By-laws of the International Ski Instructors’ Association (ISIA) in the applicable version in accordance with the decision of the delegates’meeting of 22 May 2008 in Jesolo (Italy)

§ 1 Association
The ISIA is a voluntary, non-commercial association of national ski instructor associations with an ideal purpose in accordance with item 60 ff of the Swiss Civil Code.

§ 2 Base
The base of the association is in Bern (Switzerland). However, it can be administrated from the place of residence of the Secretary General or from any other place chosen by the Executive Committee.

The financial year of the ISIA starts on 1st January and ends on 31st De­cem­ber.

§ 3 Objectives

As an international organisation for the protection and promotion of the interests of professional ski instructors (skiing and other snow sports), the ISIA supports:

  • Stronger relationship between individual national ski instructor associa­tions
  • Collaboration in respect of ski technique, methodology, didactic and ques­tions of safety
  • The exchange of information
  • Internal and external opinion forming concerning the profession of ski instructor.

The task of the ISIA is to support the professional practise of ski and snow sports teaching in all its forms, and it collaborates with other associations from the worlds of skiing and tourism. Research into ski techniques, method­ology and didactic fields of skiing and every related branch is supported by the ISIA, within the realms of its ability.

§ 4 National and international contacts

The ISIA may be a member of national and international associations.

§ 5 Membership and Annulment of Membership

Only one organisation from each country may become a member of the ISIA. Each member must represent the professional ski instructors in its own country and has to be an organisation which is founded according to the legal prescriptions of its nation and which is an acknowledged, independent association with its own by-laws.

§ 6 Admittance of new Members

New members will only be admitted by the Assembly of Delegates after having lodged a written application with the required proof according to the requirements of item 5. Admission to the ISIA implies that the new member recognises the ISIA by-laws.

Membership of the ISIA does not imply that the certifications of an individual member country will automatically be recognised by the state authorities of the other member countries.

§ 7 Cessation of Membership

Membership will cease on:

  1. Voluntary resignation:

Resignation must be made in writing to the ISIA General Secretary and will only be accepted by giving 3 months’ notice before the year end.

  1. Exclusion, members who:
  • despite demanding payment fail to pay their subscription for two years,
  • no longer meet the conditions required by the by-laws,
  • harm the image of the association, act in contravention of the by-laws or fail to comply with the motions of the authorities.

Exclusion is decided by the Assembly of Delegates with a two-thirds majority.

§ 8 Rights and Duties of the Members

  1. Each member has a right to send delegates of their choice to the meetings of the ISIA. The delegates have a right to vote and to be elected and are entitled to vote on behalf of their association; this right is dependent on the subscription rules and the rules of internal procedure.
  2. Each member will name two official delegates who can be newly nomi­nated in each case. Members of the Executive Committee may repre­sent their organisations as delegates.
  3. Members will agree to cooperate as actively as possible in the work of the ISIA and to pay the fixed subscription. The liability of the members is limited to the payment of subscription. Further details are established in the subscription rules.
  4. The ISIA issues affiliated associations a stamp (ISIA stamp) of membership and a membership card (ISIA card) for their members. Further details are contained in the rules for issuing ISIA stamps and ISIA cards.

§ 9 The Components of the ISIA

The ISIA is composed of:

  • The Assembly of Delegates
  • The Executive Committee
  • The Presidency
  • The Commissions
  • 2 Auditors of the funds

§ 10 Assembly of the Delegates

The Assembly of Delegates is composed of all members and is the highest authority for decisions and the control of the ISIA.

The Assembly of Delegates elects the Presidency and the Executive Committee (with the exception of the General Secretary), decides upon ad­mission and exclusion of members, establishes the amount of the sub­scriptions, receives reports, discharges the Presidency and the Executive Committee and decides upon rules and alterations to the by-laws. Further details are regulated by the rules of internal procedure.

The Assembly of Delegates will take place at least once every two years.

§ 11 The Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is composed of:

  • The President
  • Three Vice Presidents (Europe, America, Pacific Area)
  • The Treasurer
  • Four Advisors
  • The General Secretary with advisory vote

The Executive Committee, with the exception of the General Secretary, is elected by the Assembly of Delegates for 4 years. The General Secretary is appointed by the Executive Committee on the proposal of the President. Only one delegate from each nation may become a member of the Exe­cutive Committee. This does not apply to the General Secretary.

§ 12 The Presidency

The Presidency is composed of the President and the first Vice President. They both have the individual right to represent the Association. The function of being entitled to represent the Presidency is exercised by the Vice President only in the event of the President’s absence.

The General Secretary will attend the meetings of the Presidency.

§ 13 Commissions

The Executive Committee may install commissions.

§ 14 Finances

The funds of the ISIA will come from the subscriptions of the affiliated associations, from donations and cooperation subscriptions. Further details are regulated by the subscription rules.

§ 15 Arbitration Clause

In the event of a dispute between any member and the ISIA, or if the parties are unable to reach agreement, the case will not be handled by any ordinary court but by an arbitrary board based in Bern. The Board is subject to Swiss civil law concerning the power of the arbitrary board. Each party will choose a third person to act as president. In the event of a disagreement in respect of the president, then the decision will be taken by the proper judicial authority in accordance with §12 of the civil code. The costs are to be paid by the parties.

As far as the regulations of the proceedings are concerned, the regulations of the civil code are to be used and subsidiary to those of the Swiss federal civil action.

The subsidiary board can decide as it sees fit.

§ 16 Alteration of the By-laws

The by-laws may be altered or expanded with a two-thirds majority upon written request, which must be lodged with the General Secretary three months prior to an Assembly of Delegates.

§ 17 Dissolution

The ISIA may only be dissolved at an Assembly of Delegates called for this specific purpose, and with a two-thirds majority by those present.

In the event of their withdrawal or exclusion or in the event of the dissolution of the ISIA, the members will have no right to claim the funds of the ISIA.

The Assembly of Delegates voting the dissolution will decide on the use of the funds.

§ 18 Entry into Force

All the hitherto by-laws will be superseded by the coming into force of this by-law. Members have a fixed time of 2 years, beginning with the coming into force of this by-law, to adapt to the new regulations.

Those members who do not or cannot adapt may remain members, but lose the right to vote or to be issued ISIA stamps. These members will hold observed status until they have fulfilled the requirements of the new regulations. The German constitution applies for questions of interpretation of those by-laws.

This version (amendments to items 3, 6 and 8) was agreed at the Assembly of Delegates on 22 May 2008 in Jesolo/Italy.