abilitynetStatute of the Italy Utah Cooperation Center
Article 1 (Denomination and inspiring principles)
The Association named “Italy-Utah Cooperation Center” (the “Center”) is a nonprofit organization for the development of international relations of friendship, solidarity, and cooperation between Italy and the federal state of Utah in the United States of America.
Article 2 (Purposes)
The purpose of the “Center” is the development of international economic, commercial, academic, and cultural relations between Italy and the federal state of Utah in the United States of America, on the basis of the inspiring principles of this Statute.
Thus, its goal is to:
a) foster exchanges between Italy and Utah in the following areas: commercial, cultural, science, the arts and social activities, thru relations and conventions with elective institutions, professional groups and associations, entities, social organizations, universities, research institutes, study centers.
b) within specific areas, to solicit a technical, scientific, economic, cultural, and artistic cooperation of mutual interest.
c) promote twinnings between entities and institutions of the two countries.
d) promote and organize exhibits, reviews, conferences, conventions, seminars, cultural events, other shows, trips for study, volunteering, and touristic purposes.
e) promote initiatives with social, economic, cultural, sport, purposes, with the goal of further and strengthen the activity of the "Center," without lucrative purposes, as an instrument of active and real solidarity with Utah.
f) care for the publication of periodicals, monographs, documents, bibliographies, etc., for the mutual understanding of Italy’s and Utah’s histories, cultures, and socio-economic realities.
g) maintain regular relations with the diplomatic representations of the United States of America and with representatives of the Utah Governor in Italy and of those of Italy in Utah.
Article 3 (Participation in external initiatives)
The “Center” can participate in those events and initiatives that, whether at the national and/or international level, have as a final goal the peace and solidarity between people, the affirmation of the values of liberty and democracy and which foster exchanges of cultural, academic, or commercial character between Italy and Utah.
Each one of its partners exercise the rights of citizens, excluding a direct, organizational, or financial involvement of the "Center."
Article 4 (International relations)
The “Center” acknowledges as main interlocutors of Utah the organizations, associations, and institutions, both public and private, that can help achieve the purposes on the basis of the inspiring principles of this Statute.
The “Center” can also adhere to institutes, entities, organizations of the tertiary sector and organizations for the international cooperation and solidarity.
The participation in the “Center” and of the "Center" in different international organizations and initiatives is defined and directed by the national leading councils.
Article 5 (Participation)
The following can be members of the “Center”: private citizens, companies, institutions and public or private organizations that share the principles and want to pursue the purposes of this Statute, without discrimination with regard to their political opinion and to their religious or philosophical beliefs.
Article 6 (Members)
The members are all those who voluntarily sign up and are current in their payment of their annual participation fee. The entity and type of the participation fees are determined annually by the Directive Council.
Article 7 (Rights and duties)
All members have the right to be informed and are expected to divulge information regarding the activity of the "Center."
Each member has the right to participate in the life of the “Center,” to use the knowledge and reading materials, to participate and contribute voluntarily to the work and to the organization of all the activities of the "Center."
No limitations are imposed to the full free expression and beliefs of the members, whose opinions for proposals and ideas aimed at developing the activity of the association are discussed in a democratic and civil manner.
The members and their descendants have no right whatsoever to reclaim the annual fees paid to the "Center”, whatever the reason.
All members have the duty to observe the articles of the Statute.
Article 8 (Loss of membership)
Membership is lost due to:
a) resignation
b) lack of payment of annual affiliation fee
c) decision of the Directive Council (in case of serious issue), when the member has:
- violated the articles of the Statute
- jeopardized the interests and general principles of the “Center”
- damaged the “Center” either morally or materially
Article 9 (Governing bodies)
The decisions regarding the development of the activity of the “Center”, and the responsibility of the management, administration, and coordination, are taken by the Directive Council.
Article 10 (Directive Council)
The "Center” is governed by a Directive Council made of the founding partners. New members of the Council may be chosen by election amongst the partners who will show exceptional economic support, effort and integrity. The request to be admitted must be approved by the Council.
The office of councilor is to be held with no compensation. In case of resignation or death of a councilor, the Directive Council will proceed with his/her substitution.
The Council elects its president, two vice-presidents (one of which will reside in Italy and, if possible, the other will reside in Utah), a general secretary and a vice-secretary.
The office of secretary can be held, if needed, by the vice-president residing in Italy. The secretary’s responsibilities can be held by the vice-president or be equally distributed among the members of the Directive Council, at the discretion of the Council.
The Council reserves the right to create new appointees to be delegated specific functions and responsibilities, as needed.
