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Association of Chess Professionals

Article 1

An association coming under the French Law of July 1, 1901 and Decree of August 16, 1901 (relating to not-for-profit organizations) is created between the adherents to the present statutes. The name of the association is Association of Chess Professionals (ACP).

Article 2 . Purpose

The association's purpose is the protection of professional chess players' rights, the practice and promotion of chess worldwide, in particular through the organization of chess tournaments and other chess events.

Article 3 . Address

The association's head office is located 5 rue Mornay 75004 Paris.
It can be transferred by simple Board decision, approval by the general assembly will be necessary.

Article 4 . Duration

The duration of the association is unlimited.

Article 5 . Membership

Chess players having the FIDE title of International Master (IM and WIM) and International Grandmaster will automatically become members upon the payment of the membership fee. However, if a candidate for membership has in the past committed acts contradicting the principles stated in Article 6 of the ACP Statutes, the Board has the right to refuse him membership, provided this decision is supported by 6 out of 9 Board members. In this case, the refusal notification should be sent to him by E-mail, and his membership fee returned to him.

The persons having none of the above mentioned titles may apply for admission. These persons are chess trainers, chess arbiters, chess organizers, chess teachers, chess journalists, presidents of chess club. This list is not exhaustive. They will have to prove that chess constitutes an important part of their professional activity. Their admission will be submitted to the approval of the Board and, in case of acceptance, they will have to pay the same membership fee as the other members. In case of refusal, the Board must explain the reasons of the decision and send a notification by E-mail.

Article 6 . Members' commitments

Members commit themselves to respect the other members. freedom of thought and abstain from any social, religious or political discrimination, as well as any acts which may harm the Association's interests.

Article 7 - Membership fees

Members must pay an annual membership fee by the date set up by the Board. The amount is to be fixed every year by the Board.

Article 8 . End of membership

The status of member is lost by:

• decease,
• resignation which has to be sent in writing to the Board,
• failure to pay in due time the membership fee
• expulsion due to the member violating Article 6, provided that the expulsion is supported by 6 out of 9 Board members; the notification must be sent by E-mail to the member.

Article 9 . Revenues

The revenues of the association include:

• the total amount of subscriptions
• subsidies from the state and territorial bodies
• revenues from exceptional events
• sales to the members
• all resources authorized by the law

Article 10 - Accountancy and annual budget

The treasurer holds a comprehensive accountancy of all revenues and expenses.

The annual budget is adopted by the Board before the beginning of the fiscal year.

The fiscal year coincides with the calendar year.

It cannot exceed twelve months except for the first fiscal year.

The accounts must be approved by the general assembly within twelve months after the fiscal year closing.

Article 11 . Agreements

Any contract or agreement passed between the association, on the one hand, and an external administrator or consultant, on the other hand, is submitted to the Board for authorization and presented for information at the next general assembly.

Article 12 . The Board

The association is runby a board of 9 members elected for 2 years by the general assembly (Article 15).

The Board's function is, among others, to initiate debates concerning official tournaments rules, proposals to improve professional players' conditions, to search for sponsors in order to organize tournaments under the aegis of the association, to establish the agenda of the ordinary general assembly, etc.. This list is not exhaustive.

Members already holding another post in an international federation cannot be elected to the Board.

The seats will be distributed proportionally between male and female members according to the fixed ratio of 80% for men and 20% for women.

All members over 16 years are eligible and re-eligible.

The Board elects among its members a president, a treasurer and a secretary.

The president represents the association in all civil acts.. In particular, he or she has authority to go to court on behalf of the association.

The secretary is in charge of anything related to correspondence and archives.. He takes the minutes of meetings and assemblies and, in general, any writings related to the association's operation, except for those concerning accountancy.

He holds the special register provided for by article 5 of the law of July 1, 1901 and articles 6 and 31 of the Decree of August 16, 1901.

He ensures that the formalities prescribed by these articles are executed.

The treasurer is in charge of holding or having held under his control the accountancy of the association.. He makes all payments and receives, under the supervision of the President, all sums due to the association.

He cannot dispose of the assets constituting the reserve fund without the authorization of the Board.

He holds a regular accountancy of all the operations he performs and reports to the annual General Assembly, which approves his management.

In case of vacancies, the board provides with a replacement of its members, until the next elections.

Article 13 . Board meeting

The Board gets together at least once every six months, when summoned by its president or at the request of at least 5 of its members. Board meetings can be held on the Internet.

Decisions are taken by asimple majority of all Board members' votes, except in the cases described in Articles 5 and 8. The president has a casting vote.

Meetings are subject of minutes.

Article 14 - Remuneration

The members of the Board are entitled to the reimbursement of their expenses on written proof; travel expenses will be reimbursed on the fiscal administration scale.. Their functions are voluntary.

Article 15 - Ordinary general assembly

All ACP members have the right to take part in the General Assembly (GA).

They are summoned either by:

• press
• billing in club premises
• an information bulletin
• or the internet site of the association

at least three weeks before the assembly is held.

The notification will include the agenda's project, which will be set up by the Board.

Members will have two weeks to ask the Board to include their questions in the agenda. The final agenda should be published one week before the assembly is held.

GA is held every year within twelve months after the closing of the fiscal year.

GA can take place on the Internet and all votes can be held on the ACP official site, including the Board election.

Decisions are taken by secret ballot by a simple majority of the voting members.

GA elects every second year the members of a Board. The vote is only valid if 1/2 of all members participate in it.

GA is entitled to make amendments and additions to the Statutes.

The president, assisted by the members of the Board, presides over the Assembly and expounds the situation of the association.. The treasurer reports his management and submits the balance sheet to the assembly's approval.

Minutes of the meeting will be taken.. They are signed by the president and the secretary.

Article 16 - Extraordinary general assembly

Extraordinary General Assembly (EGA) can take place on the Internet and all votes can be held on the ACP official site.

EGA is competent to modify the statutes, decide on dissolution and merger of the association.

It is summoned by the president as stated in article 15.

It also meets at the request of at least one third of the members, or at the Board's request.

Decisions are taken by secret ballot by a simple majority of the voting members.

Minutes of the meeting will be taken.. They are to be signed by the president and the secretary.

Article 17 - Internal rules

The Board can decide to establish internal rules, which will be submitted to the general assembly for approval.

They are mandatory for all the members of the association.

Article 18 . Dissolution

Dissolution is pronounced by the extraordinary general assembly, which appoints a liquidator.

Assets will be devoted as per article 9 of the law of July 1, 1901, to an association pursuing the same objective.

Only the French version is authentic