Juri wrote:I think, the problem is in the base idea of the new Statute.
100 - is international draughts sport and others - are nationals...
For the Netherlands these two meanings are the same, but not for others.
So they cannot accept it.
I described the situation in Ukrainian draughts. 100 and 64 organically
coexist together. It's a real fact! And of course nobody will vote against himself.
And I dont understand what 64 and 100 needs to share?
1 time per 4 years IMSA games?
Only with Accord Games have some troubles. But 6-8 places on such games as demostration of 64 is enough.
Russian problem? It's also possible to decide.
Not so much...
A little oxygen for 64 and other national variants of draughts games - and 100 also will breathe easier!
We dont have the situation as in a chess. When one kind of a game is much popular.
In draughts: 100, 64, checkers... - are all small sports. So the way of cooperation maybe is acceptable.
For exemple, countries as Portugal, Italy, Czech Republic...
They played 100 draughts and joined FMJD. But this game didnt become popular in these countries if compare with national variants.
So Portugal stoped to play. And as you know - they play spanish draughts.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=pl ... EIs2C037zU
And how many portugeses will play now in tournament in Portugal in 100 draughts?
http://www.santaluzia.eu/portugalopen/participants.html - 0!!!
Material of Spanish draughts in Morocco:
http://mohammediapresse.com/news2248.html
they also play in 64-brasilians.
in PHILIPPINES play both 100 and 64 (brasilians)
http://filipinodama.webs.com/apps/photo ... d=35049119
Afric:
http://www.shashki.com/PNphpBB2-viewtop ... -next.html
How popular draughts in Italy you know. And they did so much for 100 draughts.
But anyway italian-64 draughts is the most popular there. Because it's similar with checkers - they started to play checkers now. And italians won tournament in Lille.
Draughts is a part of nactional culture and to forget own culture is not easy...
Of course, the current Statute is not well and needs to change it.
But should do it in equal rights, not when some one dictate rules.
Normal dialog and desire to solve the problem with minimal casualties - a good way!
Juri
Most remarkable observation I did during talks afterwards was that nobody lookes like to have studied the text of the new statues thoroughly. A lot of people didn't have seen the new status at all. Secondly I observed, that somebody have told to the representives of the courntries with 64, that the new statues are very bad for the countries with 64. When you read the new status you will determine, that the difference between the new and the old one isn't that spectacular. There is nothing in the statues, that is bad fot 64. There is nothing in the new statues, that is bad for the East European countries. If so then the board will support any proposition to change this.
You can find the old statues on the FMJD-site
http://www.fmjd.org/docs/FMJD_Statutes_2011.pdf. For the people that are interested I add the complete text of the new proposed statues below (I removed some spaces and line brakes only).
FMJD Statutes
Article 1. Name and headquarters
1.1 The World Draughts Federation FMJD, originally Fédération Mondiale du Jeu de Dames, is a non-profit association, composed of autonomous and independent international draughts federations for draughts played on 100 squares (international draughts)
1.2 FMJD is constituted according to art. 60ff of the Swiss Civil Code, and is formed for an unlimited period of time.
1.3 The registered office of FMJD is located in the Netherlands.
Article 2. Objectives
2.1 The objectives of FMJD are
1. to promote and develop international draughts at all levels, as a means to contribute to the positive development of society;
2. to develop specific services for its Members, and provide them with assistance, training and support;
3. to increase the level of recognition of FMJD and its Members by the Olympic Movement stakeholders as well as by other entities involved in sport;
4. to organize high level tournaments such as World Championships and actively support the organization of tournaments by its Members;
5. to set and publish regulations for titles and grant them to those entitled to receive them
6. to be a modern, flexible, transparent and accountable organization;
7. to organize, at least once every two years, a gathering of all of its Members, and of other stakeholders of the draughts movement, preferably on the occasion of its General Assembly;
8. to recognize unconditionally the autonomy of its Members and their authority within their organization;
9. to promote closer links among its Members, and between its Members
10. to coordinate and protect the common interests of its Members;
11. to collaborate with and where possible be a member of organizations having as (one of) their objective(s) the promotion of mind sports on a world-wide basis;
12. to collect, collate and circulate information to and among its Members.
