By-Laws
Article I - Name
Section One - This organization shall be known as the Finnish Center at Saima Park. Inc.
Section Two - The organization's address shall be PO Box 30, Fitchburg, MA, 01420
Its location shall be Saima Park, 67 Scott Road, Fitchburg, Massachusetts.
Article II - Purpose and Objectives
Section One - The purpose of this organization is to preserve Finnish culture and to integrate it into the culture of the United States of America as described below.
A. To develop and strengthen the friendship between Finnish Americans and others interested in
Finland.
B. To support and promote Finnish cultural, social and athletic activities.
C. To establish, develop and operate a library/museum as a Finnish cultural, educational and research
center.
D. To present and sponsor exhibits, performances, courses, lectures and other activities related to
Finnish culture.
E. To maintain Saima Park as a living memorial to the Finnish Community.
Section Two - The organization shall engage in and promote activities within the meaning of Sections 4(a), 4(b), and 4(c), of the Massachusetts General Laws, Chapter 180, and within the meaning of Section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the Unite States.
Article III - Fiscal Year
Section One - The fiscal year of this organization shall be from October 1 to September 30.
Article IV - Membership
Section One - Membership shall be open to individuals who support the purpose of this organization as stated
in Article Two Section One, who are interested in joining and who pay annual dues.
Section Two - Categories of membership are: Sponsor, Benefactor and Individual. Individual membership is for one person 18 years or older and his/her children/grandchildren under 18 years.
Section Three - Only members 18 years or older, in good standing, may vote.
Section Four - The membership year extends from October 1 to September 30. New members and lapsed former members joining as of July 1 shall have a 15-month membership extending to September 30 of the following year.
Article V - Meetings
Section One - An annual meeting shall be held in October. Board meetings are held monthly and are open to all members.
Section Two - Special meetings. Special meetings may be called by the President or by the Board of Directors and shall be called upon the written request of three members of the organization. The purpose of the meeting shall be stated in the call, which shall be sent to all members at least three weeks before the meeting.
Section Three - All meetings shall be governed by the current edition of Robert's Rules of Order Newly Revised.
Article VI - Dues and Fees
Section One - Membership dues are payable annually by October 1.
Section Two - Membership dues are voted by the membership, based on the recommendation of the Board of Directors.
Section Three - Sponsor and Benefactor status is attributed to those who have contributed set dollar amounts respectively to the organization in a given year. The fee schedule shall be established by the Board of Directors.
Article VII - Directors, Officers and Committees
Section One - President and Vice President shall be elected annually by the Board of Directors from among themselves.
Section Two - If a vacancy occurs on the board, the Board of Directors shall appoint a replacement to
serve until the next annual meeting.
Section Three - Eight Directors at Large shall serve two year terms, four to be elected each year.
Section Four - The President, Vice President, Treasurer, Recording Secretary, and Membership Secretary shall each serve a one year term, and shall be considered voting members of the Board of Directors.
Section Five - The Board of Directors shall appoint a three-person Finance Committee, Corresponding Secretary, Curator, Park Manager and Rental Agent.
Section Six - At the annual meeting, Standing committees shall be selected for a term of one year: These include Athletic, Education/Program, Facilities headed by the Park Manager, Library/Museum headed by the Curator, Newsletter, Nominating, Publicity, Scholarship, Telephone/Email and Bylaws. The Board of Directors shall appoint other committees as needed.
Section Seven - All committees are required to submit a written report at the annual meeting.
Article VIII - Duties
Section One - The President shall transact business of the organization; preside over meetings of the membership, the board of directors, as well as special and ad hoc meetings; and authorize, with the approval of a simple majority of the Directors, expenditures in regard to the business of the Center. The President is an ex-officio member of each committee except nominating. The President shall handle correspondence as required.
Section Two - The Vice President shall, in the absence of the President, wield all the authority of the office of President.
Section Three - The Treasurer shall be responsible for recording and reporting on the funds of the organization; work with the Finance Committee to keep full documented records of expense and income, report
all detail at each regular Board of Directors meeting, report to the membership at regular meetings; make bank deposits; pay bills with co-sign of the Vice-President, as directed by the Directors.
Section Four - The Recording Secretary shall duly record all motions, seconds and votes on all issues at
membership, directors and special meetings; and shall present the minutes for approval at a subsequent meeting. The oath of office is to be administered by the secretary to the officers and board of directors at the start of the
fiscal year. The oath of office is in the appendix, on the last page of the bylaws.
Section Five - The Membership Secretary shall provide application forms for new members, collect dues, maintain a membership list, and report membership status at each board meeting; and shall send cards to
members as appropriate (Sunshine).
Section Six - The Board of Directors shall manage the general affairs of the organization; appoint all officers and agents not provided for in these bylaws.
Section Seven - The Curator of the library shall be appointed by the Board of Directors. Duties of the Curator include chief administration of the library and the archives, and being chair of the Library/Museum committee.
Section Eight - The Finance Committee shall, working with the Board of Directors, set an operating budget. The Finance Committee shall be responsible for monitoring of the budget.
Section Nine - The Park Manager shall head the Facilities committee. They shall be responsible for
maintenance and security of the park buildings and grounds.
Section Ten - The Rental Agent shall keep a calendar of scheduled programs and meetings, and have authority to execute contractual rental agreements for usage of buildings and/or grounds.
Section Eleven - The Athletic Committee shall be responsible for athletic activities.
Section Twelve - The Education/Program Committee shall promote, present, and sponsor exhibits, courses, lectures, performances, and other activities related to Finnish culture.
Section Thirteen - The Library/Museum Committee shall establish, develop and operate a library/museum as a Finnish cultural, educational and research center.
Section Fourteen - The Newsletter Committee shall provide an internal communications medium for the membership.
Section Fifteen - The Nominating Committee shall identify candidates and be responsible for elections.
Section Sixteen - The Scholarship Committee shall consist of three members who shall submit, screen, select, and recommend qualified applicants to the Board of Directors at their May meeting. The Scholarships shall be awarded at Kesajuhla by a Committee member. Monies for the scholarships are raised from donations and other fund raising efforts.
Section Seventeen - The Publicity Committee shall provide external communications through advertising, press releases, maintenance of a website, e-mails to other interested parties, and by other means.
Section Eighteen - The Telephone/E-mail Committee shall notify members on an as needed basis.
Section Nineteen - The Bylaws Committee shall recommend bylaws changes as needed and submit to the membership for approval.
Article IX - Quorum
Section One - At Board of Directors meeting, six shall constitute a quorum.
Section Two - At Membership meetings, fifteen shall constitute a quorum.
Article X - Dissolution
Section One - Upon dissolution of the organization, the remaining assets shall be distributed to one or more organizations that have a qualified tax exemption under the provisions of Section 501 (c) (3) of the Internal Revenue code of the United States, and none of the assets will be distributed to any member, officer or trustee of this organization.
Article XI - Amendments
Amendments to the bylaws may be made only with the vote of a two-thirds majority of the attending members in
good standing. A three week advance notice in writing ofthe proposed amendments and the meeting date and time shall be sent to all members.
Bylaws amended by vote of the membership on January 27, 2018.
Appendix
Oath of Office
I, (name) hereby solemnly swear to faithfully perform the duties and obligations incumbent upon me as (office) of the Finnish Center at Saima Park, Inc., and further to preserve, cherish, protect and promote the purposes upon which the Finnish Center at Saima Park, Inc. was founded, all as set forth by its bylaws.