Rules

HAMK ES Society’s Rules

1. The Name and Municipality of the Society

The name of the society is HAMK Entrepreneurship Society ry, and its municipality is
Hämeenlinna.

2. Purpose and Activities

The purpose of the society is to promote and support an innovative entrepreneurial culture, entrepreneurship studies, new business activities, and work-life connections related to entrepreneurship.

To achieve its purpose, the society organizes meetings, events, activities, trainings, and study trips. Additionally, the society may publish bulletins, articles, and other publications to advance its goal. The society maintains connections with educational institutions, organizations, businesses, and other stakeholders to support its operations.

To support its operations, the society may accept donations, grants, and bequests. The society may also conduct fundraising, lotteries, entertainment events, and similar activities after obtaining the necessary permits.

3. Members

A person who accepts the purpose of the society can be admitted as a full member. A supporting member can be an individual or a legal entity wishing to support the purpose and activities of the society. Supporting members are required to pay membership fees but do not have voting rights. An alumnus member can be anyone who has previously been a full member of the society. Alumni members are required to pay membership fees but do not have voting rights. A person who has significantly advanced and supported the society’s activities may be invited to the society’s meeting as an honorary president or honorary member upon the board’s proposal. Honorary members and honorary presidents do not have voting rights and are not required to pay membership fees. Full members, alumnus members, and supporting members are admitted upon application by the board.

4. Resignation or Expulsion of a Member

A member may resign from the society by notifying the board or its chairperson in writing or by declaring their resignation in the society’s meeting, to be recorded in the minutes. The board may expel a member from the society if the member has failed to fulfil the obligations, they agreed to upon joining the society or if their conduct, inside or outside the society, has significantly harmed the society or if they no longer meet the membership requirements set by law or the society’s rules.

5. Joining and Membership Fees

The amount of joining fees and annual membership fees for full members, alumnus members, and supporting members will be determined separately for each member group by the annual meeting. Joining fees and annual fees are set for the calendar year. Honorary presidents and honorary members are not required to pay membership fees.

6. Society Meetings

The annual general meeting of the society is held annually on a date determined by the board, between January and May. In society meetings, each full member has one vote. Alumni and supporting members, as well as honorary presidents and honorary members, have the right to attend and speak at the meeting but do not have voting rights. The decision of the society meeting is made by the opinion that has been supported by more than half of the votes cast unless otherwise specified in the rules. In the case of a tie, the chairperson’s vote will decide, except in elections, where a lottery will determine the result.

Real-time remote participation using technical devices may be introduced at society meetings. The board of the society has discretion in offering remote participation at meetings.

An extraordinary meeting of the society will be held when decided by the society meeting, when the board sees fit, or when at least 50 voting members or one-tenth of the voting members request it in writing for the handling of the matters they have specified. The meeting must be held within thirty days from the moment the request for it has been made to the board.

7. Calling Society Meetings

The board must convene society meetings at least seven days before the meeting by sending notices to members by post, email, or through the society’s official communication channel.

8. Annual General Meeting of the Society

The following matters will be addressed at the annual general meeting:

1. Opening of the meeting
2. Election of the meeting chairperson, secretary, two-minute checkers, and, if necessary, two vote counters
3. Confirmation of the meeting’s legality and quorum
4. Adoption of the meeting agenda
5. Presentation of the financial statement or annual report, the annual review, and the auditor’s statement
6. Decision on confirming the financial statement or annual report and granting discharge from liability to the board and other responsible parties
7. Confirmation of the action plan, income and expenditure estimates, and membership fee amounts
8. Election of the board chairperson and other members
9. Election of one or two auditors and a deputy auditor, or one or two accountants and a deputy accountant
10. Handling of other matters mentioned in the meeting notice.

If a member wants to propose a matter for the annual general meeting, they must notify the board in writing well in advance to include the matter in the meeting notice.

9. Society Name Signing

The society’s name can be signed by the board chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, or treasurer, each individually.

10. Board

The board of the society handles its affairs and consists of the chairperson elected at the annual meeting and 2-8 other full members, as well as 0-8 deputy members. Board members must be members of the society and students at Häme University of Applied Sciences with a valid right to study. The board selects a vice-chairperson from among its members and may appoint a secretary, treasurer, and other necessary officers, either from among its members or externally. In addition, one member of the Häme University of Applied Sciences staff is elected to the board. The board’s term of office is the period between annual meetings. The board meets at the invitation of the chairperson or vice-chairperson if they consider it necessary, or when at least half of the board members request it. The board is quorate when at least half of its members, including the chairperson or vice-chairperson, are present. Votes are decided by a simple majority. In case of a tie, the chairperson’s vote will decide, except in elections, where a lottery will be held.

11. Financial Year and Audit

The society’s financial year is the calendar year, which is also the term of the activity auditors. The financial statement and the board’s activity report must be provided to the auditors at least three weeks before the annual meeting. The auditors must give their written statement to the board at least one week before the annual meeting.

12. Amendment of Rules and Dissolution of the Society

A decision to amend the rules or dissolve the society must be made in a society meeting with a majority of at least three-fourths (3/4) of the votes cast. The meeting notice must state the proposed amendments to the rules or the dissolution of the society. In case of dissolution, the society’s assets will be used to further the society’s purpose in the manner determined by the meeting that decides on the dissolution. If the society is liquidated, its assets will be used for the same purpose.

13. Bylaws

Supplementary bylaws can be established to clarify important matters for the society’s activities. The bylaws and any changes to them must be approved in the society meeting by at least a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the votes cast. The bylaws take effect immediately after they are approved at the society meeting.