Statutes

STATUTES OF THE INTERNATIONAL KODÁLY SOCIETY

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1. The name of the Society

The name of the Society shall be: International Kodály Society (IKS).

2. The seat of the society

The Seat and Executive Office of the Society shall be at Budapest, Hungary.

3. Aims of the society

The aims of the International Kodály Society shall be the world-wide propagation of the musical, educational and cultural concepts associated with Zoltán Kodály for the benefit of music generally and in particular for the educational advancement of children and youth. The Society shall serve as an international forum for all who are active in the spirit of the Hungarian master as composer, scholar and educator.

4. Functions and powers

4.1. To achieve these aims the Society shall have power to undertake such activities as shall in its opinion promote the objectives of the Society.
4.2. Without limiting the foregoing, international, national and regional conferences may be organized under the auspices of the IKS, it may assist members with the publication and distribution of relevant materials, it may publish books, CDs and other materials including a Bulletin, to serve as a channel of communication for scientific research, musical composition, performance, teaching, and such other matters as pertain to the work of the Society.
4.3. The Society stands ready to advise and assist government and private agencies, educational and pedagogical institutions, school authorities, etc. with respect to theoretical and practical matters which arise in the adaptation of the work of Zoltán Kodály to national, regional or local conditions.
4.4. The Society welcomes active co-operation with other organizations of related interest, e.g. UNESCO or the International Society for Music Education.
4.5. The Society shall operate on a non-profit basis. It might only pursue any entrepreneurial activity as a secondary activity.

II. MEMBERSHIP

The Society is made up of Individual and Institutional Members from all over the world, regardless of their nationality, who are devoted to the Society's aims.

1. Individual Members

1.1. Individual Members are invited to take part in the activity of and attend events organized by the Society.
1.2. They have the right to vote and to be elected.
1.3. They have the duty of paying the membership fee.

2. Institutional Members

2.1. Institutional Members are organizations or institutions having similar objectives as the IKS.
2.2. Institutional Members will appoint within their organization a person representing them, holding a mandate to vote and be elected.
2.3. They have the duty of paying the membership fee.
2.4. Institutional Members may seek affiliation.
2.4.1. Affiliation can be as National Institutional Member or Local Institutional Member.
2.4.2. To obtain affiliation, they have to apply, and fulfill the conditions for affiliation as described in chapter III. (Affiliation).

III. AFFILIATION

Affiliation can be as:

a) National Institutional Member
b) Local Institutional Member.

1. Affiliated National Institutional Members

1.1. Affiliated National Institutional Members are organizations that have similar objectives as the IKS and represent a country nationwide.
1.2. They have to meet the following criteria:
a) to be organized as a democratic society
b) have their statutes in line with those of IKS
c) be an organization that is open to membership
d) hold regular general assemblies and elections
e) make sure that their President is an Individual Member in good standing of the IKS.
1.3. Only one organization per country can be recognized as ‘Affiliated National Institutional Member’.
1.4. Affiliated National Institutional Members have the duty to send an annual report on their activities to the Board of IKS and to encourage their members also to become members of IKS

2. Affiliated Local Institutional Members

2.1. Affiliated Local Institutional Members are organizations or institutions that have similar objectives as the IKS but do not represent a country nationwide.
2.2. Their professional standard has to meet the quality required by the IKS.

IV. ORGANIZATION

1. General Assembly

1.1. Individual members exercise ultimate control over the affairs of the Society meeting in the General Assembly.
1.2. The General Assembly will meet yearly. The members will receive the announcement for the meeting, the invitation to attend and the Agenda of the General Assembly at least 2 months prior to the date of the meeting. Requests for changes in the Agenda or additional points to the Agenda have to be sent in writing at least 1 month prior to the date of the meeting.
1.3. The General Assembly has a quorum if at least 50 % of the membership plus 1 person are present. If the General Assembly does not have a quorum, a new General Assembly can be announced for the same day one hour later, with the same agenda. This General Assembly shall then have a quorum for the issues of the original agenda irrespective of the number of members present bearing voting rights.
1.4. The General Assembly may with a simple majority, by open voting:
a) ratify the election of the members of the Board,
b) disallow any of the decisions of the Board,
c) order extraordinary elections if the current Board would fail in its duties,
d) decide in all other matters referred to its exclusive competence by the Statutes.
1.5. The General Assembly may with a two-third majority, by open voting:
a) create and amend the Statutes,
b) decide in questions related to an eventual fusion with another society or the dissolution of the  Society.
1.6. 50% of the General Assembly + 1  person are needed to demand, if judged to be necessary, a ‘secret voting’.
1.7. An extraordinary General Assembly can be called together on a joined demand of at least 50 members.

