The organization’s information

Legal form: Society
Establishing date: 02.11.1981
Headquarters: Wroclaw, ul. Kollataja 26a
Poland National Court Register Number: 69581

The organization possesses the title of a catholic society given by The Conference of the Episcopate of Poland on November 26th, 1992

The Society is an official public benefit organization since May 6th 2004  

Chief authorities

ARTICLES OF INCORPORATION
Of St. Brother Albert’s Aid Society

(uniform text with amendments passed on Society General Meeting as of 7 May 2005)

The Society was started in memorable 1981 under the name of: Adam Chmielowski’s Aid Society.
It changed its name into: Brother Albert’s Aid Society in 1990,
and into: St. Brother Albert’s Aid Society in 1995.
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Article I
Name, business area and the principal office of the Society

§ 1
The name of the Society shall be: St. Brother Albert’s Aid Society hereinafter referred to as the Society.

§ 2
The business area of the Society shall be the area of the Republic of Poland and outside its borders.

§ 3
The principal office of the authorities of the Society shall be the city of Wroc³aw.

§ 4
The Society shall be a catholic, independent charity organisation operating on the basis of law on the societies and therefore has a legal personality.

§ 5
The Society shall have the right to establish Circles and Departments according to rules set out in the said Articles.

Article II
Objectives and means of the Society

§ 6
The objective of the Society shall be to help the homeless and the poor, including the handicapped - within the spirit of the Patron, St. Brother Albert.

§ 7
1. The Society shall implement its objectives through:
a/ establishing and running houses of 24 hour staying, shelters, overnight shelters, kitchens, baths and other institutions helping the homeless and the poor.
The said institutions operate according to the by
laws agreed upon by the Circle Board on the strength of guidelines of the Main Board
b/ charity, preventive, rehabilitation activity, in particular:
- spiritual comfort,
- social help (place to sleep, food, clothing, etc.),
- medical help, applying with a motion to refer to the Handicapped Commission,
- legal help, especially speaking on the behalf of the homeless to protect their rights,
- work organisation, taking the possibilities of the homeless and people without means to live employment into consideration,
- help in work and social reintegration,
- conducting educational activities,
- counteracts alcohol and drug addiction, providing of the addiction treatment.
2. The Society to implement its statutory objectives:
a/ co-operates with governmental administration, local government, non-governmental organisations, Catholic church and other churches and foreign partners operating within the field of social work,
b/ performs informing activities and inspires the scientific research on the homelessness,
c/ trains workers and volunteers,
d/ runs a business within the extent to realise statutory objectives.
3. Means to realise objectives discussed in art. 1 and 2 come from:
a/ fees,
b/ donations, money and tangible offerings,
c/ bequests and inheritances,
d/ interests on assets accumulated on the bank accounts,
e/ net income under purchased bonds, treasury bills, units of bond investment funds and investment funds,
f/ subsidies, interests, grants,
g/ running a business,
h/ public fund-raising,
i/ payments done by the people using services according to rules set out by the Main Board.
All the above mentioned shall be destined to running statutory activity.
4. The Society shall base its activities on the community services of the members and volunteers; it can employ people to run its business.

Article III
Members, their rights and responsibilities

§ 8
1. Private individuals and legal persons, Polish citizens and foreigners can be members of the Society. The under aged (14-18 yrs.) can become members of the Society only with the permission given by their parents or legal guardians.
2. Members of the Society shall be divided into:
a/ ordinary,
b/ supporting,
c/ honorary.
3. The person who is accepted by the Circle Board’s or Board Presidium’ s resolution in case when they make a motion to bring a circle into being are an ordinary member. They can be an ordinary member of only one circle.
4. A private individual or legal person who intend to contribute to the development and implementation of the objectives of the Society and were accepted by the Circle Board’s or Main Board Presidium’s resolution can be supporting members.
5. The persons who are of special credit to the Society can be honorary members. This status is rewarded by the Main Board.
6. There is a right to appeal from the negative decision regarding failure to admit to the Society to the Main Board.

