The rules of Chemist’s ry of University Turku
Approved in the board meetings of 13.11.2023 and 7.3.2024, confirmed by PRH on 19.8.2024.
GENERAL RULES
1§ Name, place of residence and language
The name of the association is Chemist’s Association ry of University of Turku (later Association), and the place of residence is the city of Turku. The official language of the association is Finnish.
2§ Purpose
The association’s purpose is to supervise specially University of Turku’s chemist and biochemist student’s majors study related questions and additionally other general and shared benefits. The association promotes social activity, maintains and improves the sense of unity among the members as well as organizes free time activities for their members. The association acts as a link between former and current students of chemistry and biochemistry at the University of Turku, as well as between students and the university.
3§ Forms of activity
In order to achieve its purpose, the association
- organizes discussion sessions, study trips, evening gatherings, presentations, courses, and sports and cultural activities
- assist in the acquisition of study materials and provide study guidance
- practises publishing and club activities
- keep in touch with other associations within the faculties, sister organizations, student union, university administrative bodies, and other stakeholders
- acts in other ways that promote the purpose
To support its activities, the association is entitled to accept donations and wills and to own and manage their real estates and securities. The association may sell merchandise and other products related to the Association’s field of activity. The association may organize paid events, lotteries and fundraisers after obtaining the relevant permits.
4§ The Association is politically and religiously independent.
MEMBERSHIP
5§ Active members
A person that is studying chemistry or biochemistry at University of Turku or interested in the above areas is entitled to join as active member of the Association. The active members of the association is accepted by the active board.
6§ Senior members
Anyone who has been a member of the association for five (5) years is entitled to join as a senior member of the association. Senior membership has to be applied from the active board.
7§ Supporting members
Any private individual or legal entity wishing to support the association’s activities may become a supporting member.
8§ Honorary members
A person who has made a significant contribution to the development of chemistry or biochemistry, or who has worked with great merit to achieve the association’s objectives, may be invited to become an honorary member of the association. Proposals for honorary membership are made by the association’s board and discussed at the association’s meeting. A majority of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the votes is required for the proposal to be approved.
9§ Membership fees
Both full members and supporting members of the association must pay an annual membership fee. The amount and payment of the membership fee for full members is decided at the board meeting. The amount and payment of the membership fee for supporting members is decided by the association’s board. Honorary and senior members of the association are not required to pay membership fees.
10§ Resignation
A member of the association has the right to resign from the association by notifying the board or its chairperson in writing or by recording it in the board meeting of an association meeting. A member may be considered to have resigned if they have not paid the membership fee for the current calendar year as determined by the autumn meeting within one month of the due date. If a resigned member wishes to rejoin the association, the matter requires the approval of the board.
11§ Dismission
Member who has acted against the rules of the association or the purposes or otherwise in harmful actions, can be dismissed from the association. Dismission is conducted either by the active board with unanimous vote or in board meeting by 2/3 majority vote.
Decision of dismission must always be concluded with closed ballot vote and the result of the vote has to be recorded in the board meeting notes.
BOARD MEETINGS
12§ Decision making
The highest decision-making authority of the association is used by the board meetings which can either be spring meeting, fall meeting, or additional meeting.
13§ Convening
The board meetings has to be informed by the active board at least two weeks before the meeting, in which case the meeting invitation and agenda must be available on the association’s website. In addition the members of the association must be notified via the association’s email two weeks before the board meeting. In the meeting invitation must state whether the board meeting will deal with matters referred to in Section 23 of the Associations Act or matters comparable to them.
14§ Spring meeting
The association’s spring meeting is held annually latest of 10th of March. The purpose of the spring board meeting is to:
- to review and approve the financial statements and annual report for the previous financial year
- to review the statement of the auditors/accountants on the management of the association’s funds and assets
- to decide on the approval of the accounts and the discharge of the board and other responsible parties from liability
- to discuss any other matters.
15§ Fall meeting
The association’s fall meeting will be held in October – November. The purpose of the fall meeting is to:
- discuss the association’s financial situation as presented by the treasurer
- decide on the amount and payment of membership fees
- decide on the action plan for the following year
- decide on the budget for the following year
- elect the association’s board for the next term: chair, vice-chair, treasurer, and five to twelve other board members
- elect two auditors for the following year and their personal deputy auditors, or one or two auditors and a deputy auditor
- discuss any other matters.
16§ Additional meeting
In the additional board meeting of the association will deal with matters mentioned in the meeting invitation and those raised in connection with the confirmation agenda.
An additional meeting shall be held if the association’s meeting itself or the association’s active board so decides or if at least ten (10) or 1/10th of the association’s voting members request it in writing from the board for a purpose specified by them, in which case the meeting shall be held within one month of the board receiving proper notification of the request
17§ Meeting agenda
In board meetings of the association all association members have right of speech and to be present. All full members of the association who have paid their membership fee for the current calendar year are entitled to vote.
