Statut

Balkan Bridge Association

CHAPTER I

DEFINITIONS

Article 1 - DEFINITIONS

In these statutes:

0. the 'Association' and 'BBA' mean the Balkan Bridge Association;
1. 'Balkan’ means the part of Europe, including 11 counties: Albania, Bosnia & Hertzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, FYROM, Greece, Montenegro, Serbia, Slovenia, Romania and Turkey which are regarded as being part of Balkan region and for geographical or other reasons are designated as being under the influence of the Balkan Bridge Association and by consequence, under the influence of the European Bridge Association;
2. 'BBA' means the European Bridge Association;
3. 'NBO' means any National Bridge Federation within Balkan region which is a member of the Association;
4. 'four years' means the period commencing with that person's election at an Ordinary General Assembly and expiring upon the election of his successor (or his re-election) at the Ordinary General Assembly held in the fourth calendar year thereafter.

CHAPTER II

NAME - CONSTITUTION - HEAD OFFICE - DURATION

Article 2 - Name

The name of the Association is the BALKAN BRIDGE ASSOCIATION

Article 3 – European Bridge Association

The Balkan Bridge Association is one of the Zonal Associations, recognized and affiliated to the BBA and will respect the Statutes, Rules and Regulations of the Association.

Article 4 - Composition

The BBA is composed of non-profit making NBOs which are affiliated and recognized as the controlling body for bridge in their respective countries.

The BBA only recognizes one NBO per country.

Article 5 - Racial, Religious or Political Discrimination: Human Rights

The BBA forbids any racial, religious or political discrimination or any violation of Human Rights. In all NBO activities, the federations and their members must respect non-discrimination.

Article 6 - Head Office

The Head Office of the BBA and its finances are based in the origin country of its President.

Article 7 - Administrative Office

The Administrative Office of the Association is at the office of the President or at such other place as shall be determined from time to time by the Executive Committee.

Article 8 - Duration

The duration of the Association is unlimited.

CHAPTER III

AIMS OF THE BALKAN BRIDGE ASSOCIATION

Article 9 - Fundamental principles

The BBA recognizes and follows the fundamental principles of the BBA, in particular the aims:

0. to blend bridge with culture and education and to promote the educational value of good example and respect for universal fundamental ethical principles;
1. to encourage the establishment of a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.
2. to encourage and organize bridge events between the bridge players from the Balkan countries, affiliated to the Association

Article 10 - Non-profit making organization

The BBA is a non-profit making organization of a strictly civil nature. Its resources shall be applied exclusively in furtherance of its beneficent purposes; and no part of its resources or earnings shall accrue to the benefit of any private person.

Article 11 - Aims of the Association

The object of the Association is to:

0. Promote bridge in the Balkan region;
1. In conjunction with NBOs control the sport of bridge in the Balkan region;
2. Encourage countries in the Balkan region to affiliate their National Bridge Federations and to become members of the Association;
3. Foster friendly relations between the affiliated NBOs;
4. Devise and conduct competitions to award international or Balkan championship titles;
5. To regulate the correct running of competitions in order, amongst other things, to protect and safeguard the health of bridge players;
6. Co-operate and establish friendly relations with bridge associations of other countries outside the Balkan region, recognized by the BBA and with other zonal Bridge Organizations from Europe;
7. Co-operate with and assist in the promotion of the objects of the BBA;
8. Encourage and assist NBOs in promoting bridge in schools, universities and other educational and youth organizations.
9. Maintain the highest possible standard of ethical behavior;
10. Prevent the taking of illicit drugs and other illegal substances.

CHAPTER IV

ADMISSIONS - DUTIES - MEMBERSHIP DUES AND STRIKING OFF

Article 12 - Admissions to Membership

Admission to membership of the Association is determined by the Executive Committee subject to ratification by the next following General Assembly.

Only one Bridge Federation per European country is recognized by the Association.

Each National Bridge Organization wishing to affiliate with the BBA must undertake, in writing, to respect the Statutes, Regulations and Rules of the BBA.

In case of competing applications between two or more Federations of the same country, only the application of the Federation recognized by the Governmental Authority or the BBA will be accepted.

