The Soup Troupe Theatrical Society ry Bylaws
1. The name and domicile of the association
The name of the association is The Soup Troupe Theatrical Society ry and its domicile is Helsinki.
2. Purpose and activities
The purpose of the association is to promote in particular English-speaking theatre activities and to satisfy the demand of in particular English-speaking plays in Finland. In order to put this purpose into effect the association will maintain an amateur theatre consisting of its members. The activities include mainly rehearsals and performances of various plays and radio plays as well as execution of various other types of productions, eg. audiovisual productions. In addition, the association organises training and recreational activities for its members.
In order to support its activities, the association can accept donations and organise fund-raisings after having obtained the appropriate licenses, sell tickets to its performances, actively seek sponsorship and run a café in one location. The association may also collect assets by organising small-scale theatre-related workshops for other associations. Aim of this work is not to make profit but to enable putting on the association's own productions. The association is non-profit.
3. Members
Anyone, who approves the purpose and the bylaws of the association can join as a member of the association.
The executive committee approves members upon application.
4. Resignation and dismissal of members
A member has the right to resign from the association whenever by announcing this to the executive committee or its chairperson in writing or by announcing the resignation in an executive committee meeting so that it is marked in the minutes.
Executive committee can dismiss a member from the association, if the member has not paid his/her due membership fee, or in some other way has not fulfilled the duties that the member has committed to by joining the association, or with his/her actions in or outside the association has caused considerable harm to the association, or does not fill the terms for membership stated by either the law or the bylaws of the association.
5. Membership fee
The association can collect a yearly membership fee from its members. The fee is decided in the annual meeting.
6. Executive committee
The executive committee takes care of the matters of the association. The executive committee is elected in the annual meeting. The executive committee must have at least four and at most six members. The executive committee chooses from among its members a chairperson and a vice chairperson, and either from among or outside its members a secretary, a treasurer and other functionaries needed.
The term of office of the executive committee is the time between the annual meetings.
The chairperson prepares and presides the meetings of the association and the executive committee, takes care of relations of the association and together with the secretary, is in charge of internal communications and making the plan of actions. The secretary writes the minutes, updates the list of members and makes the annual report. The treasurer takes care of the accounting of the association, prepares the financial statement and strikes the balance. The members of the executive committee can also agree on a different distribution of tasks and delegate tasks to other members of the committee.
The executive committee convenes by the invitation of the chairperson, or if s/he is prevented from sending the invitation, by the invitation of the vice chairperson, whenever they see a need for a meeting, or whenever at least half of the executive committee insists for one.
The executive committee has quorum when at least half of its members, including the chairperson or the vice chairperson are present. Votes are settled with a simple majority. If votes are tied, the vote of the chairperson settles the matter. However, in the case of election, the tie is settled by lot.
7. Persons entitled to sign the name of the association
The chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary, or treasurer are entitled to sign the name of the organisation. Two signatures are required. However, the treasurer is entitled to sign alone the name of the association.
8. Accounting period and audit/performance audit
The accounting period of the association is the calendar year. The financial statement and other required documents have to be given to the auditors/performance auditors at least four weeks before the annual meeting. The auditors/performance auditors must give their written statement to the executive committee at least two weeks before the annual meeting.
9. Meetings of the association
The annual ordinary meeting of the association is held in January or February on a date determined by the executive committee.
An extraordinary meeting is held, when the ordinary meeting decides so, or when the executive committee sees there is a reason for one, or whenever at least one tenth (1/10) of the members entitled to vote demands one from the executive committee in written form with regards to a specific matter. The meeting must be held in thirty days time after the demand has been presented to the executive committee.
In meetings, each member has one vote.
Votes are settled with a simple majority. If the votes are tied, the vote of the chairperson settles the vote. However, in the case of election, the tie is settled by lot.
10. Manner of and period for convening meetings
The executive committee must convene the association meeting at least seven days before the meeting by sending a notice of meeting via e-mail or as a letter.
11. Annual ordinary meeting
In the annual ordinary meeting, the following matters are covered:
If a member of the association wishes to have a matter dealt with in the association's annual ordinary meeting, s/he must announce it to the executive committee in written form in advance, so that the committee has enough time to include the matter to the notice of meeting.
12. Changing the bylaws and dissolution of the association
The decision about changing the bylaws of the association or dissolving the association must be done in an association meeting with a majority of at least three quarters (3/4) of the votes given. It must be mentioned in the notice of meeting that the bylaws will be changed or that the association will be dissolved.
In case of dissolution of the association, the assets of the association are to be used to promote the cause of the organisation in a manner specified in the dissolving meeting. If the association is abolished, the assets are to be surrendered for the same purpose.
1. The name and domicile of the association
The name of the association is The Soup Troupe Theatrical Society ry and its domicile is Helsinki.
