"Naturpark Hohe Mark e. V."

• 1 Name and seat of the association
• The Club Naturpark Hohe Mark eV bears the name with the entry in the register of associations Naturpark Hohe Mark e. V.
• The association is based in Raesfeld.

• 2 Purpose of the association

(1) The purpose of the association is to Naturpark Hohe Mark with the aim of promoting the preservation and maintenance of the landscape in this area, which is particularly suitable as a recreational area, the protection of the native flora and fauna, the provision of information and education on nature and landscape, and enabling nature-based recreation and sustainable tourism through appropriate measures.

(2) To achieve this purpose, the association also carries out, on the basis of a long-term action plan, the tasks according to which the Naturpark planned, structured, developed and preserved.

• 3 Non-profit status of the association
• The Club Naturpark Hohe Mark The association pursues exclusively and directly charitable purposes within the meaning of the section "Tax-privileged purposes" of the German Fiscal Code. The association operates selflessly; it does not primarily pursue its own economic interests.

• Nobody may benefit from expenses that are alien to the purpose of the association or from disproportionately high remuneration.

• The association's funds may only be used for the purposes stipulated in its statutes. Members do not receive any payments from the association's funds. Pursuant to Section 40 of the German Civil Code (BGB), and notwithstanding Section 27 Paragraph 3 Sentence 2 of the BGB, it is permissible to pay board members of the association, in addition to flat-rate expense allowances, remuneration for their services that benefit the association and contribute to fulfilling its statutory purpose. These payments must not be unreasonably high (Section 55 Paragraph 1 No. 3 of the German Fiscal Code (AO)).

• 4 Financing

(1) The funds required to achieve the purpose of the association shall be raised through membership fees, donations and public grants.

(2) Membership fees must be paid no later than 15 January of each financial year (receipt by the association).

(3) The amount of membership fees shall be determined in a fee schedule to be established by the General Meeting.

• 5 Regular membership

(1) Legal entities under public law that subscribe to the aims of the association may become ordinary members of the association. This also applies in individual cases to natural persons and legal entities under private law.

(2) The application for admission of ordinary members to the association shall be decided by the general meeting by a simple majority of the votes cast, on the proposal of the board.

(3) Ordinary membership in the association ends upon the death of the member, loss of legal personality, resignation or expulsion from the association.

(4) Notice of withdrawal from the association must be given to the board in writing no later than twelve months before the end of the financial year. The notice of withdrawal takes effect at the end of the following financial year.

(5) A full member may be expelled from the association if their conduct grossly violates the statutes or the interests of the association. The general meeting decides on expulsion by a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, upon application by the board. Before the expulsion decision is made, the member in question must be given the opportunity to explain the reasons for the expulsion at the general meeting. These reasons must be communicated to them in writing at least two weeks in advance. The board must notify the member of the expulsion decision.

(6) Membership may be terminated if the ordinary member is in arrears with the payment of dues despite two written reminders from the board. The board may only decide on termination after two months have passed since the dispatch of the second reminder, which must include a notice of the impending termination.

• 6 Supporting membership

(1) Any natural or legal person who acknowledges the aims of the association and its statutes may become a supporting member of the association.

(2) Applications for membership must be submitted in writing to the board. The board will decide on the application for membership by simple majority at its next regular board meeting.

(3) Supporting membership terminates upon death, resignation, or expulsion. Resignation is effected by the member submitting a written declaration to the board. A supporting member may be expelled from the association if their conduct grossly violates the statutes or the interests of the association. The board decides on expulsion by an absolute majority. Before the expulsion decision is made, the member in question must be given the opportunity to comment on the reasons for the expulsion. These reasons must be communicated to them in writing at least two weeks before the decisive board meeting. The board must notify the member of the expulsion decision. A resigned or expelled supporting member has no claim to the association's assets. Upon termination of membership, for whatever reason, all rights arising from the membership relationship expire. A refund of contributions, admission fees, assessments, donations, or other support payments is generally excluded. The association's right to outstanding membership fees remains unaffected.

(4) The supporting member has no active or passive voting rights and no right to submit proposals.

(5) The supporting member has a comprehensive right to information.

(5) The supporting member has the right to speak at the general meeting and receives regular invitations to the general meetings as well as the minutes of the meetings.

• 7 fiscal year
• The financial year of the association is the calendar year.

• 8 organs of the association
• Organs of the association are:

1. the general assembly
2. the board.

• 9 General Assembly
• The General Meeting is exclusively responsible for the following matters:

1. a) Resolution on the amendment of the statutes, the dissolution of the association and the accumulation of the assets.
2. b) Election and dismissal of the board to be elected.
3. c) Approval of the budget to be drawn up annually by the Board of Directors, including any supplements.
4. d) Resolution on the long-term action plan drawn up by the Board of Directors.
5. e) Election of the cash and account auditors and their representatives.
6. f) Discharge of the Management Board after the end of a financial year.
7. g) Admission of new members.
8. h) Exclusion of members.
9. i) Adoption of a contribution regulation.
10. j) Resolution on the annual financial statements and the report of the cash and accounting audit
11. k) Dissolution of the association

(2) The general meeting shall be convened by the chairperson of the board, or, if the chairperson is unavailable, by one of their three deputies, at least once a year. The invitation shall be sent in writing or electronically by email no later than two weeks before the meeting date, including the agenda. The notice period begins on the day following the dispatch of the invitation. The invitation shall be deemed to have been received by the members if it was sent to the last address or email address provided to the association. Documents relating to the resolutions listed in § 8 (1) a) must be attached in full.

