Rules

This page contains the association’s rules.

CHAPTER I

PURPOSE AND ACTIVITIES

1. NAME AND REGISTERED OFFICE

The name of the association is SLK-Kilta ry and its registered office is in Helsinki. Its sphere of activity covers the whole of Finland.

2. PURPOSE

The purpose of the association, acting as a bond among its members, is to

2.1. improve their professional competence, esteem and standing, and to provide them with opportunities for self-development
2.2. promote their organization within the association’s sphere of activity
2.3. work to increase their mutual sense of responsibility and solidarity
2.4. promote their common and general interests related to the practice of the profession.

3. ACTIVITIES

To fulfil its purpose, the association shall:

3.1. engage in information and publishing activities and publish its own magazine or bulletin
3.2. take initiatives and issue statements in the interests of its members
3.3. carry out educational and informative work by organizing courses, advisory sessions and lectures
3.4. cooperate with comparable associations in Finland and abroad
3.5. contribute to the development of commercial education and to the organization of continuing education for members
3.6. influence decision-makers and authorities in matters concerning members’ affairs
3.7. be a member of Liiketalouden Liitto LTA ry and may belong to other domestic and foreign organizations where membership promotes the achievement of the association’s purpose
3.8. gather information concerning matters related to the members’ profession and studies within its sphere of activity and, where necessary, pass it on to Liiketalouden Liitto LTA ry
3.9. maintain close contact with students in the field at Suomen Liikemiesten Kauppaopisto and HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences
3.10. endeavour, where possible, to help its members obtain employment, without however engaging in employment agency activities
3.11. undertake other similar measures serving the purposes of the association

4. SUPPORTING THE ACTIVITIES

To support its activities, the association may organize lotteries, fundraising campaigns and festive events. The association may receive donations and bequests and may own such real and movable property as is necessary for its activities. The association may engage in an industry or income-generating activity that is directly related to the realization of its purpose or is of minor economic significance.

5. LANGUAGE OF THE ASSOCIATION AND POLITICAL NEUTRALITY

The languages of the association are Finnish and Swedish. The language used in minutes shall be Finnish. The association is non-partisan and politically neutral.

CHAPTER II

PROVISIONS CONCERNING MEMBERSHIP

6. CATEGORIES OF MEMBERS

The members of the association are:

ordinary members
senior members
student members
honorary members
supporting members

The Board may approve as an ordinary member or senior member a person who has completed a commercial degree or a commercial vocational degree or another degree at Suomen Liikemiesten Kauppaopisto or HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences.

The Board may approve as a student member a person who is studying for a commercial degree, a commercial vocational degree or another degree at Suomen Liikemiesten Kauppaopisto or HAAGA-HELIA University of Applied Sciences.

The membership fee for ordinary members, senior members and student members may differ in amount.

The Board may approve as a supporting member a legal entity that wishes to support the association’s purposes. A supporting member shall pay the association an annual membership fee, the amount of which is determined by the association meeting. The membership fee may differ between supporting members.

The association meeting may invite as an honorary member a person who has rendered meritorious service to the association. An honorary member shall not pay a membership fee to the association.

Acquired membership rights shall remain in force.

7. RESIGNATION AND EXPULSION OF A MEMBER

A member may resign from the association by notifying the association meeting for entry in the minutes, or by giving written notice to the Board or its chair.

The Board may expel a member whose conduct has caused significant harm to the association or who does not comply with decisions made by the association.

Before a decision on expulsion is made, the member shall be given an opportunity to provide an explanation.

An expelled member may appeal the expulsion to the association meeting within thirty (30) days of being informed of the decision. The association meeting shall decide the matter at its next meeting. The expulsion decision shall enter into force when the appeal period expires or when the association meeting has decided on the matter.

A resigned or expelled member shall lose all rights in the association.

CHAPTER III

DECISION-MAKING AND ADMINISTRATION OF THE ASSOCIATION

8. ORGANS OF THE ASSOCIATION

The organs of the association are the association meeting and the Board.

Association meetings are ordinary and extraordinary meetings. The ordinary meetings of the association are the spring meeting and the autumn meeting.

The association meeting exercises the decision-making power and the Board exercises executive power.

9. SPRING MEETING

The spring meeting shall be held annually by the end of May. The following matters shall be dealt with:

9.1 elect a chairperson for the meeting, a secretary, vote counters and minutes checkers

9.2 establish whether the meeting has a quorum

9.3 consider the Board’s annual report on the activities of the previous calendar year and decide on the measures prompted by it

9.4 consider the financial statements for the previous calendar year and the auditor’s / lay auditor’s report

9.5 adopt the financial statements and decide on granting discharge from liability to the Board and other accountable persons

9.6 decide on the use of the surplus or covering of the deficit

9.7 elect the association’s representatives to the meeting of MJK-koulutuskeskus ry and to any other possible meetings

9.8 consider initiatives submitted to the meeting

9.9 consider other matters that the meeting deems urgent by at least a 3/4 (three-quarter) majority of the votes cast, taking into account the provisions of Section 24 of the Associations Act.

