I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

Art. 1. The name of the association shall be BULGARIAN CHOIR UNION, referred to hereinafter for brevity as “the association”.

Art. 2. The principal office of the association shall be in the city of Sofia, Sredets Municipality, 2, Ivan Vazov St.

Art. 3. The BULGARIAN CHOIR UNION shall be a legal entity, a non-profit association carrying out activities for private benefit.

Art. 4. /1/ The association’s scope of activities shall comprise carrying out musical and educational activities, organizing artistic and creative events in this country and abroad, popularizing the choral works of Bulgarian composers and of international choral works, creative activities towards the artistic development of choral collectives and of individual performers, organizing and holding of educational courses, competitions, festivals and fairs.

/2/ The association’s motto shall be A Native Song Links Us Forever.

II. AIMS, ACTIVITIES, AND PRIORITIES OF THE ASSOCIATION

Art. 5. The aims of the association shall be:

1. to protect the interests of the association’s members – professionals in the field of choral art;

2. to carry out musical, educational and choral activities;

3. to create conditions for the development of creative works by young intellectuals;

4. to assist students, researchers, teachers, intellectuals and other fans of choir singing from Sofia and other parts of the country in their activities in the field of choral art.

5. to establish and develop further contacts of the association with other similar organizations in this country and abroad;

6. to organize concerts, competitions and other cultural events related to the choral art.

Art. 6. /1/ The association shall cooperate with other non-governmental organizations with similar aims, activities and priorities.

/2/ The association shall assist in the implementation of other programs in the non-governmental sector that correspond to its aims and priorities.

Art. 7. /1/ The association may not be involved with political organizations.

/2/ The members of the association’s managing bodies, as well as its members, may not use the association to further the interests of other non-governmental organization, as well as of political and business organizations.

/3/ In its activities, the association shall be governed by the law of Republic of Bulgaria and by the provisions of the present Articles of Association.

III. PROPERTY OF THE ASSOCIATION

Art. 8. The property of the association shall consist of rights over bank deposits in levs and foreign currency, securities, right of property and other material rights over immovable property, rights over objects of intellectual property.

Art. 9. The association shall acquire property by means of :

1. membership fee collected from the association’s members at an amount established by the Congress upon the recommendation of the Managing Board;

2. donations by and wills of Bulgarian and foreign natural and legal persons;

3. management of the property owned;

4. revenues from business activities related to the association’s scope of activities and in accordance with the association’s aims.

5. other activities carried out in accordance with the law of Republic of Bulgaria.

Art. 10. /1/ The association shall accept donations and wills under conditions and obligations, provided the condition or obligation is not in contradiction with the association’s aims and/or the present Articles of Association, or their acceptance would not harm the association’s good reputation.

/2/ the manner of acceptance of donations and wills under conditions or obligations shall be laid down in the Internal Regulations.

Art. 11. /1/ The association may by a resolution of the Congress grant financial support to non-governmental organizations.

/2/ The association’s property may not be used to assist the activities of political parties or business organizations.

Art. 12. /1/ The association shall keep financial and accounting records in accordance with the financial and accounting legislation of Republic of Bulgaria.

/2/ The conditions and order of internal control shall be established in Internal Regulations upon a recommendation by the Congress.

IV. MEMBERSHIP, RIGHTS AND OBLIGATIONS

Art. 13. Membership in the association shall be collective and individual.

Art. 14. /1/ Individual member of the association may be any able person who shares the association’s ideals, has expressed his/her wish for membership in a written application to the Managing Board, and accepts the present Articles of Association.

/2/ The association’s members shall participate in choir collectives which shall be organized on a professional or territorial principle.

/3/ a choir collective shall be accepted as a collective member of the Bulgarian Choir Union upon presentation before the Managing Board of a formal decision of the said choir collective expressing its wish to become a member of the association.

/4/ The members of a choir collective admitted as a collective member in the association shall become members of the association without having to submit individual applications for membership.

/5/ The membership in association shall be acknowledged by means of a membership card.

Art. 15. /1/ The members of the association shall be full /main/, complementary and honorary.

/2/ Full members of the association shall be the members of choir collectives admitted as members of the association, the members of the Managing Board and the members of the Supervising Board.

/3/ Complementary members may be former choir singers who wish to become members of the association, as well as all followers of the Bulgarian Choir Union who are willing to further the cause of development of choir activities.

