NAME

§ 1
The association is named Terre des Hommes Denmark (TDH Denmark) with the subtitle “Help for Children in Need.”

PURPOSE

§ 2
Terre des Hommes Denmark aims to help distressed children in accordance with the International Terre des Hommes Charter of April 30, 1966 (see appendix) with the following addition:

TDH Denmark assists through sponsorships and patronages, providing impoverished children with education, food, vaccinations, and other essential health costs. Support for self-help projects that can stimulate development, self-sufficiency, and income generation in a local area is also highly prioritized.

The association is a member of the International Terre des Hommes.

Excerpts from the Terre des Hommes Charter

I

1. Whenever a child, regardless of where or when in the world, is subjected to hunger, misery, loneliness, or suffering and pain, Terre des Hommes will take immediate and effective action to help the child.
2. When a child is found, and permission is obtained from the authorities and responsible persons, Terre des Hommes will seek to rescue the child with the means best suited to the particular emergency situation.
3. The child will be nourished, cared for, healed, and placed with good foster parents, ensuring a life that corresponds to the child’s rights, expectations, and demands. The child is guaranteed loving and competent help in their own country or, if circumstances prevent this, in another country.

II

1. Terre des Hommes workers act in the name of justice, without any form of political, religious, or racial bias. Their work is not done out of condescension but only as fraternal help from human to human, often anonymously. Terre des Hommes consists of determined, voluntary, and well-meaning relief forces with the sole and common goal of rescuing children in need. For these children, they will be life facilitators, guaranteeing their survival and providing help and comfort.
2. Terre des Hommes will attempt to awaken humanity’s conscience and sense of responsibility towards the child and bring people together humanely to alleviate the indescribable suffering of countless children and create opportunities for these children to face the future with security.

III

1. The International Terre des Hommes consists of the national Terre des Hommes associations, represented by each country’s delegates. The number of delegates from each country is independent of the number of groups in the countries.
2. No association or committee is entitled to adopt the name Terre des Hommes unless it declares its loyalty to this charter and is accepted into the International Terre des Hommes Federation. This membership must be confirmed in writing by the International Terre des Hommes and must precede the establishment of any national chapter of Terre des Hommes.

MEMBERS

§ 3
Individuals and businesses that can support the association’s purpose can become members upon payment of the membership fee set by the general assembly.

Businesses that sign up for membership do not have voting rights. Only personal membership grants voting rights.

The board may deny admission of a member.

§ 4
The association is led by a board of 7-9 members.

The chairman and treasurer are elected at the ordinary general assembly (see § 9).

The board constitutes itself with a vice-chairman and a secretary.

If the chairman or treasurer should leave the board during a term, the board constitutes itself for the rest of the term. Neither of these two positions can be constituted longer than until the next ordinary general assembly.

Board decisions are made by a simple majority vote. In the event of a tie, the chairman’s vote is decisive, or in his/her absence, the vice-chairman’s vote. The board is quorate when at least 5 members are present.

Board meetings are held when the chairman or at least two board members request it.

The chairman convenes board meetings. As far as possible, with two weeks’ notice and at a time that can be approved by a majority of the board members.

Minutes of the board meeting are recorded. The draft minutes are sent to the board members and presented for approval at the next board meeting.

The chairman, vice-chairman, treasurer, and secretary constitute the administration committee, which is responsible for coordinating and controlling the association’s daily operations.

The board may establish committees to handle tasks within the association’s purpose.

§4a
The board may exclude individuals with a 2/3 majority vote.
The exclusion takes immediate effect.
An excluded person cannot demand that the exclusion be brought before the general assembly.

§ 5
The association is represented by the chairman, the vice-chairman, and the treasurer jointly. The board may grant bank and postal power of attorney.

§ 6
If a board member leaves during the year, the board must supplement itself with the alternate with the highest seniority.

REMUNERATION

§ 7
Board members receive no remuneration for their work but are only entitled to reimbursement for direct expenses such as travel, etc., according to receipts, with prior agreement with the Administration Committee, following the current instructions (guidelines, manuals, etc.).

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

§ 8
The general assembly is the supreme authority of the association. Decisions are made by a simple majority, with the exceptions listed below in § 12.

Members of the association have the right to participate in the general assembly. Each member has one vote. Only persons who have been members for at least 3 months before the general assembly have the right to vote. A member must also have been a member for at least 3 months to be eligible for election to the board/alternate.

Voting rights are exercised by personal attendance at the general assembly.

The general assembly is chaired by a chairperson elected by the assembly, who decides on voting procedures and other matters. Written voting is carried out if the chairperson desires it or if at least 15 of the members present demand it.

The general assembly is convened by the board with at least 3 weeks’ notice by announcement on the website, in the newsletter, and/or by email to each member.

The notice must include the agenda according to § 9.

§ 9
The ordinary general assembly is held annually in April or May at a location determined by the board.

Agenda for the ordinary general assembly:

1. Election of chairperson and 3 vote counters
2. Report on the association’s activities during the year.
3. Presentation of the audited accounts.
4. Determination of membership fees.
5. Consideration of any proposals submitted by the board or members.
6. In odd years, election of the treasurer and 2-3 board members and 2 alternates. The elections are valid for 2 years. In even years, election of the chairman and 3-4 board members and 2 alternates. The elections are valid for 2 years.
7. Election of auditor (registered/state-authorized).
8. Any other business.

Proposals from members must be received by the chairman no later than 14 days before the general assembly to be included on the agenda (including extraordinary general assemblies). Proposers must attend the general assembly and present the proposal.

§ 10
An extraordinary general assembly is convened by the board and must be held when the board decides or if requested by at least 50 members, specifying the agenda.

An extraordinary general assembly is held no later than 8 weeks after the request has been made.

ACCOUNTING

§ 11
The association’s fiscal year runs from January 1 to December 31.

At the end of the year, deductible contributions are reported to the Tax Authority in accordance with the law.

The auditor elected by the general assembly has the right to request all information regarding the accounts from the board.

AMENDMENTS TO THE BYLAWS ETC.

§ 12
Amendments to the bylaws and decisions on the dissolution of the association can only be made at a general assembly if at least ¾ of the members present vote in favor.

Upon dissolution of the association, any remaining funds shall be donated, as decided by the general assembly, to another association with a general charitable or otherwise public-purpose objective benefiting children abroad.

BYLAWS

Adopted at the founding general assembly on September 16, 1967, with amendments on September 8, 1968, September 13, 1970, October 28, 1973, September 28, 1974, September 27, 1975, September 30, 1978, September 26, 1981, September 29, 1984, September 21, 1985, September 24, 1994, September 30, 1995, September 27, 1997, October 2, 1999, and October 7, 2000. September 22, 2001. April 26, 2003, May 30, 2015, April 30, 2016, May 28, 2017.