Bylaws of the Association of Polish Translators and Interpreters

adopted at the Congress of Delegates on 18 June 2005,
as amended at the Congress of Delegates on 16 April 2011

 

Chapter I

General provisions

Article 1

The name of the association shall be “the Association of Polish Translators and Interpreters”, abbreviated to APTI.

Article 2

APTI shall be an association registered in accordance with the provisions of the Polish binding law on associations and, therefore, shall have a legal personality.

Article 3

APTI shall be a professional association of creators which translators and interpreters are freely entitled to join.

Article 4

APTI shall conduct its activity on the territory of the Republic of Poland. The governing bodies shall have their seat in the capital city of Warsaw.

Article 5

Following a request from its member, APTI may set up societies, regional fora, specialised units, linguistic platforms and clubs acting as internal structures within APTI in accordance with their own regulations, adopted by the Congress of Delegates of APTI.

Article 6

APTI may become a member of national, foreign and international organisations, as well as federations of associations.

Article 7

The association shall conduct its activity on the basis of voluntary work of its members. APTI may hire salaried staff to perform its tasks.

Chapter II

Objectives and policy

Article 8

The objectives of the Association shall be:

1. To unite and support the community of translators and interpreters, to act as their professional organisation and to represent Polish translators and interpreters at home and abroad, as well as in international organisations,
2. To raise the prestige, observe the code of fair practices and protect professional, moral and financial rights of translators and interpreters in accordance with the provisions of programming documents adopted by the Congress of Delegates,
3. To participate in creating and obeying the Polish and international copyright laws, as well as other laws concerning translators and interpreters,
4. To maintain a high standard of translations delivered by the APTI members and to facilitate a development of their qualifications,
5. To support the adepts of the art of translation and interpretation,
6. To pursue socially useful activities in the field of public services.

Article 9

The association shall achieve its objectives through:

1. developing the activity of its societies, regional fora, specialised units, linguistic platforms, clubs and workgroups, as well as other internal organisational structures,
2. cooperating with the relevant authorities, higher education institutions and science institutes, as well as other institutions, organisations, national and international associations with regard to issues concerning the community of translators and interpreters,
3. providing help in developing translating and interpreting skills and organising specialist language training,
4. organising conferences, congresses, symposia, lectures, linguistic and terminological advisory services, and pursuing a publishing activity,
5. participating and representing its members in international translators’ and interpreters’ organisations,
6. creating funds to help accomplish the objectives of APTI (as per the Bylaws),
7. supporting the members of the Association who are in a difficult life situation,
8. spreading the accomplishments and works of the APTI members,
9. supporting and advising the APTI members on issues regarding the work of a translator and interpreter,
10. submitting and assessing applications concerning national and international distinctions and awards for the APTI members,
11. establishing and presenting awards, distinctions and honorary titles for outstanding achievements in translation and interpretation, and for supporting the community of translators and interpreters in Poland.

Chapter III

Members, their rights and obligations

Article 10

The Association shall consist of:

1. regular members,
2. supporting members,
3. honorary members.

Article 11

Any Polish citizen or foreigner, residing abroad as well, who has full capacity to perform acts in law and has not been deprived of civil rights, may become a member in the event that he or she:

1. has applied for the membership by submitting his declaration,,
2. has received a recommendation of two regular members,
3. has documented his work of a translator or interpreter in accordance with the requirements as defined in the “Regulations on the Admission of Natural Persons as Members of APTI” and received a positive assessment of the Admissions Committee,
4. has been accepted by the Executive Board of APTI,
5. has paid the contribution fee.

Article 12

1. The regular member shall have the right to:
   1. hold active and passive voting rights in the elections of the governing bodies of APTI,
   2. use his rights and privileges as provided in the Bylaws of APTI,
   3. propose motions regarding the APTI’s activity,
   4. bear an APTI badge.
2. The regular member shall have a duty to:
   1. abide by the Bylaws and regulations of APTI,
   2. actively and regularly participate in the activities of the body to which he or she has been elected or appointed,,
   3. participate in pursuing the objectives and tasks of the Association,
   4. endorse the code of fair practices,
   5. pay membership fees on a regular basis.
3. Upon reaching 70 years of age, a member shall be exempt from the obligation to pay membership fees.