Article 13 - Restriction of affiliation

Bridge associations and bridge clubs of any kind established within the territory of an NBO shall not be allowed to affiliate with any other NBO.

Article 14 - Exclusive Control

The NBOs as members of the BBA must recognize each other reciprocally as Federations exclusively controlling bridge in their respective countries.

Article 15 - Reciprocity

Each NBO must accept and respect all decisions taken by other NBOs in disciplinary matters. In particular all NBOs within the Association shall recognize each other's suspensions and expulsions, without examining the reason therefore.
NBOs shall report their suspensions and expulsions in a timely manner to the BBA which will publish the information to all other NBOs.

Article 16 - Membership Dues

NBOs pay annual membership dues. The membership dues are fixed by the General Assembly which can delegate on each particular occasion to the Executive Committee to establish the dues for the following two year period.

Membership dues are calculated for each calendar year and must be paid before June 30th in that year. Membership dues are payable in their entirety for a NBO admitted before the 31st August in any year and for any NBO which has resigned.

The General Assembly may establish for the following two-year period the age limit under which the registered members of an NBO are not to be taken into account in relation to the payment of Membership dues.

Article 17 - Resignation, Suspension, Striking Off

Any NBO, having respected its obligations to the BBA, including the payment of any debts, and wishing to resign its membership, must so inform the BBA Head Office by registered letter. No action will be taken until the resignation is confirmed after a period of three months. If the Executive Committee accepts the resignation, all NBOs will be notified by the Head Office. In the case of possible litigation on any question (financial or otherwise) the BBA may make representations to the National Organization which endorsed the application for admittance of the NBO, now wishing to resign, or to any other national body under which the Federation operates.
An NBO can also be suspended or struck off from membership for not paying the membership dues, not observing the Statutes, the rules or decisions of the BBA, or for any action contrary to the aims of the Statutes thus undermining the activity or the development or the good running of the Association or for bringing the game of bridge into disrepute.

If after having been admitted to the BBA the activities of a NBO decrease to such a point that it is no longer representative of bridge in its country, its expulsion from the membership may also be pronounced.

When a NBO suspended for financial reasons does not settle the sum due, the Executive Committee can pronounce its striking off after two years have passed since the payment was due.

Any decision to suspend or strike off an NBO rests with the Executive Committee.

The decision to strike off for non-payment of the membership dues falls within the prerogative of the Executive Committee and is final. In other cases the struck off NBO may appeal at the General Assembly against the decision of the Executive Committee.

The consequences of suspension (for the period) or striking off (for ever) are the following: the Federation and its members can no longer participate in activities organized by the BBA or affiliated NBOs, nor submit any proposal to the BBA, nor propose a candidate for an BBA position.

Article 18 - Readmissions

Readmission must be in accordance with all admission conditions and is the decision of the Executive Committee.

In the case of suspension for financial reasons, the suspended NBO may be readmitted after settling the sum due plus an additional 10% of this sum and after justifying the delay in payment.

CHAPTER V

ORGANISATION OF THE BALKAN BRIDGE ASSOCIATION

Article 19 - The constituent BBA bodies

The constituent bodies of the BBA are:

• The General Assembly
• The President
• The Executive Committee

CHAPTER VI

THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY

Article 20 - The General Assembly

The General Assembly is the highest governing body of the Association. It is composed of delegates of the NBOs who must be bona fide officers of the NBO they represent.

Each NBO is entitled to be represented by one delegate to the General Assembly. The name of the delegate must be given to the Association's Head Office before the opening of the General Assembly. It must be confirmed in writing by an official letter from the NBO, and the BBA President and the members of the BBA Executive Committee cannot be delegates of any NBO.

Participation in the General Assembly and the right to vote (in accordance with Article 24) is given to NBOs which are not in a position of resignation, suspension or striking off.

General Assemblies are of an Ordinary and Extraordinary type.

The Ordinary General Assembly is held every two years in the even numbered years.

Every four years, starting with 2010, the business of the Ordinary General Assembly will include the election of the BBA President and all the members of the BBA Executive Committee.

