Rules

1§ Name and place

The name of the society is Suomen Jalokiviharrastajain Yhdistys ry., the Finnish Gem Hobbyists´ Society reg. soc..  In these rules it will be called Society.  Its place of registration is Helsinki, and its area of activity covers the entire country (Finland).
2§ Purpose and activity

The purpose of the Society is to function as a link between persons interested in the collecting and polishing of gemstones and other minerals, and activities related to the aforementioned; to promote the knowledge and skills of gemstone polishing; to encourage a good spirit of community and affinity between members; and to supervise the common interests of its members in matters that are related to the activity of the society.

To achieve its purposes, the Society exercises schooling, educational and publishing activities; supports research; develops and acquires gemstone polishing appliances; organises meetings, courses, parties, exhibitions, fairs and excursions; gives statements; maintains contact with the authorities and with other foreign organisations of the field.
3§ Membership application and membership

Any person interested in gemstones and other minerals, in their collecting and polishing, and subjects related to these activities, may join the Society as a regular member.  Membership is applied for in written and is subject to the unanimous acceptance of the board.  Accepted membership obliges to observe the rules and decisions of the Society and the association law.

The board is not obliged to justify to a non-member, the reasons for refuting membership.

The Society may name as honorary chairperson a person who has most meritoriously furthered the activities and the goals of the Society during his or her chairmanship.

The Society may name as honorary member a person who has furthered meritoriously the collecting, polishing and other processing of gemstones and other minerals.

The nomination of a honorary chairperson or a honorary member requires an unanimous proposal from all the members of the board.  The decision concerning the nomination is made at a meeting of the Society.  Honorary chairpersons and honorary members may vote in the meetings of the Society.
4§ Resignation and dismissal

Members may resign from the Society by informing of their resignation in written to the board, to the chairman or at a Society meeting.

The board of the Society may suspend temporarily or dismiss definitively a member, if the person does not act according to these regulations, if the persons has not paid the set membership fee, or if the person has acted against the purposes of the Society.

A dismissed member may demand that the dismissal decision be examined at a Society meeting, by presenting to the board of the Society a written request thereof, within a lapse of 30 days from the date of receiving notice of the membership dismissal.  In such a case the decision concerning the termination of the membership shall be made by a Society meeting.

The dismissal of membership does not annul any unpaid membership fees.
5§ Registration and membership fees

The amount of the payment of the fee for joining the Society and of the annual membership fee shall be decided at the Society´s annual meeting, as well as the date and form of payment.  Honorary chairpersons and honorary members are not obliged to pay the membership fee.
6§ The board, auditors and officials

The Society is directed by a board consisting of a chairperson and six (6) members, elected at the annual meeting.

The chairperson is elected for a term of two (2) years, and the chairmanship may last no longer than two (2) consecutive terms.

The other members of the board are elected for two (2) years, so that each year half of the board members end their term.  A board member, irrespective of how long he or she has served as a board member, may become elected chairperson for the terms defined in paragraph 2.

The board chooses among its members a vice chairperson and a secretary for its term of activity.

It is the board´s task to assign the necessary officials and to discharge them of their duties.

The chairperson, or in his or her hindrance, the vice chairperson calls the board meeting.  The chairperson or the vice chairperson and at least three (3) other members of the board shall constitute a quorum.

The term of the officials chosen by the board is the same as the term of the board, unless the duty has been otherwise defined by the annual meeting.

The term of the auditors is one calendar year.

When these regulations are applied for the first time, half of the board members shall be elected for a one (1) year term and the other half for two (2) years.
7§ Signature of the Society

Shall have the right to sign for the Society
1) the chairperson and the vice chairperson together, or
2) the chairperson or the vice chairperson together with the secretary.

The board may also give the right to sign for the Society, to members of the board together with one of the rightfully signing persons.

A person deficient in power cannot sign for the Society.
8§ Bylaws

The society may have bylaws for its activities, which shall be sanctioned in a regular meeting of the Society.  The bylaws define, complying with the association law and with these rules, the tasks of the chairman, the board and the officials, as well as practical matters regarding the activities of the Society.
9§ Term of activity and accounting year

The calendar year will be the term of activity of the Society, as well as the accounting year of the Society.

The closing of the accounts, with the required documents and the annual activity report of the board, shall be presented to the auditors at the latest three (3) weeks before the annual meeting.

The auditors shall give a written statement to the board at the latest two (2) weeks before the annual meeting.
10§ The meetings of the Society

The annual meeting of the Society will be held yearly, on a date set by the board, during February or March.

Additional meetings will be held when the board considers it necessary, or when at least on tenth (1/10) of the members of the Society, who are entitled to vote, demand a meeting by means of a written request addressed to the board, stating the subject to be discussed.

The following subjects shall be dealt with at the annual meeting:
1. Choice of a chairperson, a recording secretary, two revisers of the minutes, and two counters of the votes.
2. Affirming the legitimacy and the quorum of the meeting.
3. Acceptance of the agenda.
4. Presentation of the activity report, the calculation of results, the profit and loss statement, and the audit report.
5. Decision on the approval of the audit report, and the granting of freedom from responsibility to the board and the treasurer.
6. Decision concerning the actions that the remainder of the approved profit and loss statement gives cause to.
7. Approval of the activity plan and the budget for the coming term, and decision on the amount of the fee for joining, of the membership fee, and about the date of payment.
8. Election of the chairperson every second year, and of the members of the board replacing those whose term has ended.
9. Election of two auditors and two alternate persons.
10. Dealing with other subjects mentioned in the summons.
11§ Right to vote

Each member who is present at the election shall have one (1) vote.  It is not allowed to vote by proxy.
12§ Summons to meetings

The meetings of the Society are summoned by the board.  The summons must be delivered to the members at the latest ten (10) days before the meeting.  The summons is presented in written.
13§ Ammending rules

A decision on ammending the rules must be made in a meeting of the Society, which has been summoned for this purpose.  The proposed ammendment must obtain the support of at least three fourths (3/4) of the given votes.
14§ The dissolution of the Society

A resolution about the dissolution of the Society must be made in two (2) meetings of the Society, with an interval of at least thirty (30) days.

The proposal for the change must obtain in both meetings a majority of at least three fourths (3/4) of the given votes.  If the Society is dissolved, the decision on the transfer of the property of the Society shall be made during the second meeting, in such a way that it serves the purposes of the Society, as defined in the 2§ of these rules.
15§ Association law

In other respects, the activity of the Society shall observe the association law in force.