Statutes of Federation Colombophile Internationale
Constitution
Art. 1
The Federation Colombophile Internationale (hereinafter referred as “FCI”) is a non-profit association with a view to charities. It is composed of affiliation members who manage the colombophile sports in Federation Nations/Regions or representative associations which can take charge of the colombophile sports in Federation Nations/Regions that have not established association.
Headquartered in Brussels.
The affiliation members and representative associations, under the administration of FCI, should accept and undertakes to comply with the present statutes of FCI. They should undertake not to perform any juristic acts to FCI.
Purpose
Art. 2
The purpose of FCI is to overall develop colombophile sports, to research subjects on colombophile sports which attract public. FCI approves and manages the organization of Olympiad Colombophiles and congress, coordinates the organization of international games and World Championships.
One of FCI’s main purposes is to strengthen the solidarity and friendship among Federation Nations and Regions.
Principles
Art. 3
The principle of FCI Statutes is as follows:
(1) To respect for sovereignty of affiliation members and representative associations in management on colombophile sports in Federation Nations/Regions.
(2) To respect mutually among affiliation members and representative associations.
Organization of management
Art. 4
FCI’s operation is managed by following organizations:
Congress, committee director, commissions: sports, standard, veterinary, statutes, jeunesse, solidarity fund and ranking pigeons grand prix racing committee.
The overall management right locates congress. FCI congress should be held in the same time with Olympiad Colombophiles, and become a part of the Olympiad Colombophiles. The Olympiad Colombophile is organized by a Federation Nation Member designated by the precedent congress. It is held every two years.
The congress’ main tasks are to deal with questions of statutes, administration, sports and finance. The congress shall administer eligible elections according to the opinions of committee director, to decide whether to accept the associations or representative associations which apply for membership.
Art. 5
In order to get the quality of FCI member, the relevant associations should file an application to secretary general two months before Olympiad Colombophile. The applicant nation/region must be the member of International Olympic Committee.
The applicants need to submit a detailed report of association activities, the number of amateurs, the number of pigeons and organization, quantity and scope of racings when apply for membership.
The applicants also need to submit two copies of association statutes and a supportive letter which has been signed by two federation nation members of FCI. The representative associations which meet two of the following requirements would be accepted by FCI if there is no federation association.
1) A combination of several associations formed a unique representative organization which can represent their country.
2) The representative organization should get support of 4 federation nation members of FCI. The membership application should be attached with a written report issued by FCI member which designated by committee director. Each member of FCI shall pay subscription as stated by FCI congress.
Art. 6
The exclusion of member should gain approval by most members according to Congress International statutes, unless the situation that members or representative associations in arrears which specified in Art. 29.
Art. 7
All of the congress meeting will start at morning, and the meeting is scheduled to last one day.
Art. 8
The special congress shall be held if at least half of the members claim to with reasons. In this case, the address of the congress is decided by committee director.
Art. 9
All the members have right to submit proposals to Congress. And these proposals could be placed on the agenda only if these proposals come to FCI secretary general four months before opening day of Olympiad Colombophile.
In the case of holding special congress, the proposal should be submitted to FCI secretary general 25 days before the special congress.
Art. 10
If the congress will be held during the Olympiad Colombophile and the proposals and reasons from members have be submitted to FCI secretary general four months before opening day of Olympiad Colombophile, the agenda should be submitted accompanied by the proposals and reasons to the affiliation members or representative associations at least 1 month before congress. In the case of holding special congress, the proposals and reasons should be submitted to each affiliation member or representative association 15 days before special congress holding.
Art. 11
All the official documents issued by FCI should in French. The affiliation member or representative association could send letters to FCI in native language or in language used internationally.
Art. 12
The FCI congress is public unless majority of the member oppose it.
Art. 13
The ballot is decided by majority, i.e. 50 percent of valid ballots plus 1. If there is an equality of votes, the agenda would not to pass. The ballots are carried by ways as following:
(1) To call out the names of those voted for in public, call out the names of present affiliation members (Answer by the head of each delegation).
(2) To vote by a show of hands.
(3) If the majority of the present affiliation members demand, it shall hold a secret ballot. There is no limit to show on the vote.
The right of voting
Every country or region has only one vote which belongs to the representative who attends the congress, and the country or region’s subscription shall not in arrears longer than 1 year. The amount of subscription is decided by congress. Voting in written letters is only applied for special congress, and the letters should come to secretary general in sealed envelop at least 3 days ahead of checking the votes.
The affiliation member or representative association with official representative qualification and good reputation has the right of one vote per country. New member accepted at the congress will get the right of voting at next congress.
Any affairs besides agenda can be added upon the written requirement of affiliation member or representative association so as to be decided on the congress, but such decision shall not be related to statute modification.
