Charter

Οf “The Association of Friends of the Thermon Archaeological Museum and Site” by its Founding Members

Article 1 – NAME ASSIGNMENT

Non-profit association founded under the following designated name “ASSOCIATION OF FRIENDS OF THE THERMON ARCHAEOLOGICAL MUSEUM AND SITE.” Based in the Municipality of Thermo in the prefecture of Aetolia-Acarnania, the association will be henceforth translated into English: “Friends of the Thermon Archaeological Museum and Site.”

Article 2 – OBJECTIVES

The exclusively charitable objectives of the “Friends of the Thermon Archaeological Museum and Site” namely are:

1. The moral and material support of the Museum and the Archaeological Site of Thermon.

2. The provision of continuous support to the operation of the Archaeological Museum, as well as the consistent contribution to the task of enriching its collection.

3. The promotion of cultural heritage, placing particular emphasis on the fact that the inscriptions that were discovered at the archaeological site of the Aetolian League verify that the League: a) applied the constitutional principles of direct democracy, b) retained a federal structure having egalitarian parity and autonomy as its chief constituents—a conception which has set the standard for some modern federal states, and c) implemented the institution of arbitration, which is currently the conceptual cornerstone of the United Nations organization, and whose implementation was for the first time in human history recovered epigraphically in the discovered Thermian inscriptions.

4. The systematic and consistent advancement of the spirit of antiquarianism and of the keen interest in antiquities and the task of their protection, as well as the broader development and dissemination of the values of Greek culture to the widest possible social scope.

5. The mutual educational and cultural betterment of the Association members and the general public.

6. The cultivation and radical development of the spirit of volunteerism amongst all existing members of the Association, with regard to the existing needs of the Museum, the archaeological site, as well as the Association itself.

Article 3 – RESOURCES

The objectives of the “Friends of the Thermon Archaeological Museum and Site” can be pursued making use of all legal means. More specifically:

1. Through state support, the contribution of local authorities and administrative bodies, donations, and the encouragement of each individual and collective initiative that aims to enrich the collections and the overall development of the Museum.

2. Through the revival of “Thermia,” the organization of conferences, lectures, symposia, exhibitions, athletic, and other cultural events, as well as the planning of educational activities, and visits to museums, monuments, and archaeological sites.

3. With the prospect of establishing a library of Aetolian Studies, as well as an Ancient Thermon Research Centre.

4. Through the pursuit of establishing a society of volunteers consisting of experts, which will focus on identifying, recording, and analyzing movable and immovable monuments of cultural heritage in remote parts of our region, but also in areas the competent bodies and authorities of which cannot sustain the cost of restoration and maintenance.

5. Through research for collaboration possibilities with other domestic or foreign associations that will promote the objectives of the association.

6. Through publishing a range of publications including brochures, guides, books, audiovisual material (CDs, DVDs), as well as the creation of a website.

7. Serving the afore-mentioned objectives and activities, the Association may, in its best interest, conclude fixed-term employment contracts, as well as works contracts with third parties.

8. The financial aid and moral support of Greeks and “Philhellenes” is considered indispensable in supporting the existing Archaeological Museum of Thermon that suffers from a severe lack of resources and funding, and, also, in ensuring the success of the endeavour of the Association of Friends of the Thermon Archaeological Museum and the archaeological site of the capital of the Aetolian League.

9. An integral part of the Association’s objectives is to appeal to the competent authorities in question in order to make major improvements to the existing road network leading to Thermo from Nafpaktos and Agrinio, thus, granting easy accessibility, comfort, and safer trips to the visitors. We hope that the afore-mentioned modernization and safety improvements of the road network will significantly increase the number of visitors to the Museum and the Sanctuary of Apollo Thermios; the most important historical site of the Aetolian League.

Article 4

The Association is completely independent and has no involvement whatsoever with the activities of political parties, organizations, and factions. Therefore, the representation or promotion of the governmental views of any political party and/or organization by its members is not permitted during all procedures and, by extension, during all electoral processes.

