1§
The name of the association is Vammaisfoorumi ry, in Swedish Handikappforum rf. In international contexts, the informal name Finnish Disability Forum may be used. The association uses Finnish as their language. Swedish can also be used.
The association is based in Helsinki.
2§
Purpose of the association is:
– promote equality and equal participation of persons with disabilities in society through cooperation between disability organizations; and
– represent Finnish disability organizations in national and international cooperation.
3§
In order to achieve its purpose, the Association shall carry out information, planning, research, publication and other similar activities, as well as presenting and giving opinions on matters relating to the situation of persons with disabilities.
4§
The association may include a national disability association registered as a full member, with a majority of disabled or parents of disabled children in its decision-making bodies. A non-voting registered member of a disability association or a registered association working with people with disabilities may be a non-voting member.
Admission to membership is decided by the general meeting.
The amount of the basic membership fee for ordinary members and the amount of the contribution for supporting members shall be decided by the Autumn Meeting. The membership fee may be staggered based on the number of votes for ordinary members such that each vote corresponds to one basic unit of the membership fee.
5§
The Association’s actual meetings are the spring meeting, which will be held by the end of May, and the autumn meeting, which will be held by the end of November. Notice of meetings of the association shall be given at least one month in writing to the members. The members of the association have the right to vote at the meeting.
An extra meeting of the association shall be convened when the meeting of the association so decides or if the Board deems it appropriate or if at least 1/10 of the members entitled to vote so request in writing from the Board to consider a particular issue.
In addition to the matters referred to in section 6, the association’s meetings deal with principled and wide-ranging statements and plans.
6§
The spring meeting will address at least the following issues:
- Presentation of the financial statements for the preceding year and the audit opinion
- Approval of the accounts shall be decided.
- Discharge to the Board of Directors and other persons responsible for the preceding year shall be made.
- Submit a revised board plan for the implementation of the current year’s action plan and budget.
The autumn meeting will address at least the following issues:
- The membership fees of the Association shall be decided.
- The action plan and the budget for the following calendar year shall be adopted.
- Election of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman of the Board of Directors for two calendar years every two years.
- Election of other members of the Board of Directors for the following calendar year.
- Two auditors and two deputy auditors shall be elected to the association.
7§
The number of votes used in association meetings is as follows:
ordinary members of which there are individual members and members of the member associations
– less than 1000, one (1) vote,
– 1000 to 10,000, two (2) votes, and
– more than 10,000, three (3) votes.
8§
The board of the association has a Chairman, a Vice-Chairman and five other members. The terms of office of the Chairman and Vice-Chairman shall be two calendar years and one calendar year for the other members.
The Board of Directors shall be convened by the Chairman or, in his/her absence, by the Vice-Chairman. The Board of Directors has a quorum when the Chairman or Vice-Chairman and three board members are present.
9§
The Board shall:
- to be responsible for and direct the activities of the association;
- administer the financial and property affairs of the association and decide on the use of its financial resources, considering the guidelines and decisions adopted by the meetings of the association;
- draw up the annual accounts and the annual report for the calendar year, and submit them to the auditors at least 21 days before the spring meeting, who give their opinions 14 days before the spring meeting, and to draw up an action plan and budget for the general meeting.
- convene meetings of the association.
- hire and dismiss employees of the association and determine the terms and conditions of employment applicable to them; and
- set up the necessary commissions and other bodies.
10§
The accounting and operating period is the calendar year.
11§
The name of the association shall be written by the Chairman, Vice-Chairman and two officers appointed by the Board of Directors, with the other signature always being the Chairman or Vice-Chairman.
12§
The dissolution of the association may be decided by the meeting of the association by a majority of 3/4 of the votes. In the event of dissolution or disband of the association, its funds shall be released for the purpose of promoting cooperation between disability organizations, as determined by the dissolution meeting.
