Statute

 

STATUTE OF THE COUNCIL OF BRAZILIAN CITIZENS IN VICTORIA (CCBV)

WITH THE EMBASSY 0F BRAZIL IN CANBERRA – AUSTRALIA

 

FIRST CHAPTER: COMPOSITION

Article 1 – Denomination, Legal Status and Headquarters

  1. Under the denomination “Council of Brazilian Citizens in Victoria” before the Embassy of Brazil in Canberra (from now on referred to as the ‘Council’), a communication channel has been established to support the work of the Embassy of Brazil in Canberra, in relation to the Brazilian community in the state of Victoria, Australia.
  2. It is made up of an informal and apolitical forum, which seeks to provide advice. This forum is strictly guided by this statute and by the guidelines contained in the Brazilian Foreign Affair’s Consular and Judicial Services Manual.
  3. The Council has its headquarters in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia; and acts within the jurisdiction of the Embassy of Brazil in Canberra.

 

Article 2 – Objectives

The Council’s main objective is to encourage and increase communication between the Brazilian community residing in the state of Victoria, Australia, and the Embassy of Brazil in Canberra. To attain this objective, the Council aims to:

  1. Collaborate in the promotion of not-for-profit support activities, as well as those seeking to provide information to the Brazilian community;
  2. Collect suggestions from the community and make them known to the embassy;
  3. Make the community aware of the Embassy’s actions;
  4. Help develop the Consular Manual with the Embassy of Brazil in Canberra;
  5. Create a direct communication channel with the community; and
  6. Observe with a keen eye, the work of the Embassy of Brazil in Canberra, to be able to give them feedback on how to improve.

Neither the Council nor its members may accept remuneration for any activity or services rendered while in a councillor capacity.

The Council will abstain from any political, ideological and religious activities.

 

SECOND CHAPTER: MEMBERS

Article 3 – Composition

(1) The Council is comprised of the honorary president, the Brazilian Ambassador to Australia; one general coordinator, one secretary and six publicly elected area coordinators. The areas are as follows

  1. Community Service, Gender Violence and Health
  2. Jobs, Money Transfers, Investments, Entrepreneurship and Returns
  3. Consular Services and Judicial Issues
  4. Culture
  5. Education
  6. Community Participation and Policies

 

(2) Mandates last for two years, with the possibility of re-election for one consecutive term. All members must be Brazilian citizens.

 

Article 4 – Election and duties of the General Coordinator

The Council shall elect a General Coordinator, whose duties are as follows:

  1. To publicly represent the Council
  2. To receive correspondence from members of the local Brazilian community, as well as from the Embassy of Brazil in Canberra; and forward the information to the relevant sector within the Council;
  3. Request that the Council hold ordinary and extraordinary meetings;
  4. To let the Brazilian community know about decisions and actions taken by the Council; especially in regards to meeting minutes.
  5. Submit the agenda for the Council’s ordinary and extraordinary meetings, after prior discussion with other members;
  6. The mandate of the General Coordinator will be two years, with a possible re-election for a subsequent term.

 

Article 5 – Election and duties of the Executive Secretary

The Council shall elect from within its members, an Executive Secretary, whose duties will be as follows:

  1. Take minutes at Council meetings.
  2. To develop the proposed agenda for Council meetings, based on suggestions from members, and submit it to the General Coordinator prior to the meeting.
  3. To distribute the final agenda for ordinary and extraordinary meetings to all Council members one week prior to said meetings.
  4. The mandate for the Executive Secretary will be two years, with a possible re-election for another term.

 

Article 6 – Election and duties of the Area Coordinators

The Council shall elect the Area Coordinators from within its members. Their duties will be as follows:

  1. Identify, connect with and keep in contact with Brazilian citizens residing within its jurisdiction.
  2. Propose projects relevant to their area to the Council.
  3. Collect and present suggestions and proposals relevant to their area to the Council.
  4. Ensure the excellence of work performed by the Council, either internally or externally, as well as the image portrayed to the local Brazilian community and other Brazilian entities abroad.
  5. Collaborate in Council activities and with its members.