An Extraordinary General Assembly may be called by the Executive Committee when deemed necessary, and must be called in the following cases:

0. under article 34;
1. when half plus one of the NBOs with the right to vote so request in writing addressed to the Head Office of the Association;
2. when half plus one of the Executive Committee so request

Article 21 - Convocations and Validity of Ordinary General Assemblies

Convocations are made by the BBA President or his replacement by means of a registered letter sent to NBOs with the right to vote at least ninety days prior to the established Ordinary General Assembly date.

The convocation must include the date for the General Assembly, indicate the likely agenda and invite NBOs to put forward matters for discussion at the General Assembly.

At least sixty days prior to the Ordinary General Assembly the BBA President or his replacement must send a further registered letter to NBOs setting out the agenda for the General Assembly.

Any NBO may submit a matter for discussion to be put on the Agenda by writing to the Secretary of the Association at least sixty days before the General Assembly. The Executive Committee has the right to refuse to include such a matter on the Agenda.

Any special matter not on the Agenda may be introduced during the General Assembly if at least two thirds of the NBOs present are in agreement.

The requisite quorum for a General Assembly to be valid are:

0. in the case of a General Assembly without elections the presence of the duly appointed delegates of one half plus one of the NBOs with a right to vote;
1. in the case of a General Assembly for elections the presence of the duly appointed delegates of one half plus one of the NBOs representing at least one half plus one of the total votes available to be cast;
2. in the case of modifications or amendments to the statutes the presence of the duly appointed delegates of one half plus one of the NBOs representing at least two thirds of the votes;
3. in the case of the dissolution of the Association the presence of the duly appointed delegates of four fifths of the NBOs representing at least four fifths of the votes.

Article 22 - Attendance Sheet

For each General Assembly an attendance sheet shall be drawn up including the identification of each delegate and duly appointed proxy who is present and the number of votes he has.

The attendance sheet signed in the margin by the delegates present shall be certified as being correct by the Assembly Committee.

Article 23 - Assembly Committee

The Assembly Committee shall consist of three appointed delegates and/or invitees at the General Assembly who are not candidates for election and/or from the BBA staff.

The so-constituted Assembly Committee shall appoint a secretary who may not be a delegate.

The Assembly Committee shall check and sign the attendance sheet, check the issued votes, count the votes cast and certify in writing the number of votes cast and the result of any election.

Article 24 - Presidency of the General Assembly

The General Assembly is presided over by the BBA President, or in his absence by the Vice-Presidents. If this condition is impossible, the oldest elected member of the Executive Committee presides.

Article 25 - Ballots - Number of Votes

The entitlement of NBOs to votes at a General Assembly is based on figures for the previous two years.

Each NBO is entitled up to a maximum of 3 votes depending upon the following scale:

The election of the BBA President and the Executive Committee is conducted by a secret ballot. Otherwise voting takes place by a show of hands except that on a delegate's proposal, delegates representing 5% of votes may require a secret ballot.

Whether on a secret ballot or a show of hands only delegates and duly appointed proxies present at the General Assembly may cast votes.

Article 26 - Minutes of the deliberations of the General Assembly - Copies - Abstracts

The deliberations of the General Assembly are acknowledged in minutes kept in a special book signed by the BBA President.

The minutes are also signed by the members of the Assembly Committee. However the omission of such a formality does not invalidate the deliberations.

Copies or extracts of the minutes of the General Assembly deliberations, to produce in Court or elsewhere, are valid if they are signed by the BBA President or failing him by the Vice-President or by two members of the Executive Committee.

Article 27 - Proxies

An NBO which is not able to appoint a delegate to a General Assembly may give a proxy to another NBO with voting rights.

To be valid the proxy must:

0. be completed on the relevant official form
1. be given to an individual who is the bona fide member of another NBO and that individual may not transfer the proxy to someone else
2. be signed by the President of the NBO.

No person may act as proxy for more than one NBO and no person may be both a proxy and a delegate.

Article 28 - Right of Voting Members to Receive Information

All NBOs have the right to obtain copies at the BBA Head Office of the necessary documents (classified hereunder) enabling it to comment on the management and running of the Association.

