Statutes
The Statutes constitute the foundational legal and regulatory framework of our organization. This section contains the core rules, governance structures, rights, and duties that guide our operations, decision-making processes, and organizational objectives.
| DESIGNATION, HEADQUARTERS & AIMS | |
| Article 1 | In April 1974 within the framework of the CERN Staff Association and in conformity with articles 60 and 61 of the Swiss Civil Code a Club was created under the name of “Club des Cernoises – Cern Women’s Club”. After a vote presented at the General Assembly of 14th May 2013, the name of the Club was modified to “Club des Cernois/es – Cern WoMen’s Club”, in order to include in the Club all members, with no gender distinction. At the Annual General Meeting of 16th May, 2017, it was voted to change the name of the Club to “Club de Bienvenue au CERN – CERN Welcome Club” to comply with the CERN policy of avoiding reference to gender or other identity in the names of its clubs. |
| Article 2 | The Club year begins on 1 September and finishes on 31 August the following year. |
| Article 3 | The aim of the Club is: 1. to bring together the families of the CERN members and to help them settle into their new environment; 2. to organise such activities as will further this aim. |
| Article 4 | The Club is non-profit-making, non-political, and non-religious. |
| Article 5 | The registered office is the same as that of CERN. |
| MEMBERS | |
| Article 6 | All eligible persons having paid a subscription are members of the Club. Persons eligible for membership: 1. Members of CERN personnel, Users, Associates and their families; 2. Contractors working on the CERN site and their families; 3. Friends and supporters of the Club. |
| COMMITTEE | |
| Article 7 | The Committee is composed of Club members. Their mandate is for one year and is renewable. |
| Article 8 | 1. The Steering Committee consists of the President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and two other Club members. 2. The enlarged committee consists of the Steering Committee, the heads of the different sections of the Club and persons liaising with CERN. |
| Article 9 | Committee decisions are valid if there are at least 6 members present. |
| Article 10 | In the event of vacancy, the Committee may fill it pending the next Annual General Meeting. |
| ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING | |
| Article 11 | The Annual General Meeting is constituted by the meeting of Club members. It meets once a year during the last term of the Club year. |
| Article 12 | To be valid, the Meeting must be attended by at least 20 Club members. |
| Article 13 | The General Meeting: 1. conducts a secret ballot for the election of the President; 2. approves the reports on the running of the Club by the Secretary and the Treasurer; 3. fixes following the suggestion of the committee, the cost of the annual subscription. |
| Article 14 | The Annual General Meeting must be called at least 15 days in advance. |
| Article 15 | To be included in the agenda, all propositions must be sent to the Secretary at least 8 days before the Meeting. |
| Article 16 | A General Meeting can be called by the Committee or at the request of at least 10 members. In this case, it will be convened in the month following the request. |
| FINANCES | |
| Article 17 | The Club’s financial resources consist of: 1. membership fees; 2. gifts, subsidies and other income. |
| Article 18 | The cost of the annual subscription is fixed by the Annual General Meeting on the recommendation of the Committee. |
| Article 19 | The Treasurer will present a detailed financial report to the Annual General Meeting. |
| Article 20 | The Meeting chooses two auditors and appoints them for one year, open to reelection. |
| Article 21 | The auditors must verify the accounts presented by the Treasurer to the General Meeting. The Treasurer must present a balance sheet signed and approved by the auditors. |
| STATUTES | |
| Article 22 | The statutes of the Club can be modified only at the recommendation of the Committee or of a tenth of the Club membership. |
| Article 23 | A decision on the modification of the statutes can be made by a majority of the members either present, or represented, at the Annual General Meeting. |
| RESPONSIBILITY | |
| Article 24 | All personal liability of Club members is excluded, the Club’s commitments being guaranteed by its own financial resources. |
| Article 25 | The Club has its own civil liability insurance. The Club is in no way responsible for damage caused by its members to third parties. |
| DISSOLUTION | |
| Article 26 | The dissolution of the Club can be proposed only by the Committee. It is decided by the General Meeting. |
| Article 27 | In case of dissolution, the assets of the Club will be transferred to the funds of the CERN Staff Association, after sale to the highest bidder. |