DSI by-laws

July 12, 2002 / updated February 2005

J.nr. 3699.23 [01.VED] /EP

§ 1 The Danish Council of Organizations of Disabled People (hereinafter referred to as “DSI”) was founded on April 5, 1934.

Section 2. DSI's domicile is at the address of the national secretariat.

§ 2 The purpose of DSI is to handle the common interests of the national member organizations, which work for the prevention of and fight against physical and mental disabilities caused by congenital defects, illness and accidents and the results ensuing from the same.

Section 2. DSI shall, through its organization, seek to promote the affiliated organizations' common interests pursuant to the guidelines stated by the Central Board.

Section 3. DSI will, after request, assist the member organizations in solving their tasks taking into consideration the annual action plan decided.

§ 3 DSI will only admit organizations whose purpose is in accordance with the DSI purpose. Furthermore, it is a prerequisite that the applicant organization has not less than 500 subscription paying members and has been in existence for 5 years.

The Central Board may, by a unanimous vote, make an exemption for the 500 subscription paying member prerequisite when special conditions can be substantiated.

Organizations which have a relationship to a DSI organization e.g. through bylaws or financially, may not be admitted as members.

Section 2. Organizations which organize well-defined smaller disability groups and which otherwise fulfill the rules with respect to membership, but due to the actual and potential number of members are unable to be admitted as member in DSI can obtain group membership. Organizations which are admitted as group members are granted the rights, as one organization, to vote together at DSI's Central Board (cf. §7, Section 3)

Group memberships are set up when not less than 5 organizations, as described above, make an application for same. Each organization which wishes a group membership must be approved by the Central Board. Organizations which participate in the group membership shall each pay 1/5 of the regular membership subscription.

Section 3. Until such time when the group membership can be established in accordance with Section 2 joined groups may be represented in the Central Board by one joint observer.

Section 4. Applications for admission shall be directed to the Executive Committee which shall present the issue of admission at the earliest Central Board meeting.

Section 5. Applicants who reintroduce an application for admission to DSI are entitled, after rejection, to have the application for admission treated on the fourth ordinary Central Board meeting.

§ 4 The by-laws of the affiliated organizations must contain a clear statement concerning the organization's field and special purpose.

Section 2. The affiliated organizations are obliged, once a year, to submit a report describing the organization's activities in the year lapsed, together with the organization's accounting which must be audited by a certified public accountant or registered public accountant.

Section 3. The Executive Committee may, when special circumstances are present waive the requirement set forth in Section 2.

§ 5 In the event that an organization wishes to withdraw from DSI then such withdrawal shall occur by way of a registered letter with not less than six months notice prior to the expiration of a fiscal year.

Section 2. In the event of a withdrawal of a group member resulting in the number of participants in the group membership to be under 5 then the group membership will lose its representation on the Central Board but will be entitled to one observer.

Section 3. Withdrawn and excluded organizations shall not be entitled to any part of DSI's capital.

§ 6 The exclusion of an organization can occur in the event that the organization in question does not fulfill the obligations incumbent upon it according to the by-laws of DSI, it obstructs the purpose of DSI or sets aside the decisions made by DSI.

The issue of exclusion shall be determined by the Central Board pursuant to a submission by the Executive Committee. The organization shall, in advance, be entitled to present its remarks/objections in writing.

Section 2. The member organizations of DSI shall, not later than one month prior to the Central Board meeting where the issue of exclusion is to be treated, be notified of same with a statement regarding the background for the exclusion and any remarks/objections by the organization at issue.

Section 3. In the event that the exclusion concerns one participant of a group membership then the remaining members of the group will maintain its representations on the Central Board.

THE CENTRAL BOARD

§ 7 The highest authority of the Danish Council of Organizations of Disabled People is the Central Board. The Central Board lays down the overall policy of the Danish Council of Organizations of Disabled People.

The Central Board shall be responsible for the Danish Council of Organizations of Disabled People's activities taking place in accordance with the existing by-laws.

Section 2. The Central Board shall consist of the affiliated organizations, group members, county branches and DSI-Youth. The members of the Central Board may each have one representative who is entitled to vote at the Central Board meetings.

The representatives entitled to vote and who represent the organizations and group members will each have the possibility of bringing along one observer to the Central Board meetings.

