Rules

(Revised by the meeting of the association on 6th of November, 2021)

This is the translated version of the rules of the association. The original version can be found HERE in Finnish. The Finnish version is always overruling the English translation, should they be contradictory.

1 § Name and domicile

The name of the association is Helsingin akateemiset kinkyt ry (which translates to the Academic Kinksters of Helsinki, registered association) and its domicile is Helsinki. The association may also use an unofficial abbreviation ‘Häkki‘ (eng. ‘Cage‘) in addition to its official name.

2 § Purpose and forms of activity

The purpose of the association is to help the progress of sexual equality in Finland, mainly amongst the students of the University of Helsinki. To accomplish its purpose, the association can arrange gatherings, social evenings, parties, excursions and other similar events, practice educational and commnicational activities, carry motions which support the purpose or forms of activity of the association, and keep in touch and co-operate with other associations with similar goals. To finance its operations, the association may accept donations and wills, and arrange raffles and fundraisings after receiving the relevant legal permits. The association is a nonprofit organization.

3 § The Principles of Operation

  • Treatment of different kinds of people with safe, tolerant and polite behaviour. We do not accept harassment, discrimination, or judgmental speech.
  • Zero tolerance for sexual harassment and nonconsensual activities. Sexual harassment in all of its forms is prohibited whether the act results in possible criminal-law sentences or not.
  • Respecting others’ privacy. We want to ensure an atmosphere of trust within our community.

4 § Members

The association has proper, student, supporting and honorary members. All members have to be of legal age of 18 years old and accept both the purpose of the association and the principles of operation.

Only private individuals who are active students of the University of Helsinki and therefore members of HYY (the Student Union of the University of Helsinki) may apply for a proper membership. A proper member who loses their membership to HYY has to either resign from the association or transfer to supporting membership.

A private individual studying in any other university or institution may apply for a student membership.

The association may have private individuals and foundations who accept the purpose of the association as its supporting members.

The student members and supporting members are entitled to the association’s membership card and enjoy all of its benefits like other members. Student members and supporting members do not have a right to vote at meetings of the association. The association may have up to 50% of its members as supporting members.

A meeting of the association can invite honorary members to the association at the proposal of the executive committee. A proposal can be made for a private individual who has notably contributed to and/or supported the association. Honorary members have a right to vote at the meetings of the association and run for the executive committee at the elections. Honorary membership lasts for a lifetime.

The executive committee keeps a list of the members of the association as required by the law. For each member the full name, domicile, email address and other necessary information shall be entered in the list. The membership register is confidential and the text ‘confidential’ shall be written on every page of the register.

5 § Membership fees

The annual membership fees for proper members, student members and supporting members are decided individually by meeting of the association each autumn. Honorary members do not pay membership fees.

6 § Resigning and expulsion from the association

A member is entitled to resign from the association at any time by informing the executive committee or its chairperson thereof in writing. A member may also resign by giving a notice thereof at a meeting of the association for entry in the minutes. Resignation requires no explanation. Already paid membership fees will not be returned.

The executive committee may expel a member who

  • has not paid their membership fee
  • has violated the association’s principles of operation
  • has failed to fulfill the obligations to which they have committed themselves by joining the association
  • has substantially damaged the association by their actions within or outside of the association
  • no longer meets the conditions for membership laid down by the Finnish law or the rules of the association.

Decisions concerning expulsion shall be taken by the board. The expulsion has to be initiated by informing the member concerned at least seven days before the meeting in which the matter is processed. Before a decision is taken, the member concerned must be reserved an opportunity to give an explanation in the matter.

7 § Executive committee (The Board)

The executive committee, which consists of the chairperson, at least two and up to seven board members and up to two supplementary members of the board elected at the meeting of the association each autumn, shall carefully attend to the affairs of the association. The executive committee can consist of proper, student, supporting and honorary members. The elected student and supporting members will be treated as proper members for the duration of their term.

