Pursuant to section 13 of the Associations Act (“Official Gazette” number 74/14), an assembly of the ŠTAMBUK Association – Selca, Island of Brač, Croatia, at a session held on September 27th 2015, has adopted a:
STATUTE
THE ŠTAMBUK ASSOCIATION
Selca, island of Brač, Croatia
300 years ago the first Štambuk, a builder, arrived from Prague, via Venice, in Selca on the island of Brač and he founded a family which today has several thousand members in Croatia and in the wider world, from Tierra del Fuego to New Zealand. Maestro (Master) Antonio (or ‘Antun’, ‘Ante’), originally Standelpergher, detto Stambucco, founded a stonemasonry business on Brač (drawing on the family owned Saint Mikula quarry in Selca which has been used since Roman times). His quarry supplied the famous Brač stone that was used in the construction of palaces from Paris to the Bosporus. It was used in the construction of the White House, in Washington DC, and the United Nations building on the East River in New York, as well as the Meštrović Art Pavilion in Zagreb and in a number of beautiful buildings in Selca itself. These include the Štambuk and Didolić palaces and the magnificent Church of Christ the King, which Cardinal Kuharić calls the ‘Cathedral of Brač’. Many of the buildings in Selca were unfortunately burned by the Italian army on the 9th of August 1943, during their occupation of the island.
The Štambuk family, hardworking, and tending to construction and to learning, has come up with many priests, bishops, writers, scientists, doctors, engineers, diplomats, patriots, philanthropists, craftsmen, artists and stonemasons – both stoneworkers and designers.
Also, throughout the time of the Austro-Hungarian Empire (1867 to 1918), the family was the heart of the Croatian national revival of Dalmatia, along with many domestic intellectuals. Along with the Didolić family, the Štambuk family made Selca a Croatian cultural lighthouse. It was a place to reflect on the homeland, its future, its common good and on its progress. Even today the same effort at renewal radiates from the linguistic-poetic revival of the ‘Croatia rediviva’ festival, which has been held in Selca since 1991. It has been pondering those same subjects, through Croatian language and poetry since that time. The festival is a creative gathering of truthful speakers of the Chakavian, Kajkavian and Shtokavian Croatian linguistic idioms.
It is the goal of the association to re-evaluate the heritage of the Štambuk family and to preserve the memory of its prominent personalities, so that their significance is recognized. In so doing, the association aims to highlight how the family grew and strengthened against the backdrop of the common good. In turn, it seeks to expose valuable lessons that are relevant to us today and for our, sometimes, uncertain futures because: ‘historia magistra vitae est’ – history is the teacher of life.
(Dr. Drago Štambuk, Brasilia, 28th September 2012)
Article 1.
This Statute regulates: the name of the Association, its headquarters, its representation, its goals and the activities that facilitate the fulfilling of those goals; the publicizing of its work; its membership and membership fees; the rights and obligations of its members; its bodies, their composition, their powers, their manner of decision-making, the conditions and manner of the election of its members and those regarding their recall, their terms of office and their responsibilities; the Association’s assets and disposable income; its method of acquiring property; the procedures relating to the termination of the Association and those relating to its property in the case of its termination.
Article 2.
The name of the Association: ŠTAMBUK – Selca, otok Brač, Hrvatska.
The abbreviated name of the Association: ŠTAMBUK. (Hereon referred to as the Association).
In addition to its name in Croatian, the Association will use the variations below, in:
English: Stambuk Association – Selca, Island of Brac, Croatia
Spanish: Stambuk Asociación – Selca, Isla de Brac, Croacia
German: Stambuk Verbindung – Selca, Insel Brac, Kroatien
The seat of the Association is in Zagreb. The decisions of the Association are made by the Presidency. The Association is registered with the Zagreb City Office of General Administration. The Association has the status of a non-profit legal entity, and it acquires that status on the day of its registration in the Register of Associations of the Republic of Croatia.
Article 3.
The Association has a seal.
