LRAL Statutes

1.1.

The association Latvian Radio Amateur League (abbreviated LRAL, hereinafter – the League) is a voluntary, non-profit association. The League operates in accordance with the Law on Associations and Foundations of the Republic of Latvia (hereinafter – the Law) and other regulatory enactments of the Republic of Latvia (hereinafter – Latvia).

1.2.

The League is a member of the International Amateur Radio Union (IARU). In its activities the League observes the statutes of IARU Region 1, which set out the League's duties and rights as an IARU member.

1.3.

The League is the continuation of the Latvian Radio Society founded in 1924. It was established by taking over the shortwave, VHF amateur and observer sections and groups operating within the Latvian Radio Sport Federation and the Latvian Radio Sport Club, and is the legal successor of these organisations.

1.4.

In its activities the League strictly follows the principles of amateur radio ethics, promotes mutual understanding, cooperation and helpfulness among League members and other Latvian radio amateurs, and opposes activities that hinder the achievement of the League's objectives and harm the honour of the League and the State of Latvia in international relations.

1.5.

The statutes of the League (hereinafter – the Statutes) determine the governance, objectives, finances and methods of operation of the League, the duties and rights of the League's governing bodies and members, and the forms of cooperation with Latvian and international institutions.

1.6.

The work of the League is organised by the League's board (hereinafter – the Board).

1.7.

The highest governing body of the League is the members' meeting (hereinafter – the Meeting).

2.1. The objectives of the League are:

• 2.1.1. to unite Latvian radio amateurs and organise their activities in line with the objectives of IARU;
• 2.1.2. to popularise amateur radio and radio sport among young people, especially schoolchildren;
• 2.1.3. to support persons who have chosen radio electronics as their hobby, and to promote the useful use of leisure time;
• 2.1.4. to promote the acquisition of radio electronics knowledge for further use in the national economy and in the service of the National Armed Forces.

2.2. The tasks of the League are:

• 2.2.1. to represent Latvian radio amateurs in state, municipal and other institutions;
• 2.2.2. to represent Latvian radio amateurs internationally;
• 2.2.3. to promote radio amateur research and technical innovation;
• 2.2.4. to promote and, where possible, organise training for beginner radio amateurs and preparation for amateur radio examinations, as well as to organise courses for improving the qualifications and skills of licensed radio amateurs;
• 2.2.5. in the event of natural disasters, to provide support to state and municipal institutions in organising communications.

2.3. The League achieves its objectives by:

• 2.3.1. organising the work of League members in accordance with the Statutes, and by involving League members in activities oriented towards the acquisition of amateur radio, radio sport and radio electronics knowledge and the useful use of leisure time;
• 2.3.2. maintaining relations with state and municipal institutions. The League cooperates with other legal persons on the basis of mutual agreements. The League may participate in associations of societies;
• 2.3.3. maintaining relations with international radio amateur organisations and radio amateur organisations of other countries, or by becoming their collective member;
• 2.3.4. organising radio sport competitions and other radio amateur events in Latvia, promoting international activities of Latvian radio amateurs and radio sportsmen, and participating in the organisation of international radio amateur competitions and events;
• 2.3.5. for the rational organisation of its work, the League may set up committees and permanent or temporary working groups, choosing their leaders or coordinators from among Board members or from League members who are not Board members;
• 2.3.6. maintaining a register of Latvian radio amateur observers and assigning observers a national identifier.

2.4.

The League has the right to freely disseminate information about its activities, establish its own press publications and other media, organise meetings, and carry out other public activities.

2.5.

As an ancillary activity, the League has the right to carry out economic activity related to the maintenance or use of its property, as well as other economic activity in order to achieve the League's objectives. The League's income may be used only for achieving the objectives set out in the statutes. Profit gained from the League's economic activity may not be distributed among League members.

3.1.

The League's emblem is an equilateral rhombus with its longer diagonal placed vertically. The background of the rhombus is carmine red. On the shorter diagonal of the rhombus, on a white horizontal band, is the inscription "LRAL". In the upper part of the rhombus a transmitting antenna is stylised, connected below to a stylised symbol of an inductive coil. In the lower part of the rhombus a stylised earthing is depicted.

3.2.

The League has a round seal bearing the League's symbols.

4.1. The League's funds are formed from the following income:

• 4.1.1. entrance fees and annual membership fees;
• 4.1.2. income from events organised by the League;
• 4.1.3. income from economic activity and publishing;
• 4.1.4. grants and donations from the state, public organisations, companies and private individuals.

4.2.

The League's funds are held in bank accounts and in the League's cash desk.

4.3.

The League's funds are to be used to finance the objectives and tasks set out in the League's Statutes.