The name of these documents, the conditions for their mailing and their availability to members are established as follows.

The following documents must be sent out to all NBOs 60 clear days before a General Assembly (30 clear days before a General Assembly convoked under Article 34):

0. an official proxy form;
1. the list of the Executive Committee members;
2. the text and the explanation of the reasons of the drafts of resolution included on the Agenda;
3. if appropriate, information on the candidates for President of the BBA and the Executive Committee;
4. in the case of the Ordinary General Assembly the Balance Sheet and Accounts and supporting documents.

The following documents must be available for any NBO, delegate or proxy at the BBA Head Office:

0. For a 15 clear day period preceding the General Assembly, the text of the proposed resolutions and the President's report;
1. For a 15 clear day period preceding the General Assembly, an up to date certified list of all NBOs and the number of votes each NBO is entitled to;
2. Any time during the year, the following documents concerning the past three years submitted to the General Assembly:
• President's report;
• Balance Sheet and Accounts and supporting documents;
• all documents concerning the General Assemblies' deliberations.

Article 29 - Ordinary Business for Ordinary General Assemblies

At an Ordinary General Assembly Ordinary Business will include:

0. hearing and approving the report of the BBA President;
1. examining the budget for the next two years;
2. approving the Balance Sheet and Accounts for the two years following the last Ordinary General Assembly and hearing the Auditors' report;
3. fixing membership dues and other fees;
4. ratification of the admission to membership of NBOs;
5. electing the BBA President (every four years);
6. electing the 6 members of the Executive Committee (every four years at the same Ordinary General Assembly as the BBA President is elected);
7. Determining the appeal of any NBO expelled from membership by the Executive Committee.

Article 30 - Special Business for Extraordinary General Assemblies

An Extraordinary General Assembly is convoked by the BBA President or his replacement by means of a registered letter sent to NBOs with the right to vote at least sixty days prior to the Extraordinary General Assembly date (and in the case of an Extraordinary General Assembly convoked under Article 33 at least thirty days prior to the date).

An Extraordinary General Assembly may be convoked by the Executive Committee or by NBOs representing not less than one third plus one of the votes.

An Extraordinary General Assembly is required:

• To modify or amend the Statutes;
• To deal with the election of a new BBA President and Executive Committee for any of the reasons contemplated in Article 34;
• To pronounce the dissolution of the Association.

For any of the above a formal agenda must be sent to all NBOs with the notice of convocation.

Other agenda items may be decided at the Extraordinary General Assembly.

An Extraordinary General Assembly may be convoked together with an Ordinary General Assembly but separate notices and agendas must be sent to the NBOs.

CHAPTER VII

THE BBA PRESIDENT

Article 31 - The President

The BBA President chairs the General Assemblies and the Executive Committee. He represents the BBA in all legal activities. He authorizes expenses in accordance to the decision of the Executive Committee.

The BBA President convokes the Ordinary and Extraordinary General Assemblies, except in cases as specified in the Statutes.

The President supervises the regular functioning of the BBA and in exceptional and extremely urgent cases may take decisions on behalf of the Executive Committee on condition that these decisions are ratified at the next meeting of the Executive Committee.

The President signs all minutes, rulings and certificates of the BBA.

The President presents to the General Assembly his report on the BBA activities and finances; he is responsible for the management of the Association and its activities.

The President is elected by secret ballot by the General Assembly for a four year term.

Should the position of President become vacant, due to any reason whatsoever, the functions of the President will be provisionally fulfilled by the Vice-President elected by the Executive Committee. At the next General Assembly a new President must be elected whose term will be for the remainder of the four year term of his predecessor.

CHAPTER VIII

THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

Article 32 - The Executive Committee

All executive and administrative powers relevant to the effective supervision and administration of the affairs and activities of the Association (consistent with the Association's statutes) are vested in the Executive Committee.

The Executive Committee consists of the BBA President and 6 members, men and women. The members are elected by secret ballot by the General Assembly for a four year term. The election of the twelve members of the Executive Committee takes place at the same General Assembly as elects the BBA President and immediately after the election of the BBA President.

