NASBF - Abstract

1. LEGAL STATUS AND OBJECTIVES
The North America- Serbia Business Forum is a non-government, non profit-making organization of individuals with the principal objective of expanding trade and investment links and other business relations between entities and persons from Serbia, US and Canada, from all economic sectors.

2. NAME AND HEADQUARTERS
The name of the organization is: NORTH AMERICA – SERBIA BUSINESS FORUM
Its headquarters is in Belgrade, Serbia, 11 Makedonska St.
The organization has a round official seal with the text in latin letters: UG NORTH AMERICA – SERBIA BUSINESS FORUM.

3. PRINCIPAL OBJECTIVES
The principal objectives are:

To stimulate awareness in the public and private sectors in the United States, Canada and in Serbia regarding the advantages of expanded bilateral trade and investment ties. While promoting opportunities for trade and investment between the two countries, the Forum shall strive to ease transaction barriers and regulations which inhibit business activity.
To provide timely information concerning developments in Serbia, US and Canada that would be of interest to the Forum Members.
To facilitate contacts between the Forum’s Members and public and private sector leaders from Canada, US and Serbia through conferences and other events and exchange of delegations.
With the overall purpose of promoting U.S., Canadian and Serbian trade and investment, to serve as a voice of their business community both for individuals and appropriate organizations in these countries.
To cooperate with other appropriate organizations in Canada, United States and in Serbia in pursuing the objectives of the Forum.
To assist Members in finding the best ways of achieving these aims and the settling of disputes in Serbia.
To organize charitable events in Serbia, US and Canada.
To organize donor campaigns in Serbia, US and Canada.
To organize visits by eminent businessmen and government officials from the US and Canada to Serbia and vice versa.
To facilitate initial business contacts between members and companies and/or institutions of their particular interest in Canada, US and Serbia.
To organize an annual visit for each Forum Member (or authorized person) from Serbia to the US and/or Canada.
To organize joint travel, receptions and special events for Forum Members and guests.
To organize presentations of Forum Members’ business activities
To facilitate publishing, and participate in preparation and publishing of professional journals and papers, the preparation of electronic media presentations relating to the enhancement and expansion of trade and investment ties between organizations, associations and other bodies in Canada, US and Serbia.

4. MEMBERSHIP
Forum Members may be individuals, businessmen, professionals and scientists as well as other individuals interested in expanding and enhancing trade, investment and business ties between organizations, associations and other bodies in Serbia, U.S. and Canada.
Forum Members may also be legal entities independent of the Government and its bodies.
Associate Partners may be legal entities established by the Governement and its bodies, particularly agencies and development organizations, as well as legal entities independent of the Government and its bodies such as research institutions, universities, companies and other organizations.

5. MEMBERSHIP CLASSES
Regardless of the Membership Class, Members are individuals and legal entities quoted in Article 4 of this Constitutional Act which are fully committed to the Principal Objectives of the NASBF and meet all the qualifications for acceptance into membership provided by this Act.
Membership covers the following categories:
PREMIUM MEMBER
FULL MEMBER
BUSINESS MEMBER
AFFILIATE MEMBER
The afore-mentioned members have voting rights and may be elected for positions in the various bodies of the Forum.
HONORARY MEMBERS are those individuals who have accepted an invitation from the Executive Board to be Honorary Members, and who have by their work and achievements earned the privilege of being invited into membership.
NASBF Executive Board shall determine membership criteria in a separate document.
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ASSOCIATE PARTNERS are legal entities quoted in Article 4 of this Constitutional Act such as: business associations, agencies, chambers and business clubs, as well as the development organizations, universities and research institutions, which are fully committed to the Principal Objectives of the NASBF.
Associate partners’ representatives may participate in the work of the NASBF as members of the Board for Cooperation with Associations.
Associate partners’ representatives may also participate in the work of the NASBF Assembly as observers.

6. MEMBERSHIP APPLICATION
A prospective member should submit a Membership Application Form to the Secretary General, who, assuming that all formal requirements are met, will forward it to the Executive Board for their approval. The Executive Board has the discretional right to accept or reject the Membership Application without being required to explain such a decision.

8. MEMBERSHIP FEES
The Membership Fee is payable into the Business Forum’s Bank Account on acceptance into membership. The amount of the Annual Fee is set by the Executive Board in the month of January.
The annual Membership Fee applies to Premium, Full, Business and Affiliate Members and is payable under the terms and conditions set by the Executive Board.
Honorary Members and Associate Partners are not required to pay the Membership Fee.

9. OFFICIAL BODIES OF THE ASSOCIATION
The bodies of the Association are:

The Assembly
Secretary General
Executive Board
Advisory Board
Donation Board
Board for Cooperation with Associations

The Assembly and the Executive Board may pass resolutions to form other bodies of the NASBF.
The Assembly may pass a resolution to form a Supervisory Board in accordance with the provisions of these Articles…

10. COMPOSITION OF THE ASSEMBLY
The Assembly is the supreme body of the Association. It is comprised of all the Premium, Full, Business and Affiliate members of the Forum….

12. SECRETARY GENERAL OF THE ASSOCIATION
The Secretary General represents and acts on behalf of the NASBF and manages its operations. The Secretary General is elected by the Assembly from amongst its members for a period of five years….

13. EXECUTIVE BOARD
The Executive board is the executive body of the NASBF’s Assembly.
The Executive Board is made up of the following positions: Secretary General as well as minimum of six (6) members chosen by the Assembly from its members for a period of four (4) years….

15. ADVISORY BOARD
The Advisory Board is a permanent body of the NASBF.
The Advisory Board analyzes the economic, regulatory and political environment for information of interest to the NASBF and its members and provides relevant conclusions to the Executive Board and Secretary General....

16. DONATION BOARD
The Donation Board is permanent body of the NASBF.
The Donation Board draws up and supervises donation and humanitarian aid action plans for allocated institutions and provides relevant conclusions to the Executive Board and Secretary General ….

17. BOARD FOR COOPERATION WITH ASSOCIATIONS
The Board for Cooperation with Associations is a permanent body of the NASBF.
The Board for Cooperation with Associations draws up and supervises approved plans for the common activities of the NASBF and Associate Partners and provides relevant conclusions to the Executive Board and Secretary General.....

20. PUBLICITY OF ITS WORK
The work of the Association is public.
The membership and the public shall be directly informed about the work of the Association via publications and statements, as well as other suitable ways.