Statuses

I. Name and purpose of the Company
 

Article 1

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The Society of the Contingent of Friborg Grenadiers was founded on December 22, 1919 by the group which represented the First Contingent of Friborg and which had been formed in 1914 with the help of the State of Geneva and the State of Fribourg, to take part in the commemorative celebrations of the centenary of Geneva's entry into the Confederation. This group reconstituted the contingent sent to Geneva on June 1, 1814, under the orders of Colonel Jean-Louis Girard. 

The aim of the Society is to maintain this group and to preserve its uniform, weapons and order, so that it can appear and take part in official demonstrations and patriotic celebrations.

 

Honor Guard

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Article 2

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The Council of State of the canton of Friborg, by decree of October 2, 1964, declared the Friborg Grenadier Contingent “official honor guard of the higher authorities of the canton”. As such, the Contingent must respond to the establishment ordered by the Council of State. 

Subject to this obligation, the Contingent retains its autonomy.

 

Character

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Article 3

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The Society is patriotic by its origins and the military traditions to which it claims. It is Friborg through its attachment to the land of its ancestors, its loyalty to the fundamental institutions of the canton, its respect for spiritual and moral values.

 

Seat

Article 4

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The Contingent is organized corporately, in accordance with the provisions of articles 60 et seq. of the Swiss civil code. Its headquarters is in Fribourg.

 

II. Members

Section 5

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The Contingent includes members: active, aspiring recipients, auxiliary, veterans, honorary, honorary, external honorary, passive, supporters, benefactors and VIPs.

 

Active members

Article 6

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Active members form the Uniformed Contingent. To be a candidate, you must:

• be of Swiss nationality,

• have fulfilled their personal obligations towards the Confederation (i.e. have met the requirements placed on them during recruitment),

• be male,

• have a height of at least 170 cm,

• be sponsored by two members, at least one of whom is active, who undertake on their honor to

• the ability to be a grenadier of their godson,

• have a sense of discipline and respect for hierarchy,

• have the necessary physical skills,

For the clique, exceptions can be made regarding age, gender and height.

On the proposal of the General Staff (hereinafter referred to by the abbreviation EM), the candidates are provisionally admitted by the General Assembly (hereinafter referred to by the abbreviation AG). It can exclude a candidate without having to indicate the reasons.

As a general rule, any new active member enters the Contingent with the rank of midshipman. Exceptions may be made, if necessary for a position at the EM.

The service obligations of active members are set out in the Service Regulations (hereinafter referred to as RS).

 

Aspiring members

Article 7

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New active members admitted provisionally follow training at the Contingent Midshipman School (hereinafter referred to by the abbreviation EA-CGf).

Aspirants wear appropriate clothing, according to EM directives.

Candidates who have successfully completed basic training are permanently incorporated into the ranks of the Uniformed Contingent by decision of the EM. From then on, they carry the rank of Recipient until their time under the flag.

The EA-CGf training program is set by the RS.

Aspiring fifes and drummers follow a specific training program.

Aspirants benefit from the same rights (right to vote, right to merit) and fulfill the same duties as active members.

 

Auxiliary members

Article 8

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The auxiliary members form the civilian management of the Contingent for certain services and events. They are designated by the EM and mandated to carry out specific tasks: commissioner of the Society, official photographer, representative-delegate, etc.

Their activities are defined in a task book drawn up by the EM.

Auxiliary members are distinguished by wearing an appropriate historical uniform and/or that of the Company's business attire (outfit B) according to the directives of the EM.

Auxiliary members benefit from the same rights (right to vote, right to merit) and fulfill the same duties as active members.

 

Veteran Members

Section 9

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On the proposal of the EM, the AG may award the title of veteran "grade or function" to any deserving active or auxiliary member, having expressed the desire to return his uniform, if he has served for at least 15 years or returned special services to the Contingent.

On the recommendation of the EM, the GA may award the title of veteran “grade or function” to any deserving active or auxiliary member who died during the year preceding the GA, if he or she has served for 15 years. at least or rendered special services to the Contingent.

 

Honorary members

Section 10

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On a proposal from the EM, the AG may award the title of honorary “grade or function” to any deserving active or auxiliary member, having expressed the desire to return their uniform, if they have served for at least 25 years or returned special services to the Contingent.

On the proposal of the EM, the GA may award the title of honorary “grade or function” to any deserving active or auxiliary member who died during the year preceding the GA, if he or she has served for 25 years. at least or rendered special services to the Contingent.

