Rules

1§ Name and domicile of the association

The name of the association is MatkaRaTa ry. MatkaRaTa ry may also be referred to as the Restonomi Association. In the association’s statutes, MatkaRaTa ry is referred to as a student field association. The association is based in Jyväskylä and all official meeting documents must be presented in Finnish and English.

2§ Purpose and function

The purpose of the organization is to

– To supervise the rights of hospitality students at Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences.
– To act as a liaison and information intermediary, to promote cooperation between members, the JAMKO student union, the Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences and other stakeholders.
– To maintain and develop cooperation between the students and the tourism and service business staff of Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences and thus control the quality of teaching.
– To act as the representative organization of its members.
– To improve and maintain good team spirit and increase student motivation by organizing leisure activities.

In order to achieve its objectives, the student field association

– Carries out non-profit activities for the benefit of its members.
– Interacts closely with the tourism and hospitality management staff of Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences.
– Cooperates with JAMKO, the student union of Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences, and other student field associations of Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences.
– Maintains contact with Suomen Restonomeihin (SURE ry) and other national student associations of hospitality students.
– Take care of information and communication between stakeholders.
– Actively organizes activities for its members, such as programmed evenings, study and recreational trips, cultural and sports events.

To support its activities, the student field association may

– Own movable and immovable property necessary for its activities.
– Carry out publishing activities related to its field of activity.
– Receive donations, legacies and grants.
– Apply for grants.
– To organize fund-raising activities and lotteries, subject to the authorisation of the relevant authority.
– Organize various parties and leisure activities.

3§ Members

The student field association may have full members, associate members and honorary members. All students of tourism and hospitality management at Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences who accept the purpose and rules of the organization can become full members. The board approves full members and decides on the amount of the membership fee.

The student field association may admit associate members by a two-thirds (2/3) majority of the board. A natural or legal person may be accepted as a supporting member. A supporting member may be dismissed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the board of the student field association. A supporting member shall not have the right to vote. A supporting member shall have the right to attend and speak at meetings of the student field association.

The student field association may admit as an honorary member any natural or legal person who has made a significant contribution to the activities of the student field association. The decision to admit an honorary member shall be taken by a meeting of the board. To be admitted as an honorary member, a two-thirds (2/3) majority decision of the board is required. An Honorary Member may be removed by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the board. An honorary member shall not have the right to vote. An honorary member shall have the right to be present and to speak at meetings of the student field association.

4§ Resignation and dismissal of a member

A member shall have the right to resign from the student field association by notifying the board or its chairperson in writing or by submitting a notice of resignation to the association’s meeting for inclusion in the minutes.

The board may, by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote, expel a member who, by his or her conduct within or outside the association, has seriously damaged the association or no longer fulfills the conditions of membership laid down by law or by the association’s rules.

A person who leaves an educational institution or who withdraws from his or her studies may be expelled from the student field association.

5§ Board and board activities

The affairs of the student field association shall be managed by a board consisting of a Chairperson and a vice-chairperson elected at the autumn meeting of the student field association and a minimum of three (3) and a maximum of eleven (11) members. A member of the Board must be a full member of MatkaRaTa Ry.

The internal terms of office of the board shall be distributed at a separately convened organizational meeting of the board.

When allocating the positions of the board, it should be noted that the secretary and the financial manager must be appointed. The term of office of the board shall be one (1) calendar year. The board shall meet at the call of the chairperson or, in his or her absence, the vice-chairperson, as needed or as requested by at least one-half (1/2) of the board members.

A quorum for a meeting of the board shall consist of the chairperson or vice-Chairperson and at least one-half (1/2) of the members of the board. Votes shall be decided by an absolute majority of votes. In the event of a tie, the chairperson has the casting vote, but in the case of elections it is decided by lot.

6§ Writing the name of the student field association

The name of the student field association shall be written by the chairperson, the vice-chairperson and the financial manager. The two shall always act together.

7§ Financial period and audit

The financial period of the student field association is one (1) calendar year.

The financial statement with the necessary documents and the annual report of the board shall be submitted to the auditor general at least three (3) weeks before the spring meeting. The auditor shall submit a written opinion to the board at least one (1) week before the spring meeting.

8§ Meetings of the student field association

Two (2) statutory meetings of the student field association shall be held each year.

The spring meeting shall be held in January-May and the autumn meeting shall be held in September-December on a date to be determined by the board.

An additional meeting shall be held whenever the student field association’s general assembly so decides or whenever the board deems it necessary or whenever at least one tenth (1/10) of the members of the student field association so request in writing to the board for a specifically notified matter.

At meetings of the student field association, each member shall have one (1) vote. The decision of the student field association shall be taken by an opinion supported by more than one half (1/2) of the votes cast. In the event of a tie, the vote of the chairperson of the meeting shall be the deciding vote, but in the case of an election, the vote shall be cast by lot.

If a member of the student field association wishes to bring any matter before the board he or she shall notify the board in writing.

Remote attendance at a meeting of the student field association is possible by means of a telecommunication link or technical aid.
Remote participation shall be decided by the board.

9§ Convening a meeting of the student field association

The board shall convene the meetings of the student field association at least seven (7) days before the meeting. The notice, agenda and other necessary annexes shall be sent to the members of the student field association by e-mail.

10§ Statutory meetings

At the spring meeting of the student field association
– Elect a chairperson, secretary, two (2) auditors of the minutes, who shall also act as tellers, if necessary.
– Establish the legality and quorum of the meeting
– Approval of the agenda for the meeting.
– Presentation of the accounts, the activity report and the opinion of the auditors
– Decision on the approval of the financial statements
– Decide on the discharge of the board and other persons responsible.
– To deal with any other business mentioned in the invitation to the meeting.

At the autumn meeting of the student field association
– Elect a chairperson, a secretary, two (2) auditors of the minutes, who will also act as tellers if necessary.
– Establish the legality and quorum of the meeting.
– Approval of the agenda of the meeting.
– Confirm the programme of activities and the statement of revenue and expenditure.
– Election of the Chairperson, vice-chairperson and other members of the board.
– Election of one (1) auditor and one (1) deputy auditor.
– To deal with any other business mentioned in the invitation to the meeting.

11§ Amendment of the rules and dissolution of the student field association

The decision to amend the statutes and dissolve the association shall be taken by a majority of at least two-thirds (2/3) of the votes cast at a general meeting of the members of the student field association. The notice of the meeting shall mention the amendment of the statutes or the dissolution of the student field association.

In case of dissolution of the student field association, its funds shall be donated to student activities or other activities supporting students of the Jyväskylä University of Applied Sciences by decision of the meeting of the student field association.