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overview | governance | executive | participants | coverage

Governance
The Vse Slovenski Kulturni Odbor (VSKO) (the All Slovenian Cultural Committee) is governed by the 'Constitution of the All Slovenian Cultural Committee', the text of which is presented below.

Constitution of the All Slovenian Cultural Committee
(ratified April 17, 1998)

Clause 1 - Name
The name such as registered with the Government of Canada is the "All Slovenain Cultural Committee".

Clause 2 - Address
All Slovenian Cultural Committee
770 Brown's Line,
Toronto, ON M8W 3V7
Canada

Clause 3 - Tasks and Activities of the ASCC
a) Cooperating in, as well as coordinating various activities and group presentations of Slovenian associations, organizations and institutions that represent interests of the entire Slovenian community in Canada.
b) Advising, communicating, corresponding directly with the Republic of Slovenia and its official representatives.
c) Organizing cultural exchanges with Slovenian organizations through official representatives of Slovenia and Slovenians abroad.
d) Promoting and publishing "The Voice of Canadian Slovenians" (GLASILO kanadskih slovencev) magazine.
e) Promoting and producing "The Voice of Canadian Slovenians" (GLASILO kanadskih slovencev) radio program.
f) Fundraising, as required, for the Slovenian Foundation.
g) ASCC is supportive of the viewpoints and positions of all those enhancing democracy and freedom.
h) All tasks of the ASCC should be performed in the spirit of democracy.

Clause 4 - Rights and Obligations of Membership in the ASCC
a) Membership in ASCC is open to all Slovenian associations, clubs, organizations and institutions that are legally active in Canada, regardless of their ideological, political or religious orientation.
b) The number of members in ASCC is not limited.
c) All members, organizations and institutions have equal rights in the ASCC, regardless of the number of their own members.
d) Members support financially the needs of the ASCC.
e) Members observe the recommendations and the regulations of the ASCC.
f) Delegates of the members of the ASCC have the right to vote and to be candidates for election into the ASCC Executive Committee at the annual general assembly.
g) Every member of the ASCC needs to send at least two delegates to the annual general assembly. Among the delegates sent to the annual general assembly only two delegates have the right of vote for their association and the right to be candidates for the Executive Committee. Insofar there already is one representative of the same association on the Executive Committee, only one other delegate of this same association is entitled to vote and be a candidate at the annual general assembly.
h) Members need to observe all resolutions passed by the general assembly and the elected Executive Committee of the ASCC.
i) Members need to support the activities and the programs of the Executive Committee of the ASCC.
j) Every member of the ASCC appoints one delegate into the ASCC Council.

Clause 5 - Election Rules and Guidelines
a) Elections are secret and are held in the spirit of democracy.
b) At the general assembly, members of the ASCC elect the president of the Executive Committee to a two-year mandate. To ensure balance between Slovenian representation from the Niagara peninsula and the Toronto regions, the elected president shall be voted in alternately from each region for the two-year mandate. During any mandate, the Executive Committee shall choose the Vice-president from the other region.
c) Members of the ASCC send two delegates to the general assembly. These delegates have the right to vote and to be elected to the Executive Committee. One delegate of each member club automatically receives a seat in the ASCC COUNCIL. During his/her mandate, this delegate communicates to his/her own association any reports bulletins, and minutes about the activities and the results of meetings, such as received from the secretary of the ASCC Executive Committee. As required, the members of the ASCC COUNCIL organize and communicate fundraising initiatives to their associations.
d) Each delegate has only one vote.
e) For a resolution to be passed and validated, it has to receive the majority (50% + 1%) of the votes of the delegates present at the general assembly.
f) For quorum, two thirds of all members of the ASCC need to be present or represented.
g) Illegible or spoiled voting documents are not taken into consideration, yet they need to remain in the archives until the next general assembly.

Clause 6 - Basic Components of the ASCC Corporation
a) The basic components of the ASCC Corporation are Slovenian associations, organizations, clubs and institutions. The Executive Committee of sixteen members is to be elected from the above mentioned units.
b) Sub-Committees of the Executive Committee include:
1) "The Voice of Canadian Slovenians" (GLASILO kanadskih slovencev) magazine.
2) "The Voice of Canadian Slovenians" (GLASILO kanadskih slovencev) radio program.
3) The Slovenian Foundation.