4.4.

The League may purchase, lease or borrow movable and immovable property and use it at its own discretion.

4.5.

The Meeting may adopt a decision on an honorary acknowledgement of the League's sponsors by entering them in the League's Book of Honour.

4.6.

The League's sponsors (supporters) may transfer their funds to the League's account with an instruction to use them for specific purposes. The Board is not entitled to use these funds to finance other purposes, except for the compensation of expenses for servicing these funds.

5.1.

Any legal person or natural person who has reached the age of 16 may be a member of the League. Persons under the age of 16, when joining the League, submit to the Board a permission signed by their parents or guardians.

5.2. Duties of League members:

• 5.2.1. to comply with the requirements of the Statutes;
• 5.2.2. to participate in the achievement of the League's objectives;
• 5.2.3. to promote and popularise the League's activities and observe amateur radio ethics;
• 5.2.4. to comply with the decisions of the Meeting and the Board;
• 5.2.5. to participate in Meetings;
• 5.2.6. to pay the membership fee each year (the payment deadline is 30 June of the calendar year).

5.3. League members have the right:

• 5.3.1. to participate in events organised by the League;
• 5.3.2. to elect and be elected to any governing body of the League;
• 5.3.3. to form independent clubs and sections, both territorially and by interest. Such clubs and sections may become collective members of the League. Membership in such a club or section entails simultaneous membership in the League.

5.4.

For special merits in the development and promotion of the League's activities, League members may be awarded the title of Honorary Member of the League. The decision to award the title of Honorary Member and to enter it in the League's Book of Honour is taken by the Meeting. Honorary Members of the League have all the duties and rights of League members, except for the duty under clause 5.2.6. of the Statutes.

6.1.

The admission of League members is decided by the Board. To become a League member, an applicant submits to the Board an application of a specified form and a written recommendation from one League member. A member's membership in the League may not be transferred to third parties or inherited; it ends upon withdrawal or expulsion.

6.2.

A League member may withdraw from the League at any time by submitting a written notice to the Board or the Meeting.

6.3. A member may be expelled from the League by a decision of the Board in the following cases:

• 6.3.1. for failure to comply with the decisions of the Board and the Meeting, gross violations of the statutes and causing significant harm to the League;
• 6.3.2. for failure to observe the principles of amateur radio ethics, for actions that undermine the mutual understanding, cooperation and helpfulness among League members and other Latvian radio amateurs, hinder the achievement of the League's objectives and harm the honour of the League and Latvia;
• 6.3.3. for non-payment of the membership fee within the deadline set out in the Statutes in a calendar year, and if there is a debt for the previous year.

6.4.

In the event of withdrawal or expulsion, the membership fee is not refunded.

6.5.

The League maintains a register of its members, which contains each member's first name, surname, personal identity number, amateur station call sign (if any), as well as home address and contact details – telephone and email address. The information is available only to League members and to supervisory and law enforcement authorities.

7.1.

The amounts of the entrance fee and membership fees are set by the Meeting; the procedure for their payment is set by the Board.

7.2.

Membership fee payments are credited in chronological order, starting from the earliest year of unpaid membership fee from the moment these statutes were adopted; in exceptional cases this procedure is determined by the Board.

8.1.

The highest body of the League is the Meeting. All League members have the right to participate in the Meeting. Each League member has one vote at the Meeting. A legal person that is a League member may participate in the Meeting through a representative. The Meeting has a quorum if at least one quarter of the members participate. With regard to amendments to the statutes, the members' meeting has a quorum if more than half of the members participate.

8.1.1.

The Meeting is chaired by the Chairperson of the Board, unless the members elect another chair of the meeting. The course of the members' meeting is recorded in minutes, signed by the chair of the Meeting and the minutes-taker.

8.2.

The Board convenes the Meeting in the cases set out in the Statutes, or when convening the Meeting is necessary in the interests of the League. The Board immediately announces a Meeting if at least one tenth of the members request it in writing, stating the reason for convening. If, in this case, the Board does not convene the Meeting, the members requesting it may convene the Meeting themselves, observing the procedure for convening a Meeting set out in the statutes. The time for convening the Meeting must be chosen so as to interfere as little as possible with League members' participation in other Latvian or international amateur events. If, in convening the Meeting, the provisions of the Law or the Statutes have been violated, the Meeting is not entitled to adopt decisions on the procedure and deadlines for convening the Meeting, except where all members participate in the Meeting.

8.2.1.

If the Meeting is to decide on amendments to the Statutes, elect officials, or decide on the termination or reorganisation of the League, the Board announces the convening of the Meeting and makes its agenda known at least 14 days before the Meeting is convened. The Board announces the convening of the Meeting on the League's website and sends a notice to each League member by email.