2. Board of Directors

2.1. The Society shall have a Board of Directors consisting of a President, two Vice-Presidents, a Secretary-Treasurer and three Directors. Members of the Board of Directors shall be elected for a period of four years.
2.2. Mrs Sarolta Kodály shall be invited to be the Honorary Life President of the Society and a full voting member of the Board.
2.3. The immediate Past President shall be a member of the Board with full voting rights.
2.4. Five members of the Board present shall constitute a quorum of the Board.
2.5. In case of absence during a board meeting the duties of the President are carried out by one of the Vice-Presidents and the duties of the Secretary-Treasurer by one of the Directors.
2.6. In case of permanent absence the position of the President is assigned to one of the Vice-Presidents and the position of the Secretary-Treasurer to one of the Directors by a simple majority vote of the Board. The assignment is for the duration of the original mandate or till the General Assembly can appoint a new President and/or Secretary-Treasurer.
2.7. In case of permanent vacancy of at least four of the positions of the Board, extraordinary elections will have to take place.
2.8. The Board is charged with the conduct of the Society's activities subject to these Statutes and to the directions of the General Assembly. The Board shall report regularly to the General Assembly. The Board shall meet at least once a year.
2.9. The Board may make by-laws to regulate the conduct of the Society's affairs.
2.10. The Board shall appoint working committees ad hoc, as needed, to deal with specific aspects of the Society's affairs.
2.11. There shall be an Executive Secretary appointed by the Board, who shall serve on the Board ex officio as a non-voting member.

3. Committee of Auditors

3.1. There shall be a Committee of Auditors ratified by the General Assembly at the same time as the Board, consisting of three members and two alternates. A member of the Board or the Executive Secretary cannot be a member of the Committee of Auditors.
3.2. The Committee of Auditors shall report the results of its financial findings to the General Assembly.

V. ELECTIONS

Elections shall be held every two years for the renewal of half of the members of the Board and the Committee of Auditors. Terms of office shall be for four years.

1. Election Committee

1.1. The conduct of the elections shall be in the hands of an Election Committee (EC), appointed by the General Assembly.
1.2. The EC shall consist of three members of the Society, one of whom shall be designated as the chairperson. The EC shall represent a broad geographical distribution of membership.
1.3. No member of the present Board can be a member of the EC.
1.4. Members of the EC cannot be candidates for the current elections.
1.5. Upon request of the EC the membership has the right to nominate any member in good standing for a position in the Board or the Committee of Auditors, except members that hold a mandate in the current EC.
1.6. If necessary the EC may add more candidates to provide a broader choice.

2. Extraordinary elections

Extraordinary elections are to be carried out if the organization of the Society can no longer be ensured by the current Board or if the General Assembly orders it.

VI. MANAGEMENT

1. The business management of the Society shall be discharged by the Executive Secretary who shall direct the Executive office, and shall represent the Society in legal and financial matters.
2. The Executive Secretary shall report to the Board.
3. The Executive Secretary, with the consent of the Board may seek professional aid if the organization of the Society requires so.

VII. DUES AND FINANCIAL RESOURCES

1. Individual and Institutional Members pay the annual membership fee. For promotion of the Society, the Board may exceptionally waive the fee of Individual Members.
2. The fee will be prescribed by the Board of Directors.
3. Any member who fails to renew his/her membership fee shall be called upon in writing to fulfill his/her duty within a set deadline. Not meeting that deadline will result in termination of the membership.
4. The Board may fix charges for the Society's publications and activities.
5. The Board may solicit and accept money and other assistance for the Society's activities from outside persons, institutions and governments.
6. The Board may accept donations.
7. The incomes from membership fees, publications, outside resources and donations constitute the assets of the Society.

VIII. FUSION OR DISSOLUTION OF THE SOCIETY

1. The Society shall cease to exist if :
a) it fuses with another organization,
b) its dissolution is decided by a two-third majority of the General Assembly,
c) it is dissolved by or declared defunct by the court.
2. In the event of dissolution and after all legal arrangements concerning the social and financial implications of the dissolution with regard to those employed by the Society have been settled, the remaining assets shall be donated to a similar organization with the stipulation that the money should be used for awarding scholarships.

IX. AMENDMENT

The Statutes may be amended by a two-third majority of the General Assembly on a motion submitted to the membership at least two months prior to the meeting of the General Assembly.

X. MIXED PROVISIONS

1. The official languages of the Society shall be Hungarian and English. Other languages shall be used as and when the need arises. Because English is an official language of the Society there will also be an English translation of the Hungarian Statutes. However, in legal matters only the Hungarian text is applicable.
2. The Seal of the Society shall be a round seal with the circular inscription: International Kodály Society.
3. For use with Hungarian banks there shall be a round seal with the same inscription surrounding the number 1975.
4. In questions not regulated in these Statutes Act. II of 1989 and related other rules are applicable.