Important notice: The legally binding version of these statutes is the original German version. This English text is a translation provided for information purposes only.
Statutes of the Association Angiodysplasia Switzerland
1. Name and Registered Office
Under the name “Verband Angiodysplasie Schweiz” (“Association Suisse des Angiodysplasies”, “Associazione Svizzera delle Angiodisplasie”, “Associaziun Svizra d’Angiodisplasia”), an association within the meaning of Articles 60 et seq. of the Swiss Civil Code exists with its registered office at Rehweidstr. 28, 9010 St. Gallen. It is politically independent and denominationally neutral.
2. Purpose
The Association aims to promote and support patients with congenital vascular malformations (angiodysplasias) and to improve their quality of life through exchange, information and networking.
The Association promotes public health by:
- bringing together and representing the interests of persons with congenital vascular malformations in the sense of self-help;
- facilitating the exchange of experience through regular meetings and events;
- founding and supporting self-help groups;
- advising and supporting affected persons regarding their illness;
- informing the public about the concerns of people affected by congenital vascular malformations;
- developing and maintaining contacts with medical professionals and clinics in order to promote exchange between self-help groups and medical service providers and to improve care in the interests of those affected;
- international cooperation with organisations pursuing similar purposes.
The Association pursues exclusively non-profit purposes and is not profit-oriented.
3. Financial Resources
To achieve its purpose, the Association has the following resources:
- membership fees
- donations from patrons
- income from its own events
- donations and contributions of all kinds
- subsidies
Membership fees are determined annually by the General Assembly. Honorary members and current board members are exempt from paying fees.
The financial year corresponds to the calendar year.
4. Membership
Members may be natural or legal persons who support the purpose of the Association.
a. Categories
- Ordinary members: Persons who are directly or indirectly affected by congenital vascular malformations or who wish to support the purposes of the Association. They have full voting rights.
- Honorary members: Persons who have rendered outstanding services to the Association. They are appointed by the General Assembly upon proposal of the Board and have full voting rights.
- Supporting members: Persons or organisations who support the Association ideologically and financially. They have no voting rights.
b. Admission
Applications for membership must be submitted in writing to the Board. The Board decides definitively on admission.
c. Termination
Membership ends through resignation, expulsion or death.
- Resignation: Resignation is only possible at the end of the financial year. Notice must be given in writing or by e-mail to the Board at least four weeks before the end of the financial year.
- Expulsion: The Board may expel a member by a two-thirds majority after hearing the member, if there is an important reason, in particular serious violations of the Association’s objectives and interests or sustained disturbance of the Association’s harmony. The member must be given the opportunity to comment before the decision is taken. The decision is communicated in writing.
5. Bodies of the Association
The bodies of the Association are:
- the General Assembly
- the Board
- the Auditors
6. The Board
a. Composition
The Board consists of at least 3 and at most 5 members. All members are jointly authorised to sign with collective signature of two. In addition, up to 5 assessors with voting rights may be appointed by the Board.
The Board is composed of:
- President
- Vice President
- Managing Director
Otherwise, the Board constitutes itself. The Board acts on an honorary basis and is only entitled to reimbursement of expenses.
b. Term of Office
The term of office is two years. Re-election is permitted.
c. Duties
The Board manages the Association, represents it externally and performs all tasks not reserved to the General Assembly.
7. General Assembly
The supreme body of the Association is the General Assembly. An ordinary General Assembly is held annually in the first quarter.
a. Convening
Members are invited to the General Assembly at least four weeks in advance in writing, stating the agenda. Invitations by e-mail are valid.
b. Motions
Motions by members for the General Assembly must be submitted to the Board in writing and with justification at least two weeks before the meeting.
c. Duties
- approval of the minutes of the last General Assembly
- approval of the Board’s annual report
- receipt of the auditors’ report and approval of the annual accounts
- discharge of the Board
- election of the President and other Board members and the auditors
- determination of membership fees
- approval of the annual budget
- decisions on motions of the Board and members
- amendments to the statutes
- decisions on appeals against expulsions
- decision on dissolution of the Association and use of liquidation proceeds
d. Quorum
Any General Assembly duly convened has a quorum regardless of the number of members present.
e. Voting
Resolutions are passed by a simple majority of the votes cast. In the event of a tie, the chair has the casting vote.
f. Amendments to the Statutes
Amendments require a two-thirds majority of the voting members present.
8. Auditors
a. The auditors consist of one or two independent auditors or a professionally recognised fiduciary office. The term of office is two years. Re-election is permitted.
b. The auditors examine the financial and operating accounts and report to the Board for submission to the General Assembly.
c. As long as the Association does not meet the legal criteria for limited or ordinary audits (in particular under Article 69b of the Swiss Civil Code in conjunction with the Code of Obligations), the General Assembly may waive an external auditor. In this case, the Board may ensure internal auditing, subject to members’ approval.
d. As soon as the Association reaches or exceeds the legal criteria for limited or ordinary audits, the General Assembly must immediately appoint an auditor.
9. Liability
Only the Association’s assets are liable for its obligations. Personal liability of members is excluded.
10. Signing Authority
The Board regulates signing authority with collective signature of two.
11. Dissolution
Upon dissolution of the Association, the assets shall be transferred to a tax-exempt organisation with a similar purpose and with its registered office in Switzerland.
12. Data Protection
The Association collects from its members only the personal data necessary to fulfil the Association’s purpose. The Board ensures data security appropriate to the level of risk.
The Board also provides an information channel (e.g. Slack or similar) through which a member can reach all other members. This ensures that any member can convene an extraordinary General Assembly.
13. Entry into Force
These statutes were adopted at the founding meeting of 10 January 2025 and entered into force on that date.
Paragraph 11 was amended following a unanimous decision of the General Assembly on 11 January 2026.