/4/ Honorary members of the association may be both members and non-members of the association who have particular merits and have contributed substantially to the implementation of the association’s aims and tasks. The title of honorary member shall be awarded by a resolution of the Congress upon recommendation by the Managing Board.

Art. 16 All full members of the Association shall have the right:

1. to participate in the association’s Congress;

2. to elect and be elected in the association’s managing bodies;

3. to obtain information on the activities of the association’s managing bodies;

4. to participate in concerts, and in the musical, educational, performing and other creative activities organized by the association.

Art. 17. All members of the association shall have the obligation:

1. to adhere to the present Articles of Association;

2. to participate in the activities and in the implementation of the decisions of the association’s managing bodies;

3. to promote the association’s prestige;

4. to assist in the fulfillment of the association’s aims;

5. not to harm by his/her actions the association’s good reputation and prestige.

Art. 18. Membership in the association shall be terminated:

1. by a written application to the Managing Board;

2. upon the death or placement under judicial disability of the association’s member;

3. in case of expulsion;

4. upon failure to pay the membership fee and systematic failure to participate in the

 association’s activities;

5. upon systematic failure to participate in the association’s activities;

6. upon termination of the association.

Art. 19. /1/ A member of the association may be expelled by a decision of the Managing Board in the cases of:

1. gross violation of obligations under the present Articles of Association;

2. violation of the law or immoral activities incompatible with the association’s aims;

3. bringing injury to the association’s prestige;

/2/ the decision for expulsion may be appealed not later than at the next Congress following the Managing Board’s decision.

Art. 20. A full member of the association shall not have right of vote when issues are decided pertaining to:

1. him/herself, his/her spouse, relatives in direct kinship – without limitation, relatives in collateral kinship – up to fourth degree, and relatives in kinship by marriage, up to second degree;

2. legal entities where he/she is a member of a managing body, or can impose or prevent the making of a decision;

Art. 21. Each full member of the association shall have the right of one vote in the association’s Congress.

V. GENERAL RULES CONCERNING THE ASSOCIATION’S MANAGING BODIES

Art. 22. The association’s managing bodies shall be:

1. the Congress;

2. the Managing Board;

3. the Executive Bureau;

4. the Supervising Board;

5. the Chairman of the Association.

Art. 23. Persons may not participate in the association’s managing bodies who:

1. participate in the leadership of political parties;

2. have been convicted for a premeditated offence, except when exculpated;

3. participate in the leadership of similar artistic and creative associations.

Art. 24. /1/ The term of office of the members of the Managing Board, the Supervising Board and of the Chairman of the association shall be three years.

/2/ The persons listed in paragraph /1/ above may not be elected for more than two consecutive terms of office.

Art. 25. The terms of office of a member of the Managing Board, the Supervising Board and of the Chairman shall be terminated upon:

1. expiration of the term as per Art. 24. /1/;

2. resignation by own wish expressed in writing before the Managing Board;

3. loss of physical or mental ability;

4. effective failure to fulfill, or effective impossibility to fulfill his/her obligations as member of the respective body for a period of six months;

5. incompatibility in the meaning of Art. 23.

Art. 26. /1/ The meetings of the association’s collective bodies shall be considered valid when more than one half of the respective body’s members are present.

/2/ In the cases when the necessary number of members fail to attend, the meeting shall be postponed by one hour with the same agenda;

/3/ In the case when the necessary number of members fail to attend as per the above paragraph, the meeting shall be considered valid regardless of the number of members present, provided that all members of the respective body have been regularly summoned.

Art. 27. The association’s bodies shall make their decisions by simple majority of the present members of the respective body.

Art. 28. Minutes shall be kept at the meetings of the association’s bodies, which shall be signed by the respective body’s chairman and by the minutes keeper.

VI. ASSOCIATION’S CONGRESS

Art. 29. /1/ The Congress shall be the association’s supreme body. All delegates chosen by the choir collectives – members of the association, shall participate in the Congress.

/2/ The choir collectives shall be established on a professional or territorial principle.

/3/ The rate of representation shall be determined by the association’s Congress.

Art. 30. /1/ The association’s Congress shall be held once every three years.

/2/ The Congress shall be convened and organized by the Managing Board.

