I. NAME, REGISTERED OFFICE AND PURPOSE
§ 1 NAME
The “Internationale Erich-Fromm-Gesellschaft e.V.” is based in Tübingen and is entered in the register of associations. It pursues exclusively and directly scientific and charitable purposes within the meaning of the section “Tax-privileged purposes” of the German Tax Code.
§ 2 PURPOSE
Abs. 1: The International Erich Fromm Society serves to preserve, research, develop and communicate the scientific knowledge and ideas of Erich Fromm, who worked internationally and achieved worldwide significance.
- It supports the establishment and maintenance of the Erich-Fromm-Archive. The archive consists of Fromm’s library and the collection of articles used by Fromm, the collection of his own writings, insofar as they have been published, as well as the published and unpublished literature on Erich Fromm worldwide. The International Erich Fromm Society has the custody and usufruct of the archive together with the literary executor appointed by Erich Fromm. The latter must promote the statutory objectives of the company in a special way; the company’s funds may only be used for the purposes set out in the articles of association. The archive is available to interested parties for academic purposes as determined by the board of the International Erich-Fromm-Society.
- The International Erich Fromm Society promotes worldwide scientific research into Erich Fromm’s socio-psychological, psychoanalytical, sociological, philosophical and religious thought and its relevance for other scientific disciplines as well as for questions of economic, social, political and spiritual-cultural implementation and application.
- It promotes the international exchange of knowledge and research and supports projects worldwide that aim to further develop the scientific thinking of Erich Fromm.
Para.2: The International Erich-Fromm-Society does not pursue its own economic purposes and serves exclusively and directly scientific purposes. Its assets serve the sole purpose of the association. Members do not receive any benefits from the association’s funds. Benefits may only be granted for proven activities within the usual scope. No person may benefit from expenses that are alien to the purpose of the company or from disproportionately high remuneration.
II. MEMBERSHIP
§ 3 MEMBERS
Natural and legal persons of any nationality may become members, provided they are willing and prepared to promote the objectives of the company.
§ 4 INCREASE
Membership is acquired through a declaration of membership. It becomes effective by an approving resolution of the Management Board. The refusal of membership does not require any justification.
§ 5 MEMBERSHIP FEE
Abs. 1: In order for the company to cover the costs incurred in fulfilling its purpose, the members pay annual contributions.
Abs. 2: The General Meeting may set the contributions by a simple majority.
Abs. 3: Donations of at least 1/2 of the annual contribution can be credited against the annual contribution payments. Donations amounting to 10 times the annual contribution exempt you from the obligation to pay regular contributions.
§ 6 HONORARY MEMBERSHIP
The Board of Directors may, by unanimous resolution, award honorary membership for exceptional achievements in the sense of the purpose stated in § 2.
§ 7 END OF MEMBERSHIP
Abs. 1: Membership ends with the resignation or exclusion as well as with the death of a natural person or the dissolution of a legal entity.
Abs. 2: Resignation can only take place at the end of a calendar year. The declaration of resignation must be sent in writing to the Executive Board.
Abs. 3: Expulsion can only be carried out by the General Meeting with 2/3 of the votes of the members present in the event of conduct detrimental to the association or in the event of outstanding contributions over a period of three years.
Abs. 4: Resigned or expelled members have no claim to the Association’s assets.
III. ORGANIZATION
§ 8 EXECUTIVE BODIES OF THE COMPANY
The executive bodies of the company are
a) the general meeting
b) the Executive Board
c) the Extended Board of Directors
d) the auditors
A) GENERAL MEETING
§ 9 COMPETENCE OF THE GENERAL MEETING
The General Meeting has the following responsibilities:
- Election and deselection of the Executive Board
- Election of the Extended Board of Directors and the auditors
- Election of substitute members for the Executive Board and Extended Executive Board
- Discharge of the Executive Board by approval of the annual report
- Approval of the annual financial statements
- Approval of the budget proposal
- Determination of contributions
- Passing resolutions on motions by the Board of Directors and members that serve to promote the work of the company
- Resolution on amendments to the Articles of Association and the dissolution of the company
- Exclusion of members.
§ 10 CONVENING OF THE GENERAL MEETING
Abs. 1: The ordinary General Meeting shall be convened annually by the Board of Directors by June 30 at the latest.
Abs. 2: An Extraordinary General Meeting may be convened by the Board of Directors at any time. It must be convened if one fifth of the members so request, stating the items to be discussed.
Abs. 3: The meeting must be convened in writing. It must be posted at least 30 days before the date of the meeting, stating the items on the agenda.
Abs. 4: Requests by members for the inclusion of certain items on the agenda that were not provided for by the Board of Directors must be submitted to the Board of Directors in writing at least seven days before the day of the meeting. The Executive Board decides on their inclusion in the agenda.
