Statutes

Finnish-American Club 1932 (registered association)

BYLAWS

§ 1
Name and domicile
The name of the association is the “Finnish-American Club 1932” and its domicile is the City of Helsinki.

§ 2
Purpose
The purpose of the association is to promote and develop relations between Finland and the United States in various fields of economic and cultural life. The purpose of the association is not to exert an influence on political affairs. In order to carry out its purposes, the association seeks to achieve contacts between its members and Americans residing or visiting in Finland, to arrange meetings and lectures, to promote the dissemination of information concerning the United States in Finland, and otherwise to operate in similar manner.

§ 3
Members
Only individual persons can be members of the association: at least 2/3 of the members of the association must be Finnish citizens. Members are either regular members, senior members or honorary members.
Members shall, if possible, represent various spheres of activities and interests.

§ 4
Regular members
Individuals of good repute may be approved as regular members: such persons are able by virtue of their position, interest, ideals or economic interests to promote the purpose of the association. Persons seeking membership in the association must provide the board of the association with an application containing a recommendation from two members. The board decides on acceptance of the application. The application is considered rejected if two members of the board oppose it.

§ 5
Senior members
The board can elect a person who has been a regular member for 20 years a senior member of the association.

§ 6
Honorary members
The meeting of the association can, at the proposal of the board, grant honorary membership in the association to persons having rendered valuable service in the activities of the association or having otherwise successfully promoted economic relations or cultural cooperation between Finland and the United States.

§ 7
Membership fees
Members shall pay an annual membership fee to the association. The magnitude of which shall be approved by the meeting of the association.
Senior and honorary members do not pay membership fee.


§ 8
Removal of members
A member who causes considerable damage to the association or otherwise acts against the interests and purpose of the association can be removed from the association.
The board decides on the removal of a member and the decision must be unanimous.

§ 9
Board of directors
The association is governed by a board which represent the association and which handles its business. The board includes a chairman, a deputy chairman and at least five other members who are chosen from among the members of the association for three years at a time.
Two members of the board resign in each of the first two years and in the third year three, first by lot, and thereafter by turns.
Members of the board due to resign cannot be re-elected to the board until one years has elapsed since their resignation. The board provides the association with a secretary, treasurer and other necessary officials.


§ 10
Meetings of the board
The board has a quorum when the chairman or the deputy chairman and three other members are present.
Motions are carried in the meetings of the board when supported by a majority or when, in the event of a tie, the chairman gives the casting vote to the motion, unless otherwise stipulated in these bylaws.
The board convenes at the invitation of the chairman, or if he is prevented from so doing, by the deputy chairman.

§ 11
Meetings of the association
The annual meeting of the association is held once a year, on a date set by the board, before the end of March.
The following items are considered in the regular meeting of the association:
1. a chairman and two inspectors of the minutes are chosen for the meeting;
2. the annual report of the board, the final accounts and the audit report are presented;
3. the decision whether to approve the final accounts of the fiscal year is made
4. the decision whether to grant the members of the board freedom from responsibility for the said fiscal year is made;
5. the magnitude of the membership fee is determined;
6. an election of board members to replace those who are due to resign is held;
7. a chairman and deputy chairman are elected from among the members of the board;
8. two auditors are their deputies are chosen for the current fiscal year;
9. the maximum number of members for the year in progress is set;
10. other items mentioned in the invitation to the meeting are discussed.
Whether necessary, the board may call the members of the association to an extraordinary meeting.

§ 12
Invitations to meetings and other announcements
The invitation to the meeting of the association is delivered by letter to members at least 7 days before the meeting. Other announcements are delivered to members in writing.

§ 13
Fiscal year, final accounts and audit
The fiscal year is identical to the calendar year. The final accounts, the annual report of the board and other necessary documents are to be submitted to the auditors for inspection by February 15, at the latest.

§ 14
Signing for the association
The chairman alone or two other members of the board together sign on behalf of the association. The secretary and the treasurer, if they are not members of the board, are both entitled to sign on behalf of the association together with a member of the board.

§ 15
Amendments to the bylaws and termination of the association
A decision to make an amendment to these bylaws or to voluntarily terminate the association is not valid unless made in two consecutive meetings of association and unless ¾ of the votes cast in the last meeting were in favor of it.
There must be at least one month between the consecutive meetings.

§ 16
Division of funds in the event of termination of the association
In the event that a decision to terminate the association is made, the remaining funds must be donated for purposes promoting relations between Finland and the United States in the field of economy and culture in the manner decided by the last meeting of the association.

§ 17
The regulations of the current Act on Associations are otherwise observed.

Mission & Program Outline

Under construction

Membership Dues 2010 and Benefits

The AGM has confimed the annual membership fee to remain at the level of only 50,-

Please, send your payment of 50,- € to the Clubs bank account 800011-00103143 in Sampo Bank with your name and address filled in and the year for which you pay the dues.