Anglo-Finnish Society rules (from 15.02.2022)

Its objects shall be:

2.1.1   to foster knowledge of the peoples of Finland and the United Kingdom and

2.1.2   to develop appreciation of their cultures and heritage and

2.1.3   to further their mutual friendship and understanding.

2.2.1   arrange talks, concerts, conferences and other functions or activities;

2.2.2   print and publish appropriate materials;

2.2.3   collect and administer funds for cultural, charitable or educational purposes.

3.1.1    Individuals, firms or corporations wishing to become members of the Society shall apply in writing or electronically to the Honorary Secretary of the Society.  Subject to Rule 5.4 applicants shall be accepted as members after they have paid a full year’s subscription

3.1.2    Each firm or corporation that becomes a member shall be entitled to one vote only at any General Meeting of the Society, but may nominate two persons to
act as its representatives at such meetings.

3.2.1    The Honorary President of the Society shall be the Finnish Ambassador accredited to the Court of St. James’s.

3.2.2    The President of the Society shall be elected by the Council

3.2.3    Prominent persons may be invited by the Council to act as Patrons of the Society.

The Honorary President, the President and the Patrons shall all be Honorary members of the Society

3.2.4   At a General Meeting, the Society may elect, on the recommendation of the Council, additional Honorary members of the Society.  Honorary members shall be entitled to vote at General Meetings of the Society if at the time of their election they were subscribing members of the Society.

5.4.1    the member shall have been given at least 21 days’ notice in writing of the meeting of the Council at which the resolution to terminate his or her membership is to be proposed, and the reasons for its proposal, and

5.4.2    the member, or the member’s representative (not necessarily a member of the Society), shall have been allowed to make representations at such Council meeting before the Council takes a vote on whether or not to terminate his or her membership of the Society.

AGM.

6.5.2    The reappointment of ex officio Council Members appointed under Rule 6.4 shall be considered annually by the Council at its first meeting following an AGM

6.6.2    is not re-elected 

6.6.3    fails to attend at least one Council meeting during the period from the end of one AGM until the next one. The Council may at its discretion waive this rule in the case of illness of a Council Member;

6.6.4   dies or becomes incapable, because of any illness or injury, of managing and administering his or her own affairs or has been convicted of a serious criminal offence or has an unspent conviction for an offence involving dishonesty or deception;

6.6.5    having been appointed under rule 6.4, ceases to be a member of the relevant body or that body ceases to exist.

8.4.2    the election (if desired by the Council) of an Independent Examiner who shall NOT be a member of Council;

8.4.3    the reception of the Annual Report of the Honorary Secretary;

8.4.4    the approval of accounts submitted by the Council;

8.4.5    the disposal of other business introduced by the Council, and of any other matter which these rules permit;

8.4.6    the consideration of any resolutions submitted by members of the Society, provided that written notice of such resolutions, seconded in writing and signed by two other subscribing members of the Society, shall have been sent to the Honorary Secretary by the end of the calendar year prior to the AGM or six weeks before the date of the AGM, whichever is the later.

9.1.1   any cheques or other payments to be made by the Society shall require the signature or authorisation of TWO Officers of the Society, such signatories to be nominated by the Council;

9.1.2    records are kept of money received and expended by the Society, and the reasons for those transactions;

9.1.3    records are kept of the assets and liabilities of the Society;

9.1.4    an Income and Expenditure Account is prepared for each calendar year, with a Balance Sheet as at 31^st December;

9.1.5    the Accounts and Independent Examiner’s Report (if any) will conform to “best practice” as appropriate to the legal status of the Society.