Founding General Meeting: Workshop 1

Around 20 people in person and 4 online joined the governance team in this space to discuss and refine the articles for the Constitution of the future pan-European umbrella bi+ organisation. Darienne Flemington (she/her) is a member of Bi+ Equal Governance Pool of Consultant and will moderate all the Founding General Meeting workshops so we can all smoothly get to the voting session. 

You have access to all information and documents regarding the F-GM on Shaping The Future page


MINUTES OF THIS WORKSHOP:

Both Anti-Discrimination and Anti-Harassment policies were adopted for consideration of the above article at the plenary

1. Country of Registration and type of entity

Bi+ Equal team proposes that the entity be registered as an Association with full legal capacity (vereniging in Dutch) in the Netherlands, which requires (at least) two individuals for registration, which equals the legal minimum number of Board members. 

Individuals registering the Association are considered the first Board until the next General Meeting, where the following Board members are elected.

→ The recommendation was adopted for consideration of the above article at the plenary. 

2. Name

Bi+ Equal

→ The recommendation was adopted for consideration of the above article at the plenary. 

3. Covered territory

Bi+ Equal covers the pan-European countries, including the Countries of the Council of Europe and the following Central Asian Countries: Kazakhstan, Kyrgyz Republic, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, while acknowledging the territories, self-governed or not, whose indigenous people do not identify themselves and their lands as part of a country named in legal and/or international documents and/or systems.

→ The recommendation was adopted for consideration of the above article at the plenary. 

4. Purpose

Bi+ Equal are a pan-European member-based organisation, whose aim is to end and counter bi+ erasure and invisibilisation in social, political and economic aspects of human lives, protect, advance and advocate for the human rights, freedom, equity and equality, access to care, dignity, non-discrimination, security and belonging of bi+ people in pan-European region, through community building, advocacy, awareness raising and knowledge sharing.

→ The recommendation was adopted for consideration of the above paragraph at the plenary. 

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Bi+ Equal honour the diversity of lived experiences in relation to power and acknowledge intersectional privileges and challenge all forms of intersectional oppressions. We position ourselves as an anti-racist, intersectional feminist, trans, and gender diverse inclusive organisation.

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→ The recommendation was adopted for consideration of the above paragraph at the plenary. 

"Bi+” is an umbrella term for all people whose sexual orientation is focused on people of more than one gender. They might or might not identify as bi+, bisexual, pansexual, queer, fluid, etc. The term bi+ is becoming common in its respective communities, as it is a broader and more inclusive term than bisexuality.

→ The recommendation is to replace the above paragraph and give a choice to the plenary between the following options: 

"Bi+” is an umbrella term for all people whose sexual, romantic, and/or emotional attraction and/or behavior is focused on people of more than one gender. They might or might not identify as bi+.
The term bi+ is becoming common in its respective communities, as it is a broader and more inclusive term than bisexuality.

OR 

"Bi+” is an umbrella term for all people whose sexual and/or romantic orientation is focused on people of more than one gender. They might or might not identify as bi+.
The term bi+ is becoming common in its respective communities, as it is a broader and more inclusive term than bisexuality.

 5. Governance structure

5.1 Governance bodies at Bi+ Equal

Governing bodies are composed of:

1. The Community Membership and the General Meeting
The Bi+ Equal Community membership and the General Meeting is the highest decision-making body, determining the general policy and direction of Bi+ Equal.

→ The recommendation was adopted for consideration of the above paragraph at the plenary.

2. The Board, appointed and accountable to Community members

The Bi+ Equal Board (the Committee in Dutch administrative system) is the body that governs the organisation between General Meetings, providing overall direction, overseeing strategic implementation, supervising staff, and managing financial policy. Core responsibilities include strategic guidance, engaging with membership, formulating policies, financial oversight, and supporting the Executive Director. The Board is appointed by the membership through elections and is composed of 5 to 9 members. 

→ The recommendation was adopted for consideration of the above paragraph at the plenary.

Every Board member can serve a maximum of 3 (three) consecutive mandates of 2 (two) years per Board member, to ensure both the learning curve and turnover at the the Bi+ Equal Board.The Board is appointed by the membership through elections and is composed of 5 to 9 members.

→ The recommendation was adopted for consideration of the above paragraph at the plenary.

Other supporting satellite entities, i.e. advisory board, consultants, working groups, etc. are created and appointed by the Board upon need and circumstances. The possibility of the creation of these satellite entities will be mentioned in the constitution (statuten).

→ The recommendation was adopted for consideration of the above paragraph at the plenary. 

Should the number of board members fall to three or fewer within six months of the General Meeting, indicating a dysfunctional Board and impacting the organisation, an Emergency General Meeting (EGM) can be convened. This EGM would serve to appoint up to three new Board members, who would serve until the next General Meeting.

→ The recommendation was adopted for removal of the above paragraph.

3. The Staff

Bi+ Equal Staff’s main purpose is to carry out the work defined in the strategic framework and annual work program, using methods like advocacy, capacity building, communication, litigation, and strategic partnership. The Executive Director leads the staff and is responsible for strategic direction, governance, risk management, and organisational developments.
Staff members cannot be part of the Board or Satellite entities.

→ The recommendation was adopted for consideration of the above paragraph at the plenary. 

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End of the workshop

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