Unless satisfying above conditions, the congress can not vote on affairs that are not listed in the agenda.
The congress held during Olympiad Colombophile is authorized to establish commissions, and make decisions upon other affairs:
(1) The place to hold next Olympiad Colombophile.
(2) The undertaker of the World Championships.
Art. 14
Representatives of congress shall meet the following requirements: they shall have attained the age of 25 years, have thrown themselves into Colombophile sports for more than five years, have the nationality of the countries and the membership of the affiliation members or representative associations they present. Their major occupation shall not be related to profitable business.
Each association which has the rights to representation can delegate two representatives to congress or special congress. And these representatives can only represent the affiliation members or representative associations which approve them to attend the congress.
Art. 15
(Ⅰ) The country which bids for Olympiad Colombophiles and gets approval from the congress shall be responsible for:
(1) The Olympiad Colombophiles shall be held successfully.
(2) FCI president, legal secretary, treasurer and administration secretary’s expenses occurs at local.
(3) General expenses of Olympiad Colombophiles, especially the organizing expenses, for example, the exhibition hall and meeting room rental fee (interpreters, essential equipments and banquets).
(4) Racing pigeons are not authorized to auction except for the following cases: the racing pigeon auction is held at where the Olympiad Colombophiles is undertaken or held by FCI Committee Director. The auction shall be held at the Olympiad Colombophiles. The auction incomes shall only be used on one or several welfare work or deduct the expenses of Olympiad Colombophiles. And in the latter situation, the incomes shall be divided equally between FCI and the undertaker association. Any personal profits are not allowed.
(5) Committee Director can invite former FCI presidents or commissioners. The guests bear the expense of travel and accommodation.
Certificate and special bonus shall be granted by FCI.
Travel and local expenses of formal representatives and judges shall be for the account of the affiliation members or representative associations they represent.
(Ⅱ) The country which bids for World Championship and gets approval from the congress shall be responsible for:
(1) Building a columbary to hold all the racing pigeons from FCI members, which shall be three racing pigeons per cubic meter, and installing electronic clocks approved by FCI.
(2) The race distance shall be approved by FCI and shall not be changed unless the undertaker’s application is definitely agreed by President of FCI or the representative who participate the Championship. President or his (her) representative is authorized to take part in all the concerned activities, and the relevant expense shall be for the account of the undertaker.
(3) Designating a three-day period to take over racing pigeons into the columbary. The age of racing pigeons shall be five to six months at the start day of Championship.
The first returned racing pigeon with effective record shall be the world champion. If the percentage of returned racing pigeons with effective record reaches 20%, the game is finished (or be finished by the noon of second day).
(4) FCI shall bear some expense of relevant award according to the decision of Committee Director.
(5) The racing pigeons are the property of the undertaker and FCI. If the Championship and the Olympiad Colombophile are held in the same year, the racing pigeons shall be auctioned off at the Olympiad Colombophile. Otherwise the racing pigeons shall be kept by the undertaker.
In all cases, FCI shall get 25% of the auction gains.
(Ⅲ) The congress shall designate the following Commissions:
Sport Commission
Standard Commission
Veterinarian Commission
Statutes Commission
Jeunesse Commission
Solidarity Fund Commission
Ranking Grand Prix Race Commission
Those Commissions consist of Commissioners from associations which are willing to participate. The President of above Commissions shall be designated by Committee Director. The travel and accommodation expenses of the Commissioners shall be for the account of the associations. Above Commissions shall present proposals to the Committee Director which shall be helpful for making effective plans to fulfill its targets. If necessary, above Commissioners shall only meet at FCI’s headquarter under the President’s requirement. In all cases, all the regulations established by above Commissions shall not be in contradiction with FCI’s Statutes.
Committee Director
Art. 16
FCI’s sports shall be managed by Committee Director which shall consist of one president, four vice-presidents, one treasurer, one legal secretary and one commissioner per five associations.
The election of Committee Director shall reflect the reasonable geography distribution. Committee Director shall elect one administration secretary with a term of two years. Administration secretary has only consultation authority. Committee Director Members shall have attained the age of 25 years, and have thrown themselves into Colombophile sports in the affiliation members and representative associations they represent for more than five years, and have the nationality of the countries they present and are designated by the associations. Any one who is engaged in racing pigeon shall not join the Committee Director. One association shall only has one person who hold a post in Committee Director (President and administration secretary are not included).
Committee Director serves two-year terms and the election shall be held at the Olympiad Colombophile or during the period. The president shall win a clear majority of the vote. If there is still an equality of votes after the second voting, the new Committee Director shall choose a president. The president shall serve no more than two consecutive terms. Committee Director Members shall be balloted by the congress and can be reelected and serve another term if they are nominated by their affiliation members or representative associations. Otherwise the appointment is invalid. If the affiliation members or representative associations which remove somebody from his post for internal reasons can appoint a new representative to assume the post in Committee Director and execute rights as a Committee Director Members and has the authority of vote till the next congress.
