23.07.2004
Chess Professionals: Terms of service
Article 1
An association coming under the French Law of July 1, 1901 and Decree of August 16, 1901 (relating to not-for-profit organisations) is created between the adherents to the present statutes. The name of the association is Association of Chess Professionals (ACP).
Article 2 - Purpose
The association's purpose is the protection of professional chess players' rights, the practice and promotion of chess worldwide, in particular through the organisation of chess tournaments and other chess events.
Article 3 - Address
The association's head office is located 5 rue Mornay 75004 Paris at Ms SCRIPCENCO Almira's.
It can be transferred by simple Board decision, approval by the general assembly will be necessary.
Article 4 - Duration
The duration of the association is unlimited.
Article 5 - Membership
Chess players having the FIDE title of International Master (IM and WIM) and International Grandmaster will automatically become members upon the payment of the membership fee.
The players having none of the above mentioned titles may apply for admission. They will have to prove that chess constitutes an important part of their professional activity, whether they are chess trainers, chess teachers, chess journalists, presidents of chess club, etc.
This list is not exhaustive. Their admission will be submitted to the approval of the Board and, in case of acceptance, they will have to pay the same annual fee as the other members.
To become a member of the association, you have to submit an admission form and then:
When joining the association, members commit themselves to respect the other members' freedom of thought and abstain from any social, religious or political discrimination.
Article 6 - Membership fees
Members must pay an annual fee. The amount is to be fixed by the Board.
For the first year, the membership fee is fixed at 30 EUR.
Article 7 - End of membership
The status of member is lost by:
Article 8 - Revenues
The revenues of the association include:
Article 9 - Accountancy and annual budget
The treasurer holds a comprehensive accountancy of all revenues and expenses.
The annual budget is adopted by the Board before the beginning of the fiscal year.
The fiscal year coincides with the calendar year.
It cannot exceed twelve months except for the first fiscal year.
The accounts must be approved by the general assembly within six months after the fiscal year closing.
Article 10 - Agreements
Any contract or agreement passed between the association, on the one hand, and an external administrator or consultant, on the other hand, is submitted to the Board for authorization and presented for information at the next general assembly.
Article 11 - The Board
The association is run by a board of 9 members elected for 2 years by the general assembly. The vote is only valid if 2/3 of the attending or represented members participate in it .
The Board's function is, among others, to initiate debates concerning official tournaments rules, proposals to improve professional players' conditions, to search for sponsors in order to organize tournaments under the aegis of the association, to establish the agenda of the ordinary general assembly, etc. This list is not exhaustive.
Members already holding another post in a national or international federation cannot be elected to the Board.
The seats will be distributed proportionally between male and female members according to the fixed ratio of 80% for men and 20% for women. All members over 16 years are eligible and re-eligible.
The Board elects among its members a president, a treasurer and a secretary.
The president represents the association in all civil acts. In particular, he or she has authority to go to court on behalf of the association.
The secretary is in charge of anything related to correspondence and archives. He takes the minutes of meetings and assemblies and, in general, any writings related to the association's operation, except for those concerning accountancy.
He holds the special register provided for by article 5 of the law of July 1, 1901 and articles 6 and 31 of the Decree of August 16, 1901.
He ensures that the formalities prescribed by these articles are executed.
The treasurer is in charge of holding or having held under his control the accountancy of the association. He makes all payments and receives, under the supervision of the President, all sums due to the association.
He cannot dispose of the assets constituting the reserve fund without the authorization of the Board.
He holds a regular accountancy of all the operations he performs and reports to the annual General Assembly, which approves his management.
In case of vacancies, the board temporarily provides with a replacement of its members, until the next general assembly.
Article 12 - Board meeting
The Board gets together at least once every six months, when summoned by its president or at the request of at least half of its members.
Decisions are taken by a majority of votes. The president has a casting vote.
Assemblies are subject of minutes.
Article 13 - Remuneration
The members of the Board are entitled to the reimbursement of their expenses on written proof; travel expenses will be reimbursed on the fiscal administration scale. Their functions are voluntary.
Article 14 - Ordinary general assembly
The general assembly includes all members who have paid their subscription.
They are summoned either by:
at least three weeks before the assembly is held.
The notification will include the agenda, which will be set up by the Board.
Members will also have the possibility to ask the Board to include a question in the agenda, three weeks before the assembly is held.
The general assembly is held every year within six months after the closing of the fiscal year.
Decisions are taken by a majority of attending or represented members, by secret ballot except in the case of the election and the dismissal of the Board.
The assembly elects every second year the members of a Board. The vote is only valid if 2/3 of the attending or represented members participate in it .
The general assembly can meet at the request of 20 members.
This request must be addressed to the president of the association.
The president, assisted by the members of the Board, presides over the assembly and expounds the situation of the association. The treasurer reports his management and submits the balance sheet to the assembly's approval.
Minutes of the meeting will be taken. They are signed by the president and the secretary.
Article 15 - Extraordinary general assembly
The extraordinary general assembly is competent to modify the statutes, decide on dissolution and merger of the association.
It is summoned by the president as stated in article 14.
It also meets at the request of at least one third of the members, or at the Board's request.
Decisions are made by a majority of 2/3 of the attending or represented members.
Minutes of the meeting will be taken. They are to be signed by the president and the secretary.
Article 16 - Internal rules
The Board can decide to establish internal rules, which will be submitted to the general assembly for approval.
They are mandatory for all the members of the association.
Article 17 - Dissolution
Dissolution is pronounced by the extraordinary general assembly, which appoints a liquidator.
Assets will be devoted as per article 9 of the law of July 1, 1901, to an association pursuing the same objective.
