IFFOO CHARTER

Article 1. Aims and Objectives

1.1. The International Freight Forwarders Owners Organisation (IFFOO), hereinafter referred to as the Organisation or IFFOO.

1.2. Business interaction is not viewed as the primary goal for the Organisation.

1.3. IFFOO was established with the following objectives:
1.3.1. To bring together at an international level individuals who are owners or shareholders of international air, sea, road, and/or logistics companies.

1.3.2. To provide an international forum for exchange of opinions and experiences of the members.

1.3.3. To represent, promote, and safeguard the members' interests on the international level.

1.3.4. To regularly convene international conferences to promote open discussions between the members.

Article 2. Membership

2.1. Membership Categories
The Organisation shall have three levels of Membership:
· Silver
· Gold
· Platinum

2.1.1.  Silver membership is open to individuals who:
· Are owners or shareholders of established and accredited international air, sea, road, or logistics companies
· Have sufficient experience in the industry
· Have not been associated with a company that has failed financially.

Potential members qualify to join organisation only as Silver members. After attending two meetings or two subsequent years of IFFOO membership, Silver members are upgraded to Gold level automatically.

2.1.2. Gold membership is available only to loyal IFFOO members, who understand and support the goals of Organisation. Gold members have an opportunity to attend one IFFOO meeting annually without paying the Attendance Fee.

2.1.3. Platinum membership is voluntary and is open to Gold members after they have attended at least three IFFOO meetings. Besides waived Attendance Fees for all IFFOO meetings, Platinum membership grants its holder the following privileges:

Exclusive authority to represent the territory of residence: no applicant from this territory can join IFFOO without the Platinum member’s consent.
An opportunity to participate in the meetings of IFFOO Policy-Making Committee (Article 4.5), thus influencing the club’s development. The meetings are held a day prior to the conference. 
 
 
2.2. Admission Procedure

2.2.1. Individuals, answering the criteria outlined in Article 2.1.1., may become candidate members of IFFOO. 

2.2.2. The IFFOO joining procedures may be reviewed or modified at any time by the Policy-Making Committee and are accessible on the IFFOO website.

2.3. Membership Terms and Conditions

2.3.1. Membership will last 12 months and will be renewed without any additional approval upon receipt by IFFOO of the yearly membership dues of a member.

2.3.2. Yearly membership dues are payable on the anniversary of the membership.

2.4. Membership Fees and Dues

2.4.1. Yearly membership dues are obligatory.

2.4.2. The amounts, payment schedules of yearly dues, admission fees, and any other member contributions may be reviewed or modified at any time by the Policy-Making Committee and are accessible on the IFFOO website.

2.4.3. All membership fees and dues are non-refundable.

2.5. End of Membership

2.5.1. Resignation
Resignations should be submitted in written or electronic form to the Secretariat (Article 4.3.). Resignation will become effective immediately upon receipt by IFFOO Secretariat.

2.5.2. Expulsion

2.5.2.1. The Policy-Making Committee may decide to expel a member in case of violation of this charter or any other regulations adopted by the Organisation.

2.5.2.2. Membership will automatically cease in case of bankruptcy, withdrawal, or termination of a member's business; or any other event that would make the member non-compliant with the criteria outlined in the Article 2.1.1.

Article 3. Interaction Between Members.

3.1. Business interaction:
3.1.1. Any decision to work with fellow IFFOO members is a commercial decision of an individual member.

3.1.2. The Organisation cannot be held responsible in case commercial and/or financial obligations are not met by (an) IFFOO member(s).

3.2. Conferences and interaction via internet:
3.2.1. The members must respect each other’s views, opinions and/or decisions on all and any issues discussed during the meetings, or outside the conference room, or via the electronic means of communication.

3.2.2. Any insults or offense outspoken towards a fellow member can be brought up for the attention of Policy-Making Committee by (a) IFFOO member(s). The Committee will decide on disciplinary measures appropriate to resolve the situation. 

Article 4. Organisational Structure

4.1. IFFOO Ltd. is a sole owner of the Organisation.

4.2. The President and the Vice-President of the Organisation are appointed by IFFOO Ltd.  The President is responsible for the conceptual development of IFFOO The Vice-President shall supervise over day-to-day management of the Organisation.

4.3. The Secretariat performs day-to-day management of the Organisation.

4.4. The Executive Committee comprises of the President, the Vice-President and other Committee members, appointed by IFFOO Ltd. The Executive Committee monitors overall activities of the Organisation.

4.5.The Policy-Making Committee comprises of Executive Committee and existing Platinum Members. The Committee is responsible for determining the steps and measures necessary to preserve and enhance the Organisation’s present status and future development.

Article 5. IFFOO Conferences

5.1. The IFFOO will hold regular international conferences for its members, at least twice a year. All current Members may attend the Conferences given that:
· They have registered in the period and in accordance with procedures specified for the conference.
· They have covered any attendance fees calculated by IFFOO Secretariat.

5.2. All events during the conference (business part, entertainment programme etc.) are non-obligatory.

5.3. IFFOO Secretariat will suggest the locations of the Conferences. Once approved by the Policy-Making Committee, the conference venues will be communicated to the Members by the Secretariat at least 2 months prior to the event.

5.4. Meeting Coordinator

5.4.1. A Coordinator does not chair the conference but rather facilitates the discussions.

5.4.2. Any member can be a Meeting’s coordinator after attending at least two meetings. Preference is given to Platinum / Gold members as well as the members from the country, where the meeting is held. A meeting delegate can be a Coordinator for the whole or only for half a day. This way we will have several coordinators per meeting.

 
5.5. Minutes
The Secretariat shall be responsible for taking minutes of the IFFOO Conferences and communicating them to the Members within 2 weeks after the Conference.

Article 6. Code of Conduct
 
The aim is not only to achieve and maintain high standards of excellence and professionalism in the club, but also to ensure that certain standards are recognised and followed by the members. In this regards the following rules of behaviour will apply to IFFOO members:
 
6.1. Members are expected to behave in a mature, calm, and dignified manner at all times, not only when attending meetings and conferences but also when communicating electronically and in any other way.
 
6.2. At the President and Vice-President's discretion, if they consider that a member is not complying with reasonable and accepted standards of courtesy, conduct or , even appearance, when attending meetings they will have the ultimate authority to terminate the member’s involvement with IFFOO without refund of Annual or Attendance fees, and their decision in this regard will be final.

Article 7. Duration

7.1. IFFOO is established for an unlimited duration.