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§ 1. The name of the Society is Ordenshistorisk Selskab.
It is domiciled in Copenhagen. The Society was founded on 27 April 1966.
§ 2. The purpose of the Society is to initiate interest in
and foster knowledge about orders and medals, by organizing meetings, lectures,
excursions, exhibitions, etc. and also by issuing newsletters and publications.
The Society cooperates with organisations with similar or related interests at
home and abroad.
Sect. 2. On April 27th, 1977, the Society instituted the Society's Collection.
The Collection belongs to the Society, although certain items are donated with a clause of
being returned to the donor if the Society is dissolved.
The Society's Collection has its own regulations.
§ 3. Members of the Society can be persons or institutions with
an interest in the history of orders or the art of the medal.
Sect. 2. It is a condition for membership in the Society that no
orders, decorations or medals are collected that, according to regulations, must
be returned after the recipient’s demise.
Sect. 3. Application for membership, or a wish for cessation of
the same, is to be sent to the Society in writing, or by a message to the Society’s
website. The Society’s Committee can reject an application for membership in cases
justified by special circumstances. The reasons for such rejection shall not be
stated publicly.
Sect. 4. Honorary members can be appointed from members or non-members
who have gained extraordinary merit towards the Society or have shown extraordinary
meritorious activity in the field of the history of orders, decorations and medals.
Appointments can be made at the instigation of a unanimous Committee. The appointment can
be preceded by an instigation by at least five members.
Sect. 5. The Committee can appoint corresponding members.
Sect. 6. On joining the Society an entry-fee is due, the amount to be
fixed by the general meeting of members. Honorary members and corresponding members are
exempt from all payment.
Sect. 7. The Society has instituted a decoration that can be awarded
after 10, 25, 40 or 50 years membership. A decoration can be awarded to members who have
performed special services to the Society or to the history of orders.
The decoration has its own regulations.
§ 4. Every year the annual dues are determined by the general meeting
of members. The dues are to be paid in advance from January 1st of the current year.
If a member has not paid up inside three months after that date, he is regarded as
having forfeited membership.
Sect. 2. Only members without outstanding dues can vote at the
general meeting.
Sect. 3. The Society’s financial year runs from January 1st till December
31st. The accounts must have been audited before the ordinary general meeting of members
by two auditors, elected from the members not on the Committee. The auditors are elected
by the general meeting of members for one year.
§ 5. The Society is governed by a Committee, consisting of a president,
a vice-president and three members.
Sect. 2. All members of the Committee are elected or re-elected for a 2-year
period. The president and 1 member are elected in odd years, and the vice-president and 2 members
are elected in even years.
Sect. 3. The Committee organizes the activities of the Society and plans
and organizes meetings and other activities.
Sect. 4. The Committee cannot demand contributions from members, in addition
to the annual dues.
Sect. 5. The Society is represented by the president or the vice-president,
together with two Committee members.
Sect. 6. The Committee can appoint a group of members or an individual for special
tasks. They are responsible to the Committee. The results of the efforts of such a group or individual
are normally communicated to the general meeting of members as part of the president’s report. The Committee
can - when considered necessary - invite members of such groups or individuals to take part in Committee
meetings.
§ 6. All dates of meetings are communicated to the Society’s members at least 14
days in advance. Guests can be invited to Society meetings, but the same person cannot take part
in more than two meetings in the same calendar year.
§ 7. The general meeting of members is the highest authority in the Society.
It takes place every year at the end of the first quarter and shall be called by electronic,
respectively conventional mail, but at least four weeks in advance.
Sect. 2. The following items shall be on the agenda at the general meeting of members:
a) Election of a chairman for the meeting.
b) The president’s annual report.
c) The curator of the Society's collection (Den Ordenshistoriske Samling) reports.
d) The audited accounts are presented.
e) Voting on received proposals.
f) Election of the president, respectively vice-president.
g) Election of Committee members.
h) Election of a substitute.
i) Election of the auditors.
j) Determination of annual dues and entry-fee.
k) Other business.
Sect. 3. Items or proposals for the agenda must be sent in writing to the Committee,
at least 14 days before the general meeting of members.
Sect. 4. The Committee can call an extraordinary general meeting or must do so if
two-thirds of the Society’s members ask for one in writing, with reasons indicated.
Sect. 5. The general meeting of members decides by a simple majority of votes.
In case of a tie the president’s vote is decisive.
Sect. 6. Voting is by ballot if one member expresses a wish to that effect. Absent
members can vote by written mandate. Each member can bring at most two such mandates.
Sect. 7. For a change in the Society’s constitution a two-thirds majority of the
votes is required. A change shall be submitted to two general meetings of members before having an effect.
§ 8. If, in the opinion of the Committee, a member acts openly contrary to the Society’s
interests or if his membership is considered damaging to the Society’s reputation, the Committee can
temporarily suspend such membership, after which the member can be expelled from the Society by the next
general meeting of members, if confirmed by at least two-thirds of the members present.
§ 9. Should the Society be disbanded, the last lawful general meeting of members shall
make provision for the disposal of the Society’s assets and property.
Confirmed first time by the Society’s general meeting of members for 2018 on 19. March 2019.
Confirmed second time by the Society’s general meeting of members for 2020 on 5. October 2021.
In case of discrepancies between the Danish and English version of these regulations, the Danish version
takes precedence.