1. General provisions

1.1. The non-profit association Estonian Rabbit Breeders' Association (hereinafter SELTS) is an association of natural and legal persons that has joined on a voluntary basis.

1.2. The SELTS is a legal person in private law operating on the basis of the articles of association. He has his own bank account and insignia.

1.3. The COMPANY develops economic activities in order to achieve the goals set out in the Articles of Association. All funds belonging to the SELTS are directed to the development of the activities provided for in the statutes.

1.4. The COMPANY may use its income only for the purposes of its statutes. The COMPANY may not distribute profits among its members.

1.5. In its activities, the COMPANY is guided by the Constitution of the Republic of Estonia, the Non-profit Associations Act, other legislation and these Articles of Association.

1.6. The SELTS cooperates with other natural and legal persons in its field of activity. In connection with its statutory activities, the SELTS has the right to enter into contractual relations with domestic and foreign legal entities and to be a member of international organizations and associations.

1.7. The COMPANY is responsible for fulfilling its obligations with all its assets. The members of the SELTS are not responsible for the performance of the proprietary obligations of the SELTS and the SELTS is not responsible for the performance of the proprietary obligations of the members.

1.8. SELTS was established on September 2, 2021. in.

2. Name and location.

2.1. The official name of the non-profit association is the Estonian Rabbit Breeders' Association. (Abbreviation EKKS) The English name Estonian Rabbit Society is used in international relations.

2.2. The seat of the non-profit association is the Republic of Estonia.

3. Objectives of the SELTS.

3.1. The aim of the activities of the SELTS is to promote and develop rabbit breeding in the Republic of Estonia.

3.2. To achieve its goals, the SOCIETY:

3.2.1. provides rabbit farming advice to businesses, private rabbit farmers and farmers;

3.2.2. organizes exhibitions, seminars, fairs, study days, courses, competitions and conferences on rabbit breeding;

3.2.4. coordinates breeding work with rabbits;

3.2.5. cooperates and develops foreign relations with other societies, associations, cooperatives and unions;

3.2.6. represents the common interests of its members in national, societal and international organizations;

3.2.7. evaluates the breeding work of rabbits on breeding, breeding and breeding farms;

3.2.8. contributes to rabbit research;

3.2.9. promotes the experience of more successful rabbit farms, private rabbit farmers and farms through the media (radio, press, television and social media);

3.2.10. popularizes the production and consumption of rabbit products.

4. Membership.
4.1. The SOCIETY consists of natural and legal members.

4.2. Any Estonian or foreign citizen at least 15 years of age who recognizes the statutes of the SELTS may be a physical member of the SELTS. A minor who wishes to become a member must attach the written consent of a parent or guardian to the application.

4.3. The legal members of the SELTS can be all companies and organizations that are interested in the development of rabbit breeding and comply with the statutes of the SELTS.

4.4. The main condition for membership in the SELTS is the timely payment of the annual membership fee. The deadline for paying the membership fee is March 31 of the current year. The amount of the membership fee is determined by the general meeting of the SELTS for each calendar year.

4.5. Members who have joined the SELTS in November and December are exempt from the following year's membership fee.

4.6. A member of the SELTS is accepted and released on the basis of a written application submitted to the board.

4.7. A member of the SELTS must submit an application for resignation no later than March 31, in case of later submission, the obligation to pay the membership fee for the current year in full.

4.8. The Management Board shall decide whether to satisfy or reject the application of a person wishing to become a member by a simple majority.

5. Rights and obligations of members.

5.1. A member of the SELTS has the right to:

5.1.1. to participate in the decision-making of the affairs of the SELTS, meetings, to elect and be elected to the governing bodies of the SELTS;

5.1.2. to take part in all events of the SELTS, to express its opinion on them, including on the activities of the SELTS;

5.1.3. to use the services provided by SELTS as a priority;

5.1.4. to submit proposals for discussion in the Board of the Society regarding issues concerning the field of activity of the Society;

5.1.5. to withdraw from the SELF at its own request.

5.2. A member of the SELTS is obliged to:
5.2.1. to actively participate in the activities of the SELTS;
5.2.2. comply with the statutes of the SELTS and the decisions of the governing bodies;

5.2.3. to treat the assets of the SELTS prudently;

5.2.4. to maintain and protect the reputation of the SELTS;

5.2.5. pay the membership fee on time.