The Council can delegate councilors or experts the pursuit of different interests of the “Center”.
The Council operates by common consent. It proposes the activity plans, and directs, controls and verifies annually the operations of the “Center”. It also proposes agreements with entities of the state of Utah and international associations. It rules over the participation in national and international institutions, organizations, and initiatives.
The Council rules over the financial reports of the “Center” and it establishes the guidelines regarding the annual affiliation fees and other revenues with regard to the Center’s self-financing. The economic and financial budgets and reports must be approved no later than May 31 of the following year and published by communication to the partners.
The Council meets at least quarterly or every time 1/3 of its components request it. Meetings can be held in person or via web conference.
The Council meeting is legally constituted and entitled to deliberate, in first meeting, if at least half of its members plus one are present. In second meeting, the meeting is legally constituted and entitled to deliberate whatever the number of attendees, and its deliberations are adopted if voted for by the majority of those present.
The Council meeting must be convened in writing at least 15 days before the proposed date, with the indication of the day.
The president and the vice-presidents can be renewed by the Council, at any time, with the absolute majority of its members.
The Council is also given the right to change to articles of the Statute in order to incorporate any changes mandated by the law, and it can draft regulations as it deems necessary.
Article 11 (President)
The President of the “Center” is elected within the Directive Council.
The President legally represents the “Center” before public and private institutions of Italy and Utah, and before any other national and international associations, entities, and institutions.
The President is responsible for the activities of the Directive Council, of its convocation, and functioning.
Article 12 (Vice President)
The two Vice-Presidents are elected within the Directive Council, following the recommendation of the President.
The Vice-President residing in Italy takes over all of the President’s functions and responsibilities, including the legal representation of the “Center”, in case of prolonged absence, resignation, or death.
If the President cannot function, the Directive Council elects a new President and new Vice-Presidents, in keeping and safeguarding the mandate and the principles of the "Center."
Article 13 (General Secretary and Vice-Secretary)
The General Secretary is responsible for the keeping of the financial records and has the responsibility to dispatch the fiscal requirements, to draft the economic and financial budgets and reports of the Association, to regulate the payment of the annual affiliation fees of the partners.
He is also to brief the Directive Council on the administrative matters, if requested by the Council.
The Vice-Secretary assists the General Secretary in meeting his duties, takes over the General Secretary's functions and responsibilities, if approved by the Directive Council, in case of prolonged absence, resignation, or death.
Article 14 (Self-financing)
The “Center" and all its organizations operate under a not-for-profit policy and secure their financing thru:
a) Annual affiliation fees
b) Voluntary contributions by private citizens, private and public institutions, international organizations, donations, legacies, etc.
c) Revenues which are the result of promotional activities such as literary or musical publications, artifacts, cultural and activities, sports events, shows, festivals, travels and other forms of recreation.
d) Subscriptions by the partners or within the social activities, in keeping with the purposes of the “Center.”
Participation in the "Center” does not put partners under any financial obligation, beside the payment of the annual affiliation fee.
Article 15 (Fiscal year)
The fiscal year starts on 1 January and ends on 31 December. The financial report should be ready and submitted to the Directive Council no later than 31 May of the following year and published by communication to the partners.
The Council can set aside a percentage of the proceedings to be used for expenses related to the organization of activities in keeping with the principles of the Association, including donations to lay or religious organizations to pursue their goals. The choice as to the destination of the funds is made by the vote of the absolute majority of the Council members.
Article 16 (Surplus and assets)
The “Center" cannot redistribute to its members, not even indirectly, any proceedings of its activities.
The “Center” has the obligation to use the surplus money to ensure the continuation of its institutional activities and of those directly correlated.
The assets of the “Center” are constituted by the sum of the real estate and the properties it owns. The assets cannot be alienated, as a whole or in part, without the approval of an extraordinary meeting of the Directive Council.
Article 17 (Dissolution of the “Center”)
In case of dissolution of the "Center,” the Directive Council will appoint one or more liquidators in order to assess its assets.
The assets will be donated to nonprofit entities and associations, which may pursue interests similar to those of the "Center" and which are socially useful, in accordance with the guidelines established by the liquidator(s) and in keeping with the D. Lgs. 460/97 and subsequent modifications.
Article 18 (Legal seat and duration)
The Association establishes its legal seat at Via Cicerone, 28 in Roma (c/o Studio Legale Rampelli). The Directive Council decides the site of the operating offices.
The Association has no duration limit, unless otherwise ordered by dissolution of the “Center.”
Article 19 (General arrangements)
The current laws apply to all other issues not regulated by this Statute.