The seal of the Association is: 3 cm in diameter and contains an inscribed text along its edge that reads: ŠTAMBUK – Selca, otok Brač – with a lithograph in the middle. The lithograph is a stylization of the church of Christ the King in Selca.
Article 4.
The Association is presented and represented by the Presidency of the Association. The Assembly of the Association can elect for other persons to present and represent the Association.
Article 5.
The work of the Association is public.
Its work shall be exercised in the manner established by this Statute.
The public nature of the Association’s work is ensured and achieved through the timely informing of its members about its work and any relevant significant events concerning it, through written reports, through meetings of the body of the Association, via email and by any other appropriate means.
The Association may issue its newsletter in accordance with the regulations on public information stated herein. The decision to issue a newsletter is brought by the Presidency of the Association.
The Association has its own web site, and may issue other media (including publications and posters), in accordance with the regulations on public information stated herein.
Article 6.
The Association operates in the field of culture and art.
The Association is founded on the occasion of the 300th anniversary of the arrival of, our ancestor, Ante Štambuk in Selca, on the island of Brač. It is founded with the aim of preserving and continuously exploring and promoting the cultural and economic heritage of Selca, and it seeks to encourage economic development there, along traditional lines, with particular emphasis on the stonemasonry that developed in the fold of the Štambuk family – a development that was based on the knowledge, experience and merit of that first Štambuk.
The Association seeks to realize these goals through the following activities:
Article 7.
In order to maximize the cohesion of its membership and its work, the Association may establish sections and branches.
Sections and branches do not constitute legal entities.
The establishment and operation of sections and branches shall be regulated by a general act adopted by the Assembly of the Association.
Article 8.
In pursuit of the objectives and activities set out in the provisions of this Statute, the Association may join with other communities and alliances, both at home and abroad.
The decision on the forming of such associations is made by the Assembly of the Association.
Article 9.
Membership of the Association can be of the following categories:
Regular members of the Association must be responsible and lawful persons who accept the Statute, and the other general acts of the Association, and regularly fulfill the obligations of their membership of it.
Regular members have the right to vote at the Assembly of the Association.
Associate members are non-voting persons (including minors and persons who are legally deemed to be without capacity).
Individuals as well as representatives of legal entities who, through their work, have especially assisted the Association can become supporting members of the Association. As such, they can contribute to the Association’s development and operation.
Individuals as well as representatives of legal entities may have conferred to them honorary membership. As such, they may contribute to the development of the municipality of the village of Selca or to the development of the Association.
Article 10.
The decision to submit an individual for regular membership of the Association is made by the Presidency, and it is concurred with a majority vote of members that are present. The decision to submit an individual for associate, supporting or honorary membership is concurred by a majority vote of the members present at a meeting of the Presidency. The decision to exclude a member from the Association is made by the Presidency, and it is concurred with a majority vote of members present. The rights and obligations of a member of the Association shall be acquired on the day they are entered into the list of members of the Association.
Article 11.
The Association maintains a list of its members.
The list of members is kept by the President of the Association.
The list of members contains the following information about each individual member: first name, nickname, surname, date of birth (and the date their date of birth was established), OIB, date of admittance to the Association, membership category, e-mail address, telephone numbers, address of residency and date of termination of membership of the Association. The list of members is maintained electronically.
Article 12.
The rights, obligations and responsibilities of regular members are:
The rights, obligations and responsibilities of associate, supporting and honorary members are the same as those of regular members, but without the obligation to pay membership fees.
Article 13.
Membership of the Association ceases:
For minor violations of the Statute, the Presidency shall issue a disciplinary reprimand in writing.
A member of the Association may forfeit their membership if they violate the provisions of the Statute, endanger the interests of the Association and / or cause serious damage to the Association and / or its membership.
The decision to expel a member of the Association is made by the Presidency, on the basis of a proposal written by a member of the Association.
The expelled member shall have the right to appeal within 30 days from the date of the delivery of any decision against them. The appeal is to be submitted to the Assembly of the Association, whose decision is final.
The expelled member loses all rights granted by this Statute and any other general acts of the Association.
