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Federazione
Italiana INCOntinenti
Art. 1 An Association by the name of "Federazione Italiana INCOntinenti" has been formed, founded on principles of social solidarity, association, voluntary service, socio-health assistance, and socio-health rehabilitation and education. The Association is characterised by the involvement of all the members in the associative aspirations. It is affiliated with the A.I.STOM. (Italian "Stomizzati" Association) and the International Continence Society (I.C.S.). Art. 2 The Association's registered office is in Bari; the general Meeting of the members may establish decentralised offices throughout Italy, availing of the regional A.I.STOM offices already in existence. Art. 3 The duration of the Association is unlimited and linked to the existence of the related matters. Art. 4 The Association is non-politically orientated, non-profit-making and is based on voluntary service. The services provided by the adherent voluntary workers (individuals with incontinence problems, doctors and qualified nurses) are free of charge. The aims proposed are: a) to convene those citizens suffering from incontinence and the respective welfare Societies, doctors who are directly concerned with such matters, nursing staff specialised in urofaecal rehabilitation and individuals sensitive to such problems in independent and democratic Association. b) to implement programs of prevention, rehabilitation and care, as well as provide opportunities of psychosocial rehabilitation, which directly or indirectly affect individuals suffering from urofaecal incontinence, ensuring them a better quality of life; c) to carry out activities which inform and raise awareness of the Association with regard to the problems linked to this disability, for information Institutions and Entities; d) to establish, keep informed and co-ordinate the medical personnel, nurses and the Association's members, advancing by itself or together with other Associations, Social Services or Bodies, initiatives appropriate for.......(incomplete text)..... e) to maintain relations aimed at exchanging experience and knowledge with Institutions, Associations or groups who are nonetheless interested in such matters; f) to further workshops, conferences, events and any other activity deemed appropriate for the raising of funds and the launching of the Association's image/scope. The head offices and the out-patient's clinics of the Association are open free of charge to all incontinence suffers needy of such assistance. The social-welfare, medical services and the life and relationship possibilities provided by the Association are also extended to non-members. Art. 5 The members may be ordinary or ad honorem, with two honorary Chairmen: a) ordinary members are incontinence suffers who intend to stand as volunteers with regard to those who are affected by the problem, even if the latter are not members of the Association but are particularly needy of assistance and support; the affiliated Associations; the socio-health workers; b) "ad honorem" members are appointed directly by the board of governors, from among those individuals who have particular scientific or social/welfare merits; c) the two honorary Chairmen are appointed directly by the board of governors. The honorary Chairmen are authoritative figures super partes which the members, the board of governors and the Chairman must nonetheless heed. Their opinion is always discussed, but is not binding. Art. 6 All members up-to-date with their membership fees will be entitled to vote at meetings. They may benefit from all levels of the medical services provided by the Association free of charge and may participate in the various educational, social, cultural and recreational events organised by said body. Art. 7 The rank of member is contrary to any form of employment relationship whatsoever and to any other relationship of an equity content with the Association. Art. 8 The Association shall ensure the members punctual information regarding the associative activities. Art. 9 Admission to the rank of member is, as a rule, to be considered as accepted automatically. Members may only be excluded in the event of serious acts or criminal offences; the board of governors will decide with regard to expulsion, providing justification. The associates who have relinquished the title of member or who have been excluded for serious acts or criminal offences, may not withdraw the contributions paid over, nor shall they be entitled in any way to the equity or assets of the Association. BODIES OF THE ASSOCIATION Art. 10 The
following are associative bodies: All the offices are elective and without remuneration. GENERAL MEETINGS Art. 11 General
Meetings comprise the ordinary members, the "ad honorem"
members and the honorary Chairmen. Art. 12 Ordinary
Meetings are called by the Chairman at least once a year. Such meetings: Art. 13 Extraordinary meetings are called by the Chairman, as and when such convocation is deemed necessary by the board of governors, or when specific and justified request has been made by at least one third of the members, who must be up-to-date with their fees. Art. 14 Meetings are called via straight-forward letter sent to all ordinary members, the members of the board of governors, the "ad honorem" members, the honorary Chairmen and the auditors. Convocation of the meeting must be sent at least twenty days before the date set for the meeting; the notice of calling must indicate the place, date and time of the meeting in both first and second calling, as well as a list of the matters on the agenda. Art. 15 Meetings are held in conjunction with the A.I.STOM. (Italian "Stomizzati" Association), and are chaired by a member elected by the meeting. Art. 16 Individuals
sensitive to the respective matters may attend meetings, but only new
members enrolled for the first time and members up-to-date with their
annual membership fees, with at least two years of fee payment, have the
right to vote. Each member may represent not more than five written
