Approved in the extraordinary meeting of the Sähköinsinöörikilta ry on May 24, 2025.
Page updated on August 4th, 2025.
CHAPTER I – GENERAL REGULATIONS
§1 Name of the Guild
The name of the association is Sähköinsinöörikilta ry. In these rules, the association is referred to as the Guild.
§2 Purpose of the Guild
The Guild serves as a liaison for students of Electrical Engineering, Electronics, and Telecommunications in the Faculty of Information Technology and Electrical Engineering at the University of Oulu. Its activities aim to inspire and maintain members’ interest in professional, educational, and societal matters. The Guild represents its members in the university and in professional communities and maintains relations with other domestic and international organizations, particularly in the same field. The Guild also promotes order, moral integrity, and a healthy student engineering spirit among its members.
§3 Activities of the Guild
To fulfill its purpose, the Guild engages in training, communication, and publishing to increase members’ professional and societal awareness. It provides study materials without profit, arranges study trips and internships, maintains clubs and hobby groups, and organizes sports, recreational, and cultural events. To support its activities, the Guild may organize lotteries, fairs, paid events, and similar initiatives.
The Guild may own property or facilities necessary for its activities.
§4 Domicile and Language
The Guild’s domicile is the city of Oulu, and its official language is Finnish.
§5 Relations with Other Organizations
The Guild cooperates with the Student Union of the University of Oulu (OYY) and Oulun Teekkariyhdistys ry (OTY), complying with their regulations in its operations.
CHAPTER II – MEMBERSHIP
§6 Members of the Guild
Regular Members: All students in the mentioned degree programs (Bachelor + Master of Science in Technology, including international Master’s) at the University of Oulu whose application is approved by the Guild board.
Senior Members: A regular member becomes a senior member upon completing their M.Sc. in the relevant programs.
Supporting Members: Individuals or legal entities that pay the annual support fee set by the election meeting.
Honorary Members: Individuals whom the Guild wishes to honor can be invited as honorary members.
§7 Rights of Members
All members may attend and speak at Guild meetings. Only regular members may vote. Only regular members are eligible for election, except senior members, who may only serve as officers, not on the board.
§8 Resignation of a Member
A member wishing to resign must notify the Guild board in writing or announce it in a Guild meeting for recording in the minutes. They are considered resigned from the date of notification.
§9 Dismissal of a Member
A Guild meeting may, with a 3/4 majority, dismiss a member temporarily or permanently if they have significantly harmed the Guild through their actions.
§10 Disciplinary Action
Before taking disciplinary action, the board must invite the member in question for a hearing. The board or Guild meeting may issue a written warning by a simple majority.
With unanimous board decision, a member can be temporarily banned (for up to the remainder of the term) from Guild events, voting, and eligibility if they’ve acted inappropriately or damaged the Guild.
§11 Membership Fees
Regular, senior, and honorary members do not pay fees. Supporting members pay an annual fee determined at the election meeting.
CHAPTER III – GUILD MEETINGS
§12 Guild Meetings
The highest decision-making authority rests with the Guild meeting. Statutory meetings are the annual meeting and the election meeting.
§13 Meeting Invitations
Meetings are convened by the board. The invitation must be sent to the regular members’ email list or other designated official channel at least 7 days prior. The agenda must be included. Certain key items (e.g., financial issues, elections, expulsions, changes in rules, property matters) must be explicitly mentioned.
§14 Decision-making Authority
A properly convened meeting has decision-making authority.
§15 Annual Meeting
Annual meeting has to be held during February or March.
Agenda:
- Present activity report, financial statement, and auditors’ report from the previous term
- Decide on approval of financial statement and granting discharge from liability
- Address other issues
§16 Election Meeting
Election meeting has to be held during 1st of November to 15th of December.
Agenda:
- Elect chair for the next term
- Elect secretary, treasurer, communications representative, guild master, Teekkari representative, study representative, and freshman representative
- Define board member roles per §20 and §21
- Elect other board members
- Elect two auditors and two deputies
- Decide on supporting membership fees
- Approve next term’s action plan
- Approve next term’s budget
- Define officers’ roles
- Elect officers
- Appoint an oltermanni for the next year
- Appoint a kiltavanhin from senior members
- Address other issues
§17 Extraordinary Meetings
May be called by the board or upon written request of at least one tenth (1/10) of the guilds voting members or at least 50 voting members. Must be held within 2 weeks of the request (excluding May 1–Aug 31).