Clause 7 - Executive Committe of the ASCC
a) The Executive Committee of the ASCC has sixteen (16) members elected by the general assembly.
b) During their mandate, members of the Executive Committee fulfill the tasks of the ASCC as well as the tasks passed at the annual general assembly.
c) The Executive Committee consists of the President, the Vice-president, the Secretary, the Treasurer, two Coordinators (one from the Toronto and another from Niagara Region), the Producer of the Radio, the Editor of the Magazine, the head of Slovenian Foundation, two representatives of youth (one for Toronto and one for the Niagara Region), four other members (one of which needs to be a legal advisor) and the appointed Past President who serves as an ex officio member.
d) Members of the Executive Committee are elected for a period of two years. Every year, only one half of the committee comes under vote (7), while the other half (7) remain unchanged.
f) If through resignations the membership on the Executive Committee becomes less than the full sixteen the remaining members can with majority vote select replacements from the ASCC -COUNCIL.
g) If there is only one candidate nominated for a particular position inside the Executive Committee, and if s/he accept the candidacy, s/he is to be elected per acclamatione (by acclamation).
h) If need be, the Executive Committee is entitled to constitute subcommittees for bigger projects or for specific tasks in the Executive Committee.
i) The Executive Committee is entitled to compose additional regulations, which are not to be in contradiction with the existing regulations of the ASCC.
j) Additional regulations have power until the next general assembly, which has the right to amend or to reject them.
k) Additional regulations of the Executive Committee, proposals for new regulations and any proposals for amendments to the constitution are to be sent for discussion to the members of the ASCC at least four (4) weeks prior to the general assembly.
l) All activities produced under additional regulations of the Executive Committee, e.g. under regulations not being amended by the general assembly, only remain in power until the next general assembly.
m) The Executive Committee has to inform all the members of the ASCC four (4) weeks prior the general assembly of the date and of the place of the general assembly, as well as of all the proposed modifications in the regulations.
n) The Executive Committee compiles the list of candidates for the new members to be elected of the Executive Committee. This list is to be sent for discussion four(4) weeks prior the general assembly to all members of the ASCC.
o) The Executive Committee has the right, by majority vote, to exclude from the Executive Committee, until the next general assembly, any member attacking the reputation of the ASCC, any member who is in opposition with the activities of the ASCC or for non-attendance at meetings, without apology.
p) The Executive Committee has the right, by majority vote, to integrate, into any sub- committee, individuals who are specialists for a specific field of activity.
q) The Executive Committee must review and approve the budgets from all the sub-committees.
r) Quorum of the Executive Committee is attained when two thirds of all members of the Executive Committee are present at a regular meeting.

Clause 8 - Rights and Responsibilities of the President of the Executive Committee of the ASCC
a) The President is elected by the general assembly of members in ASCC for a two-year term. The president can serve for a maximum of two consecutive terms.
b) The president automatically becomes a member of all subcommittees of the ASCC, so as to coordinate new suggested activities and projects of the subcommittees.
c) In case only one person is nominated for the presidency, and this person accepts the nomination, s/he is elected by acclamation.
d) S/he chairs the meetings of the Executive Committee. In case of his/her absence, the Vice-president would assume the President's responsibilities.
e) Helped by the Executive Committee, s/he observes the regulations accepted at the general assembly, as well as s/he puts into action accepted projects and activities.
f) S/he takes to completion the tasks unresolved or unfinished by the previous President and Executive Committee.
g) S/he calls the meetings of the Executive Committee monthly or more often, if the need arises.
h) S/he takes in consideration further suggestions or complaints of the representatives of the members of the ASCC, discusses them and resolves them, when possible, with the members of the Executive Committee.
i) Based on links established with representatives of Slovenian Government, s/he informs the members of the ASCC of new laws, which might have an impact on Canadian Slovenians.
j) If possible, s/he attends major celebrations and events organized by the members of the ASCC.
k) S/he has the right to call an extraordinary general assembly in the event a particular task cannot be solved inside the Executive Committee.
l) S/he signs the checks together with the Treasurer and one other Executive Committee member chosen by the Executive Committee of the ASCC.
m) S/he reports to the general assembly about tasks fulfilled or unfulfilled during his/ her mandate.
o) To avoid conflict of interests, the President of the ASCC, during his/her mandate, is not entitled to be president of any member organization.