2.2 Other objectives may be defined by the General Assembly.
Article 3. Non-discrimination, representation of women
3.1 FMJD and its Members reject all forms and means of discrimination against individuals, groups of people, organizations or countries on grounds of ethnic origin, gender, language, religion or politics.
3.2 FMJD supports a fair representation of women in its activities and in the management of sport.
Article 4. Official languages
4.1 The official languages of FMJD are English, French and Russian.
4.2 Only English or French shall be used by FMJD and by its Members in their relations with FMJD. For the interpretation of the Statutes the original English language shall prevail
Article 5. Categories of Members
The Members of FMJD are the countries represented by the:
a) The Full Members
b) The Associate Members in so far they are no Full Member
whose admission has been approved by the General Assembly.
Article 6. Conditions for Membership
6.1 Full Members
Full Members are those National Organizations for International Draughts that are accepted by the General Assembly as the representing Draughts Organization for their country. Candidate organizations for full membership shall fulfil the following conditions:
Structure and Governance
a) Be the national representative for international draughts
b) Be a registered nonprofit organization
c) Be compliant with the WADA regulations for doping
d) Take measures to promote the participation of women and persons with disabilities, apply fair play, look after players health and safety, have high standard arbitration and clear competition rules;
e) Take measures to protect the players and their entourage from corruption, illegal and irregular betting, fraud, and other harmful practices linked to sport.
f) Take measures to incorporate and implement sustainability principles both with regard to the environment and society
g) Apply in all aspects of its daily business the principles of good governance
6.2 Associate Members
Associate Members are those national and international organizations representing other variants of draughts such as, but not limited to:
• Russian and/or Brazilian draughts on 64 squares
• Checkers
• Turkish draughts
Or other variants admitted to the discretion of the General Assembly
Article 7. Application procedure and conditions to Member status for membership
7.1 Applications for membership must be submitted 3 months prior to the General Assembly at which they are to be considered.
7.2 The applicant shall pay an application fee the amount of which shall be at least the equivalent to a yearly membership fee. Proof of payment shall be submitted on or before the day of the application.
7.3 The FMJD council reviews each application and recommends or does not recommend an applicant to the General Assembly.
7.4 The FMJD council can decide to grant provisional membership to an applicant
Article 8. Honorary Members
The General Assembly may, upon a proposal by the Council, grant the title of "Honorary President" or "Honorary Member" respectively to a retiring President or a retiring Council Member for their outstanding services to FMJD. They may attend the General Assembly, but do not have the right to vote. Also other persons that have been active for FMJD and rendered outstanding services can be granted the title of “Honorary Member
Article 9. Members' rights
Members have the right:
9.1. to receive in advance the agenda of the General Assembly, to be called to the meeting within the prescribed time, to take part to the meeting and, if Full Members (or the Member referred to under article 21.3), to exercise their right to vote;
9.2. to be informed of the state of FMJD;
9.3. If Full Member to participate in voting and in elections;
9.4. to draw up proposals regarding the Agenda of the General Assembly;
9.5. to nominate candidates to the Presidency of FMJD;
9.6. to exercise any other right arising from the Statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of FMJD.
Article 10. Members’ obligations
Members have the obligation:
10.1. to comply at any time unreservedly with the Statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of FMJD;
10.2. to have at all times their executive organs, and, if applicable, their disciplinary organs, elected by their respective General Assembly;
10.3. to notify FMJD, in writing of any modification in their constitution or/statutes, or of the inclusion or hiving off of any new draughts discipline to their program and any change that affects the conditions of admission;
10.4. to pay their membership subscription in due time.
Article 11. Resignation
11.1 A Member may resign at any time, provided that at the time of resignation he has no outstanding liabilities to FMJD and is a fully paid-up Member.