 

Honorary members

Article 11

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On the proposal of the EM, the AG may award the title of honorary “grade or function” member to any deserving active or auxiliary member, having expressed the desire to return their uniform and having rendered exceptional services to the Contingent.

On a proposal from the EM, the GA may award the title of honorary “grade or function” member to any deserving active or auxiliary member who died during the year preceding the GA and who has rendered services. exceptional to the Contingent.

External honorary members

 

Section 12

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On the proposal of the EM, the AG may award the title of external honorary member to natural or legal persons who have rendered exceptional services to the Contingent.

On the proposal of the EM, the GA may award the title of external honorary member to individuals who died during the year preceding the GA and who have rendered exceptional services to the Contingent.

 

Passive members, supporters, benefactors and VIPs

 

Article 13

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The title of passive member, supporter, benefactor or VIP is granted to individuals as well as to associations and legal entities which support the Company through a financial contribution set by the General Meeting.

 

Rights and obligations of members

Article 14

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The new active member must pay an entry fee set by the GA.

All members, with the exception of members of the clique, pay an annual subscription set by the General Assembly. Veteran, honorary, honorary and external honorary members are not required to do so.

In general meetings, during voting, active and auxiliary members have two votes. Veteran, honorary, honorary and external honorary members with one vote. Passive members, supporters, benefactors and VIPs have no vote; they are not summoned to general meetings.

 

Loss of membership

Section 15

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Membership is lost:

• by resignation given in writing to the EM of the Contingent until December 31, the case of serious reason being reserved,

•  by deregistration for non-payment of contributions,

•  by exclusion for non-compliance with the Statutes and/or the RS.

 

Readmission

Section 16

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A former active member can only be readmitted with the approval of the GA. The readmitted member must pay a new entry fee set by the EM. As a general rule, the rank he previously had remains acquired.

 

III. Organization

Organs

Article 17

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The organs of the Contingent are:

• the general Assembly,

•  the General Staff,

•  the Office,

•  the auditors.

 

General meeting: composition and notices

Article 18

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The AG is the supreme organ of the Contingent.

The ordinary AGM is convened once a year, during the first quarter of the calendar year.

An extraordinary General Meeting may also be convened whenever the EM deems it necessary or at the written request of a quarter of the members entitled to vote.

Ordinary and extraordinary General Meetings are convened by personal message for active, auxiliary, veteran, honorary and honorary members at least fifteen days before the date set for its meeting.

The convocation must include the agenda of the AGM.

Proposals aimed at supplementing or modifying the planned agenda must be sent, in writing, to the MS, no later than seven days before the AGM.

 

General meeting: attributions

Article 19

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The AG is competent for:

•  approve the minutes, accounts, budget and grant discharge to the responsible bodies,

•  set the entry fee and annual contributions,

•  elect the Commander, the members of the EM and the auditors,

•  approve the reports of the Commander and various commissions,

•  decide on proposals for admission, exclusion, readmission and appointment,

•  revise the Statutes and the Code of Convenience,

•  to decide on the exceptions provided for in the Statutes.

 

General meeting: decisions

Article 20

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In the event of a vote, decisions are taken by a majority of votes of voters, provided that the Statutes do not provide for a qualified majority.

In the event of a tie, that of the Commander is decisive.

The vote takes place by show of hands, unless at least one tenth of the voters request a secret ballot.

Nominations are made by absolute majority in the first two rounds of voting and by relative majority from the third round.

 

Composition of the Bureau

Section 21

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• The Bureau is made up of five members:

•  Commander (president)

• the Vice-Commander (vice-president)

• The Adjutant (Chief Chancery)

• The Quartermaster (Treasurer)

• The EM Secretary (secretary)

 

Responsibilities of the Office

Article 22

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The Office is responsible for administratively managing the current affairs of the Company and executing the decisions taken by the EM.

Its responsibilities include the following:

• prepare the EM sessions,

• process regular mail,

• endorse invoices,

• anticipate and manage administrative tasks linked to the organization of Contingent events and services,

• convene the general meetings,

• order the setups.

The members of the Office incur no personal liability due to their management. They are only responsible for the execution of their mandate.

The Company is validly bound by the joint collective signature of the Commander (or the Vice-Commander if necessary) with the adjutant and/or the quartermaster.

 

Office summons

Section 23

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The Commander convenes the Office as often as the interests of the Company require.

For certain meetings of the Bureau, the Commander can also summon the grenadiers responsible for specific functions as defined in the RS and/or special commissions to plan and manage the organization of events decided by the EM.

