Wikimedia Norge/Bylaws

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This is a translation of Wikimedia Norge/Vedtekter

BYLAWS FOR WIKIMEDIA NORGE

Adopted at the founding meeting, 23 June 2007
Updated at the general assembly, 21 June 2008

Contents 1 § 1 Introduction 2 § 2 Mission 3 § 3 Membership 4 § 4 General assembly 5 § 5 The board 6 § 6 Elections 7 § 7 Electoral committee 8 § 8 Amendments to the bylaws 9 § 9 Dissolution

[edit] § 1 Introduction

a) The name of the organisation shall be Wikimedia Norge, with the names Wikimedia Noreg and Wikimedia Norga having equal status.

b) Wikimedia Norge shall be a membership organisation.

c) Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk and Northern Sami shall have equal status within the organisation. The bylaws shall be published in four (4) languages and language forms – Norwegian Bokmål, Norwegian Nynorsk, Northern Sami and English – with the same content. The bylaws shall be translated from the Norwegian Bokmål version, which shall therefore be considered the original version.

[edit] § 2 Mission

a) The mission of Wikimedia Norge is to strengthen Wikimedia projects, particularly in the Norwegian and Sami languages, through:

1. the collection of economic resources through gifts and grants, and the distribution of these funds.
2. participating in coordinating cooperation between the projects, and cooperating with third parties where this can serve Wikimedia projects.
3. strengthening cooperation with Wikimedia projects in other Nordic countries.
4. promoting Wikimedia projects.
5. being a party of hearing in relation to authorities and organisations regarding copyright issues.

[edit] § 3 Membership

a) Membership is open to all who support the aims of the organisation.

b) An annual membership fee shall be decided by the general assembly.

c) The board can suspend membership of any member deemed to be damaging the work or reputation of Wikimedia Norge. All formal decisions on expulsion shall be taken at a general assembly, and appeals against such decisions shall be put to the general assembly. Suspended and expelled members do not have voting rights, as they are no longer considered members, and cannot hold positions of responsibility within Wikimedia Norge.

[edit] § 4 General assembly

a) The ordinary general assembly of Wikimedia Norge shall be held annually before the end of April. The board shall decide the time, procedure and venue for the assembly.

b) The general assembly shall be required to consider the following items:

1. The annual report and the audited accounts.
2. The budget and membership fee.
3. Items proposed.
4. Elections, as described in § 6.

c) The general assembly shall be announced on the organisation’s webpages no less than two (2) months in advance. Proposed items must have been received by the board no less than two (2) weeks before the general assembly. All supporting documents shall be officially made available no less than one (1) week before the assembly.

d) The electoral committee (see § 7) shall be responsible for the conduct of elections.

e) Any member who has paid their membership fee and been a member for at least three months is entitled to vote.

f) Any member with voting rights is entitled to propose items for consideration at the general assembly. A suggestion must have the support of five (5) members with voting rights in order to be considered.

g) On the demand of at least twenty (20) members or of the board, an extraordinary general assembly shall be called, in accordance with the rules for an ordinary general assembly. The extraordinary general assembly can only consider the issues set out in the notice.

[edit] § 5 The board

a) The board of Wikimedia Norge shall consist of five (5) to nine (9) members as decided by the general assembly. In addition up to three (3) vice members are elected by the general assembly.

b) The board shall consist of a chairman, deputy chairman, treasurer, secretary and one–five members. The chairman and deputy chairman shall be elected by the general assembly. Other positions and responsibilities shall be assigned by the board.

c) The board shall be responsible for the daily management of Wikimedia Norge, including any responsibilities that may be imposed on it as an employer.

d) The board shall be responsible for the organisation’s finances. The audited annual accounts shall be placed before the general assembly. The board shall allocate entitlements to allotments and distributions.

e) The board shall meet at least three times annually. The members are expected to keep in touch through e-mail, IRC or other means of communication.

f) Decisions shall be made by an ordinary majority. The quorum for meetings of the board shall be the presence of at least half of its members with voting rights. In the case of a tied vote, the Chairman shall have a casting vote.

[edit] § 6 Elections

a) The general assembly shall elect a board as described in § 5a and an electoral committe as described in § 7b.

b) Candidacies should be announced two (2) weeks before the holding of an ordinary election.

[edit] § 7 Electoral committee

a) The task of the electoral committee is to organise and supervise all major elections in Wikimedia Norge.

b) The committee shall consist of at least three members of the organisation. Guidelines for the committee will be decided by the general assembly.

c) The electoral committee shall also act as an audit committee which checks the accounts and the work of the board against the bylaws of the organisation.

[edit] § 8 Amendments to the bylaws

a) Proposals for amendments to the bylaws may be made at the web pages of Wikimedia Norge by members. A suggestion supported by at least ten (10) other members shall be put forward to the general assembly for voting according to the rules for proposed items. The board may also suggest amendments to the bylaws.

b) Amendments to the bylaws require support from no less than 2/3 of the votes cast.

[edit] § 9 Dissolution

a) If the members through a referendum should decide to dissolve the organisation, any surplus monies shall be transferred to the Wikimedia Foundation. Such a referendum shall be publicised two months in advance and requires support from 3/4 of the votes cast.

b) To meet any possible claims upon the organisation, the transfer of funds shall happen no earlier than six (6) months after the decision to dissolve, if all claims have been met by that date. In the event that there are outstanding claims on the organisation, the transfer of any funds remaining shall take place no earlier than six (6) months after all outstanding claims are resolved.