Immediately after the election, at its first meeting, the Executive Committee will elect from amongst its members, on the proposal of the President, a Vice President, the Secretary and the Treasurer.

Candidates for the office of Vice-President must have been members of the Executive Committee for at least one term of the legislature; in exceptional circumstances, the Executive Committee may, by an absolute majority of two thirds, decide to waive this requirement.

The functions of the Vice President include representing the President at championships, events and meetings which the President is unable to attend and to preside over meetings of the Executive Committee and General Assemblies if the President is unable to attend.

The functions of the Secretary include keeping and distributing the minuets of all General Assemblies and meetings of the Executive Committee and in the name of and with the authority of the President convoking General Assemblies.

The functions of the Treasurer include supervising the financial position of the Association, preparing budgets for approval by the Executive Committee and the General Assembly and making payments on behalf of the Association as indicated by approved budgets and as authorized by the President and the Executive Committee.

Membership on the Executive Committee is a personal determination and is granted on the clear understanding that such members are not elected to represent their NBOs but to server the Balkan bridge community at large.

The Executive Committee meets at least twice a year. The Executive Committee is convened by the President or at the request of at least five of its members.

A quorum for Executive Committee meetings is seven and voting is by majority. In the case of a tie the President has a second casting vote.

The minutes of the deliberations of the Executive Committee are signed by the President.

Article 33 - Special provisions for the Executive Committee

Amongst its powers and obligations the Executive Committee has the following functions:

0. to study all proposed amendments to the statutes before they are submitted to an Extraordinary General Assembly for approval;
1. to draw up rules of procedure;
2. to uphold amateurism and the strict observation of the Association's regulations;
3. to monitor and supervise the running of the NBOs;
4. to appoint representatives to carry out functions relating to the promotion and coordination of bridge in a country or NBO;
5. to control the Treasurer's financial management;
6. to consider, and if it judges appropriate, to adopt the proposals of committees;
7. to prescribe a disciplinary code of conduct with rules of procedure and sanctions and to decide if the disciplinary sanctions must be applied.
8. to maintain good relations with Sports Organizations and Public Authorities, national or international;
9. to award the BBA medals of distinction and to award recognitions;
10. to ratify decisions of the President taken in exceptional and extremely urgent circumstances;
11. to revoke at any time the appointment of a committee;
12. to determine the admission to membership of a National Bridge Federation (subject to ratification at the next General Assembly);
13. to fix the Balkan calendar in consultation with the NBOs and to grant the Associatgion's patronage to different proposed events;
14. in special circumstances to authorize the participation in a Balkan Championship of a National Bridge Federation which is not yet a member of the Association;
15. to hear the activity reports of the President and Treasurer;
16. to deliberate on any other matter relating to the good governance of the Association.

Article 34 - Dissolution of the Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is dissolved in the event of:

0. the resignation of the BBA President, his death or permanent mental impediment or any other reason which ends his presidency;
1. the rejection of the President's Report by the General Assembly;
2. the contemporaneous resignation of four or more of the Executive Committee;
3. the resignation, irrespective of the reasons and even though not contemporaneous, during the four year period of four of the six Executive Committee members.

The following are the consequences and the procedures to be followed in the event of the dissolution of the Executive Committee:

1. if the President of the BBA resigns, the President and the Executive Committee remain in office for the completion of ordinary administration until the election of a new BBA President and new Committee at an Extraordinary General Assembly. The Extraordinary General Assembly must be convoked within 60 days of the resignation and be held not less than 30 nor more than 60 days after the convocation.
2. In the event of the death or permanent mental incapacity of the BBA President, the Vice-President assumes the responsibilities of the President and must convoke the Extraordinary General Assembly within the timetable set out in point (1) above.
3. In the event of the rejection of the President's Report, the BBA President and the Executive Committee cease to hold office with immediate effect and an Extraordinary General Assembly must be called for the election of a new BBA President and Executive Committee within the timetable set out in point (1) above.
4. In the event of the contemporaneous resignation of seven or more of the Executive Committee the BBA President and Executive Committee cease to hold office with immediate effect and an Extraordinary General Assembly must be called for the election of a new BBA President and Executive Committee within the timetable set out in point (1) above.
5. In the event of the non-contemporaneous resignation of four members of the Executive Committee during the four year term, the Executive Committee is dissolved but the term of the BBA President continues and he must convoke an Extraordinary General Assembly for the election of a new Executive Committee within the time limits set out in point (1) above.

