Auroville International is an association founded in 1983, registered with the Chamber of Commerce, The Hague, The Netherlands, under nº 40103255.

 A. NAME, SEAT AND DURATION
Clause 1
1.1 The Association has the name Vereniging Auroville International, also referred to as Auroville International.
1.2 The organization “Vereniging Auroville International”, also called “Association Auroville International” (herein referred to as “Association”), is a non-profit organization.
1.3 The Association has its legal seat in The Hague (The Netherlands).
1.4 The postal address of the Association is in Auroville.
1.5 The Association was founded on the 28th day of February 1983 according to the Laws of the Netherlands, for an indefinite period.
1.6 The financial year of the Association is from January 1st up to and including December 31st.

B. PREMISE AND OBJECTIVE
Clause 2
Considering:
2.1 that the Mother conceived the setting up of an international township known as “Auroville”, where people of all countries will be able to live in peace and progressive harmony, above all creeds, all politics and all nationalities and with the purpose to realize human unity;
2.2 that on the initiative of the Government of India, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization – hereinafter called UNESCO – sponsored the Project in 1966 by promoting a resolution that the Project of Auroville will contribute to international understanding and promotion of peace, which resolution was adopted unanimously;
2.3 that on the 28th of February 1968 Auroville was founded in a solemn ceremony in which 121 countries and the 23 Indian states placed the soil of their motherlands in an Urn at the Centre of Auroville where the following Charter of Auroville, composed by the Mother, was read out before all those present:
Charter of Auroville
2.3.1 Auroville belongs to nobody in particular. Auroville belongs to humanity as a whole. But to live in Auroville one must be a willing servitor of the Divine Consciousness.
2.3.2 Auroville will be the place of unending education, of constant progress, and a youth that never ages.
 2.3.3 Auroville wants to be the bridge between the past and the future. Taking advantage of all discoveries from without and from within, Auroville will boldly spring towards future realisations.
2.3.4 Auroville will be site of material and spiritual researches for a living embodiment of an actual Human unity.
 2.4 that UNESCO invited in a resolution in 1968 its member states and international organizations to participate in the development of Auroville as an international cultural township to bring together the values of different cultures and civilizations in an harmonious environment with integrated living standards which correspond to man’s physical and spiritual needs;
 2.5 that in furtherance of these resolutions UNESCO had directed in 1970, and again in 1983, in two additional resolutions, its Director-General to take such steps as may be feasible, within the budgetary provisions, to promote the development of Auroville as an important cultural program;
2.6 that the Government of India, reconfirming the national and international importance of Auroville and in order to secure the future development of Auroville in accordance with its Charter, has enacted the Auroville Foundation, comprising amongst other authorities, a Working Committee constituted by the Resident’s Assembly (hereinafter referred to as “the Working Committee”);
2.7 that in many countries in the world, groups and individuals have joined forces in order to support Auroville;
2.8 that the object of the Association is to work for the advancement of the ideal of human unity by promoting the development of the International Township of Auroville and by encouraging the realization throughout the world of the aims and ideals of Auroville as laid down in its charter and the numerous writings of Sri Aurobindo and The Mother.

C. MEANS
Clause 3
The Association endeavor’s to achieve its objective by:
3.1 making known the existence, activities, aims and ideals of Auroville;
3.2 actively co-operating with the community of Auroville in its development and in the promotion of its aims and ideals;
3.3 raising funds for Auroville and all its activities with a view to promoting international understanding and human unity;
3.4 supporting the activities of Auroville;
 3.5 facilitating, irrespective of political affiliations, the co-operation of governments, international and other organizations with Auroville;
 3.6 taking all necessary steps to establish an effective organization of centres, groups and individual participants (see clauses E and F);
 3.7 supporting as appears appropriate the work executed by centres, groups and individual participants;
3.8 adopting any other appropriate methods.

D. ORGANISATION
Clause 4
4.1 The Association has as its members: centres, liaison groups and individual liaison persons (herein referred to as “members”). Auroville shall be closely involved in the Association.
4.2 The directive authority for the affairs of the Association is vested in the General Assembly of the Association (herein referred to as “General Assembly”).
 4.3 All matters requiring the advice of Auroville will be addressed to the Working Committee of the Auroville Foundation (herein referred to as “Working Committee”). The Working Committee has the right to advise the General Assembly or the Auroville International Board (herein referred to as “Board”) on its own initiative.
 4.4 The Association may create an Advisory Committee of the Association. Appropriate candidates of the Advisory Committee shall be invited by the Board and approved by the General Assembly.

