On the basis of articles 9 and 11 of the Law on Associations (Official Gazette of the Republic of Slovenia,
No. 60/95) the founding assembly passed a resolution on establishing the European Association for Reality Therapy and in accordance with it adopted the following

I GENERAL PROVISIONS

Article 1

The European Association for Reality Therapy (in the following text: the EART) is an independent, non-profit, professional, voluntary organisation aiming to unite associations, institutes and centres for Reality Therapy from individual European countries teaching Choice Theory, performing training activities of Reality Therapy and practical psychotherapy, Quality School and Lead Management on the basis of a signed contract, mutual interests and the Law on Association.

Article 2

Name: the European Association for Reality Therapy; its seat is in Bleiweisova 6, Kranj, Republic of Slovenia, EU.
The EART has its own sign – an original symbol of reality therapy formed by four palms put asunder in radiating flame. The base below the symbol is the abbreviation EART.

The EART stamp is round, 4 cm in diameter, having an English inscription at the edge - EUROPEAN ASSOCIATION FOR REALITY THERAPY as well as the Slovene one – EVROPSKA ZVEZA ZA REALITETNO TERAPIJO and the symbol of the EART in the middle.

Article 3

The EART as a legal entity of civil law in the Republic of Slovenia performs its activities in European union.

Article 4

EART is fully authorized member and European Wide Awarding Organization of the EAP thus taking on educational standards of the William GIasser Insitute  and EART as well as the educational standards and other criteria of the European Association for Psychotherapy for EAP ordinary  membership. The educational standards for psychotherapists are defined in detail by the EART Book of regulations for psychotherapists about educational standards, conditions and ways of obtaining the title of psychotherapist.

II AIMS AND OBJECTIVES

Article 5

The EART's aims and objectives are the following:

associateship and co-operation of the European associations, institutes and centres performing training for practical activities of this modality.
exchange of ideas and professionals of RT in Europe
promotion of scientific research studies of RT and Choice Theory
contribution to the psychotherapeutic practice and training in RT in Europe and worldwide
 joint incorporation and multicultural representation of RT in Europe and worldwide
organization and development of integral studies of RT in the European countries fulfilling , besides the
requirements of the William Glasser Institute, also the EAP education standards

Article 6

The aims and objectives of the EART are realized through:
contribution to spreading CT ideas and it’s application in counselling, psychotherapy, mental health, education and lead management  in Europe and worldwide
contribution  to WGI Reality Therapy Certification (RTC) training program and WGI and EART Faculty programs 
developing and performing an Integral Specialized Training of RT preparing candidates to obtain the title of RT psychotherapist
awarding RT psychotherapists 
recommending candidates for ECP (European Certificate of Psychotherapy)
organizing congresses, symposia, lectures on an international level
organizing work-shops, round table discussions and conferences
issuing the EART’s website
issuing the EART's bulletin
issuing professional publications
participating in expert meetings
organizing research groups
co-operation with the William Glasser Institute
co-operation with the EAP and National umbrella organizations for psychotherapy (NUO)
co-operation with other psychotherapeutic modalities in Europe and worldwide
other activities

 

III PUBLIC AND INFORMATION ACTIVITIES

Article 7

The EART activities as well as the work of its bodies are public. The EART keeps its members informed by:
announcing invitation letters and minutes on the EART's website.
issuing written information
submitting the minutes to all members of the EART
The wider publicity of work is achieved by publicly organized meetings of all EART bodies thus ensuring the presence of all media representatives or other observers who may want to be kept informed through public media.

 

IV MEMBERSHIP

Article 8

The membership in the EART is voluntary. The EART has ordinary, associate and honorary members.

The members are appointed by the Governing Board. Ordinary members are individual associations, institutes and centres for RT in  European countries. They apply for membership by submitting a decision of their ultimate body about joining the EART and it may claim membership of the EART only upon signing a contract.