11.2 Such resignation shall take effect immediately upon receipt of a notice of resignation signed by the authorized person(s), and shall be reported to the next General Assembly by the Administration of FMJD
11.3 A Member that resigns remains liable for any outstanding obligations
Article 12. Revision of Membership
Modifications of its constitution/statutes, regulations and directives by a Member or ceasing to comply with the conditions of membership, may result in the revision by the General Assembly of its membership of FMJD. As a result of such revision the General Assembly may set a deadline within which the Member shall comply with any directions that the General Assembly may give failing which the General Assembly may decide to suspend or expel the Member.
Article 13. Suspension
13.1 The Council may, by a majority decision, suspend until the next General Assembly a Member who fails to comply with a provision of the Statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of FMJD, and in particular for the following reasons:
1. non-payment of any liabilities due to FMJD;
2. owing 2 (two) years of overdue annual membership fee to FMJD;
3. A final decision must be made by the next General Assembly, provided the suspension is still in force at that time.
Article 14. Expulsion
A Member shall lose its membership of FMJD on a resolution passed by the FMJD General Assembly, notably for the following reasons:
1. refusal to pay any liabilities due to FMJD;
2. non-payment of any membership fees due to FMJD for 4 (four) or more years;
3. refusal to comply with the provisions of the Statutes, regulations, directives and decisions of FMJD;
4. loss of its status of representative of its sport at the international level.
Article 15. Notices
15.1 A notice or notification to a Member shall be deemed to have been properly received provided it was sent to the last address indicated by the Member to the Administration.
15.2 Notification regarding suspension or expulsion of the Member concerned or dissolution of FMJD shall always be sent by registered mail.
CHAPTER III. ADMINISTRATION OF THE ASSOCIATION
Article 16. Organs
16.1 The General Assembly is the supreme organ of FMJD
16.2 The Council is the executive body.
A. GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Article 17. Definition, organization
17.1 The General Assembly is the meeting attended the Members of FMJD. It is the supreme organ of FMJD.
17.2 Only a General Assembly regularly convened has the authority to exercise its powers.
17.3 The General Assembly may be Ordinary or Extraordinary.
17.4 The meetings of the General Assembly are open to the public except when decided otherwise by the General Assembly. When justified by the circumstances the President may under the control of the General Assembly request individual members of the public to leave the conference room.
Article 18. Powers of the General Assembly
18.1. The General Assembly adopts or amends the Statutes, regulations and directives of FMJD
18.2 The General Assembly may amend or revoke the regulations and directives of the Council to the extent that they affect the Members directly.
18.3 The General Assembly approves the minutes of the last meeting.
18.4 The General Assembly admits, suspends (subject to article 13.1) or expels a Member.
18.5 The General Assembly elects the President.
18.6 The General Assembly appoints the independent auditors.
18.7 The General Assembly approves the budgets, financial statements and the activity report.
18.8 The General Assembly sets the amount of the subscription for Members;
18.9 The General Assembly bestows, on a proposal by the Council, the title of Honorary President or Honorary Member on a retiring President or retiring Council Member who rendered outstanding services to FMJD.
18.10 The General Assembly exercises any other competence specifically attributed to it by the Statutes, regulations and directives of FMJD.
Article 19. Delegates
19.1 Each Member's delegation is limited to a maximum of 3 (three) persons,. A Member’s delegation shall not include FMJD Council Members
19.2. All delegates other than the President/Chair, Vice-President or Secretary General/Director General of the Member shall send to the Administration a power of attorney document signed by one of the above mentioned three Officers, which he must carry on the day of the General Assembly.
Article 20. Quorums
20.1 The quorum for general business of the General Assembly shall the majority of the Members having voting rights.
20.2 The quorum for business entailing changes of these Statutes or the dissolution of FMJD shall be 2/3 (two thirds) of the Members having voting rights.
20.3 Absent the quorum, a second General Assembly shall be held 24 hours after the first was due to convene, with the same agenda. In that second General Assembly, no quorum is required, unless an item on the agenda proposes the amendment of the FMJD Statutes, the election of the President, the expulsion of a member or the dissolution of FMJD.
