By-laws of the World Humanitarian Marathon and Ultramarathon Foundation

Agreed upon in the organisation meeting on 25th May 2002 at Vienna. Registered in the Club register of the civic court in Vienna Under the registration number VR¹.

Preamble

The problem of distribution of resources in the world forecludes an increase in poverty and sickness and this is forgotten. The poorest and neediest regions however, repeatedly organise marathon events, which shall fight the needs which poverty produces. WHMF wants to make it their mandate to support these events.
The mission of these events shall be supported by WHMF, in that the member countries of WHMF will be motivated to send runners to these events. The WHMF takes on the responsibility of organising the participants and supports the logistics of the events, if this is needed and wished for. WHMF is non-political and represents only assignments.

§ 1

1. The club carries the name World Hunanitarian Marathon and Ultramarathon Foundation e.V.
   The addition of the e.V. is not used in the logo, since the constitutions of the various member nations will not always allow for this.
2. The club has its main office in Vienna, and shall be registered in every country according to the laws and by-laws of the member country. Upon registration in the member country, a copy of the registration shall be filed in the Vienna office. When new countries are accepted into the club, they shall also follow this procedure.
3. The fiscal year for the WHMF is the calendar year.

§ 2

1. The goal of the club is to support marathons and ultramarathons world-wide through logistical help and financial aid through participating runners.
2. The club will reach its goals specifically through
   1. information to the public about the events
   2. motivating runners to participate in the events
   3. application for grants through government institutions
   4. supply the know-how and support of specialists
3. This club is not a travel agency and is not competing against economically orientated running organisations, rather strives to work together with these, inasmuch as our by-laws allow for this.

§ 3

1. The club pursues exclusively and directly for public interest purposes, in view of "tax privileged purposes" in the individual participating countries. The club received no revenues, and does not pursue for it's own gain.
2. Club finances may only be used for purposes agreed upon in the club by-laws. Members do not receive any financial gain through the finances of the club. Upon retiring from the club, they also do not have any rights to any finances belonging to the club. No person can hand out money that is not compatible with the by-laws of the club, or be favoured through unreasonably high remuneration.
3. Transaction necessary for the function of the club, must be approved by the Board of Directors² of the club, approved by the president and the treasurer, and if necessary be signed for by these.
   The financial statement will be approved by the Board of Directors and two-thirds of the members, and must be revealed to the whole membership and must be approved by them.
4. The Board of Directors assigns the development and updates of its own home page to a webmaster, who will stay in close contact with the Board of Directors. When changes are made to the home page, the Board will be informed prior to the actualisation of such. These Board members will respond to the changes.
5. The public relations above and beyond the internet shall be actively pursued by the Board of Directors.

§ 4

The WHMF Board of Directors shall strive to stay in tough with clubs, but shall also strive to become members of these clubs.³

§ 5

1. Membership to the WHMF has to be applied for and approved of by the Board of Directors.
2. Members can also be appointed to the Board by the Directors. These so-called "born members" must sign a statement of acceptance.⁴
3. Cancellation of membership shall be done in writing to the Board of Directors with a 3 month notice before the end of the fiscal year.
4. A member can be expelled through a decision of the Board of Directors, if the member violates the by-laws of the club, or when the member does not fulfill his given duties of the club. The member than can call a meeting of all other members to protest this action. The membership then makes the final decision. The said member will be invited to this meeting to be part of it.

§ 6

The board of directors sets a membership fee which shall be paid on an annual basis.

§ 7

1. The membership
2. The Board of Directors
3. The deputies or assistants of the Board of Directors

§ 8

1. The top body of this organisation is the membership meeting. This will be chaired by the President of the Board of Directors.
2. The board of directors establishes the guidelines of the work of WHMF and makes the decisions pertaining to basic functions of the organisation. Duties of the memberships:
   1. election and dismissal of the Board of Directors
   2. Election and dismissal of the duties or assistants of the Board of Directors
   3. Consultation about the situation and plans of WHMF
   4. Permission of the fiscal and investment plans presented by the Board of Directors.
   5. Resolution of the release of the Board of Directors.
   6. Approval of an addition to the original by-laws
   7. Approval of order or business for the Board of Directors
   8. Approve the addition of new assignments or to get out of current assignments.
   9. Decide on the place of meeting of the WHMF
   10. Decide of changes to the by-laws or dissolving the clubs.
3. Six weeks before the membership meeting, the agenda for the up-coming meeting will be sent to all the members in written form. Membership meetings will be held twice a year, in cities where larger city marathons take place. An irregular membership meting takes place when a minimum of 25% of the members request it. This meeting must take place within 5 weeks of the request.
4. The membership can make decision if 50% of the membership is present. If less than 50% is present, the Board of Directors decides this meeting cannot make decisions. In such a case, the President of the Board issues an invitation to another membership meeting. This membership meeting takes place immediately and is independent of the number of members present. This situation shall not be referred to in the invitation.
5. Unless otherwise decided upon, English shall be the language of the meetings. The Board of Directors will seek to provide translators for the meetings, who are part of the membership or are invited to come.
6. Minutes of each membership meetings will be taken, which will be signed by the chairman of the meeting and the secretary of the meeting. These minutes will be presented at the following membership meeting and discussed if need be. The minutes do not need to be approved by the membership.

§ 9

1. This board is comprised of representatives from the various countries in which the WHMF is registered.
2. For legal representation 2 signatures by board members are sufficient.
3. Length of duty for a board member is 5 years. The member remains on the board until a new board member is appointed.
4. The various countries delegate a member to the Board of Directors.
5. The communication between the Board of Directors will be done via Internet.
6. Decisions made by Board members outside of the regular membership meetings will be circulated to the board members via fax, and signed by each board member.

§ 10

1. Committee members are part of the expanded board of directors, and will undertake duties as per their qualifications.
2. Committee members will be nominated by the Board of Directors, and voted upon by the general membership meetings.
3. Committee members have decision-making power over WHMF funds, upon consultation with the Board of Directors.
4. The Board of Directors shall support the committee members, and keep them informed of decisions made by the Board of Directors.
5. Duties of the committee members will be singly defined and presented to the membership.

§ 11

1. Changes to the by-laws, purpose of the club, and dissolving of the club is decided by the membership. Suggestion for changes of by-laws, purpose changes or dissolving of the club are to be channelled to all members at least one month before the membership meeting. To come to any conclusion, three-fourths of voting members at the meeting need to be in favour.
2. Changes or additions of the by-laws which are required by the civic courts or the tax offices, will be undertaken by the Board of Directors and do not need approval by the membership. These changes will be communicated to the membership, at the latest, with the invitation to the next meeting.
3. In the case of the club dissolving, or rights removed or tax exemption being denied, the entire assets of the club will go to the UNICEF of the United Nations, with the clause that it be applied in such a way as to meet the goals stated in §2.

§ 12

1. Application of a charity run must be sent to the Board of Directors. The applicant must organize the run according to the criteria of WHMF⁵. This criteria will be developed by the Board and approved by the membership.
2. The Board of Directors communicates the goals of the WHMF, after working through these with the membership.