E. CENTRES
Clause 5
5.1 A centre of the Association (herein referred to as “centre”) may be established, with the consent of the Board and the General Assembly, in countries where there is a proven record of interest in Auroville by a sufficient number of people to provide the services required of a center. The center, or the persons establishing a center respectively, shall:
5.1.1 prior to its recognition have visited Auroville and maintained contacts with the working units and/or other groups in Auroville and demonstrated its ability to organize and maintain the basic activities of the Association;
5.1.2 be registered in its country as a legal entity;
5.1.3 submit its statutes to the Board for approval;
5.1.4 pay such annual fee as may be determined by the General Assembly;
5.1.5 The General Assembly may waive these requirements in whole or in part.
5.2 Centres should act only on matters that fall within the stated object of the Association within the legal framework as specified in their country of registration. Centres should act in accordance with the working rules and guidelines that are adopted from time to time by the General Assembly.
5.3 There shall be one centre in each country.
5.4 Each centre is the recognized representative of the Association in its respective country. No organ or representative of the Association may take any action within a country, without the knowledge and consent of the respective centre.
5.5 Each centre shall appoint a representative for the General Assembly.

F. LIAISON GROUPS AND INDIVIDUAL LIAISON PERSONS
Clause 6
6.1 Groups, not registered in their own country may, with the consent of the General Assembly, and on payment of an annual fee determined by the General Assembly, become members of the Association and be referred to as Auroville International liaison groups (herein referred to as “liaison groups”).
6.2 Individuals residing in countries where no centre or liaison group exists may, with the consent of the General Assembly and on payment of an annual fee, determined by the General Assembly, become members of the Association and be referred to as Auroville International Liaison Persons (herein referred to as “liaison persons”).

G. GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Clause 7
7.1 The General Assembly consists of:
--- the members of the Board,
--- representatives of the centers
--- the co-opted members of the Board (see clause 8.6)
--- the honorary members of the Board (see clause 8.7)
--- a representative of Auroville who will be nominated by the Working Committee and approved by the Board
--- representatives of liaison groups
--- liaison persons
with the understanding that each center, each liaison group and each liaison person has the right to cast one vote;
that the representative of Auroville has the right to cast one vote;
that each elected Board member, including the co-opted members, has the right to cast one vote.
7.2 The General Assembly shall meet at intervals of not more than two years on a date fixed by the Board. The meetings can also be virtual meetings by online conference.
7.3 The General Assembly can only take decisions when not less than one half of the members entitled to vote are represented.
7.4 The General Assembly elects the Chairperson of the Association. The Chairperson so elected shall hold office for 2 years and be re-eligible for office for another term of 2 consecutive years.
7.5 The facilitator of the General Assembly shall be appointed by the Board.
7.6 Except as otherwise provided in the Statutes, the General Assembly shall make its decisions by consensus. In case no consensus can be reached, decisions shall be taken by 2/3 majority.
7.7 The General Assembly shall be convened by the Chairperson of the Association (herein referred to as “Chairperson”) by giving notice to the Working Committee and to all members not later than 90 days before the date thereof.
7.8 The Chairperson shall at the request of the Working Committee or of not less than three of the members call an extraordinary meeting of the General Assembly by giving not less than 21 days notice in writing.
7.9 The agenda for the meetings of the General Assembly shall be prepared by the Board members.
7.10 The place where the General Assembly shall be held shall be fixed in the preceding meeting of the General Assembly.

H. AUROVILLE INTERNATIONAL BOARD
Clause 8
8.1 The Auroville International Board shall consist of three to twelve members, appointed by the General Assembly. The appointment of these members shall take place by consensus or 2/3 majority. The Auroville representative will be nominated by the Working Committee, approved by the Board and will be a member of the Board.
 8.2 The board may, at its discretion, appoint other office holders from among its members. Such members shall hold office for two years and be re-eligible for office.
 8.3 The Board shall meet not less than once a year at a place to be decided by itself. The meetings can also be virtual meetings by online conference.
 8.4 Members of the Board shall hold office for a period of two years and shall be eligible for re-appointment. Board members or members of the General Assembly may be suspended or dismissed by the General Assembly or a majority of the Board.
 
