Must a non-profit association hold a general assembly?

The 1901 Act does not impose it itself, but the bylaws almost always provide for it, and funders and banks require the minutes. In practice, the annual general meeting is the rule: it approves the accounts and renews mandates.

What is the notice period for a general meeting?

The notice period is that set by the bylaws, often fifteen days to one month before the meeting. In the absence of a specific clause, use a reasonable period allowing everyone to organise, with an agenda attached to the notice.

What happens if the quorum is not reached?

The bylaws generally provide for a second notice, often without a quorum requirement, at a later date. Without such a clause, the meeting cannot validly deliberate and the decisions taken can be challenged.

Is electronic voting possible during a general meeting?

Yes, if provided for in the articles of association or the internal regulations. It must be possible to guarantee the identification of voters, the uniqueness of the vote, and the preservation of results, and to annex the list of voters to the minutes.

What should the general assembly minutes contain?

The date and location, the method of notice, the composition of the meeting board, the number of members present and represented, the agenda, the text of each resolution with the voting result, and the signature of the persons authorised by the bylaws.

Association general meeting: user guide

Published on 2026-08-08 · By the team Bonjour — Un Pour Tous Et Tous Pour Un, Paris

The general assembly is the moment when the association is held accountable and renews its legitimacy. It is also when irregularities have consequences: a late notice or an imprecise agenda is enough to make a deliberation contestable. Here is the sequence, step by step.

Ordinary or Extraordinary General Meeting: making the right choice

Řádná valná hromada řeší běžný život: zprávu o činnosti, roční účetní závěrku, rozpočet, volbu vedení. Mimořádná valná hromada je vyhrazena pro rozhodnutí týkající se zakládací smlouvy — změna stanov, změna účelu, fúze, zánik — obvykle s posíleným kvórem a většinou. Nechat hlasovat o změně stanov na řádné valné hromadě je chybou, která nejvíce oslabuje platnost rozhodnutí.

Připravit svolání

Who convenes. The body designated by the bylaws, respecting cases of convening at the request of a fraction of the members.
Deadline and form. Those of the bylaws. Email is admitted if provided for or if it constitutes accepted practice, with a record of sending kept.
Agenda. Precise: a poorly announced resolution can be canceled. Provide the proxy form if the bylaws allow representation.
Attached documents. Accounts, financial report, draft resolutions: sending them in advance avoids sterile debates.

Uspořádat zasedání

Začněte prezenční listinou a sčítáním plných mocí, poté před jakýmkoli hlasováním ověřte kvórum. Procházejte program jednání v ohlášeném pořadí, nechte hlasovat o každém usnesení zvlášť a přesně zaznamenejte výsledky — pro, proti, zdrželi se. Různé body nemohou vést k rozhodnutí zavazujícímu asociaci, pokud nebyly na programu jednání.

Po valné hromadě: povinné následné kroky

Draft and have the minutes signed, then archive them with the attendance sheet and proxies.
Declare any change of leaders or bylaws to the association registry, in principle within three months.
Transmit the approved accounts to funders who require them and, if applicable, publish the annual accounts.
Update bank mandates and signature delegations.

Valná hromada na jedno kliknutí s Bonjour

The assembly module of Bonjour sequences the notice, proxies, sign-in, voting on resolutions, and generation of the electronically signed minutes. Voter lists come from the membership register up to date with dues, which eliminates the most frequent dispute: "who had the right to vote that day." Decisions and their documents remain timestamped in the audit log.

Frequently asked questions

Must a non-profit association hold a general assembly?: The 1901 Act does not impose it itself, but the bylaws almost always provide for it, and funders and banks require the minutes. In practice, the annual general meeting is the rule: it approves the accounts and renews mandates.
What is the notice period for a general meeting?: The notice period is that set by the bylaws, often fifteen days to one month before the meeting. In the absence of a specific clause, use a reasonable period allowing everyone to organise, with an agenda attached to the notice.
What happens if the quorum is not reached?: The bylaws generally provide for a second notice, often without a quorum requirement, at a later date. Without such a clause, the meeting cannot validly deliberate and the decisions taken can be challenged.
Is electronic voting possible during a general meeting?: Yes, if provided for in the articles of association or the internal regulations. It must be possible to guarantee the identification of voters, the uniqueness of the vote, and the preservation of results, and to annex the list of voters to the minutes.
What should the general assembly minutes contain?: The date and location, the method of notice, the composition of the meeting board, the number of members present and represented, the agenda, the text of each resolution with the voting result, and the signature of the persons authorised by the bylaws.

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Informational article, not intended as legal advice. Your bylaws always take precedence over the practices described here.

Organise the general meeting of an association