Article 5 – MEMBERS – RIGHTS – OBLIGATIONS

The Members of the Association of “Friends of the Thermon Archaeological Museum and Site,” are divided into the following three categories: Regular, Associate, and Honorary.

1. Regular Members: Admitted following their written formal request. The membership application is subsequently forwarded to the Association Board for consideration and approval.
Regular Membership registration is also available to all wishing employees, archaeologists, engineers, conservators, and antiquities guards of the Ephorate of Antiquities of Aetolia-Acarnania and Lefkada (The museum of Thermon remains subject to the jurisdiction of the specific Ephorate). These members are not burdened with the Association’s Annual Membership Fee and their application is automatically approved. As far as their elective rights are concerned, these members retain the right to vote, but they are deprived of the right to be elected.

2. Associate Members: Associate members can be appointed by the association’s governing body by the supermajority requirement of a two-thirds vote. These members are committed to significantly assisting the Association materially and morally in realizing its strategic objectives. The Associate Members have equal rights with Regular Members.

3. Honorary Members: These are individuals who, through their scientific achievements or their commitment to knowledge, have offered, or continue to offer, invaluable services and/or assistance to the task of advancing, protecting, and promoting ancient Aetolia, the archaeological museum of Thermon, or the Association of its Friends itself. These Members are proclaimed honorary following a two-thirds majority decision of the Board. Honorary Members are granted the full rights of the other two member-statuses. Furthermore, they are free from all financial obligations to the Association. However, honorary members are not eligible to vote.

4. Regular Members pay their registration fee and, also, their annual subscription (within the first four months of the year). The registration fee amounts up to ten (10) Euros, the annual subscription fee to twenty (20) Euros, and to a substantially higher amount for Associate Members (more than one hundred (100) euros). The ratio between the afore-mentioned amounts may be modified following decision of the Board and approval by the General Assembly.

5. General Assemblies are solely attended by Members in good standing remaining current on association dues and payments.

6. Regular Memberships will be cancelled for those delaying their payments for a period longer than two years following decision by the Association Board.

7. Members who have been convicted or currently stand trial for committing criminal offenses, which are de facto incompatible with the values of their Membership, or are involved in any way in violations of the law “On Antiquities,” should by no means remain registered and their membership should be irrevocably cancelled.

8. Additionally, Members are also required:

8.1. To contribute to the realization of the Association’s objectives.

8.2. To attend meetings and events of the Association.

8.3. To stand in solidarity.

8.4. To refrain from behaving inappropriately during all proceedings and affairs of the Association of “Friends of the Thermon Archaeological Museum and Site.” For instance, members are kindly asked not to obstruct any progress made, raise tensions, and behave in an overall harmful manner that will be incompatible with the purposes and the principles of the Association, as well as the values of democracy and our culture itself.

9. Following recommendation of even a sole member, the Board may for any good reason—from the reasons listed in the present Charter, as well as the relevant legislation concerning the operation of Associations and Unions—be obliged to discuss and decide on the imposition or cancellation of an imposed penalty like reproach, temporary suspension, and/or Membership cancellation. In the event of permanent suspension, the interested party may within a fortnight request from the Board that the matter be discussed in the General Assembly.
Re-registration of irrevocably Suspended Members, following decision of the General Assembly, is by all means restricted.

Article 6 – RESOURCES

Resources of the Association of “Friends of the Thermon Archaeological Museum and Site” are the following:

1) The registration fee, the regular and exceptional (emergency) financial contributions of its Members, grants and funding from State and private institutions, programs of the European Union, financial aid of any kind, donations, bequests, the revenue of events organized by the Association itself or by any other legal entity for the benefit of the association.

2) Donations, inheritances, and bequests to the “Friends of the Thermon Archaeological Museum and Site” are accepted following decision by the Association Board. The acceptance of the inherited property is then announced to the subsequent General Assembly.

3) Conditional donations are accepted following approval of the General Assembly.

4) Inheritances bequeathed to the Association “Friends of the Thermon Archaeological Museum and Site” are accepted with the benefit of inventory.

5) For donations of any kind, the Association adheres to the provisions of relevant legislation (3525/2007 on “Cultural Sponsorship”).