§ 9
1. Ordinary members shall have rights to:
a/ passively and actively use the voting rights to elect the authorities of the said Society,
b/ make motions, comments and take up initiatives,
c/ wear the badge of the said Society.
2. Ordinary members have the responsibility to:
a/ take active part in the implementation of the Society’s objectives and to fulfil their organisational tasks,
b/ obey Articles of Incorporation,
c/ comply with the resolutions and decisions of the authorities of the Society,
d/ pay all the membership fees regularly,
e/ spread the idea of the Society and to win new members.
3. Society members, volunteers and other people performing actions ordered by the Society’s Authorities can be reimbursed according to the rules set out by the Main Board.
4. In the Society it is forbidden to:
a/ give a loan or treat debts with the estate of the Society as regards its members, organs members or employees, also persons who are their  spouses, lineal relatives or kins, first and second degree collateral relatives or kins; also adoptive kins or persons that are in their tutelage, hereinafter referred to as close relatives.
b/ vest of the Society estate for the benefit of its members, organs members, their close relatives according to different rules than are obligatory for third parties, especially if vesting is free or on preferential treatment.
c/ use  of the Society estate for the benefit of the members, organs members, employees, their close relatives according to different rules than are obligatory for third parties unless it directly comes of the statutory aim of the Society.
d/ purchase of goods or services under special terms from entities in which members of the Society, its organs members, employees or their close relatives participate.

§ 10
1. Ordinary membership shall cease as a result of:
a/ resigning from the Society,
b/ removing from the members’ list,
c/ excluding from the said Society.
2. Removing from the list follows resolution of the Board of the Circle, in case of not participating in the implementation of the Society’s tasks or not paying membership fees for more than two years. There is a right to appeal to the Members' Arbitration Jury from the resolution on removing.
3. Excluding from the Society follows a decision of the Members' Arbitration Jury on motion of the authorities of the Society in the case of acting against the Society or breaching these Articles, resolutions and decisions of authorities of the Society and of committing mean deed.
4. There is a right to appeal as stated in IV (16) (6) from the decision of the Members' Arbitration Jury

Article IV
The Authorities of the Society

§ 11
1. The chief authorities of the Society shall be:
a/ General Meeting of the said Society,
b/ Main Management Board, herein referred to as Main Board
c/ Presidium of the Main Board,
d/ Main Revisory Commission,
e/ The Members' Arbitration Jury.
2. The authorities of Department shall be:
a/ Meeting of the Department,
b/ Board of the Department,
c/ Revisory Commission of the Department
3. The authorities of Circle shall be:
a/ Meeting of the Circle,
b/ Board of the Circle,
c/ Revisory Commission of the Circle.
4. The term of the elective authorities of the said Society shall last 4 years except as stated in IV (11) (5).
5. The first term of the authorities of the circle shall last 1 year.
6. Unless stated otherwise herein, authorities shall pass ordinary
resolutions in the presence of at least the majority of members. In the case of the equality of votes, the President’s vote decides.
7. The members of the authorities of the Society shall fulfil their positions free of charge.
a/ The members of the Presidium of the Main Board can be employed to perform activities different to the ones resulting from their positions in Presidium pursuant to the resolution of the Main Board.
b/ The member of the Circle’s Board can be employed to perform activities different to the ones resulting from their position in the Circle’s Board pursuant to the resolution of the Circle’s meeting defining the conditions of the employment. The here in above shall respectively apply to the Department.
c/ Only one employee of the Society can be a member of the Board’s Department and Circle’s Board.
8. Absence in the activities of the authorities of the Society for more than 1 year shall be considered as resignation from fulfilling the position.
9. The members of Main Revisory Commission, Revisory Commission of the Circle, and Revisory Commission of the Department neither can be members of respectively: Main Board, Board of the Circle, and Board of Department nor be with them in kinship or under the employment.

