10.02.2006.

Approved by the Constituent conference
of the Soviet Roerich Foundation,
October 2, 1989. Moscow

THE CONSTITUTION OF
THE SOVIET ROERICH FOUNDATION

1. The Soviet Roerich Foundation (here to forth referred as the Foundation) is an all-Union independent public organisation which carries out its activities in compliance with the Constitution of the USSR, the legislature of ihe Soviet Union and Union Republics, as well as in accordance with the present Constitution.

2. The Foundation was created at the initiative of public organisations, primarily by the Soviet Fund of Culture and the Soviet Peace Fund, and is in accordance with the will expressed in the letter dated July 3, 1989 by Svyatoslav Roerich, the only owner and custodian of the multifaceted heritage of the Roerich family, concerning the transfer of said heritage to the Soviet people.

3. The heritage comprising works of art, publications on philosophic, scientific, as well as literary, social and political issues written by the Roerichs is aquiring a tremendous practical significance in the country's period of perestroika. The growing role of cultural traditions and spiritual values is harmoneously combined with the humanistic and ethical ideas which Nikolai Konstantinovich, Elena Ivanovna Roerich and their sons, Yuri Nikolayevich and Svyatoslav Nikolayevich elaborated upon for their entire life. The practical application of these ideas has contributed and will continue to contribute to the spiritual revival in our country, to the perfection of mankind and to the raising of his moral, ethical and civil self-awareness.

4. The evolution of our planet is entering a new cultural and historical epoch. The formation of a new synthetic thinking and the planetary consciousness of man in our country and the world at large is taking place in difficult conditions which are characterized by a struggle against all that which is outdated and everything which disunites us. This struggle seeks to eliminate elements which impede free creativity and detrack from the fundamental tasks of our cosmic evolution. Man will live only through the realization of the Beauty, only by Goodness and only by striving everyday to do something better than he did the day before. We need bright ideas and real deeds. Only the unification of people governed by the lofty can lead to the paths of the future.

5. The growing popularity of Roerich's ideas in our country and abroad, and the emergence of such Roerich societies and organizations as "The Banner of Peace" and "Peace Through Culture" necessitated the immediate creation of the Foundation and a Roerich Centre as an organization which would contribute to the development and coordination of this movement. The Foundation's activities have become an important cultural phenomenon, which transgress the borders of our country and promote understanding between nations. The Foundation relies on the broad support of the Soviet and foreign public.

II. GOALS AND DUTIES OF THE SOVIET ROERICH FOUNDATION

6. The Foundation pursues the following goals:

- to revive the moral values of the people on the basis of applying the humanistic ideas of the Roerich family, as well as to actively involve the public in a cultural regeneration which represents the spiritual essence of perestroika in the Soviet society;

- to further the development of international cooperation on the basis of cultural and ecological movements currently being established throughout the world;

- to strengthen the ideas of internationalism and genuine friendship between the Soviet nations in accordance to the traditions of the ethical teachings of the Roerich family;

- to promote the interest of the Soviet people, primarily among the youth, in learning the history and culture of the USSR nations and of the foreign countries and to satisfy that interest in its educational and other activities;

- to collect, study and propagate the artistic, scientific and philosophical heritage of the Roerich family;

- to coordinate the activities of and to unite the Roerich organizations (societies, associations, clubs);

- to collect material and financial means and to organize production-economic activities to realize the goals and duties of the Foundation.

7. The primary duty of the Foundation is the establishment and funding of a N. K. Roerich Museum Centre (further referred as Centre) which would become the main organization for the implimentation of the Foundation's goals.

8. Through a Bureau, the Foundation would supervise the Centre, finance its activities and ensure:

- whatever necessary for its functioning, as well as assumes all obligations stemming from relations with the (Soviet and foreign) collectors of Roerich materials should the Foundation seek to acquire or exchange said materials or use them in the organization of exhibitions;

- payment of the salaries for the Centre's staff, for the Centre's research, for the formation of a museum and a library for the Centre, for the organization of all expeditions and business trips (in the Soviet Union and abroad) of its staff members;

- the further development of the Centre by providing money for the construction and rental of needed facilities, the acquisition, both in the Soviet Union and abroad, of collections containing works by Roerichs and materials about them;

- funds for equiping, arranging and expanding the Centre's expositions, as well as for the acquisition of exhibits to augment said expositions.

9. The Foundation renders support, through the Council of Roerich organizations, to established Roerich societies, groups and clubs and to those being organized, as well as to museums and individuals whose activities are associated with the Roerich ideas or the study of their heritage.

10. The Foundation elaborates and implements international, all-Union, Republic, regional and local programmes and projects, which correspond to its goals and tasks, in cooperation with interested Soviet and foreign societies, governmental organizations, and private individuals.

11. The Foundation publishes periodicals, arranges exhibitions of cinema, photographic, television and video materials and establishes the appropriate enterprises and artistic associations to serve these purposes.

12. The Foundation is engaged in enlightenment activities, conducts them in the Soviet Union and elsewhere arranging, among other things, lecturing on Roerich.