(3) The chairperson is obliged to convene an extraordinary general meeting without delay if at least one quarter of the members of the association request this in writing, stating the purpose and reasons.

(4) The general meeting shall be held either in person or virtually (online procedure)

In a chat room accessible only to members with their login credentials and a separate access password. For online meetings, only the access password valid for the current meeting will be sent via a separate email immediately before the meeting, at most three hours in advance. Proper dispatch of the email to the member's last known email address provided to the board is sufficient. Members without an email address will receive the access password by mail to their last known address provided to the board. Proper dispatch of the letter two days before the members' meeting is sufficient. All members are obligated to keep their login credentials and access password confidential and not to disclose them to any third party. Board meetings may also be held online or in writing.

• 10 Resolutions of the General Assembly
• The general meeting is chaired by the chairman of the board or, if he is unable to attend, by one of the three deputies.

(2) Minutes shall be taken of the resolutions of the general meeting, which shall be signed by the respective chairperson of the meeting and the secretary.

The minutes are considered approved if no written objection is received by the board within 14 days of dispatch.

(3) The general meeting shall have a quorum if at least one-third of the members are actually present in person. If a matter has been postponed due to lack of a quorum and the general meeting is reconvened to address the same matter, it shall have a quorum regardless of the number of members present, provided that this provision is mentioned in the invitation.

(4) Each member has one vote at the general meeting. Each member may transfer their voting right to another non-expelled member by proxy. This does not apply to resolutions pursuant to Section 10, Paragraph 6 of these bylaws.

(5) Decisions of the general meeting shall be made by a majority of the votes cast. A resolution to amend the purpose of the association requires the approval of three-quarters of the members. Absent members must give their approval in writing. A resolution to amend the articles of association requires a majority of three-quarters of all votes cast.

(6) The association may be dissolved by a resolution of the general meeting. The resolution to dissolve the association requires the approval of three-quarters of all members.

• 11 Appointment and dismissal of the board of directors

(1) The board of directors of the association shall consist of one representative from each district, elected by the general meeting. BorkenThe board consists of representatives from Coesfeld, Recklinghausen, Wesel, and a representative from the Ruhr Regional Association and the Lippe Association. Furthermore, the general assembly may elect one municipal representative from each district and from the city of Bottrop to the board. A representative from the municipality where the office is located must also be elected. NaturparkUp to three additional members can also be elected to the board. The incumbent President of the Münster District Government is an ex officio member. The board consists of a maximum of 16 members.

(2) The members of the Board of Directors shall be elected by the General Meeting for a term of four years. Re-election is permitted. They shall remain in office until the start of the term of office of the newly elected members of the Board of Directors.

(3) If a member of the Board of Directors resigns, a successor shall be elected by the General Meeting for the remainder of the term of office.

(4) Members of the Board of Directors may be removed from office by the General Meeting for good cause. Removed members of the Board of Directors shall remain in office until the start of the term of office of their successors.

(5) The board of directors elects its chairperson and three deputy chairpersons from among its members. These constitute the executive board within the meaning of Section 26 of the German Civil Code (BGB). Two members of the executive board are elected every two years. Re-election is permitted.

The executive board represents the association in and out of court.

The Chairman of the Board represents the company together with a member of the Executive Board, or, if the Chairman is unable to attend, two members of the Executive Board represent the company jointly.

• The board of directors sends a representative to attend the board meetings and general meetings of the sponsoring association. Naturpark Hohe Mark eV
• The board meeting is to be convened by the chairperson of the board.
• Minutes must be taken of the board meetings and signed by the chairperson and the secretary. The minutes are considered approved unless a written objection is submitted to the board within 14 days of their distribution.
• The board meeting is not open to the public.

• 12 duties of the board

(1) The Executive Board is responsible for all matters of the association, unless these are assigned to the General Meeting by the Articles of Association. The Executive Board makes decisions by a majority vote of the members present; in the event of a tie, the Chairman's vote shall be decisive. Representation without voting rights is permitted.

(2) In addition to the Management Board, a Managing Director may be appointed to perform specific tasks. The appointment is made by the Management Board.

(3) The Executive Board may only authorize expenditures exceeding the budget and those outside the budget in cases of unforeseen and unavoidable need. Coverage within the current budget must be guaranteed. These expenditures, along with a proposed funding plan, must be submitted to the next General Meeting for approval by the Board of Directors.

• 13 Cash and invoice auditing

(1) The general meeting shall elect at least two auditors and one deputy for each, for a term of two years. These auditors are not subject to instructions from the board and may not be members of the board. Re-election is permitted.

(2) By resolution of the general meeting, the auditing of accounts and financial statements may also be transferred to the audit office of a legal entity under public law, without the appointment of auditors.

• 14 Dissolution of the association
• If the fulfillment of the purpose of the association (§ 2) becomes impossible or if it no longer appears sensible in view of a significant change in the situation, the general meeting can change the purpose of the statutes or dissolve the association by resolution with a 3/4 majority of the members.

• In the event of the dissolution of the association, the chairperson of the board and one other representative of the executive board shall be jointly authorized liquidators, unless the general meeting appoints other persons.

• The remaining assets of the association after the end of the tax-privileged purposes or after the dissolution of the association and after the end of the liquidation falls according to the respective area shares on Naturpark to the circles Borken, Coesfeld, Recklinghausen and Wesel, who have to use it directly and exclusively for charitable, charitable or church purposes.

• The foregoing provisions shall apply accordingly if the association has been deprived of its legal capacity.

• 15 Entry into force

The new version of the statutes comes into force with the entry in the register of associations and replaces the last current version of the association's statutes.

Raesfeld, May 11.12.2025, XNUMX