GENERAL PROVISIONS
SUBJECT
Art. 1. The present Articles of association shall govern the establishment, organisation, activity and the termination of Association „MONTESSORI SOCIETY BULGARIA”.
Art. 2. The Association shall be established as non-profit legal entity pursuant to the Law on Non-Profit Legal Entities (LNPLE).
NAME, REGISTERED OFFICE AND ADDRESS OF MANAGEMENT
Art. 3. The name of the non-profit organisation is „ИНСТИТУТ МОНТЕСОРИ БЪЛГАРИЯ”. The same shall be written in English as equivalent „MONTESSORI SOCIETY BULGARIA”.
Art. 4. Full name, registered office and address of management, as well as data on the court registration shall be indicated in all documents and issues of the Association.
Art. 5. Registered office and address of management: city of Sofia, 6 Bolgrad Str.
TERM
Art. 6. The activity of the Association shall be for indefinite period or shall not be restricted by other condition for termination.
OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION
Art. 7. The Association is based on the idea of active support of the development of Bulgarian schools, promotion of European and global methodologies of education in the Montessori method, building values in children and young people , and aims:
1. To strengthen the recognition on and spread the pedagogical principles and practice formulated by Dr. Maria Montessori, and the development of Montessori community in Bulgaria for raising awareness of the natural way for child’s development in the family, school and society.
2. To support the establishment and further development of Montessori programs in public schools, promoting equality among students and among pre-school children by promoting continuity between successive classes by creating conditions for better perspective in education.
3. To encourage educators, parents and those working with children to apply the Montessori ideas and principles for education and actively support the human development.
4. To assist the establishment of and support to Montessori schools and programs is a way more children to have access to Montessori education.
5. To encourage and support research studies and initiatives of the Montessori philosophy and principles of education and human development.
6. To support the development of favourable learning environment in Bulgarian schools and recognition of Montessori education and principles with governmental bodies, education authorities and other institutions.
7. To support the objectives of AMI (Association Montessori Internationale) for upholding and spreading the pedagogical principles and practice formulated by Dr. Maria Montessori for the full development of the human being by:
• upholding the rights of the children in society;
• helping children to grow and develop naturally in the family, school and society;
• making known the child’s importance for the progress of civilisation.
8. To enrich the personal culture of children and young people and their knowledge and understanding of the world by active connection with the nature and intercultural activities.
9. To develop in children and young people respect to self, others and environment, commitment and responsibility to the learning process, cooperation and time management.
10. To improve and build on the confidence, respect, adaptability, emotional intelligence, self-reliance and curiosity of children and young people.
11. To educate critical, creative and discovery thinking in children and young people.
12. To stimulate the self-motivation in children and young people.
13. To promote and encourage schools to impose a multidisciplinary approach that puts the child in the centre of the educational environment and stimulates active learners, which leads to improvement of the children’s education in Bulgarian and foreign languages, applied mathematics, culture, music and art awareness among young people and support their development as global citizens.
14. To promote the participation of children and young people in society, to support social inclusion and personal accomplishment.
15. To uphold the pedagogical principles and practice formulated by Dr Maria Montessori, which ensure the independence of the child’s personality through successive stages of growth until he reaches full normal development by means of his own activity.
16. To support additional training and qualification for teachers on innovative teaching methods based on Montessori education.
17. To promote and support AMI teacher education.
18. To promote and engage parents and their participation in the active process of education and co-operation with children.
19. To co-operate with other organisations for development of education, human rights and peace.
20. To promote and work for the creation and implementation of initiatives in the economic, social, cultural, environmental and civil aspect, related to the development of the regions in the Republic of Bulgaria and its integration into the systems of European and global education in the member states of the European Community and the EU.
MEANS OF ACHIEVING THE OBJECTIVES
Art. 8. The means of achieving the objectives of the Association are:
1) Active participation of the members in the work of the association, according to the membership structure.
2) Raising funds through introductory fees and regular membership fees.
3) Fundraising (physical and financial), through donations, sponsorships and other sources permitted by law and the development of rules for their use and distribution to achieve the objectives of the association.