Article 14.
Members of the Association who are responsible for promoting the Association, its reputation or its business, can be presented with an award by the Association.
The types of recognition, the manner of their awarding, and the proposed nomination of individuals for recognition, will be regulated by a special act passed by the Assembly of the Association.
The decisions on awards are made by the Assembly of the Association.
Article 15.
The bodies of the association are:
THE ASSEMBLY
Article 16.
The Assembly is the highest body of the Association, consisting of all of the Association’s regular members – this includes individuals and representatives of external legal entities, that are deemed to be individual regular members.
The Assembly can be regular, elective or extraordinary (it may be thematic, ceremonial and so on).
Every legal entity represented in the Assembly of the Association is represented by one nominated individual. That nominated individual is appointed by a person legally authorized to represent the external legal entity in question.
The regular Assembly is held at least once a year. Assembly sessions are convened by the President of the Association on their own initiative. In convening the Assembly, the President shall determine its agenda and the date and venue for the session.
An elective Assembly is held every four (4) years, and must be convened and held before the expiration of the term of office of the President of the Association.
The President of the Association may convene an extraordinary session of the Assembly, on their own initiative, or at the request of at least ⅓ (one third) of the total number of regular members of the Association.
If the President of the Association does not convene an extraordinary session of the Assembly, after such a request by one third of its members, as referred to in paragraph 6 of this Article, within 30 days of the submitted request, the extraordinary session of the Assembly shall be convened by its proponents (their decision should include the draft agenda, the place and date of the session, and they should inform all members of the Assembly of these details).
An extraordinary session of the Assembly may only discuss the issue(s) for which it was convened.
Article 17.
Within its competence, the Assembly of the Association:
Article 18.
The Assembly of the Association shall be convened by the bodies of the Association, in the case of the expiry of the term of office of the last person recorded in the Register of Associations (of the Republic of Croatia,) or by 25% of the members of the Association, who were registered in the list of members before the expiration of the term of office of the bodies of the Association. The Assembly shall be chaired by the President of the Association. In the absence of the President and the Vice-President, the Assembly shall, by the beginning of the session, determine by public vote the person chairing it.
The Assembly shall be convened by the President of the Association by the sending of written invitations (or e-mails), to the members of the Assembly, at least 7 days before the Assembly session.
The invitation must contain information on the place and time of the session, and the draft agenda.
The invitation will, as a general rule, be accompanied by materials relating to the items on the agenda.
Article 19.
The Assembly makes valid decisions if at least half of its regular members participate.
If less than half of the regular members of the Association attend a session of the Assembly, the commencement of the session shall be delayed by 30 minutes. After that interval the Assembly session may commence if at least ¼ (one quarter) of it regular members are present. If after such a 30 minute interval there are less than ¼ of the regular members present at the Assembly session, the President shall convene a new Assembly within 3 days which may commence with less than ¼ of its regular members. Regular members who are unable to attend an Assembly session may do so via Skype (or other form of audio or video conferencing). The minutes of an Assembly must indicate which members are attending remotely. A written record of each Assembly session must be composed.
The Assembly is chaired by the President of the Association. In the absence of the President, it is chaired by one of the Vice-Presidents.
Valid decisions are made by a majority vote of those present at an Assembly session, unless otherwise provided for in this Statute.
It is obligatory to keep minutes of an Assembly session. They must be signed by the minute taker and certified by two elected and participating members of the Assembly. Copies of the minutes shall be sent to the members of the Association by e-mail.
THE PRESIDENCY
Article 20.
The Presidency consists of at least five (5) members and a maximum of 7.
The Presidency consists of the President of the Association, two (2) Vice-Presidents, and up to four (4) regular members of the Association, all of whom are elected by the Assembly for a tenure of four (4) years. All the members of the Presidency may be re-elected several times in succession.
Article 21.
The Presidency meets as required, and at least three times a year.
The Presidency is the executive body of the Assembly. It organizes the work of the Association, between the two sessions of the Assembly, and it decides on matters within its competence.