5.3. Exclusion from the COMPANY:
5.3.1. The general meeting of the Society shall by its decision exclude from the members a person who:

1) intentionally and / or grossly violates the provisions of the statutes of the SELTS;

2) does not comply with the resolutions of the general meeting and management board of the SELTS;

3) unreasonably fails to perform his or her obligations to the SELTS;

4) significantly damages the reputation and / or economic interests of the SELTS;

5) damages the reputation and / or economic interests of other members of the SELTS;

6) by his or her actions or omissions violates the applicable laws and norms and good animal husbandry practice.

5.3.2. The decision to expel the SELTS due to non-payment of the membership fee may be made by the Management Board independently, after sending a reminder to the SELTS member;

5.3.3. The decision of the board of expulsion from the SELTS shall be announced immediately;

5.3.4. A person expelled from a member of the SELTS has the right to appeal to the general meeting;

5.3.5. Claims against a person excluded from the SELTS may be submitted by the SELTS pursuant to the procedure and terms provided by law.

5.4. Withdrawal from the COMPANY:

5.4.1. Each member of the SELTS has the right to leave the SELTS on the basis of a personal application submitted to the management board or general meeting.

5.5. Exclusion from the COMPANY in the event of the death of a person shall take place by a decision of the Management Board after receipt of the relevant information.

6. Rights of the Estonian Rabbit Breeders' Association.

6.1. Acquire proprietary and non-proprietary rights, assume obligations, be a plaintiff and a defendant in one's own name.

6.2. Participate in the development of rabbit breeding development concepts and projects.

6.3. To issue letters of thanks, awards, medals, badges and prizes for the good results achieved in the development of rabbit breeding.

6.4. Acquire, transfer and lease buildings, equipment, vehicles, inventory and other property.

6.5. To submit its members to the unions and councils coordinating science, agriculture and rural life of the Republic.

6.6. Take a loan from individuals and legal entities.

6.7. Participate in the activities of other legal entities.

6.8. To grant the status of an honorary member to a person engaged in rabbit breeding or rabbit breeding science for a long time. An honorary member is not an active member of SELTS and does not form a quorum at the general meeting of SELTS. The participation of an honorary member of the SELTS in the meetings is voluntary, but the paid honorary members of the SELTS are obligatory.

7. Governing bodies.

7.1. The highest body of the SELTS is the general meeting of its members, which is notified to the members of the SELTS at least one week in advance.

7.2. At the general meeting, each member of the SELTS has one vote.

7.3. The general competence of the general meeting includes:

7.3.1. adoption and amendment of the articles of association;
7.3.2. changing the objectives of the activity;
7.3.3. election of the Management Board and the Audit Committee;
7.3.4. approval of the annual report and the report of the audit committee;

7.3.5. deciding on reorganization or termination of activities;

7.3.6. not voluntary exclusion.

7.4. The General Meeting is convened by the Management Board once a calendar year to approve the annual report and take decisions on other important issues provided for in the Articles of Association, as well as in cases where the interests of SELTS so require and at least 1/10 of the members or the Audit Committee.

7.5. The invitation with the agenda of the meeting must be sent to the e-mail addresses of the members no later than 7 days before the meeting.

7.6. The general meeting has a quorum regardless of the number of participants, if all the requirements arising from law and the articles of association have been complied with upon convening it. Information about the meeting will be published on the SELTS website. Notices of the meeting will be sent to the members by e-mail.

7.7. The resolution of the general meeting has been adopted:
1) generally by a simple majority;
2) in personal elections, the candidate who receives the most votes is elected;

3) 2/3 of the votes of the members who participated in the general meeting or their representatives are necessary for the amendment of the articles of association, merger, division and termination of the activities of the voluntary SELTS;

4) in the event of non-participation in the general meeting, the member has the opportunity to make a written authorization to the member participating in the meeting;

5) votes are conducted in public or in secret.

7.8. The general meeting elects a board of 3 to 5 members to manage the SELTS in the period between the general meetings for three years. The Management Board elects a Chairman and a Deputy Chairman from among the members of the Management Board. The Management Board is accountable to the General Meeting.