The term of the executive committee lasts for a calendar year. The executive committee chooses the vice-chairperson and treasurer amongst themselves in their first meeting, and appoints other officials and staff members when needed as decided by the executive committee. The executive committee shall assemble a meeting by the request of the chairperson, or the vice-chairperson on behalf of the chairperson, or when at least half of the members of the board so demand. The executive committee is eligible for decision-making, when at least half of the board members and the chairperson or vice-chairperson who sent the convocation are present. When voting, the most popular vote will be chosen as the decision. In the case of a tie-breaker, the decision is made by the vote of the chairperson. In elections, tie-breakers are resolved by a coin toss.

8 § Procuration

Only the chairperson, the vice-chairperson, the treasurer, and other private individuals authorized by the executive committee are eligible to manage the affairs of the association by signing contracts with other entities. One signature per contract shall be required.

9 § Accounting period

The accounting period of the association is the calendar year. The financial statement with all required attached documents and the annual report of the executive committee has to be delivered to the operations inspector at least one month before the meeting of the association in springtime. The term of the operations inspector lasts for a calendar year.

10 § Term

The term of the association lasts for a calendar year.

11 § Meetings of the association

There shall be two meetings of the association every year, one in the springtime and one in the autumn. The springtime meeting shall be held between March and May, and the autumn meeting shall be held between October and December on the dates decided by the executive committee.

Additional meetings of the association may be held, when a meeting of the association or the executive committee so demands, or when at least 10% of the association’s proper members so demand. The demand for additional meetings of the association shall be delivered to the executive committee in writing.

Each board member, proper member and honorary member has one vote in the meetings of the association. Student members and supporting members have the right to be present and the right to speak, but they do not have the right to vote. When voting, the opinion with more than 50% of votes shall become the opinion of the meeting, unless otherwise stated. In the case of a tie-breaker, the decision is made by the vote of the chairperson. In elections, tie-breakers are resolved by a coin toss.

12 § Convening of meetings of the association

The convocations to the meetings of the association are sent by the executive committee. The convocation shall be delivered to the members of the association at least seven days before the meeting. The convocation shall be sent via email.

13 § Agenda in meetings of the association

(The meetings of the association are generally held in Finnish, but we have always some translators available)

The springtime meeting of the association shall be held on the date between March and May as decided by the executive committee. The agenda for the springtime meeting is the following:

  1. Starting the meeting
  2. Choosing of chairperson, secretary, two examiners of the minutes and two tellers when required
  3. Finding the meeting legal and eligible for decision-making
  4. Confirming the agenda
  5. Presenting the financial statement, annual report and operations inspector’s statement
  6. Deciding on verifying the financial statement and discharging the executive committee of previous year and other accountables from liability for the accounts
  7. Other matters mentioned in the convocation
  8. Announcements
  9. Ending the meeting

The autumn meeting of the association shall be held on the date between October and December as decided by the executive committee. The agenda for the autumn meeting is the following:

  1. Starting the meeting
  2. Choosing of chairperson, secretary, two examiners of the minutes and two tellers
  3. Finding the meeting legal and eligible for decision-making
  4. Confirming the agenda
  5. Confirming the action plan, budget and revenue estimate for the following year
  6. Deciding on membership fees for the following year
  7. Choosing the chairperson and other members of the executive committee for the following year
  8. Choosing the operations inspector and vice operations inspector for the following year
  9. Other matters mentioned in the convocation
  10. Announcements
  11. Ending the meeting

In case a member of the association wishes to bring a matter into discussion in a meeting of the association, they have to notify the executive committee in writing beforehand enough, that the executive committee has time to include the matter in the convocation.

14 § Changing the rules and dissolution of the association

The decision of changing the rules of the association or dissolution of the association has to be made at the meeting of the association with at least 75% majority on the vote. The agenda regarding the changing of the rules or dissolution has to be included in the convocation. In the case of dissolution, the assets of the association shall be used to contribute towards the purpose of the association as decided by the meeting of the association which made the decision regarding dissolution. In the case of terminating the association, the assets shall be used to contribute towards the purpose of the association.

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