Association
TransParents
Geneva

Legal form, purpose and headquarters

Art. 1
Under the name "Association TransParents Genève" a non-profit association is created, governed by the present statutes and by articles 60 and following of the Swiss Civil Code.
Its duration is unlimited.

Art. 2
The Association brings together parents and relatives of transgender*, non-binary or gender identity-seeking people.
The aim of the association is to raise awareness in the public opinion, the media and other public and private bodies on the subjects of transidentity and gender identity in a spirit of benevolence.
To achieve this goal, the association develops in particular:
- sharing relevant information on transidentity and gender identity;
- support for organizations and institutions with which it shares actions and objectives;
- any lawful activity conducive to achieving its purpose.

Art. 3
The Association is based in the Canton of Geneva.

Organization

Art. 4
The bodies of the Association are :
- the General Meeting ;
- the Committee ;
- the Auditors, as decided by the General Meeting.

Art. 5
The Association's resources are made up of ordinary or extraordinary membership fees, donations or legacies, income from the Association's activities and, where applicable, public subsidies.
The Association's financial year begins on January 1 and ends on December 31 of each year.
Its commitments are guaranteed by its assets, to the exclusion of any personal liability of its members.

Members

Art. 6
Membership is open to all persons who are relatives or close associates of transgender*, non-binary or gender identity-seeking persons, as well as organizations interested in achieving the objectives set out in Art. 2.

Art.7.
Members subscribe to the association's charter. They undertake to respect the confidentiality of information shared within the association and to respect the privacy of other members.

Art. 8
Applications for membership are addressed to the Committee. The Committee admits new members and informs the General Meeting.

Art. 9
Membership is lost :
a) by resignation. In all cases, the annual membership fee remains payable.
b) by expulsion, if a member is detrimental to the association and its image, reputation and interests. Repeated non-payment of membership fees will also result in expulsion.
Exclusion is decided by the Board. The member concerned may appeal against this decision to the General Meeting.

General Meeting

Art. 10
The General Meeting is the supreme authority of the Association. It comprises all members of the Association.

Art. 11
The powers of the General Meeting are as follows:
- adopts the agenda and approves the minutes of the last General Meeting.
- examines the reports, financial statements and budget and votes on their approval.
- discharges the Committee and the Auditors from their duties.
- appoints the members of the Committee and the Auditors.
- adopts and amends the Articles of Association.
- hears and deals with exclusion appeals.
- sets the annual membership fee.
- takes a stand on other projects on the agenda.
The General Meeting may take up any matter which it has not entrusted to another body.

Art. 12
The General Meeting is convened at least once a year by the Board.
The Committee may convene Extraordinary General Meetings as often as the need arises. The Extraordinary General Meeting may also be convened at the request of at least one-fifth of the Association's members.

Art. 13
Meetings are convened one month in advance by the Board. The notice is sent by post or e-mail and includes the agenda for the meeting.

Art. 14
The Committee is obliged to include on the agenda of the General Meeting (ordinary or extraordinary) any proposal from a member submitted by post or e-mail at least 10 calendar days in advance.

Art. 15
The meeting is chaired by the President of the Association or by another member proposed by the Committee.
The Secretary of the Association or another member of the Committee keeps the minutes of the Meeting, which he or she signs together with the person who chaired the Meeting.

Art. 16
Resolutions of the General Meeting are passed by a simple majority of votes cast, irrespective of abstentions or invalid ballots. In the event of a tie, the Chairman has the casting vote.
Decisions to amend the Articles of Association require a 2/3 majority of members present and represented.

Art. 17
Voting is by show of hands. At the request of at least 5 members, votes will be taken by secret ballot. Absent members may give a proxy to one of the Association's members. However, the representative member may not receive more than two proxies.

Committee

Art. 18
The Committee executes and implements the decisions of the General Meeting. It manages the Association and takes all necessary measures to ensure that the stated aims are achieved. The Committee decides on all matters not expressly reserved to the General Meeting.

Art. 19
The Committee consists of at least three members, appointed for two years by the General Meeting and eligible for re-election. At least one member of the Committee, with signing authority, is a Swiss citizen or citizen of an EU or EFTA member state and resident in Switzerland.

Art. 20
The Committee constitutes itself. Decisions are taken by written or electronic means, provided that no Committee member requests oral deliberation. In the absence of consent, decisions are taken by a simple majority of the members present.

Art. 21
In the event of a vacancy during its term of office, the Committee may co-opt new members until the next General Meeting.

Art. 22
The Association is validly bound by the collective signature of two members of the Committee.

Art. 23
The Committee is responsible for :
- taking all necessary measures to achieve the Association's objectives;
- convening ordinary and extraordinary general meetings;
- deciding on the admission and exclusion of members;
- ensuring compliance with the Articles of Association, drafting by-laws and administering the Association's assets.
- to keep the Association's accounts.

Art. 24
The Committee hires (dismisses) the Association's salaried and volunteer staff. It may entrust any person within or outside the Association with a mandate of limited duration.
Members of the Association Committee work on a voluntary basis, subject to reimbursement of their actual expenses.

Control body

Art. 25
The Auditors audit the Association's financial management and present a report to the General Meeting. It is appointed by the General Meeting from outside the Committee.

Dissolution

Art. 26
The dissolution of the Association is decided by the General Meeting by a two-thirds majority of members present and represented. It must be mentioned in the notice convening the meeting. Any assets will be allocated to an organization with similar aims.