Tärkkilä Support Association
RULES
1 § The name of the association is Tärkkilän Tuki ry (Tärkkilä Support Association).
2 § The homestead of the association is Jämsä and its official language is Finnish
3 § PURPOSE AND PLAN OF ACTION
The association´s purpose is to develop a culturally, socially, ecologically and economically sustainable culture as well as local, national and international self-sufficiency. In order to realise this purpose, the association can, amongst other things:
1) arrange workshops, bees, events and ambulatory schools on sustainable culture and self-sufficiency.
2) set up a voluntary work force both in Finland as well as internationally.
3) generate funds by organising flea-markets
4) request grants and project financing
5) accept gifts and inheritances
6) own and govern the real and chattel property necessary for the association´s activities
7) collect membership fees
8) work together with other sustainable culture associations both on a national and international level.
9) release publications and enlighten others on sustainable ways of living
10) organise outings and camping activities
11) organise fund raisers, rummage sales and lotteries after having obtained the relevant permits to do so.
4 § MEMBERS The association can be joined by private persons, competent organisations or foundations wishing to advance its objectives. Members are approved of by the association´s board. The costs of membership fees will be decided during the autumn meeting.
5 § LEAVING THE GROUP Members have the right to resign either by informing the association´s management or its chairperson hereof in writing, or by announcing his/her resignation, to be noted in the minutes, during any of the association´s meetings.
The management can dismiss members if they fail to pay an overdue membership fee or have otherwise failed to carry out the obligations that come with membership. If a member´s conduct either within or on the outside of the association has substantially damaged the association, or if a member does not comply with the law, the association´s rules or the terms of membership, the management can also dismiss him/her. Before the decision to dismiss a member is made, he/she can reserve an opportunity to provide an explanation. This must, however, happen within a month after the dismissal has been proposed.
6 § THE DECISION MAKING PROCESS The association strives to realise a sociocratic government.
7 § MANAGEMENT In addition to the chairperson elected during the autumn meeting, the association´s board consists of three to five members. A term lasts one calendar year. The board elects a vice-chairperson from amongst its members and a secretary, a treasurer, and other officials needed either from amongst its members or from outside of the organisation. The chairperson, or, in case of his/her indisposition, the vice-chairperson, can call for a meeting if they observe that there is a reason to do so, or if at least half of the board´s members call for it. The meeting is considered decisive, when at least half of its members (including the chairperson or vice-chairperson) are present. Polls are decided based on the majority of votes. If the votes are equally divided, the chairpersons vote is decisive. During elections, however, lots will be cast.
8 § THE ASSOCIATION´S SIGNATURE
Documents are signed by the board´s chairperson or vice-chairperson together with either the secretary or the treasurer.
9 § ACCOUNTING PERIOD AND PERFORMANCE AUDIT The accounting period lasts one calendar year. The financial statement and the board´s annual report are to be given to the performance auditor no later than three weeks before the spring meeting. The auditor will make a written statement directed to the board two weeks before the spring meeting at the latest. The offices of performance auditor and vice auditor last one calendar year.
10 § CALLING FOR A MEETING
The board must call for a meeting, either via written letters or e-mail correspondence, at the earliest two months, and at the latest two weeks before the meeting.
11 § THE MEETINGS
The association holds two general meetings a year. The spring meeting takes place between January and May; the autumn meeting between September and December. The date is to be decided by the board.
Additional meetings are held, when those assembled decide to do so, when the board sees a need for it, or when at least a tenth (1/10) of those entitled to vote has an explicitly stated reason to demand a meeting from the board. The meeting is to be held within thirty days after the demand is made.
Every official member has one vote in the meetings.
An opinion is decisive if it is supported by more than half of the votes given, unless it violates the association´s rules. If the votes are equally devided, the chairpersons vote is decisive. During elections, however, lots will be cast.
12 § GENERAL MEETINGS
During the spring meeting, the following topics will be addressed:
· opening of the meeting
· electing the meeting´s chairperson, secretary, two examiners of the minutes and, if required, two tellers.
· establishing the validity and quorum of the meeting.
· approving of the meeting´s agenda
· Putting the financial statement, the annual report and the performance auditor´s statement forward.
· deciding on the validation of the financial statement and on discharging the board and other liable persons of liability
· Dealing with other topics put forward during the meeting
During the autumn meeting, the following topics will be addressed:
· opening of the meeting
· electing the meeting´s chairperson, secretary, two examiners of the minutes and, if required, two tellers.
· establishing the validity and quorum of the meeting.
· approving of the meeting´s agenda