Article 35 - Filling Vacancies of the Executive Committee

In the case of the resignation or death or permanent mental incapacity of one or more (but less than four) of the Executive Committee members, his or their place(s) shall (if possible) be filled by holding new elections at the next Ordinary General Assembly.

CHAPTER IX

CANDIDATES, ELECTIONS

Article 37 - Candidates; Ordinary General Assembly

Nominations for:

• BBA President
• Executive Committee members

must be in writing, fax or e-mail and be received by the BBA Head Office at least 60 days before the Ordinary General Assembly.

The nominations will be circulated to the NBOs at the same time as the agenda for the Ordinary General Assembly.

The outgoing BBA President and Executive Committee members, in the absence of express renunciations, are automatically nominated for re-election for the same positions as currently held.

Article 38 - Candidates; Extraordinary General Assembly

Nominations for:

• BBA President
• Executive Committee members

must be in writing, fax or e-mail and be received by the BBA Administrative Office at least 30 days before the Extraordinary General Assembly.

In order to preserve continuity and to ensure experienced leadership, candidates for the office of President must have been members of the Executive Committee for at least one term of legislature.

The nominations will be circulated to the NBOs at the same time as the agenda for the Extraordinary General Assembly.

Article 39 - Nominations and Presentation of Candidates

To be validly nominated the candidates for BBA President and for members of the Executive Committee must be nominated by:

• the NBO of the country of which the candidate is a citizen. The NBO must be in good standing and must have paid its current and all previous years' dues, or
• the NBO of the country of which the candidate is bona fide permanently resident (and has been so for at least the last three years). The NBO must be in good standing and must have paid its current and all previous years' dues, or
• Be automatically nominated under Article 37.

A summary of the candidate's bridge activities must be attached to the nomination and must be circulated to all NBOs.

The candidate must be physically present at the General Assembly at the time of the election.

Article 40 - Candidates from the Floor

If and only if there are insufficient candidates NBOs may present further candidates on the following conditions:

0. the candidates must be presented at the opening of the General Assembly;
1. the presentation must be made by the delegate of the NBO;
2. all the other conditions of admissibility must apply.

Article 41 - Restrictions on NBO Representation on the Executive Committee

No more than two citizens of any NBO may simultaneously be members of the seven member Executive Committee (BBA President plus six Executive Committee members).

Article 42 - Number of Votes that may be cast by an NBO

For the post of President an NBO may cast up to the number of votes which it is entitled under Article 25.

For the election of Executive Committee members an NBO may cast up to the number of votes it is entitled under Article 25 for up to three (but not more than three) of the candidates.

Article 43 - Election - Duration of Office

The BBA President and members of the Executive Committee elected at an Ordinary General Assembly hold office for a four year period. They may be re-elected.

The BBA President and members of the BBA Executive Committee elected at an Extraordinary General Assembly hold office for the residue of the four years of the person or persons whom they have replaced.

The election for BBA President takes place before the election of the Executive Committee members. It is by secret ballot. The result of the election for BBA President is announced before the election of the Executive Committee members.

The election of the Executive Committee members takes place by a single secret ballot. The six candidates with the highest number of votes are elected. In the event of a tie for sixth place there is a further secret ballot amongst the candidates who tied.

CHAPTER X

FINANCIAL YEAR - ENDOWMENTS AND ANNUAL RESOURCES

Article 44 - Financial Year

The financial year of the Association starts on the 1st January and terminates on 31st December of each year.

Article 45 - Endowments and Annual Resources

The BBA obtains the means necessary to carry out its objects from:

0. annual membership dues from NBOs. The dues are payable in advance on the 1st January of the financial year to which they relate. Dues unpaid by 31st August of the financial year to which they relate will automatically be increased by 10%. An NBO will be treated as being in arrears if it has not paid its annual dues by the 31st August of the year to which it relates. Whilst an NBO is in arrears with the payment of annual dues and/or other sums payable to the Association the NBO is not in good standing and is prohibited from nominating or entering any pairs or teams to participate in any championship or competition of the Association;
1. subscription fees for championships and competitions and events organized by the BBA;
2. Income from the Association's assets;
3. Any other lawful source including money from sponsorship.

