Can a club join another organization?
November 9, 2022 | 50,00 EUR | answered by Thomas Tressel
Dear lawyer specialized in association law,
My name is Bernd Richter and I am a board member of a small sports club in my community. We would like to join a higher organization in order to benefit from their support and advantages. However, we are unsure if this is legally possible and what steps we need to take in order to do so.
Our club was founded 10 years ago and currently has 50 active members. We are active in various sports and regularly organize tournaments and events for our members. Lately, we have been experiencing difficulties in raising financial resources and retaining our members. Therefore, we hope that by joining a higher organization, we will have better organization and support in our club activities.
Our concern is that we may potentially violate current association law if we take this step. That is why we are reaching out to you to find out if a club can actually join another organization and what legal requirements we need to fulfill. Are there specific forms or contracts that we need to complete? And what about the financial aspects associated with this?
We hope that you can assist us with this matter and look forward to your professional advice.
Sincerely,
Bernd Richter
Dear Mr. Richter,
Thank you for your inquiry regarding your sports club joining a higher-level organization. It is understandable that you are considering the possible legal aspects and requirements. I would be happy to assist you and provide you with all necessary information.
In principle, it is possible for a club to join a higher-level organization as long as this is provided for in the club's statutes and the membership assembly agrees to the membership. In your case as a board member, you should ensure that the membership is legally sound and that there are no violations of club law.
First, you should check if your club's statutes allow for the possibility of joining a higher-level organization. If not, an amendment to the statutes may be necessary, which must be decided upon at a regular membership assembly. It is important that the required majority of members approve the membership.
Furthermore, you should carefully review the statutes of the higher-level organization to ensure that your club meets the requirements set out there. In some cases, certain formalities such as signing a membership form or entering into a membership agreement may be required.
Regarding the financial aspects, you should clarify whether membership in the higher-level organization involves membership fees or other financial obligations. It is important that as a board member, you carefully examine the financial implications and ensure that your club is able to meet them.
In summary, a club can generally join a higher-level organization as long as this is provided for in the statutes and the membership assembly agrees to the membership. It is important to carefully examine all legal and financial aspects to avoid potential risks.
I hope that this information is helpful to you and I am available to answer any further questions you may have.
Sincerely,
Thomas Tressel
Attorney specializing in club law