/3/ Convention of a regular Congress and the draft agenda shall be announced at least three months before the date of the Congress.

/4/ Convention of an extraordinary Congress and the draft agenda shall be announced at least one month before the date of the extraordinary Congress.

Art. 31. Extraordinary Congresses may be convened:

1. upon a decision by the Managing Board;

2. upon the request of at least one third of the full members.

Art. 32. /1/ The delegates, chosen by the choir collectives, shall be notified by means of written notices sent at least one month before the date of the Congress; the notices shall indicate the venue, the agenda, the date and time, as well as on whose initiative the Congress is convened.

/2/ The notice shall be published in the State Gazette and shall be posted at the notice board in the premises of the association’s management at least one month before the date fixed.

Art. 33. The Congress shall be considered valid if it has been convened in the manner established and if more than one half of all delegates are present. If the necessary number of delegates fail to appear, opening the Congress shall be postponed by half an hour; after the expiration of the above period, the Congress shall be considered valid and held with the same agenda, regardless of the number of delegates present.

Art. 34. The association’s Congress shall:

1. establish the amount of membership fee;

2. complement or amend the Articles of Association;

3. establish the number of, and elect and discharge by secrete vote, the members of the Managing and Supervising Boards, elect and discharge the Chairman of the association, as well as the manager of the association’s publishing activities.

4. accept the report for the activities of the association’s managing bodies;

5. make decisions concerning the transformation or termination of the association.

Art. 35. The Congress’ decision shall be made by simple majority; however, amendments to the Articles of Association, and transformation or termination of the association shall necessitate a majority of two thirds of the delegates.

Art. 36. /1/ At the Congress’ sessions, each delegate shall have one vote.

/2/ One person may not represent more than three delegates at the Congress when authorized on the basis of written powers of attorney.

/3/ Re-authorization shall not be allowed.

VI. MANAGING BOARD

Art. 37. /1/ The Managing Boards shall comprise 3 to 17 persons, including its Chairman.

/2/ The Managing Board shall be elected for a term of three years.

/3/ Changes in the Managing Board may be done only by the association’s Congress.

Art. 38. The Managing Board shall:

1. organize the implementation of the Congress’ decisions;

2. adopt and execute the association’s budget;

3. keep and manage the association’s property;

4. run the day-to-day activities of the association, support and assist the association’s members within the framework of its competency;

5. determine the paid positions in the associations, the amount of the remunerations, the content and conditions of the contracts concluded between the association and other natural or legal persons;

6. allocate the duties of the association’s operational management among its members and delegate the authority necessary for carrying out the activities.

7. confirm the new members of the association;

8. make decisions concerning termination of membership in the association;

9. propose to the Congress the names of the association’s honorary members;

10. prepare and submit to the Congress the report for the association’s activities;

11. establish the order and organize the implementation of the association’s activities and bear the respective responsibility;

12. elect by secret vote the other leading members of the Managing Board in accordance with the Congress’ decisions or upon recommendation by the Chairman of the association;

13. organize fairs, festivals, competitions, conferences and other events related to the choral art;

14. manage the association’s financial activities;

15. submit to the state institutions proposals for solving problems related to the choirs’ activities;

16. submit proposals and issue opinions to the relevant authorities for conferring state or public awards to individuals and collectives;

17. organize the association’s publishing activities;

18. manage the association’s international activities.

Art. 39. /1/ The Managing Board shall be called to session by its Chairman at least once every six months. Extraordinary sessions may be called by the Chairman or upon request by at least one third of its members.

/2/ The Managing Board shall report on its activities before the Congress.

Art. 40. The sessions of the Managing Board shall be considered valid if attended by more than one half of its members.

Art. 41. The Managing Board shall make decisions by simple majority of the number of its members.

VII. CHAIRMAN OF THE ASSOCIATION’S MANAGING BOARD

Art. 42. The Congress shall elect the Chairman of the association’s Managing Board for a mandate of three years.

Art. 43. The Chairman of the association’s Managing Board shall:

1. represent the association in the country and abroad;

2. manage the Managing Board’s activities;

3. make day-to-day decisions related to the association’s activities in accordance with the provisions of the present Articles of Association;

4. prepare and submit to the Managing Board the draft of the annual report for the association’s activities;

5. be in charge of the association’s pay-roll staff, as well as of the expert councils and other auxiliary bodies formed by decisions of the Managing Board.

