Constitution of Finlands Beer Society ??

1. NAME AND DOMICILE

The name of the Society is Suomen Olutseura ry, in Swedish Finlands Ölförening rf, in English Finland’s Beer Society and its domicile is Kuopio, Finland. SOS ry or FÖF rf can be used as unofficial abbreviations of the name.

2. PURPOSE

The purpose of the Society is, in a positive spirit, to foster and promote beer culture, to act as the beer consumers’ interest group and to increase the social respect of both beer and of its consumers.

The Society carries on educational work which, in compliance with the current alcohol policy, promotes the orientation of consumption habits from strong alcoholic beverages to mild ones, and especially to beer. The Society also develops the quality of restaurant culture and beer culture of the retail trade by

- stressing the moderation of alcohol use

- increasing the level of knowledge of beer

- promoting the development of diversity of the available beer assortment


3. ACTIVITIES

In order to achieve its purpose the Society forms and supports local beer societies and organises, together with them, beer tastings and testings, training and excursions. The Society carries on publishing as well as general beer-related product consultation and the teaching of manners. In order to fund its activities the Society can own real and personal property, arrange drawings, accept contributions and bequests as well as sell beer and products related to beer culture such as books, accessories etc.


4. MEMBERS

Any person of good reputation and over 18 years of age who accepts the Society’s purpose and constitution can join the Society.

Any registered association or other society having legal capacity which wants to support the activities of the Society can be admitted as a passive member of the Society.

An individual who has supported the Society’s activities to a considerable degree or in some other way promoted the realization of the Society’s purpose can be admitted as an honorary member of the Society.

The members of the Society are approved by the Board of Directors of the Society. The name of the admitted member will be written in the Society’s member directory together with other necessary personal data. A membership card will be given to the member.

The amounts of the initiation fee and annual membership fee collected from active members are decided by the Annual General Meeting. The amounts of the initiation fee and annual membership fee of passive members are decided by the Board of Directors of the Society. Honorary members do not pay a membership fee.

The Board of Directors of the Society may dismiss a member from the Society if s/he has neglected to pay the membership fee for over three months after its due date or if s/he, through her/his action, within or outside the Society, prevents the realization of the Society’s purposes or inflicts damage to its reputation.

Specific grounds for dismissal are being guilty of a penal offence whilst under the influence of alcohol.


5. BOARD OF DIRECTORS

The Board of Directors, consisting of the Chairperson and a minimum of five and a maximum of nine ordinary members elected at the Annual General Meeting, shall deal with the issues of the Society. The term of office of the Chairperson is two years. The term of office of the other members of the Board is two years with a half or nearly half of the members being next in rotation each year. The turn to retire of a member who’s been elected to replace a member who’s resigned mid-term is determined by the predecessor’s term of office. Regional representation is to be taken into account when electing Board members.

The Board of Directors shall elect a Vice Chairperson and other necessary officials from among the Board of Directors and, if necessary, hire an executive director and other officials.

The Board of Directors shall convene on the invitation of the Chairperson, or, if s/he is unable to attend to her/his duties, on the invitation of the Vice Chairperson, whenever this is deemed necessary or when at least three of the Board members request this.

The Board of Directors shall have a quorum, when at least half of the members, Chairperson or Vice Chairperson included, are present. The issues are decided by a simple majority. In the event of a tie the Chairperson’s vote is decisive, but in an election the issue is decided by lot.

6. SIGNING ON BEHALF OF THE ASSOCIATION

The Society 's name shall be signed by the Chairperson, the Vice Chairperson or another person assigned by the Board of Directors.


7. ACCOUNTS

The financial period of the Society shall be the calendar year.

The annual accounts together with other necessary documents including the Board’s annual report shall be submitted to the auditors a minimum of three weeks prior the Annual General Meeting. The auditors shall submit their report in writing to the Board of Directors a minimum of two weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting.

8. ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING

The Society’s annual general meeting is held on a date determined by the Board of Directors by the end of March. The following issues are considered:

  1. opening of the meeting;
  2. electing of the chairperson and secretary, two scrutinizers of the minutes and two counters of votes of the meeting;
  3. checking the list of persons entitled to vote;
  4. confirming the lawfulness and quorum of the meeting;
  5. approving the agenda of the meeting:
  6. presenting the annual report, financial statement and auditors’ report;
  7. deciding on the adoption of the financial statement and discharging from liability the members of the Board of Directors and other responsible parties;
  8. adopting the strategy and budget proposal as well as deciding on the amount of the initiation and membership fees of active members;
  9. electing, every other year, the Chairperson of the Board of Directors, who will be called the association’s Chairperson;
  10. electing other members of the Board of Directors to replace those members who are next in rotation:
  11. electing the primary auditor and for him/her a personal deputy auditor;
  12. dealing with other matters mentioned in the notice to convene a meeting;
  13. closing of the meeting.

An extraordinary general meeting shall be held if the meeting of the Society or the Board of Directors deems this appropriate or if a minimum of one tenth (1/10) of the Society’s members holding voting rights specifically requests this, in writing, from the Board of Directors. The extraordinary meeting must be held within thirty days from the presentation of the request.

The notice to convene a meeting of the Society shall be sent, in writing or by e-mail, to each member no later than two weeks prior to the meeting.

Each active member who’s paid her/his membership fee of the current year shall have one vote in the meetings of the Society.

If an active member of the Society wants to bring a matter for the consideration of the Annual General meeting of the Society, s/he has to inform the Board of Directors about the matter, in writing, by the end of the completed month before the meeting.

The members have a right to authorize a proxy to represent oneself in the Annual General Meeting. The authorization has to be presented by credentials.


9. DISSOLUTION OF THE SOCIETY

In case of dissolution or termination the funds of the Society shall be used in the manner determined by the meeting at which the dissolution is decided upon.

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