§ 1 NAME AND LOCATION

The name of this Society is “Mondial Association for Tools Handling MathML Language”. The society is registered with official register of societies and carries the postfix “e.V” (eingetragener Verein). In the following we will designate it by MathML e.V..

MathML e.V. is located in Erlangen, Germany.

§ 2 BUSINESS YEAR

The business year is the calendar year.

§ 3 OBJECTIVE OF THE SOCIETY

The Society solely and directly pursues charitable and public welfare objectives within the meaning of section “tax-deductible purposes” of German tax law.

The objective of the Society is the worldwide, ideal and financial support for methods, tools, and resources for the creation, dissemination, and processing of digital mathematical content to

  • advance science and research
  • support general and professional education, in particular the support of students

The emphasis of MathML e.V. is on

  • the development of open source software systems to let users read, write, search, store and transfer MathML expressions. This includes native implementation of MathML capabilities in web browsers and layout engines as well as accessibility support for people with disabilities, e.g. visually impaired persons.
  • Supporting the World Wide Web Consortium (W3C) in the continued development and management of the MathML standard.
  • Other developmental, explanatory and promotional activities to further the dissemination of the MathML standard and encourage publication of educational, technical and scientific content in Web sites, ebooks or Web apps.

MathML e.V. fulfils its charter mission in particular by

  • managing the “MathML Manifesto” that explains the role of the MathML format for the communication of mathematics on the web and the requirements for MathML-support in software systems,
  • conducting scientific events and research projects in particular with respect to the use of MathML in STEM education and the informational accessibility for people with disabilities, e.g. visually challenged persons.
  • definition of research and development projects also together with external partners and developers,
  • publicity, in particular by publishing newsletters, blog posts, and contributions to mailing lists.

MathML e. V. will collect membership dues and raise donation to fund the society goals. All such funds will be used exclusively after decision of the society. Donors can dedicate donations to particular applications, if compatible with the goals of MathML e.V.

§ 4 CHARITABLE STATUS

The Society acts on a non-profit basis. It does not primarily pursue self-economic purposes.

§ 5 DEPLOYMENT OF FUNDS

Resources of the Society shall only be used for the purposes, covered in the statute. Members do not receive any allocations from the resources of the Society.

§ 6 PROHIBITION OF FAVORITISM

No person may benefit from expenditures, which are not in accordance with the objectives of the Society, or from unreasonably high compensation.

§ 7 APPLICATION FOR MEMBERSHIP

Natural and legal persons can become members of the society by written (including electronic) application. The Executive Board decides on the Application. Rejection does not need justification. Applicants can appeal against a rejection to the general assembly, which ultimately decides on applications.

The common language of MathML e.V. is English. All documents of the society are - as far as legally possible - in English, for all others - in particular the charter - non-normative English translations will be provided. For legal documents, the German version takes precedence.

§ 8 CESSATION OF MEMBERSHIP

The membership ceases by death, withdrawal, expulsion or the dissolution of a legal person. The withdrawal from the Society is effected immediately upon written notification to the executive board. Fees will not be refunded.

Expulsions need an important reason, in particular in case the member violates the interests of the Society, neglects duties specified by the charter, or fails to pay membership dues for one year or more. Expulsions are decided by the executive board. Members can appeal to the general assembly within one month of the expulsion notice by a written notice to the executive board. The membership assembly decides the case ultimately. Members retain the right to let a court of law check any decision, a cour appeal stays the decision until a court 9.

§ 9 MEMBERSHIP DUES

MathML e. V. will collect membership dues from its members. The amount and due dates are decided by the general assembly. In individual cases, the board may totally or partially release someone from the dues.

§ 10 BODIES OF THE SOCIETY

The bodies of the society are

  • the general assembly
  • the executive board

§ 11 GENERAL ASSEMBLY

The general assembly is the highest decision making body of the society. Its tasks include

  • the election and dismissal of the executive board,
  • the discharge of responsibilities of the executive board,
  • the acceptance of reports by the executive board,
  • the election of a financial auditor,
  • the determination of membership dues and their due dates,
  • the decision on proposed changes to the charter and the dissolution of the society,
  • the decision on membership applications and expulsions, and
  • additional tasks that are induced by the charter and the laws.

In the first quarter of each business year a regular general assembly takes place. It is executed as a virtual assembly. Details are determined and adopted by the general assembly and are part of the charter.

The executive board can convene an exceptional general assembly if the interests of the society require it. The executive board must convene an exceptional general assembly if at least a third of the members request this in writing and with justifications.

The general assembly is convened by e-mail by the executive board with a 2-weeks notice period. The notice period starts on the day following the invitation, which must contain an agenda. The invitation is considered delivered to a member, if it was sent to the last know e-mail address.

The agenda of the general assembly must be amended, and the amended agenda published to the members, if a member requests this in writing latest one week before the assembly date.

Motions to dismiss the executive board, changes and amendments to the charter, and the dissolution of the society that have not been part of the published agenda can only be decided on the general assembly following the one on which they were proposed.

The general assembly constitutes a quorum regardless of the number of participants, provided it was properly convened.

The general assembly is chaired by a member of the executive board. It elects a meeting secretary and two minute checkers as the first order of business.

Every member of the society has one vote. Members may delegate their vote by written notice to the executive board. Each member can only represent two other members.

The general assembly passes decisions with a single majority of the members present, changes to the statutes and the dissolution of the society pas with a 2/3rd majority. Abstention and invalid votes are disregarded.

The decisions of the general assembly are minuted and published to the members of the as soon as the minute checkers have approved it.

§ 12 Executive Board

The executive board (Vorstand in the sense of § 26 BGB) consists of a President and Vice President (1.and 2. Vorsitzender). They represent the society in all matters legal and otherwise. Each member of the executive board can represent the society alone or jointly.

The executive assembly is elected by the general assembly from the membership of the society for the term of one year. Re-election is admissable. The executive board shall remain in office until the election of a new executive board. Cessation of society membership automatically terminates the office in the executive board.

§ 13 COMPTROLLER

The general assembly elects a comptroller, who shall audit the financial report, formally and in content. His/her term of office will be 1 year. Re-election is admissible. The comptroller may not be a member of the executive board.

§ 14 Dissolution of the Society

Upon dissolution of the society or the loss of the tax-exempt status the resources of the society go to the Deutsche Mathematiker-Vereinigung e.V. am Institut für Mathematik, Freie Universität Berlin, Arnimallee 7, 14195 Berlin, that can use it exclusively for charitable Goals.

§ 15 Miscellaneous

The executive board shall have the right to add changes to the statute, which are required for attaining the charitable status or its registration.

Courtesy Translation

In case of differences or disputes, the German version shall govern.

Erlangen, June 28. 2017