The Latvian Music Therapy Association (LMuzta) was founded on November 24, 2005 (registered). The goals of the association: promoting public health and well-being by uniting music therapists and/or music therapy specialists in Latvia; organizing and coordinating the work of the Latvian Music Therapy Association in connection with the protection and popularization of the profession of music therapists/therapists; developing cooperation with similar professional organizations in Latvia and the world.

The Latvian Music Therapy Association (Reg. No. 40008096147) is a public non-profit organization that unites Latvian music therapists and/or music therapy specialists, psychologists, educators, medical workers, social workers, artists and operates in accordance with the procedure established by the laws of the Republic of Latvia and in accordance with these statutes, it has a scientific, professional and educational nature.

The association unites members and candidates for membership. Members and candidate members of the Latvian Music Therapy Association are also members and candidate members of the European Music Therapy Confederation (EMTC) and the World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT). Members may be qualified music therapists or music therapy specialists, but students and other interested parties may be candidate members of the organization. The website of the Latvian Music Therapy Association is: www.muzikasterapija.lv

Regulation of the Latvian Music Therapy Association

1. Name of the Association

1.1. The name of the Association is “Latvian Music Therapy Association” (hereinafter referred to as the Association).

2. Objectives of the Association

2.1. To unite Latvian music therapists, music therapy students and specialists who use music therapy methods and techniques in their work in the professional organization “Latvian Music Therapy Association”.

2.2. To develop and maintain training and professional standards and monitor the implementation of professional standards in music therapy in Latvia, based on the experience of professional organizations in Europe and other countries.

2.3. To take care of the protection of the economic and professional interests of members.

2.4. To popularize the ideas and profession of music therapy in Latvia.

3. Types of activities

3.1. To organize opportunities for exchange of experience and professional growth within the Association and in cooperation with other professional organizations in Latvia and the world.

3.2. Supporting the certification and recertification of members.

3.3. Inclusion in the activities of the European Confederation of Music Therapy.

3.4. Cooperation with state and local government institutions, other organizations, mass media and other legal and natural persons.

3.5. Participation, to the extent possible, in the development of laws and regulations on issues related to the art therapy sector and the professional activities of art therapists.

3.6. Carrying out public activities that do not contradict existing laws and regulations.

3.7. Developing recommendations and projects related to music therapy in order to increase the contribution of music therapists to health and social care, education and science.

3.8. Carrying out public benefit activities.

4. Term of the Association

4.1. The Association is established for an indefinite period.

5. Membership, withdrawal and expulsion from the Association

5.1 The Association may have three types of members: full members, promoting members and honorary members.

5.2. Music therapists who have received education in accordance with the professional standard of an art therapist may become full members of the Association.

5.3. Music therapy students, specialists who use music therapy in their work, as well as other interested parties, natural persons and legal entities (hereinafter, promoting members) who have familiarized themselves with the Association’s statutes and undertake to fulfill them, as well as to promote the implementation of the Association’s goals and objectives.

5.4. Honorary members, who may be natural persons or legal entities, who may be elected for a significant contribution to the activities of the “Latvian Music Therapy Association” and the development of music therapy in Latvia.

5.5. To join the Association, the applicant shall submit a written application in a specified form.

5.6. Applicants shall pay the entrance fee in the amount determined by the general meeting of members. The decision on the admission of a member to the Association shall be made by the Board. The Board shall consider the applicant’s application during the nearest meeting, but no later than one month from the date of receipt of all necessary documents. The applicant shall be invited to the meeting of the Board at which the applicant’s application is considered and given the floor to express his/her opinion. The applicant’s failure to appear shall not be an obstacle to the adoption of the Board’s decision. The Board shall notify the applicant of the motivated decision in writing within a week from the date of its adoption.

5.7. The applicant may appeal the Board’s rejection decision in writing to the general meeting of members. If the general meeting of members rejects the applicant’s application, the applicant shall not be admitted as a member of the Association, and he/she may submit a repeated application no sooner than after the expiry of the one-year term.

5.8. A member may withdraw from the Association at any time by notifying the Board of Directors in writing.

5.9. A member may be expelled from the Association by decision of the Board of Directors if:

5.9.1. The member has not paid the membership fee for more than 12 months;

5.9.2. The member fails to comply with the decisions of the general meeting and the Board of Directors;

5.9.3. The member fails to fulfill his/her duties and obligations;

5.9.4. The member performs other activities that are contrary to the provisions of these Statutes;

5.9.5. The member’s actions are incompatible with the prestige of the profession, ethical norms or principles of good practice of a music therapist or, respectively, a person who uses music therapy in his/her professional work in the field of education, health care or social care.

5.10. The Board shall consider the issue of the expulsion of a member of the Association during the next meeting, inviting the member to be expelled and giving him the floor to express his opinion. The absence of the member to be expelled shall not be an obstacle to the adoption of the Board’s decision. The Board shall notify the member to be expelled of the decision to be expelled in writing within five working days from the date of its adoption.

