OM IHG

THE INTERNATIONAL HYPNOTISTS GUILD BYLAWS

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§ 1 Name

The name of the organization is The International Hypnotists Guild.

 

§ 2 Purpose

The purpose of the guild shall be to convey knowledge of all forms of hypnosis and to further the reputation of hypnosis.

 

The guild shall be an assemblage where science, research, religion, psychology, medicine, folk religion, entertainment and mental training, as well as other areas in which hypnosis is practiced, are to foregather.

 

The guild shall fulfill its purpose through:
–  proffering ethical rules
–  conducting and/or supporting research
–  helping to verify and certify existing knowledge
–  educating about hypnosis and related areas
–  informing on current legislation pertaining to hypnosis related business
–  gathering and spreading objective and unbiased information via the guild’s web site, newsletters and other adequate media
–  acting as spokesmen toward the press and the public
–  being an open and unbiased forum for discussion
–  promoting expansion and development of the craft of hypnosis through mentoring and other    guiding  methods
–  contributing to increased interest in hypnosis through various activities
–  upholding quality assurance of active members
–  working as a positive inspiration and as an ambassador for hypnosis through its members and activities
–  being at the disposal of consumers of hypnosis related services in its representative capacity.

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§ 3 Seat

The seat of the guild is in the municipality of Stockholm, Stockholm County.

 

§ 4 Membership

Membership in the guild can be granted to those who wish to work for the purpose of the guild and who oblige themselves to actively follow both the bylaws and ethical rules of the guild.

There shall be two membership levels; the interested and the active practitioners.
The board of the guild can also grant honorary memberships.

 

§ 5 Membership fees

Members shall render the membership fee as appointed by the guild’s yearly general meeting. Honorary members are exempt.

 

§ 6 Board

The board shall consist of no fewer than three and no more than five full members along with the number of alternate members required by the work situation.

The board constitutes itself and appoints a chairman, a vice chairman, a secretary and a treasurer. During absences, an alternate member will take a full member’s seat. Should a full member resign before his or her end of term, an alternate member will take his or her seat until the next yearly general meeting.

 

§ 7 Duties of the board

The board shall represent the guild, guard its interests and conduct its business. The board shall make decisions on the guild’s behalf unless otherwise established in these bylaws. The board shall execute the decisions made at the yearly general meeting, administer the guild’s finances, keep its books and submit the annual financial statement to the yearly general meeting.

The board shall convene when the chairman so requires or on the request of no fewer than three board members.

The board shall make decisions only when a quorum of no fewer than three board members is present. Decisions of the board shall be made through simple majority. In the event of a tie, the chairman’s vote shall be decisive; this also applies to written votes.

Two of the guild’s founders shall be board members. Or else two equally knowledgeable in the guild’s history and field of knowledge shall be appointed by the yearly meeting or the board.

The guild’s authorized signatory shall be appointed within the board.

 

§ 8 Financial year

The guild’s financial year shall comprise one calendar year.

The board’s annual financial statement shall be handed to the guild’s appointed auditor on March 1st at the latest.

 

§ 9 Auditors

The board shall not appoint auditors. Audits shall be undertaken yearly and reviewed by a suitable person. The annual financial statement shall be submitted on April 1st at the latest.

 

§ 10 Yearly general meeting

The yearly general meeting is the guild’s highest decision-making body. The yearly general meeting shall be held every year before the end of the year, at a time and a place designated by the board.

Invitations to the yearly general meeting shall be sent in writing to all members one month before the yearly general meeting at the latest and two weeks before an extra yearly meeting at the latest.

 

Agenda

The following shall take place at the yearly general meeting:

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1.     Opening of the yearly general meeting
2.     Approval of the agenda
3.     Election of the chairman and the secretary of the yearly general meeting
4.     Election of two attestants as well as vote counters
5.     Asking if the meeting has been properly advertised according to the bylaws
6.     Determining the electoral register
7.     Presentation of:
        a) The board’s annual report on the past business year.
        b) The board’s operations report (income statement) on the latest business year/fiscal year.
8. Presentation of the audit report on the latest business year/fiscal year.
9. Decision to approve the income statement
10. Asking if the meeting can grant the board members discharges
11. Setting of the membership fees
12. Setting of the possible operations plan and addressing the budget for the next business/fiscal year.
13. Decisions on the number of board members, alternate board members, auditors and alternate auditors
14. Election of board members and alternate board members
15. Election of auditors and alternate auditors
16. Election of the election committee
17. Questions from the board to the yearly general meeting and matters notified on time by guild members
18. Other questions
19. Closing of the yearly general meeting

Decisions on financial matters urgent to the guild or its members shall not be made unless stated in the invitation to the yearly general meeting.

 

§ 11 Extra yearly meeting

Extra yearly meetings shall be advertised when the board or auditors find it necessary or when no fewer than 1/3 of the guild’s members so require of the board in writing. The written request shall clearly state which matters the members request the meeting to address. Beside matters according to the items 1 – 6 aforementioned, only matters which have been advertised to the yearly meeting and stated on the invitation to the yearly meeting shall be addressed at the extra yearly meeting.

 

§ 12 Voting right

Every guild member shall have one vote at the yearly general meeting. The right to vote is personal and voting by proxy shall not be practiced. However, attendance shall be possible through means of Skype, telephone or equivalent technology. The conditions for possible digital attendance shall be set by the board before the invitations to the yearly general meeting are sent.
Only members who have fulfilled their commitments toward the guild in accordance with these bylaws and the law shall have the right to vote.

 

§ 13 Decisions and voting

Decisions shall be made through acclamation or, if so requested, through voting.

Voting shall be open, except for elections with secret ballot if so requested. Decisions shall be made through simple majority, unless these bylaws demand otherwise. In the event of a tie, the chairman’s vote shall be decisive. However, during elections ties shall be settled by the drawing of lots.

Board members shall not part-take in the decision-making on discharges regarding administrative measures for which he or she is responsible, nor in the election of auditors.

The yearly general meeting shall form a quorum through the number of members with the right to vote in attendance. Only those who have been members of the guild no fewer than three months prior to the yearly general meeting shall have the right to vote.

 

§ 14 Rules for bylaws amendment

In order to amend these bylaws, a decision is required by the next yearly general meeting and by an extra yearly meeting by no fewer than 2/3 of the votes. Both members and the board alike may propose amendments of the bylaws.

 

§ 15 Secession

Members who wish to secede the guild shall give notice to the board in writing and shall thereafter immediately be granted secession from the guild.

 

§ 16 Expulsion

Members can be expelled after neglecting to pay the set membership fee, working against the guild and its purpose, breaking the ethical rules or in other ways deliberately damaging the guild’s interests and reputation.

Matters of expulsion can be settled once the member has been notified about the circumstances leading up to the expulsion. The decision of expulsion shall be made when the member has been given the opportunity within 14 days to speak. The grounds for the expulsion shall be declared in the decision. The decision shall be the concerned party at hand within 14 days of it being made.

 

§ 17 Dissolution of the guild

In order to dissolve the guild, a decision is required by the next yearly general meeting and by an extra yearly meeting by no fewer than 2/3 of the votes. Should the guild be dissolved, the guild’s assets shall be consigned to Doctors without Borders, the Peaceful Heart Network or an equivalent non-profit organization in the spirit of the International Hypnotist’s Guild.

The decision on the dissolution of the guild, together with the minutes from the yearly general meeting and the extra yearly meeting in which the decision was noted, shall thereafter be sent to the proper authority for cancellation of the organization.