Article 21. Voting
21.1 Each Full Member who has satisfied all its financial obligations toward FMJD at the time of the meeting is entitled to one vote.
21.2 A delegate may represent 1 (one) more Member that has given his voting rights in an official letter to the delegate. The original letter needs to be presented to the council.
21.3 Associate Members have no voting right, but have the right to speak.
21.4 Save any indication to the contrary in these Statutes, all decisions shall be made by the majority of the votes validly cast
21.5 Illegible, void, and blank votes, and abstentions shall not be included in the count of validly cast votes
21.6 Except in the case of elections, voting shall always be conducted by a show of hands or voting machines, unless 2 (two) or more Members having voting rights should request a secret ballot; in that case, voting machines may also be used, provided they allow secrecy in voting.
21.7 Dissolution of FMJD and amendments to the Statutes require 2/3 of the votes validly cast
21.8 Voting by proxy or letter is not allowed. A council member, however, can be given the authority to vote on behalf of his country
Article 22. Elections
22.1 A candidate is elected if he/she obtains the majority of the votes validly cast.
22.2 Voting for elections shall always be carried out by secret ballot whenever there is more than 1 (one) candidate for the office up for election. Voting machines may be used provided they allow secrecy in voting.
22.3 In the event there is only one candidate for the position being filled, the election will be carried out by acclamation, unless an election by secret ballot is requested by at least 2 (two) Members having voting rights.
Article 23. Election of the President
23.1 During the election of the President, the out-going President shall, if seeking re-election, surrender the chair to a "chairman pro-tempore", elected by the Assembly, who will then conduct the election.
23.2 The out-going President subject to the provision of article 23.1 resumes his position after the election and continues to chair the General Assembly.
23.3 The newly elected President and Council members take office after the close of the General Assembly.
Article 24. Ordinary General Assembly
24.1 The Ordinary General Assembly is convened by the Council once every 2 (two) years, preferably on the occasion of the World Championship for Men.
24.2 All proposals by Members to modify the FMJD Statutes should be communicated in writing to the Administration at least 6 (six) months prior to the General Assembly. After consideration, the Council will pass on the proposal to the Members along with its comments at the latest 3 (three) months before the General Assembly.
24.3 At least 4 (four) months before the date of the opening of the General Assembly, the Administration shall send a formal call to the meeting to all Members. The notice shall stipulate that any Member willing to add a new item on the agenda must submit it to the FMJD Administration no later than 2 months prior to the meeting.
24.4 At least 1 (one) month before the General Assembly meets, the Administration shall circulate the agenda as prepared by the Council, together with the activity report and any other relevant documents. The budget and the accounts will be circulated immediately after having been audited, but, in any case, before the General Assembly.
24.5 Together with the agenda, the Administration shall circulate details of any membership applications and a brief description and results of any investigations made to that effect by the Administration as well as any recommendations by the Council. Objections to or reservations held regarding such membership applications must be communicated to the Administration together with the reasons for such objection or reservation, no later than 15 days prior to the General Assembly.
Article 25. Agenda for Ordinary General Assembly
25.1 The agenda shall contain but is not limited to the following items:
1. opening of the meeting;
2. roll call (by the Director General for late-comers, registration having been completed earlier);
3. adoption of the agenda subject to article 25.2;
4. President's address;
5. appointment of scrutinizers (if applicable);
6. suspension or expulsion of a Member (if applicable)
7. approval of the minutes of the previous meeting;
8. activity reports;
9. reports of the committees
10. financial matters (balance sheet, accounts, auditing report, budget, auditor…);
11. Statutes modifications (if applicable);
12. voting and elections (if applicable);
13. new membership applications;
14. items presented for information;
15. items brought forward from meetings among Members;
16. date and place of next meeting.
25.2 The Council may add any urgent matter to the agenda of the General Assembly at any time. In any other cases, the agenda may be modified by the General Assembly provided there is a 2/3 (two thirds) majority of the votes validly cast.
