Maaseutukehitys Ry Rules 1 Name and domicile The name of the association is Maaseutukehitys ry and the domicile is Hankasalmi. 2 Purpose and modes of action The association is a rural LAG acting with the purpose of developing the operations area in cooperation with various developer parties and the objective of creating general preconditions for good employment and versatile business activity. The association will participate in realisation of rural development programmes of the European Union and national development programmes in the operations area. The operations area will be the region formed by the municipalities of Luhanka, Joutsa, Leivonmäki, Toivakka, Hankasalmi, Sumiainen and Konnevesi. In order to fulfil the purpose, the association will: 1. compile development programme for operations area based on local, voluntary LAG type rural development actions, maintain development programme and realise development actions in line with programme; 2. cooperate with residents, companies, associations and other organisations; 3. assist by means of instructions and advice in compilation of action plans connected with development programme and possibly take part in planning and realisation of other similar development actions regarding operations area or part thereof; 4. organise training, counselling and information events in operations area; 5. act as cooperative body for its members in rural development issues; 6. offer initiatives for various officials; 7. practice communication and publication; 8. compile accounts for actions relating to rural development. In order to support the operations, the association may receive donations and contributions. 3 Members Within the operations area, a private person interested in rural development or an organisation or association competent before the law may join the association. The Board of Directors of the association will approve members by application. A member will have the right to resign from the association by giving an announcement in writing to the Board or the chairperson of the Board or by announcing the resignation in the minutes of a meeting of the association. 4 Admission and annual fee The association may collect an admission fee and an annual fee from the members. The Annual General Meeting will decide upon the amounts of the fees. 5 Board of Directors The affairs of the association will be managed by the Board of Directors including a chairperson and nine (9) actual members selected by the Annual General Meeting as well as their personal deputy members. The Board shall equally represent the entire operations area of the association and the Board shall include, if possible, an equal representation for the municipalities, entrepreneurs/producers and private persons in the operations area. In addition to the chairperson, a third (1/3) of the members of the Board will be retiring annually, for the two first times the retiring persons will be drawn by lot. The term of the Board will be the time between Annual General Meetings. The Board will select among them a vice chairperson and other necessary clerks. The Board will meet by an invitation of the chairperson or, if the chairperson is incapacitated, by an invitation of the vice chairperson when they deem a meeting necessary or when at least three members of the Board request a meeting. The Board forms a quorum when at least five members of the Board, including the chairperson or the vice chairperson, are present. Issues will be resolved by simple majority of votes. If the votes are tied, the opinion of the chairperson will be decisive; however, in elections a resolution will be reached by lot. 6 Procuration The chairperson alone or the vice chairperson and the secretary of the Board together will have the right to sign documents for the association. The Board may assign procuration for a person of their choice. 7 Auditors The association will have two actual auditors and one deputy auditor selected by the Annual General Meeting. The auditors will be selected for one year at a time. 8 Accounting period and auditing The accounting period for the association will be a calendar year. The annual accounts including all the necessary documents and the annual report of the Board shall be delivered to the auditors at the latest three weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting. The auditors shall offer their written report to the Board at the latest two weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting. 9 Summoning meetings All meetings of the association shall be summoned by the Board. The Annual General Meeting and extraordinary meetings shall be summoned by an announcement in the local newspapers at the earliest two weeks and at the latest one week prior to the meeting. 10 Meetings of association The Annual General Meeting of the association shall take place annually on a day defined by the Board before the end of March. An extraordinary meeting shall take place when the Board deems a meeting necessary or when at least one tenth (1/10) of the members entitled to vote requires a meeting from the Board in writing for handling a separately announced issue. The meeting shall be held within 30 days of issuing of the request. In meetings of the association, each member shall have one vote. The resolution of the association shall be, unless specified to the contrary in these rules: 1. that opinion which has received support of more than half of votes cast; 2. when votes are tied, that opinion which chairperson of meeting favours; except for elections where decision will be drawn by lot; 3. in issues referring to changing rules of association, dismantling of association or giving up most of association’s assets, that opinion which receives support of at least three fourths of votes cast. 11 Annual General Meeting The following issues will be handled in the Annual General Meeting of the association: 1. Opening meeting; 2. Selecting chairperson, secretary, two adjusters and two scrutineers for meeting; 3. Noting legitimacy and quorum of meeting; 4. Adopting rules of procedure; 5. Presenting annual accounts, Board’s annual report and auditors’ report; 6. Deciding upon ratifying annual accounts and granting release from responsibility to Board and other accountable parties; 7. Ratifying plan of action, budget and any amounts of admission and annual fees; 8. Selecting chairperson and other members of Board to replace those resigning; 9. Selecting two actual auditors and one deputy auditor; 10. Handling other business mentioned in summons to meeting. If a member of the association wishes the Annual General Meeting to review some issue, they must give the Board an announcement in writing in time so that the issue can be included in the summons to the meeting. 12 Dismantling association If the operation of the association ends and the association is dismantled, any assets of the association shall be divided for promotion of the association’s purpose in the operations area.