8. Management Board.

8.1. Ensures the work of the SELTS in the period between the general meetings, resolving issues that do not fall within the exclusive competence of the general meeting.

8.2. Submits the summary of the SELTS and the year of operation to the general meeting for approval.

8.3. Submits proposals to amend or supplement the articles of association to the general meeting.

8.4. Prepares general meetings.

8.5. Concludes and terminates employment contracts with salaried employees, approves job descriptions and salaries.

8.6. Exercises control over the activities of SELTS employees.

8.7. Decides on matters for the admission of new members and satisfies applications for resignation at their own request.

8.8. Decides on the use of SELTS funds and assets according to the activities and budget.

8.9. Keeps records of members.

8.10. The Board has a quorum if more than half of the members participate in the meeting; a member of the Management Board may not delegate his rights.

8.11. Decisions of the Management Board shall be taken by simple majority. In the event of an equal distribution of votes, the chairman of the management board shall have the casting vote.

8.12. Minutes of the meetings of the Management Board shall be taken in the prescribed manner and the minutes together with the annexes shall be archived in the order of date and number.

8.13. The members of the management board do not receive remuneration for their work, but the management board may, by its decision, determine compensation for direct and documented expenses related to the performance of obligations to the extent provided by law.

8.14. Approves the budget of the SELTS.

9. SELTS Audit Committee.

9.1. The election of the audit committee or auditor is decided by the general meeting. The audit committee is elected at the general meeting of the SELTS for 3 years.

9.2. The Audit Committee is elected by three members; the members of the audit committee cannot be members of the management board of the SELTS at the same time.

The Audit Committee checks:

1) the economic activities of the SELTS and supervises the implementation of the decisions of the management bodies;

2) the use of resources in accordance with the budget;
3) the accuracy and legality of accounting and reporting.

9.3. The Audit Committee shall be convened by its chairman as necessary, but at least once a calendar year.

9.4. The Audit Committee is accountable to the General Meeting.

9.5. The work of a member of the Audit Committee is not remunerated, the expenses incurred are reimbursed on an equal basis with the members of the Management Board.

10. SELTS property.

10.1. The assets of the SELTS arise:

10.1.1. membership fees;

10.1.2. income that may be received from the writing and distribution of SELTS publications, exercises-consultations and the organization of other paid events arising from the statutory objectives of the SELTS;

10.1.3. voluntary financial donations, sponsorship and allocations from the state budget;

10.1.4. other income necessary for the development of the statutory activities of the SELTS.

10.2. Property and financial donations can be either earmarked or non-earmarked.

10.3. The assets are used to achieve the statutory objectives of the SELTS, to train members and employees, bonuses, salaries and mission expenses of salaried employees, and breeding grants.

11. The COMPANY keeps the accounts prescribed by law and pays the prescribed state taxes.

12. The year of operation of the SELTS is a calendar year.

13. Termination of the activities of the SELTS.

13.1. The SELTS shall terminate its activities on the basis of a decision of the general meeting, on the basis of a decision of an administrative court or if the number of members is less than three members.

13.2. Upon adoption of the resolution to terminate the activities, the general meeting elects a 3-member liquidation committee, the task of which is to terminate the operations of SELTS, publish a notice of termination of SELTS in a national newspaper, summon creditors and satisfy their claims. The term of office of the liquidation committee may not be shorter than two months. Liquidation costs are covered from the funds of the SELTS. The results of the liquidation committee shall be formalized in a final act.

13.3. After satisfying the claims of all creditors, the liquidation committee shall make a decision on the use of the funds and other assets remaining for the SELTS.

13.4. The activities of the SELTS are terminated on the basis of the decision of the last meeting of the management board, which approves the final act of the liquidation committee. Within three working days after the approval of the final act, the management board of the SELTS shall send a notice of deletion from the register to the registrar of the state register and the institution that registered the articles of association.

13.5. Upon the transformation, merger or division of the SELTS, the assets of the SELTS and the contractual obligations and rights are transferred to the successors and the respective amendments to the articles of association of the SELTS are made. The formation of a new legal entity in the course of the transformation, merger and division of the SELTS shall not be deemed to be the establishment of the SELTS. The COMPANY shall be deemed to be reorganized and the property transferred to the legal successors from the date of registration of the amendments to its articles of association.

The Articles of Association have been approved on September 2, 2021