Samfé’s Law
Laws of Samfé, the national association of community centers and youth centers in Iceland.
Article 1
The name of the national association of community centers in Iceland is Samfés, the national association of community centers and youth centers in Iceland. The organization is a non-governmental organization of community centers and youth centers in Iceland. The association’s congress is in Reykjavík.
In English, the organization is called Samfés – Youth Work Iceland.
Article 2
The organization is a national organization. Their main goal is to promote increased social and democratic participation of young people in Iceland cf. Article 1 of the Youth Act no. 70/2007.
It is done by:
Increase communication and cooperation between community centers and youth centers and organize projects at national and international level.
Strengthen the professional knowledge of the staff in the field of free time through conferences and courses.
Communicate information about the work of community centers and highlight their importance in modern society.
Be a leader in the discussion of ideas and legislation concerning youth issues in Iceland.
Maintain and support a strong youth council.
Participate in collaborative projects that promote prevention and educational values.
Article 3
Community centers and youth centers that offer organized and open youth and leisure activities can become members of Samfés:
Everyone is allowed to participate regardless of race, color, sex, sexuality, language, religion, political opinion, ancestry, disability, social status or other circumstances.
Since the activities are based on democratic practices
Where work is carried out according to defined educational goals
Where they work according to prevention goals that are compatible with the organization’s goals
Where special attention is paid to the needs of the unsocialized youth
Membership in the association automatically expires;
if a representative of a member association does not attend at least every fourth general meeting.
if a member company has not paid the membership fee a year after the invoice date.
Members in arrears with the organization are not allowed to participate in its activities.
Article 4
Representatives of member associations have the right to sit at the general meeting if they have paid an annual fee and are free of debt to the association in the last fiscal year. The representatives of each member association together have one vote when it comes to voting and cannot vote on behalf of another member association.
In addition, representatives of Samfé’s youth councils, i.e. Samfé’s Youth Council and Samfé’s Youth Center Youth Council, the right to sit in a meeting and receive one vote if the council is to vote.
In addition, representatives of the youth and leisure affairs offices can be observers at the general meeting and have freedom of speech and the right to make proposals.
Article 5
These laws shall only be changed at the association’s general meeting. Proposals for changes to the association’s bylaws and applications for membership must be sent to the board at least 15 days before the general meeting. The board of the association shall present applications for membership and proposals for legal changes to members of the association at least one week before the general meeting. In the case of legal changes, at least 3/5 of the votes of the attendees are required for the change to be legally approved. This law enters into force immediately.
Article 6
The general meeting of the company has the highest authority in Samfé’s affairs. The general meeting must be held before the end of April each year. Additional meetings as often as necessary. Meetings must be announced at least 30 days in advance and the agenda announced. The association’s accounting year is the calendar year. The annual fee shall be determined at each general meeting, and its due date shall be September 15 each year, at the beginning of each working year.
Agenda of the general meeting
Report of the board and committees.
The association’s annual accounts were submitted for approval.
Admission of new members.
Legal changes
Elections according to Article 7 and 8 of the association’s law.
Other matters.
The meeting shall be conducted according to the general meeting rules. A simple majority determines the outcome of cases.
Article 7
Samfé’s board of directors shall be elected at the general meeting. Vote for:
Chairman
Cashier
3 co-directors. Their roles are vice-chairman, secretary and co-chairman.
1.-3. Substitute
2 auditors of the association’s accounts
1 alternate inspector of accounts
Eligible for Samfé’s board are those who have the right to sit at the general meeting according to Article 4 of the association’s law.
A board member can serve for a maximum of five consecutive years. He is then allowed to run for deputy government. Does he regain the right to be a candidate for the main board after one year in the deputy board or outside the board. If an incumbent board member is elected chairman, his term of office may be extended from five to seven years. Each member of the organization is only allowed to have one representative in the main board or one representative in the deputy board. Co-directors are elected for two years and follow the term of office of the chairman.
The chairman and treasurer are elected for a two-year term and can serve a maximum of two terms. The terms of office of the chairman and treasurer shall overlap. If the chairman and treasurer are elected at the same time, the office shall be elected for one year.
The board implements the association’s policy, manages its affairs between general meetings and safeguards the association’s interests in all respects. The board has the authority to appoint the executive director of the association. He implements the decisions of the board and manages the association’s office.
Samfé’s board shall meet at least eight times a year.
Article 8
Samfé’s youth council shall be elected at a national convention. Two representatives shall be elected from nine constituencies, 18 representatives for two years and 9 representatives for one year, so that the representatives of Samfé’s Youth Council are 27. Eligible for Samfé’s youth council are representatives of member associations between the ages of 13-16, if they have paid an annual fee and are free of debt to the organization in the last fiscal year. The representatives of each member association together have one vote when it comes to voting and cannot vote on behalf of another member association.
Each member of the organization is only allowed to nominate one representative to the youth council each year.
The role of Samfé’s Youth Council is i.a. to be the board of Samfé for advice on young people’s issues. The Youth Council appoints 2 representatives to each board meeting with freedom of speech, the right to propose and vote.
Samfé’s youth council shall meet at least 8 times a year.
Article 9
At the general meeting, links to foreign relations shall be elected, one principal and one alternate. Tenglar, together with Samfé’s manager, handles relations with each of the foreign organizations that Samfé is a member of according to Article 9 of this law. Links and alternates must follow the term of office of the associations that Samfés is a member of. Eligible as links are only those who work within Samfé’s member companies.
Article 10
The association is a member of the Association of Community Centers in Europe, ECYC.
Article 11
The board must compile an annual report on the association’s activities and projects before the general meeting, and it must be presented to the members. Committees and working groups that have worked directly with or for the organization must submit a report/article on the respective activities no later than 15 days before the general meeting. The minutes of the general meeting shall be sent out to members no later than one month after the general meeting.
Article 12
Member companies are allowed to establish a national limited company. Member companies are arranged in regions according to where they are located. Regional associations must promote communication and cooperation between community centers and youth centers in the region and collaborate on education, projects and events for staff and youth.
National associations set their own rules for governance, provided that they do not conflict with Samfé’s laws and bylaws. Samfé’s office assists national associations with their projects, and national associations must send their meeting minutes to Samfé’s office for safekeeping.
Article 13
The dissolution of the association must be discussed at the general meeting or the extraordinary general meeting, and a vote of ⅔ of the members is required to approve the dissolution of the association.
Upon dissolution of the association, the association’s assets must be transferred with the association in the case of a merger with another association, otherwise for welfare matters proposed by the board and approved by the general meeting.
These laws were last amended at Samfé’s general meeting, which took place electronically on September 16, 2020.