the statutes
Bylaws for AOF Center South Jutland and Bornholm
§1 Name and place of residence
Paragraph 1:
The center is an association according to The Public Information Act. The association’s name is Arbejdernes Oplysningsforbund Center Sydjylland, abbreviated AOF Center Sydjylland.
Paragraph 2: AOF Center South Jutland is based in Esbjerg Municipality and covers the municipalities of Billund, Esbjerg, Fanø, Fredericia, Kolding, Varde, Vejen and Vejle, Haderslev, Aabenraa, Sønderborg, Tønder and Bornholm.
§ 2 Purpose
Paragraph 1:
The association must, through its activities, in accordance with the basic values: equality, equality and equal opportunities for all, work to spread knowledge about and understanding of values of a societal and cultural nature, including knowledge about and understanding of the importance of international cooperation . On the same basis, the association must contribute to the spread of democracy in society, and stimulate interest in active participation in society.
Paragraph 2:
The public information association offers public information adult education, partly in accordance with the Folkeoplysningsloven, partly in accordance with other legislation on adult education. The public information association also offers other forms of education, activities, cultural offers, etc., which are in line with the association’s purpose. The association’s activities are non-profit and open to everyone.
The purpose is sought i.a. fulfilled by contributing to all citizens being offered AOF public information, by promoting basic, further and further education for young people and adults, by supporting the individual’s opportunities to be able to function flexibly in the labor market, by promoting debate about essential social issues, by promoting cultural activities and by promoting other activities that can improve citizens’ living conditions.
§ 3 Structure and membership
Paragraph 1: Trade unions affiliated to FH or FTF, FH sections, Social Democratic party associations and branches of Denmark’s Social Democratic Youth can be admitted as members of the AOF association. The member organizations must have an area of activity within one or more of the municipalities AOF Center
South Jutland covers.
Paragraph 2:
As a member of the AOF association, other organizations or institutions that agree with the AOF association’s objectives and statutes and which are not affiliated with other organizations within the same business area as the AOF, or which have objectives that are in conflict with the association’s foundation of ideas, can also be admitted as members.
In addition, other organizations or institutions may be admitted as partners following the board’s decision.
Decision on admission of members in accordance with § 3 subsection 2 is taken by the board of directors.
Paragraph 3:
Entry and exit must be made in writing to the board.
Paragraph 4:
The center is part of the AOF community’s development work and participates in AOF Denmark’s Board of Directors in accordance with AOF Denmark’s statutes and rules of procedure.
Paragraph 5:
A local committee consisting of at least 3 members will be established in each municipality in AOF Center South Jutland’s area of operation. Each member organization can appoint one or more members to the local committees. The local committees are included in the annual meeting of AOF Center South Jutland.
Paragraph 6:
If a sufficient number of members cannot be found to form a local council in a municipality, or it is expedient for other reasons, local committees can be established that include several municipalities.
Section 7:
If two or more municipalities are combined to form a local committee, taking into account section 3 subsection 5 and 6 cannot be fulfilled, a board member can be nominated from each of the municipalities represented.
§ 4 Quota
Determining the quota is agreed upon by the board, which recommends approval at the annual meeting.
§ 5 The annual meeting
Paragraph 1:
The annual meeting is the association’s highest authority and consists of those in § 3 subsection 4 mentioned local committees, as well as a further 3 representatives appointed by each member organization in accordance with § 3 subsection 1 and 2.
Paragraph 2:
Permanent employees of the association cannot be appointed as representatives to the annual meeting.
Paragraph 3:
Only the appointed representatives have the right to vote and speak at the annual meeting. The board can decide that the annual meeting is attended by people other than the representatives and that these are granted the right to speak.
Paragraph 4:
Representatives of AOF Denmark have the right to participate in the annual meeting with the right to speak.
Paragraph 5:
The ordinary annual meeting is held each year before the end of April. An invitation to the annual meeting is issued no later than 3 months before the meeting is held.
The board can decide that the annual meeting will be held digitally.
The board determines the detailed requirements for the digital systems and media to be used in connection with the digital annual meeting.
When holding the annual meeting, the board of directors must ensure that the annual meeting is held in a satisfactory manner, including that the other provisions of the articles of association are complied with. The final notice is issued with at least 3 weeks’ notice, specifying the provisional agenda, which must contain at least the following:
- Welcome
- Election of a conductor and approval of the legality of the meeting.
- Approval of the rules of procedure and election of vote tellers.
- Approval of the agenda.
- Approval of the board’s annual report and objectives for the current year.
- Approval of the association’s accounts and briefing on the budget for the current year
- Proposals received
- Election
- Closing
Together with the notice, a list of the member organizations and rules of procedure for the annual meeting are sent.