4) Development and participation in projects in the field of education, sports and culture in public schools in order to achieve the objectives of the association;
5) Providing information to children and young people about the opportunities offered to them by various European and other donor programs;
6) Active partnership with government institutions, non-governmental organisations, regional and local authorities;
7) Making contacts with international organisations working in the same field and possible membership in international organisations with similar activity;
8) Organising and conducting workshops, conferences, seminars, round tables and training courses in specialised training curriculum and syllabi;
10) Organising and conducting tender procedures in the field of activity of the Association;
11) Supporting municipalities in building a successful Public-Private Partnerships (PPP) in order to attract investors;
12) Organising public discussions with the relevant interaction with state and public institutions;
13) Establishing cooperation with organisations, institutions and persons in the country and abroad for timely exchange of unclassified information and collaborative work on projects of mutual interest in order to achieve the objectives of the association;
14) Creating and participation in peer networks with local and international organisations and
institutions;
15) The Association may cooperate with local and foreign persons and legal entities, organisations, non-profit organisations, foundations and government institutions in relation to accomplishing its goals.
Art. 9. To achieve its objectives, the Association may do additional business activity, as well as any other activity not prohibited by law and linked to the main business activity which is registered for the Association, namely:
1). Intermediary activity, consultancy, providing expert services to its members and to other persons related to the business activity;
2). Publications, dissemination of information to municipalities, preparation of periodicals and other publications;
3). Organising and conducting trainings in various forms in cooperation with AMI training centres and foreign participation;
4). Studies in the field of local self-government, and all other activities permitted by law and in compliance with the objectives of the Association.
The control on the business activity performed shall be carried out by the Managing Board.
The income from activity of the Association shall be used to achieve the objectives set out in the present Articles of association.
The Association does not distribute profit.
PROCEDURE FOR DETERMINING THE AMOUNT AND MANNER OF PAYMENT OF PROPERTY CONTRIBUTIONS
Art. 9a. Each member is required to make property contributions.
Art. 9b. The members of the association “MONTESSORI SOCIETY BULGARIA” pay introductory membership fee, according to their rank as per Art. 13 of the Articles of association, payable within 1 /one/ month as of the date of registration of the association at the amount of:
– 120 /a hundred and twenty/ BGN for each initial member.
– 160 /a hundred and sixty/ BGN for each full member;
Art. 9c. All members of the Association owe monthly membership fee further voted by the General Assembly, payable by the 10th date of the next month.
Art. 9d. If necessary, members may make additional cash or property contributions, the decision for which is made by the General Assembly.
TYPE OF ACTIVITY
Art. 10. The Association is established to conduct activity for PRIVATE BENEFIT as per Art. 2, para 1 of the Law on Non-Profit Legal Entities.
BUSINESS ACTIVITY AND FINANCING
Art. 11. 1) The activity of the Association is determined for private benefit and is funded by membership fees, donations, grants, project financing.
2) The business activity of the Association is to strengthen the awareness on and spread the pedagogical principles and practice formulated by Dr. Maria Montessori, and the development of Montessori community in Bulgaria for raising awareness of the natural way for child’s development in the family, school and society; to support the establishment and further development of Montessori programs in public schools, promoting equality among students and among pre-school children by promoting continuity between successive classes by creating conditions for better perspective in education; to encourage educators, parents and those working with children to apply the Montessori ideas and principles for education and actively support the human development; to assist the establishment of and support to Montessori schools and programs is a way more children to have access to Montessori education; to encourage and support research studies and initiatives of the Montessori philosophy and principles of education and human development; to support the development of favourable learning environment in Bulgarian schools and recognition of Montessori education and principles with governmental bodies, education authorities and other institutions; to support the upholding and spreading the pedagogical principles and practice formulated by Dr. Maria Montessori for the full development of the human being; to enrich the personal culture of children and young people and their knowledge and understanding of the world by active connection with the nature through sports and activities; to promote and encourage schools to impose a multidisciplinary approach that puts the child in the centre of the educational environment and stimulates active learners, which leads to improvement of the children’s education in Bulgarian and foreign languages, applied mathematics, culture, music and art awareness among young people and support their development as global citizens; to promote the participation of children and young people in society, to support social inclusion and personal accomplishment; to uphold the pedagogical principles and practice formulated by Dr Maria Montessori, which ensure the independence of the child’s personality through successive stages of growth until he reaches full normal development by means of his own activity; to support additional training and qualification for teachers on innovative teaching methods based on Montessori education by promoting and supporting AMI teacher education; to promote and engage parents and their participation in the active process of education and co-operation with children; to promote and work for the creation and implementation of initiatives in the economic, social, cultural, environmental and civil aspect, related to the development of the regions in the Republic of Bulgaria and its integration into the systems of European and global education in the member states of the European Community and the EU. The Association can offer support to other organizations and entities whose objectives coincide with those of the Association, and to be a member of international organizations of similar activity. The Association can carry out its activities with other organizations, associations, institutions and foundations, as well as to associate with other non-profit legal entities. To achieve its goals to preserve and increase its property, the Association may enter in the country and abroad transactions of any kind, including to acquire and dispose of property rights, securities and intellectual property rights.
