Under the name "Società Italiana Medici Veterinari degli Animali Selvatici e da Zoo" (S.I.V.A.S. ZOO)

"Italian Association of Zoo and Wildlife Veterinarians " exists an association based in Rome c/o the Giardino Zoologico Bioparco SpA, V.le del Giardino Zoologico n.20 00197 Roma.

This Medical Fraternity is a non-profit making and non-accredited association.

The Association is a non-commercial scientific and cultural board, aimed at promoting a constant updating and vocational qualification of its members through national and international meetings, workshops, audio-visual media supports, seminars, periodicals concerning zoo and wildlife animals.

Any initiative pursuing the improving and protection of veterinarians professionalism and reputation will be undertaken, as well as preserving veterinarian's dignity and interests. S.I.V.A.S. ZOO contributes to zoo and wildlife animals physical well-being and living conditions improvement.

To achieve its objectives, S.I.V.A.S. shall:

a) preserve at any stage the interests and the professionalism of veterinarians working on zoo and wildlife animals;

b) promote the scientific up-dating and any research concerning the improvement of living conditions, well-being and breeding of zoo and wildlife animals;

c) Foster, co-ordinate and represent any initiative concerning assistance and service to veterinarians working on zoo and wildlife animals, encouraging the constitution or entry of other associations in allied scientific disciplines.

d) Appoint its members and delegates and facilitate their intervention to any Corporation, Board, Agency or Committee where a representation of veterinarians working on zoo and wildlife animals is requested and convenient, in compliance with the a.m. paragraphs a) and b).

The S.I.V.A.S. ZOO Association members can be:

- Active Members

- Associate Members

- Honorary Members.

Active Members are the Association founders, who drew up its Constitution and any veterinarian involved in zoo and wildlife animals making express request to adhere to the Board.

Associate Members can be students in veterinary medicine and people interested in the Association activities. Furthermore, Associate Members can be any Organisation, Agency of Committee interested in promoting the aims and objectives of the Association.

Associate Members are not entitled to vote and cannot be elected.

Honorary Members are namely individuals having experienced their scientific background specifically into the zoo and wildlife animals field or who gave their personal deserving contribution to the Association. Honorary Members are exempted from annual subscriptions and are not entitled to vote.

Applications for new memberships must be addressed to the President of the Association and shall be submitted to the Executive Board's approval. The application must be introduced by two reports issued by S.I.V.A.S. ZOO 's Members and completed a curriculum-vitae.

By adhering to the S.I.V.A.S. ZOO Association, each Member recognises this Statutes and the eventual regulations approved by the Executive Board, undertaking to follow them.

Each member undertakes to pay to the Association the annual subscriptions and extraordinary contributions as decided by the Executive Board, to grant the good functioning of the Association itself. The annual subscriptions and eventual extra-ordinary contributions for all Members are fixed at the end of every year by the Executive Board, according to the final balance approved.

The Executive Board decides the entity of such contributions, which may vary according to the criteria applied to single categories of Members.

When a Member does not accomplish to financial obligations towards the Association for more than one year, he will be excluded.

Subscriptions are not transferable and cannot be appreciated. The payment of the membership fee does not allow any further right of participation and, notably, does not allow to transfer to third parties undivided fees. This is valid either in case of particular or universal successions or in case of deeds drawn up inter vivos or in case of death.

The membership comes to an end by the Member's:

- Resigning;

- Arrearage;

- Shameful behaviour;

- Death.

The arrearage status is declared by the Executive Board; the shameful behaviour will be sanctioned by the Members Assembly against the Executive Board's suggestion.

The Association shall be composed of:

a) the General Assembly;

b) the Executive Board;

c) the President;

d) the Secretary;

e) the Treasurer;

f) the Scientific Committee;

g) the Auditors;

h) the Advisory Board.

Members of the Association Bodies, except the Auditors, must be members of the S.I.V.A.S. ZOO Association itself.

The General Assembly is constituted by all active Members duly paying the annual subscription. It is allowed giving a proxy to a different Member by signing at the bottom of the convocation letter. A maximum of 2 proxies are allowed per Member.

