About us
Committee of the Wyschiff Swiss Winegrowers’ Association
President
Jean-Jacques Steiner
Parfum de Vigne, Dully / VD
Vice President
Yvon Roduit-Desfayes, Cave La Rodeline, Fully / VS
Secretary General / Treasurer
Stephan Schnoz, Binningen / BL
Other board members
Benoît de Montmollin
Domaine de Montmollin, Auvernier / NE
PIerre Emery
Vins Bruchez, Flanthey / VS
Piero Rovea
Agriloro SA, Arzo / TI
Nadine Saxer
Nadine Saxer Winery, Neftenbach / ZH
Statutes of the Wyschiff Association Swiss Winegrowers
(Asscociation Wyschiff Vignerons Suisses)
I. Name and registered office
(1) An association exists under the name “Verein Wyschiff Schweizer Winzer” within the meaning of Art. 60 et seq. ZGB with its registered office in Binningen.
II Purpose
(2) The purpose of the Association is to publicize, promote and disseminate Swiss wines and related products, primarily in Switzerland. To achieve this goal, the Association undertakes various regional, national and international activities.
III Membership
(3) Natural or legal persons who recognize and are willing to promote the purpose of the Association may become members of the Association.
The Board of Directors decides on the admission of members after a written application has been submitted to the President. The decision of the Board of Directors is final.
(4) The annual membership fee is set annually by the General Meeting. It amounts to CHF 200. Members (not founding members) who join the association after the founding meeting must pay a one-off contribution of CHF 1,000 (à fond perdu) in addition to the regular contribution in the first year. This contribution may change over the years. New members who take over the business of an existing member are exempt from paying a one-off fee.
(5) Membership shall be terminated by:
a) Resignation
b) Exclusion
c) Death in the case of natural persons, loss of legal capacity in the case of legal entities
Resignation is effected by means of a written declaration to the Executive Board. It can only take place at the end of the calendar year, subject to a three-month notice period.
Expulsion can only take place if the member is guilty of dishonorable conduct or harms the interests of the association. Expulsion shall only take place after the member has been heard by the Executive Board and shall be communicated to the member in writing. The expulsion is effective immediately. There is no right of appeal to the General Assembly.
IV. Organs
(6) The bodies of the Association are
A. General Meeting
B. Board of Directors
C. Auditors
A. General Meeting
(7) The Annual General Meeting shall be held annually within the first six months of the year.
The invitation to the General Meeting is issued by the Board of Directors at least 20 days in advance in writing or by e-mail, stating the items on the agenda.
Motions for the attention of the General Meeting must be submitted in writing to the President at least 15 days in advance.
(8) An Extraordinary General Meeting shall be convened by resolution of the Board of Directors, at the request of at least one fifth of the members or at the request of the auditors. The invitation must be issued at least 20 days before the meeting.
(9) The duties and powers of the General Meeting are as follows:
a) Approval of the minutes of the last General Meeting;
b) Acceptance of the annual report, the annual financial statements and the auditors’ report;
c) Discharge of the Board of Directors and the auditors;
d) Determining the annual budget and the annual contributions;
e) Election of the President, the other members of the Board of Directors and the auditors;
e) Dealing with motions from the Board of Directors and members;
f) Deciding on important matters submitted to it by the Board of Directors;
g) Amendment of the Articles of Association;
h) Dissolution of the Association.
(10) Resolutions at the General Meeting are passed by an open vote with a simple majority (50% + 1 vote). Voting shall only take place by secret ballot if this is expressly requested by a majority of the members present. In the event of a tie, the Chairman has the casting vote.
All members have the same voting rights. Absent members may be represented by another member by means of a written proxy. Legal entities exercise their voting rights through an authorized representative of the company.
The member concerned is excluded from voting rights when a resolution is passed on the granting of discharge, a legal transaction or a legal dispute between a member and the Association.
B. Board of Directors
(11) The Board consists of a minimum of five and a maximum of nine representative persons from the various geographical regions of Switzerland, who – with the exception of the Secretary General – must be members of the Association. The members of the Board of Directors are elected by the General Meeting for a term of office of one year. With the exception of the President and the Secretary General, who are elected by the General Meeting, the Board of Directors constitutes itself. The Board of Directors is quorate if the majority of members are present. It is convened at the request of the President or at the request of a member of the Board of Directors. In the event of a tie, the President may cast the deciding vote.
(12) The Management Board is composed of:
a) President
b) Vice President
c) Secretary General
Accumulation of offices is permitted.
(13) The Board of Directors is entitled to all powers that are not expressly transferred to another body of the Association. These are in particular
a) Preparation and organization of the ordinary and extraordinary General Meeting;
a) Issuing regulations;
b) Admission and exclusion of members;
c) Accounting,
d) Operational responsibility for activities and the preparation and introduction of suitable measures to achieve the objectives of the Articles of Association. Maintaining contact with the members.
Resolutions of the Board of Directors are passed by a simple majority of those present.
(14) The Board of Directors represents the association externally. Each member of the Board of Directors signs collectively in pairs together with the Chairman. The Board of Directors regulates the signing authority of its members.
C. Auditors
(15) The General Meeting elects an auditor for a term of office of one year at the proposal of the Board of Directors. Re-election is permissible. The provisions of the Swiss Code of Obligations on the auditors of public limited companies apply accordingly.
V. Association assets and liability
(16) The Association’s assets are made up of the members’ annual contributions, surpluses from the operating account, any donations, sponsorship contributions, donations, event contributions and bequests.
(17) The association’s liabilities are covered solely by its assets. The personal liability of members for the association’s obligations is excluded.
VI Amendments to the Articles of Association and dissolution
(18) The presence of at least three quarters of all members and an absolute majority of the votes cast is required to amend the Articles of Association or dissolve the Association.
If one of the quorums is not reached, a second General Meeting with the same agenda items must be convened within six weeks. This shall constitute a quorum regardless of the number of members.
(19) In the event of the dissolution of the Association, the General Meeting shall decide on the use of the liquidation proceeds.
VII. Entry into force of the Articles of Association
(20) These Articles of Association were approved in their present form at the Founders’ Meeting and entered into force immediately.
Berne, 26.1.2012
Quality Charter
01 / The manner of greeting
02 / Respect for the consumer
03 / Respect for the knowledge and skills of all participants on the Wyschiff
04 / Respect for the diversity of the wines on offer
05 / Respect for the concept and the environment offered by each ship
06 / The openness of the mind
07 / Loyalty among the participating Wyschiff winegrowers
08 / Respect for the philosophy that has developed over the years
09 / Respect for the rules of our professional ethos
10 / The respect of all members for the signed Wyschiff statutes