3) The Association may, by the will of its governing bodies, establish separate funds to achieve specific goals.
PRINCIPLES OF THE ASSOCIATION
Art. 12. Principles:
• Freedom of choice and voluntary participation;
• Respect the interests of all members according to their level of membership in the Association and provide opportunities to participate in the projects of the Association;
• Cooperation, trust, free expression of opinions, certainty;
• Encouraging initiative, activity and participation;
• Promotion of new ideas and programs;
• Creativity, creating own individuality, tradition and innovation;
• Openness and transparency of the Association to the public;
• Independence and neutrality;
• Political neutrality as to nationality, race, sex, religion and language.
MEMBERSHIP
Art. 13. Membership in the Association is voluntary and is individual and/or collective. It is based on membership structure and levels of membership relations between the association and its members, built on the following model:
– Initial individual member of the Association: can be an adult, able-bodied Bulgarian or foreign natural person who accepts these Statutes and assists in achieving its goals and tasks and whose application is approved by the Manager of the Association.
– Full individual member of the Association: 1) can be an Initial individual member of the Association who holds a bachelor’s degree (or higher) and a Montessori diploma from AMI (Association Montessori Internationale), as certificates of attendance at seminars do not give the right to a Full membership; or 2) can be an Initial individual member of the Association who, for the last 3 (three) years of membership, has worked actively for the fulfilment of its mission, goals and tasks and whose application has been approved by the Manager of the Association.
Members with right to vote in the General Assembly of the Association are only the Full members. Initial and Associate ones are entitled to a deliberative vote in the General Assembly of the Association.
In case of discrepancy between the opinion of full members and those with deliberative vote, the General Assembly should give sanction and to rule in writing on the different opinion of the members with deliberative vote.
Membership rights and obligations, except for the property ones, are non-transferable and are related to the personality of their owner, and they do not pass on to other persons in case of death, respectively termination. The fulfilment of membership obligations and the exercise of membership rights cannot be granted to another person following appropriate authorisation.
Art. 14. Membership in the Association shall be subject to membership fee.
Art. 15. Each legally capable Bulgarian or foreign natural person and / or legal entity wanting to benefit from the activities of the association and to comply with the Articles of association, may become a member.
Art. 16. New members shall be admitted by decision of the Managing Board, in compliance with the following procedure:
– The applicant shall submit written application to the Managing Board for admitting in the Association, he/she shall become aware of the Articles of association of the Association and shall declare that he/she accepts it and agrees to pay the introductory and other property contributions and membership fee.
– Membership in the Association shall originate from the date of the decision of the Managing Board;
– The Managing Board may refuse to admit the applicant as a member of the Association.
Art. 17. Termination of membership:
1). By unilateral statement by member to the Managing Board;
2). In case of death or seizure;
3). In case of non-compliance with the Articles of association of the Association, after decision of the Managing Board;
4). In case of non-participation in the activity of the Association within 6 months.
Art.18. Each member of the Association shall be entitled:
1). To participate in all activities of the Association, in accordance with his/her level of membership indicated in Art. 13 of the Articles of association;
2). To be informed about its activity.
Art. 19. The members of the Association shall be obliged:
1). To comply with the provisions of the present Articles of association and to implement the decisions of Governing Bodies of the Association;
2). To raise the prestige of the Association and not to perform actions and inactions contrary to its objectives and not to discredit it;
3). To participate regularly and actively in the activity of the Association.
BODIES
Art. 20. Organization bodies:
1). General Assembly /GA/;
2). Manager;
3). Chairman.
GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Art. 21. The General Assembly shall be the supreme body of the Association. All active members of the Association shall participate in it, but the decisions of the General Assembly shall be taken only by members who have the right to vote.
Competency. General Assembly shall:
1). Adopt, amend and supplement the Articles of association;
2). Adopt other internal regulations;
3). Elect and dismiss the Managing Board, its members and the chairman of the Association;
4). Take decisions for participation of the Association in other organisations;
5). Take decisions for transformation or termination of the Association;
6). Adopt basic guidelines and a program for the activity of the Association;
7). Approve the budget of the Association and the ways of spending the resources, as well as to take decisions on owing and amounts of the membership fees or of the property contributions;
8). Approve the report on the activities of the Managing Board;
9). Repeal decisions of other bodies of the Association, which are contrary to the law, the Articles of association or other internal regulations regulating the activity of the Association.
