Statutes of the Association "Arzenu Austria – Association of Liberal Zionists in Austria"
§ 1: Name, Headquarters, and Scope of Activities
(1) The association is named "Arzenu Austria – Association of Liberal Zionists in Austria."
(2) It is headquartered in Vienna and extends its activities throughout Austria.
(3) The establishment of branch associations is not intended.
§ 2: Purpose
(1) The association, whose activities are not aimed at profit, aims to promote liberal Zionism and international understanding, in particular:
a. Promoting the identification of Jews living in Austria with the State of Israel while recognizing the Jerusalem Program 2004 (Appendix 1);
b. Promoting Austrian-Israeli relations;
c. Establishing a national organization of "Arzenu" in Austria, the political voice of liberal Zionists within the World Zionist Organization and its sub-organizations;
d. Enabling the participation of liberal Jews in Austria in the elections of the Area Election Committee for Austrian representation at the World Zionist Congress.
§ 3: Means of Achieving the Association’s Purpose
(1) The association's purpose is to be achieved through the idealistic and material means specified in paragraphs 2 and 3.
(2) Idealistic means include:
a. Lectures
b. Cultural events
c. Publication of materials
d. Website
e. Establishing partnerships between Zionist institutions and associations with similar goals, particularly within "Arzenu."
(3) The necessary material means shall be obtained through:
a. Admission fees and membership contributions
b. Revenues from specific projects
c. Project-related grants
d. Donations
e. Other contributions
§ 4: Types of Membership
(1) The association consists of ordinary, extraordinary, and honorary members.
(2) Ordinary members fully participate in the association’s activities. Extraordinary members support the association primarily through increased membership contributions. Honorary members are individuals honored for special merits regarding the association.
§ 5: Acquisition of Membership
(1) Any Jewish individual (as defined by the Israeli "Law of Return") residing in Austria and wishing to engage in the association's purpose can become a member.
(2) The board decides on the admission of ordinary and extraordinary members. Admission may be refused without justification. Until the association is officially established, the founders temporarily admit members, with membership becoming effective only upon the association's establishment. If a board is appointed after the establishment, membership admission remains the responsibility of the founders until then.
(3) Honorary membership is granted upon the board’s proposal by the general assembly.
§ 6: Termination of Membership
(1) Membership expires through death, in the case of legal entities upon loss of legal personality, voluntary resignation, or expulsion.
(2) Resignation is only possible on December 31 of each year and must be communicated to the board in writing at least one month in advance. Late notices take effect at the next resignation date. The postmark date determines timeliness.
(3) The board may expel a member who, despite two written reminders and a reasonable grace period, is more than six months overdue in paying membership fees. The obligation to pay due fees remains unaffected.
(4) Expulsion may also occur due to gross violation of membership duties or dishonorable behavior.
(5) Honorary membership may be revoked by the general assembly upon the board’s proposal for reasons stated in paragraph 4.
§ 7: Rights and Duties of Members
(1) Members may participate in all association events and use its facilities. Voting rights in the general assembly and eligibility for election are limited to ordinary and honorary members.
(2) Each member may request a copy of the statutes from the board.
(3) At least one-tenth of the members may request the board to convene a general assembly.
(4) Members must be informed about the association’s activities and financial management during the general assembly. Upon request by at least one-tenth of the members, the board must provide such information within four weeks.
(5) Members must be informed about the audited financial statement, involving the auditors where applicable.
(6) Members must support the association’s interests and refrain from any actions that could harm its reputation or purpose. They must adhere to the statutes and decisions of the association's bodies and punctually pay membership fees as set by the general assembly.
§ 8: Association Bodies
The association’s bodies are the general assembly (§§ 9 and 10), the board (§§ 11 to 13), the auditors (§ 14), and the arbitration tribunal (§ 15).
§ 9: General Assembly
(1) The general assembly is the "members' meeting" under the Austrian Associations Act 2002. An ordinary general assembly is held annually.
(2) An extraordinary general assembly is held upon:
a. Decision of the board or ordinary general assembly,
b. Written request of at least one-tenth of the members,
c. Request of the auditors,
d. Decision of a court-appointed curator,
e. Other cases provided by law.
(3) All members must be invited at least two weeks in advance in writing, by fax, or email. The agenda must be included.
(4) Resolutions are only valid if they relate to items on the agenda.
(5) Each ordinary and honorary member has one vote. Proxy voting is permitted with written authorization.
(6) The general assembly is quorate regardless of the number of attendees.
(7) Resolutions require a simple majority, except for amendments to the statutes or dissolution of the association, which require a two-thirds majority.
§ 10: Tasks of the General Assembly
The General Assembly is responsible for the following tasks:
a) Adoption of the budget; b) Reception and approval of the accountability report and financial statement, including the auditors; c) Election and removal of board members and auditors; d) Approval of legal transactions between auditors and the association; e) Discharge of the board; f) Determination of the amount of the admission fee and membership fees for regular and extraordinary members; g) Awarding and revocation of honorary membership; h) Resolution on amendments to the statutes and voluntary dissolution of the association; i) Discussion and resolution of other issues on the agenda.
