Bye-laws for the Suderbyn Cooperative Society

Bye-laws for Suderbyn Coooperative Society Approved 8 May 2008

§ 1 Name of organisationThe association’s  business name (firm) is Suderbyn Cooperative Society.

§ 2 Purpose and activity

The association has the aim to promote the members’ economic interests by means of providing food, housing, work and leisure of the highest quality and in accordance with the Earth Charter. Members participate in the activities by:- developing sustainable agriculture in accordance with permaculture principles,- enriching biological diversity and reducing ecological vulnerability,- creating preconditions for sustainable living and developing community- promoting local and ”green” employment.

§ 3 Seat of Organisation

The association’s governing board has its seat in Gotland Municipality, Gotland County.

§ 4 Membership

An applicant can be taken up into the membership providing the individual can be expected to follow the bye-laws and decisions of the association, and contribute to the realisation of the association’s purpose. An application for induction shall be examined by the governing board or by a person designated by the board.

§ 5 Member obligations

Each member is obligated to pay the bye-laws-determined membership share and an annual assembly-determined membership fees as well as follow the association’s bye-laws and decisions. 

§ 6 Membership share

Each member shall participate in the association with share capital amounting to 100 000 SEK. The share is to be paid into the association’s bank account when membership has been approved. This can be done as a one-time deposit or following a governing board-approved payment plan over a maximum of 5 years. A person who has been approved for membership but who has not paid the entire membership share shall be considered a potential member. The board determines which membership privileges can be extended to a potential member. A share is reimbursed only in those cases described in the Swedish Cooperative Societies’ Act (1987:667)

§ 7 Membership fees

Each member shall annually pay the association a membership fee, which is determined by the association’s assembly, not exceeding 1000 SEK. The membership fee is paid in the manner and during the time period specified by the governing board. The board decides on possible service fees.

§ 8 Expulsion

A member who defies the bye-laws or who obviously damages the association or works contray to its interests or purpose can be expulsed from the association by the board. An expulsed member can submit the question of expulsion to the association assembly, by registering this to the board within a month from the date that the decision for expulsion was sent to the member.

§ 9 Resignation

With exception for those cases decided in a specific manner in the Cooperative Societies’ Act, resignation from the association occurs at the completion of the accounting year which takes place at least one month after a member has cancelled their membership, been expulsed, left for other reasons or there has occurred another reason causing the resignation.

§ 10 Governing Board
The board shall consist of at least three and no more than seven board members with at least one and no more than three board substitutes. Board members and board substitutes are elected by the association assembly for a period until the completion of the next ordinary association assembly.

§ 11 Authority to sign

The association’s signature is signed by the governing board or by person(s) appointed by the board as designated authorised signatories. 

§ 12 Auditors

At the ordinary association assembly one to two auditors with no more than two substitute auditors shall be annually elected for a period until the completion of the next ordinary association assembly. 

§ 13 Accounting year

The association’s accounting year shall be 1 January – 31 December.

§ 14 Annual report
The board shall submit an annual report to the auditors at the latest one month before the ordinary association assembly.

§ 15 Ordinary association assembly

• Ordinary association assembly is held within six months of the completion of the accounting year. At the assembly every member has one vote and must be physically present to be able to vote. At an ordinary association assembly, the following agenda items shall be covered:
• 1. Election of chairperson and keeper of the minutes of the assembly
• 2. Approval of the List of Voters
• 3. Election of one or two proofreaders of the minutes
• 4. Question of Assembly Invitation as per bye-laws
• 5. Approval of the Assembly Agenda
• 6. The Board’s Annual Report and Auditor’s Report
• 7. Decision on the Finalisation of the Income Statement and Balance Sheet and how profit or loss according with the finalised Income Statement shall be disposed of
• 8. Decision on Freedom from Responsibility for members of the board
• 9. Question of fees to board members and auditors
• 10. Membership fees for next activity year
• 11. Decision on number of board members and substitutes to be elected
• 12. Election of board members and possible board substitutes
• 13. Election of Auditors and possible Auditor substitutes
• 14. Election of Election Committee
• 15. Any other business that should be taken up at the association assembly according to the Cooperative Societies’ Act or by the association’s bye-laws.

§ 16 Invitation and other notifications The board calls the association assembly. The invitiation to the association assembly shall include information on the agenda items to be raised. The invitation shall be issued at the earliest four weeks prior and at the latest two weeks prior to the ordinary association assembly or at the latest one week prior to an extraordinary assembly.  The invitation to the association assembly and other notifications shall be billed on the association’s notice board and be distributed by e-mail to all members. When the invitation to the association assembly has been distributed the board shall immediately notify the auditors about this in writing.

§ 17 Division of Profit Free own capital according to the finalised Balance Sheet shall, once the legally required deposit to the reserve fund has been done, be transferred to the new account or to a fund as per association assembly decision.

§ 18 Dissolution of the Association
If the association is dissolved all current assets shall be distributed between the members in the same ratio as the paid shares.

 OtherFor questions not regulated by these bye-laws, the Cooperative Societies’ Act shall be valid.

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That these bye-laws have been approved by the members at the constituting association assembly of 8 May 2008 is hereby sworn: 

signatures
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