Clause 9 - Rights and Responsibilities of the Vice President of the Executive Committee of the ASCC
a) The Vice-president is to be elected from the members of the Executive Committee.
b) S/he can only be elected for two consecutive terms, for a whole mandate.
c) During the President’s absence, s/he is responsible for the President’s tasks.
d) S/he advises the President and assists with his/her decisions and tasks.
e) In the event the President resigns, s/he assumes the tasks and responsibilities of the President, until the next general assembly.
f) S/he communicates with the Regional Coordinators of ASCC, attends their meetings and reports to the Executive Committee about their activities.

Clause 10 - Rights and Responsibilities of the Secretary of the Executive Committee of the ASCC
a) S/he attends all the meetings of the Executive Committee and the general assembly of the ASCC.
b) In case of emergency, s/he finds a replacement for any meeting that s/he cannot attend.
c) At all meetings, s/he takes note of all suggestions, accepted or refused. (The refused suggestions are registered for future examination.)
d) S/he reports to the general assembly:
1) S/he reads the minutes of the previous general assembly.
2) S/he reports about the number and the location of meetings of the Executive Committee, during the previous mandate.
3) S/he reports on the attendance of Executive meetings, by the members of the Executive Committee.
e) S/he administrates, maintains and archives the documents of the ASCC.

Clause 11 - Rights and Responsibilities of the Treasurer of the ASCC
a) S/he is in charge of and responsible for maintaining accurate financial accounts.
b) S/he signs the checks together with the President and one other Executive Committee member chosen by the Executive Committee of the ASCC and pays the debts of the ASCC.
c) S/he receives the budgets of the subcommittees, is in charge and responsible for monitoring budgetary compliance. (The Executive Committee must review and approve the budgets of all the sub-committees)
d) S/he is a member of the sub-committees.
e) S/he holds the cash at all ASCC events and reports about it at the next meeting of the Executive Committee of the ASCC.
f) S/he reports on the financial status of ASCC at the general assembly and s/he provides a written financial report for all present at the general assembly.

Clause 12 - Rights and Responsibilities of the Regional Coordinators of the ASCC
a) They establish connections and facilitate communication between all member clubs in his/her territory.
b) S/he calls the meetings, plans collective activities and festivities of members in his/her territory.
c) S/he reports to the Executive Committee about the planned activities and projects.
d) S/he contributes to the radio program as well as to the magazine.
e) S/he reports about his/her region’s activities at the general assembly.
f) To avoid conflict of interests, the Regional Coordinators of the ASCC, during their mandate, are not entitled to be President of any member organization.

Clause 13 - Rights and Responsibilities of the Legal Advisor of the ASCC
a) S/he helps the Executive Committee realize projects and responsibilities that fall under Canadian or Slovenian laws.
b) S/he gives advice to the Executive Committee regarding complex issues and tasks.
c) One of the advisors is to be a registered legal clerk / attorney / lawyer in the Province of Ontario.

Clause 14 - Dissolution of the ASCC
a) The dissolution of the ASCC is only possible if there is not a sufficient number of delegates available to form the Executive Committee.
b) For dissolution of the ASCC to take place, 75% of the members of the ASCC need to attend the general assembly, and among them, 75% of the delegates need to agree upon the dissolution of the ASCC.
c) The vote on dissolution is secret.
d) In the event of a vote in favor of dissolution, a sub-committee of five members is elected by the general assembly to survey and analyze the causes of the dissolution, to wind down any outstanding financial obligations and to create a framework for the continuation of the “Voice of Canadian Slovenians” Magazine and Radio using any remaining assets for the benefit of the Slovenian community. All other sub-committees are immediately suspended.