Statutes Internationella Arbetslag – SCI Sweden
Adopted at the annual meeting 2023-10-08.
§ 1 Name
1.1 The name of the association is Internationella Arbetslag – SCI Sweden abbreviated as IAL. IAL is the Swedish branch of Service Civil International (SCI).
§ 2 Objective
2.1 IAL is a religiously and politically independent organisation that works for a peaceful world. IAL believes that a peaceful world is characterised by: conflicts being resolved in ways other than violence; all resources being distributed fairly; the development of society being permeated by the realisation of the equal value and rights of all people, as well as the realisation that humans are dependent on the global ecological context in which they are part. IAL believes that all people have the ability to live together in mutual respect and without resorting to any form of violence to resolve conflicts and that a peaceful world is therefore possible. IAL believes that a peaceful world is only possible if the thoughts and actions of individual people are characterised by respect and compassion. IAL believes that this is tantamount to a mutual understanding between people with different cultural, religious, social and political backgrounds and otherwise different conditions, as well as an understanding of man's place in—and dependence on—nature and ecosystems. It is therefore IAL's goal to develop such an understanding. IAL believes that such understanding is best developed by people meeting across all forms of borders, and gaining personal experience of working, learning and living together. It is therefore IAL's main approach to arranging international volunteer camps in Sweden and to placing participants in international volunteer camps in other countries, as well as to promoting joint volunteer work in general.
§ 3 Membership
3.1 Anyone who has paid the membership fee is a member for the current calendar year and up to and including the next regular annual meeting. Only members are entitled to vote at the annual meeting. If deemed necessary, the question of membership for an individual member may be considered by the board.
§ 4 IAL's Decision-Making Methods
4.1 Annual Meeting
4.1.1 The annual meeting is the highest decision-making body and takes place every year, no later than April 30. The following matters shall be dealt with at the annual meeting:
- Establishment of the electoral roll,
- Election of meeting chairman, meeting secretary and adjuster as well as vote teller,
- Question about the proper announcement of the meeting,
- Approval of agenda,
- Annual report and profit and loss account and balance sheet for the previous calendar year,
- Audit report for the previous calendar year,
- The issue of discharge from liability for the board of directors for the previous calendar year,
- Budget and business plan for the current calendar year,
- Consideration of motions,
- Election of board members,
- Choice of signatory,
- Election of auditor and deputy auditor,
- Election of the Nomination Committee.
4.1.2 An extra annual meeting shall be held when the board so decides or at the written request of at least 20% of the members or at least 10 persons. An extra annual meeting shall be held within two months of the date on which the request is received.
4.1.3 Notice of the ordinary annual meeting shall be issued by the board at least one month in advance and of the extra annual meeting as far in advance as circumstances permit. The notice shall include the agenda and information on how members can access any budget proposals, nominations to the board and motions in good time before the annual meeting.
4.1.4 The deadline for submitting motions for upcoming regular annual meetings is two weeks before the current annual meeting. New questions may be raised at the current annual meeting if the meeting is unanimous. At an extra annual meeting, only those matters may be discussed that are included in the notice.
4.1.5 Each member has one vote at the annual meeting. A member may exercise voting rights by proxy for a maximum of two other members.
4.2 Board of Directors
4.2.1 The annual meeting elects a board of directors consisting of 5–9 members and appoints IAL's chairman and treasurer from among them. A member of the board must be a member of IAL. The board implements the decisions of the annual meeting and is responsible for the ongoing operations between annual meetings. The board has a quorum when at least 40% of the members are present. A board member may, if there are reasons, request to resign from the board during the year. If this should happen, the person renounces their voting rights and no longer affects the board's decision-making. Elections for replacements can take place at an ordinary or extra annual meeting. Paid staff are hired by and report to the board.
4.3 Management Group
4.3.1 The board may, from within itself, appoint a management group that may make decisions on behalf of the board between board meetings. The management group's decisions shall be ratified at the next following board meeting.
§ 5 Local and Project Groups
5.1 The purpose of the local and project groups is to work for IAL's objectives at a local level or based on specific themes. They are responsible for their own finances and must report to the annual meeting. There must be regular contact between the groups and the board. If a group is dissolved, its assets and documents go to IAL centrally.
§ 6 Voting
6.1 All voting at the annual meeting and board meetings shall be open. However, elections shall, when requested by any of those present, be conducted by closed ballot. In the event of a tie, the casting of lots shall decide the election, and in other cases the chairman shall decide. At the annual meeting, board members shall not have the right to vote regarding the discharge of the board from liability and the election of auditors.
§ 7 Finance and Auditing
7.1 IAL's income consists of membership and camp fees, grants and donations. Auditing shall cover both accounts and administration in general. The financial year covers the period 1/1–31/12.
§ 8 Termination
8.1 IAL cannot be terminated if at least 20% of the members, or at least 10 people, wish to continue the operation. In the event of termination, the organisation's assets shall be transferred to an organisation with a similar purpose.
§ 9 Amendments to the Statutes
9.1 These statutes may be amended at the annual general meeting after a decision is made by a two-thirds majority.