1§ Name and Domicile

    The name of the association is Joensuu Forestry Students' Association (Joensuun Metsäylioppilaat ry), and its domicile is Joensuu.

    §2 Purpose

    The purpose of the association is to develop forestry education and research at the University of Eastern Finland, promote the common interests of forestry students, and support its members' cultural and physical activities related to forestry.

    §3 Forms of Activity

    To achieve its purpose, the association makes proposals and initiatives, engages in publishing activities, organizes lectures, discussions, study trips, and sports events, and maintains contacts with academic organizations, forestry professionals, and domestic and international organizations related to the field.

    §4 Language of the Association

    The official language of the association is Finnish.

    §5 Membership

    The members of the association are regular members and honorary members.

    Regular membership is open by paying the membership fee to individuals pursuing a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree in agriculture and forestry with a focus on forestry subjects at the University of Eastern Finland or those who have completed such degrees and continue their studies in the Faculty of Science and Forestry, Department of Forestry. The board may also grant regular membership to other students at the University of Eastern Finland at its discretion. Acquired membership rights are retained until the end of the membership.

    Honorary membership can be conferred upon individuals who have significantly contributed to the association’s activities or the development to the field of forestry. There can be up to three honorary members at any one time, and honorary members are exempt from membership fees.

    §6 Membership Fees

    In addition to the other obligations stipulated in these rules, regular members must pay the membership fee determined at the association’s election meeting. After paying the membership fee, a member obtains the rights to participate in the association’s activities.

    §7 Approval of Members

    Regular members are approved by the board, while honorary members are approved by a decision-making association meeting, provided that two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast support the proposal.

    §8 Resignation, Expulsion, and Disciplinary Actions

    A member wishing to resign from the association must notify the board or its chairperson in writing or announce their resignation during an association meeting. The association meeting may expel a member who acts contrary to the association’s rules or objectives, harms the association, or fails to pay the due membership fee.

    The board oversees the compliance of the rules and is responsible for imposing penalties for violations when necessary.

    Possible penalties for rule violations include:

    • Notice
    • Immediate removal from an event
    • Warning
    • Temporary ban from participating in the association’s activities
    • Indefinite ban from participating in the association’s activities
    • Other appropriate disciplinary action agreed upon by the board and the involved parties
    • Initiation of expulsion proceedings as described in §8.

    The decision to initiate expulsion proceedings is made at an association meeting, while decisions regarding other disciplinary actions are made by the board to protect individual privacy. Involved parties have the right to be heard in proceedings concerning rule violations.

    §9 Governing Bodies

    The association’s decision-making power is vested in the association meeting, while executive power is vested in the board.

    The board may establish committees from among its members, whose decision-making and financial authority are defined by the board.

    §10 Association Meetings

    The association’s annual meeting is held before April 10, the election meeting in October, and the autumn meeting by November 30, at times determined by the board. Extraordinary meetings are held as deemed necessary by the board, by decision of the association meeting, or at the written request of at least 1/10 of the association’s voting members to address a specific issue. Participation in association meetings may be allowed by mail or via telecommunication or other technical means during or before the meeting, as decided by the board or the association meeting. The board must convene the annual meeting, the election meeting, and the autumn meeting at least seven days in advance, and other association meetings at least four days in advance, primarily through the association’s official communication channel and, if necessary, via the association’s notice board. The association meeting is quorate when convened in accordance with the rules.

    Decisions at association meetings are made by a simple majority, except for matters specified in § 7 and 19. Matters that members wish to have addressed at meetings must be submitted to the board in writing at least two weeks prior to the meeting.

    At the annual meeting, the following items are addressed:

    • The board’s report on the association’s activities and finances, along with the auditor’s statement
    • Approval of the previous term’s financial statements
    • Granting discharge from liability
    • Other matters mentioned in the meeting notice

    At the election meeting, the following items are addressed:

    • Election of the board chairperson, who is also the association’s chairperson, in accordance with §11
    • Election of five (5) to eleven (11) board members to board positions
    • Election of the Loimu representative for Loimu Students – Joensuu association's meetings
    • Election of the association’s supervisor for one year at a time
    • Election of one auditor and one deputy auditor for one year at a time
    • Election of other association officials
    • Determination of the membership fee and the remuneration of officials
    • Other matters mentioned in the meeting notice

    At the autumn meeting, the following items are addressed:

    • The action plan and budget for the next term
    • Other matters mentioned in the meeting notice

    The chairperson and other board members assume responsibility for association affairs at the start of the new operational and financial year on January 1.

    §11 Board

    The association’s affairs are managed and represented by a board elected for one calendar year, consisting of a chairperson and a minimum of five (5) and a maximum of eleven (11) members.

    The chairperson and other board members are elected at the association’s election meeting by a simple majority vote. The association meeting may elect a new board member to replace one who has resigned or been expelled at the next association meeting.

    Board meetings are convened by the chairperson or, if they are unavailable, by the vice-chairperson. The board is quorate when at least half of the members, including the chairperson or vice-chairperson, are present. Decisions at board meetings are made by a simple majority vote. In the event of a tie, the chairperson’s vote decides, except in elections where a tie is resolved by drawing lots.

    The board’s duties include:

    • Managing the association’s affairs according to the rules and decisions of association meetings
    • Preparing documents for association meetings
    • Maintaining a membership list that includes each member’s full name and domicile
    • Managing the association’s funds, archives, and other assets, and collecting membership fees

    The board may propose a candidate for the association’s supervisor to the election meeting.

    §12 Supervisor

    The association has a supervisor who must hold an academic degree in forestry subjects and be employed by the University of Eastern Finland. The supervisor acts as a liaison between the association and the university. The supervisor is elected at the association’s election meeting for one year at a time.

    §13 Authorized Signatories

    The association’s name is signed by the chairperson, vice-chairperson, or secretary, together with another board member.

    §14 Auditors

    One auditor and one deputy auditor are elected at the election meeting each year to audit the association’s administration and finances.

    §15 Operational and Financial term

    The association’s operational and financial term begins on January 1 and ends on December 31. The financial statements and the annual report must be submitted to the auditor at least one month before the annual meeting. The auditor must provide a statement on the financial statements and the annual report at least two weeks before the annual meeting.

    §16 Association Clubs

    Members may establish unregistered clubs within the association to pursue specialized activities aligned with the association’s purpose, subject to the approval of the association meeting. Each club must have a chairperson, and the club’s rules must be submitted by the founders to the board for approval. Clubs may apply in writing for funding from the association to support their activities. Clubs must report on their activities to the board for inclusion as an appendix in the association’s annual report.

    Only association members may belong to a club.

    §17 Flags and Insignia

    The association’s flag, insignia, honorary badges, and merit badges are regulated separately.

    §18 Anniversary

    The association celebrates its anniversary on October 12, the date of its founding.

    §19 Amendments and Dissolution

    These rules may be amended if three-quarters (3/4) of the votes cast at a quorate association meeting support the proposal.

    To dissolve the association, a three-quarters (3/4) majority vote is required at two consecutive quorate association meetings held at least two weeks apart. If the association is dissolved, its assets shall be used for purposes that support the association’s objectives as determined by the final meeting deciding on the dissolution.