European Mahjong Association - Statutes

The association shall be called the European Mahjong Association (EMA).

1. The European Mahjong Association (EMA) shall be a society registered in Denmark.

2. EMA‘s headquarter shall be situated in Denmark. The Board shall determine the location of the registered office of EMA.

1. The purpose of the association is to encourage, disseminate and coordinate the playing of mahjong in Europe. The association is a non-profit organization with no political or religious purpose.

2. In accordance with this purpose, specific objectives shall be

• to encourage and support the creation of national mahjong associations throughout Europe
• disseminating the Mahjong Competition Rules (MCR) as the international standard rule set
• ensuring the organizing of European Championships on a regular basis
• disseminating information on different sets of rules
• disseminating information on tournaments and championships
• the establishment of guidelines for tournaments and championships
• the establishment of guidelines on rankings of players in Europe
• to represent the interests of European mahjong players inside and outside of Europe
• to take such other actions as may be expedient to further the main purpose

1. Membership of EMA is open to national Mahjong organizations based in internationally recognized European countries which are responsible for the organization and implementation of mahjong-related matters in their countries. Exceptions to the geographical aspect may be made by the General Assembly.

2. Inaugural members of EMA are the following national organizations (in alphabetical order):

• Austria: Österreichischer Mahjong Verband
• Denmark: Mahjong Danmark
• France: Féderation Française de Mah-Jong
• Germany: Deutsche Mah-Jongg Liga (DMJL) e.V.
• Hungary: Magyar Mah-jong Szövetség
• Italy: Federazione Italiana Mah Jong
• Netherlands: Nederlandse Mahjong Bond

3. A national Mahjong organization that wants to become a member of EMA shall submit a written application for admission. The General Assembly has the power to accept or refuse an application for membership. The Board may admit a national Mahjong organization into membership on a provisional basis. A decision on full admission must be taken at the next General Assembly.

4. Countries without national Mahjong organizations can be represented in the General Assembly of EMA by persons in an advisory capacity.

1. A member organization may withdraw its membership in written form with a minimum of three months before the end of a year. If a member organization is dissolved, its membership of EMA shall terminate at the same time.

2. A member organization may be excluded from EMA if it has

• failed to settle its financial obligations towards EMA
• seriously breached these Statutes or a regulation or decision made under them
• lost its qualifying status as a representative national Mahjong organization

3. The exclusion of a member organization shall be decided by General Assembly. The exclusion must be supported by three-quarters or more of the General Assembly, and at least half of the total number of member organizations must be present.

The association shall be financed by such subscriptions from national organizations or representatives as are decided by the General Assembly, as well as any donations, sponsorships and other income legally obtained.

§7. General Assembly

1. The General Assembly is the highest authority of EMA. The business of the assembly will be carried out in English.

2. Members of the General Assembly are

• two representatives of each member organization, entitled to vote
• two representatives of each country without a member organization, in an advisory capacity.

3. In case of disagreement within a country without member organization as to who should be representatives, the nominees with the most supporters for their candidature are accepted. When representatives are chosen under such circumstances, new representatives must be chosen after one year with re-election possible.

4. The General Assembly takes place every other year. The President of EMA is the chairman of the General Assembly. The Board determines the time and the form of the General Assembly and must announce this and a preliminary agenda at least eight weeks in advance. The agenda should include the following items:

• Appointment of a notetaker who will prepare minutes of the General Assembly
• Report of the President
• Reports of the chairmen of existing committees
• Election of President, Vice Presidents and further members of the Board
• Creation of any new Committees
• Sitings of future European Championships
• Items proposed to the General Assembly
• Any other business

5. Items proposed by a member and received by the Board at least three weeks in advance of the General Assembly must be included in the agenda.

6. The final agenda should be announced at least two weeks in advance.

7. Only proposals included on the agenda may be voted upon at the General Assembly. Within the item "Any other business" no voting shall take place on matters which would substantially affect the association.

8. Normal business of the General Assembly will be carried by a majority of votes (exceptions: §11-12), omitting abstentations.

9. Any representative of a member organization may be a candidate for President, Vice Presidents and the Board.

1. At the request of either the Board or four member organizations, a Special General Assembly must be called. The Board will decide the date and form of the assembly in consultation with those members desiring the assembly. The announcement and agenda of the Special General Assembly must be circulated to all members not later than one month after receiving the call and at least four months in advance of the assembly.

2. Items proposed by a member and received by the Board at least three weeks in advance of the Special General Assembly must be included in the agenda.

1. The Board comprises at a minimum five members, including the President and two Vice Presidents. Further positions and Board members may be added at the discretion of the General Assembly.

2. The Board shall not include more than one representative of the same member organization.

3. The term of office of the members of the Board shall be two years. All members shall be eligible for re-election.

4. The affairs of the association are managed by the Board in the period between the annual General Assemblies.

5. The President and one of the Vice Presidents shall have signature rights.

6. At each General Assembly the President presents the yearly final balanced account, subject to acceptance by the General Assembly.

1. The General Assembly or the Board can install Committees. Committees installed by the Board must be announced to the members within 30 days.

2. A Committee can have any number of members. One of the members must be appointed Chairman by the Committee. The Chairman will report to the annual General Assembly on the activities of the Committee.

3. Activities, finance and limitations for a Committee must be defined by the Board or the General Assembly. Any such decisions by the Board must be presented at the next annual General Assembly for approval.

1. Changes of the statutes can take place at any General Assembly where such a proposal is included in the agenda.

2. In order to be accepted, the changes must be approved by a two-thirds majority at this assembly.

1. Dissolution of the European Mahjong Association can take place at any General Assembly where such a proposal is included in the agenda.

2. In order to be accepted, the changes must be approved by a three-quarters majority at this assembly.

3. In the event of liquidation of the European Mahjong Association, the property has to be divided in accordance with the purpose of the association. This is done by the final General Assembly.

These statutes first came into effect at the First General Assembly, Nijmegen, NL, June 25th 2005. They were changed at the Second General Assembly, Copenhagen, DK, June 22nd, 2007.