EART also accept individuals from European countries where RT organizations do not exist as  Individual members.  Individuals who apply for Individual membership should be Reality Therapy Certified. They are organized within the EART in a Chamber of Individual Members and apply to a Chamber. The Chamber is established by the Governing Board and has a status as other ordinary members.

Associate and honorary members are regulated in articles 11 and 12.

Article 9

Withdrawal of membership is put into operation by rescinding a contract or by resigning of a member from the EART on the basis of a decision made by the member's ultimate body. The decision must be submitted to the EART in written statement. Before withdrawing from the EART the member is obliged to settle all possible debts to the EART. 
The membership may also be withdrawn in case of cease of all activities of the individual association, institute or centre.

Article 10

The EART may work in its own right or it may be affiliated with other similar organizations having similar aims and objectives in Europe and worldwide on condition that the activities of the international or foreign organization are not in opposition to the interests of the legislation of the Republic of Slovenia.

Article 11

An association, institute or centre performing training and practical psychotherapeutic activities of reality therapy in countries of other continents may apply for associate membership on condition that it follows the same aims and objectives as the EART.
The associate members obtain the same rights as ordinary members with the exception that they do not and cannot be elected in the EART bodies.

Article 12

The EART has also got honorary members. An honorary membership may be granted to a member or
a non-member of the EART as well as to an individual as a reward for his contribution to the work and development of the EART. The honorary member is appointed by the Governing Board. If the honorary
member is not a member of the EART, he has no authority to make decisions.

V RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF THE EART MEMBERS

Article 13

The members of the EART have the rights :
to vote and be elected through their appointed delegates to the EART bodies
to initiate suggestions and proposals regarding the work of the bodies and co-operate in their activities
to take part in activities organized by the EART
to be kept informed about the work of the EART bodies
to be present at the meetings of the bodies
to be able to turn to the EART and its bodies regarding all professional problems
to draw attention to possible violations of the Statute and the EART ethic code
to apply  for European Certificate for Psychotherapy (ECP) in accordance with EAP and EART regulations

Article 14

The members of the EART are obliged:
to protect and promote the reputation of the EART and the profession as well as represent te mission of the WGI and programmes and interests of reality therapy
to work in accordance with the Statute, the EART standing rules and its ethic code
to actively take part in accomplishing professional and other tasks
to promptly meet material and other commitments to the EART
to respect resolutions and decisions made by the EART bodies and follow them accordingly
to vote and be elected through their appointed delegates to the EART bodies
to present proposals and take the initiative in the work of the bodies  

 

VI BODIES OF THE EART

Article 15

The bodies of the EART are:
Governing Board (GB)
Managing Board (MB)
Expert Council (EC)
Supervisory Committee (SC)
Honorary Arbitration Court (HAC)
Tenure of office of the representatives in the EART bodies is 4 years with a possibility to offer themselves for re-election.

THE GOVERNING BOARD

Article 16

The Governing Board is the ultimate body. A quorum of the GB is at least one mandatory of each ordinary member as well as the associate and honorary members. The members of the EART (associations, institutes, centres for RT) who have:
up to 20 individual members appoint 1 delegate
up to 50 individual members appoint 2 delegates
up to 100 individual members appoint 3 delegates
over 100 individual members appoint 1 additional delegate for every 100 members (thus for 200 members 4, for 300 members 5 additional delegates are appointed, etc.)

The appointed delegates must be the ordinary members of the William Glasser Institute.

The General Meeting may be an ordinary or an extraordinary one. The Ordinary General Meeting is convened once a year or every other year by the Managing Board while the Extraordinary General Meeting is convened by the MB and on request of the Supervisory Committee or on request of 1/3 of the EART members and must be held within 30 days upon receipt of the request. Should the Extraordinary General Meeting not be convened by the MB within appointed time, the sitting is called by a proposer who must also submit the agenda and the required documents. The Extraordinary GM makes decision only with reference to the matter which it has been summoned for. 