VIII. EXECUTIVE BUREAU

Art. 44. /1/ The Executive Bureau shall manage the association’s day-to-day activities in the periods between the Managing Board’s sessions.

/2/ The Executive Bureau shall consist of seven members. These shall be the Chairman, the Deputy Chairman, the Executive Secretary and the four Secretaries of the association.

/3/ The Executive Bureau shall manage the association’s day-to-day activities in the periods between the Managing Board’s sessions. For this purpose, the Managing Board may delegate its authorities to the Executive Bureau, except those pursuant to Art. 34, points 2, 3, 7, 8, and 12.

/4/ The Executive Bureau shall operate in accordance with Regulations adopted by the Managing Board.

IX. SUPERVISING BOARD

Art. 45. The association’s Supervising Board shall consist of three members elected by secret vote by the Congress.

Art. 46, The Managing Board’s members and persons at positions of material responsibility in the association, as well as their relative in direct or collateral kinship up to fourth degree, may not be elected for membership in the Supervising Board.

Art. 47. At its first session, the Supervising Board shall elect a Chairman from among its members.

Art. 48. The Supervising Board shall:

1. exercise control over the lawful and efficient management and utilization of the association’s property in accordance with the Articles of Association, the Internal Regulations, and the decisions of the association’s managing bodies;

2. monitors the adherence to the principles of transparency, accountability and absence of conflicts of interest in the management and utilization of the association’s property;

3. in relation with exercising its activities, have the right to carry out audits of the association’s documentation and request written explanation from employees of the association;

4. carry out audits in the meaning of the above paragraphs at least once each year;

5. when necessary, request the convening of the Managing Board to discuss the findings of the audits carried out;

6. prepare and submit to the Congress an annual report for its activities.

Art. 49. /1/ The Supervising Board shall be called to session by its Chairman at least once every six months.

/2/ Two of the Supervising Board’s members may call a session in writing. The Chairman shall convene a session within two weeks from the date of the request; in the case of his/her failing to do so, the session shall be convened by those who have requested it.

/3/ The Supervising Board’s session shall be called by a written notice sent at least two weeks before the session. The notice shall include the date, time and venue of the session, the draft agenda, as well as the materials related to the session.

/4/ The session shall be presided by the Chairman of the Supervising Board, or by another of its members, appointed by the Chairman.

Art. 50. The Supervising Board’s session shall be considered valid if attended by all of its members.

Art. 51. The Supervising Boards shall make decisions by a majority of three thirds of its members.

X. PUBLISHING ACTIVITIES

Art. 52. The association shall publish its printed periodical – the Choral Cause magazine.

Art. 53. The association shall participate in the compilation of the Native Song library.

Art. 54. The association shall promote the publication of collections containing new choral works by Bulgarian and foreign composers and shall print on order individual scores and voices of choral works.

Art. 55. The association shall publish an Information Bulletin concerning past and future national and international events, competitions, festivals, conferences, etc.

Art. 56 The planning and implementation of the publishing activities shall be managed in accordance with Regulations adopted by the association’s Managing Board.

XI TERMINATION OF THE ASSOCIATION

Art. 57. The association’s activities shall be terminated by:

1. a decision of the Congress;

2. by a decision of a court of law, in accordance with the specific provisions of the law.

XII. INTERIM AND CONCLUDING PROVISIONS

§ 1. Cases not provided for by the present Articles of Association shall be settled by decisions of the Congress; in the periods between Congress’ sessions, these shall be settled by the Managing Board.

§ 2. The present Articles of Association shall be adopted pursuant to Chapters 1 and 2 of the Non-Profit Legal Entities Act.

§ 3. The association “Bulgarian Choir Union” shall have its own round seal bearing the inscription “Bulgarian Choir Union” 1990.

§ 4. The association shall not be limited in time.

§ 5. The association “Bulgarian Choir Union” shall carry on the tradition established by the Union of Folk Choirs in Bulgaria and of the Bulgarian Choral Union.

§ 6. The present Articles of Association have been adopted by the First Congress of the Bulgarian Choir Union, held on February 23, 1990, in the city of Sofia, and amended by the Fifth Congress of the Bulgarian Choir Union, held on October 28, 2000, in the city of Sofia.