1) The voluntary association called WWOOF ITALIA - WORLDWIDE OPPORTUNITIES ON ORGANIC FARMS was set up on the 12th of February 1999. Its headquarters are in Castagneto Carducci, Via Casavecchia 109.
2) The content and structure of the association are democratic.
3) The association will comply with the following principles: non-profit, association positions are elected and not remunerated, the services provided by the members are free and based on their personal decisions.

Article 2- Objectives.

1) The Association WWOOF-ITALIA has the specific aim of organising, together with the International WWOOF Movement, a national and international exchange of volunteers in order to develop the interest and knowledge of the techniques used in organic farming as a choice of life. With this objective, the WWOOF-ITALIA Association organises a national network of people who share its objectives and will become Permanent Educational Centres for revolving Trainees and Specialists. These volunteers will contribute to the development of specific projects and will help spread both ideas and methods suitable for a healthier balance between mankind and nature.
2) The Association WWOOF-ITALIA will make an effort as well to disseminate news and information that encourages everyday choices of life suitable for the peaceful coexistence of the peoples of the world with full respect for nature. In order to do this, the Association will organise courses and seminars with specialists in farming and natural building techniques. The proceedings of such activities will be available for everyone, members and non-members. In addition to this, the Association will organise and promote group camps for specific projects that support the leading principles of the Association.
3) In order to reach its objectives, the Association will be able to:
a) carry out activities of training, information, education, research and documentation addressed to the civil society, and especially to schools of all levels;
b) offer members the opportunity of direct contact and exchange of information, goods and services with other WWOOF members, fostering collaboration and co-operation among members as well as between the association and the civil society;
c) encourage and manage different ways of mutual help among members, with a spirit of social solidarity and appreciation of cultural, religious and race differences;
d) foster and support initiatives of ethical financing as well as non-profit and social economies;
e) promote products and services that share WWOOF’s objectives, as well as their use and techniques of production;
f) provide all kinds of assistance to interested members, persons and public bodies, as well as give a suitable response to any other demand compatible with WWOOF’s objectives.

Article 3 – Bodies. The bodies of the association are: 1) The General Assembly of the Members. 2) The Directive Council. 3) The President of the Association. Article 4 - General Assembly of the Members. 1) The General Assembly may be ordinary or extraordinary; it is called and chaired by the President of the Association. The General Assembly may take place outside the headquarters and WWOOF premises. 2) The General Assembly, regularly constituted, represents all the Members. Its decisions, taken according to the law and to these articles, are binding for all the Members, even if they have not taken part in the Assembly or if they disagree with them. 3) The ordinary General Assembly must be called at least once a year. In addition to this, it may be called every time that the President thinks it is useful or necessary for WWOOF’s management. It must be called, without delay, if at least 1/10 of the Members make a written demand. 4) The call for a General Assembly, whether ordinary or extraordinary, must be sent to all Members through regular mail, fax or E-mail. A notice will be put on the internet for Members living abroad, and on the premises of WWOOF headquarters at least 8 days before the meeting. 5) The notice must contain the following information: a) The agenda. b) The location of the meeting. c) The day and time for the first and eventual second call, although the second call must be held on a different date from the first call. Article 5 – Tasks of the Ordinary General Assembly of the Members. The Ordinary General Assembly is called in order to: 1) Approve the budget and the balance. 2) Appoint the counsellors. 3) Approve eventual internal regulations. 4) Discuss the responsibilities of the counsellors. 5) Discuss and examine all other issues concerning WWOOF’s management, which are competence of the General Assembly, according to the law and to these articles. Article 6 – Procedure of the Assembly. 1) All members of the Association have the right to take part and vote at the Assembly. 2) Every member has the right to vote and may be represented at the General Assemblies by another member by filling out an absentee ballot form. 3) No member is allowed to bring more than five absentee ballot forms per Assembly. 4) Both ordinary and extraordinary General Assemblies are legally established, whatever the agenda, in first call, when there are half of the voting members plus one, in second call regardless the number of voting members. 5) Decisions are adopted by absolute majority of the voting members, present or represented. 6) When taking decisions regarding changes in WWOOF’s articles, whether in first or second call, a favourable vote of at least 2/3 of the votes of all present and represented is necessary. Article 7 – Directive Council. 1) The Directive Council is formed by at least three and at most seven members, elected by the Assembly which will fix its number every time, even before the deadline established in article 8. 2) During its first meeting, the Directive Council will elect, among its members, the President and one or more Vice-presidents. 3) Before the first ordinary meeting, these positions will be handed out to members during the constitutional act of the Association. Article 8 – Term of office of the Directive Council. 1) The counsellors are elected for three years, and may be reelected. 2) They must not be paid. Article 9 – Call of the Directive Council. 1) The Directive Council is called by the President or his/her substitute, every time he/she thinks it is necessary or useful, even outside the headquarters, but it must remain in Italy. It must be called at least once a year, or when at least a quarter of its members demand it. 2) The call will be made via a communiqué that will inform the counsellors at least seven days in advance of the meeting. In emergency cases, it will be done via telegram or telephone, in order to inform the counsellors at least one day before the meeting. At the same time, the communiqué must be displayed on the premises of WWOOF headquarters. 3) The meetings of the Board are valid when the majority of the elected counsellors take part. 4) Decisions are taken by absolute majority of the counsellors present. 5) When a counsellor is personally involved in the issues that are discussed, he/she must not take part in the decisions. 6) The decisions of the Directive Council must enclose the proceedings, signed by the President or by a Secretary nominated if required. Article 10 – Powers of the Directive Council. 1) The Directive Council is granted the largest powers for the management of the Association, according to the law and to these articles. 2) Among other things, the Directive Council must: a) Make sure that the decisions taken by the Assembly are implemented. b) Draw up budgets. c) Establish all acts and contracts of any nature linked to WWOOF’s activity. d) Oversee relations connected with the Association. e) Decide on the admission, parting and expulsion of members. These may, if expelled, lodge an appeal to the Assembly. f) Carry out all acts and operations for the ordinary and extraordinary management of WWOOF, except for those which, according to the law or to the constitutional act, are reserved to the Assembly. Therefore, the Directive Council has the faculty to designate lawyers and attorneys at legal disputes, before any Judiciary or Administrative Authority at any level of jurisdiction. g) Set up conventions with Public Bodies. h) Daw up future internal regulations. Article 11 – Resignation of counsellors, loss and expiration of the position of counsellor. 1) Councillors intending to resign must send a written notification to the Directive Council. 2) All counsellors that, with no justification, do not take part in the meetings of the Directive Council for three consecutive meetings lose their position. 3) All counsellors that lose their membership, for whatever reason, lose their position. 4) The position of counsellor only expires after the Directive Council is set up again. 5) All counsellors that lose their position, or resign, will be replaced by runner-ups who were not elected. 6) All members replacing a counsellor during the three-year mandate will lose their position at the end of the same three-year mandate.

