Articles of the Association  “Principality of  West Antarctic Fund”

Art.1 Name, location and term
The association established in Malta is “ Principality of West Antarctic Fund”.
The address of the Association headquarters is 31-33, Emm. Attard Street, St. Venera SVR1311, Malta.
The duration is unlimited; its eventual dissolution must be approved by the shareholders in the manner provided by this Statute.
Art.2 Purpose
The “Principality of West Antarctic Fund” is an association of a non-profit cultural and moral character. 
Its purpose is the protection of the environment and support, including economic, of the Principality of West Antarctic:
- Environmental protection and solidarity among peoples for the protection of the Antarctic continent;
- The protection of biodiversity;
- The promotion of renewable energy, sustainable development, rational use of natural resources and ecology;
- The creation of synergies on issues related to the application of the Kyoto Protocol and development cooperation;
- The involvement of professional associations, public authorities, businesses and civil societies on environmental issues related to the support of Antarcticland;
- The collection, processing and dissemination of scientific and technological information for the protection of Antarcticland;
The promotion of technical and vocational training of professionals in environmental, economic and tourism sectors; development through measures deemed most appropriate, studies, projects and initiatives with innovative scientific and technological content, which could lead to a positive impact on social life worldwide; the promotion of human rights, of free movement of people and goods worldwide; the development of culture in the world.
To achieve this purpose, the Association of the Principality of West Antarctic Fund:
Promotes the convergence of  academic, economic, financial sectors and those subjects engaged in the conservation and management of natural heritage;
- Promotes the growth of networks between national and international operators in the industry to disclose and disseminate tools, models and methods in line with corporate objectives;
- Provides consulting, support and scientific research on behalf of public and private companies, associations and civic societies;
- Organizes all types of events related to corporate objectives;
- Organizes conferences, seminars and round tables, taking care of the dissemination of results;
- Ensures the dissemination of information and scientific dissemination, through regular publications and monographs or books;
- Participates in projects and promotional initiatives on issues of related interest;
- Organizes and conducts technical and professional training;
- Generally performs all those activities that are useful or necessary for protecting the environment, sustainable development and promotion of renewable energies in the State of Antarcticland, working in national and international public and private companies, associations and civil societies with similar purposes.
The association's activities will also be regulated by special regulations.
Art. 3 Associates
The association is composed of
a) Founder members;
b) Individual Members;
c) Corporate members;
d) Sponsoring Members;
e) Honorary Members;
f) Patron Members.
The Founding members are those who founded the Association: 
Giovanni Caporaso Gottlieb (President), 
Philippe Chircop (Vice-President and Treasurer)
Individual members are individual persons who are entitled to one vote each.
Corporate members are public and private bodies, associations of scientific and cultural non-profit organizations, institutions and research centers, universities, companies, group practices.
Sponsoring Members are entitled to be represented in the Assembly by one delegate for each agreement signed, each of which is entitled to one vote.
Honorary members are Associations of a scientific and cultural genre, non-profit organizations and research centers, bodies, and Universities, which are entitled to be represented in the Assembly by one delegate for each registration, each of which is entitled to one vote.
Patron Members are organizations or individuals who wish to demonstrate their
interest in the aims of the association and are entitled to one vote each.
Patron members are selected from among Organizations and personalities, Italian and foreign, with particular competence who have given significant contributions toward the development of topics regarded as being of interest by the Association.
Sponsoring Members are those who support the association through a significant financial contribution or through bequests or donations.
The minimum annual registration fees, reviewed annually by the Executive Board are:
a) Individual Membership: € 10.00 (ten euro);
b) Collective members:
- Public and private institutions, businesses, University, Associates: € 150.00 (one hundred and fifty euro);
- Scientific and cultural associations, non-profit organizations, institutions, research centers and universities: € 100.00 (one hundred euro);
c) Supporting Membership: € 50.00 (fifty euro);
d) Honorary membership: € 1,000.00 (one thousand euro).
The voluntary activities of members are provided at no charge.
Members are required to respect and adhere to the statutory requirements, shareholder resolutions, the Board and payment of annual membership fees related to its own competence.
Membership status is lost due to resignation, debts, unworthiness and any conduct that goes contrary to the purposes of the Association.
Members who wish to withdraw from the Secretariat must give written notice to the Association by the end of September of each calendar year or will be liable for paying the designated fee for that current year. Defaulting members shall be relieved of their active status after two written solicitations. Forfeiture of the member or unworthiness for conduct contrary to the objectives of the Association shall be decided by the Board of Directors.
All those who wish to participate in the group must prepare a "proposal for membership" in written form on paper or in electronic format.
Membership status is awarded upon submission of the "proposal for membership" and after paying the membership fee. The Board of Directors, within 90 days from the submission of the proposal for membership, may exclude the member, at the same time stating reason for its decision.
The status of a member cannot be transferred to third parties by an ‘inter vivos’ act.
Art. 4 Income
The proceeds of the Association are constituted by:
a) the members’ registration fees;
b) contributions, loans, grants and donations that are received in any form or any regular manner;
c) residues from previous management and any other income not mentioned in this article. 