Article 7 – ADMINISTRATION

The supervisory Bodies of the Association are the General Assembly of Members, the Board, and the Audit Committee.

Article 8 – GENERAL ASSEMBLY

1. The General Assembly of Members is the supreme and sovereign body of the Association and has the highest authority on the actions of the Board.

2. The Board shall convene the General Assembly of the Association Members regularly (within the first quarter of each year). Ιt is established that quorum exists only if at least 1/4 of the Members in good standing remaining current on Association dues and payments is present.

3. A special session of the General Assembly can be held when deemed necessary by the Board or following a formal request of the 1/5 of the Members in good standing regarding a matter of great importance.

4. In case it is verified that quorum is not present, a repeated extraordinary General Assembly will be held seven (&) days later at the same place and time and with an identical agenda; there, quorum is at any rate established regardless of the exact number of present Members.

5. The President of the Association Board presides over the group meetings of the General Assembly.

6. The minutes of the General Assembly shall be signed by the President of the Board and the Assembly Secretary.

7. The Board ensures the timely invitation of all members twenty (20) days prior to the designated General Assembly date.

8. Assembly decisions are made with the absolute majority of the present Members. Amendments to the Charter and/or Termination/Dissolution of the Association requires a quorum of 1/2 of members in good standing and decisions require the vote in favour of ¾ of the Members present.

9. During the Association General Assembly the Board (via its President):

a) Accounts for the work of the previous time.

b) Submits the Audit Commission Report.

c) Submits the report of the previous acts for approval.

Article 9 – ELECTIONS

1. The elections for the Board and the Audit Committee are conducted every three (3) years.

2. Candidacies shall be submitted to the Board at least ten (10) working days before the day of the appointed Election Day.

3. In the sole voting form, drawn up by the Board itself, the names of the candidates are listed in perfect alphabetical order.

4. Each voter has the right, by secret ballot, to vote up to six (6) candidates for the Board, and up to three (3) candidates for the Audit Committee. The voting form is otherwise considered null and void.

Article 10 – THE ASSOCIATION BOARD

1. The Association is governed by a seven-member Board. The Board members do not receive salary, must meet the requirements of the law, and are elected by the General Assembly. The Board consists of the President, the Vice President, the General Secretary, the Treasurer, the assistant Dean, as well as two consultants. One (1) of the two (2) Board members is not elected; she/he is, instead, appointed by virtue of office or position (ex officio). More specifically, membership is granted to the Director of the Ephorate of Antiquities, with the Museum Curator as appointed deputy. The person in question enjoys the same rights with the other members of the Board. However, she/he is relieved from any financial obligations to the Association.

2. The indicated term of office of all Board members is three years.

3. Members that have suffered legal capacity deprivation, who are under use of lasting powers of attorney, as well as members that have undergone deprivation of their Political Rights (throughout the duration of the afore-mentioned deprivation), are excluded from all administrative posts of the Association.

4. The Board convenes mandatorily every three months, following formal invitation by its President, or earlier, whenever deemed appropriate, and when it is requested in writing by its Members. The absence of an elected Member of the Board during three consecutive regular meetings will be perceived as tacit resignation.

5. By no means are Members of the Board and the Audit Committee entitled to provide work in return for compensation, or enter into contracts with the Association regarding offer of any kind of services, work commissions, or other such benefits to the Association.

6. In accordance with the law, a List of all Board members with their respective professions and home address is filed with the Agrinio Court of First Instance Secretariat.

7. The outgoing Board members are required, within seven (7) days after the elections, to deliver to the new Board members, the offices, the seal, the books, the records, as well as the Association treasury.

8. The Board also:

8.1. Drafts the annual report, the balance sheet, the review of achievements, the budget, as well as the agenda of the General Assemblies.

8.2. Manages the property of the Association and decides on expenditure facilitating the realization of the Association’s objectives.