§18 Handling of Issues
New issues must be tabled if requested by 1/10 (at least 5) of voting members present. This does not apply to elections.
Urgent issues may be addressed immediately with 3/4 majority if listed in the invitation.
Unlisted issues may be discussed if the meeting unanimously agrees, in line with §13 and association law §23.
Voting is open unless at least 2 members request a secret ballot. No proxy votes allowed.
In elections, a candidate must receive more than half the votes. Otherwise, a second round is held between the top two.
Decisions on matters are made by a simple majority. In a tie, the chair’s vote decides (random draw in elections).
§19 Minutes
Minutes must be kept and signed by the chair, secretary, and two elected reviewers who cannot be vote counters. A list of attendees is attached.
CHAPTER IV – THE BOARD
§20 Chair of the Board
Elected at the election meeting. Also referred to as the Guild’s chair.
Duties:
- Lead the Guild’s activities
- Ensure decisions are implemented
- Chair meetings (except on matters affecting their own administration, such as audits or discharge from liability)
§21 Board Composition
Members: chair, secretary, treasurer, communications representative, guild master, Teekkari representative, study representative, freshman representative, and up to 4 others.
The board elects a vice-chair from among its members.
The secretary keeps minutes, handles correspondence, membership register, and archives.
The communications representative manages internal/external communications and edits the Guild magazine (Sinssi).
The treasurer handles finances, accounting, and inventory. They must prepare a budget proposal one week before the election meeting.
The guild master organizes events.
The Teekkari representative maintains student culture and leads excursions.
The freshman representative introduces new members to traditions and practices.
The study representative handles academic issues and suggests improvements.
§22 Board Duties
The task of the guild board is to:
- monitor the guild’s interest and reputation,
- act as the executive body of the guild,
- prepare and present to the election meeting a proposal for the action plan for the next term,
- prepare and present to the election meeting a proposal for the budget for the next term,
- prepare and present to the election meeting a proposal for the job descriptions of the board members and officials for the next term,
- prepare and present an annual report of its term to the annual meeting of the following year,
- prepare other matters to be addressed in the guild meetings,
- establish committees when necessary,
- approve new members of the guild, excluding honorary members, and maintain a membership register of the guild’s members.
§23 Board Meetings
Must be held at least once per month (January–May, September–December).
Convened by the chair or vice-chair with prior notice to board members and members via official channel.
Can be held fully online if all board members agree.
The board is quorate when more than half the members are present, including the chair or vice-chair. No proxy votes.
§24 Dismissal of a Board Member
A guild meeting may dismiss a board member by 2/3 majority. Must be mentioned in the invitation.
A new board member must be elected within 2 weeks.
§25 Officers
The election meeting defines senior officers.
Officers include at minimum:
- Solderer
- Host/hostess
- Song leader
- Freshman shepherd
Additional roles can be added by Guild meeting or board in two successive meetings.
CHAPTER V – MISCELLANEOUS
§26 Fiscal and Operational Year
The Guild’s fiscal and operational year is the calendar year.
§27 Right to Sign
The chair signs on behalf of the Guild together with the vice-chair or treasurer.
§28 Oltermanni
Appointed annually by the election meeting. Must be a teacher from the relevant faculty.
Acts as a supporter and liaison between the Guild and the faculty.
§29 Insignia
Guilds insignia as follows:
- Regular and senior members: silver thunderbolt cockade (on Teekkari cap)
- Current/former board members and kiltavanhin: golden thunderbolt cockade (on the cap near the tassel cord)
- Senior officers: silver cockade (same placement as above)
- Oltermanni: ceremonial staff
A golden cockade may also be awarded to distinguished members.
§30 Amendments to the Rules
Rule changes require a 3/4 majority at two successive meetings held at least two weeks apart.
§31 Dissolution of the Guild
Dissolution requires a 3/4 majority at two successive meetings held at least two weeks apart.
§32 Distribution of Assets upon Dissolution
In the event of the guild being dissolved or terminated, the remaining assets must be transferred to a registered association that continues its activities, or, if such does not exist, to Oulun Teekkariyhdistys ry (OTY).