By-laws of the Family Association of the Barons von Hahn
[Familienverband der Barone und Freiherren von Hahn]
ARTICLE 1
It shall be the purpose of the Association to
a) cultivate a responsible sense of family belonging in the spirit of the origin and tradition of the family,
b) cultivate a deep common bond between family members
c) carry out genealogical research
d) assist family members in need
e) safeguard the reputation of the family and promote all measures required for that purpose.
ARTICLE 2
The headquarters of the Family Association of the Barons von Hahn shall be in Munich. The Association shall be registered in the Register of Associations at the Munich Local Court [Amtsgericht] (VR 5966).
ARTICLE 3
The following can be members of the Association:
1. The bearers of the exclusive [alleinig] name "Baron von Hahn", meaning
a) the legitimate male and unmarried female offspring in the male lineage descending from Heinrich Hane enfeoffed with Postenden (Courland), provided they are of age and have no previous convictions,
b) the wives and widows of members of the Association as per 1.a), the latter only until they remarry.
2. The bearers of other names that do not contain the name as per 1., meaning
the married daughters from marriages as per 1.a) and 1 b).
ARTICLE 4
The members of the Association shall pay an annual membership fee the amount of which can be set by the Family Reunion for future business years. Where no such fee has been set the members themselves may determine the amount of the fee.
Any member who has failed to pay the membership fee for two consecutive business years, without having been exempted from payment by the Executive Committee, can be expelled by the Executive Committee at the end of the second year of business. Such members may be re-admitted.
ARTICLE 5
The Family Reunion may expel unworthy members by a two-thirds majority.
ARTICLE 6
The organs of the Association shall be the Family Reunion (general meeting) and the Executive Committee.
ARTICLE 7
The Family Reunion shall consist of all members of the Association. Absent members may be rep-resented by attending members but no-one may hold more than two proxies. Unless provided oth-erwise by the By-laws, decisions shall be made by simple majority. In the case of a tied vote the Chairperson shall cast the deciding vote.
ARTICLE 8
Family Reunions shall be convened by written invitation to all members at least four weeks in ad-vance and with an agenda. The venue and time of the Family Reunion shall be determined by the Executive Committee. The Chairperson shall chair the Family Reunion.
ARTICLE 9
The Family Reunion shall have a quorum if at least one fifth of the members residing in Germany are either present in person or are represented by proxies. In the absence of a quorum, the Execu-tive Committee may still deliberate and decide on the agenda items if the notice of the reunion has so indicated. However, decisions on the acceptance or expulsion of members, on changes to the by-laws, or on the dissolution of the Association may be made in such cases only with a minimum of one seventh of the entire membership.
ARTICLE 10
The Family Reunion shall deal with all decisions of special importance, including the election of the Executive Committee, acceptance of the report of the Executive Committee, directions to the Executive Committee, expulsion of members, determining the membership fee, changes to the by-laws, and dissolution of the Association, and, if applicable, also the admission of members. Changes to the by-laws and the dissolution of the Association may be decided only with a two-thirds majority.
ARTICLE 11
Regular Family Reunions shall take place every second year. A Family Reunion shall be convened if requested by one-fifth of the membership.
ARTICLE 12
The Executive Committee shall be composed of the Chairperson and his/her First and Second Vice-Chairperson. Each of them shall be entitled to act as sole representative of the Association. The Executive Committee shall be elected by the Family Reunion for three years but shall remain in office until a new election or re-election. The Family Reunion may at any time relieve members of the Executive Committee of their duties and immediately elect replacements. The Executive Committee shall manage the affairs of the Association and shall also decide on the relief for indi-viduals in need unless provided otherwise by Article 14.
ARTICLE 13
The Family Reunion and the Executive Committee may make decisions also in writing. This method of decision-making shall be chosen if the Executive Committee considers it as necessary or expedient. A quorum for such decisions shall exist if a minimum of one fifth of the membership votes.
ARTICLE 14
A special section for the members of the family living in Canada shall be established if the majority of those members so desires. Their powers within the by-laws shall be defined in agreement with the Executive Committee, if necessary by the Family Reunion. The same shall apply to members not living in Canada.
If a member living in Canada is elected to the Executive Committee, he/she may arrange to be represented by proxy for business transacted in Germany. Any member of the Executive Commit-tee living in Germany may be similarly represented in Canada.
ARTICLE 15
If the Association is dissolved, the Family Reunion shall decide on how the assets of the Associa-tion are to be used.
If it is impossible for reasons of force majeure, war, unrests, or other extraordinary circumstances to convene a Family Reunion and if decision-making in writing is also not possible, the decisions on the dissolution of the Association and the use of its assets shall be made by the Chairperson of the Executive Committee; if he/she is unable to do so, by the First Vice-Chairperson, and, if he/she is unable to do so, by the Second Vice-Chairperson, if possible in agreement with those members of the Association who could be contacted.
ARTICLE 16
All decisions made by Family Reunions shall be recorded in Minutes which shall be signed by a member of the Executive Committee.
The by-laws were created in Frankfurt a.M. on 20 October 1957.
Paul-Adolf Baron v. Hahn
a.d. H. Postenden-Asuppen, Weiß-Plonian,
Herbert Baron Hahn
a.d.H. Slugtin-Pommusch, Alt-Sallensee,
Joachim Baron Hahn
a.d.H. Postenden, Zawierz,
Dr. Baron v. Hahn
a.d.H. Memelhof, Regenhof.
Wilhelm Freiherr von Hahn
a.d.H. Memelhof, Rengenhof
Franz Baron Hahn
a.d.H. Memelhof, Herbergen,
Freiherr Hans Hahn
a.d.H. Postenden, Schnepeln
Entered in the Register of Associations - Munich Local Court, Registration Court, Volume 49, No. 98 - on 7 March 1958. The above versions of Articles 2, 3, and 12 were adopted by the Family Re-union on 15 May 1976.