Charter and Bylaws

As of March 14, 2021

I Name, registered office and purpose

Art. 1 Name and registered office

1. Under the name “Urban Sketchers Switzerland (USkS),” there is an association within the meaning of Art. 60ff of the Swiss Civil Code.

2. Its registered office is located at the secretariat.

Art. 2 Purpose

1. Urban Sketchers (USk) is an international movement dedicated to drawing on location and from direct observation. Due to its artistic, narrative, and educational value, the association “Urban Sketchers Switzerland” promotes the Urban Sketchers movement in Switzerland and connects Urban Sketchers active in Switzerland. The association works with similar initiatives in other countries and with the international non-profit organization Urban Sketchers.

2. The association promotes and coordinates the formation of regional and local Urban Sketchers groups and supports their exchange.

3. The association initiates and organizes national meetings and events for Urban Sketchers.

II Membership

Art. 3 Membership

Members of the association can be either natural persons or legal entities. The former are active urban sketchers who practice their craft in accordance with the goals and methods of Urban Sketchers. The latter are institutions that act as sponsors and supporters of the association.

Article 4 Accession

Applications for admission must be submitted in writing or electronically to the secretariat.

Art. 5 Resignation/termination of membership

1. A member may resign by submitting a written or electronic resignation notice to the secretariat at the end of the calendar year.

2. Membership shall expire if the membership fee has not been paid despite two reminders.

Art. 6 Exclusion

If a member damages the interests of the association or is guilty of unlawful conduct, the executive committee may decide to expel them at the end of the year, stating the reasons for doing so. The member will be notified of their expulsion in writing or by email. The member may appeal against this decision within one month at the annual general meeting. The expulsion becomes legally binding if a majority at the next annual general meeting approves it.

III Organization

Art. 7 Governing bodies

The bodies of the association are:

The Annual General Meeting
The Executive Committee
The auditors

III a Annual General Meeting

Art. 8 Annual General Meeting

The ordinary annual meeting takes place once a year in the second quarter of the year before or after a national sketch crawl at different locations. Members are invited to the annual meeting at least three weeks in advance by email with an agenda. An extraordinary annual meeting shall be convened by the Executive Committee as required, or if requested by at least one-fifth of the members. The invitation must be sent by email by the Executive Committee at least three weeks in advance, enclosing the agenda. Motions from members for the annual meeting must be sent by email to the Secretariat at least four weeks before the meeting.

Art. 9 Tasks of the Annual General Meeting

1. Approval of: Annual report, minutes, association accounts and audit report

2. Approval of the budget and the proposal regarding the annual membership fee Information

3. Discussion about planned events

4. Amendment of the Articles of Association

5. Discharge of the Executive Committee and the auditors

6. Election of the Executive Committee and the auditors

7. Dissolution of the association

Art. 10 Chairmanship of the Annual General Meeting

The annual meeting shall be chaired by the chairperson or another member of the executive committee.

Art. 11 Voting rights at the Annual General Meeting

All members of the association present have the right to vote.

Art. 12 Quorum for the Annual General Meeting

Resolutions of the Annual General Meeting shall be passed by open vote with a simple majority. Voting shall only be by secret ballot if expressly requested by the majority of members present. In the event of a tie, the Presidium shall have the casting vote. Amendments to the Articles of Association require a two-thirds majority of the members present.

III–b Executive Board

Art. 13 Composition, term of office

1. The Executive Committee consists of at least 3 to 7 members who are confirmed or elected by the Annual General Meeting for a minimum term of two years. The members of the Executive Committee represent the regional groups of Urban Sketchers.

2. The organs of the Executive Committee (Presidium and Secretariat) can each be taken over by two members. T

3. The Executive Committee constitutes itself and determines the Presidium, the Secretariat and the other areas of responsibility from among its members.

4.If a member of the Executive Committee resigns during their term of office, the Executive Committee decides on a temporary solution until the next Annual General Meeting.

5.The Executive Committee informs the members about its composition, division of labour and planning in a newsletter.

Art. 14 Convening

The Executive Committee is usually convened two to three times a year, or as required by the Presidium or at the request of a member of the Executive Committee.

Art. 15 Powers and duties

1. Planning and preparation of Swiss Urban Sketcher meetings, in particular the Swiss USK Symposium

2. Preparation and convening of the annual general meeting

3. Proposal for the auditors

4. Election of the chair, the secretariat and other areas of responsibility

5. Public relations, preparation of the newsletter, the annual report and the association’s annual financial statements for the annual general meeting

6. Expenditure within the budget

7. Two members of the executive committee are authorised to sign.

Art. 16 Resolutions

The Executive Board shall pass its resolutions by a simple majority of the votes cast. In the event of a tie, the Presidium shall have the casting vote.

III c Auditors

Art. 17 Election and duties

1. The auditors consist of two members and are elected/confirmed every two to three years.

2. The auditors must audit the annual financial statements after their completion in accordance with legal and internal requirements and submit a written report on this to the annual general meeting.

Art. 18 Association year

The association’s accounts are closed on 31 December of each year.

IV Finance

Art. 19 Income of the Association

The association is financed by membership fees, surplus income from events, and contributions from patrons and sponsors.

Art. 20 Compensation

The areas of responsibility of the Executive Board are compensated on a flat-rate basis. The type and amount of compensation is proposed by the Executive Board and decided upon in the budget at the Annual General Meeting.

V Liability

Art. 21 Liability

The association’s liabilities are covered exclusively by the association’s assets (Art. 75a of the Swiss Civil Code).

Art. 22 Dissolution of the Association

1. Upon written request, the annual general meeting may decide to dissolve the association; this requires a two-thirds majority of the votes of the members present to decide on this motion.

2. Any assets of the association shall be transferred to an association with similar objectives upon its dissolution.

VI Final provisions

Art. 23 Entry into force

These Articles of Association were approved by the first Annual General Meeting on Sunday, 14 March 2021 and shall enter into force in accordance with the decisions of this meeting.

Location: Schöfflisdorf, 14 March 2021

Verein Urban Sketchers Schweiz