Bylaws

Pursuant to Royal Decree No. 1.58.376 issued on November 15, 1958 concerning the establishment of associations, as amended and supplemented by the Royal Decree dated Rabi I 6 corresponding to April 10, 1973, the Royal Decree dated Jumada I 12, 1423 corresponding to July 23, 2002, and Royal Decree No. 1.09.39 issued on Safar 22, 1430 (February 18, 2009) promulgating Law No. 07.09 specifying the procedures for establishing associations, an independent association was established on April 2, 2024 that does not engage in any political, union or religious activities;

The association is named: Ouarzazate Events Association (OUARZAZATE EVENTS),

The association's headquarters is located at Hassan II Youth Center in Ouarzazate, and this headquarters may be changed and other branches opened by decision of the majority of the executive board members.

Ouarzazate Events Association (OUARZAZATE EVENTS) is an association with cultural, touristic and developmental character

The founders and members voluntarily pool their knowledge and resources for non-profit purposes, serving development and public interest.

This association primarily seeks to achieve the following objectives:

• Contribute to cultural, touristic and developmental activities in Ouarzazate province through organization, participation and support.
• Work to revitalize, regulate and institutionalize touristic, cultural and developmental activities in Ouarzazate province by establishing partnerships with various sectors, institutions, bodies and associations at local, regional, national and international levels that share common goals.
• Organize or support festivals, meetings, exhibitions, forums, workshops, training sessions, lectures, seminars, artistic residencies and other cultural, touristic and developmental activities in the province.
• Contribute to more effective visibility and valorization of the heritage and touristic potentials of Ouarzazate province.
• Contribute to enhancing the attractiveness of Ouarzazate province and marketing it as a touristic and cultural destination.

• Contribute to encouraging cultural exchange locally, regionally, nationally and internationally.

   

The association is established for an unlimited duration.

The association enjoys legal personality and capacity and exercises its activities within the territorial scope of Ouarzazate province.

The association works to issue and publish magazines, informational documents and brochures related to its objectives and activities, through various legally available publishing means.

The association consists of founding members, active members and honorary members.

Founding members are those who established the association and participated in its founding general assembly, while active members are those who joined the association after its establishment to contribute to achieving its objectives. The general assembly may grant honorary membership status based on a proposal from the association's board.

Membership is obtained through a written application signed by the applicant and accepted by the association's board by majority vote. Membership status is confirmed by issuing a membership card, payment of membership fees, and compliance with the bylaws, internal regulations, and decisions of the general assemblies and board.

Membership status is lost for the following reasons:

• Submission of written resignation accepted by majority of board members after settling accounts.
• Death.
• Non-payment of membership fees for two consecutive years.
• Dismissal due to harming the association or its structures through defamation, insult or false allegations.
• Non-compliance with the bylaws, internal regulations or decisions of the governing bodies.

Every member has the right to vote and stand for election at all levels provided that:

- Membership fees are paid and six full months have passed since joining.

- For executive board positions: one full year must have passed since joining.

The General Assembly includes all members in good standing, including executive board members.

The General Assembly's electoral term is four years.

The General Assembly is responsible for:

• Contributing to setting the association's general orientations
• Approving moral and financial reports
• Approving and amending the bylaws and internal regulations
• Electing and renewing the Executive Board

• Deciding on board proposals (memberships, dismissals, honorary members, donations, fees...)

   

The Ordinary General Assembly meets annually. Extraordinary assemblies may be convened at the initiative of the president, majority of the board or two-thirds of members.

Notices are sent in writing according to procedures specified in the internal regulations.

The Assembly cannot validly deliberate in first convocation without majority of members. If quorum isn't reached, a second convocation may be sent within maximum 7 days, allowing deliberation with attending members.

Decisions are made by majority of present members. In case of tie, the president's vote is decisive. Proxy voting is allowed (one proxy per attending member).

Members not in good standing cannot vote or be elected.

Deliberations are recorded chronologically in a register, signed by the president and general secretary, with list of attending members.

To implement its objectives, the association relies on permanent committees:

• Programming and Cultural/Touristic Development Committee
• Communication Committee
• Organization and Logistics Committee
• Partnerships and Contracts Committee

Each committee is chaired by a board member or approved member. The board may create temporary committees as needed.

The internal regulations specify committee composition and missions.

The association is managed by an executive board of 7 to 9 members distributed as follows: president and vice-president, general secretary and assistant, treasurer and assistant, advisors. Task distribution is done by vote or consensus.

Board members are elected by the GA for 4 years, renewable except for presidency (limited to two consecutive terms). In case of vacancy (except president), the board may co-opt. For presidency, the vice-president convenes an extraordinary GA within one month. In case of collective resignation, the president convenes an extraordinary GA within one month.

Board responsibilities:

• Ensure compliance with bylaws and internal regulations
• Execute GA decisions
• Manage association assets
• Prepare draft internal regulations
• Propose bylaw amendments
• Develop resources and control expenses
• Propose measures to improve operations
• Examine disciplinary cases
• Prepare activity program

The board meets at least monthly, convened by the president or at request of majority of members.

Deliberations require presence of majority of members. Decisions are made by majority of attendees (president's vote is decisive in case of tie).

President's responsibilities:

• Represent the association before authorities
• Act in legal proceedings
• Convene and chair meetings
• Propose GA agendas
• Coordinate activities
• Prepare activity reports
• Prepare moral and financial reports
• Notify authorities of bylaw or board changes
• Exercise hierarchical authority over staff
• Authorize expenses and sign financial documents with treasurer
• Delegate tasks

The vice-president substitutes for the president in their absence.

General Secretary's responsibilities:

• Maintain membership register
• Manage correspondence
• Keep deliberation records
• Prepare meeting minutes
• Draft and supervise publications
• Maintain legal documents
• Manage archives
• Sign administrative documents with president

The assistant substitutes for the general secretary in their absence.

Treasurer's responsibilities:

• Collect membership fees
• Manage finances and inventory assets
• Maintain cash register
• Prepare financial reports
• Sign financial documents with president

The assistant substitutes for the treasurer in their absence.

The association's resources include:

• Members' contributions
• Income from activities and asset management
• Donations, bequests from individuals or legal entities

• State or local government grants

   

Funds are deposited in a bank account opened in the association's name at a public financial institution, upon president's request. Checks are signed by: president and treasurer, or president and assistant treasurer, or treasurer and vice-president.

The association strictly complies with legislation when receiving foreign funding.

Expenses cover all costs necessary to achieve the statutory objectives.

Accounts are subject to regular audit by a financial expert.

Accounts and asset inventories from public aid are made available to oversight authorities per legislation.

The General Assembly makes final decisions on disciplinary matters presented by the board.

Dissolution can only be decided by an extraordinary GA, based on a detailed board report, with majority of attending members and approval of two-thirds. Upon dissolution, assets are transferred to an association with similar objectives.

The bylaws may be amended by the GA upon board proposal, with majority of attending members required for each amendment.

Any bylaw or board changes are notified to authorities within legal deadlines.

The internal regulations, which specify and complement the bylaws, are binding on all members.