2. Purpose and activities
The purpose of the association is to promote in particular English-speaking theatre activities and to satisfy the demand of in particular English-speaking plays in Finland. In order to put this purpose into effect the association will maintain an amateur theatre consisting of its members. The activities include mainly rehearsals and performances of various plays and radio plays as well as execution of various other types of productions, eg. audiovisual productions. In addition, the association organises training and recreational activities for its members.
In order to support its activities, the association can accept donations and organise fund-raisings after having obtained the appropriate licenses, sell tickets to its performances, actively seek sponsorship and run a café in one location. The association may also collect assets by organising small-scale theatre-related workshops for other associations. Aim of this work is not to make profit but to enable putting on the association's own productions. The association is non-profit.
3. Members
Anyone, who approves the purpose and the bylaws of the association can join as a member of the association.
The executive committee approves members upon application.
4. Resignation and dismissal of members
A member has the right to resign from the association whenever by announcing this to the executive committee or its chairperson in writing or by announcing the resignation in an executive committee meeting so that it is marked in the minutes.
Executive committee can dismiss a member from the association, if the member has not paid his/her due membership fee, or in some other way has not fulfilled the duties that the member has committed to by joining the association, or with his/her actions in or outside the association has caused considerable harm to the association, or does not fill the terms for membership stated by either the law or the bylaws of the association.
5. Membership fee
The association can collect a yearly membership fee from its members. The fee is decided in the annual meeting.
6. Executive committee
The executive committee takes care of the matters of the association. The executive committee is elected in the annual meeting. The executive committee must have at least four and at most six members. The executive committee chooses from among its members a chairperson and a vice chairperson, and either from among or outside its members a secretary, a treasurer and other functionaries needed.
The term of office of the executive committee is the time between the annual meetings.
The chairperson prepares and presides the meetings of the association and the executive committee, takes care of relations of the association and together with the secretary, is in charge of internal communications and making the plan of actions. The secretary writes the minutes, updates the list of members and makes the annual report. The treasurer takes care of the accounting of the association, prepares the financial statement and strikes the balance. The members of the executive committee can also agree on a different distribution of tasks and delegate tasks to other members of the committee.
The executive committee convenes by the invitation of the chairperson, or if s/he is prevented from sending the invitation, by the invitation of the vice chairperson, whenever they see a need for a meeting, or whenever at least half of the executive committee insists for one.
The executive committee has quorum when at least half of its members, including the chairperson or the vice chairperson are present. Votes are settled with a simple majority. If votes are tied, the vote of the chairperson settles the matter. However, in the case of election, the tie is settled by lot.
7. Persons entitled to sign the name of the association
The chairperson, vice chairperson, secretary, or treasurer are entitled to sign the name of the organisation. Two signatures are required. However, the treasurer is entitled to sign alone the name of the association.
8. Accounting period and audit/performance audit
The accounting period of the association is the calendar year. The financial statement and other required documents have to be given to the auditors/performance auditors at least four weeks before the annual meeting. The auditors/performance auditors must give their written statement to the executive committee at least two weeks before the annual meeting.
9. Meetings of the association
The annual ordinary meeting of the association is held in January or February on a date determined by the executive committee.
An extraordinary meeting is held, when the ordinary meeting decides so, or when the executive committee sees there is a reason for one, or whenever at least one tenth (1/10) of the members entitled to vote demands one from the executive committee in written form with regards to a specific matter. The meeting must be held in thirty days time after the demand has been presented to the executive committee.
In meetings, each member has one vote.
Votes are settled with a simple majority. If the votes are tied, the vote of the chairperson settles the vote. However, in the case of election, the tie is settled by lot.
10. Manner of and period for convening meetings
The executive committee must convene the association meeting at least seven days before the meeting by sending a notice of meeting via e-mail or as a letter.
11. Annual ordinary meeting
In the annual ordinary meeting, the following matters are covered:
- Opening the meeting
- Electing a chairperson, who will be the chairperson of the executive committee is s/he is present, and a secretary for the meeting, electing two scrutinizers of the minutes, and if necessary, two tellers
- Stating the presence of a quorum
- Approving the agenda of the meeting
- Presenting financial statement, annual report and auditor's/performance auditor’s statement
- Confirming the financial statement and discharging the executive committee and other responsible parties from liability
- Confirming plan of action, revenue and expenditure estimate and the membership fee
- Electing the executive committee
- Electing one or two auditors and their deputies or one or two performance auditors and their deputies
- Discussing any other matters mentioned in the notice of meeting.
If a member of the association wishes to have a matter dealt with in the association's annual ordinary meeting, s/he must announce it to the executive committee in written form in advance, so that the committee has enough time to include the matter to the notice of meeting.
12. Changing the bylaws and dissolution of the association
The decision about changing the bylaws of the association or dissolving the association must be done in an association meeting with a majority of at least three quarters (3/4) of the votes given. It must be mentioned in the notice of meeting that the bylaws will be changed or that the association will be dissolved.
In case of dissolution of the association, the assets of the association are to be used to promote the cause of the organisation in a manner specified in the dissolving meeting. If the association is abolished, the assets are to be surrendered for the same purpose.