PREAMBLE
The National Fencing Academies, meeting in Congress on the 21st and 22nd April 1962 in Basle (following a provisional committee created in 1958 and a desire for a Union of the body of masters expressed on the 17th August 1930 at Antwerp), decided to constitute a world organisation bringing together all the National Associations and to give it statutes.
N.B. For all the following statutes, the word “Master” signifies a Diploma Master of an affiliated National Fencing Academy.’
STATUTES
FORM - NAME - HEADQUARTERS - OBJECT
Article 1. Form
An International Association is formed between those adhering to the present statutes conforming to the current laws and texts which govern the teaching of fencing and physical education.
The official language is French.
The national languages of the different academies are, nevertheless, permitted.
Article 2. NAME
This Association takes the name of “Académie d'Armes Internationale”.
It has a coat of arms.
Article 3. HEADQUARTERS
The headquarters of the organisation is established as the home of the President.
In the case of a vacancy for President, it can be transferred at any time to some other place by decision of the executive committee.
Article 4. DURATION
The lifetime of the International Fencing Academy is perpetual.
Article 5. OBJECT
The International Fencing Academy has as its goal:
1* to bring together all the existing National Fencing Academies throughout the world and to encourage Diploma Masters to constitute National Fencing Academies when these do not exist in the countries where they practise;
2* to ensure and maintain constant fraternal relations between National Fencing Academies;
3* to represent its members throughout the world with public or private authorities or any other organisation.
4* to contribute to the development of the principles, rules, techniques and methods of teaching of fencing in all its forms:
5 * to ensure the distribution of all documents relating to fencing;
6* to promote the technical and educational training of its members by all means, particularly:
• either by the equivalence of Diplomas
• or by the outcome of examinations in competence in
the teaching of fencing supervised by a panel of judges
designated by the International Fencing Academy (A.A.I.)
Article 6. STATUS OF MEMBERS
The International Fencing Academy is composed of:
A. Full members:
Full members must be:
either
qualified by the state where there is no National Academy
or qualified by the National Fencing Academy
or qualified by the International Fencing Academy
B. Honorary members
When proposed by the executive committee of the International Fencing Academy, the title of “Honorary Member” can be awarded by Congress to people who have rendered eminent service to the cause of fencing or the mastery of arms.
C. Benefactor Members
The International Fencing Academy may admit to the title of benefactor member individuals or institutions that, by their prestige or patronage, do credit to the cause of fencing or the International Fencing Academy
D. Members of honour
When proposed by the executive committee, the title of Honorary Master may be bestowed by the congress to persons whose prestige and influence contribute to serve the cause of the International Fencing Academy.
Article 7. EXPULSION - LOSS OF MEMBERSHIP STATUS
Membership status, as defined in the subsequent paragraphs, is lost by:
Article 8. Disciplinary Commission
The decisions ( warning - official warning - temporary suspension) will be taken by a Disciplinary Commission, composing:
The sanctions passed will be subject to appeal (deadline:three months, form: registered letter) before the congress, which will give a final ruling.
Article 9. ADMINISTRATION OF THE INTERNATIONAL FENCING ACADEMY
The International Fencing Academy is administered by an executive committee and by a board.
The executive committee comprises seven members of whom, if possible, there are four different nationalities.
The President of the International Fencing Academy and four members of the executive committee are elected by ordinary congress (every four years). They shall be, if possible, of differing nationalities.
Two other members of the executive committee, filling the posts of General Secretary and Treasurer are nominated by the President. They must belong to the same nation as the President and, with him, constitute the Board.
In the case of death, resignation or vacancy of the President, the General Secretary carries out the duties of the President in the interim until the next congress.
Past Presidents of the International Fencing Academy may attend meetings of the executive committee, by right, in an advisory capacity.
Elections for the President of the International Fencing Academy and the four other members of the executive committee are by secret ballot.
All nominations for candidature for the election of the President must be notified to the Board of the International Fencing Academy three months before the congress.
If, after the first round of elections there is not an absolute majority for the election of the President, there will be a second round. A simple majority will be sufficient to be elected “President”.
In the case of certain figures additional rounds may be considered.
Candidates for the duty of President are proposed by National Academies (One candidate only per group).
Only Masters may be candidates for the various executive posts of the International Fencing Academy.
After the election of the President, National Academies may submit candidates for the four members making up the executive committee.
The four candidates who have obtained the highest numbers of votes are elected. In the case of equality between several candidates, it will be necessary to proceed to one or more additional rounds of votes in order to obtain the four elected members. They will bear the title “Vice-President” and will have the responsibility for a Commission, nominated by the President.
The executive committee of the International Fencing Academy is elected for four years. All members are eligible for re-election by the congress at the expiry of their term of office.
In the case of death, resignation or vacancy of a Member of the executive committee, the next congress will elect a new member whose mandate will terminate at the date of the replacement of the said committee.
Article 10. MEETING - DECISIONS OF THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE
The executive committee of the International Fencing Academy meets in plenary session at least once per year. Its decisions are taken by simple majority, with the President having the casting vote in the case of equality.
In the case of absence form the meetings of the executive committee a postal vote on items on the agenda is permitted. However, voting by proxy is not allowed.
The Minutes of the meeting are signed by the President and the General Secretary.
They are transcribed without blanks or deletions in a numbered and initialled record.
Article 11. REMIT OF THE BOARD
The President, assisted by the General Secretary and the Treasurer, directs and administers the International Fencing Academy in the name of the executive committee. He deals with day to day problems and has them ratified by the executive committee.