8.3. Keeps the books and the association archives.

8.4. Organizes seminars, lectures, and other events.

9. Board decisions request the majority of Members present, and in the event of a tie the President’s vote supersedes.

Article 11

The General Assembly may withdraw its confidence in the Board by a majority of two thirds (2/3) of its members. In this case, Board members are obliged to convene a General Assembly and submit their resignation within a month. The new Board is elected in the context of the afore-mentioned Assembly.

Article 12

The President of the Board represents the Association in any given context through her/his public appearances whether in Greece or abroad. She/he represents the Association with reference to matters that pertain to certain administrative or judicial authorities. More specifically, she/he appoints attorneys to represent the Association, convenes the Board, presides over meetings, and signs, along with the Secretary General, the minutes of all Board meetings along with those of the general Assembly, the correspondence, and generally all Association documentation. Along with the Treasurer, she/he makes bank transactions and all documentation pertaining to the Association’s capital and banking. The President is mutually responsible with the other Board members for the fulfillment of all legal obligations, of the Charter statutes, and of the decisions of the General Assembly. When the President of the Board is absent or unable to attend, she/he is replaced by the Vice President in charge in all matters.

Article 13

The Secretary General drafts the membership registry, formulates, along with the President, the daily agenda of Board meetings, is held responsible for keeping the Association seal, the minutes of the General Assembly and the Board meetings, the archive, and generally the books of the Association, with the sole exception of the treasury. She/he also handles the existing correspondence, drafts and signs, along with the President, all documents of the Association, has overview of relevant articles/publications, and keeps the incoming and outgoing documents protocol.

Article 14

The Treasurer is responsible for managing the finances, as well as all movable and immovable property of the Association. She/he ensures the collection of membership fees, as well as the regular and extraordinary (non-recurring) income. The treasurer also keeps the books as specified by the law “In Reference to Associations,” and submits the required quarterly summary of the state of finances of the Association to the Board or whenever so requested. The Treasurer also makes every item that relates to the financial state of the Association available to the President of the Board, the Audit Committee, and the General Assembly. In addition, she/he also drafts the annual balance sheet, which begins on January 1st and ends on December 31st, submitting it for approval initially to the Board and then to the General Assembly. The Treasurer signs, along with the President, the payment orders, manages bank accounts, and drafts any document relating to the management of the Association’s capital. From the existing Association capital, the Treasurer may hold in his possession a maximum of 500 euros. The additional amount is then deposited to the Association’s bank accounts.

Article 15

The Dean is in charge of the Association’s Public Relations. The Dean makes recommendations to the Board regarding the proposed upcoming events and programs and, following approval by the Board, these are implemented under her/his supervision and care.

Article 16 –AUDIT COMMITTEE

The Audit Committee elects its chairman and controls the overall management of the Association. The Board is obliged to make all the books and records available to the Audit Committee for management control. At the regular General Assembly the audit committee gives its report.

Article 17 – PROPERTY/ASSETS

Provided that the proceeds from all financial activity will be made available exclusively in favor of the Association’s non-profit, charitable objectives, the Association has the right to engage in economic activities of any kind (purchases, commercial exploitation of movable or immovable assets, royalties).

Article 18

In case of dissolution of the Association, the ownership of its property is decided by the General Assembly, provided that it will be transferred to a legal entity of the prefecture of Aitoloakarnania or other, that shares the same or similar objectives, or to the Cultural Centre of the Municipality of Thermo.

Article 19 – SEAL OF THE ASSOCIATION

The Association possesses a round seal bearing the statue of Aitolos at its center while representing the reverse side of a silver Aitolian didrachm coin (220-205 BC) that is encircled by the following caption “The Association of Friends of the Thermon Archaeological Museum and Site.”

Article 20

Following recommendation by the Board and decision by the General Assembly, the Association may become part of broader associations of related domestic or foreign unions and societies such as the “Hellenic Federation of Friends of Museums.”

Article 21

Anything not provided for by the present Charter is regulated in accordance with the provisions of the laws pertaining to Associations.

Article 22

The present Charter comprises of twenty two (22) articles, drafted in accordance with the existing legislation on the regulation of Associations, examined in its entirety and by article, accepted, approved, and signed unanimously by the totality of the founding members of this establishing non-profit Association.