10). Take other decisions laid down in the Articles of association.
Art. 22. General Assembly shall be held:
General Assembly shall be held:
1). The regular General Assembly shall be held at least once per year.
2). Extraordinary General Assembly may be convened at any time by the Managing Board.
3). General Assembly shall be convened by the Managing Board by invitation in writing or electronically, sent at least two weeks before it should be held.
4). General Assembly may be convened upon initiative (request) by one third of the members of the Association who have a right to vote in the General Assembly.
5). At the General Assembly a list of the participants shall be prepared.
6). Sitting of the General Assembly is available if there is quorum i.e. half of the members of the Association plus 1.
7). In the event of lack of quorum the General Assembly shall be postponed by half an hour as from the preliminary indicated time. In case of repeated lack of quorum the sitting shall be held regardless of the number of attending members.
8). The General Assembly shall be chaired by the chairman and minutes of meeting shall be prepared, filed in a special book /for minutes of meetings/.
MANAGER
Art. 23 The Association is managed by a Manager.
1) The Manager exercises the powers of the Management Board under Art. 31 ZULNTS.
2) The manager is elected by the General Assembly for a term of 2 /two/ years. Until a new Manager is elected, the old one continues to perform his functions.
3) The manager can be re-elected without restrictions.
4) The manager is obliged to fulfil his duties, observing the Statute and in the interest of the Association.
5) The manager admits, dismisses and expels members.
6) The manager determines the order and organises the performance of the activities of the Association. Prepares and submits to the General Assembly an annual report on the activities of the Association, ensures the implementation of the decisions of the General Assembly.
CHAIRMAN
Art.24. The Chairman shall represent the Association and shall have the following obligations:
1). To distribute work among the members of the Managing Board.
2). To chair the General Assembly.
3). To set the agenda of the General Assembly.
4.) To represent the Association before state authorities, international organisations and third parties.
FINANCIAL RESOURCES OF ACHIEVING THE OBJECTIVES OF THE ASSOCIATION
Art. 25. Sources of financial resources for performing the activities of the Association are as follows:
1). Donations and sponsorship;
2). Revenue from own property;
3). Resources from programs and projects funded by domestic and international organisations;
4). Revenue from the activity of the Association;
5). Revenue from additional business activity.
6). Other permitted by the law.
Art. 26. The Chairman is the only person who has the right to dispose of with the funds of the Association. In turn, he/she may authorise a member of the Managing Board to perform financial operations with the funds of the Association.
TRANSITIONAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS
Art. 27. Changes of the present Articles of association may be performed under the procedure laid down in it and under the Law on Non-Profit Legal Entities.
Art. 28. Any issues not regulated in the present Articles of association, as well as concerning the interpretation and the application of its provisions, the provisions of the Law on Non-Profit Legal Entities shall be applied, as well as any other related laws of the Republic of Bulgaria. In case the provisions of the present Articles of association contradict to the law, they shall be substituted, as a rule, by its imperative rules.
Art. 29. The existing and activity of the Association shall be for indefinite period.
Art. 30. The Articles of association shall enter into force on the date of entering in the Court register.
TERMINATION
Art. 31. Termination of the Association:
1). The decision for termination shall be taken unanimously by decision of the General Assembly of the Association.
2). In case of declaring insolvency;
3). By decision of the competent court where the registered office of the Association is, pursuant to the grounds provided in the Law on Non-Profit Legal Entities.
Art. 31а. The termination of the Association shall involve procedure for liquidation, except for cases of Association transformation.
1). The Managing Board shall proceed to liquidation under the procedure laid down in the legislation.
2). The property remaining after the satisfaction of creditors shall be delivered to Non-profit legal entity with the same or similar non-profit objective.
3). Where the property is not delivered pursuant to the previous paragraph, it shall be delivered to the municipality where the registered office of the Association is.
FINAL PROVISIONS
Art. 31.1. For all issues not mentioned in the Articles of association the Law on Non-Profit Legal Entities and the common civil legislation shall be applied.
Art. 31.2. The present Articles of association shall be adopted by the Constituent Assembly of the association “MONTESSORI SOCIETY BULGARIA”.