STATUTES

VDNR Statutes changed and adopted by the Annual General Meeting 2023 (pdf)

Statutes for the VDNR

§ 1 Name
English: Nordic Council of Deafened, Swedish: Vuxendövas Nordiska Råd (VDNR). The name of the council is VDNR. Statutes are in English and in Swedish. Official languages are English and Swedish.

§ 2 Council Seat
The Council has its seat in Stockholm, Sweden. 

The most important tasks for VDNR are to
– Exchange information on development, accessibility, and to improve the living conditions regarding people with severe and profound hearing loss, people who benefit or do not benefit from hearing aids, cochlear implants, bone anchored hearing systems, auditory brainstem implants and/or vibrotactile devices.
– Monitor and influence developments in various topics related to living with hearing disabilities in the Nordic and Baltic countries.
– Arrange seminars to exchange experiences, information and research in different areas; for example, communication, interpretation, education, audiological treatments and social issues.
– Initiate and create resources to run joint projects
– Collaborate with public organizations and research institutes
– Involve, inform and collaborate with other peer organisations
– Promote training of visual communication methods for people with limited benefit from hearing devices with their family and friends
– Raise awareness and promote use of vibrotactile devices
– Suggest the country responsible for organising the next summer event

§ 3 Purpose
VDNR is a co-operative organization that works to ensure that people who live with severe and profound hearing loss achieve the same living conditions, rights and opportunities as other citizens in the Nordic and Baltic countries.
Its priorities are accessibility and equality and exchange of knowledge.
VDNR admits members from the Nordic and Baltic countries.

§ 4 Members
VDNR consists of representatives of organisations working with people living with hearing disabilities. Public organisations, county councils, government agencies etc. can be accepted as support members. VDNR also accepts associated members.

§ 5 Membership
VDNR members consist of representatives of organisations working with hearing disabled people. These organisations value the statements in §3.
Applications for membership and associated membership can be accepted. The applications are submitted to the secretariat, but must be approved by the VDNR annual general meeting (AGM). Companies and other organisations can be sponsors.

§ 6 Membership Fee
Each member and associate member pay the annual fee determined by the AGM. The fee must be paid before the end of September. Associate members pay a reduced fee.

§ 7 Decisions in the Organisation
Decisions at the highest level are made at the Annual General Meeting (AGM) by the affiliates’ representatives and, between the Annual General Meetings, by the VDNR Board, eventually online.
Deputy members have a right to speak and propose, but not to vote.
Associate members have the right to speak and propose, but not to vote.
Associate members cannot be elected to the board.

§ 8 Annual General Meeting (AGM)
The AGM shall be held no later than May 31st at a place determined by the VDNR board. Notice must be given no later than three months before the meeting.
Every proposal or other possible item on the agenda must be submitted to the secretariat in writing at least two months before the AGM.
The secretary will notify the general membership meeting about the agenda and the proposals that will be addressed to the AGM at least one months before the meeting.
At the AGM, the following topics must be included in the agenda:
01. Approval of the agenda.
02. Election of the chair of the AGM
– meeting leader
– meeting secretary
– two adjusters of the AGM minutes and vote counters
03. Approval that the invitation to the Annual General Meeting was sent out on time.
04. Approval of the Annual Business Report.
05. Approval of the Financial Report.
06. Presentation of the Audit Report.
07. Election of VDNR’s chairperson. Mandate period 1 year.
08. Election of VDNR ́s secretary. Mandate period 1 year.
09. Election of VDNR’s treasurer. Mandate period 1 year.
10. Election of VDNR ́s external auditor and external deputy auditor.
   Mandate period 1 year.
11. Presentation of board members elected in full member countries.
12. Preparing the new Business Plan.
13. Presentation of the Annual Budget.
14. Determination of membership fees.
15. Processing of membership applications
16. Processing of incoming proposals.
17. Any other business.
The minutes must be signed by 2 protocol adjusters, the Chair of meeting, the VDNR chairperson and the secretary of the meeting and sent to the representatives, treasurer and auditors.

§ 9 The Secretariat
The chairperson, the treasurer and the secretary constitute the secretariat. The secretariat serves the Board and AGM.

§ 10 The Board
Two representatives from each member organisation with full membership constitute the board. The board must be presented at the AGM. The board make decisions between ordinary AGM’s. The board is responsible for VDNR’s budget, business and management.

§ 11 The Council

Two representatives and two deputies from each member and associated member organisation from each country constitute the Council. The Council’s AGM can make decisions when at least half of the representatives are present.
The Council prepares the Business Plan and budget. The VDNR secretary writes the Annual Business Report.

§ 12 Voting Rights
Only elected representatives with full membership have the right to vote. Decisions are made by simple majority if nothing else is mentioned in the statutes. If vote numbers are even, the VDNR chairperson has the casting vote.

§ 13 Accounting Year
VDNR’s accounting year is a calendar year. It runs from the 1st of January to the 31st December. The accounting must be completed and submitted to the auditors no later than two and a half months before the AGM.

§ 14 Audit Report
The auditors shall submit the Audit Report of the VDNR´s accounting and management no later than one month before the AGM. 

§ 15 Change of Statutes
Change of statutes can be decided by the AGM by a two-thirds majority.

§ 16. Dissolution of the Council
VDNR is dissolved if it is decided on in two consecutive meetings, one of which must be an AGM. At both meetings, the decision must be made with a two-thirds majority. If VDNR is dissolved, any assets should be divided between the affiliates

The Statutes are changed and adopted by the AGM 2023 and signed by

TRINE LINDHARDT GAARSDAHL, VDNR Chair Person, Board Member
MARIA KANANEN, VDNR Treasurer, Board Member
ELLA MYHRING HOEGEDAL, VDNR Secretary, Board Member
LIISA SAMMALPENGER, VDNR Board Member

April 15, 2023                   Vilnius, Lithuania

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