Rules of the Organisation

There are a bag and name tags with a Red Cross logos on a table.

Photo: Tero Hintsa / Suomen Punainen Risti

Publications related to organizational activities can be found compiled here (in Finnish).

The General Assembly of the Finnish Red Cross approved new rules for the organization on 11 June 2017. The rules were enacted by a Decree of the President of the Republic (827/2017) on 1 December 2017.

The rules were updated at the General Assembly in 2023, and the updated sections entered into force on 1 January 2024 (Decree 989/2023).

The Council of the Finnish Red Cross approved the rules of procedure, the administrative regulations for districts, the administrative regulations for branches, and the financial regulations for the organization on 15 May 2020. They can be found in Finnish or Swedish by chnaging the language from the upper right corner of the page.

The rule book can be ordered from the online store at https://www.punaisenristinkauppa.fi/. The digital version can be found in Finnish or Swedish below.

Rules and the Branch: Remember These 10!

The branch must handle the following according to the rules:

1. Spring meeting: at least the following matters must be addressed. NOTE: the meeting invitation must be sent at least one week before the meeting, and at least three members must be present.

Annual report from the previous year
Financial statement
Performance auditor's performance audit report

2. The annual report, financial statements, and a copy of the approved spring meeting minutes must be submitted to the district by 15 April at the latest.

3. Autumn meeting: at least the following matters must be addressed. NOTE: the meeting invitation must be sent at least one week before the meeting, and at least three members must be present.

Personnel elections of the branch, including performance auditor and deputy performance auditor (chartered auditor in large branches). Remember that elected officials must be members of the branch. (There is no membership requirement for performance auditors/chartered auditors.)
Action plan
Budget

4. The action plan, budget, and a copy of the approved autumn meeting minutes must be submitted to the district by 31 December at the latest.

5. Notification of chairpersons and board members to the district by 31 December at the latest.

6. Notification of the branch's contact persons (key volunteers) to the district by 31 January at the latest.

Remember:

7. The branch's board must, at a minimum, appoint a contact person for domestic aid.

8. The branch must prepare a preparedness plan either independently or together with another branch.

9. Participation in Hunger Day independently or in cooperation with another branch.

10. Take care of each other and have fun.

NOTE: If these points are not fulfilled, the branch will be placed under observation. If the branch remains under observation for more than one year, dissolution will be considered.

Frequently asked questions about the rules

The treasurer holds a position of trust and therefore must be an individual member of the organization who is registered with the branch in which they serve as treasurer. This does not prevent the branch from outsourcing the handling of financial transactions to an accounting firm – the treasurer's responsibility is to ensure that no unjustified invoices are paid, etc., and together with the board, the treasurer is responsible for the proper use of the branch's funds and, when necessary, for reporting on how the funds have been used during the year.

Yes, the branch treasurer is automatically an authorized signatory.

The secretary does not automatically have signing authority. They may have signing authority if they are a member of the board and the board has authorized them as a signatory.

The branch treasurer is automatically an authorized signatory. Likewise the executive director, if the branch has one. The chairperson and vice-chairperson are also automatically authorized signatories.

In addition to those who have signing authority by virtue of their position, the branch board can authorize two signatories at a time from among its members.

No, the treasurer is automatically an authorized signatory.

The branch board cannot dismiss a board member by its own decision.

However, a branch meeting (spring meeting, autumn meeting, or extraordinary meeting) may dismiss a branch board member during their term of office if the board member:

is permanently disqualified;
has acted in violation of the organization's rules; or
has acted against the Principles of the Red Cross or otherwise substantially against the purpose of the organization.

If a branch board membership becomes vacant during the term of office, or if a branch board member loses their eligibility for the position, the branch board must ensure that a new board member is elected at a branch meeting for the remainder of the term. The dismissed branch board member shall be notified of the decision in writing. A dismissed branch board member may request a review of the dismissal referred to in this section by the organization's board by submitting a written request to the organization's board within 30 days of receiving notification of the dismissal decision.