Article 1
The name of the association, referred to as the Society in these bylaws, is the Finnish Physical Society (Suomen Fyysikkoseura, Finlands Fysikerförening), and its domicile is the city of Helsinki. The members of the Society have the possibility to establish local chapters under the Society, operating under its approved rules and regulations.
Article 2
The purpose of the Society is to promote interest in physics and to advance its understanding. To achieve its purpose, the Society:
- Supports and promotes in every way possible the research and teaching of physics and its applications in our country as well as related communication,
- Organizes meetings, talks, and lecture events,
- Engages in publication and other communication activities,
- Provides statements on the research and teaching of physics and its applications at the national level,
- Develops Finnish-language physics terminology,
- Maintains contacts with international and national physics organizations and promotes the domestic and foreign relations of the Finnish physics community,
- Promotes equal opportunities in physics.
Article 3
The types of memberships in the Society are regular member, fellow-member, student member, junior member, senior member, supporting member, and honorary member.
Society’s regular members can be either physicists or other persons that accept the Society’s goals, or associations that work for the same goals as the Society.
Fellow-members are persons who have notable achievements in physics research, teaching or societal outreach.
Student members are persons who study physical sciences at university level. They cannot be doctoral students.
Junior members are persons who have graduated with a physics degree less than 5 years ago.
Senior members are persons who are retired, and have either studied physics at university level or otherwise have shown special interest in physics.
Supporting members are persons or associations that want to effectively support the activities of the Society.
The Board decides on the acceptance of regular, student, junior, senior, and supporting members.
Fellow members are nominated by the board based on the proposal of a special fellow committee and accepted by the annual general meeting.
Honorary members are elected at the Society’s annual meeting, based on the Board’s unanimous proposal. At least 4/5 of the annual meeting votes need to be in favor of the proposal.
Honorary members, fellow-members, regular members, senior members, student members and junior members have voting rights in the annual meeting. Other members have only speaking rights.
Article 4
A member can resign by submitting a written notice to the Society’s Board. The Board can expel members under certain conditions.
Article 5
Members pay an annual fee, set by the annual meeting. Honorary members are exempt from fees. Society can accept donations in order to support its activities.
Article 6
The Society is governed by a Board elected at the annual meeting. The Board consists of a chairperson, a vice-chairperson, and six to ten other members. The board chooses a secretary and a treasurer and possibly other needed functionaries. The board has quorum when at least half the boards members are present and they include either the chairperson or the vice-chairperson.
The board will meet on the invitation of the chair, or the vice-chair if the chairperson is absent. The board must also meet if three board members request a meeting. If there is an even vote in the meeting, the chairpersons vote is decisive.
The board can make decisions on calls, videocalls, by email or by any other means of communication that allows the board members to be in contact during decision making.
Article 7
The Society can establish subcommittees and task forces. A National Physics Committee also operates in conjunction with the Society.
Article 8
The Society’s name is signed by the chairperson, vice-chairperson, secretary, or treasurer. Two signatures are required.
Article 9
The Society’s accounts are closed annually and must be submitted to auditors at least one month before the annual meeting. The auditors will provide a written statement for the annual meeting.
Article 10
Society meetings are convened by the Board. An extraordinary meeting must be called if requested by at least 1/10 of the voting members.
Society meeting is called in a membership magazine, society’s webpage, or email at least 5 days before the meeting. The annual meeting must be held before end of March.
Article 11
The annual meeting agenda includes
- Selection of meeting chair, secretary and two minutes checkers and vote counters
- Presentation of the annual report prepared by the Board, accounts and auditors statement
- Decision on accepting the audit and giving relief of responsibility to the previous Board
- Accepting the action plan, and membership fees and Board compensations for the coming year
- Selection of the Board
- Selection of the auditor, action checker and their vice persons
- Handling of other business that the Board brings to the meeting
Voting can be closed. In case of even votes, there will be a coin-toss.
Article 12
Amendments to these bylaws require approval in two consecutive Society meetings with at least two weeks’ interval, where at least 3/4 of the votes are in favour of the amendment.
Article 13
If the Society ceases its activities, its assets will be used for a purpose that is most closely aligned with its original goals.
Article 14
Otherwise, current association law will be followed.
Please note that this is an unofficial translation provided for convenience and only the Finnish rules are legally binding. These are not a certified official translation of the bylaws.