Abs. 5: At the meeting itself, items that are not on the agenda may only be added to the agenda by a 2/3 majority on the basis of a written request, with the exception of requests to amend the Articles of Association.
§ 11 COURSE OF THE GENERAL MEETING
Abs. 1: The Chairman or his statutory representative opens and chairs the meeting.
Abs. 2: The General Meeting may adopt rules of procedure.
Abs. 3: If, in a specific case, a decision by the chairperson leading the meeting is questioned, the general meeting shall decide.
§ 12 VOTING RIGHTS
Each member present has one vote.
Each legal entity that is a member has one vote, provided it is represented by a member authorized to represent it. If the representative of a legal entity is also a personal member, he or she has two votes. No one can have more than two votes. The accumulation of votes of natural persons is excluded.
§ 13 RESOLUTION
Abs. 1: The General Meeting passes resolutions by a majority of the votes of the members present. In the event of a tie, the Chairman has the casting vote.
Abs. 2: Resolutions to amend the Articles of Association require a two-thirds majority of the members present.
Abs. 3: Resolutions on the rules of procedure require a two-thirds majority of the members present.
Abs. 4: Abstentions and invalid votes are not taken into account when calculating majorities.
§ 14 PROTOCOL
Minutes must be kept of elections and resolutions of the General Meeting, which must be signed by the Chairman and the secretary. Changes to the Board of Directors and the Articles of Association must be reported for entry in the register of associations (Sections 67 and 71 BGB).
B) EXECUTIVE BOARD
§ 15 TASKS
Abs. 1: The Management Board is the governing body of the company. He represents the company internally and externally. Each member of the Executive Board is authorized to represent the company alone. The Management Board must realize and promote the corporate purpose described in § 2.
Abs. 2: The Executive Board is responsible for managing the day-to-day business and implementing the resolutions of the General Meeting.
Abs. 3: The Executive Board is responsible in particular for
- Admission of members
- Approval of extraordinary expenses up to € 1,000 that could not be provided for in the budget
- Convening and preparing the General Meeting
- Management of the General Meeting
- Award of honorary membership.
§ 16 MEMBERS OF THE EXECUTIVE BOARD
The Management Board consists of three members:
- the Chairman
- his deputy
- the accounting officer
§ 17 WORK OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD
Abs. 1: The Board of Directors is quorate if the majority of the duly invited members are present.
Abs. 2: Resolutions and elections are decided by a simple majority. In the event of a tie, the Chairman has the casting vote. However, it should bring about consensual decisions as far as possible.
Abs. 3: Minutes shall be kept of the proceedings and signed by the Chairman and the secretary.
Abs. 4: The Board of Directors appoints among itself the Chairman, Deputy Chairman and Accounting Officer
§ 18 LITERARY EXECUTOR
Decisions on the utilization and use of the Erich Fromm Archive require the consent of the literary executor appointed by Erich Fromm.
§ 19 TERM OF OFFICE OF THE MANAGEMENT BOARD
Abs. 1: The term of office of the Board of Directors is three years. Re-election is permissible.
Abs. 2: The Board of Directors can be voted out of office by electing a new Board of Directors.
Abs. 3: If a member of the Board of Directors resigns prematurely, a successor must be elected at the next General Meeting.
C) EXTENDED BOARD
§ 20 TASKS
The extended Board of Directors is responsible for the scientific status of the Society’s work. It advises the Executive Board in particular on communication with other scientific institutions and academics and on expanding international contacts.
§ 21 WORK OF THE EXTENDED EXECUTIVE BOARD
The extended Board of Directors must be convened at least once a year. Its meetings are chaired by the Chairman of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors shall prepare minutes of the results.
§ 22 COMPOSITION AND TERM OF OFFICE
The extended Executive Board consists of the Executive Board and four members appointed by the General Meeting for a period of four years. Re-election is permissible. If a member of the extended Board of Directors resigns prematurely, a successor must be elected at the next General Meeting.
D) AUDITOR
§ 23 AUDITORS
Two representatives of the General Meeting monitor the financial management; they examine the annual accounts and submit a written report to the Board of Directors and the General Meeting; if necessary, they request the discharge of the Board of Directors on the basis of an oral presentation. – They are appointed by the General Meeting for a term of three years. Re-election is permissible.
IV FINAL PROVISIONS
§ 24 Only the company’s assets are liable for the company’s liabilities.
§ 25 In the event of the dissolution or termination of the Association or the discontinuation of its previous purpose, the assets of the Association shall be transferred to the Association of Friends of the University of Tübingen for the benefit of the promotion of Erich Fromm research.
§ 26 ENTRY INTO FORCE
The Articles of Association shall enter into force on the day of their approval by the General Meeting.
The application for entry in the register of associations must be made immediately, as must the application for recognition of non-profit status.
Tübingen, October 12, 1985
