§ 1.
The name of the society is: “Serbian Reading Room,” and its headquarters are in Herceg Novi.
§ 2.
The symbols of the society are:
a) The Austrian trade flag and the red-blue-white Serbian national flag;
b) The inscription on the board: “Serbian Reading Room,” which must hang on the society’s premises from the courtyard.
§ 3.
The main goal of this society is to educate and inform through the reading of books and newspapers, and through friendly gatherings, about literary and scientific progress, as well as daily political events.
§ 4.
The means by which the society achieves this goal consist of voluntary contributions, contributions from founding members, which are designated by the members of the society, and membership fees.
§ 5.
The official language of the “Serbian Reading Room” in Herceg Novi is Serbian with Cyrillic script.
§ 6.
Members of the “Serbian Reading Room” in Herceg Novi are divided into:
a) Honorary members, who have earned special merits for the Reading Room by providing moral or material support, or have otherwise distinguished themselves in ways that this Reading Room aims to promote according to its mission. Honorary members are elected by the assembly upon the proposal of the Management through secret voting without debate;
b) Founders, who contribute 10 forints to the society’s assets in a single payment, and in addition, pay the regular monthly membership fee of 1 forint in the city, or 50 coins from outside the city. These members commit to being members of the Reading Room for two years;
c) Regular members, who pay a monthly membership fee of 1 forint or 50 coins. These members commit to being members of the Reading Room for one year.
§ 7.
Every member has the right to: come to the Reading Room, read newspapers and books there, and participate in all events and lectures. All members have the right to suggest which newspapers should be kept and enjoy the right to file complaints.
Honorary members have only an advisory voice in the assembly. The Management Board must include 3 members from the founders and 2 from the users; and the president must be a founder.
Founders, as well as users, have the right to elect the Management Board and have the right to interpellation.
§ 8.
All members, without exception, are obliged to: strictly adhere to the rules and comply with all decisions of the assembly and the Management. They are especially obliged to pay the membership fee as determined by the Management and to adhere to the house rules.
§ 9.
Membership is lost:
a) By death;
b) By withdrawal;
c) By expulsion.
Membership ceases upon death, along with all outstanding obligations to the society. Anyone who wishes to withdraw from the Reading Room after the expiration of the period for which they committed to being a member must notify the Management at least 4 weeks before their term expires; otherwise, it will be considered that they have committed to being a member for another year.
§ 10.
The officials who are transferred from Herceg Novi must be immediately relieved by the Administration if they submit their resignation at least 3 days before their departure and settle all their outstanding obligations to the society.
§ 11.
A member of the Reading Room can be excluded for committing any crime, as well as for offenses and misdemeanors driven by greed, and for any act that tarnishes their clean character. Furthermore, if they act against the Reading Room or its goals with the intention of undermining it or hindering its objectives; also for gross indecency within the premises of the Reading Room, or if they fail to pay their due debt despite being warned three times. A proposal for the exclusion of a member will be taken into consideration by the Management if it is submitted by one of the Management members or 6 society members; the accused must respond within 8 days, and the decision will be made by the Management in a session with at least 3 members and the president.
The decision will be valid if it is made with a majority of votes. The accused can appeal this decision to the main assembly within 14 days. From the moment someone learns that they have been proposed for exclusion until the final decision, they are not allowed to attend the Reading Room. Upon the finalization of the exclusion, all membership fees up to the end of the term to which the individual committed to remain a member become due, and they can be immediately sued in court without further notice.
§ 12.
Disputes and disagreements arising from social relations are resolved in the first instance by the Management, and finally by the General Assembly.
§ 13.
Debts are collected through legal proceedings if they are not paid after three reminders.
§ 14.
The management of the society consists of: a president and 4 board members, who are elected by the main assembly through a secret ballot for a term of one (1) year. The Management holds its meetings every 3 months, and if 2 (two) board members wish, the president must convene a meeting outside of this schedule. The decisions of the Management will be valid if made in a meeting attended by at least 3 members of the management; and when it comes to the admission or exclusion of members, at least three members of the Management and the president must be present.
§ 15.
1) The Management elects from among its members: a vice-president, a secretary, a treasurer, and a librarian;
2) It handles current affairs, ensures the accurate payment of membership fees, contributions, and debts, reminds debtors, decides on expenditures, and determines how the society’s assets will be usefully employed;
3) It addresses proposals and wishes of individual members regarding the acquisition of newspapers and furniture;
4) It decides on the admission, exclusion, and resignation of members and resolves disputes and conflicts arising from social relations;
5) It prepares the society’s budget for the coming year; reviews all the president’s proposals for the assembly;
6) It elects, in place of the outgoing members of the Management, substitutes until the assembly.
§ 16.
The Management convenes the general assemblies and the president of the society presides over them.
The minutes are signed by the president and the secretary, and are certified by one present member at the next session.
§ 17.
The president of the society is elected by the general assembly through a secret ballot. He is accountable to it alone for his actions, and to the Management regarding the implementation of its decisions. He convenes the meetings of the Management.
§ 18.
If the president is prevented from performing their duties, the vice president shall represent them in all rights and duties.
§ 19.
The society is publicly represented by the president, and when the president is prevented from doing so, – by the vice president with the secretary.
§ 20.
The treasurer manages the society’s accounts and necessary books, from which the state of assets can be seen. He keeps the cash and deposit books. He is obliged to pay all amounts authorized by the president and 2 members of the Management.
§ 21.
The main assembly is held in the month of January each year, and otherwise, if requested by at least 15 members, who must notify the president in writing of the purpose of the meeting. The main assembly will be able to conduct business if at least 15 members are present, excluding the Management; if that number is not met on the first call, a second assembly will be convened, which will be able to conduct business even if only 10 members are present, excluding the Management. The agenda must not be changed.
§ 22.
The right to vote at the main assembly is held by all those who have the right to vote at the regular assembly (§ 7.). The main assembly usually makes decisions orally and by public voting, and a majority of votes is sufficient for the validity of the decisions (except for § 23, point 4, and § 24.). If the votes are equal, the president decides. Voting is conducted secretly only for the election of the Management, honorary members, and on appeals for exclusion.
§ 23.
Scope of the General Assembly:
1) Elects the society’s president and the society’s Management for one year;
2) Discusses the agenda and all proposals from members and the Management;
3) Approves the budget for the upcoming year and confirms the final accounts;
4) Amends the rules, if proposed by any member and if such a proposal is supported by at least 5 other members. A decision in this regard is valid if at least two-thirds of the present members agree to the change;
5) Resolves appeals regarding exclusions; and the Management elects honorary members by secret ballot without prior debate.
§ 24.
“The Serbian Reading Room” in Herceg Novi can be dissolved if the main assembly decides so. At such an assembly, two-thirds of the members must be present, and nine-tenths (9/10) of those votes must be in favor of dissolution. The proposal for dissolution must be specifically listed on the agenda of the respective main assembly and cannot be placed under the heading “miscellaneous.”
§ 25.
If the “Serbian Reading Room” in Herceg Novi is dissolved voluntarily or by order of the Authorities, the Management will hand over its assets to the founding members for safekeeping. If a new “Serbian Reading Room” is not established in Herceg Novi within one (1) year after the dissolution, its assets will belong to the aforementioned founding members, except for the library, which will be managed by the main assembly.
Number 33.428/5V.
That the society “Serbian Reading Room” in Herceg Novi exists according to these rules is certified in the sense of § 9 of the law of November 15, 1867, D.Z.L. number 134.
Zadar, December 31, 1894.
For the Imperial and Royal Deputy
P a v i c h
Translated by Books of Jeremiah
