3. Official Bodies

3.1. WACS – National Membership

3.1.1 As a rule, a general meeting of members is held every two years in the form of a congress.

3.1.2. The congress is convened by the Board of Directors by giving twelve (12) weeks advance notice with an announcement of the agenda in the four official languages of WACS. The use of proxy votes will only be permitted on pre-circulated highlighted agenda items. The use of proxy votes will not be permitted on items introduced throughout the duration of the applicable business sessions. Application for the next congress, nominations for Continental Directors, nominations for the presidium must be submitted no later than 26 weeks prior to congress. Proxy votes must be agenda specific and in writing.

3.1.4. Each National Member Society can be represented at the congress with only one (1) vote. Delegates must have a letter of designation.

3.1.5. There is nothing to prevent the attendance of further participants of societies. The congress costs of all participants from societies will be paid by their respective societies.

3.1.6. Each National Member Society, which is unable to send its own representative to the Congress, is entitled to be represented by one other member society. This fact must be notified to the Executive Committee before the Congress. Each National Member Society may carry only one (1) additional vote (proxy) other than its own.

3.1.7. As the supreme body of WACS, the congress makes decisions on all-important agenda items by a majority of the votes cast.

3.1.8. Voting by secret ballot may be requested by the Board of Directors or at least five (5) National Members Societies, which have voting rights.

3.1.9. Every four (4) years, the delegates elect a legitimate National Member Society to represent the WACS Presidium.

3.1.10. Amendments to the statutes require a majority vote by a two-thirds of illegible votes either present by proxy or participants proxy holders who are entitled to vote.

3.1.11. The Congress is the supreme body of WACS and its decision on differences of opinion within the Congress is final. All the legitimate parties belonging to WACS must accept this arbitration ruling in a democratic manner.

3.1.12. Congress applications are screened by the congress committee who will recommend a maximum of four (4) proposals to be voted on by the congress delegates. If a majority of 51% is not achieved in the first round, than the top two proposals will again be voted on.

3.1.13. The President will appoint a Sergeant of Arms, who will responsible for ensuring orderly proceedings at the Congress meeting.

3.2 WACS Board of Directors

3.2.1. The WACS Board of Directors is composed of the duly elected Presidium, the Ambassador and the Continental Directors. The President convenes the meetings and conducts their proceedings. He is required to convene a meeting if three members of the board so request and the financial situation of the World Association so permits.

3.2.2. The Board normally holds one meeting a year.

3.3 WACS Presidium

3.3.1. WACS is headed by the Presidium, which consists of the President, the Vice-President, the Secretary General and the Treasurer. The Presidium has its seat in the country from which it has been elected by the Congress. The elected WACS President appoints the WACS Vice-President, the WACS Secretary General and on a proposal from the Swiss Cooks’ Society, the WACS Treasurer.

3.3.2. The term of office is four (4) years.

3.3.3. In the event of any disputes between legitimate WACS member societies the Presidium may be asked to act as an intermediary if the parties wish to be mediated.

3.3.4. The WACS Presidium is also required to intervene on its own initiative if the interests or unity of WACS are threatened. Towards this purpose and for fair and equal handling of the issues, supporting documents are requested to be made available by the relevant WACS member parties. The WACS and the Board of Directors will issue a statement, which should be considered final, and no further correspondence may be entered into.

3.3.5. WACS President and Vice President

3.3.5.1. The WACS President and Vice President supervise the administration and the business of WACS.

3.3.6. WACS Secretary General

3.3.6.1. The WACS Secretary General conducts the correspondence of WACS on behalf of the Presidium and the Board of Directors. He/she drafts the reports, writes the minutes, and handles the current correspondence of WACS.

3.3.7. WACS Treasurer

3.3.7.1. The WACS Treasurer is responsible for the handling of the financial matters of WACS, at the discretion of the WACS Board, on behalf of the WACS National Member Societies, Extraordinary Members and Corporate Members.

3.3.7.2. The Treasurer keeps and maintains the permanent address lists of all WACS members and ensures the safe continuity of WACS business by maintaining the officially designated WACS office in Switzerland. The Treasure works alongside the WACS Secretary General to obtain this objective.

3.4 WACS Continental Directors

3.4.1 The Continental Directors represent the areas of
Africa-Middle East (1), The Americas (1), Asia (1), Europe (3) and Pacific Region (1).
The Continental Directors are elected by the legitimate present member countries of their designated area/continent.

3.4.2. On alternate WACS congresses, in between the presidential elections, the legitimate present national members countries elect the Continental Directors for a term of four (4) years and they may appoint regional assistants at their discretion.

Special Regulation

In the year 2004, the Continental Directors will be elected for a two (2) year term only. In 2006 and onward, the Continental Directors will be elected for a full four (4) year term.

3.4.3. The WACS Continental Directors are elected from the National Member Societies which do not belong to the WACS Presidium.

3.4.4. The Continental Directors represent the National Member Societies in their respective regions and advise the WACS Presidium on all-important matters of WACS, in particular on professional matters, questions of training and further training, the organization of competitions and new membership.

3.5 WACS Ambassadors

3.5.1. As a general rule, the ingoing WACS President appoints the outgoing WACS President as WACS Ambassador for a one four (4) year term of office.

3.5.2. The WACS Ambassador assists and advises the WACS Presidium and the Board of Directors.

3.5.3. The Ambassador may be asked to handle special tasks and projects for WACS.

3.6. WACS Culinary Committee

3.6.1. The President appoints a WACS Culinary Committee, which is instructed to prepare guidelines and rules on WACS international culinary exhibitions and competitions, and to ensure the further development of such events.

3.6.2. It also supervises the correct conduct of such competitions and the qualification criteria of the jurors accredited by WACS and their instructions.

3.6.3. The WACS Culinary Committee reviews requests for WACS sanctioned events.

3.6.4. The tenure of the WACS Culinary Committee is reviewed by the WACS Board of Directors.