ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION
“The Oxford University Society in Bulgaria”
(abridged)

I. GENERAL TERMS

Article 1. (1) The Society is a legal entity and conducts its activities in accordance with the law on not-for-profit legal entities.
(2) The Society is defined as an organisation which conducts its business for private purposes.
Art. 2. (1) The Society is called “The Oxford University Society in Bulgaria”.
(2) The Society is based in Sofia, Bulgaria
Art. 3. (1) The Society aims to strengthen ties to Oxford University, to maintain the prestige of the education provided by the University and to aid the democratic and sustainable development of Bulgaria.

(2) Aims:
1. The encouragement of intellectual and cultural bonds between the members as well as between members and the University and other related organisations.
2. To aid the members in their professional development, by means of strengthening ties between the Society and business, political and academic circles.
3. To encourage young people from Bulgaria to apply to Oxford University and to help Bulgarian students in Oxford by supplying information and , eventually, scholarships and other services.
(3) The Society’s scope of activity shall include: the creation of programmes for collaboration and education with Oxford University, the organisation of meetings and forums, informational and informative activities and other such activities as shall be in line with the achievement of the Society’s aims and goals.

II. MEMBERSHIP

Art. 5. (1) Members of the Society shall be classified as Regular, Honorary and Associated.
(2) Regular membership is available to all Bulgarians who have studied, taught or worked at Oxford University, and to non-Bulgarians who meet the criteria and are resident or work in Bulgaria.
(3) Honorary membership is available to those who have performed outstanding services to the Society and/or had a positive impact on the image of the Society and/or the University; subject to approval by the Committee. Honorary members shall not be obliged to pay a membership fee, if such an eventuality occurs, nor other payments for participation in the Society or events organised by the Society.
(4) The Founders are Honorary members by right.
(5) Associate membership is available to legal entities and persons of legal age, regardless of sex, education, political or religious affiliation, who share the principles and aims of the Society.
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Art. 6, Art. 7, Art. 8. Members of the Society have the right:
1. To participate in the activities of the Society and the affairs of the General Assembly;
2. To be elected to posts in the Society’s Committee or other posts within the Society;
3. To carry out due diligence on the activities of the Society and its appointed bodies;
4. To be informed about the Society’s activities and to use information collected by the Society without prejudice;
5. To suggest changes and alterations to the internal rules and regulations of the Society;
6. To express ideas, create projects and prepare concepts with regard to the activities of the Society;
7. To put forward names for Honorary membership, by way of written notification of the Committee.

Members’ Obligations

Members of the Society have the following obligations:
1. To uphold the Articles of the Society;
2. To work towards the achievement of the Society’s aims and tasks;
3. To abide by the decisions of the Society’s governing bodies;
4. To uphold the Society’s good name;
5. To inform the Committee of any change of their contact details, physical or electronic, including telephone or fax numbers where appropriate.
Art. 9. (1) Membership is voluntary and open to all who meet the criteria stipulated in Art. 5.
(3) New members shall not be obliged to pay an entrance fee or a membership fee, unless the General Assembly votes that such fees should be collected;
(5) Decisions regarding membership applications are taken by the Society’s Committee.
Art. 10 (1). Members of the Society may curtail their membership unilaterally by expressing their wish in writing to the Committee.
(2) A member of the Society may be excluded for:
1. Non-compliance with the Articles of the Society or infringement of the laws of Bulgaria;
2. Not carrying out such obligations as membership entails;
3. Damaging or otherwise harming the prestige and/or image of the Society and/or the University;
(3) The exclusion of a member is effected by vote of the General Assembly proposed by the Committee.

IIІ. ASSETS

Art. 11. The Society’s sources of income shall be:
1. Gifts and Donations whether from legal entities or persons;
2. Sponsorship;
3. Income under Article 12;
4. In the eventuality that the General Assembly votes that such fees be collected, membership and entrance fees.
5. Funds provided for the achievement of the Society’s aims, events and projects.
Art. 12. (1) The Society may carry on economic activities related to its aims and goals;
(2) The Society does not distribute profits;
(4) The Society is not accountable for its members debts or duties;
(5) The Society may make use of its assets without prejudice for the achievement of its aims and carry on activities towards the achievement of its goals such as are indicated herein and are in compliance with current legislation.

IV. GOVERNING BODIES OF THE SOCIETY

Art. 13. The Governing Bodies of the Society shall be the Committee and the General Assembly.
Art. 14. The Committee may, at its discretion, create subsidiary bodies such as panels of experts, commissions, consultative bodies and others as required.

The General Assembly

Art. 15. (1) The General Assembly is the highest authority of the Society.
(2) All members of the Society form part of the General Assembly, associate members having an advisory role.
(3) Members of the Society take part in the General Assembly either in person or through accredited representatives.
(4) Members of the Society may take part in the General Assembly via conference-link, namely a two-way link allowing their identity to be ascertained and equally allowing them to take part in discussion and the decision making process.
Art. 16. (1) The General Assembly shall be called to regular Meetings at least yearly by the Committee whether on its own initiative or when requested to o so by 1/3 of the members resident in the residential area where the Society is based.
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Art. 18. (1) The General Meeting shall be regarded as lawful when at least half of the members are present. If quorum is not met, the Meeting shall be postponed by one hour, with the same agenda, and shall be considered legal regardless of the number of members attending.

Committee

Art. 22. (1) The Committee is the governing body of the Society;
(2) The Committee is made up of at least three members;
(3) The members of the Committee are elected by the General Assembly for a term of up to 5 (five) years and may be re-elected without limitation;
(4) The Committee shall elect from amongst its members a President/Secretary and a Vice-President/Under-Secretary.
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Art. 25. The Committee:
1. Represents the Society and designates the representative ability of individual members;
2. Takes decisions as to the use and/or distribution of the Society’s assets;
3. Appoints members to positions in the governing and administrative bodies of such enterprises as the Society may have created in accordance herewith and with their Articles;
4. Organises the enactment of the decisions of the General Assembly;
5. Prepares and presents the budget and accounts of the Society’s activities;
6. Vets new members;
7. Decides the order and organises the activities of the Society, including those for general use, and is responsible thereof.
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V. REPRESENTATION OF THE SOCIETY

Art. 28. (1) The Society shall be represented by the President/Secretary of the Committee;
(2) The Committee shall decide the limits of the representative power of the President/Secretary, the Vice-President/Under-Secretary, the members and third parties. The limits imposed by the Committee shall not impinge on well-intentioned third parties.

VIІІ. Disbandment, Liquidation and Winding-up

Art. 29. (1) Other than by decision of the General Assembly, the Society may be disbanded by decision of the courts in the region of the Society’s headquarters in accordance with the law that governs such situations.
Art. 30. In the eventuality of the disbandment of a not-for-profit organisation liquidation ensues;
(2) Liquidation shall be carried out by the governing body or those appointed by it.
Art. 31. Further to the disbandment and liquidation of the Society, any assets remaining after the recompense of creditors and other dues shall be transferred to a not-for-profit organisation with similar aims and goals which shall answer for those assets inasmuch as they may entail transferrable duties and obligations.