ARTICLES OF ASSOCIATION OF ANILS

The Articles of Association (herinafter called the Articles) printed below are as unanimously approved by the Rimini General Meeting on the 7 November 1998 and confirmed by the Florence General Meeting on the 24 October 2001.

SECTION I

Art. 1 – CONSTITUTION – AUTONOMY
A.N.I.L.S. [Associazione Nazionale Insegnanti Lingue Straniere] is the National Association of Foreign Language Teachers (herinafter called the Association). The Association is independent and non-profit making and its aims are firmly in keeping with the principles sanctioned by the Constitution of the Republic of Italy. The Chairman of the Association establishes its registered office c/o Segreteria Amministrativa –Organizzativa Nazionale, currently in Via Veneto, 84 – 86100 CAMPOBASSO.

SECTION II

Art. 2 – OBJECTIVES AND ACTIVITIES

The aims of the Association are as follows:
a) to identify and to pursue the ideal professional and working conditions for Foreign Language Teachers in order to adequately meet the needs of School and Society, in close cooperation with legislative and executive bodies, Trade Union Organisations, Regional Research Institutes, Local Government bodies, Italian and foreign Cultural Associations;
b) to expand and to improve the teaching of foreign languages in schools and institutes at all levels and within all university faculties;
c) to promote the study and knowledge of all modern languages, without exception, in Italy, in full accordance with a policy of multilingualism;
d) to study general school issues regarding those aspects of a juridical and labour-related nature which concern the profession of teachers of foreign languages, delegating any necessary exploratory studies to Committees or experts designated by the National Executive Committee [Comitato Esecutivo Nazionale] (herinafter called the C.E.N.);
e) to promote the creation of foreign language teaching posts, increasing those already existing and safeguarding multilingualism within the context of the European Union;

Art. 3 – In order to achieve the above objectives, the Association aims to:

a) promote and support any initiative aimed at improving teachers’ professional knowledge, both on the cultural and on the educational and methodological – teaching front, by means of its own study and research facilities and through collaboration with other Associations or Research Centres whenever the opportunity may arise;
b) study and propose suitable means for the further development of modern language teaching;
c) organise and expand cultural exchanges with foreign countries and encourage the establishment of international cultural centres both in Italy and abroad;
d) set up and encourage correspondence and hospitality between Italian teachers and teachers in other countries; to encourage and promote scholarships for study abroad;
e) establish working groups constituted by members in order to achieve the objectives which are defined in the Articles.

SECTION III

Art. 4 – STRUCTURE: MEMBERSHIP

Membership is open to:
· Foreign language teachers, both in –service or retired;
· Modern Languages and Literature post-graduates, graduates and those who are graduating;
· Foreign language enthusiasts and experts;
· Head teachers and school inspectors of schools and institutes at all levels.

An annual subscription shall be paid in order to become a member or to renew membership of the Association.
The subscription fee shall be determined by the National Committee, which shall also establish the amount due to the Administrative Office and to the Regional Societies respectively.
However, Regional Societies may modify the annual subscription fee for justified local needs or initiatives organised by that Society.
On registration the member shall receive a membership card with their personal details and an annual stamp as a receipt attesting membership.
Registration may be carried out at the Regional Society where the member resides or, if there is no Regional Society in the area, through the Administrative Office.
Members who are resident abroad shall be registered at a Special Division instituted c/o the Administrative Office, which shall deal with them directly. The Administrative Secretary shall represent them at the General Meeting (herinafter called GM), provided that delegation has been granted.
Members shall be distinguished as follows: Founder Members, Associate Members, Full Members and Honorary Members.
Founder, Associate, Full and Honorary Members shall have the right to proxy vote and entitlement to franchise and eligibility for the election of all the Bodies provided in the Articles.
Honorary members shall have entitlement to advisory vote and may not hold social positions within the Association.
Honorary Membership may be awarded, upon the proposal of his/her Regional Society and subject to approval by the National Committee, to people and educational Organisations and Institutes which have contributed towards the development and growth of the Association.

