Articles of Association
Name and Registered Municipality of the Association
The name of the association is Serbian-Finnish Association (Serbialais-suomalainen Seura ry). In Serbian-language contexts, the unofficial name Srpsko-finsko društvo may be used. The registered municipality of the association is the City of Helsinki, and its area of operation is the whole of Finland.
1. Purpose and Nature of the Association’s Activities
The purpose of the association is to bring together Serbs, Finns and others who accept the objectives and rules of the association, in order to promote Finnish-Serbian cultural relations; to disseminate and deepen knowledge of the history of the Serbian people and of their social, economic and cultural life and traditions; and to promote friendship and cooperation between the Finnish and Serbian peoples.
To fulfil its purpose, the association acts as a link between the Finnish and Serbian peoples, directs the activities of its local branches, promotes the establishment of new branches, organises lectures, exhibitions, celebrations, cultural and sporting events, Serbian language courses, as well as visits and trips for its members. The association also engages in publishing and communications activities with the aim of increasing knowledge in Finland about Serbs, their lives and their aspirations.
The association has the right to own real and movable property, organise lotteries, fundraising activities and sales events, receive donations and bequests, and engage in business activities, taking into account the provisions of Section 5 of the Associations Act.
2. Membership of the Association
Any person who accepts the objectives of the association and whom the Board accepts as a member may become an ordinary member of the association.
For the purpose of fulfilling the association’s objectives, members may establish unregistered local branches, the area of operation and purpose of which shall be approved by the Board of the association.
3. Resignation and Expulsion of a Member
A member of the association may resign by notifying the association in accordance with the Associations Act.
The Board may expel a member who fails to pay their membership fee, acts contrary to the rules or objectives of the association, or otherwise causes substantial harm to the association.
An expelled member shall, however, have the right to appeal against the expulsion decision by submitting a written appeal addressed to the Chair of the association’s meeting within fourteen days of receiving notification of the Board’s decision. If the expelled member does not appeal against the expulsion decision, the decision shall take effect upon expiry of the appeal period. If an appeal is lodged, the expulsion decision shall take effect on the date on which the association’s meeting confirms the decision.
If a member of the association has failed to pay their membership fee for two consecutive years, the Board shall consider the member to have resigned from the association.
4. Membership Fees
The members of the association shall pay the annual membership fee determined by the annual meeting. However, the Board may exempt a member from paying the membership fee for a specified period if the member, for justified reasons such as unemployment, illness, military service, retirement or another comparable deterioration in their financial circumstances, so requests.
Legal entities registered in Finland and having legal capacity that accept the purpose of the association and are approved as supporting members by the annual meeting may become supporting members of the association. Supporting members shall pay an annual membership fee, the amount of which shall be determined by the annual meeting.
Upon the proposal of the Board, the annual meeting of the association may appoint as Honorary Chairs and Honorary Members persons who have made a significant contribution to the objectives of the association. Honorary Members and Honorary Chairs shall not pay membership fees.
5. The Board of the Association
The affairs of the association shall be managed by a Board elected by the annual meeting. The Board shall consist of a Chair and at least four (4) and no more than twelve (12) members, as well as 0–8 deputy members.
The term of office of the Board shall run from one annual meeting to the next.
The Board shall elect from among its members a Vice-Chair, a Secretary, a Treasurer and such other officers as may be necessary.
The Board shall meet when convened by the Chair or, in the Chair’s absence, by the Vice-Chair, when they consider it necessary or when at least half of the members of the Board so request.
The Board shall constitute a quorum when the Chair or Vice-Chair and at least half of the members of the Board are present.
Decisions shall be made by an absolute majority of the votes cast. In the event of a tie, the Chair shall have the casting vote; however, in elections, the matter shall be decided by drawing lots.
The Board may establish permanent or temporary committees.
6. Signing for the Association
The name of the association shall be signed by the Chair or Vice-Chair together with the Secretary of the association.
7. Financial Year and Audit
The financial year of the association shall be 1 January to 31 December.
The accounts shall be submitted for review by the operational auditors at least three weeks before the annual meeting. The operational auditors shall submit their report to the Board at least two weeks before the annual meeting.
8. Meetings of the Association
Participation in a meeting of the association may, where so decided by the Board or by the association’s meeting, also take place by post or by means of telecommunications or other technical means during or prior to the meeting.
The annual meeting of the association shall be held annually on a date determined by the Board between January and May.
An extraordinary meeting shall be held when the association’s meeting so decides, when the Board considers it necessary, or when at least one tenth (1/10) of the members entitled to vote in the association submit a written request to the Board. The meeting shall be held within thirty days of the request being submitted to the Board.
Members of the association shall have the right to speak and vote at meetings. Participation by proxy or through an authorised representative shall not be permitted.
The local branches of the association may send representatives to meetings. Such representatives shall have the right to speak but shall not have the right to vote on behalf of the branch.
A legal entity that has joined the association as a supporting member shall have the right to send one representative to the annual meeting. The representative shall have the right to speak but not to vote.
Honorary Chairs and Honorary Members of the association shall have the right to attend and speak at the annual meeting.
Decisions at meetings of the association shall be made by a simple majority unless they concern amendments to these Articles of Association or the dissolution of the association. In the event of a tie, elections shall be decided by drawing lots; in other matters, the Chair of the meeting shall have the casting vote.
9. Notice of Meetings of the Association
The Board shall convene meetings of the association at least seven days before the meeting by sending notices to members by post or electronically.
11. Annual Meeting
At the annual meeting of the association:
the meeting shall be opened;
a Chair and a Secretary of the meeting, two (2) persons to review the minutes and, where necessary, two (2) vote counters shall be elected;
the legality and quorum of the meeting shall be established;
the agenda of the meeting shall be approved;
the financial statements, annual report and report of the operational auditors shall be presented;
a decision shall be made on the adoption of the financial statements and the granting of discharge from liability to the Board and other persons responsible for the association’s affairs;
the association’s action plan, budget, and the amounts of the joining fee and membership fee shall be confirmed;
the Chair and other members of the Board shall be elected;
one operational auditor and one deputy operational auditor shall be elected;
any other matters mentioned in the notice of the meeting shall be considered.
If a member of the association wishes to have a matter considered at the annual meeting, they must notify the Board in writing sufficiently in advance for the matter to be included in the notice of the meeting.
12. Amendment of the Articles of Association and Dissolution of the Association
A decision to amend these Articles of Association or to dissolve the association shall be made at a meeting of the association by a majority of at least three quarters (3/4) of the votes cast. The notice of the meeting must state that an amendment to the Articles of Association or the dissolution of the association will be considered.
Upon dissolution of the association, its assets shall be used to promote the purpose of the association in the manner determined by the meeting deciding on the dissolution. If the association is dissolved by an authority, its assets shall be used for the same purpose.