General Meeting of the Society

§ 12
1. The governing authorities of the Society shall be the General Meeting of the Society held every two years and Extraordinary General Meeting of the Society held within one month from the passed decision or motion. General Meeting of the Society shall be called by the Main Board or the Presidium.
2. Extraordinary General Meetings of the Society can be called:
a/ by the resolution of the Main Board, Presidium, or the Main Revisory Commission,
b/ on written motion of the one third of the Boards of Circles or of the one third of delegates.
3. The notice with regard to the General Meeting of the Society should be sent by registered mail one month before the appointed date of the Meeting, and 21 days before the appointed date of the Extraordinary General Meeting.
4. Delegates of the Society’s Circles or their representatives chosen according to the rules set out by the Main Board, members of the governing authorities of the Society shall participate in the General meeting. Other members of the Society and invited guests can also participate in the General Meeting of the Society. Only delegates shall have the voting rights at the General Meeting. In the case when a delegate cannot participate in the General Meeting, their mandate is given to their proxy.
5. The resolutions of the General Meeting shall be by the affirmative vote of the 2/3 of the people with voting rights at the Meeting.
6. The duties of the General Meeting shall be as follows:
a/ choosing members of the Main Board including the President of the Society, members of the Main Revisory Commission and the Members' Arbitration Jury,
b/ passing resolutions following the directions and the schedule of the Society,
c/ giving the Main Board votes of acceptance on the basis of the discussed reports of the Board and the Main Revisory Commission in a poll,
d/ passing on the Articles amendments,
e/ passing on the resolution on the termination of the Society,
f/ defining the conditions of Circles’ having the legal personality.

Main Board

§ 13
1. The Main Board shall consist of 15-21 members. Additionally, it shall have in its make up the Presidents of the Departments. If the President of the Department is a member of Main Revisory Commission, other member chosen by the Department’s Meeting is in the makeup of the Main Board instead of this said person.
2. The Main Board shall have the following rights:
a/ making decisions on the execution of resolutions of the General Meeting of the Society,
b/ passing of the annual schedule of activities and financial plan of the Main Board,
c/ evaluating the work by the Presidium of the Main Board,
d/ administering finances and possessions of the Society, approving the annual financial statements of the Society and the Main Board,
e/ defining of the internal instructions and guidelines for the bylaws of the Society’s Circles,
f/ starting and terminating the Circles and Departments,
g/ establishing the minimum membership fees,
h/ repealing resolutions of the Presidium of the Main Board and of all the authorities of the lower levels of the said Society which are against the law or the Articles of Incorporation,
i/ choosing, on motion of the President, 4-6 members of the Presidium among its members,
j/ co-ordinating the Circles’ and Departments’ activities,
k/ suspending the activity of Circles’ and Departments’ Boards in case of stating the activities against the Articles and resolutions of the governing authorities, establishing in this case provisional management board till the calling of Extraordinary Meeting of the Circle or Department.
l/ adding members of the Main Board, not more than one forth of the existing makeup of the said Board strong,
³/ agreeing on gaining legal personality by the Society’s Circles after complying with all the conditions set out by the General Meeting of the Society and withdrawing the approval on having such legal personality, when the Circle does not comply with these conditions,
m/ conferring the status of Honorary Member and setting other different ways of rewarding people who contributed to the Society,
n/ passing on resolution on termination of the Circle, especially when the Circle has less than 15 members, cannot elect the Board and Revisory Commission or looses capacity to perform its tasks for some other reasons.
3. The sessions of the Main Board shall be held according to the needs, not less than twice a year and are called by the President of the Society.
Sessions can be called on motion of Main Revisory Commission, 1/2 of members of the Main Board or Presidium of the Main Board - not later than one month from the date of filing the motion.
4. In urgent matters, the Main Board can pass on resolution, on motion of the Presidium, by mail (using voting cards). The resolution is passed on a date when the votes for are delivered from at least half members of Board.

Presidium of the Main Board

§ 14
1. Presidium shall be the executive organ of the Main Board and shall execute its resolutions.
2. The Presidium shall consist of: the President of the Society and 4-6 members, elected by the Main Board, who among themselves choose Vice-presidents, the Treasurer and the Secretary.
3. The sessions of the Presidium shall be held according to the needs, not less than once a month and shall be called by the President of the Society or with his authorisation by the Vice-President.
4. The Presidium shall have the following tasks:
a/ execution of the Main Board’s resolutions,
b/ working out the annual activity schedules and financial plans of the Presidium,
c/ current management of the Society’s possessions and finances of the Main Board,
d/ making liabilities and signing agreements within the limits of authorisations of the Main Board,
e/ supervising the activities of the Circles and Departments and approving the annual financial statements of the Circles and Departments not having legal personality,
f/ making motions to the Main Board on suspending the activities of the Circles’ and Departments’ Boards, in the case of stating the activity against the Articles and resolutions of the governing authorities,
g/ calling the General Meeting of the Society and sessions of the Main Board,
h/ working out internal instructions and guidelines for the Circles,
i/ giving wide-ranging help the Circles and making motions to the Main Board
to setting up new Circles and Departments,
j/ taking care of preserving the ideological identity of the Society,
k/ carrying out the news-propaganda activity,
l/ organisation of the trainings, retreats, days of meetings, etc.
³/ applying to the National Court Register with motions to amend the already existing entry with regard to the Society.
5. The Boards of the Circles and Departments shall have the right to appeal to the Main Board against resolutions of the Presidium of the Main Board within 2 weeks from receiving the said resolution. The Presidium shall submit an appeal to the Main Board at the nearest meeting.
6. The Society shall be represented by the President or the persons duly authorised by him.