13. The Foundation performs the practical work for interacting with interested international and foreign organizations in accordance with its stipulated goals and duties. The Foundation:

- participates in the activities of the Institute of Hymalayan Studies (Himachal Pradesh State, Kulu) which functions on the basis of Soviet-Indian scientific and cultural cooperation;

- participates in the work of international congresses, conferences and symposia, and of Roerich societies, organizations and associations;

- promotes the exchange of experts and facilitates the implementation of joint programmes;

- creates international filiales and representation.

14. The Foundation awards the international N. K. Roerich Prize and a gold medal which are awarded bi-annually by its Board Directors to Soviet or foreign citizens for outstanding work in the spirit of the Roerichs' ideas and for activities serving peace.

III. N.K.ROERICH CENTRE-MUSEUM

15. The Foundation and the Centre are an integral complex which operates on the basis of the present Constitution and the regulations approved by the Bureau of the Foundation Board in keeping with the proposals made by S. N. Roerich.

16. The Centre is the collector, custodian and holder of the heritage of the Roerich family transferred to the Foundation. The supervisor (director) of the Centre is a deputy of the chairman of the Foundation's Board.

17. The core of the Centre's scientific and creative activities is the study of the Roerich heritage, the development of the Roerichs' ideas and the elaboration of the fundamental problems of the cultural and natural heritage within the bounds of the cosmic evolution of mankind.

18. Cultural, scientific, enlightenment and other activities of the Centre are supervised by the Coordination Council comprised of experts directly involved in Centre's activities. The Council is headed by the supervisor (director) of the Centre.

19. The Centre provides scientific and methodological guidenesses for the branches and filial organization set up as Roerich organizations.

20. The administrative and technical structure of the Centre is formed by its director and is subject to the approval of the Foundation Bureau.

IV. THE LEGAL STATUS OF THE SOVIET ROERICH FOUNDATION

21. The Foundation is a legal body operating on the principles of economic independence and self-financing. It possesses its own property, has the right to conclude contracts, aquire property and other rights, and to take on the corresponding obligations. It has account, independent bank accounts and has legal right be a plaintiff of a respondent in a court law. The Centre, branches, organisations and enterprises of the Foudation possess the rights of a legal body.

22. The Foundation with all its branches, enterprises, establishments and organizations is tax-exempt and is also exempt the state duties and other forms of taxation.

23. The Foundation becomes a legal body on the day the present Statute is approved by the constituent conference.

24. The Foundation has the right:

- to conclude and supervise the implementation of economic and other contracts with state, public, cooperative and other organizations, with citizen groups and individual persons;

- to possess, make use and dispose of its own property;

- to settle all issues involved in production, financial, creative and other kinds of activities conducted by the subdivisions, organizations and enterprises created through the Foundation;

- to acquire equipment, materials and other goods from the wholesale, retail and commission networks and to pay for said items by money order or in cash.

25. Soviet, public and estate organizations, creative unions, work collectives, cooperatives, groups of citizens and individual persons rendering moral, material and financial support to the Roerich movement which recognize this Constitution can participate in the activities of the Foundation.

26. The State bears no responsibility for the obligations of the Foundation, its branches, organizations or enterprises. The Foundation, its branches, organizations and enterprises bear no responsibilities for the obligations of the State.

27. The Board of the Soviet Roerich Foundation and the N. K. Roerich Centre-Museum are located in Moscow.

V. THE ORGANISATIONAL STRUCTURE OF THE FOUNDATION

28. Svyatoslav Nikolayevich Roerich is the Honourary Chairman of the Foundation. Devika Rani Roerich is an Honourary Member of the Foundation.

29. The supreme governing body of the Foundation is the Ђll-Union Conference of the Soviet Roerich Foundation convened once every five years. The norms of representation and for the election of procedure of the conference's delegates are established by the Foundation Board.

30. The Ђll-Union Conference of the Foundation:

- approves the Constitution of the Foundation, and amends it;

- defines the guidelines for the activities of ihe Foundation;

- elects the Board and the Auditing Commission;

- hears and approves reports submitted by the Board and ihe Auditing Commission;

- examines the procedure for the termination of activities and other issues submitted for the consideration of the conference by the Foundation Board and the delegates of the conference.

31. In the period between the conferences, the activities of the Roerich Foundation are supervised by the Board which acts in accordance with this Constitution and the decrees adopted by conferences. The Board has the right of legislative initiative. The Board holds plenary meetings not less than once a year. These meetings have a quorum if not less than fifty per cent of the Board members are in attendace. The members of the Auditing Commission have the right to attend and the right to vote at said meetings.

32. The Foundation Board:

- elects the Chairman, the deputy chairman, the executive secretary and the Foundation and the Centre and their programmes;

- with the attendance of not less than two-thirds of the composition of the Board, when necessary, can co-opt new members of the Board, as well as relieve members of the Board from this participation in its work, but these actions can effect more than one third of the overall membership;

- approves the budget of the Foundation for the forthcoming fiscal year and the report on the execution of the budget of the Foundation lor the preceeding fiscal year;

- revises and admends the present Constitution and essential documents pertaining to the activities of the Foundation;

- examines and settles all issues which do not fall under the jurisdiction of ihe All-Union Conference of the Foundation.