Article 13

1. A natural or a legal person, accepted by the Executive Board upon a written declaration defining the type and amount of contributions to APTI, may become a supporting member.
2. Supporting members shall have rights to participate in the Congress of Delegates with an advisory voice (this applies, in case of a legal person, to its representative).
3. Supporting members shall have the rights defined in the regulations adopted by the Executive Board.

Article 14

1. A natural person who has rendered outstanding services to APTI may become an honorary member.
2. Awarding or cancellation of an honorary membership shall be decided upon by the Congress of Delegates, following a motion submitted by at least five APTI members.
3. Honorary members shall benefit from the rights of regular members with the exception of passive and active voting rights. Honorary members shall be exempt from the obligation to pay membership fees.

Article 15

1. APTI membership, of whatever kind, shall expire upon:
   1. a voluntary resignation, submitted in writing to the Board,
   2. exclusion from the register of members, by virtue of a resolution of the Executive Board, due to non-payment of the membership fee for the preceding year, despite a written warning,
   3. exclusion by virtue of a binding decision of the Peer Tribunal or a legally binding judgment of a common court to deprive the member of civil rights,
   4. death of the member.
2. Supporting membership shall expire upon exclusion by the Executive Board following either a failure to fulfill the declared contributions or the loss of legal personality.

Article 16

A person excluded from APTI may appeal against the decision of the Peer Tribunal to the Congress of Delegates whose decision is final and binding. The appeal shall be submitted in writing no later than 14 days prior to the start date of the Congress of Delegates.

Chapter IV

Władze naczelne Stowarzyszenia

Article 17

1. The governing bodies of APTI shall consist of the:
   1. Congress of Delegates,
   2. Executive Board,
   3. Audit Committee,
   4. Peer Tribunal.

Article 18

1. Members of all the governing bodies of APTI shall hold office for a period of 3 years.
2. APTI members shall be elected to only one of the governing bodies of the Association.
3. APTI members shall fulfill their functions without remuneration.
4. Members of the governing bodies shall be elected in secret voting.

Article 19

1. Resolutions of the Executive Board, the Audit Committee and the Peer Tribunal shall be passed by an absolute majority of votes (exceeding half of legally casted votes) in the presence of at least half of the members entitled to vote, excluding the resolutions contemplated in Article 25 par. 2.
2. If the votes are tied, the chairman shall hold the casting vote.
3. Nominations shall be subject to secret voting.

Article 20

1. During its tenure, the governing body shall hold the right to co-opt new members for the existing vacancies. The number of co-opted members shall not exceed half of the number of elected members.
2. Each governing body of APTI shall operate by virtue of its own regulations adopted by the Congress of Delegates.

A. Congress of Delegates

Article 21

1. The supreme governing body of APTI shall be the Ordinary or Extraordinary Congress of Delegates.
2. Regular members may participate in the Congress with a right to vote.
3. Honorary members, supporting members and invited guests shall have right to participate in the Congress with an advisory voice.

Article 22

Unless the Bylaws state otherwise, resolutions of the Congress of Delegates shall be adopted: in the first round by an absolute majority of votes in the presence of at least half of the members entitled to vote, and in the second round by an absolute majority of votes, regardless of the number of regular APTI members participating.

Article 23

The Executive Board shall notify the APTI members of the time, place and agenda of the Congress of Delegates not later than twenty-one days before it is to be held by means of a registered mail or (for members who expressed their consent) an electronic mail followed by a read receipt confirmation.

Article 24

1. The Extraordinary Congress of Delegates shall be held at the request of the Executive Board of APTI. An Extraordinary Congress of Delegates may be held upon an initiative of the Executive Board, as well as following a motion by the Audit Committee or by one-fourth of the regular members.
2. The motion to convene the Extraordinary Congress of Delegates upon the initiative of the Executive Board or the Audit Committee shall be accepted by one-third of members of one of the aforementioned governing bodies of APTI.
3. The motion to convene the Extraordinary Congress of Delegates shall be submitted in writing with a statement of reasons and a proposed agenda.
4. The Executive Board is bound to convene the Extraordinary Congress of Delegates within 90 days of the receipt of the motion.
5. The Extraordinary Congress of Delegates shall discuss the matters presented in the agenda.