Main Revisory Commission

§ 15
1. 5-9 chosen members shall be in the makeup of the Main Revisory Commission. The members of the Commission shall choose among themselves the President and the Vice-President.
2. The sessions of the Commission shall be held according to the needs, not less than twice a year.
3. The scope of the activities of the Commission shall be as follows:
a/ control of the overall of the activities of the said Society, including:
- possessions and financial management control,
- vigil over complying with the Articles,
- control over the resolutions’ execution of the governing authorities of the society,
b/ presenting its motions and observations to the Main Board and to the General Meeting of the Society,
c/ turning in the reports on its activity and making motions on giving the vote of acceptance to the outgoing Main Board at General Meeting of the Society.
4. The members of the Commission can participate in the sessions of the Main Board and the Presidium with the advising voice.
5. The Main Revisory Commission shall control the activity of the Revisory Commissions of Circles and Departments. In the case of failing to execute the statutory tasks or breach of the Articles or resolutions of the Society’s governing authorities by the revisory commission of a circle or department, Main Revisory Commission can suspend the activity of this commission, taking over or entrusting its duties and responsibilities to revisory commission of other circle, until calling of the Extraordinary Meeting of the Circle.
6. The Main Revisory Commission shall send 1 copy of the report on its activity to the Presidium not later than three weeks before the date of the General Meeting of the Society.

The Members' Arbitration Jury

§ 16
1. 10-12 chosen members shall be in the makeup of the Members' Arbitration Jury. The members of the Jury shall choose among themselves President and Vice-president.
2. The Members' Arbitration Jury shall debate on the basis of the agreed by them by laws.
3. The Members' Arbitration Jury shall consider the cases of members when they breach these Articles, bylaws, resolutions and decisions of the authorities of the Society, commit mean deed, and also harm the good name of the Society. Investigating of a motion on excluding from the Society, appeal from the resolution on removing from the Society shall fall into the jurisdiction of the Members' Arbitration Jury
4. The Members' Arbitration Jury shall penalise by warning, reprimand, 2 year membership rights suspension, or excludes from the Society.
5. The Members’ Arbitration Jury in the first instance shall issue order in the 3 person makeup appointed by the President of the Jury.
6. There is a right to appeal from the order of the Members' Arbitration Jury, which is heard in the second instance in the 5 person makeup appointed by the President of the Jury, including the members of the Jury from the first instance. The orders shall be final.
7. The Members' Arbitration Jury shall interpret these Articles affirmative majority of the chosen makeup.
8. The Members' Arbitration Jury shall submit an activity report at the General Meeting.

Article V
Departments of the Society

§ 17
1. At least 3 Circles shall constitute Department. The Main Board shall establish Department at the motion of interested Circles and defines:
- area of its activity,
- by laws, on the basis of presented suggestion.
2. The Department shall have the following tasks:
a/ initiation and co-ordination of the activities, exchange of experiences, organisation of work co-operation among the Circles, formation and training
of the employees and members of the Circles, representing of the circles within the activity area of Department, making the motions to the Main Board.
b/ The Department can also take up other activities stated in art. 2 (7) within its activity area.