5.11. The Board may admit members who have withdrawn to the Association on the basis of an application. Expelled members may be admitted to the Association by a meeting of members with a ¾ majority of votes of the members present, upon the proposal of the Board.

5.12. The candidacy of an honorary member shall be nominated by two members of the Association or the Board. An honorary member shall be elected at a meeting of members of the Association with his consent. An honorary member may withdraw from the Association at any time by notifying the Board in writing. An honorary member shall not pay an entry fee.

5.13. If an honorary member of the Association performs an action that is contrary to the provisions of these Statutes, the Board has the right to expel him/her from the Association.

5.14. Supporting members and Honorary members do not have voting rights at the meeting of members of the Association.

6. Rights and obligations of members

6.1. Full members of the Association have the following rights:

6.1.1 To participate in the management of the Association;

6.1.2. To receive information about the activities of the Association, including to familiarize themselves with the protocols, decisions and orders of all the institutions of the Association;

6.1.3. To participate in all events organized by the Association, to submit proposals for the activities of the Association and its improvement, to defend their opinion;

6.1.4. To organize and participate in discussions and deliberations for the better performance of professional tasks;

6.1.5. To participate in the work of committees and working (interest) groups organized by the Association;

6.1.6. To ask the Association for assistance, including the provision of an expert opinion, in resolving professional conflicts;

6.1.7. In accordance with the procedure provided for by law and the statutes, request the convening of an extraordinary General Meeting or Board meeting and raise issues for its agenda.

6.2. The Association shall implement the duties of members:

6.2.1. To comply with the Statutes of the Association and to fulfill the decisions of the general meeting and the board;

6.2.2. To pay membership fees regularly;

6.2.3. To support the implementation of the Association’s goals and objectives with their active participation;

6.2.4. To notify about changes in personal data and place of residence;

6.2.5. To refrain from any action that could harm the activities or further development of the Association, the good name and reputation of the Association, or hinder the implementation of the goals and objectives of the Association;

6.2.6. To perform special obligations determined by the general meeting or the board’s decision. When imposing obligations on a member that differ from the obligations of other members, the consent of this member is required.

6.3. The Association’s promoting members have the right to:

6.3.1. Receive information about the activities of the Association, including familiarization with the protocols, decisions and orders of all the Association’s institutions;

6.3.2. Participate in all events organized by the Association, submit proposals for the activities of the Association and its improvement, defend their opinion;

6.3.3. Organize and participate in discussions and deliberations for the better performance of professional tasks;

6.3.4. Participate in the work of committees and working (interest) groups organized by the Association.

6.4. Obligations of the Association’s promoting members:

6.4.1. Comply with the Association’s statutes and fulfill the decisions of the members’ meeting and the board;

6.4.2. Regularly pay membership fees;

6.4.3. To support the implementation of the Association’s goals and objectives through their active participation;

6.4.4. To refrain from any action that could harm the Association’s activities or further development, the Association’s good name and reputation, or hinder the implementation of the Association’s goals and objectives;

6.4.5. The obligations of a promoted member may be determined by a decision of the members’ meeting or the board. When determining obligations for a promoted member that differ from the obligations of other members, the consent of this member is required.

6.5. Honorary members of the Association have the right to:

6.5.1. To receive information about the Association’s activities;

6.5.2. To participate in all events organized by the Association free of charge;

6.5.3. To submit proposals regarding the Association’s activities and its improvement, to defend their opinion.

6.6. Honorary members of the Association are obliged to support the implementation of the Association’s goals with their active participation. Honorary members are not obliged to pay membership fees.

7. Structural units of the Association

7.1. Territorial and other structural units of the Association may be established by decision of the members’ meeting.

7.2. The activities, rights and obligations of a structural unit, as well as its relations with the Association, are regulated by the regulations of the structural unit, which are approved by the members’ meeting.

8. Convening of the General Meeting and Decision-Making

8.1. The General Meeting is the highest decision-making body of the Association.

8.2. All members of the Association are entitled to participate in the General Meeting, but only members with voting rights may vote. Voting takes place either in person or with a written authorization issued by a member with voting rights. The Board of the Association determines how many authorizations can be issued to one member with voting rights.

8.3. The regular General Meeting is convened once a year – no later than March 31.

8.4. An extraordinary General Meeting may be convened at the initiative of the Board or if requested in writing by not less than one tenth of the members of the Association, indicating the reason for the convening.

8.5. The general meeting is convened by sending an invitation to each member to the specified e-mail address no later than two weeks before the meeting.

8.6. The general meeting is quorate if more than half of the members with voting rights participate in it.

8.7. If the general meeting is not quorate due to lack of a quorum, a repeated general meeting is convened within three weeks, which is entitled to make decisions regardless of the number of members present, provided that at least two members participate in it.

8.8. The decision of the general meeting is adopted if more than half of the members present vote for it. The decision on amendments to the statutes, termination and continuation of the activities of the Association is adopted if more than two-thirds of the members present vote for it.