The Board decides the use of available funds, draws up the annual budget, organises expenditure and recovery of moneys under the responsibility of the executive committee.
The Board presents a report to each executive committee. This report is submitted to discussion and approval. The same applies to the spiritual and financial reports presented during congress.
The President represents the International Fencing Academy in law, whether as plaintiff or defendant, and without having to justify, to any third party, any other power of representation than that conferred by this present article of the statutes.
Article 12. REMIT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE BOARD
The President chairs meetings and represents the International Fencing Academy with public and private administrations.
He may be accompanied in his approaches by a member of the Board or any other competent person he may regard as useful.
The General Secretary:
If there is an administrative staff, it is placed under his supervision. He distributes its responsibilities.
The general Treasurer:
He can carry out any movement of funds after having had the approval of the President and the executive committee.
He proposes any action or means to collect funds.
Article 13. REMIT OF THE VICE-PRESIDENTS
These are the elected members of the executive committee.
They are responsible for the management of the International Fencing Academy with the Board.
In addition, they are responsible for the Commission which the President allocates to them, whether temporarily or permanently.
Article 14. AUDIT COMMISSION
This audit commission is made up of two members.
It examines the finances of the International Fencing Academy and presents a report on its financial management to congress. These checks will be carried out at the venue of the congress before it opens.
The members of the Commission are elected by the congress at the same time as the executive committee. They shall be of a different nationality to that of the Board members.
Outgoing members are eligible for re-election.
Article 15. COMPOSITION OF CONGRESS
All full members of the National Fencing Academies may attend the congress. Only the President or the duly mandated representative of his National Fencing Academy takes part in the decision making according to the following voting scale:
National Fencing Academies which are not affiliated or flot having met their financial obligations may not be represented at the congress.
National Fencing Academies which are absent from the congress may not be represented by the President or delegate of another National Fencing Academy.
Article 15. MEETINGS - CALLING NOTICES
CONGRESS
Meets every two years.
Calling notices are sent out thirty days before the date of the meeting by circular giving the Agenda and the items for discussion.
The President and the General Secretary are by full right Chairman and Secretary of the congress. They may, if need be, take on two assistants.
All full members of the International Fencing Academy may be present at the deliberations of the congress on presentation of his membership card proving his status and the payment of his subscription.
Only the President or the delegate of the represented National Fencing Academy has voting rights.
The Agenda of the congress is fixed by the previous executive committee.
No business may figure on the Agenda unless it has been communicated to the Board at least three months before the congress.
The Board of the congress is that of the International Fencing Academy.
It submits all proposals and resolutions to congress. Congress may modify the Statutes.
The congress hears the President’s and Treasurer’s reports of the executive committee. They are submitted to discussion and approval.
Congress votes on the rates of affiliation and subscription submitted by the executive committee.
The annual report and accounts, as well as the Minutes of congress are sent out, every year, to the Presidents of the National Fencing Academies.
EXTRAORDINARY GENERAL MEETING
The congress meets for an extraordinary session whenever the interests of the International Fencing Academy demand it, or at the request of the executive committee or at the request of a quarter of the duly affiliated National Fencing Academies.
Only an extraordinary general meeting can dissolve the International Fencing Academy and the allocation of its capital. In such case the presence at the congress of two thirds of the affiliated National Academies will be required and the decision will be carried by a two thirds majority vote. If a quorum of attendance is not reached, a second extraordinary congress will be called within three months. At this second assembly, the decision will be validly accepted by a two thirds majority of those National Academies present, whatever their number.
Article 17. POWERS AND REMIT OF CONGRESS
Congress is the sovereign organ of the International Fencing Academy.
When validly called and constituted, congress takes decisions which can be imposed on all members.
Members of the executive committee are responsible to congress.
Congress rules on the reports of the executive committee and directs the actions of the International Fencing Academy and gives general directives to the executive committee
QUORUM AND VOTE
Decisions of congress are taken by the majority of the voters present (see scale Article 15.) except in respect of the dissolution of the International Fencing Academy and the allocation of its capital.
Voting is by secret ballot.
Article18. RESOURCES OF THE INTERNATIONAL FENCING ACADEMY
Its resources are composed of:
Article 19 ACCOUNTS
A day to day “income and expenditure” account is kept.
The general Treasurer gives a report. on the accounts at every meeting of the executive committee.
The balance sheet is closed every year, submitted to the executive committee, checked by the audit commissioners, and presented by the Treasurer for discussion and approval by congress.
Article 20. DISSOLUTION AND LIOUIDATION
The International Fencing Academy may be dissolved when proposed of the executive committee by congress in extraordinary session.
The decision must be voted according to the rules of quorum of presence and majority provide for in Article 16, last paragraph.
In case of voluntary or forced dissolution, the extraordinary congress will decide, without appeal, after settlement of liabilities, the use or distribution of the net assets as well as the property of the International Fencing Academy.
The Board in office will be put in charge of carrying out the liquidation in accordance with the decisions of the extraordinary congress with the most extensive powers, to pay the liabilities, realise the assets, and allocate the property according to the decision of the extraordinary congress and under its control.
Article 21. RULES AND REGULATIONS
A set of rules and regulations established by the executive committee, intended to fix the details of the application of these present statutes, will be submitted to congress at the same time as the latter.
The executive committee is authorized to modify all the measures in the present rules and regulations, to add to them new measures and to remove from them existing measures in the interest of the smooth functioning of the International Fencing Academy.
All modifications are the subject of a report to congress.
Drawn up at LIÈGE, on 18th April 1990