⚠️ This is an unofficial translation of the official Finnish rules. The translation may contain inaccuracies.
1 § Name, Registered Office and Language of the Association
The name of the association is Biopsi ry. The association's registered office is in Tampere, and its official language is Finnish.
2 § Purpose and Activities
The purpose of the association is to serve as an advocacy and cooperation organisation for students of biotechnology and biomedical engineering at Tampere University, as well as to organise recreational and leisure activities for its members.
To fulfil its purpose, the association provides academic guidance, organises meetings, presentations, discussion events and excursions, establishes connections between industry and the university, and cooperates with various student organisations. In addition, the association conducts research, information and publishing activities related to its field and organises recreational and other similar activities.
3 § Members
Any person pursuing a degree, participating in an exchange programme, or undertaking postgraduate studies at Tampere University who accepts the association's purpose and rules may become a regular member. A private individual or a legally competent organisation wishing to support the association's purpose and activities may be accepted as a supporting member. A private individual who has completed or discontinued their studies and was a regular member of the association during their studies may be accepted as an alumni member. Regular members, supporting members and alumni members are accepted upon application by the Board of the association. The Board may also accept other individuals it considers suitable for membership. The Board may invite individuals who have made significant contributions to the association to become honorary members.The Board of the association is responsible for maintaining the membership register.
After completing or discontinuing their studies, a regular member may apply to become an alumni member or a supporting member but may not be elected to the Board.
4 § Resignation and Expulsion from the Association
A member has the right to resign from the association by notifying the Board or its Chairperson in writing, or by announcing their resignation at a general meeting of the association so that it can be recorded in the minutes.
5 § Disciplinary Measures and Expulsion from the Association
A general meeting of the association or the Board may impose disciplinary measures on a member if, through their actions within or outside the association, the member causes significant harm to the association or fails to pay their membership fee when due. The following disciplinary measures may be applied in the order listed below:
- A verbal warning concerning the member's behaviour or actions.
- A written warning if the behaviour or actions continue after a verbal warning.
- A temporary ban of no less than one (1) month and no more than six (6) months from events organised by the association, together with the temporary suspension of other services requiring membership.
- Expulsion of the member from the association.
A member facing disciplinary measures must always be given an opportunity to be heard by the body imposing the measures before they are implemented. The necessity of disciplinary measures shall always be assessed on a case-by-case basis by the Board or the general meeting of the association responsible for imposing them.
If the Board decides to expel a member, the expelled member may refer the decision to a general meeting of the association for review by submitting a written appeal addressed to the general meeting.The appeal must be submitted to the Board within thirty (30) days of notification of the Board's decision. The decision of the general meeting of the association is final.
6 § Membership Fees
The annual membership fees for regular members, alumni members and supporting members shall be determined separately by the association's spring general meeting. The membership fee applies to one academic year. The academic year begins on 1 August and ends on 31 July. Honorary members are exempt from membership fees.
7 § Board
The affairs of the association shall be managed by a Board elected at the autumn general meeting. The Board shall consist of a Chairperson, a Vice-Chairperson and a Treasurer, together with two to six (2–6) other ordinary Board members and zero to two (0–2) deputy Board members.
The Chairperson of the Board shall be referred to as the Chairperson of the association. The Board shall elect a Secretary from among its members and, where necessary, an Activities Coordinator and other required officers. A deputy Board member may not serve as Secretary. Board meetings shall be convened by the Chairperson or, if the Chairperson is unable to do so, by the Vice-Chairperson. Notice of a Board meeting must be given at least one (1) day in advance on the association's notice board and through invitations sent by email to Board members. A Board meeting shall have a quorum if the Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson is present, together with at least half (1/2) of the Board members.
Deputy Board members have the right to attend and speak at Board meetings. A deputy Board member has voting rights only when an ordinary Board member is unable to attend. Decisions shall be made by a simple majority of votes. In the event of a tie, the Chairperson shall have the casting vote, except in elections, where the result shall be decided by drawing lots.
Regular members, supporting members, alumni members and honorary members of the association have the right to attend and speak at Board meetings.
The Board's term of office shall be one calendar year.
8 § Authority to Sign on Behalf of the Association
The Chairperson, Vice-Chairperson, Secretary and Treasurer of the Board are each individually authorised to sign on behalf of the association.
The Board may also grant an individual Board member the authority to sign on behalf of the association independently.
9 § Project Groups
The Board may appoint project groups to operate under its authority. When appointing a project group, the Board must designate a responsible leader and define the authority and term of operation of both the group and its leader.
10 § Removal from a Position of Trust
For a justified reason, a general meeting of the association may remove an elected officer from their position before the end of their term of office, provided that the matter is mentioned in the meeting notice. A new member or new members may be elected at the same general meeting to replace the person or persons removed for the remainder of their term of office.
11 § General Meetings of the Association
Decision-making authority in the association shall be exercised by its general meetings. The association's general meetings consist of the autumn general meeting, the spring general meeting and extraordinary general meetings. The Board must convene general meetings at least seven (7) days in advance by publishing a notice on the association's notice board and sending an email to those who have provided their email addresses to the association.
Decisions at general meetings shall be made by a simple majority of votes. In the event of a tie, the Chairperson shall have the casting vote, except in elections, where the result shall be decided by drawing lots.
Spring General Meeting
The association's spring general meeting shall be held between January and April.
Its responsibilities are to:
- Review the annual report prepared by the Board and decide on any measures arising from it.
- Approve the association's financial statements and grant discharge from liability to the Board.
- Approve the action plan and budget for the current financial and operational year.
- Determine the membership fees for regular members, alumni members and supporting members for the following academic year.
- Decide on any other matters specified in the meeting notice.
Autumn General Meeting
The association's autumn general meeting shall be held between September and December.
Its responsibilities are to:
- Elect the Board of the association for the following calendar year.
- Elect two (2) operations inspectors and a personal deputy for each inspector for the following financial year.
- Decide on any other matters specified in the meeting notice.
Extraordinary General Meetings
An extraordinary general meeting shall be convened when a general meeting of the association so decides, when the Board considers it necessary, or when at least one-tenth (1/10) of the association's members submit a written request to the Board for a specific stated purpose. The meeting must be held within thirty (30) days of the request being submitted to the Board.
Submission of Matters for Consideration
If a member wishes to have a matter considered at the spring or autumn general meeting, they must notify the Board in writing sufficiently in advance for the matter to be included in the meeting notice.
Remote Participation
If the Board or a general meeting of the association so decides, members may also participate in a general meeting remotely during the meeting through a telecommunications connection or another technical means.
The Board or the general meeting shall decide which remote participation platform is to be used.
Voting and Attendance Rights
At general meetings, every regular member who has reached the age of fifteen (15) shall have one (1) vote.
Honorary members, supporting members and alumni members have the right to attend and speak at general meetings.
12 § Financial Year of the Association
The association's financial year shall be the calendar year.
The association's financial statements must be submitted to the operations inspectors no later than one month before the spring general meeting.
The operations inspectors' report must be completed at least fourteen (14) days before the spring general meeting.
13 § Amendment of the Rules and Dissolution of the Association
A decision to amend these rules or dissolve the association must be made at a general meeting of the association by a majority of at least three-quarters (3/4) of the votes cast.
The meeting notice must explicitly state that an amendment of the rules or dissolution of the association will be considered.
If the association is dissolved, its assets shall be used to promote the association's purpose in a manner determined by the general meeting that decides on the dissolution.
If the association is legally terminated, its assets shall be used for the same purpose.
14 § Preservation of Membership Rights
Previously acquired membership rights shall be preserved.