The BBA may acquire immovable property. It has the right and power to borrow money from national or private banking institutions in order to purchase immovable property.

CHAPTER XI

INDEMNITY AND REIMBURSEMENT OF EXPENSES

Article 46 - Indemnity

All elected positions within the BBA are determined as voluntary and so are unpaid.

Article 47 - Reimbursement of expenses

The members of the Executive Committee are entitled to reimbursement of costs of travel and accommodation incurred in carrying out designated functions in the interests of the BBA: these need authorization by the President or his delegate.

The President is entitled to reimbursement of costs of travel and accommodation incurred in carrying out designated functions in the interests of the BBA: these need authorization by the Executive Committee.

CHAPTER XII

AWARDS OF DISTINCTIONS

Article 48 - Award of distinctions

The BBA may confer awards of distinction upon any person who, in any capacity, has rendered particularly outstanding service to the cause of Balkan Bridge. These awards shall be granted by the Executive Committee, on behalf of the BBA, and shall consist of the "BBA Gold Medal", "BBA Silver Medal" and the "BBA Bronze Medal".

The Executive Committee will set out Rules for granting awards. These will be distributed to the Federations. Suitably inscribed badges will be presented to awardees.

CHAPTER XIII

OFFICIAL LANGUAGE

Article 49 - Official Language

The official language of the Association is English.

CHAPTER XIV

GENERAL RULES OF CONDUCT

Article 50 - Official Language

English is the official language for the General Assembly, meetings, competitions, the Statutes, Rules & Regulations, minutes and all the official documents published by the BBA.

Article 51 - Copyright

Any reproduction or distribution of documents, instructional material or other material belonging to the BBA is prohibited without the authority of the BBA.

Any contravention can be penalized requiring fines to be paid.

Article 52 - Official Documents

All official documents and official information are valid only if they are distributed by the President, the Treasurer and the Secretary. NBOs are obliged to respect this.

Article 53 - Signatures On Official Documents

Contracts, agreements and all other documents requiring the stamp of authority of the BBA must be signed by the President or in his absence, by the Vice President.

Article 54 - Supremacy of Statues

The Statutes of the BBA are the final and paramount authority and nothing contained in any Regulations shall operate as to circumvent or lessen the force and purport of Statutes.

The Statutes can be modified only by the General Assembly, and the Regulations only by the Executive Committee.

Article 55 - Unforeseen Circumstances

Cases not foreseen in the present Statues are resolved by the Executive Committee subject to ratification by the next General Assembly.

Article 56 - Decisions of General Assembly: Operative Date

The decisions taken at the General Assembly come into effect on January 1st, immediately in the following year unless otherwise decided by General Assembly.

CHAPTER XV

OFFICIAL EVENTS OF THE BBA

Article 57 - Official Events

The official events of the BBA are the Balkan Championships and the Executive Committee will drawn up their Policy and Rules & Regulations.

When aiming to carry out promotion of bridge or to enhance the income and/or prestige of the BBA, the BBA may organize events of a Balkan character. Where necessary, regulations for these will be drawn up by the Executive Committee.

CHAPTER XVI

DISSOLUTION

Article 58 - Dissolution

The dissolution of the BBA may only be effected by an Extraordinary General Assembly convened especially for this purpose.

In the case of dissolution of the BBA the General Assembly will appoint a liquidator.

The net assets of the BBA will be donated to one or more national or international organizations having aims similar to those of the Association or will be distributed to NBOs, in accordance to their contribution during the years.

CHAPTER XVII

TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

Article 59 - Date of Commencement

These Statutes come into immediate effect after it will be signed by at least five NBOs from the Balkan region and it will be the subject of approval in November 2009 in Novi Sad.

Article 60 - Elections and Term

The BBA President and the Executive Committee will be elected for the first period of four years in 2010.