Social Promotion Association “BELIEVE LAB – APS”

Art. 1 – Constitution, Name and Registered Office
An Association for Social Promotion named BELIEVE LAB is constituted, pursuant to the Civil Code and Legislative Decree No. 117 of July 3, 2017, and subsequent amendments and integrations, with its legal headquarters in the Municipality of Scandiano (RE), operating on a non-profit basis.
The name will be integrated with the wording “Associazione di Promozione Sociale – APS” upon registration in the Single National Register of the Third Sector (RUNTS); from that moment it will assume the name “BELIEVE LAB Associazione di Promozione Sociale”, abbreviated “BELIEVE LAB APS”.
Any transfer of the headquarters within the same Municipality does not constitute a statutory amendment and can be resolved by the Ordinary Assembly.
The duration of the Association is unlimited.

Art. 2 – Aims and Activities
2.1 General Purposes
The Association pursues civic, solidarity, and social utility purposes through activities of general interest (Art. 5, Legislative Decree 117/2017), mainly for the benefit of members and third parties, aimed at:

1. Organizing multidisciplinary events (music, art, performance, holistic culture, psycho-physical well-being).
2. Promoting “Psytrance” electronic music, including by small international artists.
3. Promoting and organizing music events.
4. Promoting the territory.
5. Supporting people and entities in achieving their respective goals.
6. Carrying out any other secondary or instrumental activity useful for pursuing the statutory purposes, in compliance with the regulations.

2.2 Activities of General Interest (Art. 5, para. 1, Legislative Decree 117/2017)

• a) Education, instruction, and professional training; cultural activities with educational purposes.
• b) Organization and management of cultural, artistic, or recreational activities of social interest, including publishing activities.
• c) Instrumental services for Third Sector entities (≥ 70% of members are ETS – Third Sector Entities).
• d) Social housing and temporary residential activities of a social nature.
• e) Promotion of the culture of legality, peace, non-violence, unarmed defense.
• f) Promotion and protection of human, civil, social, and political rights; consumer protection; equal opportunities; time banks; Solidarity Purchase Groups (GAS).

2.3 Specific Activities
The Association intends in particular to:

1. Promote multidisciplinary events (music, yoga, theater, art, holistic disciplines, new age).
2. Offer live streaming of electronic, shamanic, tribal music and holistic culture courses.
3. Create visionary art and performances.
4. Produce educational videos and initiatives on eco-sustainability and community life.
5. Promote craftsmanship with market stalls and street food.

2.4 – 2.6 Volunteering, Insurance, Workers
Activities are carried out for the benefit of members, their families, and third parties, primarily availing themselves of the volunteering of the members. Volunteers are insured (Art. 18, Legislative Decree 117/2017). The hiring of workers is possible within legal limits (max 50% of volunteers or 5% of members).
The Association may carry out activities other than those of general interest provided they are secondary and instrumental, identified by the Board of Directors.

Art. 3 – Economic Resources
Resources come from:

1. Membership fees and contributions from members.
2. Inheritances, donations, and bequests.
3. Contributions from the State, Regions, Local Authorities, public bodies, or institutions.
4. Contributions from the EU and international bodies.
5. Provision of services under agreement.
6. Proceeds from the sale of goods/services to members or third parties (secondary commercial activities).
7. Free donations.
8. Promotional initiatives (parties, lotteries, prize subscriptions).
9. Any other income permitted by law.
   The common fund (surpluses, funds, reserves, assets) is indivisible among members both during their lifetime and in the event of dissolution. Any distribution of profits is prohibited; surpluses must be reinvested in institutional activities.
   The financial year ends on December 31; the Board of Directors prepares the financial statement within 4 months and submits it to the Assembly.

Art. 4 – Members of the Association
Individuals and – up to 50% – Third Sector entities or other non-profit entities can join, without discrimination. Members have equal rights and duties; membership is for an indefinite period except for withdrawal.

Art. 5 – Criteria for Admission and Exclusion of Members

• Admission: decided by the Board of Directors upon written application; recorded in the membership book after payment of the fee.
• Appeal: the rejected applicant can appeal to the Assembly within 30 days.
• Minors: application countersigned by a parent; vote exercised through the holder of parental responsibility until the age of 18.
  Causes for loss of membership status:
• Death;
• Withdrawal;
• Lapse due to non-payment of the fee for 1 year;
• Exclusion for:
  • Behavior contrary to the purposes;
  • Persistent violation of the statute, regulations, or resolutions.
    Exclusion is decided by the Board of Directors with the right of reply and appeal to the Assembly; it becomes effective after assembly ratification. Fees are non-transferable and non-revaluable; no refund to the withdrawing/excluded member.