Article 17

The EART members must be informed about the convocation of the General Meeting and about the proposed agenda at the latest 14 days prior to the meeting.

A quorum of the Governing Board is one half of the delegates plus one.
The quorum also takes into account the empowered delegates who have submitted a written mandatory statement to another representative who votes on their behalf. The letter must be submitted to the Chairman of the General Meeting prior to the voting procedure.

If the quorum of the Governing Board is not reached, the meeting is adjourned. Thirty minutes after the time designated for the opening of the session the GB is thought to have a quorum if there are at least 10 delegates present on condition that all members of the EART are represented.

Casting of vote is usually direct but at the very meeting the members may decide to vote by ballot. A secret ballot is usually organized for elections of the EART bodies.

The President of the EART is in chair and presides over the General Meeting until the Presiding Committee is elected.

Article 18

Duties of the Governing Board:

it decides on the agenda
adopts, modifies and complements the Statute, contracts for membership as well as other general acts of the EART
adopts the work programme of the EART
adopts the budget and the final account
elects and relieves of office the President, Vice-President, Secretary-General and Treasurer as  
well as the members of the MB, EC, SC and HAC 
decides on complaints against decisions reached by MB, SC and HAC
decides on joining and co-operation with other cognate organizations
decides on new applicants and about the withdrawal of the members from the EART
makes decisions about other matters proposed by the EART bodies and members in accordance with the aims and objectives of the EART
establishes Register of reality therapy psychotherapists
appointed the Registration Committee and  Registrar as it’s head
or may appoint the MB or EC to decide on certain matters
settles the level of the membership fee and other financial obligations of the EART members
decides on purchasing and selling of real assets
decides on withdrawal of the EART

Individual proposals for the agenda of the General Meeting must be submitted in writing and addressed to the Managing Board not less than 8 days in advance.
Minutes of the General Meeting are to be taken and signed by the Presiding Committee and the keeper of the minutes.

 

THE MANAGING BOARD

Article 19

The Managing Board is the executive body of the EART performing organizational, professional technical and administrative work. It also manages work of the EART between two general meetings in accordance with the work programme and decisions reached at the General Meeting.

The Managing Board is accountable for its work to the Governing Board.
The MB includes 7 members: the President, the Vice-president, the Secretary General, the Treasurer and three  elected members.
The  President, the Secretary General and the Treasurer are separately elected on the Governing Board.
The members of the MB meet as circumstances require.

Article 20

The duties of the Managing Board:

it convenes the General Meeting and prepares the materials for the sitting
manages the work programme of the EART
prepares proposals for the EART official documents
prepares a proposal for the budget and final account
runs material and financial affairs of the EART
fulfils other tasks arising from the EART documents as well as other additional tasks imposed by the Governing Board 
keeps record of the membership
edits the EART bulletin

 

Article 21

The Managing Board works at the sittings called by the President of the MB; in case of his disability, by the Vice-President. The President of the MB must call the sitting of the MB on request of not less than 1/3 of the members of the MB.
A quorum is one half of the members plus one. Valid decisions are obtained by a simple majority of the votes cast.

 

THE SUPERVISORY COMMITTEE

Article 22

The Supervisory Committee surveys activities of the MB as well as other bodies of the EART and supervises the financial and material management. It submits its reports to the Governing Board  and is accountable for its work to the GB.
The SC has 3 members elected by the Governing Board. The members elect their President from among them. The members of the SC cannot at the same time be the members of the Managing Board. They may, however, take part in the meetings of the MB but they can not make decisions. A quorum is the presence of all three members of the SC. Voting by a simple majority makes its decisions valid.

THE HONORARY ARBITRATION COMMITTEE

Article 23

The members of the Honorary Arbitration Committee are elected by the Governing Board. The HAC has three members elected by the members from among them. They meet as the circumstances require on the basis of written requests submitted by the members or bodies of the EART.
The HAC discusses violation of the Statute and the Code of Ethics . Structure, tasks and competence of the HAC are defined in the Standing Rules of work of the HAC.

