Statutes

Statutes of the Georg Forster Society e.V.

drawn up on 16.2.1989, with the amendments of 28.4.1990, of 11.6.2011 and of 21.6.2014

1.   Name and Seat

The association bears the name "Georg Forster Gesellschaft e.V." It is exclusively and unmit­telibly non-profit-making within the meaning of the section "Tax-privileged purposes" of the German Tax Code and does not primarily pursue its own economic purposes. It is selflessly active. It is entered in the register of associations. Its registered office is in Kassel.

2.   Objectives

2.1   The Society sets itself the task of bringing the memory of Georg Forster, which was kept silent and suppressed in Germany throughout the 19th century and early 20th century, to the honors it deserves.

This means both the cultivation of the philosophical, political and scientific ideas and research represented by Georg Forster and his comrades-in-arms, and the mediation between this tradition of unobsolete freshness and the tasks posing themselves in our time; among these is decisively the commemoration of the political­exiles of the German intelligentsia and the appreciation of their contributions to German culture.

2.2   The Society is at the same time interested in all the problems that also moved Georg Forster:

-   the unredeemed claims of the Enlightenment,

-   the combination of distanced theoretical perspective in everything and unreserved political commitment,

-   the breaking of the learned guild constraint,

-   the combination of anthropological, ethnological, literary and historical­critical interests,

-   the criticism of destructive exploitation of nature by returning to a productive­tive
concept of nature in the sense of Georg Forster,

-   passing on the legacy of an unabridged emancipatory sponta­neity,

-   the foundation of a republican public sphere capable of dialogue.

2.3   These tasks of the society are realized in particular by the organization­of scientific conferences, symposia, public lectures, exhibitions­and events of other kind as well as by the promotion and execution of research projects of different kind.

2.4   The funds of the Society shall be used for the purposes set forth in the Articles of Association. Members shall not receive any benefits from the funds of the Society.

3.   Membership

­3.1   The following may become members of the Society: natural persons of full age, legal entities, also scientific institutes, public authorities and other associations without legal capacity in Germany or abroad. The admission takes place after written request on­decision of the executive committee.

3.2   Members who are not natural persons shall exercise the rights and duties associated with membership­through a representative who shall be named in writing to the Executive Board.

3.3   The Society consists of active, supporting and honorary members.­Active members­are characterized by their willingness to realize the goals of the Society through contributions and information of all kinds and by taking on upcoming tasks. Supporting members support the society ideally and financially. The board decides on questions­of honorary membership.

­3.4   The members are entitled to be informed appropriately about the processes connected with the tasks of the society, to participate in its life and to use its services.

3.5   Membership is terminated by a written declaration of withdrawal to be sent to the Executive Board­at the end of the fiscal year (= calendar year), by exclusion or by death. Exclusion occurs in particular if a member, subject to force majeure, does not respond to a second request for payment of the membership fee within three weeks. A further reason for exclusion is given if a member impairs the realization of the Society's goals within or outside the Society and damages its reputation. The Executive Board shall decide on this.

3.6   Former members shall not receive back the amounts paid in upon their resignation or upon the dissolution of the Society­.

4.   Income

4.1   The Society is entitled to carry out its function in the sense of the above mentioned objectives by means of admission fees, membership fees and participation fees not affecting membership, e.g. for scientific colloquia or publications.

­4.2   The Society is entitled to accept donations and sponsorship contributions in any amount and to issue a certificate thereof in accordance with the provisions of the tax authorities.­. Membership fees may be applied­in accordance with the section "Tax-privileged purposes" of the German Tax Code, subject to a contrary ruling by the financial­authorities.

4.3   All income and funds of the Society shall be used exclusively for statutory purposes, in particular to meet the Society's budget.­The members of­shall not receive any benefits from the funds of the Society, nor shall any other person benefit from disproportionately high remuneration. The amount and method of payment of the above-mentioned fees and contributions shall be decided by the General Assembly on the proposal of the Executive Board. The annual­fee for active members is 20€ for students and unemployed and 40€ for professionals. Sustaining members pay 50€, to be paid in the first quarter of the fiscal year (by March 31st ) to an account designated by the Board. Any cancellation fees are to be paid in full by the respective member.

5.   Bodies

5.1   All organs of the Society work on an honorary basis in the sense of the preceding provisions. The chairman and two deputy chairmen form the executive board. He­sterer conducts the business. They are to be elected by the general meeting for an indefinite period. They act in collegial agreement, but may represent the company­individually to the outside world. The chairman may delegate specific tasks at short notice. Furthermore, the Executive Board may decide that appropriate expense allowances be paid to the Managing Director insofar as he performs his duties on an honorary basis. The board can be voted out of office by a two-thirds majority of the general meeting.

5.2   The executive committee gives annually a written activity and/or accountability report (cash), which must be made accessible to all members.­Its task is in particular to convene and organize an ordinary general meeting at least every two years. At this meeting, a cash auditor is to be newly elected or reconfirmed.

5.3   Every member shall be invited in writing by the Executive Board to the General Meetings, stating a provisional agenda and giving reasonable notice - at least 14 days. Proposals of members to the agenda are to be considered­.­The general meeting shall be chaired by the chairman or, if he is unable to attend, by one of his deputies or by a chairman elected by all members present. The meeting of the members is able to make a decision­without consideration of the number of the members present, if it declares itself with 3/4 majority.

5.4   The ordinary general meeting is responsible for the following tasks: Determination­of the agenda, approval of the minutes of the last ordinary members­meeting, receipt and discussion of the activity report or accountability report of the board. Acceptance and discussion of the auditor's report, discharge of the Executive Board, resolution on amendments to the Articles of Association or dissolution of the Society­, resolution on activities of the Society in terms of recommendations to the Executive Board.

5.5   If circumstances require, an extraordinary General Assembly­can be convened by the Executive Board by mutual agreement or upon written request of 1/4 of the membership. It shall decide on important issues that cannot be postponed until the next ordinary general meeting.

5.6   Only active members have voting rights. Resolutions are generally passed with a one­fold majority. In the event of a tie, the chairman shall have the casting vote. For changes or additions to the statutes, however, a 3/4 majority of the members present at­an ordinary general meeting is required.­A report on the proceedings, recommendations and resolutions of the General Assembly shall be drawn up subsequently on behalf of the Executive Board, signed by the Chairman or, in his absence, by his deputy and the minute-taker, and made available to all members at­.

6.   Dissolution of the Society

The Society can only be dissolved again with a 3/4 majority of an ordinary General Meeting.­In the event of its dissolution or in the event of the discontinuation of its previous purposes, the assets of the Society remaining after liquidation shall be transferred by the Chairman, his­deputy or, in their absence, by an elected member to the Society for Threatened Peoples, Göttingen, with the condition that they be used exclusively and directly for charitable purposes.

Seat, postal address, office and Georg Forster Archive:
c/o University of Kassel
FB 2 Sprach- und Literaturwissenschaften
Institut für Germanistik
Kurt-Wolters-Straße 5
34109 Kassel
Bank account: Kasseler Sparkasse, Kto. Nr. 151 425, BLZ.: 520 503 53