The distribution of surpluses, funds, reserves or capital, is prohibited unless it is required by law. 
The Association is bound to utilize profits or operating surpluses for the creation of institutional activities and/ or those directly related to its objectives.
Art.5 Heritage
The Assets of the Association shall consist of fees and other income received and invested in equipment for the organization of social activities and movable or immovable property acquired by the Association. 
All assets and inventories shall be described in the company accounts and shall be drawn up according to law.
The Bodies of the Association are:
a) The Executive Board of Founders;
b) The President;
c) The Vice-President;
d) The Secretary-General;
e) The Scientific Committee;
f) The Auditor (or the Board of Auditors) if appointed;
Members of these Offices shall render their services on a complimentary basis.
The Executive Board may propose to the Board the reimbursement of possible expenses.
Art.6 The Executive Board of Founders
The Executive Board of Founders is the highest administrative body of the Association and has all executive powers of deliberation. The members may be replaced only upon resignation or death. New members may be appointed by the Board or the General Assembly of Members.
The General Assembly of Members is made up of members who are up-to-date with their fee payments, who have been enrolled for at least one year, convened for consultative meetings, which may also be held by electronic means and must be approved by the Board of Founding Members.
The Board of Founders shall hold ordinary and extraordinary meetings.
The Board of Founding Members shall:
a) approve the report of the Association and the balance sheet and budget of each financial year prepared by the Board of Directors;
b) approve amendments to the byelaws;
c) approve the dissolution of the Association;
d) elect the members of the Board of Directors;
e) elect the auditor or, if there are more than one, the members of the Board of Auditors, if necessary;
f) elect, if deemed appropriate, an Honorary President, who is well-known and among the members, determining his term of office;
The Assembly may be held at the registered office or in different places as determined by the Board, and shall be convened with an agendum to be sent to all members by e-mail at least twenty days before the fixed date.
The meeting and its agendum may also be published in the official web site of the association (www.principalityofwestantarctic.com).
The Founding Members of the Board shall be convened in ordinary sessions, at least once a year, to approve budgets by the end of June.
It may also be convened in extraordinary sessions, whenever deemed appropriate, at the request of the President.
The Assembly is valid at the first convocation with the presence of more than 50% of the members; the second meeting, to be held when at least one hour has elapsed after the first, will be valid with 2 / 3 of the members.
Resolutions are passed by a majority vote.
Amendments to the byelaws must be voted in favor by the majority of those present.
Approval of the dissolution or transfer of assets shall require the favorable vote of at least two-thirds of the members. In case of dissolution, the assets of the Association will be donated to organizations and associations pursuing similar objectives. 
The provisions of the Civil Code of Malta shall apply, in this regard.
The Presidency of the Board of Founders of the Association or, in his absence, the Vice President, shall appoint a Secretary of the Assembly. Members of the Board of Directors and the Auditors shall be elected by a secret majority vote by the Board of Founders.
Art. 7 The President 
The President shall be the signee and legal representative of the Association for third-parties and legal matters, and shall convene and preside on the Board of Founders, and shall perform in his capacity for all acts not expressly reserved for these bodies, and which were delegated to them. He is also authorized to open, move and settle current accounts and banking, in connection with social funds.
In consultation with the Executive Board, the President shall assume the responsibility of recruiting and allocating personnel, to officiate in their designated positions, lasting up to 10 years in office.
The President may delegate to a trusted person the conduction of postal and banking operations.
Art.8 The Vice-President
The Vice President shall assist the President and perform such other functions delegated by him. The Vice-President shall act as President, in case of the President’s inability to attend, and also as Treasurer.
Art.9 The Secretary General
The Board of Founding Members shall appoint the Secretary General, which post can also be appointed ‘Ad Hoc’.
The Secretary General shall be responsible for the implementation of the guidelines approved by the Board of Directors, directs and coordinates the activities of all sectors of the Head Office; supervises the compatibility of initiatives undertaken by the sections with the policies and economic guidelines adopted by the Association. He shall also certify the Minutes of the Board of Founders.
Art.10 Scientific Committee
The Scientific Committee is an advisory body, composed by persons or entities specializing in evaluating matters of a scientific and academic nature.
The Scientific Committee shall be appointed by the Board of Founders.
Art.11 Auditor
The Auditor shall, if necessary, be appointed by the Board of Founders and shall remain in office for 2 years. The Assembly may decide to increase the number of auditors to a maximum of 3 (Board of Auditors) as necessary.
The Auditor or the Board of Auditors, shall carry out checks and control of all administrative and accounting documents of the Association, and in particular shall examine the annual budget, reporting to the Board of Founders.
Art.12 Organization Tools
The peripheral organization of the Association is made up of sections established on an international basis, supported by Delegates. These sections shall be regulated by a Regional Coordinator.
Delegates and Regional Coordinators are appointed by the Founders. The Board of Founders shall have the power to revoke the mandate given to the Directors and the Regional Coordinators, in the event of non-compliance.
Art.13 Budget and Financial
The fiscal year starts from the Association’s Registration date and ends on December 31 of each year, from then on.
The annual figures, as well as the budget for each year, shall be available to members at the Administrative Office of the Association.