Buddhistische Gemeinschaft Salzburg - BGS
(Salzburg Buddhist Association)
The BGS was founded in 1977 to promote Buddhism and to create an environment for he study and practice of the Dharma.
Brief version of the BGS constitution:
§1
Name: Buddhistische Gemeinschaft Salzburg.
It intends to become active in all of Austria, focussing on the province of Salzburg.
§2
Its aim is to study, practice, cultivate and spread Buddhism.
It intends to cooperate with organizations of the same intent in Austria and worldwide.
It wants to promote friendship and support among its members.
It wants to engage in interfaith dialogue.
§3
Its aims should be achieved by public lectures, meetings and publications.
It intends to run an open centre for lectures, discussions, meetings, meditation etc.
Funds will be generated by membership fees, donations and public funding.
§4
Persons, who support the aims of the association, can become members.
§5
Members must be of age.
The membership fee must be paid regularly.
§6
Membership ends when renounced by the member, when excluded by vote of the executive, or by not paying the annual fee for more than 12 months.
A member may appeal against exclusion from the association.
§7
Membership fee (at present € 40.- p.a.) is fixed by the executive and may be reduced for members on reasonable application.
§8
Members have full active and passive voting rights in the general assembly.
Members have the right to use all the association’s facilities.
§9
Members are due to support the association’s aims, pay the membership fee regularly and keep to the rules of the association.
§10
Institutions of the association are:
General assembly of members
Executive board
Auditors
Mediators
§11
The General Assembly takes place every year. All members are entitled to put forward motions. All members are eligible to vote on all motions. One (wo)man one vote. Motions can be passed by simple majority, alterations in the constitution need two-thirds majority.
Minutes have to be put down to recor the proceedings at the general assembly.
§12
Duties of the general assembly:
Allocation and control of funds.
Election and control of officers.
Officers can be recalled from their offices by simple majority.
Decision on membership fees.
Extension of honorary membership.
Decisions on changes to the constitution.
Preparing, discussing and passing motions.
§13
The executive board consists of 4 officers, who ought to be practicing Buddhists preferably from different schools.
The members of the executive are elected by simple majority at the general assembly.
Officers are elected for a period of three years and can be reelected.
The executive can adopt experts to take part in its work.
The president is in charge of the executive’s work.
§14
The executive represents the association in public.
The executive is responsible for contacts and cooperation with other organizations.
The executive prepares and organized the general assembly.
The executive is in charge of the funds and gives an annual report to the general assembly.
§15
The president presides over the executive as well as over the general assembly.
The president concludes contracts in the name of the association according to the decisions of the executive and the general assembly.
§16
The auditor is elected for a period of three years and can be reelected.
The auditor is in charge of the current control of all financial business and reports annually to the general assembly.
Withdrawals have to be signed jointly by the president and the bursar.
§17
The council of mediators consists of 3 members, who cannot be members of the executive board. It tries to settle disputes and finally decides on any disputes among members.
§18
Dissolution of the association can only be decided by a two-thirds majority in a general assembly on the condition that fewer than 3 members are prepared to carry on the business of the association.
Any funds have to be transferred to a non-profit institution of a similar character and orientation.
Dissolution has to be communicated to the authorities responsible.