Current Rules: 09.03.2022

  1. Name, Domicile, and Area of Operation Name: Loviisan Taideyhdistys r.y. – Lovisa Konstförening r.f. Area of Operation: Loviisa, Ruotsinpyhtää, Lapinjärvi, and Liljendal. The association is bilingual in Finnish and Swedish, but the registration and minutes language is Finnish.
  2. Purpose and Mode of Operation Purpose: To promote and develop the practice of various arts and the cultural offerings in the area of operation. To achieve its purpose, the association:
    • Organizes art exhibitions
    • Cooperates with other associations and organizations
    • Participates in cultural events
    • Organizes lectures and presentations
    • Organizes courses
    To support its activities, the association:
    • Collects membership fees
    • Organizes courses
    • Holds sales events, raffles, and similar activities
    • Applies for grants and subsidies
  3. Members Anyone who accepts the purpose and rules of the association can join as a member. Members are accepted by the association’s board upon application. Acquired membership rights are retained.
  4. Resignation and Expulsion of Members A member has the right to resign from the association by notifying the board or its chairman in writing or by announcing the resignation at a meeting to be recorded in the minutes. The board may expel a member from the association if the member has failed to pay the due membership fee.
  5. Joining and Membership Fees The amount of the joining fee and the annual membership fee is decided at the autumn meeting.
  6. Board and Auditors The affairs of the association are managed by a board consisting of a chairman and six members, as well as two deputy members elected at the autumn meeting. The term of office for board members and deputy members is two years. Half of the members and deputy members are up for election annually. The board’s term of office is the period between autumn meetings. The board elects a vice-chairman from among its members and appoints a secretary and treasurer from within or outside the board. The board meets at the call of the chairman or, in his absence, the vice-chairman, or when half of the board members request it. The board is quorate when at least half of its members, including the chairman or vice-chairman, are present. The association has 1-2 auditors and their deputies.
  7. Signing the Association’s Name The association’s name is signed by the chairman, vice-chairman, or secretary, two together.
  8. Financial Year and Auditing The association’s financial year is the calendar year. The financial statements, necessary documents, and the board’s annual report must be submitted to the auditors three weeks before the spring meeting. The auditors must submit their statement to the board two weeks before the spring meeting.
  9. Meetings of the Association The association holds two meetings annually. The autumn meeting is held on a date determined by the board between October and December, and the spring meeting between January and March. An extraordinary meeting is held when decided by the association’s meeting or when the board deems it necessary or when 1/10 of the voting members request it in writing for the consideration of a specified matter. Each member has one vote at the association’s meetings. Unless otherwise specified in the rules, the decision of the association’s meeting is the opinion that has received the most support. In the event of a tie, the chairman’s vote decides, in personal elections, by lot.
  10. Calling Meetings of the Association The board must call the association’s meetings at least seven days before the meeting by letter, email, or notice in the Finnish and Swedish newspapers of Loviisa.
  11. Matters to be Addressed at Autumn and Spring Meetings At the association’s autumn meeting, the following matters are addressed:
    1. Opening of the meeting
    2. Election of the chairman, secretary, and two minutes inspectors, and if necessary, vote counters
    3. Confirmation of the legality and quorum of the meeting
    4. Approval of the meeting agenda
    5. Election of the chairman, members, and deputy members of the board to replace those due for election
    6. Election of one or two auditors and their deputies
    7. Approval of the action plan, income and expenditure budget, and the amount of joining and membership fees
    8. Addressing other matters mentioned in the notice
    If a member of the association wishes to have a matter addressed at the association’s meeting, it must be notified to the board at least two weeks before the meeting. At the association’s spring meeting, the following matters are addressed:
    1. Opening of the meeting
    2. Election of the chairman, secretary, and two minutes inspectors, and if necessary, vote counters
    3. Confirmation of the legality and quorum of the meeting
    4. Approval of the meeting agenda
    5. Presentation of the financial statements, annual report, and auditors’ statement
    6. Decision on the approval of the financial statements and annual report and granting discharge to the board and other responsible parties
    7. Addressing other matters mentioned in the notice
    If a member of the association wishes to have a matter addressed at the association’s meeting, it must be notified to the board at least two weeks before the meeting.
  12. Amendment of Rules and Dissolution of the Association A decision to amend the rules and dissolve the association must be made at the association’s meeting with at least a three-fourths (3/4) majority of the votes cast. Upon dissolution, the association’s assets are used to promote the association’s purpose in a manner determined by the meeting deciding on the dissolution.