Article 25

The Congress of Delegates shall have the powers to:

1. decide on APTI’s general policy,
2. assess the work reports of the Executive Board, the Audit Committee and the Peer Tribunal as well as – following a request by the Audit Committee – adopt a resolution acknowledging the fulfillment of the duties by the outgoing Executive Board,
3. elect the APTI chairman,
4. elect the members of the Executive Board, the Audit Committee and the Peer Tribunal,
5. adopt resolutions regarding creation, division and liquidation of funds, and distribution of financial means of APTI,
6. award or cancel an honorary membership,
7. amend the Bylaws and dissolve APTI,
8. consider and decide on all other issues raised by the Executive Board and the APTI members,
9. consider the appeals submitted by the APTI members against decisions regarding the expiry of their membership.

B. The Executive Board

Article 26

1. In periods between the Congresses of Delegates, APTI shall be headed by the Executive Board.
2. The Executive Board shall be composed of a chairman and 6-8 members whom the Congress of Delegates shall elect.
3. On its first meeting, no later than within 30 days of the date of the Congress of Delegates, the Executive Board shall elect from among its members two deputy chairmen, a secretary, a treasurer and shall assign tasks to the members of the Executive Board.
4. The Executive Board meetings shall be held whenever a need occurs, however no less than once every two months. An Executive Board meeting shall be held at the request of the chairman or, by proxy, a deputy chairman of the Executive Board. Executive Board meetings may also be held at the request of at least half of its members.
5. In order to be valid, all documents regarding financial rights and duties of APTI shall bear signatures of the chairman and treasurer or, by proxy, of two members of the Executive Board, authorised by a resolution of the Executive Board.
6. All documents regarding substantive and organisational issues shall bear signatures of the chairman and secretary or, by proxy, two members of the Executive Board, authorised by a resolution of the Executive Board.
7. In the event that the chairman resigns or is unable to perform its functions, the Executive Board shall elect a person from among its members who shall perform the duties of the chairman until – within three months – a Congress of Delegates shall be convened and the new chairman elected.

Article 27

The remit of the Executive Board shall be to:

1. execute the resolutions of the Congress of Delegates and coordinate the APTI’s activity,
2. represent APTI and act on its behalf,
3. establish work plans, budget estimates and approve annual financial statements,
4. manage the APTI’s budget and funds, incur liabilities and sign contracts (on behalf of APTI), adopt resolutions regarding creation or multiplication of funds necessary for the activity of the Association (as per the Bylaws), as well as adopt resolutions regarding the amount of the contribution fee and the membership fee,
5. maintain records of the societies, regional fora, specialised units, linguistic platforms and clubs, approve its coordinators and regulations, and supervise their activity,
6. suspend or dissolve the organisational bodies, mentioned in point 5 in the event that it is concluded they do not pursue the objectives of the Association (as per the Bylaws) or they conduct activity that contradicts these objectives,
7. dismiss the coordinators in the event that they have contradicted the Bylaws of APTI,
8. appoint and dismiss workgroups and committees attached to the Executive Board, establish their tasks and supervise their activity,
9. appoint the Consultative Board when the Executive Board deems it reasonable,
10. present awards, distinctions and honorary badges,
11. submit applications for awards, honorary badges and honours for the APTI members,
12. adopt resolutions which conclude of the APTI’s membership in associations or other national, foreign and international organisations,
13. delegate representatives to national and international meetings or conferences,
14. terminate memberships,
15. ensure a proper internal and external communication within APTI,
16. assess motions of other APTI governing bodies and organisational units,
17. convene the Congress of Delegates of APTI.