9. Executive body

9.1. The executive body of the Association is the Board, which consists of five Board members.

9.2. The members of the Board of the Association are elected by the General Meeting of Members for a term of 3 (three) years, with the right to be re-elected a second time.

9.3. The Board members elect the Chairman of the Board and the Deputy Chairman of the Board from among themselves.

9.4. The Board is entitled to decide on all issues that are not within the exclusive competence of the General Meeting of Members.

9.5. A Board member performs his duties with or without remuneration.

9.6. Board members are entitled to represent the Association jointly with one of the Board members.

9.7. The Chairman of the Board and the Deputy Chairman of the Board are entitled to represent the Association each separately.

9.8. The Board:

9.8.1. Prepares draft amendments to the Statutes;

9.8.2. Develops and submits for consideration at the meeting of members the directions of the Association’s activities, programs and their financing projects;

9.8.3. Develops regulations, agreements and instructions that regulate the activities of the Association’s structural units;

9.8.4. Handles the movable and immovable property of the Association within the limits set by the meeting of members, acquires and alienates such property;

9.8.5. Admits members of the Association;

9.8.6. Decides on the admission and exclusion of members from the Association;

9.8.7. Determines the nomenclature of employees paid by the Board and determines the remuneration in accordance with the financial amount determined at the meeting of members;

9.8.8. Executes the decisions of the meetings of members;

9.8.9. Submits reports on its activities to the meeting of members;

9.8.10. Decides on other issues that the general meeting has authorized the board to do;

9.8.11. The board meetings are determined no less than once a quarter. The board has the right to decide if more than half of the board members participate in its meeting. Decisions are made by a simple majority of votes;

9.8.12. Interested parties may appeal the board’s decisions to the general meeting, whose decision is final.

9.9. The chairman of the board:

9.9.1. Represents the association in other organizations, enterprises and institutions between general meetings and board meetings;

9.9.2. Organizes the work of the board;

9.9.3. Hires and dismisses the technical staff of the association;

9.9.4. Is the financial and credit manager of the association;

9.9.5. Represents the Association in organizations, enterprises and institutions.

9.10. The Deputy Chairman of the Board, on the instructions of the Chairman of the Board/upon the order of the Chairman of the Board, during his absence, handles matters falling within the competence of the Chairman of the Board – to the extent of the order/task given by the Chairman of the Board.

10. Auditor

10.1. The financial and economic activities of the Association are controlled by an auditor, who is elected by the meeting of members for a term of three years.

10.2. The auditor of the Association cannot be a member of the Board of the Association.

10.3. The auditor:

10.3.1. Performs an audit of the Association’s property and financial resources;

10.3.2. Gives an opinion on the Association’s budget and annual report;

10.3.3. Evaluates the Association’s accounting and record-keeping work;

10.3.4. Makes recommendations on improving the financial and economic activities of the Association;

10.4. The auditor performs an audit within the terms set by the members’ meeting, but not less than once a year.

10.5. The members’ meeting approves the annual report of the Association only after receiving the Auditor’s opinion.

11. Membership fees

11.1. Members of the Association pay membership fees once a year in the amount set by the Association’s meeting.

The Statutes were approved at the members’ meeting in Riga on January 27, 2017.

Chairman of the Board – Jānis Rotšteins

Deputy Chairman of the Board – Santa Zaula-Dūmiņa

Board member – Līga Enģele

Board member – Anita Gžibovska

Board member – Ieva Buiķe

HONORARY MEMBERS – Rainers Hauss, Mirdza Paipare 

The Association may have three types of members: full members, promoting members and honorary members.

A full member of the Association may be music therapists who have received education in accordance with the professional standard of an art therapist.

Music therapy students, specialists who use music therapy in their work, as well as other interested parties, natural persons and legal entities (hereinafter, promoting members) who have familiarized themselves with the Association’s statutes and undertake to fulfill them, as well as to promote the implementation of the Association’s goals and objectives can become a promoting member.

Honorary members, who may be natural persons or legal entities, who may be elected for a significant contribution to the activities of the “Latvian Music Therapy Association” and the development of music therapy in Latvia.

1. To join the association, the applicant must familiarize themselves with the statutes and submit a specific application form and CV by sending it to lmuzta@inbox.lv
2. Applicants must pay the joining fee and annual membership fee in the amount determined by the members’ meeting – 45 Euros.
3. The decision on admitting a member to the Association is made by the Board. The Board must consider the applicant’s request during the nearest meeting, but no later than one month from the moment of receiving all necessary documents. The Board must notify the applicant of its motivated decision in writing within a week from the moment of its adoption.

European Music Therapy Confederation (EMTC) emtc-eu.com

Latvian representative – Jana Duhovska

World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT) https://www.wfmt.info/

Latvian representative – Agneta Volkova

Latvian Association of Art Therapy Associations (LMTAA) – https://maksluterapija.lv/ 

Visual Art Therapy Association – http://www.arttherapy.lv/ 

Dance and Movement Therapy Association – http://dkt.lv/ 

Drama Therapy Association – http://dramasterapija.lv/