PIWI vines and the promotion of the advantages of PIWI wines and PIWI products are intended to contribute to sustainability and climate protection.

  1. The association pursues exclusively and directly charitable purposes. It is selflessly active and does not pursue its own economic purposes.
  2. The purpose of PIWI International is to promote scientific and practical knowledge in the field of PIWI grape varieties and to exchange it on a national and international level. In doing so, PIWI International acts as an umbrella organization which, together with the regional groups, pursues the promotion of the cultivation and dissemination of PIWI grape varieties and is committed to the research and documentation of PIWI grape varieties.
  3. Support will be given to all activities aimed at research, dissemination and promotion of PIWI grape varieties.
  4. The purpose of the statutes is achieved by
    1. Strategic orientation of all association agendas
    2. Assistance in the coordination and promotion of the activities of all regional groups.
    3. Cooperation with other winegrowing organisations and scientific institutions, practitioners and private vine breeders and grapevine growers
    4. Knowledge transfer through specialist excursions, conferences, workshops and seminars, newsletters and wine trips
    5. Exchange of information via social media and the own website
    6. Organization of an annual international PIWI Wine Award
    7. PIWI wine presentations and tastings in the context of knowledge transfer
    8. Establishment of a lobbying network
    9. Promotion of sustainable cultivation
    10. Provision of a digital infrastructure (database, membership administration)

§3 Means of the Association/Finances

  1. The funds of the association may only be used for statutory purposes. No person may be favoured by expenses that are alien to the purpose of the association or by disproportionately high remuneration.
  2. The association obtains the means to fulfil its non-profit, statutory tasks through membership fees, donations and other contributions or grants.
  3. The amount of the membership fees shall be determined by the General Meeting after proposal by the Board of Directors.
  4. The regional groups/associations give a share of the membership fee to PIWI International. The amount of the contribution is adopted by the General Assembly on the proposal of the Board.

§ 4 Membership

  1. Members of PIWI International can become all natural and legal persons who want to promote the purpose of the association.
  2. Members are accepted by written application, whereby accepted members of the regional groups automatically become members of PIWI-International.
  3. The Board of Directors decides on the acceptance or non-acceptance of applications for membership which are addressed directly to PIWI International at its meetings without giving reasons.
  4. PIWI International offers the following memberships:
    1. Active members – they actively participate in the activities of the association; only active members can be elected to association offices.
    2. Sustaining Members – make an annual contribution to support the activities of the Association, are invited to the Annual General Meeting, but have no voting rights.
    3. Honorary members – are natural or legal persons who are nominated by the General Assembly upon application of the regional group representatives or the PIWI International Board and who have rendered outstanding services to the Association. Honorary members have no obligation towards the association, but are entitled to participate in the general meetings in an advisory capacity.
  5. Rights and duties of members

The members undertake to comply with the provisions of the statutes, to promote the purpose of the association and to prevent damage to the association and its members.

  1. Members shall pay the dues set by the Association in due time. After two written requests to pay due membership fees and with a set deadline of two months, the defaulting member is excluded
  2. Membership ends by resignation, exclusion or death. The resignation is to be communicated to the office 3 months before the end of the calendar year in writing by email or letter. The board decides on the exclusion by resolution with a two-thirds majority;
  3. With the resignation the claims from the membership expire, especially the right to use the PIWI logo. The termination of membership does not affect existing obligations, in particular the obligation to pay contributions. There is no claim for repayment of membership fees. Withdrawn or excluded members have no claim to the association’s assets.

§ 5 Organs

The organs of PIWI International are:

