Rules

ULPU ry, the Spouse Association of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs

§ Name of the Association The name of the association is the Spouse Association of the Ministry for Foreign Affairs, ULPU ry.

§ Domicile of the Association The domicile of the association is Helsinki.

§ Purpose of the Association The purpose of the association is to act as a bond for spouses of officials serving in the Finnish foreign service, to safeguard their interests, and to promote the knowledge and skills of the members in matters and tasks related to the field of foreign affairs administration.

§ Activities of the Association To fulfill its purpose, the association organizes negotiation, training, and lecture events, provides statements, initiates actions, and maintains domestic and international contacts. The association also arranges recreational and leisure activities for its members. The association engages in information dissemination and communication among its members through newsletters and other suitable means. The association may accept donations and bequests to support its activities, own movable and immovable property necessary for its operations, and conduct fundraising and lotteries after obtaining the appropriate permits.

§ Membership of the Association Spouses of officials in the foreign service can become members of the association. Spouses of retired and deceased officials may continue their membership in the association. The association may also have supporting members who have the right to speak and be present at the association’s meetings but do not have voting rights. Supporting members of the association can be individuals, organizations, or foundations. The association may also have permanent and temporary honorary members, who are generally not required to pay a membership fee. Permanent honorary members have voting rights, while temporary honorary members do not have voting rights. All members are approved by the association’s board.

§ Membership Fee of the Association The annual membership fee for the association’s members is determined by the association’s meeting. Payment of the membership fee is a prerequisite for membership, and the obligation to pay the membership fee remains until the end of the resignation year. Members and supporting members of the association may have different annual membership fees. Spouses of retired and deceased officials may have a lower membership fee.

§ Resignation and Removal from Membership of the Association A member of the association may resign from the association by notifying the board or its chairperson in writing or by notifying the resignation to be recorded in the association’s minutes. In this case, the resignation takes effect at the end of the calendar year in which the resignation notice was made. The association’s board may remove a member from the association due to non-payment of membership fees. Other reasons for removal are decided by the association’s meeting. Additionally, the association’s board may consider a member resigned from the association if the member has not paid the membership fee for the current calendar year and the previous calendar year. In this case, the resignation takes effect at the end of the calendar year in which the decision to remove was made. However, the removed member may submit a new membership application without a waiting period and, after paying the membership fee for the current year (and the previous year), may be accepted as a member again