Decisions on matters that are being discussed for the first time and that are not mentioned in the meeting invitation shall be postponed to the next meeting to be held no earlier than ten days later, if at least five members with voting rights so request, unless the meeting declares the matter urgent by a two-thirds majority of the members with voting rights present.
Matters shall be decided by a simple majority of votes, unless otherwise specified in these rules. Voting shall be conducted by closed ballot if at least two members entitled to vote or the chair of the meeting so require. In the event of a tie, the chair of the board shall have the deciding vote, except in the case of closed ballot voting and elections, where the decision shall be made by lot.
18§ Postponement
A matter may be postponed during the initial discussion at the request of at least five members who are entitled to vote. The matter may not be postponemented again during further discussions.
19§ Dismission of the active Board
Mikäli tarkoitusta varten koolle kutsuttu yhdistyksen kokous luottamuslauseäänestyksessä 2/3:n enemmistöllä toteaa, ettei hallitus tai sen jäsen nauti kokouksen luottamusta, katsotaan hallitus tai epäluottamuslauseen saanut hallituksen jäsen erotetuksi. Mikäli hallituksen koko laskee epäluottamuslauseen vuoksi alle näissä säännöissä mainitun vähimmäiskoon, on yhdistyksen kokouksen täydennettävä hallitusta.
THE BOARD
20§ Election and the form of the Board
In addition of the chair of the board, vice-chair of the board and treasurer the association’s board consists of five to 10 other members and at least two deputy members. Term of the active board is one calendar year. In case of a regular member of the board resigning, a deputy member shall replace the resigning member for the remainder of the term. The association’s board is elected at the autumn meeting from among the association’s regular members who are either bachelor’s or master’s degree students majoring in biochemistry or chemistry. Other full members of the association may also be approved as eligible for election by a decision of the association’s meeting, unless at least ten members with voting rights object. The board shall appoint a secretary from among its members and distribute other responsibilities it deems necessary evenly among the board members.
21§ General activities of the Board
The board is convened by the chairperson or, if he or she is unable to do so, by the vice-chairperson. A meeting may also be convened when at least half of the members of the Board so request. The Board has a quorum if, in addition to the chair of the meeting, at least half of the other members of the Board are present. Votes are decided by a simple majority. In the event of a tie, the chairperson shall have the casting vote, except in elections, when the decision shall be made by lot.
The specific duties of the Board may be stipulated separately in rules of procedure, the adoption, amendment, or repeal of which shall be decided in accordance with Section 26 of the Rules.
22§ Signing authority
The association’s name shall be signed by the chairperson, vice-chairperson, treasurer, or secretary, each separately. The board may, by unanimous decision, grant signing rights to other board members as well.
23§ The association’s finances
The association’s operating and financial year is the calendar year.
The treasurer has access to the association’s accounts and is also responsible for managing them. In addition, the chair of the board also has access to the accounts.
The board must submit the accounts to the auditors no later than three weeks before the spring meeting, and the auditors must return them with their statements to the board no later than one week before the spring meeting.
24§ Duties of the Chair of the Board
The chair of the board has the following duties:
- to lead board meetings
- to ensure that the association’s activities comply with its rules and purpose, as well as with the law and good practice
- to supervise and guide the activities of other board members
- developing the association’s activities.
25§ Duties of the active Board
The duties of the Board are the following:
- prepare matters for board meetings according to areas of responsibility
- prepare matters to be discussed at association meetings
- implement decisions made at association meetings
- manage the association’s administration and finances in accordance with the guidelines approved by the association meeting
- enter into agreements and other legal acts on behalf of the association, unless otherwise provided in these rules
- handle other matters in accordance with the decisions of the association meeting
26§ Other regulations
The association’s activities may be regulated in more detail by rules of procedure. The association’s meeting shall decide on the approval, amendment, or repeal of the rules of procedure by a majority of at least two-thirds of the votes cast.
27§ Change of rules
Amendments and additions may be made to these rules if a simple majority of votes in favor of the proposal is achieved at a meeting convened for this purpose, and at least two-thirds of those participating in the vote approve it at the next meeting to be held no earlier than two weeks later.
TERMINATION OF THE ASSOCIATION’S ACTIVITIES
28§ Dissolution and termination
The question of terminating the association shall be dealt with at two meetings convened for that purpose, which shall be announced in at least the largest newspaper in the country and the largest newspaper in Turku. The decision to dissolve the association requires a majority of at least 4/5 of all votes cast at two meetings held at intervals of at least one month but no more than six months.
29§ Handover of property
If the association ceases its activities, its assets shall be transferred to one or more registered associations pursuing similar objectives, in accordance with the decision made at the last meeting. Five trustees shall be appointed as liquidators.
OTHER
30§ Retention of membership rights
Acquired membership rights will be retained.
31§ Otherwise, the current Associations Act shall apply.
Open the PDF version of the association’s rules from here.