Article 1 -- Name and Purpose

The name of this organization is the Kidlink Society. Its purpose is to promote the creation of a global dialog among the youth of the world. The Kidlink Society emphasizes electronic telecommunications, but also supports communications in other forms and media.
The Kidlink Society works to achieve its objectives through the Kidlink Project, a world-wide collaboration of many people who have volunteered to organize and support local participation in the Kidlink global dialog.
The Kidlink Society is a non-profit organization.

Article 2 -- Location of Organization

The Kidlink Society is an international organization with Norway as its base of operations. Legal questions that may arise in connection with the Kidlink Society will be decided on the basis of Norwegian law.

Article 3 -- Membership

Membership in the Kidlink Society is open to any person or organization wishing to support the purpose and goals of the Kidlink Society. There are three types of membership: (1) individual membership, (2) organizational membership, and (3) youth membership. There are no geographic or age restrictions on individual membership. Organizational memberships carry the same rights and privileges as individual memberships; each organizational member must designate a person to exercise those rights and privileges. Youth memberships are open to young people participating in the Kidlink Project.

Article 4 -- The Kidlink Board

The Kidlink Board consists of one representative from each of the following six world areas: (1) Europe, (2) Africa, (3) Asia, (4) Pacific, (5) North America, and (6) Central and South America. In addition, the Kidlink Executive Director is automatically a member of the Board.
Regional representatives to the board serve for staggered three-year terms. They are elected by the members of the Kidlink Society in the region they represent. In these elections, each person who is either an individual member and/or is designated as the representative of an organizational member has one vote.
In the absence of candidates from listed world area(s), the elected members of the Board may appoint temporary Board members to represent those areas until appropriate candidates can be identified.
The Kidlink Board is the ultimate authority for all decisions of the Kidlink Society. It is responsible for

1. the establishing of policies, guidelines and procedures for the Kidlink project and the delegation of authority to the Executive Director and the Core Team to carry them out.
2. the appointment of the Kidlink Executive Director and members of the Kidlink Core Team.
3. the establishing of categories or levels of membership within each type and the setting of a schedule of dues.
4. the management of the financial arrangements of the Kidlink Society. Members of the Board are not personally responsible for the debts of the society.

Meeting of The Kidlink Board take place via telecommunications. Decisions require the affirmative vote of at least half the Board members with no more than a single negative vote.

Article 5 -- The Kidlink Core Team

The people responsible for running the central activities of the Kidlink Project are members of the Core Team. This group makes the operational decisions for the project.
Members of the Core Team are appointed (and can be removed) by the Kidlink Board upon recommendation of the Executive Director. Each member of the Core Team has responsibility for a specific set of Kidlink activities.

Article 6 -- The Kidlink Executive Director

The Kidlink Executive Director is the administrator of the Kidlink Society and the central activities of the Kidlink Project. He (or she) selects the members of the Core Team (subject to approval by the Kidlink Board) and coordinates their activities. The Executive Director is also the official representative of the Kidlink Society in all legally-binding negotiations.
The Executive Director is both a Board member and a Core Team member. In case of vacancy, the Board will be responsible for recruiting, selecting, and appointing the new Executive Director.

Article 7 -- Decision Procedures

The decisions of both the Kidlink Board and the Kidlink Core Team will be made using telecommunications. There is no need for face-to-face meetings of either the Board or the Core Team.
Archives of the discussions and decisions will be kept. The archives of both the Board and the Core Team will be open to members of both groups.
Policy decisions affecting the world-wide Kidlink Project will be made after open discussion with the membership and with the many volunteers supporting local participation in the Kidlink Project.

Article 8 -- Removal from Board Membership

When members of The Kidlink Board are no longer willing or able to carry out their responsibilities, they are expected to resign. If necessary, the Kidlink Board can remove someone from Board membership. This includes the possibility of removing the Executive Director. These decisions will be made using the same decision procedures used for other decisions.

Article 9 -- Dissolution of The Kidlink Society

The Kidlink Society can be dissolved by action of the Board. The Kidlink Society will also cease to exist when both the Executive Director position is vacant and three or more of the Board positions are vacant. Any assets remaining will be donated to UNICEF.

Article 10 -- Amendments and Revisions

The Articles of Association of The Kidlink Society can be amended by vote of the membership. The proposed revision must be circulated for discussion for at least one month. Acceptance of the change will require the affirmative vote of at least two thirds of the members. Each person who is either an individual member and/or is designated as the representative of an organizational member has one vote.

Article 11 -- Initial Acceptance

These Articles of Association are presented by an Organizing Committee consisting of Oscar Becerra, Claus Berg, Mike Burleigh, Odd de Presno, Richard Naylor, Lara Stefansdottir, and Dan Wheeler. They will serve as the initial members of the Kidlink Board. Odd de Presno will be the Kidlink Executive Director and the other members of the Organizing Committee will serve as the Kidlink Core Team.
The Initial Board will oversee the announcement of the Kidlink Society and the recruitment of members. Within one year of the opening of the Kidlink Society to members, the Initial Board will call elections for the regular members of the Kidlink Board.

Explanation:

The major purpose of this is to create a legal entity so that we can receive funds to support the Kidlink project. We expect the project to run very much the way it has with policy discussions in KIDPLAN. The major difference will be that the Board will decide when a consensus has been reached rather than just Odd de Presno.
We are definitely NOT planning to charge money to participate in the Kidlink project. Membership is voluntary and one will not be required to pay dues to participate.
We have deliberately avoided naming specific lists like KIDCAFE or KIDPLAN. We may want to (or be forced to) change the structure of our lists. It should not require a change in the Articles of Association to do this.

The Stiftelsen Kidlink Bylaws

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