 

Article 7 – Membership

  1. Participation in the Council is strictly through an election process, based on the community’s support.
  2. The first Council will be in place for a year, due to the special circumstance of being the starting group. Its duties will be to:

I.Let the community know about the Council’s activities;

II.Organise the election for the definitive Council;

III. This provisional Council will be comprised of: Alba Chliakhtine, Ana Teresa Baldassaris, Anete da Silva, Antonio Moreira, Andre Costa (President of Brasa), Denise Frizzo; Didi Fonseca, Eliana Aguiar, Gisele Scantkebury; Helen Coelho; Jose Costa; Luciana Fraguas; Marcos Matsubara; Maria Antonia Ebels; Meire de Mello; Priscila de Souza; Simone Occulate; Stella Motta; Suzana Alvarenga e Tereza Cristina Varley.

 

The following shall be honorary members:

  1. The Honorary Consul for Brazil in Melbourne
  2. Other representative members of the community.

IV. The election for the definitive Council shall take place one year from the date of approval of this statute.

V. The first Council will not need to abide by the restrictions outlined in this statute in regards to terms of election and re-election.

 

Article 8 – Members’ Rights

(1) Council members have the right to participate in its meetings, submit proposals and vote.

(2) Council votes are decided by simple majority, unless otherwise specified. The minimum quorum is five members.

 

Article 9 – Members’ Duties

Council members must:

  1. Support Council activities.
  2. Abide by the statute.
  3. Deliberate on proposals submitted by its members.
  4. Abide by Council decisions.
  5. Communicate any changes of address.
  6. Confirm presence once a Council meeting date has been set.
  7. Submit all information to be shared with the public regarding their area to the Council Coordination for prior approval.
  8. Contribute to the progress of both internal and external projects, as well as to the Council’s image before the local Brazilian community and other Brazilian institutions abroad.
  9. Sign and abide by CCBV’s Code of Conduct and Ethics.

 

Article 10 – End of Membership

(1) Membership shall end by means of resignation, exclusion or death.

(2) Resignation by a Council member must be submitted in writing to the Council President and shall be effective immediately.

(3) Any member may be excluded from the Council via a decision made by two thirds (2/3) of its members.

(4) Unjustified absence in more than two consecutive meetings, or three alternate meetings, shall be deemed a tacit declaration of resignation.

(5) Membership shall end by not complying with CCBV’s Code of Conduct and Ethics.

 

THIRD CHAPTER: MISCELLANEOUS

Article 11- Council Meetings

Ordinary Council meetings shall be held in Melbourne at least once every three months, thus, four times per year. Extraordinary meetings can be organised as needed.

 

Article 12 – Minutes

(1) Council meetings shall be documented in minutes, which must be approved and signed off by management and participating members at the following meeting.

(2) Council management must make sure that the meeting minutes are disclosed to the Brazilian community.

 

Article 13 – Working Year

The working year will coincide with the calendar year.

 

Article 14 – Alterations to the statute

Proposals for alterations to the current statute may be presented in writing to the Council Coordination by any Council member. They must be submitted at least three weeks prior to the Council meeting. Any alterations will need approval by at least two thirds of the Council members before being implemented.

 

Article 15 – Dissolution of the Council

(1) The Council may be dissolved after deliberation in an extraordinary meeting. This meeting must be called upon specifically for this reason, at least thirty days prior to it taking place.

(2) The request for dissolution must be presented in writing by at least one third of Council members.

(3) Dissolution may only be approved by a qualified majority of two-thirds (2/3) of all Council members.

(4) If quorum is not achieved after Council members being called upon on three consecutive instances within a period of 90 days, the Administration may decree the dissolution of the Council.

 

This statute was approved in an extraordinary meeting on 26thMarch 2014.

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