Art. 5 – RIGHTS AND DUTIES

All Members have the right to:
a) promote and/or join the activities defined by the Articles and organised both locally and nationally;
b) join Committees and study or research groups within the Association;
c) receive free copies of the official journal of the Association entitled “Scuola e Lingue Moderne”.
Members shall:
1) conform to the bye-laws of the Association and resolutions of the General Meeting and National Committee;
2) promote the Association, its objectives and activities to other colleagues;
3) promote the development and growth of the Association, both on a local and a national level, introducing new members and supporting the establishment of new Regional Societies.

The Association is organised both at a local and national level. The Organs of the Association are as follows:
1.The Regional Society;
2.The Regional Society Committee;
3.The Regional Society Chairman;
4.The GM;
5.The National Committee;
6.The C.E.N.;
7.The Administrative Office;
8.The Educational – Cultural Division;
9.The Language Policy and Institutional Relations Division;
10.The National Chairman;
11.The Board of Auditors;
12.The Arbitration Committee.

Art. 7 -THE REGIONAL SOCIETY

The Regional Society shall be constituted by the registered members of a defined territory.
A Regional Society may be established in any geographical location provided that there are at least 10 (ten) members with proxy vote.
Regional Society Members shall be convened by the outgoing chairman to an Assembly for the election by secret ballot of the Regional Society Chairman, the Regional Society Committee and, every three years, the Regional Society Delegates for the GM. The Assembly as a rule shall be held within 60 (sixty) days and in any case not later than 6 (six) months after the conclusion of the GM.

Art. 8 – THE REGIONAL SOCIETY COMMITTEE

The Regional Society Committee elected according to the procedures as provided in Art. 7, consists of at least three members including the Chairman or of an odd number of advisors proportional to that of the members of the Regional Society.
The Committee has the task of:
a) encouraging and organising, together with the Chairman, the Regional Society’s activities;
b) observing the bye-laws and the resolutions of the National Council, the CEN and Assemblies of the Members of the Regional Society;
c) promoting the acceptance of Honorary Members;
d) taking preliminary action in controversies among members and disciplinary cases.
All the foreign languages taught in schools and institutes at all levels in the territory are represented on the Regional Society Committee.
In accordance with a policy of multilingualism, to which the Association is firmly committed, monolingual groups may be created within Regional Societies or on a National level.

Art.9 – THE REGIONAL SOCIETY CHAIRMAN

The Regional Society Chairman, nominated according to procedures provided in Art. 7 above, represents the Regional Society and he/she shall:
a) organise the running and the management of the Regional Society together with the Society Committee, in full co-operation the Society Members;
b) promote and co-ordinate activities as defined in the Articles with the cooperation of the Regional Society Committee and/or by Committees designated for that task and shall inform the Members of such initiatives;
c) preside over the Committee and the Assembly of the Regional Society Members convened either by him/herself or on the request of at least a third of the Members;
d) designate a secretary to record the minutes of meetings and the decisions adopted;
e) keep the minute book in his/her own personal care, undersigned by the Secretary and by him/herself. The Chairman is also required to send a copy of the minutes of the elections of the Delegates for the GM to the Administrative Secretary;
f) call at least one Regional Society Members Assembly a year, during which he/she shall illustrate the activities promoted and organised in that Society and plans for future initiatives;
g) maintain contact with the other Organs of the Association and with external organisations and institutions in order to establish a basis of mutual cooperation for the organisation of planned activities.