  • the general meeting
  • the Executive Board
  • the auditors

6. general meeting

  1. The General Assembly is the supreme body and is composed of the members of all regional groups as well as the individual members of PIWI International who do not belong to any regional group.
  2. The general meeting is not open to the public; the board or the chairman of the meeting may admit guests. The guests (non-members) are not entitled to vote. Honorary members and supporting members are also to be invited but are not entitled to vote.
  3. In case of absence, the voting right can be passed on to other members in writing by proxy. A proxy may represent a maximum of 3 members.
  4. The General Meeting is responsible for the following tasks in particular:
    1. Election of the Board of Directors and the Auditors. This election must take place in writing and by secret ballot if requested by 1/3 of the General Assembly.
    2. From the elected board the president, his deputy, the treasurer and the secretary are elected.
    3. Acceptance of the activity report and the cash report as well as discharge of the executive committee and the cashier.
    4. Approval of the budget/annual budget
    5. Adoption of motions
    6. Determination of membership fees
    7. Amendments to the Articles of Association and the dissolution of the Association (with a 3/4 majority)
  5. The general meeting takes place every year. It can be combined with a symposium and/or an excursion. The Board of Directors shall invite members to this General Meeting in writing/by email at least 4 weeks before the date of the meeting, stating the agenda/agenda.
  6. The chairman of the meeting is the president or his deputy. In special cases, however, the chairman of the meeting can also be appointed by the general meeting with a simple majority.
  7. Motions for the General Meeting must be submitted in writing to the office at least 14 days before the meeting. The MA decides on the inclusion in the agenda at the beginning of the meeting with a simple majority.
  8. An extraordinary general meeting must be convened by the board if 1/3 of the members request this in writing, stating the reasons.
  9. Any General Meeting convened in accordance with the Articles of Association shall constitute a quorum – irrespective of the number of members/votes present.
  10. Resolutions are passed by a simple majority of the votes present. Only the amendment of the statutes and the dissolution of the association must be decided by 3/4 of the members present.
  11. Minutes of each meeting shall be kept and signed by the chairman and the secretary/recording clerk. The minutes shall be sent to the members within 60 days and shall be approved at the following General Meeting. Objections may only be raised within 60 days of the date of delivery.
  12. The annual general meeting may also be held online in justified cases.

§ 7 The Board of Directors

  1. The Board of PIWI International consists of at least 7 persons. No more than 2 persons per country may be represented on the Board. In detail, the Board consists of:
  • President (Chairman)
  • Deputy (Vice President)
  • Secretary
  • Treasurer
  • At least 3 assessors
  1. The Management Board shall constitute itself and adopt its rules of procedure.
  2. Other country representatives, technical experts or heads of working groups may also be invited to attend certain board meetings (= extended board). These have no voting rights and must be members.
  3. The Board of Directors is elected by the General Assembly for a period of 2 years. Re-election is possible a maximum of twice (6 years in total).
  4. The president or his deputy represents the association externally.
  5. Only full members of the association can be elected as members of the board.
  6. The members of the Board of Directors shall remain in office until a new Board of Directors has been elected.
  7. The Board of Directors is responsible for the affairs of the Association, unless they are assigned to another organ of the Association by the Articles of Association. It is responsible for managing the day-to-day business of the Association. The Executive Board may set up working groups to fulfil its tasks and appoint their members.
  8. The Board of Directors may appoint and dismiss a management for the business of day-to-day administration. This is appointed for a period of 2 years by advertisement.
  9. The Managing Director is entitled to participate in the meetings of the Board in an advisory capacity. A list of duties shall be drawn up for the Managing Director.
  10. The Board of Directors constitutes a quorum if at least half of the members are present. Resolutions are passed by a simple majority; in the event of a tie, the President’s vote counts. Board resolutions may also be obtained by circulation in special cases. These resolutions are to be documented
  11. The office of the board of directors of the association is in principle exercised on an honorary basis.
  12. Board meetings with presence take place at least 2 times a year. Invitations to these meetings are sent by email with a 4-week notice period. Exceptions are possible in justified cases. Additional online board meetings can be convened as required.
  13. In the event of the resignation of a member of the Executive Board, a new member may be appointed by the Executive Board on an interim basis for the duration of the current fiscal year.

8. liabilities

For the liabilities of the association only the assets of the association are liable.

§ 9 Auditing of accounts

The General Assembly elects two auditors. They shall audit the annual accounts and submit a written report to the General Assembly. At the General Meeting, a resolution is passed on the motion of the auditors to discharge the Board. Both auditors are elected by the general meeting.

§ 10. PIWI Logos

The logo in connection with the lettering is exclusively available to the members, insofar as the use is in accordance with the purpose and the task in the sense of §2. The use will be regulated in more detail in a regulation. Misuse can lead to an immediate ban on use and exclusion from the association.

11. amendment of the articles of association and dissolution

The General Meeting shall decide on amendments to the Articles of Association and the dissolution of the Association by a 3/4 majority of the votes present. Any assets shall be transferred to a Swiss institution with a similar purpose.

§ 12 Entry into force

These statutes were adopted and put into force on 01 December 1999 in Einsiedeln (CH) by the founding assembly of the IAG.

Einsiedeln, December 01, 1999

1st amendment: Oppenheim, 05 July 2015

2nd amendment: Veitshöchheim, 25 August 2017

3rd Amendment: San Michele , 12/3/2021

Necessary detailed regulations for the individual paragraphs are set out in the Rules of Procedure.

Status: 18.8.2021  Englisch