The name of the association is Suomen käännöstoimistojen liitto ry in Finnish, Förbundet för översättningsbyråerna i Finland r.f. in Swedish and, unofficially, Association of Finnish Translation Companies in English, Association finlandaise des agences de traduction in French, Verband Finnischer Übersetzungsbüros in German and Associazione Finlandese delle Imprese di Traduzione in Italian, abbreviated as SKTOL in all languages, and its domicile is Helsinki, Finland.
The purpose of the association is to promote the general and common interests related to translation activities of companies in the translation and interpretation sector, the publicity and visibility of the sector and collaboration between its members, and to improve general operating conditions in the sector.
To fulfil its objective, the association monitors economic trends and legislation relevant to its field, takes initiatives and makes proposals related to these, and issues opinions. The association guides and provides advice to its members in matters related to translation by organising meetings and information briefings and drafting reports that deal with the sector.
To fulfil its objective the association:
—issues opinions to its members in matters concerning translation services
—engages in publishing and training for the benefit of its members
—takes part in national and international projects and events; the association's representative/s in these will be authorised by the board.
To support its activities the association may:
—accept grants, donations and inheritances
—own tangible and intangible property it needs to carry out its activities.
Any translation company that accepts the purpose and rules of the association may apply for its membership.
The board may accept as members legal corporations operating in Finland that have engaged in translation activities for at least two years. If at least two members of the board oppose an application with justification, the application will be deemed rejected. The board of the association is entitled to carry out inspections as it deems fit at the offices of an applicant and monitor the quality of the work of the association's members.
Members may not be deprived of any acquired rights.
Members have the right to resign from the association by notifying the board or its chairman in writing or by announcing its resignation at a meeting of the association, to be entered in the minutes.
The board may expel a member from the association who has failed to pay a membership fee that has fallen due or otherwise neglected to fulfil the obligations it has undertaken by joining the association, or has engaged in activities in the association or outside it that have caused substantial harm to the association, or no longer meets the terms of membership laid down in law or in the rules of the association.
The annual membership fee is determined by the autumn general meeting.
The association is managed by a board comprising a president and 3 to 8 members elected by the autumn general meeting.
The term of the board is the calendar year.
The board chooses a vice president from its members and a secretary, treasurer and other officials it needs from its members or from outside.
When a board member resigns from the service of a member of the association, any new board member will be elected by a meeting of the association.
The board is convened by the president or, when the president is prevented from convening it, by the vice president, when they deem there is cause or when at least half of the board members so demand.
The board will be quorate when half of its members and the president or vice president are present. Votes are decided by a simple majority. In the event of a tie, the president will have the casting vote; however, in elections, a tie will be decided by lot.
The name of the association is signed by the president, the vice president, the secretary or the treasurer, each alone.
The financial year of the association is the calendar year.
Financial statements and required documents, and the board's annual report must be submitted to the auditors no later than three weeks before the spring general meeting. The auditors must issue their written statement to the board no later than two weeks before the spring general meeting.
The association holds two annual general meetings.
The spring general meetings of the association will be held in January-May and the autumn general meeting in September-December on a date determined by the board.
An extraordinary meeting will be held when a meeting of the association so decides or when the board deems it necessary or when at least a tenth (1/10) of the enfranchised members of the association so demand in writing from the board for a specially announced reason. The meeting must be held within 30 days of the board receiving the demand.
Each member has one vote at meetings of the association.
At meetings of the association, decisions will be resolved by a simple majority of all votes cast, unless otherwise is provided in the rules. In the event of a tie, the president will have the casting vote; however, in elections, a tie will be decided by lot.
The board must convene the meetings of the association at least seven days before they take place with letters posted to members, by email to addresses provided by the members or in a newspaper published in the domicile of the association.
The agenda of the spring meetings of the association contain the following items:
1. opening of the meeting
2. selection of the chairman, secretary, two examiners and, when needed, two vote counters for the meeting
3. verification of the legitimacy and quorum of the meeting
4. approval of the agenda of the meeting
5. presentation of the financial statements, annual report and auditors' statement
6. decision on the approval of the financial statements and on discharging the board and other accountable parties from liability
7. discussion of other matters included in the notice of meeting.
The agenda of the fall meetings of the association contain the following items:
1. opening of the meeting
2. selection of the chairman, secretary, two examiners and, when needed, two vote counters for the meeting
3. verification of the legitimacy and quorum of the meeting
4. approval of the agenda of the meeting
5. approval of the plan of action, budget and the amount of the membership fee for the following calendar year
6. selection of the president and other board members
7. selection of one or two auditors and their deputies
8. discussion of other matters included in the notice of meeting.
If a member of the association wants a matter to be included on the agenda of a spring or autumn meeting, it must notify the board of the matter in due time so that it can be included in the notice of meeting.
A decision to amend the rules or dissolve the association must be made by a meeting of the association with a majority of at least three quarters (3/4) of the votes cast. The notice of meeting must mention that the amendment of the rules or the dissolution of the association will be discussed in the meeting.
If the association is dissolved, its assets will be used to promote the purpose of the association as determined by the meeting that decided on the dissolution. If the association is dismantled, the assets will be used for the same purpose.