Rääkkylä Folk Association Rules

1 § Name and registered office

The name of the association is Rääkkylä Folk ry and its registered office is in Rääkkylä.

2 § Purpose and forms of activity

The purpose of the association is to promote and support folk music in North Karelia, as well as to raise its artistic level and awareness of folk traditions.

To achieve its purpose, the association:

• organizes concerts, events, and training sessions
• maintains contacts with public bodies in order to obtain financial support
• the association is politically independent

To support its activities, the association:

• may own and manage real estate and movable property;
• may, with the appropriate permission, engage in kiosk and catering business and organize sales, lotteries, and fundraisers
• may accept grants, donations, and bequests
• may engage in publishing activities related to its field

3 § Members

Members of the association may be private individuals, organizations, or foundations that accept the association’s purpose and rules. The association’s board approves new members. Members must pay an annual membership fee to the association, the amount of which is decided by the association’s meeting. Members have the right to resign from the association by notifying the board or its chairperson in writing. Resignation may also be announced at a meeting of the association, in which case the resigning members shall be recorded in the minutes.

The board may expel a member from the association if the member has failed to pay their membership fee when due or has otherwise failed to fulfill the obligations to which they committed when joining the association, or if they have significantly damaged the association through their actions within or outside the association, or if they no longer meet the conditions for membership specified in the law or the association’s rules.

An appeal against the expulsion decision may be lodged at the next meeting of the association by submitting a letter of appeal addressed to the board of the association within thirty (30) days of the expulsion decision being brought to the attention of the person concerned. The board may consider a member to have resigned from the association if the member has not paid their annual membership fee by the end of May of the current year.

4 § Association meeting

The association’s decision-making power is exercised by the association’s meeting. The association’s meeting shall be held by the end of May on a date specified by the board. Extraordinary meetings shall be held at the request of the board in accordance with Section 20 of the Associations Act or at the request of at least three (3) members for the purpose of discussing a matter specified by them.

Meeting invitations shall be sent electronically or by letter, or alternatively by newspaper announcement, no later than seven (7) days before the meeting. Decisions shall be made by a simple majority of votes. A closed ballot shall be used if requested by at least two (2) members and in elections.

The following matters will be discussed at the association’s meeting:

1. Opening of the meeting
2. Election of a chairperson and secretary for the meeting
3. Confirmation of the legality and quorum of the meeting
4. Election of two minutes checkers
5. Election of two vote counters
6. Confirmation of the meeting agenda
7. Discussion of the annual report for the past term.
8. Review of the previous year’s financial statements and the auditors’ report, and confirmation of the financial statements.
9. Decision on granting discharge from liability to the board and other persons responsible for the accounts.
10. Approval of the board’s proposed action plan for the next term of office
11. Approval of membership fees for the next term
12. Approval of the budget proposed by the Board for the next term
13. Election of the Chair of the Board every two years
14. Election of Board members to replace those whose terms are ending for the next term
15. Discussion of other matters mentioned in the meeting invitation

5 § Board

The board exercises the association’s executive power and manages its affairs. The board consists of a chairperson elected at the association’s meeting and 3-7 board members. The board’s term of office is two years. Half of the board members are up for re-election each year. The term of office of the Board begins on the first day of September. The first members to be replaced are decided by lot. Board members are not required to pay an annual membership fee. The board elects a vice-chairperson from among its members. The board appoints other necessary officials, who may also be elected from outside the board. The board appoints/dismisses the executive director.

The board meets at the invitation of the chair or, if they are unable to do so, the vice-chair, when they deem it necessary or when at least two board members so request. The board has a quorum when at least half of the board members are present. In the event of a tie, the chairperson shall have the casting vote, except in elections, when the decision shall be made by lot. Board meetings shall be chaired by the chairperson or vice-chairperson. The board shall establish such committees and working groups as it deems necessary.

6 § Signature

The association’s name shall be signed by the chairperson or vice-chairperson and the secretary, always two together, and by the executive and elected officials designated by the board, either alone or two together. The executive director has the sole right to sign on behalf of the association.

7 § Audit of administration and accounts

One (1) auditor or accountant and one (1) deputy auditor or deputy accountant shall be elected at the annual meeting to audit the association’s administration and accounts for a term of one year.

8 § Operating and financial year

The association’s operating and financial year is the calendar year. The board must submit the financial statements with the necessary documents and the board’s annual report to the auditor two (2) weeks before the association’s meeting. The auditor must return them together with their written statement no later than one week before the association’s meeting.

9 § Changing the rules

Amendments to the association’s rules shall be made at a meeting of the association, and the decision must be supported by three-quarters of the votes cast at the meeting.

10 § Dissolution of the association

The dissolution of the association requires a decision by two separate general meetings held at least three months apart. The decision must be supported by three-quarters of the votes cast at both meetings.

Upon dissolution of the association, its assets, if any, shall be used to establish a fund for the promotion of folk music enthusiasts, as determined by the meeting that decides on the dissolution.