Article 1. Name

Under the name HELVETIA TELEGRAPHY CLUB, hereinafter referred to as HTC, there is an association within the meaning of Art. 60ff. of the Swiss Civil Code. The HTC is an interest group of amateur radio operators who practice Morse telegraphy.

Article 2. Stitz

The residence of the respective president is also the seat of the HTC.

Article 3. Purpose

The purpose of the HTC is to maintain and promote the operating mode of Morse telegraphy in the field of amateur radio, including through:

a) Operation of a club station. The license for operating the club station is managed by the president.

b) Practice transmissions and courses that make it possible to learn and perfect Morse telegraphy

c) Compliance with the licensing regulations and the rules of the IARU.

d) Fostering camaraderie, especially the "Ham Spirit" in its traditional form.

e) Exchange of experience and mutual assistance, which arouse and support interest in the self-construction of devices (as a privilege of the amateur radio operator).

f) Safeguarding the interests of Morse telegraphy in amateur radio.

Article 4. General Meeting

The club meeting is the highest body of the HTC. It takes place once a year in the first quarter of the calendar year.

The club meeting may be held physically, electronically, or in a combination of physical and electronic means.

Article 5. Convening

The general meeting shall be convened in writing by the board or, if at least one-fifth of all members so request, no later than one month before the meeting, with simultaneous notification of the agenda.

Article 6. Jurisdiction

The club meeting will discuss the following business:

a) Acceptance of the annual report and thus discharge of the Management Board

b) Acceptance of the treasurer's report and the auditors' report and thus discharge of the treasurer and the auditors

c) Mutations

d) Election of the members of the Board of Directors, the auditors and the delegate to the USKA Delegates' Meeting.

e) Determination of the membership fee

f) Handling and passing resolutions on motions from the Executive Board and members.

g) USKA business: This is only discussed for the purpose of forming an opinion, without any resolution/recommendation. In USKA matters, only members who are also USKA members are eligible to vote. These HTC members exercise their voting and electoral rights via the USKA ballot.

USKA business: These are only discussed for the purpose of forming an opinion without a resolution/recommendation.

Article 7. Submission Deadline

Motions from members to be submitted to the association meeting must be submitted to the president in writing by December 15.

Article 8. Executive Board

The board consists of the president, the treasurer, ideally the secretary, the ECM (External Communication Manager) and the webmaster. The board constitutes itself in order to keep the aforementioned offices/tasks in function.

Article 9. Ongoing business

The Executive Board manages the day-to-day business. For temporary tasks, working groups can be formed from among the members to support the Executive Board.

Article 10. Authorization to use the mark

The members of the Executive Board sign collectively in pairs, normally the President and another member of the Executive Board.

Article 11. Auditors

The club assembly elects two auditors from among the members. The auditors examine the HTC's accounts and report to the club assembly. The term of office for an auditor is four years. Re-election is permitted.

Article 12. Application for accession

Membership in the club is requested by submitting a membership application or by completing a registration form on the HTC website. Membership can be requested at any time.

Article 13. Types of Membership

a) Active members

b) International members

c) Honorary members

Article 14. Active Members

Active members are amateur radio operators and SWLs with a postal address in Switzerland or the Principality of Liechtenstein. Active members have the right to vote and stand for election in HTC matters. Active members have full access to all internal HTC content on the HTC website.

Article 15. Foreign Members

Foreign members are amateur radio operators and SWLs who live abroad and do not have a postal address in Switzerland or the Principality of Liechtenstein. Foreign members have neither voting nor electoral rights. Foreign members have full access to all internal HTC content on the HTC website.

Article 16. Admission

The admission of active and foreign members is carried out by the board and confirmed by the general meeting.

Article 17. Exclusion

Applications for membership may be deferred or rejected without stating reasons.

Article 18. Membership number

Each member receives a membership number. A number that has been issued once will not be reassigned.

Article 19. USKA Membership

The HTC is a section of the USKA. Individual HTC members are free to decide whether or not they want to be members of the USKA.

Article 21. Honorary Members

Honorary members are individuals who have rendered outstanding service to the interests of the HTC or to the Morse telegraphy operating mode in amateur radio. Honorary members have neither voting nor electoral rights. However, active members appointed as honorary members retain their voting and electoral rights.

Article 22. Appointment

Honorary members are appointed by the general meeting upon the recommendation of the board.

Article 23 Termination of Membership

a) Written declaration of resignation to be submitted to the club meeting.

b) Exclusion by resolution of the board of directors due to non-payment of the annual fee despite a reminder or in the event of a gross violation of the Ham-Sprit and the objectives of the HTC.

c) An exclusion requested by the board must be confirmed by the general meeting.

d) Members who resign or are expelled have no claim to the association's assets.

Article 24 Appeals

Those affected may lodge a written objection to the rejection of membership applications and to the exclusion of members with the board of directors for the attention of the next general meeting within one month. The decision of the general meeting cannot be appealed.

The funds required for the activities of the HTC are procured through:

a) Annual contributions from active members and donations from members abroad*

b) Donations

c) Proceeds from events

d) Chapter income

e) Sale of tangible assets that have been handed over to HTC. The donor will be compensated in accordance with an internal HTC guideline.

Article 26. Exemption from contributions

Board members, honorary members, and the two auditors are exempt from paying membership fees. If members live in the same household, only one pays the full annual fee, while the others pay half.

The maximum annual membership fee does not exceed CHF 80. The assets of the association are exclusively liable for the obligations of the association. Any personal liability or obligation to make additional payments by the members is excluded.

Article 28. Amendment of the Articles of Association or Dissolution of the Association

The club meeting can decide on changes to the statutes or the dissolution of the HTC at any time with 3/4 of the votes cast by the members present, if there is an agenda item for this.

Article 29. Regulation of the successor organization

In the event of the dissolution of the HTC, any assets remaining after all liabilities have been covered will be transferred to USKA in trust. If a successor organization with identical goals, recognized by USKA, is not founded within five years of formal dissolution, the remaining assets will be divided equally between USKA and the Swiss Red Cross.

Article 30. Entry into force

These statutes were approved at the club meeting on February 18, 2023, and came into effect immediately. They replace all previous versions.

IN THE NAME OF THE CLUB MEETING:

The treasurer Robert Sutter HB9KOG / HTC1003

President Hugo Huber HB9AFH / HTC056

*Small correction: Resolution of the 2018 General Assembly, foreign members no longer pay any amounts, the effort is too great! Foreign members can donate something.