Regular meetings are hold by the General Assembly at least once per year, not later than April 30th.

Extra-ordinary meetings - after deliberation by the Executive Board or by the Auditors -can be held.

The Association Body requiring a meeting is asked to specify the matters of the discussion.

The General Assembly is convened with a pre-advice of at least 15 days, either by post or by e-mail or by an advice on the S.I.V.A.S. ZOO periodical, after deliberation by the Executive Board and on behalf of the Presidency. All communications must indicate place, date and time when the meeting will be held, for the first and the second convocation and topics on the Assembly agenda. In case of urgency, the above mentioned pre-advice terms can be reduced to eight days.

The General Assembly is set up in first convocation when the majority of Members is present; it is set up in second convocation (which can be even one hour later) whatever the number of the Members is.

The President or, if absent, the Vice President preside at the General Assembly. Deliberations are taken by the majority of voters or by the President in case of parity.

Abstentions will not be taken into consideration.

Voting procedures are stated in this Statute, unless the General Assembly will unanimously decide different proceedings.

In case of secret ballot, the Assembly will nominate the polling station president and two scrutineers.

When electing the new Board, the Electing Assembly is lead by the Electoral Board. The Electoral

Board is set up by the Past Presidents of the Association, by the President and Vice President in office. When submitting a list to the List Board, the Electoral Board must get a significant majority, meaning at least the two-thirds of it. Members may introduce candidates to the President, at least thirty days before the Electing Assembly is assembled, by registered letter. The Electing Assembly will consider the candidates' liability as refers to their regular position against the Association's obligations and will present the nominations to the General Assembly, after having integrated its own list (or filling an alternative list).

The General Assembly is entitled to:

1) elect the President and the Vice President;

2) elect eventually the Honorary President;

3) elect five members of the Executive Board

4) elect three Advisors;

5) state the general guidelines of the Association's activities in compliance with its Statutes;

6) approve the budget, the financial report and the annual report of the Association;

7) decide on alterations of the Constitution, the disintegration of the Association and name the liquidators;

8) determine the annual subscriptions as per art.6 of this Statutes.

9) Name the Auditors and determine their eventual salary;

10) Approve an eventual electoral regulation.

The Assembly deliberations are put on record and undersigned by the President and the Secretary.

The Executive Board shall consist of the following officers, in office for three years with the possibility of re-election:

a) President;

b) Vice President;

c) Five Members of the General Assembly.

Past Presidents may be asked to join the Executive Board's meetings upon consultative vote.

The Executive Board is convened by the President or by who is acting in his stand, at least twice a year. It can be convened upon request by a two-thirds of its Members, under specification of the matter of discussion.

As far as the Executive Board's convocation, its meeting validity, its deliberations and minutes, the rules for the General Assembly are valid.

The Executive Board is entitled to:

1) run the ordinary and extraordinary life of the Association, stating the expenses and investments allocation, under no limit.

2) Issue the rules of procedures of the Association, which must be honoured by the Members;

3) Examine and approve the budget, the financial report and the annual report of the Association, to be examined by the General Assembly;

4) Suggest to the Assembly the annual subscriptions as per art.6 of this Statutes;

5) Approve the staff employment contract and organisation, as well as services regulations;

6) Confirm the President's urgent deliberations;

7) Engage, promote or dismiss the Personnel;

8) Nominate any Corporation, Board, Agency or Committee to represent the Association;

9) Nominate the Secretary and the Treasurer among its Members;

10) Nominate the components of the Scientific Committee;

11) Execute any necessary action in compliance fulfilment with this Statutes;

12) Deliberate of institution of Regional or Local Sections;

13) Nominate substitutes when there is a lack in the composition of the Executive Board's Members

(ref. Art.14 points b) and c));

The Executive Board can delegate part of its assignments to the President.

The Executive Board's deliberations will be put on record and undersigned by the President and the Secretary.

The President and the Vice President are elected by the Assembly.

The President and the Vice President are in office for three years; this term can be reconfirmed successively, by the General Assembly.

The President is the legal representative of the Association towards third parties and in a court of law.