Article 26. Extraordinary General Assembly
26.1 An Extraordinary General Assembly may be convened at the request of the Council or shall be convened upon receipt of a written request from at least 1/5 (one fifth) of the Members having the right to vote, no later than two months after the request. Notification of the meeting will be sent out to the Members at least 30 (thirty) days in advance.
26.2 The notification shall detail the reasons for convening an Extraordinary General Assembly. No business other than that specified in the notification shall be conducted at such Extraordinary Assembly except for any urgent matter that the Council may add to the agenda.
Article 27. Conduct of meetings
The President presides over every meeting of the General Assembly and of the Council. If the President is absent, unable or unwilling to preside a (senior) Vice-President shall preside for the duration of the meeting as Chairman.
Article 28. Minutes
28.1 The full minutes of the meetings are recorded by the Administration and submitted for approval by the Council within 2 (two) months of the meeting.
28.2 Brief minutes of the meeting will be made available within 3 (three) weeks after the end of the meeting
28.2 No correction of or alteration to the minutes will be accepted without written notification to the Administration, duly received and acknowledged, within 4 (four) months of the date of circulation of the minutes to the Members.
28.3 The minutes are submitted for approval at the next General Assembly.
B. COUNCIL
Article 29. Composition and election
29.1 The Council is the executive organ of FMJD. It consists of 5-7 members:
1. the President, elected by the General Assembly;
2. the General Secretary, elected by the General Assembly
3. the Treasurer, elected by the General Assembly
4. the Tournament Director, elected by the General Assembly
5. the Tournament Director Youth, elected by the General Assembly
6. on the discretion of the President, he/she may propose to appoint 1 (one) or 2 (two) more members to the Council who will have specific tasks. The election of these additional members is to the discretion of the General Assembly.
29.2 The Council elects from their members 1 (one) or 2 (two) Vice-Presidents
29.3 The President can ask (one of) the Vice President(s) to be Executive Vice President in fact taking over most of the Presidential tasks in accordance and agreement with the President
Article 30 Eligibility, term of office
30.1 The candidates Council Members must have reached the age of 18 when taking office, and be in full possession of their civil rights.
30.2 Council members are appointed for a term of 4 (four) years They may be reappointed.
30.3 The Council members who, during their term of office with FMJD, lose their position with the Member affiliated to the organization which they represent shall continue to sit on the Council until the next General Assembly, unless the relevant Member objects. In this case, the organization concerned mentioned under article 29.1 shall designate a substitute that will sit for the remainder of the term.
Article 31. Presidential election
31.1 Nominations for the Presidency must be notified in writing to the Administration at the latest 30 (thirty) days before the beginning of the meeting at which the elections will take place. The General Secretary will issue a note indicating the deadline to be observed at the latest 60 days before the meeting at which the elections will take place.
31.2 Candidates must be nominated by a fully paid-up Member.
31.3 Candidates must have reached the age of 18 at the date of the election, and be in full possession of their civil rights
31.4 Nominations which arrive after the deadline shall not be taken into consideration. If no candidate has been nominated within the deadline or if a nominee is no longer a candidate on the day of the General Assembly, candidates may be nominated at the General Assembly. If there is no candidate the Vice-President elected by the Council shall act as Chair until the next General Assembly.
31.5 After the deadline for receiving nominations has been reached, the list of nominees for President will be distributed immediately to the Members.
31.6 The General Assembly elects the President for a 4 (four) year term. He/she is eligible for re-election.
Article 32. Meetings, quorums
32.1 The Council shall meet in principle twice during each year of its period of office
32.2 The quorum for meetings of the Council is met when the President plus 4 (four) other Council members are present, except in exceptional circumstances where the President is unable to attend and does not wish or is unable to cancel the meeting, in which case the quorum shall be satisfied with 1 (one) Vice President and 4 (four) other Council members.
32.3 The President or the Chair of the meeting has a casting vote in case of a tie.
Article 33. Powers of the Council
33.1. The Council is competent in all matters that are not reserved to other bodies by the Statutes, regulations and directives of FMJD.