In all cases, the president shall represent FCI. The president shall take the chair and be in duty for the execution of statutes and regulations. The president who loses his or her rights shall be replaced by one vice-president designated by Committee Director. And if the latter loses his or her rights, the treasurer or legal secretary shall act on behalf of him or her till the next Olympiad Colombophile.
If there is an opening in the position of treasurer, Committee Director shall designate one of its commissioner to assume the position temporarily. Candidates of Committee Director shall submit nomination to secretary general four months ahead and place on the agenda of congress.
Art. 17
Committee Director shall organize the agenda of congress according to the proceedings collected in a specific period, and contact with the president who is organizing the Olympiad Colombophile for instructions to ensure the successful operation of congress.
Art. 18
During the adjournment of congress, Committee Director shall take extensive rights on the FCI operation and execution of decisions of congress. Committee Director shall take all necessary measures which are not in contradiction with FCI’s Statutes.
Art. 19
Committee Director is authorized to make decisions on urgent affairs which are not definitely prescribed in Statutes on the premise of conformity to this sport and the benefits of the affiliation members and representative associations.
Art. 20
Those decisions shall be reported at the next congress.
Art. 21
The Committee Director shall hold meetings twice a year and the date shall be determined by president. If some commissioners requires, Committee Directors can hold meetings to discuss urgent affairs if the president approves. The travel and accommodation expenses of attending meetings shall be for the account of the associations that the commissioners represent, except the administration secretary, and the meal at the meeting day shall be for the account of FCI.
Art. 22
Notice of Committee Director meeting shall be sent at least six weeks before. In case of emergency, the notice period can be compressed only under the approval of president.
Art. 23
In order to make effective and valid decisions, the number of commissioners attending the meetings shall reach a majority of Committee Director. If there is an equality of votes, the president is authorized to decide.
Art. 24
The report of activity of Committee Director and secretary general shall be submitted at the Olympiad Colombophile.
Art. 25
The commissioner of Committee Director who shall attend meetings can be replaced by other member of the association he or she represents.
Art. 26
Dealing with daily affairs is the responsibility of the president and administration secretary. And the latter shall be responsible for drafting and reporting documents to president, and get the documents signed by president and send them out. The administration secretary shall make congress minutes and mail the minutes to affiliation members and representative associations within 45 days after the meeting. The administration secretary shall also send above documents and minutes of Committee Director meeting to its commissioners. The administration secretary shall be responsible for updating FCI statutes.
Art. 27
If the associations don’t raise an objection against the minutes within 45 days after received it from administration secretary, it shall be regarded as approved.
Art. 28
Letters or documents from homing pigeon organizations which are not recognized by FCI shall be transfer to the affiliation members or representative associations in its country. The administration secretary shall only take further action after received formal reply from the affiliation member or representative association.
Finance
Art. 29
The treasurer and administration secretary shall be responsible for collecting membership dues from affiliation members and representative associations under the leadership of the president. The president and representative associations shall cosign the cheques and power of attorney for the payment of FCI expenses. FCI’s payments shall be done via banks appointed by FCI. They will submit relevant documents and accounts to auditors according to the decisions of congress last time. The auditors shall sign on the financial report if they approve it. The financial settlement year shall be the period between two Olympiad Colombophiles.
According to the treasurer’s proposal, the financial report of current year shall be submitted to the congress for its approval. The affiliation members and representative associations which have not pay subscription for two years will receive a notice of registered letter. And if the affiliation member or representative association still has not paid subscription after three months, it shall be regarded as withdrawing from FCI.
Dispositions Generals
Art. 30
The affiliation members and representative associations shall not belong to any federations or organizations which are considered as competitor against FCI by FCI congress or Committee Director.
Art. 31
Statutes of affiliation members and representative associations shall not be in contradiction with FCI’s tenet and principles. All the affiliation members or representative associations shall submit a copy of their statutes to FCI secretary general as required, in order to make the secretary general know its updates.
Art. 32
According to the proposal of Committee Director, the congress can confer an honorary membership to someone who has great contribute. The honorary title will get a certificate and medal from president but has no special authority.
Dissolution
Art. 33
The existence of FCI has no time limit. The final dissolution shall be decided by special congress. And the notice for this special congress shall be sent 45 days ahead.
There shall be at least two thirds of total affiliation members or representative associations attending the special congress when voting for dissolution. And it can only pass when the dissolution gains two thirds of valid ballot. If the number of members attending the meeting does not reach the quorum, there shall be a second special congress held at a proper time to take a vote for dissolution by a majority.
The special congress for FCI dissolution shall be authorized to deal with FCI’s assets.