C. Audit Commitee

Article 28

1. The Audit Committee shall consist of 3-5 members elected by the Congress of Delegates who shall elect from among its members a chairman, a deputy chairman and a secretary. The exact number of Audit Committee members shall be decided on by the Congress of Delegates.
2. The remit of the Audit Committee shall be to:
   1. control the activity of APTI, at least once a year, including its financial management with regard to accuracy and necessity of expenses,
   2. issue post-audit requests to the Executive Board and demand explanations,
   3. submit reports to the Congress of Delegates and propose motions acknowledging the fulfillment of the duties by the outgoing Executive Board,
   4. request the convening of an Extraordinary Congress of Delegates.
3. The chairman of the Audit Committee or other members authorised by the chairman shall have the right to participate in Congresses of Delegates with an advisory voice.

D. Peer Tribunal

Article 29

1. The Peer Tribunal shall consist of 7 members elected by the Congress of Delegates who shall elect from among its members a chairman and a secretary.
2. The Peer Tribunal shall consist of two instances: in the first instance, it shall comprise three members and in the second instance, different three members.
3. Each time, the adjudication panels for both instances shall be chosen by the chairman of the Peer Tribunal who shall also choose the chairmen of the adjudication panels.

Article 30

1. The Peer Tribunal shall be appointed to settle disputes arising within APTI and in particular to:
   1. examine the complaints of the APTI members who feel their moral rights have been infringed upon by a violation of the code of conduct or rules of social conduct,
   2. issue proceedings in the event that a member acts to the detriment of APTI or call into question the good name of the APTI members or authorities.
2. In the first instance, the Peer Tribunal:
   1. shall settle disputes:
      1. between members of the APTI governing bodies, arising from the issues regarding the performed functions and the APTI membership,
      2. between the bAPTI members and members of the APTI governing bodies, arising from the issues regarding the realisation of the objectives of the Association (as per the Bylaws).
   2. shall examine cases:
      1. concerning those listed in Article 1,
      2. concerning an infringement of the Bylaws, regulations or resolutions by the APTI members,
      3. concerning acts to the detriment of APTI,,
      4. concerning acts of calling into question the good name of the members of the APTI governing bodies with regard to the functions they perform,
3. In the second instance, the Peer Tribunal shall examine:
   1. complaints against the judgments passed in the first instance of the Peer Tribunal,
   2. complaints against the proceedings of the court of the first instance.
4. The judgments passed in the second instance of the Peer Tribunal shall be legally binding, subject to the provisions of Article 17 of the present Bylaws.

Article 31

1. The Peer Tribunal may impose the following punishments:
   1. admonition,
   2. reprimand,
   3. injunction to stop a member from performing any functions within APTI for a period of 3 years,
   4. exclusion from APTI.
2. The APTI members shall be notified of the legally binding judgments of the Peer Tribunal.

Chapter V

Budget and funds of the Association

Article 32

APTI may hold movables, real property and funds.

Article 33

1. The funds of APTI shall comprise:
   1. contribution and membership fees the amount whereof shall be decided upon by the Executive Board for each calendar year,
   2. bequests and devises, grants, donations, inheritances and revenues from public fundraisers,
   3. revenues from the activity defined in the Bylaws and actions performed on grounds of permissions granted to APTI,
   4. revenues from the economic activity, conducted in compliance with the applicable law.
2. APTI’s finances shall be managed in compliance with the applicable law on the basis of budget estimates and financial regulations established by the Executive Board.
3. Any incurrence of liabilities not defined in the budget estimates shall require a resolution of the Executive Board, adopted by an absolute majority of votes of all the members.
4. The Association’s logo, website and registered name “The Association of Polish Translators and Interpreters” shall be the intellectual and physical property of the Association and cannot be claimed or by any means taken over by any person or legal entity.

Chapter VI

Amendment to the Bylaws and Dissolution of the Association

Article 34

Amendments to the Bylaws require a resolution of the Congress of Delegates of APTI, adopted by two-thirds of the votes of the members participating in the voting.

Article 35

A resolution to dissolve APTI may be adopted during a Congress of Delegates by a majority of at least four-fifths of the members participating in the voting.

Article 36

In the event that a resolution to dissolve APTI is adopted, the Congress of Delegates shall elect a Liquidation Committee and decide on its remit.

Article 37

A resolution to dissolve APTI shall also comprise the details of the further use of the property of the Association.

 

Translated by: Mateusz Trybulec
Edited by: Katarzyna Diehl