Section 1 — Name and registered office
The name of the association is Badminton Club Backhand ry. The languages of the association are Finnish and Swedish; however, the language used for minutes and registration is Finnish.
The unofficial abbreviation BCB may be used for the association.
The registered office of the association is Porvoo.
In these rules, the association is referred to as the club.
Section 2 — Purpose and forms of activity
The club aims to promote interest in badminton, increase participation in the sport and develop playing skills by:
- organising competition and training activities
- organising educational activities
- maintaining contact with other badminton clubs and federations in Finland and abroad
- organising meetings and gatherings
- and using other similar methods.
Section 3 — Members
In addition to ordinary members, the club may have junior members, supporting members and honorary members.
A person wishing to become a member must submit an application to the club board. The board decides by a simple majority whether to accept the applicant and must notify the applicant whether the application is accepted or rejected.
A Finnish citizen aged 18 or over, or a foreign national who is able to further the club’s objectives, may be accepted as an ordinary member on application.
A person under the age of 18 who is interested in badminton may be accepted as a junior member on application.
A private individual or legally competent organisation wishing to pay an annual supporting membership fee may be accepted as a supporting member. A supporting member is selected in the same way as an ordinary member.
On a proposal from the board, a club meeting may invite a person who has worked with particular distinction to further the club’s objectives to become an honorary member. Honorary membership is for life.
Three quarters of the members of the club and the board must be Finnish citizens.
Acquired membership rights are retained.
Section 4 — Voting rights
Ordinary members and honorary members have voting rights at club meetings.
Supporting members and junior members have the right to speak but not to vote at club meetings.
Section 5 — Fees and right to play
Ordinary members and junior members must pay the membership fee and playing fees for the club’s operating year.
An ordinary or junior member’s right to play during the club’s playing and training sessions is valid once the membership and playing fees have been paid by the due date.
A supporting member must pay the supporting membership fee for the operating year.
An honorary member is exempt from the membership fee.
The Annual General Meeting decides the membership and playing fees for the following operating year. The Annual General Meeting may authorise the board to decide the amount of the playing fees.
Section 6 — Resignation and expulsion
A member may resign by notifying the board or the chair of the board, or by announcing the resignation at a club meeting for entry in the minutes.
If a member has not paid the membership fee within one year of the invoice due date, the member is deemed to have resigned from the club.
The board may expel a member who has failed to fulfil their obligations under the rules or acted contrary to the club’s operating principles.
A member who resigns or is expelled is not entitled to a refund of fees paid to the club and has no share in the club’s assets.
Section 7 — Board and board members
The affairs of the club are managed by a board consisting of five (5) to seven (7) ordinary members elected for one (1) operating year.
The board’s term of office is the operating year.
Both genders must be represented on the board.
A board member must be a member of the club.
Board members whose term covers one full operating year are elected at the Annual General Meeting.
If a board member steps down during the term, the next statutory club meeting elects a replacement for the remaining term.
If a board member resigns from or is expelled from the club during the term, the member must leave the board immediately. The next statutory club meeting elects a replacement for the remaining term.
If there are more than seven candidates, an election is held by secret ballot. The candidates receiving the most votes are elected. A tie is decided by drawing lots.
A club meeting may dismiss the board or an individual board member.
Section 8 — Composition and meetings of the board
The board elects from among its members a chair, vice-chair and secretary for one operating year at a time.
The board meets as necessary when convened by the chair or, if the chair is unavailable, the vice-chair.
Notice of a board meeting must be sent in writing or electronically 10 days before the meeting, unless another procedure has been agreed unanimously.
The board has a quorum when at least half of its members are present, including the chair or vice-chair.
Participation in a board meeting during the meeting may take place through a telecommunications connection or another technical aid.
The board adopts the proposal supported by the majority. In the event of a tie, the chair has the casting vote, except in elections, which are decided by drawing lots.
Section 9 — Duties of the board
The board must:
- manage the club’s activities in accordance with these rules and the decisions of club meetings
- manage the club’s finances
- decide at its discretion on the sale, exchange and mortgaging of club property
- implement the decisions of club meetings
- represent the club in relation to members and external parties
- prepare and present to the Annual General Meeting the financial statements and the board’s annual report on the previous operating year
- prepare and present to the Annual General Meeting the budget and operating plan for the following operating year.