Section 3. When voting at the Central Board the representatives entitled to vote, representing organizations and group members shall each be entitled to two votes, while DSI-Youth and the county branches shall be entitled to one vote.

Section 4. There shall be no vote by proxy.

Section 5. The members of the Executive Committee shall participate at the Central Board meeting without a right to vote.

Section 6. Observers shall be entitled to speak at the Central Board meetings.

Section 7. The Central Board shall elect one chairman and two Executive Board members at the ordinary Central Board meeting in April/May during even numbered years and one vice chairman and two members of the Executive Committee in April/May during odd numbered years.

Section 8. The Central Board entitled to set up special committees with described mandates and timeframes.

Section 9. The chairman, the vice-chairman and the Executive committee are elected for two-year periods. Re-election can take place.

In the event that a member of the Executive Committee retires prior to the expiration of the electoral period, the Central Board shall at the earliest upcoming ordinary meeting elect an alternate representative for the remaining electoral period.

The chairman, vice chairman and Executive Committee candidates shall be nominated by the organization, group, county branch or DSI-Youth where the candidate belongs in DSI. Nominations of the candidates, shall be in writing, and shall be directed to the DSI secretariat not later than 21 days prior to the Central Board meeting.

The Central Board shall be informed in writing, not later than 14 days prior to the Central Board meeting, of the incoming nominations for candidacy.

In the event that an insufficient number of candidates have been nominated then nominations for vacancies can take place at the Central Board meeting.

Section 10. The Central Board members may, in writing, nominate candidates to the standing committees.

Section 11. All members of the Central Board shall be equal participants during the Central Board negotiations, except when such negotiations concern organization subsidies, allocation agreements and the setting of fees where only the organizations and the group members are entitled to vote.

Section 12. The Central Board can elect a chairperson who is not a member of same.

Section 13. The Central Board shall lay down a set of rules for its activities.

Section 14. The Central Committee shall lay down the guidelines for the selection of the DSI representatives to councils, boards, etc.

§ 8 The Central Board shall hold one ordinary meeting each year in the months of April/May.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall be empowered to extraordinarily summon the Central Board as often as necessary.

Section 3. Not less than three members of the Central board may, in writing, demand a summon to an extraordinary Central Board. The desired agenda shall be stated at such time.

Section 4. It is the responsibility of the Executive Committee that the extraordinary Central Board meetings are held no later than 42 days after receipt of the request.

§ 9 All ordinary Central Board meetings shall be summoned with not less than 42 days notice. The agenda with all attachment dispatched with not less than 14 days notice.

Section 2. At the ordinary meeting:

Executive committee shall take place

Section 3. Minutes shall be taken at the Central Board Meeting and shall, within one month, be sent to the Central Board.

§ 10 The Central Board shall form a quorum when half of the possible number of voters are present.

Section 2. Decisions can be made by a simple majority, except for voting regarding amendments to the by-laws and dissolution.

Section 3. In the event that there are more candidates than vacancies then the voting shall be by a written ballot.

§ 11 The Executive Committee shall be responsible for DSI's activities between Central Board meetings.

Section 2. The Executive Committee shall consist of a chairman, a vice-chairman and 4 members elected by the Central Board.

Section 3. The chairman shall be entitled to speak for the Danish Council of Organizations of Disabled People politically. Other members of the Executive Committee are entitled to speak about the politics laid down by the Danish Council of Organizations of Disabled People.

Section 4. The chairman shall summon the Executive Committee as often as he deems it necessary or when not less than two members of the Executive Committee make a written request for same.

Section 5. The Executive Committee determines the agenda for its activities.

Section 6. Each private member shall be pointed out by the Executive Committee to hold a seat in at least one of the standing committees.

Section 7. At its first meeting after the Central Board meeting in even-numbered years the Executive Committee shall furthermore point out 4-6 members to the standing committees. The Executive committee shall select a chairman for each committee.

Section 8. In case the elected vice chairman retire from the Executive Committee during the election period, the Executive Committee shall appoint a temporary vice chairman from among themselves. The constitution shall be in force until the next ordinary Central Board meeting.

Section 9. The Executive Committee shall draft the mandates, together with business procedures, and shall approve action plans for the standing committees.

Section 10. The Executive Committee may appoint special committees with described mandates and time frames.