Art.10 – THE GM 

The GM is the Association’s supreme deliberative body. It consists of:
· The National Chairman
· The National Counsellors
· Three Standing Auditors
· Three Standing Arbitrators
· Delegates elected directly by the members of each Regional Society

Delegates hold a number of votes equivalent to the number of registered Regional Society Members holding proxy vote, whom they represent.
The GM shall be convened every three years by the National Chairman who presides over it until the election of the new Chairman.
The GM can also be convened in exceptional circumstances on justified request of the National Council or at least of a third of the members of the Association.
The GM shall:
a) discuss reports of the C.E.N. and the three Secretary’s Offices and either approve said reports or reject them;
b) propose or coordinate the activities of the Association;
c) nominate the National Chairman, the National Council, the Board of Auditors and the Arbitration Committee;
d) examine possible proposals for the modification of the Articles or the Bye-laws provided that least a third of the members are represented and the proposals obtain the approval of half plus one of those who have a right to vote.

Art. 11 – THE NATIONAL COUNCIL

The National Council is the deliberative authority of the Association during the period between each GM.
It is elected by the GM and it consists of the National Chairman, who presides over it, and 16 Counsellors.
In its first meeting, the National Council designates the National Counsellors:
1) the Vice-Chairman
2) the Administrative Secretary supported by:
3) the Treasurer
4) the members administration officer
5) promotion and development strategies officer
6) the Educational and Cultural Secretary responsible for the journal, with the following subdivisions:
7) European projects
8) New technologies
9) Primary School
10) Middle School
11) High School
12) University
13) The coordinating Secretary for relations with the Institutions, including:
14) Contacts with the Ministero Istruzione, Università e Ricerca (M.I.U.R) [Ministry for Education, University and Research]
15) The Press Office
16) Italian as a foreign language

The National Council may co-opt a further three members or experts in scientific, educational fields or who represent specific geographical areas and for the study of Italian as a foreign language. Furthermore, it may, on a temporary basis, commission research by third parties for the study of specific problems.

The National Council shall:
a) enact the resolutions of the GM;
b) promote, manage and co-ordinate the general activity of the Association, providing information about initiatives undertaken both to the other Organs of the Association and to all Members and also to external Organisations and Institutions;
c) approve the Final Balance and the Budget of the Association presented by the Treasurer.

ART. 12 – THE NATIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE (C.E.N.)

The C.E.N. comprises the National Chairman, the Vice-Chairman, the Administrative Secretary, the educational-cultural Secretary and the Secretary for relations with the Institutions. It is the executive Organ of the Association in charge of the enactment of the GM resolutions and those of the National Council.
In urgent cases the C.E.N. shall decide on whatever timely action may be particularly useful and necessary in the interests of the Association; it shall authorise the implementation or reimbursement of possible expenses sustained by the National Councillors, subject to subsequent ratification by the National Council; the C.E.N. shall examine any proposals for the modification of the Articles and of the Bye-laws and shall submit them to the GM for examination, discussion and approval or rejection.
For decisions taken and its actions the C.E.N. shall answer to the National Council and the GM.

ART. 13 – THE ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE

The Administrative Office, appointed by the Council, is made up of a Secretary, who is also the secretary of the C.E.N., of a Treasurer, of a policy management officer and a promotion and development strategy officer.
It shall:
1. coordinate administrative, organisational and teaching activity at a national level;
2. handle the financial administration of the Association, for which it answers to the National Council;
3. produce all official administrative and tax records of the Association, whose registered office is, for all these procedures, c/o the National Administrative Secretary;
4. present to the National Council, at the beginning of each solar year, the Final Balance of the previous year and the budget for the following, set out according to the directions of the C.E.N. Attached to the Final Balance and the Budget, undersigned by the Secretary him/herself and by the National Chairman, illustrative reports are required from the Board of Auditors, which shall be convened for this purpose;
5. present to the GM a report on activities undertaken and on the management and the overall working of the Association.

ART. 14 – THE EDUCATIONAL-CULTURAL OFFICE

The educational-cultural Office is formed by a Secretary who works together with those Members in charge of the areas as provided by Art. 11.
The educational-cultural Office shall draw up cultural and professional in-service training programs; organise activities at a national level and cooperate with the Regional Societies for those at a local level; examine the effectiveness of initiatives undertaken and propose possible modifications.
It shall also maintain contacts with the other Offices, with the editorial staff of the Journal and with the Press Officer.
In addition the educational-cultural Office shall produce and illustrate to the GM its report on initiatives undertaken by the Association.