 

Composition of the General Staff

Article 24

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The General Staff is composed of the following members:

• commanding officer

• Vice Commander

• Chaplain (permanent guest status)

• Warrant Officer

• Quartermaster

• Officer available

• Taught

• EM Secretary

• Swiss flag bearer (summoned according to needs, replaces the Ensign in the event of absence at the EM)

• Sergeant Major

• Fourrier (summoned according to needs, replaces the QM in the event of absence at the EM)

• Drum major

• Chief of Engineers

• Section leaders

• Head of support detachment

• Representative of sappers, clique and sections (representing grenadiers)

 

Designation of the General Staff

Section 25

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The members of the EM are appointed by the AG. The representative of the grenadiers is elected for a period of four years, the auditors are elected for a single period of three years.

 

Duties of the General Staff

Article 26

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The EM is responsible for the general management of the affairs of the Company and the conduct of the various constituent formations of the Contingent. It defines the guidelines in the areas of organization and finance.

Its responsibilities include the following:

• organize yourself and distribute tasks, including specific tasks;

• adjust the specifications of its members;

• designate ad hoc/special committees for the execution of particular tasks, for example: clique committee, external members and fundraising committee, shooting committee, etc.

• manage the finances and property of the Company;

• decide on implementations;

• organize all events, taking up arms, passing under the flag, outings, races, parties, recreational sessions, etc.

• draft and/or modify additional orders necessary for the operation of the service, in particular the organization and content of basic training (EA-CGf);

• draft and/or modify additional orders and/or regulations necessary for the organization of the Company;

• decide on the acquisition of materials and equipment necessary for the Contingent, their replacement and repair;

• decide on the assignment of a new active member to a section;
  engage and mandate auxiliary members;

• prepare the AGMs;

• propose the program of annual activities;
  propose the annual budget;

• propose increases or reductions in the amounts of the entry fee and the annual fee;

• draft proposals for revision of the Statutes, the Code of Conveniences and the RS;

• examine applicants’ application files and those of readmission requests;

• examine the application files of grenadiers planned for promotion (ranks) and/or a function described in the RS;

• examine the files of members to be excluded.

 

Summons from the General Staff

Section 27

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The Commander summons the EM as necessary and as often as the interests of the Company require.

The EM may be convened at the written request of half of its members.

The Commander also summons the grenadiers responsible for specific functions as defined in the RS and/or special commissions, at least once a year, for all or part of certain extended sessions of the EM.

 

IV. Resources

Section 28

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• The resources of the Contingent are:

• member entry finance;

•  annual membership fees;

•  honorary funds;

•  legacies, donations, subsidies and various resources.

 

V. Control

Appointment and attributions

Section 29

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The control body is made up of two auditors and a substitute, appointed by the General Meeting, in stages and for a period of three years.

They are not immediately re-electable.

The auditors are responsible for auditing the Company's accounts and reporting to the AGM.

They can, at any time, examine the accounting books, the state of the cash register and the assets.

 

VI. Miscellaneous

Modifications to the Statutes and the Code of Convenience

Article 30

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The Statutes and the Code of Conveniences may be modified by an extraordinary General Meeting convened by the EM or at the written request of a quarter of the active, auxiliary, veteran, honorary and honorary members.

This AGM will be convened no earlier than one month after submission of the written request and no later than six months later.

A modification of the Statutes or the Code of Conveniences can only be adopted by a two-thirds majority of the votes of the members present.

 

Dissolution

Section 31

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The dissolution of the Contingent can only be pronounced by an extraordinary general meeting convened especially for this purpose and bringing together at least four-fifths of the active, aspiring, auxiliary, veteran, honorary or honorary members.

If this quorum is not reached, a new extraordinary general meeting convened within three months may pronounce the dissolution, regardless of the number of active, aspiring, auxiliary, veteran, honorary and honorary members present.

In both cases, dissolution can only be decided by a three-quarters majority of the members present.

 

Liquidation

Section 32

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In the event of dissolution, the funds and property of the Contingent become the property of the State of Friborg which manages and preserves them with a view to the subsequent reconstitution of a similar company.

Under no circumstances can the fortune be distributed among its members.

The Company is only liable for the debts of the Association from its corporate assets.

 

Coming into force

Section 33

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The Statutes adopted by the General Assembly of December 22, 1919, modified by the ordinary and extraordinary General Meetings of May 6, 1966, May 21, 1973, March 8, 1980, November 28, 1994, June 14, 1999, April 25, 2001, July 3, 2009 , of March 8, 2013 and March 4, 2016 come into force immediately.

 

Last revised March 4, 2016

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