 

THE PRESIDENT OF THE EART

Article 24

The President represents the EART to outside bodies in Europe and worldwide. The President of the EART is at the same time the President of the Managing Board and the member of the Expert Council. He is elected by the Governing Board and is responsible to the Governing Board and Managing Board.
The President is responsible for the work of the EART in accordance with the Statute and legal order of the Republic of Slovenia. The President appoints other members to perform individual tasks. When absent he is deputized by the President of the EC or by another individual appointed for the purpose.

 

THE SECRETARY GENERAL

Article 25

The Secretary General coordinates between the individual bodies and  professional, technical and administrative activities. 
THE EXPERT COUNCIL

Article 26

The Expert Council consists of 2 representatives of each ordinary member of the EART and the President of the EART. It is a professional body with the duties as follows:
attends to the quality and development of training programme of reality therapy as well as to maintenance of educational and ethic standards proposes and designs symposia, congresses and other forms of training finds answers to professional questions and gives opinion of different problems when asked by individual members within or outside the EART.
manages the professional publicistic activity
manages the scientific research activities
takes an active part in execution of legal documents of the EART concerning the professional development
upon the motion of the Governing Board it also carries out other tasks.

Article 27 

A representative in the EC may only be an individual who is an ordinary faculty member of the  William Glasser Institute and EART.
The term of office of the EC is four years with a possibility of re-election. The members of the EC elect the President from among them. The EC is responsible for its work to the Governing Board of the EART.

REGISTER

Article 28

The Governing Board established a register for reality therapy psychotherapists.
As a task of Governing Board the Registration Committee, headed by the Registrar carries responsibilities of registration.
The Registrar is appointed by Governing Board for four years.

 

VII MATERIAL AND FINANCIAL OPERATIONS

Aricle 29

Resources of financial means:
membership fee
gifts and bequests
income from activities of the EART deriving from material rights
contributions from sponsors and donators
public funds
other sources
When the EART books show a surplus of income over expenses, it must be invested for the activities of the EART which it has been founded for.
Article 30
The financial means at the EART command are subject to the work programme and the statement of the annual accounts presented and signed by the Governing Board. The balance sheet is discussed and agreed at the Ordinary General Meeting.
Article 31
Financial and material papers are in accordance with the President  signed by Secretary General of the EART.
Financial and material operations must be in compliance with lawfully adopted accounting standards.
The Treasurer manages the financial and material operations in accordance with the standing rules of the financial and material operations under provisions defining the way of book-keeping and submitting reports on the financial and material operations and with the approval of the EART.
The EART has its own drawing account.

Article 32

The Treasurer's work is public.
The authorized member of the EART has a right to have an insight into the financial and material documents as well as all operations.
The Treasurer is responsible for his work to the Managing Board.
The EART may engage an expert accountant in accordance with the legislation in force.

Article 33

The EART has movable and fixed assets entered on a book of inventory as the EART property. 
Movable assets may be bought or taken away only on the basis of a decision made by the Managing Board. Fixed assets may only, however, be bought or taken away upon the decision of the Governing Board.

VIII TRANSITION AND FINAL PROVISIONS

Article 34

A draft of changes of the Statute is prepared by the Managing Board and is given to further debate to the members of the EART within time limit of 30 days. The MB brings possible observations and proposals into line, takes up a position on them and formulates a final draft of the Statute.

Article 35
In accordance with this statute the EART has the following acts:
Code of Ethics
Book of Regulations about educational standards, conditions and ways of obtaining the title of a psychotherapist.
Standing rules of the Honorary Arbitration Court

Article 36

The EART may terminate all its activities:
should the Governing Board decide so by a simple majority of the votes cast
by virtue of a law

Article 37

Should the EART cease to exist the budgetary means are given back to the state budget.

Article 38

This Statute was adopted at the Governing Board Meeting in September 27th, 2008 and was thus put into force immediately.