Paragraph 6:
Proposals that wish to be considered must reach the director no later than 2 weeks before the annual meeting. The final agenda containing proposals received and the necessary appendices will be sent out no later than 1 week before the annual meeting. A written vote may be required when there is a majority for this, or when the conductor deems it expedient. All broadcasts are sent via e-mail to the e-mail addresses provided by the local committees and the affiliated member organisations.
Paragraph 7:
An extraordinary annual meeting can be called by the board, or 1/3 of the total members of the local committees request it in writing, stating a motivated agenda. An extraordinary annual meeting must be called with at least 2 weeks’ notice and be held no later than 3 weeks after the request has been made.
§ 6 The board of directors
Paragraph 1:
The board is the highest authority between annual meetings.
Paragraph 2:
The board must consist of the chairman and a maximum of 13 members, including one member resident on Bornholm nominated by AOF South Jutland’s local committee in Billund, Esbjerg, Fanø, Fredericia, Kolding, Varde, Vejen, Vejle, Haderslev, Aabenraa, Sønderborg, Tønder and Bornholm’s municipalities, as well as TR and representatives elected by Folkeoplysningen. The centre’s board of directors consists of board members who represent AOF Denmark’s member organisations, so there is at least one representative from Social Democracy, one representative from FH (the main trade union movement), and representatives from at least 3 of the other member organizations in AOF Denmark.
If these are not appointed by the local committees, they are elected at the annual meeting.
The chairman is nominated by the membership.
The chairman is elected at the annual meeting for a two-year term. The chairman and the representatives from Fanø, Fredericia, Kolding, Haderslev, Aabenraa and Vejle municipalities are elected in even-numbered years, while the representatives from Billund, Esbjerg, Varde, Sønderborg, Tønder, Vejen and Bornholm’s municipalities are elected in odd-numbered years. All are elected for a two-year term.
Paragraph 2.2
As a transitional provision, the first election period is one year for the board members who, in accordance with the provision in § 6 subsection 2 is not up for election in the year in which this statute enters into force.
Paragraph 3:
The TR elected at any time sits on the board
Paragraph 4:
In addition to the elected members, the board can supplement itself with a view to providing the board with special competences within relevant areas. The board can supplement itself with non-voting persons.
Paragraph 5:
The board constitutes itself with a deputy chairman at the first ordinary meeting after the annual meeting. The deputy chairman must be chosen from among the elected board members in accordance with § 6 subsection 2 or no. 4.
Paragraph 6:
The board can determine the remuneration for the chairman and deputy chairman. Fees cannot be paid to other board members.
Paragraph 7.
The board is responsible to public authorities for the use of grants received, assigned premises, etc. and for submitting accounts and other documentation for the company.
Paragraph 8:
The board of directors is responsible to the annual meeting for the association’s business.
Paragraph 9:
The board appoints the association’s director. Salary and working conditions for this are agreed with the chairman.
Paragraph 10:
The director participates in the board’s meetings without the right to vote. Other managers can be called upon specific decision.
Paragraph 11:
AOF Center Sydjylland is signed by the chairman in conjunction with the director, or in the chairman’s absence by the vice-chairman in conjunction with the director and in the director’s absence by the chairman in conjunction with the deputy chairman. The purchase and sale of real estate and securities must be decided by the board
Paragraph 12:
The provisions in Chapter 2 of the Public Administration Act on competence and Chapter 8 on confidentiality apply to both board members and deputies.
Paragraph 13:
The general compensation rules of Danish law apply to the board of directors. The board of directors is not personally liable for the association’s financial obligations.
Paragraph 14:
The board determines its own rules of procedure.
§ 7 Accounting requirements, etc.
Paragraph 1: The association’s financial year is the calendar year.
Paragraph 2: The annual meeting elects a registered/authorised auditor for 1 year
§ 8 Articles of association and dissolution of the association
Paragraph 1:
The association AOF Center South Jutland’s statutes must in every respect be in accordance with AOF Denmark’s statutes and be approved by AOF Denmark’s main board.
Paragraph 2:
The articles of association can only be changed at an ordinary or extra ordinary annual meeting if 2/3 of those present at the annual meeting vote for it.
§ 9 Dissolution of the association
Paragraph 1:
AOF Center South Jutland can only be closed down as well as, merged or split with the approval of AOF Denmark’s main board.
For the dissolution of the Association AOF Center Sydjylland, it is required that a resolution to this effect be adopted at two consecutive annual meetings with a minimum of 2 and a maximum of 4 weeks apart, and with at least 2/3 of the votes cast at each annual meeting.
Paragraph 2.
If dissolution is adopted, one or more liquidators must be elected at the second annual meeting to wind up the association’s business. Any disbursed loans and values belonging to the affiliated member organizations accrue to these. If a surplus then arises, this must, according to the determination of the annual meeting, be used for non-profit, public information purposes in the association’s area of activity.
Paragraph 3:
The association’s archive is handed over to AOF Denmark for storage.
Thus decided at the representative board meeting on 26 April 2023
Director Solveig Poulsen