8.3.

A decision of the Meeting is adopted if a majority of the members present vote for it. In any League body, a candidate is elected if a majority of the League members present at the Meeting vote for them.

8.4.

If the Meeting does not have a quorum due to an insufficient number of participants, the Board, no later than after five weeks, observing the provisions of clause 8.2.1. of the Statutes, convenes the Meeting anew with the same agenda. A re-convened Meeting has a quorum if at least two members participate.

8.5. The competence of the Meeting includes:

• 8.5.1. making amendments to the Statutes;
• 8.5.2. adopting decisions on the League's activities and the use of its financial resources during the reporting period;
• 8.5.3. setting the amounts of the entrance fee and membership fees;
• 8.5.4. deciding on the expulsion of League members;
• 8.5.5. electing Board members. The Board elects the Chairperson of the Board, the Deputy Chairperson and the Secretary from among its members; only League members who have reached the age of 18 may be elected to the League's governing bodies;
• 8.5.6. electing an audit commission of three members. The members of the audit commission elect the chairperson of the audit commission from among themselves. Members of the audit commission may not serve in other League bodies;
• 8.5.7. the term of office of the League's board and audit commission is three years.

8.6.

The audit commission organises its work independently. The audit commission examines the League's income and expenditure and the compliance of the League's bodies' activities with the Statutes. For resolving specific issues, the audit commission may, on the basis of a unanimous decision, involve specialists in the relevant field, whose opinion is of a recommendatory nature. Other decisions are adopted by the audit commission by open vote with a simple majority.

8.6.1.

The audit commission prepares a report to the Meeting on the results of the review of the League's activities and the financial audit for the period since the previous Meeting. The Board prepares and submits to the audit commission the requested materials and information.

8.7.

Between Meetings, the League's activities are managed by its executive body – the Board, consisting of 5 (five) members. The Board consists of the Chairperson of the Board, the Deputy Chairperson, the Secretary and Board members.

8.8.

Board meetings are prepared and chaired by the Chairperson of the Board, and in their absence – by the Deputy Chairperson or one of the Board members.

8.8.1.

Board meetings are recorded in minutes. The minutes are signed by the Chairperson of the Board and the Secretary (minutes-taker). The minutes are prepared within two weeks after the Board meeting and made available to League members.

8.8.2.

The Chairperson of the Board is responsible for the League's financial and economic activities. Contracts, agreements and other documents are signed on behalf of the League by the Chairperson of the Board or other persons authorised in accordance with the procedure set out in Latvian regulatory enactments.

8.8.3.

The Board ensures that League members are regularly informed about the League's work, the decisions adopted by the Board and the events organised by the League.

8.8.4.

The Chairperson of the Board prepares in good time a report to the Meeting on the Board's activities during the period since the previous Meeting and submits it to the Board for discussion and approval. Board members, by the deadline set by the Chairperson of the Board, prepare a report on their activities during the reporting period and submit it to the Chairperson of the Board for the preparation of the Board's report.

8.9. The competence of the Board includes:

• 8.9.1. managing the League's activities in accordance with the statutes and the decisions of the Meeting;
• 8.9.2. determining the allocation of the League's finances;
• 8.9.3. adopting decisions on the admission of League members and preparing the decision on the expulsion of League members;
• 8.9.4. forming committees and working groups, approving committee chairpersons, working group leaders and coordinators;
• 8.9.5. hiring and dismissing the League's salaried staff;
• 8.9.6. concluding contracts on behalf of the League;
• 8.9.7. any actions with movable and immovable property, in accordance with the decisions of the Meeting or the Board;
• 8.9.8. approving the editors of the League's press publications and other League media;
• 8.9.9. cooperation with state and municipal institutions in organising radio amateur activities;
• 8.9.10. preparing and convening the annual Meeting, drawing up its agenda and draft decisions.

8.10.

The powers of officials elected at the Meeting end after the next election of officials.

8.11.

Meetings and Board meetings may take place remotely, using electronic means of communication with voting capabilities.

8.12.

The League is represented in state, municipal and other organisations in Latvia and abroad by the Chairperson of the Board, the Deputy Chairperson, or at least two Board members.

9.1.

The decision on the termination or reorganisation of the League is adopted by the Meeting in accordance with the procedure set out in the Law and the Statutes. In the event of termination of the League's activities, the procedure for using its property and financial resources is determined by the Meeting. A decision of the members' meeting on the termination of the association's activities is adopted if more than two thirds of the members present vote for it.

In cases not provided for in the Statutes, action must be taken in accordance with Latvian regulatory enactments. In resolving specific international issues, IARU and other international documents are binding.