33. The Chairman, his deputies, the executive secretary are responsible for the day-to-day supervision of the activities of the Foundation;

- represent the interests of the Foundation in all enterprises, establishments and organizations both in the USSR and abroad;

- conclude and dissolve contracts.

34. The supervisor (director) of the Centre enjoys the rights listed in para. 33 concerning the day-to-day supervision of the activities of the Centre.

35. In the interim between meetings of the Foundation Board, the Bureau is the governing body,

The Foundation Bureau:

- supervises the activities of the staff of the Foundation Board, its branches and departments;

- makes the decision to award the above mentioned prizes and medals;

- approves the structure and estimates for the maintenance of the staffs of the Foundation Board and the Centre;

- approves the budget of the Centre for the forthcoming fiscal year and the report on the execution of the budget of the Centre for the proceeding fiscal year;

- creates and liquidates internal departments, creative, scientific, cultural-enlightenment organisations, services, and interprises with juridical rights operating within the Foundation and ratifies their Constitutions and Regulations;

- approves the appointment of senior officials to the Foundation staff and to the staff of the enterprises and organizations which are part of the Foundation structure;

- examines and resolves all other issues involved in the activities of the Foundation which, under the present Constitution, do not fall under the exclusive jurisdiction of the conference of the Foundation Board.

36. The executive body of the Foundation is the Secretariat. The executive secretary of the Foundation Board supervises the work of the Secretariat and bears responsibility for its activities before the bureau.

The Secretariat:

- implements the plans of action of the Board and the Bureau;

- develops and distributes the various informational materials;

- guides the economic activities of the Foundation;

- organizes the implementation oi the decisions made by the Board and the Bureau;

- quickly and efficiently settles financial, material and technical issues, and prepares relevant (proposals on issues falling under the jurisdiction of the Board and the Bureau.

37. The Auditing Commision supervises the observance of the present Constitution the established business procedures, the financial and economic activities of the Foundation, the Centre, organizations and enterprises. It verifies the work by inspecting letters, petitions and proposals, in order to preserve the cultural, scientific, artistic and other values of the Foundation.

38. The Bureau of the Foundation Board forms the Council of senior officials of Roerich organizations on the territory of the USSR and cooperate with the Foundation on voluntary basis,

39. The Bureau of the Foundation Board forms the international Coordination Council whose membership is comprised of representatives of the Foundation and of representatives of foreign Roerich organizations who have joined it on the voluntary basis.

40. The Foundation creates its branches, organizations and enterprises on the territory of the USSR and abroad with the rights of a juridical unit.

VI. MEANS AND FINANCIAL-ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES OF
THE SOVIET ROERICH FOUNDATION

41. The means of the Foundation are formed by:

- voluntary contributions (in any currency), gifts and donations by public and state organizations, creative unions, work collectives, enterprises, institutions, cooperatives, groups of citizens and individuals;

- a percentage of the profits made by enterprises and organizations set up by the Foundation;

- profits from publishing activities;

- receipts from foreign funds, societies, organizations and individuals in the form of fiscal means, material and cultural valuable and immovable property;

- proceeds from the activities conducted for the benefit of the Foundation: lotteries, exhibitions, etc.;

- contributions from founder-organizations: the Soviet Peace Fund, the Soviet Cultural Foundation and others;

- state grants and subsidies.

42. The Foundation creates:

- enterprises and organizations to conduct economic activities and has the right to be engaged in the construction, at its own expense or through a second party;

- joint enterprises and organizations with the participation of Soviet and foreign organizations, as well to be directly involved in the foreign economic activities which correspond to its goals and aims.

43. In accordance with the decision of the Foundation's conference, the Board and the Bureau independently decide how to use means, determine the scale and the order of priority in expenditures, the forms and systems of renumerating the workers in the apparatus of the Foundation and organizations and enterprises which are a part of its structure, the order of relations with them, the amount of author's emoluments, prices for the work done and services rendered; for all subdivisions of the Foundation there is no set labour limit.

44. Payment for labour is effected from the finances which the Foundation has at its disposal. Salaries and wages are determined taking into account the contribution made by each individual worker, and the maximum sum is not limited. All workers of the Foundation enjoy civil rights in accordance with the Soviet law.

45. The Foundation does not have a calender of plans for economic and social development; it carries out its activities in accordance with concluded economic contracts, and in this manner independently settles the issue estimated profits and expenditures. The Foundation plans its activities on an annual basis. The resolution of these issues falls within the competence of the Foundation.

46. The property of the Foundation (including its financial resources) shall not be divided into normative funds, is consider to be a whole and is disbursed by the Foundation at its own discretion. Travelling and economic expenses are not subject to limitation, and the money is dispences as necessity arises and in accordance with the Foundation's plans. The daily norms for economic expenditures are not limited.

47. The Foundation Bureau, as well as branches, departments and foreign representations of the Foundation, open accounts special deposits from citizens and organizations indicated for the implementation of specific programmes, projects and individual initiatives of the Foundation and defraying current payment schedules.

 

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