§ 17a
1. The members of the Boards of Circles being in the makeup of the Department shall constitute the Meeting of the Department.
2. Following matters shall fall into the jurisdiction of the Meeting of the Department:
a/ passing on resolutions on the way of realisation of activities of the department, including its preliminary,
b/ choice and dismissal of the members of the authorities of the Department, including President of the Department,
c/ consideration and accepting of the reports on the Department’s authorities’ activities, including financial,
d/ giving the votes of acceptance to the outgoing Board of the Department, in a poll, on the basis of report of Board of the Department and motion by Revisory Commission of the Department.
3. The Meeting of the Department shall be held not less than twice a year. The Meetings shall be called by the Board of the Department; Meeting of the Department can be also convened by the Presidium of the Main Management Board.
4. Resolutions of the Meeting of the Department shall be passed as ordinary resolutions with the presence of at least half of the members at the meeting.
5. Notices about the Meeting of the Department should be sent not later than two weeks before the date. The suggested agenda of the Meeting should be in the notice.

§ 17b
1. The Board of the Department shall consist of: the President and 2-4 members.
2. The Board of the Department shall be an executive organ of the Meeting of the department and shall execute its resolutions.

§ 17c
1. The Revisory Commission of the Department shall consist of 3 chosen members, who among themselves shall choose the President.
2. The Said Commission shall have the following tasks:
a/ control conformity of the activity of the Department with the Articles of the Society and the Bylaws of the Department,
b/ financial control of the activity of the Department
c/ filing the reports at the Meeting of the Department
d/ presenting the motion to give the votes of acceptance to the outgoing Board of the Department,
e/ co-operation with the Main Revisory Commission.

Article VI
Circles of the Society

§ 18
1. A Circle shall be the basic unit of the Society. Circles can be set up on written motion of 15 people. Main Board setting up a Circle shall define its area activity.
2. A Circle can gain the legal personality pursuant to art. 4 (13) (2³) and art 6 (19)(1e).
3. A Circle after gaining the legal personality shall be obliged to comply with the Articles of the Society, resolutions of the authorities of the Society and shall be subject to the control of the authorities of Society.
4. At the moment of gaining by the Circle legal personality, possessions at its disposal shall remain the property of the Society.
5. A Circle can loose its legal personality due to reasons defined in IV (13) (2³).
6. Circles not having legal personality cannot run a business.

Meeting of the Circle

§ 19
1. The Meetings of the Circle shall be held not less than twice a year. The following issues shall fall into the jurisdiction of the Meeting of the Circle:
a/ passing on resolutions on the way of realisation of the objectives of the Society and resolutions of the governing authorities of the Society on the acting area of Circle, including preliminaries,
b/ the choice of the delegates and their proxies for the General Meeting of the Society during the term of the governing authorities,
c/ hearing of the Board of Circle report on the current activities,
d/ discussion, and in the case of Circles having the legal personality, also acceptance of the annual financial statements,
e/ passing on resolutions on gaining by the Circle legal personality,
f/ passing on resolutions on employing a member of the Board of the Circle, the conditions of employment and its amendments,
g/ passing on resolutions on buying, selling and mortgage properties; prior agreement of the Main Board is required to perform these resolutions,
h/ passing on resolutions on building investments, after gaining positive opinion of the Main Board,
i/ carrying out the by-elections in the case of necessity of makeup completion of the authorities of the Circle,
j/ passing on resolutions on dismissal of the member of the authorities of the Circle, in particular, when a member is not fulfilling their position properly or by their attitude harms the good name of the Society. The motion on dismissal of a member of authorities can be made by Board of Circle, Revisory Commission of Circle, Presidium of the Main Board or at least 10 members of the Circle after a prior possibility of written statement of this person to written charges presented to this person,
k/ passing on resolutions on starting new or closing of already existing institution, after gaining the positive opinion of the Presidium of the Main Board,
l/ passing on resolutions on joining or leaving the Department.
2. Report-Election Meeting of the Circle shall be held every 4 years. The following issues shall fall into the jurisdiction of Report-Election Meeting of the Circle:
a/ election of the authorities of the Circle, including the President of Circle,
b/ discussion and acceptance of the activity reports of the authorities of the Circle,
c/ passing on resolutions on the implementation of objectives of the Society in the business area of Circle (for the terms of office),
d/ giving votes of acceptance to the outgoing Board of the Circle, in a poll, on the basis of the reports of the Board of the Circle and motion of the Revisory Commission of the Circle.
3. On written motion of at least half of the members of Circle, Revisory Commission of the Circle, Main Board or Presidium of the Main Board of the Society, Extraordinary Meeting of the Circle shall be held.
4. Resolutions of the Meeting of the Circle are passed as ordinary resolutions in the presence of at least half of members of the Circle at the meeting.
5. Notices on the Meeting of the Circle should be sent not later than two weeks before the date of the Meeting. The suggested agenda of the Meeting should be in the notice