The sessions of the Assembly are convened by the President, and the Assembly directs the work of the Presidency.
Article 22.
The Presidency of the Association is vested with the authority to:
A session of the Assembly can only be held if a majority of the members of the Presidency are present. The decisions of the Presidency are validated by a majority vote of the participating Presidency members.
The Presidency will submit to the Assembly an annual report on its work.
THE PRESIDENT
Article 23.
The President of the Association is elected by the Assembly for a term of 4 (four) years and the same person may be re-elected several times in succession.
The President of the Association is also the President of the Assembly of the Association.
The President of the Association ensures the proper and lawful work of the Association.
They chair the sessions of the Assembly and the Presidency, and are responsible for ensuring the legality of the work of the Association.
The President is accountable to the Assembly of the Association for their work.
A ⅔ (two-thirds) majority of all the regular members of the Association is required to recall the President.
Article 24.
The President of the Association:
In the absence or incapacity of the President, they shall be replaced by one of the Vice-Presidents of the Association, or by agreement, by one of the other members of the Presidency.
THE VICE-PRESIDENTS
Article 25.
Two Vice-Presidents are elected by the Assembly for a term of 4 (four) years each and the same persons may be re-elected several times in succession.
The Vice-Presidents of the Association are also the Vice-Presidents of the Assembly of the Association.
The Vice-Presidents of the Association:
COMMITTEES, COMMISSIONS AND TEMPORARY AND PERMANENT AUTHORITIES
Article 26.
Both the President and the Presidency of the Association may establish committees and commissions, as well as other permanent and temporary working bodies of the Association.
An act of appointment issued by the Presidency shall determine their composition, their work and their tasks, as well as the time limit within which the members of these working bodies of the Association shall be appointed, and their responsibilities that permit the execution of the tasks assigned to them.
Committees, commissions, and other temporary or permanent working bodies will carry out the work and tasks for which they have been established, and report on them to the President and to the Presidency, and to the Assembly of the Association.
THE SELECTION PROVISIONS
Article 27.
Elections shall be by secret ballot.
The candidates for election will be the President, the Vice-Presidents and the other members of the Presidency. A candidate will be deemed elected if they receive the largest number of votes cast by the regular members present.
THE WITHDRAWAL PROVISIONS
Article 28.
The term of office in all bodies and for all functions of the Association is 4 (four) years.
Terms of office can expire, be revoked, or the holders of office can resign from their posts.
The proposal to revoke the mandate of the President of the Association should be submitted by at least ½ (half) of the regular members of the Association.
A proposal to revoke the mandate of a Vice-President, or other member of the Presidency, may be submitted by the President, or by ⅓ (one third) of the regular members of the Association.
After considering the revocation proposal, the Assembly will decide on whether to vote on the revocation.
Article 29.
Any member of a body of the Association may apply to resign from their post before the expiration of the term for which they were elected. However, they are obliged to perform their duties until a decision on their departure is made.
The Assembly is required to make a decision on a request for resignation at its first sitting.
Article 30.
The assets of the Association are its:
The Association acquires property from:
Article 31.
The Association is responsible for its obligations with regards to its assets.
The President of the Association has executive rights over the property of the Association.
Article 32.
The Association may use borrowed materials for a limited period of time for the purpose of research or for the pursuit of an activity. For every such instance a Loan Agreement must be arranged. Concerning special gifts or earmarked funds, contracts must be arranged with the donors, to regulate any special conditions related to their further treatment, and to designate to whom responsibility for them should fall to in the instance of the termination of the Association.
Article 33.
The Association will maintain a record of its accounts and will prepare financial statements in accordance with the regulations governing the accounting of non-profit organizations.
Article 34.
The President of the Association will submit a report on the material and financial operations of the Association, to the Assembly for approval. NJ
Article 35.
For justified expenses incurred in connection to the activities of the Association, members are entitled to compensation, and for work in connection with the activities of the Association, a reward.
The financial value of such reimbursements and awards shall be decided by the Presidency of the Association.
Article 36.
