CFPA :: Resume of Shen Che

The Constitution of the World Folklore Photographers Association, UNESCO (Draft)

Chapter Ⅰ General Principles

Article1. The title of the association is “世界民俗摄影家协会”.
The English title is “World Folklore Photographers Association”.
Acronym: WFPA

Article2. WFPA is an international non-official professional association under UNESCO, an independent, unprofitable body.

Article3. Philosophy:
To undertake the projects of UNESCO-------- Protection and Preservation of Cultural Heritage, and Mondialogo whose aim is to record, to spread, to share all diverse cultures. To unite those who love folklore all over the world and to call on those who are willing to shoulder the responsibility for this cause to record authentically the development and changes of all nationalities’ folklore by means of photographing, to explore, rescue, preserve and study folklore cultures and phenomena which are on the verge of vanishing, to carry forward the spirit of humanism as well as to promote and to strengthen the understanding and communication among different nationalities so as to do contributions to the world peace and prosperity and development of the world folklore cultures.

Article4. WFPA’S Tasks:
(1) To sponsor international folklore photography contest named“Humanity Photo Award”.
(2) To organize and project all kinds of activities of reporting and photographing folklore cultures all over the world, especially to salvage the world cultural heritages by photographing, to promote the intention of all the governments and all the people;
(3) To collect, exhibit and publish folklore photographic works, to build an internationally authoritative museum of folklore photos.
(4) To improve academic and theoretical studies on folklore photography, to train and enlarge qualified photographers, to set up teaching institutions of folklore photography.

ChapterⅡMembership

Article5. The main members of the Association are consisted of outstanding photographers, who should be the formal members after the approval of the Executive Council of WFPA.

Article6. Pre-membership will be granted to the photographers or the amateurs with certain professional knowledge of folklore and, including folklore scholars and researchers, as long as they admit this constitution and take part in the activities held by the association.

Article7. Honorary membership will be granted to the scholars who have made great contribution on the theory of folklore photographing, or to the persons in all circles who have make great contribution on promoting the undertaking of folklore photographing.

Members’ Rights and Obligations

Article8. Members enjoy the right to put forward suggestions and criticisms toward the Association. They have the right to vote and to be elected.

Article9. Members enjoy the right to participate in activities, such as reporting, photographing, exhibition, communication and studying, etc.

Article10. Members enjoy the right to withdraw from WFPA.

Article11. Members enjoy the right to apply the teaching institutions of the association for a further study or training.

Article12. Members enjoy the right to protect its works’ valid rights form being violated through international Associations concerned.

Article13. Members shoulder the obligations to abide by this constitution, carry out its resolutions and pay membership dues on time.

Article14. Members shoulder the obligation to collect, photographing pictures about their own national folklore cultures for the Association.

Article15. Members shoulder the obligation to help the members from the Association or from other countries to visit, take photos, exhibit, etc. in their own native lands.

Article16. Members shoulder the obligation to introduce and absorb new members.

Article17. Members shoulder the obligation to maintain the good image and prestige of the Association.

Article18. Members who offend WFPA’s constitution will be deprived of their membership.

Chapter Ⅲ Association System

Article19. The supreme power organ is the Membership Congress, which convenes once every four years.

Article20. Authority of the Membership Congress:
(1) To decide the major issues of WFPA.
(2) To listen to and examine the activities report and financial statement from WFPA, then to award the Treasurer the incorruptible certificate.
(3) To elect the Executive Council.

Article21. Executive Council is composed by several members (below 50 person), which convenes once every year when the Membership Congress closed.

Article22. Authorities of the Executive Council are:
(1) To elect the Chairman, Vice Chairman, Treasurer and Director of the international secretariat of WFPA.
(2) To discuss and decide the important issues of WFPA.
Article23 To set up a board of supervisors, which adopts an appointment system and monitors daily work of the Executive Council.

Chapter Ⅳ funds

Article 24. The funds of WFPA come from:
(1) The Foundation Committee of WFPA.
(2) Social donations.
(3) Members tax of WFPA.
(4) Other commonweal donations.

ChapterⅤ Appendix

Article25. This constitution comes into effect only after being approved by WFPA Members Congress.

Article26. The right to amend this constitution belongs to WFPA Members Congress while the right to interpret it to the Executive Council.

Article27. To terminate the activities of the WFPA must be approved by the Members Congress.