Board of the Circle

§ 20
1. The Board of the Circle shall be the executive organ of the Meeting of the Circle and shall execute objectives referred to in art. 2(7) on its business area.
2. The President of the Circle, Vice-President of the Circle, the Treasurer, the Secretary and 1-5 members shall be in the makeup of the board of the Circle Accountant of the Circle cannot be a member of the Board of the Circle.
3. The Board of the Circle shall have following tasks:
a/ execution of the resolutions of the Meeting of the Circle and governing authorities of the Society,
b/ working out annual schedules and preliminaries of the financial budget of the Circle and submitting them to the Meeting of the circle for acceptance,
c/ current management of possessions and finances of the Circle within the limits specified in preliminary,
d/ signing agreements and making liabilities within the limits of ordinary possession management,
e/ acceptance and removing members from the list of the Society
f/ submitting the activity reports and financial statements of the Circle at the Meeting of Circle, and in the case of circles not having legal personality, sending them to the Presidium of the Main Board for acceptance.
4. A Circle shall be represented by the President and people authorised by him.
5. Signatures of 2 members of the Board, including the President of the Circle or person duly authorised by him, are required to sign the financial liabilities of the Circle.

Revisory Commission of the Circle

§ 21
1. The Revisory Commission of the Circle shall consist of 3-5 chosen members, who among themselves shall choose the President of the Commission.
2. The Said Commission shall have the following tasks:
a/ conformity control of the Circle’s activities with the Articles and with the resolutions of the Main Board,
b/ financial control of Circle’s activity,
c/ making reports from the control at the Meeting of the Circle and at Report-Election Meeting of the Circle,
d/ making motion on giving votes of acceptance to the outgoing Board of the Circle,
e/ co-operation with the Main Revisory Commission of the Society.
3. The members of the Revisory Commission can participate in the sessions of the Board of the Society with the advising voice.

§ 22 crossed out

Article VII
Possessions of the Society

§ 23
1. Funds, securities, movables and properties can constitute the Possessions of the Society.
2. The funds of the Society can consist of:
a/ incomes form the membership fees,
b/ subsidies,
c/ donations and bequests,
d/ other incomes form the statutory activities.
3. Circles not having legal personality shall be authorised to administer the possessions of the Society within the authorisation limits w granted to them by the Main Board. Circles having legal personality are authorised to administration of the possessions of the Society with keeping of the art. VI (18)(4) and art. VI (19)(1g).
4. In order to sign financial liabilities of the Society, two signatures of people duly authorised by the Main Board, including the President or people authorised by him, shall be required.
5. In the case of loosing the legal personality by the Circle or its winding up, the possessions of the Circle shall become the Society property.

Article VIII
Articles Variation, Termination of the Circle, Termination of the Society

§ 24
1. Resolution on amending the Articles shall be passed at the General Meeting of the Society by a 2/3 majority of votes in the presence of at least half of the members with voting rights.

§ 25
1. Resolution on termination of the Circle shall be passed by the Meeting of the Circle by a 2/3 majority of votes in the presence of at least 3/4 members of Circle at the Meeting.
2. Notice with regard to the meeting should be sent by registered mail to the members of the Circle and the Main Board at least one month before the date of the meeting and should include the agenda of the meeting.
3. To termination of the circle having legal personality art. 8 (26) (2) shall also apply.

§ 26
1. Resolution on termination of the Society shall be passed at the General Meeting of the Society by 2/3 majority of votes in the presence of at least half of the people with voting rights.
2. In the case of passing on the resolution on termination of the Society, General Meeting shall appoint Liquidation Commission with 5 members.
3. Resolution on termination of the Society defines contribution of the possessions of the Society for the Catholic Church.

§ 27
In all the matters not regulated by these Articles the provisions of the Laws on Societies shall apply.