Disclaimer
The following is the translation into the English language of the statutes of the AFOEV. In case of doubt, the French version of the Statutes is the only valid reference.
Translation by Jacques VIALLE - AFOEV

• Article 1 : Under the name of "ASSOCIATION FRANCAISE DES OBSERVATEURS D'ETOILES VARIABLES" (French Variable Star Observers Association), abbreviated in AFOEV, an Association is created whose registered office is at Strasbourg Observatory, 11 rue de l'Université, STRASBOURG (Bas-Rhin). It will be registered in the Associations Registry of the STRASBOURG Magistrates Court and ruled by Articles 21 to 79 of the Local Civil Code, confirmed into force by the French Civil Law Enforcement Act of June 1st, 1924 as well as by the present statutes. Its term is unlimited

• Article 2 : The AFOEV aims at regrouping people who are interested in the study of variable stars and domains related to this branch of the knowledge of the Universe. The efforts of the Association tend to establishing a methodical cooperation between professional and amateur astronomers aiming at the advancement of these studies both from a theoretical and a practical point of view. These efforts must also facilitate the ways and means of participating in this research work and of following its results for those who are interested in it ; lastly, the AFOEV must ensure the bringing into light and the publication of all the scientific contributions of its members provided that their production is in accordance with the resolutions of Commissions 25 and 27 of the International Astronomical Union. The AFOEV does not by any means pursue commercial, political, racial or religious aims.
  Section II : Composition

• Article 3 : AFOEV is composed of :
  a : Honour members
  b : Patron members
  c : Ordinary membres
  d : Correspondents
  

• Article 4 :
  Honour members are individuals or legal entities having endered signal services to The AFOEV and agreed upon as such by the Council of the Association. Honour members are not compelled to pay any fee.
  Patron members are individuals or legal entities who have paid a fee equal or superior to the basic annual fee.
  Ordinary members are individuals or legal entities who have paid a fee between the basic annual fee and the Patron membership fee.
  Correspondents are members participating in the life of the Association by their work and allowed by decision of the Council to pay a fee lower thne the basic annual fee.

• Article 5 : The basic annual fee is fixed every year by the General Assembly.

• Article 6 : The admission of members is pronounced by the Council.

• Article 7 : Membership is lost :
  (a) by resignation ;
  (b) by death ;
  (c) by exclusion pronounced by the Council for an act resulting in moral wrong or material loss caused to the AFOEV ;
  (d) by removal pronounced by the Council because of failure to pay the fee (for members who have to pay a fee).
  
  Members concerned by cases (c) and (d) can ask to be heard by the next General Assembly.
  
  Section III : Management and functioning

• Article 8 : The AFOEV is managed by a Council of 10 (ten) members. One of these members is by right the President of the Louis Pasteur University or his representative. The 9 (nine) other members are elected for three years by the General Assembly and chosen within it. One third of the Council is renewed every year. They are elected by secret ballot. The outgoing members can be re-elected. If a seat becomes vacant, the Council designates a replacement member whose mandate expires at the same time as the mandate of the member who has been replaced.

• Article 9 : The Council elects amidst its members by secret ballot a Board composed of
  a President,
  a Vice-President,
  a Secretary,
  a Scientific Secretary,
  a Treasurer.
  
  This Board is elected for one year and meets as often as necessary. The Scientific Secretary is as far as possible a professional astronomer specialized in the study of variable stars.

• Article 10 : The Council mets at least once a year and whenever it is called by the President or on the request of one third of its members. A minute of the session is kept. These minutes are written down in the Register kept to that effect and signed by the President and the Secretary. The members of the Council cannot receive any remuneration for the functions they have been entrusted with. They can however claim for a refund on their expenses on justification.

• Article 11 : The Council can hear on request any person that can throw light on any point it judges useful. These persons can give advice but have no voting rights.

• Article 12 : The persons remunerated by the AFOEV can attend the sessions of the Council, give their advice but cannot vote.

• Article 13 : The AFOEV being by nature an Association whose members are dispersed all over France and even abroad, the meeting of the Council and of the Board can be replaced by an exchange of correspondence.

• Article 14 : In the case where Article 13 is applicable, the President informs the Council in writing, either directly or through the Secretary; of a detailed agenda and requests a written answer within a reasonable delay. On receipt of these answers, the President writes a synthesis and broadcasts it to the Council asking its members to let him know whether they agree or disagree with it within a reasonable delay. The letters exchanged are referenced, thus allowing to match up questions and answers. The letters are filed in the archives and referred to in the corresponding Register where the minutes are recorded.

• Article 15 : With the exception of the exclusion of a member or dissolution of the Association, vote by proxy is always valid within the AFOEV, either for the decisions of the Council or for those of the General Assembly. In this case, a proxy can be given only to a person who is liable to take part in the same decision.

• Article 16 : Any member of the Council or of the Board failing to participate either directly or by proxy in three consecutive metings will be considered as resigning.