ART. 15 – THE NATIONAL CHAIRMAN

The National Chairman is elected by the GM, of which he/she is a member by right and shall officially represent the Association in Italy and abroad.
The National Chairman may be chosen, unless the GM shall decide differently, among the Vice-Chairman and the three national Secretaries.

The National Chairman shall:
a. designate the Vice-Chairman choosing him/her from among the elected councillors.
b. supervise the general activity of the Association, in order to ensure that such activity conforms to the mandate of the GM and to the resolutions of the National Council;
c. convene the GM every three years and chair the proceedings until the election of the new Chairman;
d. call and chair the meetings of the National Council and of the C.E.N.;
e. direct and control the Editorial Staff of the official journal of the Association;
f. maintain relations with cultural, administrative and political authorities;
g. present a report to the GM on the general activity of the Association.

Art. 16 – THE NATIONAL VICE-CHAIRMAN

The Vice-Chairman shall cooperate actively with the National Chairman and substitute him in case of absence or forced impediment.
In case of permanent vacancy of the Chairman’s position, the Vice-Chairman shall carry out the Chairman’s duties until the subsequent GM.
Certain areas of the National Chairman’s competence may be delegated to the Vice-Chairman by the former.

Art. 17 – THE BOARD OF AUDITORS

The Board of Auditors is made up of three permanent members and two temporary members elected by the Congress.
The Board of Auditors shall supervise the regularity of the general administration and accounting of the Association and all the documentation relative thereto. The Board shall, therefore, be present at the meeting of the National Council for the approval of the Final Balance and of the Budget, drawing up a report which shall be attached to the former.
The Board shall present a report regarding its specific areas of competence to the GM.

Art. 18 – THE ARBITRATION COMMITTEE

The Arbitration Committee is made up of three permanent members and two temporary members elected by the Congress.
The Arbitration Committee shall examine disciplinary cases and disputes among Association members and adjudicate each case without the faculty of appeal against decisions taken by the said Committee.
The Auditors and the Arbitrators may not hold an executive position within the Association other than the Regional Society.

Art. 19 – THE JOURNAL

The official journal of the Association is the periodical review “Scuola e Lingue Moderne”
The National Council shall elect the Editorial Board of the review. The National Chairman and the Educational-Cultural Secretary are automatically members of the Board.

SECTION IV

Art. 20 – FUNDING

The funding of the Association shall be provided for by subscription fees, funds raised by other means and the interest earned on its capital investments.

Art. 21 – TERMS OF OFFICE

All the offices of the Association, whether national or local, shall be honorary and free and last three years, from one GM to another.

Art. 22 – WINDING-UP OF THE ASSOCIATION

The winding-up of the Association can only be decided by a GM convened for this purpose. In such an eventuality, liquidation will supervised by the CEN, unless the GM decides otherwise.

Art. 23 – OFFICIAL SIGNATURE

The Association is pledged by the National Chairman’s signature or, if impeded for any reason, by that of the National Vice-Chairman.

SECTION V

Art. 24 – DISCIPLINE WITHIN THE ASSOCIATION

Members who are found to have held conduct contrary to the norms of the present Articles or such that their continued membership of the Association has become undesirable, shall be referred to the Arbitration Committee which may take the following disciplinary measures:
a) censure
b) expulsion
Censure may be inflicted by the Regional Society Committee and the member shall have the right to appeal to the Arbitration Committee against this measure.
Expulsion may only be decreed by the Arbitration Committee with full justification. In such a case, the member shall have no right of appeal.

SECTION VI

Art. 25 – BYE-LAWS

With regard to what is not indicated in detail in the present Articles, reference should be made to the Bye-laws from which it is derived and of which it is an integral part.
The Bye-laws and possible proposals for integration or modification are also discussed by the GM as provided by Art. 12, letter d.

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