Section 11. The Executive Committee shall prepare:

Section 12. At the end of each year the Executive Committee implements a budget proposal for the year to come. The proposal is sent to the member organizations and the county branches for written annotation. Hereinafter, the final budget is approved by the Executive Committee before end of the year. After approval the budget is sent to the member organizations and the county branches for information.

Section 13. The Executive Committee shall be entitled to hire and dismiss the director of DSI.

Section 14. The Executive Committee shall determine the guidelines for the tasks to be performed by the director of DSI.

Section 15. The Executive Committee shall determine the fees to be paid to the chairman, vice-chairman, and Executive Committee members temporarily attending to the duties of the chairman or the vice-chairman.

Section 16. Minutes of meeting of the Executive Committee shall be sent to the Central Board.

§ 12 In order to advise the Central Board and the Executive Committee the following standing committees are established:

Section 2. The duration of membership in a standing committee is 2 years.

Section 3. The membership in a standing committee is personal. Reappointment may take place.

Section 4. The standing committees are appointed subsequent to the ordinary Central Board meetings during the months of April/May in even-numbered years.

Section 5. Members of the standing committees are entitled to speak about the politics laid down by the Danish Council of Organizations of Disabled People within the specific field of the standing committee.

Section 6. The standing committees shall, not later than 6 months after appointment, send an action plan to the Executive Committee for approval.

Section 7. Each of the standing committees shall each year hold at least one seminar.

§ 13 In order to conduct the tasks of the Danish Council of Organizations of Disabled People 15 county branches shall be established. The municipalities of Copenhagen and Frederiksberg shall be covered by one branch. The county branches may each, in their own area, establish local departments. The county branches may decide to appoint a contact person who will function as an intermediary between and in a municipality.

Section 2. The standard by-laws determined by the Central Board shall apply to the county branches.

§ 14 In addition to the funds which may be obtained from third parties, DSI's operations is ensured by a yearly subscription and, if necessary, supplemental contributions from the affiliated member organizations.

Section 2. The Executive Committee is authorized to grant either a reduction or an exemption of fees for the member organizations and for group members after an individual assessment of the need for same. The decisions in such cases may be brought for final determination to the Central Board.

§ 15 The chairman and one member of the Executive Committee, or in the absence of the chairman, the vice-chairman and one member of the Executive Committee, may be binding signatories on behalf of DSI.

Section 2. DSI may purchase or sell real estate only subsequent to approval by the Central Board.

Section 3. The administrative leader of DSI shall take care of, under the supervision of the leadership of the chairman, the day-to-day running of the administration viz-a-vie politics, economy and the employees. This will be regulated via the guidelines determined for the tasks of the administrative leader.

Section 4. The Executive Committee can authorize to procuration.

§ 16 DSI's fiscal year shall follow the calendar year.

Section 2. The accounting shall be audited by a certified public accountant or registered public accountant selected by the Central Board.

§ 17 Proposal for amendments of the by-laws shall reach the DSI secretariat not later than 90 days prior to the ordinary Central Board meeting where the proposal is requested to be discussed. Proposals received shall be sent by DSI to the members of the Central Board not later than 60 days prior to the Central Board meeting.

Section 2. Adoptions of amendments to the by-laws can only occur when not less than 2/3 of the Central Board voters then present cast their vote in favor.

§ 18 Proposals for the dissolution of DSI shall be submitted and treated pursuant to the rules applicable to amendment to the by-laws.

Section 2. A decision to dissolve can only be passed when not less than 2/3 of the Central Board voters then present cast their vote in favor.

In the event that such a majority can not be achieved then the Central Board may, at the same meeting, decide that the proposal for dissolution shall be heard at a new Central Board meeting which shall be held within 60 days.

At the subsequent Central Board meeting a proposal for dissolution may be passed if not less than half of the Central Board voters then present cast their vote in favor.

Section 3. The equity shall, upon dissolution of DSI, be divided among the organization which are, at the time of dissolution, affiliated in proportion to the last two years subscription and contribution.

Passed at the DSI Central Board meeting on April 28, 1980 and in force from that date and revised and approved at the Central Board meetings on April 28, 1982, April 26, 1985, April 25, 1988, April 30, 1990, April 27, 1992 and April 15, 1996.

Passed at the DSI Central Board meeting on April 27, 1998 and in force from May 27, 1998.

Revised at the Central Board meeting on April 1999 (§17, Section 1) and April 27, 2000 (§13, Section 2).

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