After the President's suggestion, the Executive Board can give special offices to the Vice President. In case of absence or unforeseen difficulties of the President, his assignments are run by the Vice President.

The President is entitled to:

1) execute the Assembly and the Executive Board's deliberations;

2) take any initiative necessary for the progress of the Association activities;

3) judge and solve any situation concerning the Association's staff and offices;

4) execute, within his assignments, any other action unforeseen in this article,

5) be at the head of the Executive Board and the General Assembly.

In case of urgency and upon ratification , the President can take the Executive Board's assignments.

The Honorary President is elected by the General Assembly among the veterinarians coming to prominence for special services granted to the Association. He is actively part all bodies of the Association .

The Secretary is entitled to:

a) supervise at all services and Offices of the Organisation and review their activities;

b) study and propose to the President any initiative necessary for the progress of the Association aims;

c) sign with the President all minutes of the Executive Board and the General Assembly;

d) decide, after the President's approval, who will eventually replace him in case of absence.

The Treasurer is entitled to:

a) supervise at the financial management of the Association;

b) draw up the budget, the financial report and the annual report of the Association;

c) make payments and purchases on behalf or in replacement of the President.

The Executive Board may nominate its Delegates in any Region and Province.

Delegates are supposed to promote the Association's aims in their territory and increase the Members entity. They come direct under the President and can be replaced at any stage by the Executive Board.

The Scientific Committee is composed by the President and by a minimum of two to a maximum of six Members nominated by the Executive Board.

The Scientific Committee studies and advances any matter concerning prophylaxis, therapy, feeding and organisation of zoo and wildlife animals. Their office ceases when the Executive Board disintegrate.

The General Assembly shall nominate the Auditors (three Active Members and three substitutes) within or from outside his organisation, in office for three years with the possibility of reelection.

The President of the Auditors is also elected by the General Assembly.

The Auditors shall supervise at the financial management of the Association by detailed reporting to the General Assembly in writing of the results of the audit, after having informed the Executive Board.

The Active Auditors, or their substitutes in case of absence, take part to the Executive Board's and General Assembly's meetings upon consultative vote.

The General Assembly nominates the Advisory Board, in office for three years with the possibility of re-election. This office is incompatible with any other one in the Association.

Any matter concerning interpretation and application of this statute and its regulations can be brought before the Advisory Board whose decisions are non-appellable.

The following are the Association's Assets:

a) real estate, content and values belonging in any way to the Association as per purchases, legacies, donations;

b) Members' annual subscriptions;

c) surplus on annual reports.

The Association is funded by:

a) Members' annual subscriptions and any extraordinary contributions deliberated by theGeneral Assembly;

b) Interests charged and proprietary revenues;

c) fees for the attendance of activities taken by the Association and according to its aims and by any other way of contribution.

The Executive Board takes over the ordinary and extraordinary administration, under no limitation, deciding which way the cash outflow and the capital investment must be handled.

It is not allowed to distribute, even indirectly, any profit, budget surplus, funds and capitals during the Association's life, except different statement of the law.

The financial year ends every year on 31st December. The budget, the financial report and the annual report of the Association are filled every solar year, upon approval of the General Assembly, the Executive Board and the Advisory Board.

The budget and the final balance must be approved by the Advisory Board at least 15 days before the General Assembly meeting fixed dated.

Budgets must be filed at the Association base 15 days before the approval assembly meeting and must be at disposal of anyone showing a justifiable interest to read them. The Association can supply copies, under payment of the relevant expenses.

Alteration to the Constitution are taken by the General Assembly during an extraordinary meeting.

The General Assembly is set up in first convocation when the majority of Members is present; it is set up in second convocation (which can be held even one hour later) when one-third of them is present and voting.

The General Assembly decides about the disintegration of the Association.

In this case the General Assembly set up is valid when one third of its Members is present.

Deliberations are valid when voted by a two-thirds majority of the Members present and voting.

If the Association is to be disintegrated, the General Assembly shall decide on the utilisation of the Association's property, which has to be transferred to an institution using the property for the same finalisations pursued by S.I.V.A.S. ZOO Association or for public utility.

This Statute is a registered private deed.