Updated 20210512
§ 1. Company and seat
World Wide Opportunities on Organic Farms, hereinafter referred to as WWOOF Sweden, is a non-profit association based in Gothenburg.
§ 2. Purpose and purpose
The purpose of the association is to promote the ecological movement by giving people opportunities to learn mainly practically but also theoretically about organic farming. Members participate as volunteers by helping with daily chores on organic farms. Members also participate as farm hosts by accepting volunteers to help them with daily chores on the farm.
The association’s purpose is to be a tool and resource for those who want to gain practical experience of organic farming, rural life and ecologically sustainable lifestyles.
WWOOF Sweden is a religiously and politically independent association.
§ 3. Membership and fee
Any individual with an interest in working for the association’s goals can become a member.
Communication with members usually takes place via the website, email and phone but also meetings.
The member has the right to access all of the association’s commitments, such as ongoing operations, finances, etc.
The annual membership fee for volunteers and farm hosts is set annually by the annual meeting.
Membership is valid 365 days after the respective membership fee has been paid to the association.
§ 4. Withdrawal
Withdrawal takes place automatically after 365 days unless membership is renewed by paying the annual fee.
§ 5. Exclusion
A member who violates the bylaws or who clearly damages the association or opposes its aims and objectives may be expelled by the board. In the event of possible exclusion, the member concerned must be notified in writing. An excluded member can refer the matter to the annual meeting by notifying the board.
§ 6. Board
The board is elected at the annual meeting. The board shall consist of the chairman and a minimum of 3 and a maximum of 5 members and a maximum of 2 deputies.
Half of the members are elected for two years.
Valbar is a member, both farm host and volunteer. The board should consist of women and men.
The board appoints vice-chairman, secretary, treasurer and other executives as needed.
The board may appoint a person as an adjunct member. Such a member does not have the right to vote, but may, after a decision by the board, be given the right to speak and make proposals. Adjunct may be appointed to a position within the board.
The board is responsible for:
– Submit an account for the management of the association’s affairs by submitting an annual report, which must contain a report on the activities during the year (management report) as well as an account of the association’s income and expenses during the year (income statement) and for the position at the end of the financial year (balance sheet). These documents must be submitted to the auditor no later than 2 weeks before the annual meeting.
– create a budget and determine annual fees for the coming financial year.
§ 7. Nomination committee
At the ordinary annual meeting, a nomination committee is appointed for the period until the next ordinary annual meeting is held.
One of these persons is appointed to convene the election committee.
The election committee shall propose candidates for the positions of trust for which elections shall be held at the annual meeting.
§ 7. Auditors
At the annual meeting, an auditor and possibly a deputy auditor are elected for one year. The auditor’s task is to review the board’s administration and the association’s accounts.
§ 8. Company signatory
The association’s company can be signed by those the board appoints, two in association, one of whom must be a board member.
§ 9. Fiscal year
The association’s financial year includes calendar years.
§ 10. Annual meeting
The association’s decision-making bodies are the annual meeting, extra annual meeting and the board. The association members’ right to decide on the association’s affairs is exercised at the annual meeting.
Motions must reach the board no later than February 15.
The ordinary annual meeting must be held in March or April.
Notice of the annual meeting must be given on the association’s website. and sent out as an e-mail no later than two weeks before the annual meeting.
The notice must contain the agenda, motions, business report and financial report.
The adjusted minutes from the annual meeting, including all decisions, must be kept available to members no later than four weeks after the annual meeting.
At the ordinary annual meeting, the following agenda items shall be discussed:
1. Election of chairman at the annual meeting.
1. a. Question whether the annual meeting has been announced according to the statutes
2. Election of secretary for the annual meeting
3. Creation of a list of members present
4. Election of two adjusters as well as vote counters.
5. The board’s annual report.
6. The auditors’ story.
7. Determination of results and balance sheet.
8. Question about discharge of liability by the board.
9. Decision on annual fees and budget for next year.
10. Election of the chairman of the board, other board members and deputies.
a) Election of the chairman of the board. elected for a period of 1 year.
b) Election of other ordinary members. Half the number of other members of the board are elected for a period of 2 years.
c) Election of deputies deputies are elected to the board with a fixed order of rotation for a period of 1 year.
11. Election of members in elections
the preparation for a period of one year, of which one shall be appointed convener.
12. Election of auditor and deputy auditor. They are elected for a period of one year.
13. Motions.
Received motions specified in the summons are processed.
14. Other matters
15. Closure of the meeting
§ 11. Decision
When decisions are made by the board and at the annual meeting, consensus must be sought. If this cannot be achieved, at least a ⅔ majority is required for the decision to be valid.
The board is decision-making when at least 3 members are present.
Due to the spread of the association’s members across the country, the meeting participants must, when possible, be able to participate in the board meeting and annual meeting remotely, for example via telephone or video conference. Such a participant is also entitled to vote.
§ 12 Amendment of the statutes
Amendments to these statutes require a decision with at least 2/3 of the number of votes cast at two consecutive annual meetings, one of which may be an extra annual meeting. The period between these annual meetings shall be at least three months. Proposals to amend the statutes may be submitted in writing by both the member and the board
§ 13. Dissolution
Dissolution of the association requires a decision of the annual meeting with at least 2/3 of the number of votes cast at two consecutive annual meetings, one of which may be an extra annual meeting. The period between these annual meetings must be at least 3 months
If the association ends, all assets must go to the non-profit association FoWO (Federation of WWOOF Organisations, i.e. WWOOF Independents).
14. Extra annual meeting
The board can call the members to an extra annual meeting. The board is obliged to call an extra annual meeting when an auditor or at least 10% of the association’s voting members request it. Such request must be made in writing and contain the reasons for the request.
When the board receives a request for an extra annual meeting, it must within 14 days announce such a meeting to be held within two months of the request being received. The notice with the agenda for the extra annual meeting must be published on the association’s website and sent out as an e-mail to the members no later than seven days before the meeting in the manner determined by the board.
If the board fails to announce or call an extraordinary annual meeting, those who made the petition may take measures according to the previous paragraph. At an extraordinary annual meeting, only the matter that led to the meeting may be taken up for consideration.