If in the carrying out of its activities the Association makes a profit, that profit must be used exclusively for the furtherance and promotion of the activities of the Association, so that its goals, as set out in this Statute, are achieved.
Article 37.
The Association shall cease to exist by a decision of the Assembly in a ⅔ (two-thirds) majority vote of its regular members who are present at the pertinant Assembly session, or under any other set of circumstances provided for by law.
In the event that the Association ceases to exist, the Assembly will decide on the dispensing of its property.
Article 38.
The liquidator of the Association is appointed and recalled by the Assembly.
The liquidator may be a person or legal entity that is not a member of the Association.
The liquidator represents the Association in the process of its liquidation and is enrolled at the opening of the liquidation procedure. Their name is entered into the Register of Associations (of the Republic of Croatia) as a person authorized to represent the Association, until the completion of the liquidation process and the deletion of the Association from that register.
The liquidator is not entitled to the reimbursement of expenses for their work unless the Assembly determines otherwise.
In the process of liquidation the liquidator shall:
After the distribution of the remaining assets, the liquidator is obliged to submit, to the competent state administration office, a final account and report on the completed liquidation procedure, within 8 days of its completion.
In the event that the liquidator determines that the assets of the Association are insufficient to meet its obligations, they shall notify the competent court within eight days in order to initiate bankruptcy proceedings.
Article 39.
The Association is responsible for the execution of its obligations with regards to its assets.
Members of the Association and the members of its bodies have no responsibility for these obligations.
The Association may be declared bankrupt in accordance with the law.
The Association, and the persons authorized to represent it for damages against the Association itself, or for damages by the Association against third parties, shall be liable in accordance with the general laws regarding damages.
Article 40.
It is the members of the Association themselves that shall supervise the work of the Association.
If a member of the Association considers that the Association has violated this Statute, or any other general act of the Association, they are entitled to notify the Assembly of the Association of the alleged violation, and to request that the stated irregularities be corrected.
If the notification is not considered within 30 days, from the date of the written request, or if it is not acted upon, or if the irregularities that were reported are not remedied within a further 30 day period, the member may file a lawsuit with the municipal court competent at the place of the seat of the Association.
Article 41.
A dispute or conflict of interest is deemed to exist in the Association if a matter affects the rights and interests of its members, including the common interests of all of its members, or if it affects the work of the Association as a whole. Disputes or conflict of interest can be freely discussed by the Association’s members.
The Presidency is responsible for the resolving of disputes and conflicts of interest.
The decision of the Presidency is final.
If a dispute or conflict of interest arises regarding the submission of a change to the Register of Associations (of the Republic of Croatia) by the competent Association office, the member(s) expressing their concerns will first address the Association to resolve the dispute or conflict of interest. Upon the final decision of the Presidency regarding the matter, the Association will submit, to the competent office, a request to make a change to the records of the Register of Associations together with the decision of the Presidency.
Article 42.
This Statute is the founding act of the Association and all of the other general acts of the Association must comply with the provisions of it. Draft amendments of the Statute shall be formulated and prepared by the President and the Presidency of the Association who will forward them to the members of the Association for discussion at the Assembly.
The President of the Association shall consider the objections and proposals made in the debate at the Assembly, and will take positions on them before determining the final form of the Statute.
Article 43.
The Assembly of the Association interprets the provisions of the Statute.
The Presidency of the Association interprets the other acts of the Association.
Article 44.
All the internal issues of the Association, as well as other issues that are not specified in the Statute, which require a further elaboration, shall be regulated by general acts adopted by the Assembly and the President of the Association.
Article 45.
This Statute shall enter into force, and apply from the day of its adoption, at the Assembly of the Association.
Article 46.
On the day that this Statute enters into force, the Statute adopted at the session of the founding Assembly, on 29th October 2012, shall cease to be valid.
Zagreb, 27th September 2015.
Dario Štambuk v.r.
PRESIDENT OF THE ASSOCIATION
Stambuk Association – Selca, Island of Brac, Croatia
OIB 55907686126
e-mail: info@stambuk.hr