Article 12 - the President of the Directive Council. 1) The President of the Directive Council has the signature and legal representation of the association before third parties and in judgement. 2) The President is authorised, without prior authority from the Council, to receive payments from public bodies, banks or private individuals, regardless of the amount or reason for payment, and without giving notice of such payments. 3) After a Directive Council meeting the President may nominate and revoke lawyers and solicitors to active and passive discussions, regarding the association, before whichever decree and jurisdiction. 4) In case of the President’s absence his duties and his legislative power are transferred to the standing Vice President, if nominated, and in the absence of such will be referred to a delegated counsellor. 5) The actual use of these representing duties by the Vice President or delegated counsellor bears witness to the absence of the President and therefore exonerates third parties from any responsibility with regards to the President’s absence. Article 13 - Controversies. Every eventual controversy between members and the Association, or between members, dependents of the present Charter and/or social administration, will be decided at a meeting of the counsellors with a conclusive vote of at least 2/3 of the counsellors. Article 14 - Budget. 1) The fiscal year of the association begins 1st January and ends 31st December every year. 2) The Directive Counsel presents annually before 30th April at a meeting a detailed report and final balance sheet of the previous year and a preview for the current year. 3) The final balance sheet and preview must be kept at the association’s headquarters and sent by registered mail, fax or e-mail (via internet for members abroad) to all members 10 days prior to the meeting to allow them to preview it. Article 15 - Members. 1) Members are considered those who sign the present Charter and those who ask to be and are admitted by the Directive Council. 2) On the membership form the aspiring member declares to accept without reserve the Charter of the Association. The membership begins on the date of the Directive Council’s positive decision. 3) Members cease to be members of the association for: a) Voluntary resignation. b) Failure to pay membership fee for at least 6 months. c) Death. d) Expulsion by Directive Council, in which case an appeal is permitted at a committee meeting whose decision will be final. 4) All services rendered by members are provided voluntarily. Article 16 - Rights and obligations of members. 1) All members have the right to participate at meetings and to vote directly or by delegate and to revoke their membership from the Association. 2) Members are obliged to respect the rules of the present Charter, to pay their fees and contributions decided upon by the by the Directive Council and to carry out the voluntary tasks previously agreed upon. Article 17 - Membership fees 1) The membership fee of the members is decided upon at a council meeting. The fee is annual, it is not devisable, repeatable or refundable in case of revocation or expulsion of the counsellor. Furthermore it is not transferable nor revisable. 2) Members that have not paid their membership cannot participate at council meetings or take part in the associations activities. Furthermore they cannot vote nor can they be elected to the Directive Council. Article 18 - Economic resources. 1) The Association receives its economic resources for its activities from: a) Membership fees and donations from members. b) Private donations. c) Donations from state enterprises and public institutions. d) donations from international organisations. e) Last will and testament bequeathals. f) Conferences. g) Income from commercial and productive activities as decreed in the ministerial decree of 25.5.95. h) Income from fixed and other assets donated to the organisation. 2) The income is deposited with a bank or financial institution decided on by the Directive Council. 3) The eventual profits must be spent on institutional activities. It is prohibited to distribute, even indirectly, profits from the organisation, reserve funds and capital during the duration of the Association. 4) Each financial operation must have the signature of the President or Vice President. Article 19 - Modifications of the Charter. Proposals for the modification of the Charter can be presented at a meeting by one of the counsellors or at least 5 members. The relative deliberations shall be approved by the Directive Council with a favourable vote of at least 2/3 of all present. Article 20 - The duration and dissolution of the association. 1) The duration of the Association is unlimited and cannot be dissolved without a decision from an extraordinary meeting decreed upon by the Directive council which must then decide upon the redistribution of the remaining patrimony, in favour of voluntary organisations which operate in identical or similar fields. 2) The council sees to the nomination of one or more liquidators to be chosen preferably from members. 3) The decision to dissolve the membership needs a favourable vote of at least 3/4 of the members. Article 21- Arbitral bench. 1) Any controversy that the Council is unable to resolve will be decided upon by a bench of three arbitrators, each one nominated, one by each of the two parties and the third in an agreement between the two parties, or failing this by the court in Livorno. 2) The arbitral bench will collaborate with the powers of friendly mediation, and will judge, without appeal, even without the procedural formalities, but in conformity to contradictory debate. Article 22- Deferment of regulations. That which is not foreseen in this present Charter will be referred to the legislative law in force.