Section 10 — Committees
The board may establish a committee when necessary to deal with tasks or issues related to the club’s activities.
At least one member of a committee must be a board member.
The committee elects a chair and secretary from among its members. Minutes are kept at meetings and submitted to the board.
Section 11 — Operating year, financial year and performance audit
The club’s operating year and financial year comprise 12 months from 1 July to 30 June. As an exception, the operating year and financial year are 18 months for the period 1 January 2025 to 30 June 2026.
One performance auditor examines the board’s financial activities and the club’s accounts and submits a report and opinion to the Annual General Meeting.
Section 12 — Performance auditor
The Annual General Meeting elects one performance auditor and one deputy performance auditor.
The performance auditor’s term is one operating year.
A club meeting may dismiss the performance auditor.
Section 13 — Minutes
The secretary or another person appointed by the meeting must keep minutes of board and committee meetings.
Section 14 — Signing for the club
The name of the club is signed by either the chair or vice-chair of the board together with the secretary or a board member appointed by the board.
Section 15 — Club meetings
The club holds one statutory Annual General Meeting each year no later than September on a date determined by the board.
Extraordinary meetings are held when a club meeting so decides, when the board considers it necessary, or when at least one tenth (1/10) of the members entitled to vote submit a written request to the board concerning a specifically stated matter.
Participation in a statutory or extraordinary meeting during the meeting may take place through a telecommunications connection or another technical aid if the board so decides.
Notice and the agenda for a club meeting must be delivered in writing or electronically to the address provided by the member at least ten (10) days before a statutory meeting and at least seven (7) days before an extraordinary meeting.
A member wishing to have a matter considered by the Annual General Meeting must notify the board in writing two (2) months before the meeting so that the matter can be included in the meeting notice.
Each member entitled to vote has one vote at club meetings.
A member may not authorise another person to represent them at a club meeting.
Business of the statutory meeting
The Annual General Meeting considers the following matters:
- opening of the meeting
- election of the chair and secretary of the meeting
- election of two persons to inspect the minutes, who act as vote counters when necessary
- confirmation that the meeting was lawfully convened and has a quorum
- approval of the agenda as the order of business
- presentation of the board’s annual report, the financial statements and the performance auditor’s report
- decision on adopting the financial statements
- decision on discharge from liability for the board and other accountable persons
- consideration of other matters stated in the meeting notice
- adoption of the operating plan for the following operating year
- confirmation of the membership and playing fees for the following operating year
- decision on remuneration paid to board members and the performance auditor
- adoption of the budget for the following operating year
- election of board members
- election of one performance auditor and one deputy performance auditor
- consideration of other matters stated in the meeting notice.
Decisions at club meetings are made by open vote unless the meeting agrees otherwise.
If the board so decides, voting at a statutory or extraordinary meeting may take place through a telecommunications connection or another technical aid during the meeting.
The proposal receiving more than half of the votes cast is adopted, except where these rules provide otherwise.
In the event of a tie, the chair of the meeting has the casting vote, except in elections, which are decided by drawing lots.
Minutes must be kept of club meetings.
Section 16 — Amendment of the rules
A proposal to amend these rules must be submitted to the board two (2) months before the next statutory club meeting. At that meeting, the board must present the proposed amendment and its opinion.
An amendment must be approved at a club meeting by a majority of at least two thirds (2/3) of the votes cast.
Section 17 — Dissolution of the club
If dissolution of the club is proposed, the matter must be considered at a club meeting convened for that purpose.
Notice of the meeting must be sent to all club members in writing or electronically to the address provided by the member at least 14 days before the meeting.
A decision to dissolve the club must be made by a majority of at least three quarters (3/4) of the votes cast.
If dissolution is approved, the decision must be confirmed at a second club meeting no earlier than four (4) weeks after the first dissolution decision.
Notice of the second meeting must be sent in writing or electronically to the address provided by the member at least seven (7) days before the meeting.
On dissolution, the club’s assets must be used to further the club’s purpose and for a public-benefit purpose close to the club’s activities, as decided by the meeting resolving to dissolve the club.
If the club is dissolved by authority, its assets are used in the same way as in a voluntary dissolution.