10. AUTUMN MEETING

The autumn meeting shall be held annually by the end of December. The following matters shall be dealt with:

10.1 elect a chairperson for the meeting, a secretary, vote counters and minutes checkers

10.2 establish whether the meeting has a quorum

10.3 consider and approve the action plan for the next calendar year

10.4 decide on the membership fees to be collected from members during the next calendar year

10.5 determine the basis for compensation payable to the association’s officials, members of the Board and committees

10.6 confirm the association’s budget for income and expenditure for the next calendar year

10.7 elect the chairperson of the Board for the next two (2) calendar years if the chairperson is subject to rotation

10.8 decide the number of other Board members in accordance with Section 15 of these rules

10.9 elect the ordinary members and deputy members of the Board to replace those retiring for the next two (2) calendar years

10.10 decide in what order deputy members are called to Board meetings in place of an absent ordinary member

10.11 elect one or two auditors or lay auditors and a deputy for them

10.12 elect the association’s representatives to the federation meeting of Liiketalouden Liitto LTA ry and to any other possible meetings

10.13 consider initiatives submitted to the meeting

10.14 consider other matters that the meeting deems urgent by at least a 3/4 (three-quarter) majority of the votes cast, taking into account the provisions of Section 24 of the Associations Act.

11. EXTRAORDINARY MEETING OF THE ASSOCIATION

An extraordinary meeting of the association shall be held if the Board considers it necessary or if one tenth (1/10) of the association’s voting members so request in writing from the Board in order to consider a matter specifically stated in their request.

12. CONVOCATION OF THE ASSOCIATION MEETING

Notice of an association meeting shall be published in the association’s magazine, member bulletin, website, or sent to the e-mail address provided by the member at least fourteen (14) days before the meeting. The notice must state the matters to be dealt with at the meeting. Where possible, the notice shall also be published in the member magazine of Liiketalouden Liitto LTA ry at least fourteen (14) days before the meeting.

13. INITIATIVES FOR THE ASSOCIATION MEETING

The association’s voting members may submit initiatives to the association meeting. An initiative, together with its justification, shall be submitted to the Board before February fifteenth (15th) for the spring meeting and before September fifteenth (15th) for the autumn meeting. The Board must present the initiative, together with its own opinion, for consideration by the association meeting.

14. HANDLING OF MATTERS AT THE MEETING

Voting rights at the association meeting are held by ordinary, senior, student and honorary members who have paid their membership fee. In order to exercise voting rights, the member must be present at the meeting in person.

Supporting members and other persons granted such right by the meeting have the right to be present and to speak at the meeting.

Decisions at the association meeting are made by simple majority, except in the matters referred to in Sections 18, 21 and 22 of these rules.

In the event of a tie, the chairperson’s view shall prevail, except in elections and when a closed ballot is used, in which case the matter shall be decided by lot.

A closed ballot shall always be used in personal elections whenever at least one (1) voting participant in the meeting so demands.

A decision to withdraw from Liiketalouden Liitto LTA ry shall require a three-quarters (3/4) majority of the votes cast.

15. THE BOARD

The Board of the association shall consist of a chairperson elected for two calendar years and four to eight (4–8) ordinary members, as well as two (2) deputy members. Deputy members shall be called to Board meetings in the order of call if one of the ordinary members is unable to attend. The term of office of the Board is one calendar year.

16. DUTIES OF THE BOARD

The duties of the Board are to:

16.1. elect from among its members a first and a second vice-chairperson
16.2. elect from among its members or from outside the Board a secretary, an executive director and a treasurer, as well as any other necessary officials and committees
16.3. convene the association meetings and prepare the matters to be dealt with at them
16.4. be responsible for membership recruitment and for educational and information activities
16.5. manage the association’s funds and other property and ensure bookkeeping and the preparation of the financial statements
16.6. implement the decisions made by the association meeting
16.7. maintain contact with Liiketalouden Liitto LTA ry and ensure that the decisions of its governing and administrative bodies are implemented within the association
16.8. handle current affairs
16.9. take other measures to realize the purpose of the association

17. MEETINGS OF THE BOARD

The Board shall meet upon the invitation of the chairperson or, if the chairperson is prevented from attending, the first vice-chairperson, or if he/she is also prevented, the second vice-chairperson, or when at least one third (1/3) of the Board members request it from the chairperson for the consideration of a matter they have specifically announced.

The Board shall have a quorum when the chairperson or, if the chairperson is prevented from attending, either vice-chairperson and more than half of the other ordinary Board members are present.

A deputy member has voting rights at a Board meeting only if an ordinary member is prevented from attending the Board meeting.

18. ELECTION OF THE CHAIRPERSON

The association’s autumn meeting shall elect the chairperson of the Board every two years for terms of two calendar years at a time. To be elected, a candidate must receive at least one half (1/2) of the votes cast.

19. SIGNING AUTHORITY

The association’s name shall be signed by the chairperson of the Board or either of the vice-chairpersons together with one ordinary member of the Board, always by two persons jointly. In matters relating to financial transactions and other current matters, the Board may grant signing authority to designated officials.

20. AUDIT OF ACCOUNTS AND OPERATIONS

The association’s financial and operational year is the calendar year.

The Board shall submit the accounts for the previous year and the annual report for audit before March fifteenth (15th).

The auditors / lay auditors shall carry out the audit of the accounts and operations before the end of March and provide the Board with the necessary written statements, addressed to the association’s spring meeting.

21. AMENDMENT OF THE RULES

The association meeting may amend these rules if the matter has been mentioned in the notice of the meeting and at least two thirds (2/3) of the votes cast at the meeting support the decision.

22. DISSOLUTION OF THE ASSOCIATION

The association meeting may dissolve the association if the matter has been mentioned in the notice of the meeting and the decision is supported by at least five sixths (5/6) of the votes cast at the meeting. Upon the dissolution or termination of the association, its assets shall be transferred to Suomen Liikemiesten Kauppaopisto or, if said institution no longer operates, to some Finnish association or institution promoting commercial education, with the final decision on this to be made at the meeting at which the dissolution of the association is finally decided in accordance with these rules.