proxies; the Chairman shall verify the regularity of said proxies. Art. 17 Meetings held in first calling are validly constituted if an absolute majority of members is present; quorum requirements for meetings held in second calling are met whatever the number of members present. Art. 18 Voting at meetings will take place by show of hands, or by roll-call or secret ballot, should the members so request. For matters concerning individuals, voting will take place by secret ballot. The members of the board of governors will not be entitled to vote with regard to the passing of resolutions concerning their powers. Each resolution of the meeting will be deemed valid if voted for by an absolute majority of the members present. BOARD OF GOVERNORS Art. 19 The board of governors elected by the ordinary members' meeting is made up of eleven governors. It must involve all the categories concerned with the problem (incontinence suffers and socio-health workers) and comprises three categories of member: five incontinence suffers, three doctors and three nursing staff, all expert in the sector. The board of governors may co-opt members from among the various categories of member and let them participate in their meetings, even though they have no right to vote. Art. 20 The governors making up the board shall remain in office for five years and may be re-appointed. The board of governors shall appoint a Chairman, a Deputy Chairman and a Secretary/Treasurer, the "ad honorem" members and the two honorary Chairmen from among its members. The Chairman elected must be an incontinence sufferer. Art. 21 The board of governors is called by the Chairman, as and when deemed necessary, and nevertheless at least twice a year in ordinary session. The meetings of the board of governors are chaired by the Chairman, or in his/her absence, by the Deputy Chairman, and if the latter is unavailable, by the most senior governor. Art. 22 Meetings of the board of governors are validly constituted when half plus one of the governors in office are present. The passing of resolutions requires the majority vote of those present. Art. 23 The board of governors oversees the progress and general policy of the Association, establishing the work program for each fiscal year to be submitted for the approval of the general meeting of members; taking care of the ordinary business of the Association; preparing the draft and final accounts and submitting them before the general meeting each year; and resolving, in serious cases, with regard to expulsion, providing justification. Art. 24 The Chairman shall be the legal representative of the Association before third parties and any legal authority, with the faculty to appoint legal counsel. If the Chairman is absent or unavailable, his/her place will be taken by the Deputy Chairman, in the manner and under the terms prescribed by law. SECRETARY/TREASURER Art. 25 The Secretary-Treasurer draws up and keeps the members' register up-to-date; deals with any correspondence; organises the meetings of the board of governors and the general meetings of the members, drawing up the related minutes; countersigns the minutes of the meetings; and supervises the administrative and financial activities of the Association. In his/her capacity as treasurer he/she is delegated by the Chairman with regard to the ordinary business of the Association and in particular with regard to the management of special funds, with the power to collect amounts or other instruments of value; to make authorised payments; to issue receipts; and to handle banking transactions (credit and debit) authorised in advance by the board of governors. Since the Association is a direct expression of the A.I.STOM. and given that they have common objectives, in order to acquit tax and treasury-related duties/charges, the Association's auditors must correspond with the auditors of A.I.STOM.. The Association must also avail of A.I.STOM.'s fiscal instruments, in particular the tax code, VAT No., invoicing, VAT refunds, secretarial staff, decentralised suburban offices, etc., etc...., safeguarding in any event the principle of management independence. ASSETS AND BUSINESS YEAR Art. 26 The
assets and equity of the Association comprise: FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Art. 27 The financial year commences on the first of January of each year and closes on the thirty-first of December of said year. The associate financial statements or annual accounts are approved by the general meeting of members, together with the annual accounts of the A.I.STOM.. The Association, in line with the A.I.STOM. annual accounts, draws up standard draft and final financial statements which must illustrate the assets, contributions and bequests received. The financial statements are drawn up by the secretary/treasurer, - in line with the secretary/financial statements of the A.I.STOM., - who keeps the accounting books and presents them to the board of governors; said books are submitted for approval by the manifest vote of a simple majority of the members convened in joint meeting FINCO/A.I.STOM., provided that said members are up-to-date with their membership fees. RUNNING OF THE ASSOCIATION Art. 28 The running of the Association must follow from the co-ordinated action of the board of governors, the chairmanship, and the associative secretaryship together with the national secretaryship A.I.STOM.. Art. 29 The funds available to the Association are managed and administered by the board of governors, in line with the A.I.STOM. accounts and financial statements. The respective income and expenditure are recorded in the accounting books, duly kept by the secretary/treasurer of the Association and of the A.I.STOM.. DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION Art. 30 In the event that the Association is wound-up, the assets will be assigned to the A.I.STOM.. Art. 31 All matters not anticipated under this Statute will be regulated by the provisions of the Italian Civil Code, Law 266/91 (voluntary services), Decree Law 460/97 (ONLUS) and subsequent amendments.
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