§ 11: Board
(1) The board consists of three members: a chairperson, a deputy chairperson, and a treasurer. (2) The board is elected by the General Assembly. If an elected member resigns, the board has the right to co-opt another eligible member in their place, subject to subsequent approval by the next General Assembly. If the board is unable to continue its functions due to unforeseen circumstances or a prolonged absence, each auditor is obliged to call an extraordinary General Assembly for the purpose of electing a new board. If the auditors are also unable to act, any ordinary member who recognizes the emergency must apply to the competent court for the appointment of a curator, who shall immediately convene an extraordinary General Assembly. (3) The term of office of the board is three years. If the re-election does not take place in time before its expiry, the term continues until a new board is elected. Re-election is possible. Each function on the board must be exercised personally. (4) The board is convened in writing or orally by the chairperson, or, if they are unavailable, by their deputy. If both are unavailable for an unforeseeable period, any other board member may convene the board. (5) The board has a quorum if all its members have been invited and at least half of them are present. (6) The board passes resolutions by a simple majority; in the event of a tie, the vote of the chairperson decides. (7) The chairperson presides over meetings; if they are unavailable, their deputy takes over. If neither is available, the oldest present board member or one designated by the majority of the remaining board members takes over. (8) A board member's function ends through death, expiration of the term, dismissal (section 9), or resignation (section 10). (9) The General Assembly can remove the entire board or individual board members at any time. The removal becomes effective upon the appointment of the new board or board member. (10) Board members can resign at any time in writing. The resignation must be addressed to the board, or in the case of the entire board’s resignation, to the General Assembly. The resignation only takes effect upon the election or co-option (section 2) of a successor.
§ 12: Tasks of the Board
The board is responsible for managing the association. It serves as the "governing body" within the meaning of the Austrian Association Act 2002. The board is responsible for all matters not assigned to another body by the statutes. Its tasks include, in particular: (1) Establishing an accounting system that meets the association’s requirements, including continuous recording of income and expenses and maintenance of an asset register as a minimum requirement; (2) Preparing the annual budget, accountability report, and financial statement; (3) Preparing and convening the General Assembly in accordance with Section 9(1) and (2) a–c of these statutes; (4) Informing members about the association’s activities, financial management, and audited financial statements; (5) Managing the association’s assets; (6) Admitting and expelling ordinary and extraordinary members; (7) Hiring and dismissing employees of the association.
§ 13: Special Responsibilities of Individual Board Members
(1) The chairperson manages the association’s daily operations. The deputy chairperson supports the chairperson in managing the association’s activities. (2) The chairperson represents the association externally. Written documents require the signatures of the chairperson and the deputy chairperson to be valid, and financial transactions (monetary dispositions) require the signatures of the chairperson and the treasurer. Legal transactions between board members and the association require the approval of another board member. (3) Authorization for legal representation or signing on behalf of the association can only be granted by the board members mentioned in paragraph 2. (4) In urgent cases, the chairperson has the right to make independent decisions even in matters falling within the competence of the General Assembly or the board, under their own responsibility; however, these must be subsequently approved by the relevant association body. (5) The chairperson presides over the General Assembly and board meetings. (6) The treasurer is responsible for the proper financial management of the association.
§ 14: Auditors
(1) Two auditors are elected by the General Assembly for a term of three years. Re-election is possible. Auditors may not be members of any body—except the General Assembly—whose activities are subject to their audit. (2) The auditors are responsible for reviewing the association’s financial management to ensure proper accounting and compliance with the statutes. The board must provide the auditors with the necessary documents and information. The auditors must report the audit results to the board. (3) Legal transactions between auditors and the association require approval by the General Assembly. Otherwise, the provisions of Section 11(8) to (10) apply accordingly to the auditors.
§ 15: Arbitration Tribunal
(1) The association’s internal arbitration tribunal is responsible for settling disputes arising from membership relations. It serves as a "conciliation body" within the meaning of the Austrian Association Act 2002 and is not an arbitration tribunal under §§ 577 ff of the Austrian Code of Civil Procedure (ZPO). (2) The arbitration tribunal consists of three ordinary members. One party nominates a member as an arbitrator in writing to the board. Upon request by the board within seven days, the other party nominates a second arbitrator within 14 days. Within seven days of notification by the board, the nominated arbitrators elect a third ordinary member as chair of the arbitration tribunal within a further 14 days. In the event of a tie, a lot is drawn among the proposed candidates. Members of the arbitration tribunal may not belong to any body—except the General Assembly—whose activities are subject to the dispute. (3) The arbitration tribunal reaches its decision after hearing both parties with a simple majority in the presence of all its members. It decides to the best of its knowledge and conscience. Its decisions are final within the association.
§ 16: Voluntary Dissolution of the Association
(1) The voluntary dissolution of the association can only be decided in a General Assembly with a two-thirds majority of valid votes cast. (2) If the association has assets, the General Assembly must also decide on liquidation, appoint a liquidator, and determine the recipient of the remaining assets after covering liabilities. These assets should, if possible and permitted, be transferred to an organization pursuing similar purposes or used for charitable purposes.
Annex 1 to the Statutes of the Association “Arzenu Austria – Association of Liberal Zionists in Austria” 2004 Jerusalem Program of the World Zionist Organization
Zionism, as the international liberation movement of the Jewish people, led to the establishment of the State of Israel. It expresses the shared responsibility of the Jewish people for its survival and future in the Jewish, Zionist, democratic, and secure State of Israel.
The foundations of Zionism are:
Unity of the Jewish people, its connection to the historic homeland of Eretz Israel, and the centrality of the State of Israel and Jerusalem, its capital, in national life;
Immigration to Israel from all countries and the effective integration of all immigrants into Israeli society;
Strengthening Israel as a Jewish, Zionist, and democratic state;
Securing the future and uniqueness of the Jewish people through education, culture, and the Hebrew language;
Promoting Jewish solidarity, defending Jewish rights, and combating antisemitism;
Settlement of the land as an expression of practical Zionism.