• Article 17 : The General Assembly of the AFOEV includes the members who have paid their fee for the calendar year at least two months before and the correpondents who have participated in the activities of the Association for at least three months. It takes place once a year (Ordinary General Assembly) and whenever it is called by the Council. The notification of the date is in writing at least one month in advance. The Assembly deliberates on the topics set by the agenda. The deliberations are written down on a Minute which is recorded in the Register provided for that, the Minute being signed by the President and the Secretary. The agenda of the General Assembly is set by the Council.

• Article 18 : The Ordinary General Assembly hears the report on the activities of the Association by the President and the financial report of the Treasurer and deliberates on them. It approves the accounts of the previous calendar year, votes the budget of the next year, deliberates on the items of the agenda and renew the members of the Council. It designates a commission of verification of the accounts composed at least of one member chosen outside the Council.

• Article 19 : The expenditures are authorized by the President. He represents the AFOEV before the Courts of Justice and in all the acts of civil life. On advice of the Council, the President can delegate his capacity to another member of the Council. This delegation must be done in writing and sets the limits of the action and of its duration. The representative of the AFOEV must be in full possession of his civic rights.

• Article 20 : The means of support of the AFOEV are derived from :
  (a) the income of its possessions ;
  (b) the fees and subscriptions paid by its members ;
  (c) grants ;
  (d) liberalities and gifts from donors ;
  (d) financial resources created in exceptional cases and if necessary with the agreement of the competent authority.

• Article 21 : An account of income over expenditures must be kept from day to day.
  Section IV : Modification of the statutes and dissolution.

• Article 22 : The statutes of the AFOEV can be modified only on proposal of the Council or of one quarter of the members liable to take part in the General Assembly. At least one quarter of the members liable to take part in it must be present either physically or by proxy at the Ordinary or Extraordinary General Assembly called to deliberate on these modifications. If there is no quorum, a General Assembly is called again a fortnight later. It can then legitimately deliberate whatever the number of persons present. A majority of two-thirds of the members present or represented is required for the adoption of the statutes.

• Article 23 : The General Assembly having to deliberate on the dissolution of the Association is called specially to that effect. It must gather at least half of the Patron members and of the Active members. If there is no quorum, a General Assembly is called again a fortnight later. It can then legitimately deliberate whatever the number of persons present. A majority of two-thirds of the members present or represented is requited for the disssolution to be pronounced.

• Article 24 : In case of dissolution, the Extraordinary General Asssembly called to this effect allocates the Association's assets to one or several associations that pursue similar aims.

• Article 25 : In case of dissolution, the Extraordinary General Asssembly called to this effect designates one or several liquidators in charge of the liquidation of the Association's properties and their devolution in accordance with the deliberations resulting from the application of Article 24. These liquidators will make sure that the archives and the scientific documentation of the Association are not dispersed.

• Article 26 : The President must within three months let the Magistrates' Court at Strasbourg know about the changes in the composition of the Council, the modifications in the statutes or the dissolution of the Association.

• Article 27 : The Council will have the possibility to elaborate bye-laws which will be submitted to the General Assembly.

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  The present statutes were adopted unanimously by the Constituent General Assembly held on April 26th, 1986.

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  Extract from the bye-laws of
  the Association Française des Observateurs d'Etoiles Variables
  (French Variable Star Observers Association)
  adopted by the Constituent General Assembly.
  

  • Article 1 : The members of the Association Française des Observateurs d'Etoiles Variables in order with their fee for the calendar year 1986 are members as of right of the Association Française des Observateurs d'Etoiles Variables for the same calendar year 1986. Their quality of Honour Members, Patron Members and active members is maintained.

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  Modifications of the statutes

  • Former Article 8 (modified by the General Assembly of November 13, 1990) The AFOEV is managed by a Council of 9 (nine) members elected for three years by the General Assembly and chosen within it. One third of the Council is renewed every year. They are elected by secret ballot. The outgoing members can be re-elected. If a seat becomes vacant, the Council designates a replacement member whose mandate expires at the same time as the mandate of the member who has been replaced.
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    Registration in the Associations' Register

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    MAGISTRATES' COURT OF 67000 STRASBOURG (Bas-Rhin)
    REGISTERS
    ASSOCIATIONS' REGISTER
    CERTIFICATE OF REGISTRATION
    

    This day in the ASSOCIATIONS' REGISTER the Association whose name follows has been registered in Volume XXXXXI N°83
    

    " Association Française des Observateurs d'Etoiles Variables "
    " A.F.O.E.V."
    

    at 67000 STRASBOURG
    11, rue de l'Universit,
    at Strasbourg Observatory.
    

    The statutes date from April 26th, 1986
    

    The President and Legal Representative of the Association is
    

    Mr. Emile SCHWEITZER,
    residing at STRASBOURG,
    16, rue de Plobsheim
    

    STRASBOURG, the 22nd of July, 1986
    

    The Clerk of the Magistrates' Court
    

    Illegible signature - Seal of the Magistrates' Court
    

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