The General Meeting of CATAPA

The General Meeting (GM) is the highest decision-making body of a non-profit organization. The GM consists of all members of CATAPA. All members have equal voting rights in the GM. New members receive the right to vote once their membership has been approved at the beginning of the next GM.

The members of the GM decide together on changes to the articles of association, the appointment and resignation of the members of the board, the approval of the accounts and the budget… This may sound administrative, but it is a concrete way to get to know the organization better and to have your say in the direction we take!

The GM meets at least once a year, usually in April or May (virtually in times of pandemic). Exceptionally, an Extraordinary GM can be convened. All members are personally invited to the meeting, and receive the agenda and accompanying documents such as the annual report and the budget in advance.

How do I become a member?

CATAPA is always open to new members!

  • Members endorse the vision and mission of CATAPA
  • As a member of the GM you pay an annual membership fee of € 20
  • All members together form the GM and are invited to the annual and extraordinary meetings
  • All members have equal voting rights in the GM

You can register your membership using this form. You can transfer the membership of 20 € to BE49 9795 2861 7871 to CATAPA, with the message “GM membership [year]”.

New memberships will be approved at the beginning of the next GM.

More information about the rights and obligations, and procedures associated with membership of the GM, can be found here.

Rights and obligations of the members

The GM consists of all members of CATAPA. All members have equal voting rights in the GM. Members subscribe to the mission and vision of CATAPA and pay an annual membership of 20 euros.

New members are nominated by the Board of Directors at the AGM, which approves their entry.

Members can withdraw from the organisation at any time by sending a formal letter (by e-mail) to the president of the board. The resignation will take effect one month after this writing.

When a member of the GM acts contrary to the objectives of the organisation as formulated in the mission and vision, membership can be terminated.

The GM decides on:

  • the amendment of the articles of association
  • the appointment and resignation of the members of the board
  • the granting of discharge of the members of the board
  • the approval of the budget and the accounts
  • the dissolution of the association
  • the exclusion of a member of the GM
  • the conversion of the association into a company with a social purpose

The GM meets at least once a year, usually in April or May (virtually in times of pandemic). Exceptionally, an Extraordinary General Meeting can be convened.

All members are personally invited to the meeting, and receive the agenda and accompanying documents such as the annual report and the budget in advance.

At least half of the members must be present or represented in order to validly deliberate. Decisions are taken by simple majority of the votes of the members present or represented.

Members who are unable to attend the GM can be represented by another member by means of a signed proxy, which must be submitted in advance to the president of CATAPA. Each member can hold a maximum of two proxies.

If you wish, you can consult the full articles of association here (in Dutch).

If you have any questions about the responsibilities of the GM, about how to become a member, or if you are facing financial barriers to accessing membership, you can contact us via fien.vandenbussche [at] catapa.be

See you soon at our next General Meeting!