Art. 6 – Rights and Duties of Members
Rights:

• Participate in association activities.
• Active and passive electorate (for entities, through the legal representative).
• Inspection of association books and management documentation (written request, response within 30 days; copies at the applicant’s expense).
  Duties:
• Observe the statute, regulations, resolutions.
• Maintain behavior consistent with the purposes and association rules.
• Pay the membership fee.
• Contribute, within the limits of one’s possibilities, to achieving the purposes.

Art. 7 – Volunteers
Volunteering is free, personal, spontaneous, and gratuitous. Any form of remuneration is prohibited; only reimbursement of documented and pre-authorized expenses is permitted (no flat rate). Incompatible with paid employment relationships with the association. Insurance obligation (accidents, illnesses, liability).

Art. 8 – Bodies of the Association

• Members’ Assembly
• Board of Directors
• President
• (Optional) Board of Auditors
• (Optional) Supervisory Body
  The election of the bodies is free and cannot be restricted.

Art. 9 – The Assembly
The supreme deliberative body, ordinary and extraordinary.
Convocation:

• At least 15 days prior, written notice (paper or electronic).
• Participation via tele/videoconference and voting by correspondence or electronic means permitted, with identity verification.
  Constitution:
• I convocation: present/represented ≥ 50% of members.
• II convocation (not on the same day): valid whatever the number of members after 30 minutes have elapsed.
  Deliberations:
• Ordinary by majority vote.
• Extraordinary:
  • Statute amendment → absolute majority in I conv.; in II conv. constitutive quorum 50% and majority of ¾ of those present.
  • Dissolution and devolution of assets → ¾ of the members.
    Main Ordinary Competences:
• Appointment/removal of members of social bodies and legal auditor.
• Approves the budget.
• Deliberates on the liability of social bodies.
• Decides on appeals (exclusions, admissions).
• Approves the assembly regulations.
• Defines annual policy guidelines, allocates management surpluses, etc.
  Each member can have a maximum of 3 proxies; members of the administrative body do not vote on the budget and their own liability.

Art. 10 – The Board of Directors
The Board of Administration composed of 7 – 10 members, elected by the Assembly, in office for 4 years, eligible for re-election, chosen from among the members.
Vacancies and Lapse:

• Replacement of a member with the first of the non-elected (ratified by the Assembly).
• If more than half of the members lapse, the Assembly elects a new Board.
  Attributions:
• Elects the President, Vice President, and Secretary.
• Executes the resolutions of the Assembly.
• Prepares the budget or financial statement.
• Sets the annual membership fee.
• Deliberates on new admissions and exclusions.
• Adopts or modifies the internal regulations.
• Administers the association for acts not reserved to the Assembly.
  Functioning:
• Convocation (also via email) with 15 days’ notice; if not given, valid if all councilors are present.
• Usually every 3 months or upon request of the President/Vice or at least ⅔ of the members.
• Resolutions valid with the presence of the majority of members and favorable vote of the majority of those present (if only 3 members, all must be present).
• The minutes, drawn up by the Secretary, are signed by the chairperson of the meeting.

Art. 11 – The President
Elected by the Board of Directors, chairs the Board and the Assembly, sets the agenda, and legally represents the Association.
In absence, is replaced by the Vice President; in case of definitive impediment or resignation, the Vice President convenes the Board within 30 days to elect a new President.
The President ensures the execution of the Board’s resolutions and, in urgent cases, assumes powers pertaining to it, convening it for ratification.

Art. 12 – The Board of Auditors
(If appointed) body of administrative control composed of 3 members, elected also from non-members, with a term equal to that of the Board of Directors, eligible for re-election.
Controls the administration, the correspondence of the budget to the records, supervises the Statute, participates without vote in Board and Assembly meetings and draws up an annual report.

Art. 13 – Supervisory Body
Appointed in the cases provided for by Legislative Decree 117/2017; supervises:

• Compliance with the law, Statute, and principles of correct administration;
• Adequacy of the organizational, administrative, and accounting structure;
• Accounting control (if a legal auditor is not appointed);
• Monitoring of civic, solidarity, and social utility purposes;
• Certification of the social report.
  It can inspect at any time and request information from the administrators.

Art. 14 – Dissolution
Dissolution is deliberated by the Extraordinary Assembly with a favorable vote of at least 3/4 of the members entitled to vote. The residual assets are devolved, subject to the positive opinion of the Regional RUNTS Office and save different legal destination, to other Third Sector Entities pursuant to Art. 9 of Legislative Decree 117/2017.

Art. 15 – Reference
For anything not expressly provided for, reference is made to the Civil Code and other current legal provisions in the matter.