33.2 The Council lays down the regulations and directives of FMJD subject to article 18.2.
33.3 The Council represents and commits FMJD with regard to third parties. Subject to article 37.1 the Council shall decide through which individuals FMJD shall be committed towards third parties.
33.4 The Council oversees the day to day running of FMJD.
33.5 The Council prepares and convenes Ordinary and Extraordinary General Assemblies.
33.6 The Council appoints any commission it deems necessary at any time.
C. ADMINISTRATION
Article 34. Mission
34.1 The mission of the Administration is to implement the decisions made by the General Assembly and the Council, and carry out all the administrative duties of FMJD.
34.2 Members of the Administration do not have voting rights.
Article 35. Director General
35.1 The FMJD council may appoint a Director General, on the basis of a contract governed by private law. He/she shall be accountable to the Council for the running of the Administration and such other duties as may be required.
35.2 He/she hires FMJD staff with the approval of the Council.
Article 36. Subscriptions
36.1 All Members of FMJD shall pay an annual subscription according to the following scale:
• Full Members: 100% (one hundred per cent) of the subscription;
• Associate Members: 25% of the full subscription fee for every member they represent and that are not already full members
36.2 New Members shall pay a partial subscription for the current year, as of the month of their membership acceptance.
36.3 The amount of the subscription shall be decided by each General Assembly on a proposal from the Council and shall be payable no later than the next 31st of January.
36.4 Should a General Assembly not be held in any one or more years, the same amount of subscription as the previous year shall become due on the 31st of January as appropriate.
Article 37. Finances, liability
37.1 FMJD shall be financially bound, within the limits of the approved budget, by the joint signatures of the President and a Council Member or of any two Council Members
37.2 Members shall only be legally and financially liable, toward FMJD and third parties, up to the limit of their annual subscription to FMJD.
37.3 The financial year of FMJD shall run from the 1st January to the 31st of December annually.
Article 38. Auditors
38.1 The accounts must be audited each year by external qualified professional auditors, totally independent from FMJD. Their duty is to check the accounts and present their report to the General Assembly, with their conclusions and recommendations, notably with regards to the approval of the financial statements by the General Assembly.
38.2 The auditors must be appointed by the General Assembly, generally for a period of 2 (two) years. Their mandate may be renewed.
CHAPTER V. FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 39. Dispute resolution
39.1 Any dispute arising from, or related to the Statutes, regulations, directives and decisions f FMJD, and for which there is no competent internal body, will be submitted exclusively to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS), in Lausanne, Switzerland, applying its own procedural rules. Its decisions are final.
39.2 Any appeal against a final and binding decision from any FMJD organ shall exclusively be submitted to the CAS, to the exclusion of any ordinary court of any country.
Article 40. Interpretation
The authority for settling any dispute arising out of the interpretation of these Statutes shall reside with the President, or Chair for the time being, who shall seek the advice of the Council or General Assembly before taking the final decision.
Article 41. Modification of the Statutes
41.1 These Statutes may only be modified by the General Assembly or by an Extraordinary Assembly convened especially for that purpose.
41.2 The amendments to the Statutes require the 2/3 (two thirds) of the votes validly cast
Article 42. Dissolution
42.1 The intended dissolution of FMJD shall require an Extraordinary Meeting of the General Assembly at which the proposed dissolution shall be the sole item on the agenda.
42.2 Dissolution requires the 2/3 (two thirds) of the votes validly cast
42.3 Any assets remaining after the dissolution of FMJD, shall, after satisfaction of all its debts and liabilities, be applied to the furtherance of any objective(s) of FMJD as determined by the General Assembly at, or before, the time of dissolution. If effect cannot be given to the foregoing provisions, they shall be given to a charitable organization. Under no circumstances shall they be paid to, or distributed among the Members of the Association.
Article 43. Independence of Members
No discussion or voting by FMJD shall infringe in any way on the freedom and independence of any Member, who shall, at all time, retain complete independence and control over all matters falling within their field of activity.
Article 44. Enforcement
This version of the statutes has been adopted at the General Assembly in on 2012 and came into force immediately.