8.5 The Board may co-opt additional members who shall hold office until the close of the next meeting of the General Assembly; they shall be eligible to be re-co-opted.
8.6 The Board may appoint additional members as honorary members. They will serve as advisors but have no voting right.
8.7 In the event of vacancies occurring on the Board, it may co-opt a member to fill the vacancy until the next meeting of the General Assembly, which shall elect such members as are necessary to fill the vacancies. The elected co-opted members shall have the same rights as the persons replaced.
 8.8 The Chairperson may, and at the request of the majority of the Board shall, summon meetings of the Board.
8.9 The Board can only take decisions when not less than three members of the Board are present in the meeting.
8.10 The Board may make regulations for the conduct of the affairs of Association and for the procedures to be followed at the General Assembly.

I. REPRESENTATION
Clause 9
9.1 The Association will be represented by the majority of the board or at least two members of the board, who have been appointed by a majority of the board, acting jointly, for a specified purpose.
9.2 The Board is, with the consent of the General Assembly, entitled:
9.2.1 to the purchase, sale of mortgage of goods for which, according to the Laws of the Netherlands, entry in the official registers is necessary;
9.2.2 to enter into agreements, to act as surety or joint debtor, to guarantee third parties’ obligations or to secure the debt of a third party.
9.3 The Auroville representative must reside in Auroville, will be responsible for promoting the interests of the Association in Auroville and should serve as a liaison between Auroville and the Association.

J. SECRETARIAT
Clause 10
10.1 The General Assembly shall elect a Secretary from members of the Board, who shall be responsible under the Board’s direction for the conduct of the affairs of the Association and for the implementation of the decisions of the General Assembly. The responsibilities of the secretary shall be decided, and may be amended by the Board.
10.2 In the case of the absence or illness of the Secretary, or of a vacancy in the post of Secretary, the Chairperson shall, in consultation with the other Board members, appoint an Acting Secretary to act until the next meeting of the Board.
10.3 The office of the Secretariat shall be in a place to be decided by the General Assembly.

K. TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
Clause 11
11.1 Membership of the Association may be terminated at any time by giving written notice.
11.2 The Board may, upon the proposal of the Working Committee or upon its own initiative or of a member, deprive a member of membership of the Association, if in its opinion that member does not act within the spirit or the objective set out in Clause 2 or does not organise, maintain and develop basic activities of the Association or does not observe any of the provisions of the Statutes.
11.3 Before taking such action, all members and the Working Committee will be informed of the reasons, on grounds of which the Board intends to deprive the member of membership, furthermore they will have the opportunity to inform the Board of their opinion on the proposed decision. The member concerned shall be entitled to present its or such person’s case to the first General Assembly after the decision of the Board.

I. FINANCE
Clause 12
12.1 One of the Board members shall act as a Treasurer of the Association and shall submit an annual report of the General Assembly.
12.2 No part of the income or property of the Association shall directly or indirectly be paid or transferred otherwise than for valuable and sufficient consideration to any of its members by way of dividend, gift, division, bonus or otherwise howsoever by way of profit.

M. AMENDMENTS OF STATUTES
Clause 13 
13.1 The Statutes may be amended by the General Assembly by a majority of not less than two thirds of the votes cast in a meeting also convened for this purpose. Amendments may be submitted by the Board, the members and the Working Committee.
13.2 Proposed amendments shall be submitted to the Secretary not less than three months before the General Assembly meets, and presentation to the General Assembly shall be supported in writing by at least three centres. Proposed amendments shall be communicated by the Secretary to all centres and to members of the Board and to the Working Committee, who shall be requested to give advice about the proposed amendments.

N. DISSOLUTION
Clause 14
14.1 The Association can be dissolved by a decision of the General Assembly in a meeting convened for this purpose, by a majority of not less than two thirds of the votes cast.
14.2 After dissolution of the Association the liquidation shall be settled by the Board, unless the General Assembly appoints one or more persons as liquidators.
14.3 Any credit balance after liquidation shall be used for Auroville; the destination shall be fixed by the Working Committee.