"Rules of the Vittfarne Association"

Accepted at the annual meeting of 2003,
revised and accepted at the annual meeting of 2005, March 2005.

§ 1. PURPOSE

1:1 Vittfarne is a non-profit organisation. The organisation has no political or religious allegiance.

1:2 The purpose of the organisation is to further the knowledge on travel on land at sea during
      the Viking age

1:3 The organisation is based in Stockholm

§ 2. ACTIVITIES

The activities of the organisation are aimed at the gathering of knowledge through theoretical studies, as well as practical experiments. The organisation also strives at the dissemination of
this knowledge to the general public through different methods. The organisation documents its activities and assembles its members to meetings by way of IT technology. The communication is preferrably carried out by email messages.

§ 3. MEMBERSHIP

Membership in the Vittfarne association can be gained for all who are willing to abide by the rules of the organisation.

The organisation might appoint honorary members among persons who have been of great assistance to the organisation or who apart from this have contributed with significant amounts of work within the field of organisation activities.

§ 4. YEARLY FEE

A yearly fee and the latest possible date for the payment of this fee is to be set by the annual meeting.

Honorar members are exempt from organisational fees.

§ 5. MEMBER RIGHTS AND DUTIES

Members have the following duties:

·         To pay fees in accordance with § 4 above

·         To follow the rules of the organisation

·         To follow the decisions of the organisations

Members have the following rights:

·         To exercise decisive rights by general vote at the yearly meeting.
          Voting cannot take place by proxy or by letter of power.

Cancelling of membership.

If fees haven't been paid within the allotted time, the member is considered to have withdrawn from the organisation.

Dismissal.

Member, who deliberately and in flagranti is shown to act contrary to the purpose and activities of the association can be dismissed by a decision of the board.

§ 6. ACTIVITY YEAR

The activity year of the organisation, also the accountancy year, is the same as the
calendar year.

§ 7. THE BOARD

The board is the accounting body of the organisation, and consists of a chairman and the number of board members decided upon by the annual meeting. The chairman, as well as other board members is elected by the yearly meeting for two consecutive years. The terms are to be divided in such a way as to place the time of re-election for half the board at each  year.

The board appoints tasks internally, and internally chooses its own secretary, cashier et al.

If a board member cannot complete the tasks allotted, a new election will take place at the following yearly meeting.

The Board meets as called for, but no less than two times per annum, or when a majority of board members see fit.

Notice of board meetings shall be delivered to each board member at least one week
before the meeting.

The board is in quorum when at least half of the board members are found to be present.

The decisions of the board are made by simple majority vote. In the events of a tie, the view held by the Chairman takes precedence.  

§ 8. YEARLY MEETINGS

At each yearly meeting, the following issues are to be put on the agenda:

Count of the members present and establishment of the voting procedure

Election of a chairman and a secretary for the yearly meeting

Election of two persons to check the minutes of the yearly meeting, as well as two persons to count the votes, given by the assembled members.

A vote on if the yearly meeting has been proclaimed according to the rules.

An account, held by the board, on the activities and proceedings of the past year.

An accountancy report, held by the appointed accountant

Confirmation of economical results and the balance of the past accountancy year.

A vote on the liberation of legal accountability for the resigning board and its members.

Appointment of Chairman (when applicable)

Appointment of board members and replacement board members

Appointment of accountant and replacement accountant

A decision on the number of members in an electoral committee. Election of the electoral committee and the person responsible of the aforesaid body. Members of the board cannot be chosen as members of the electoral committee. The purpose of the electoral committee is to put forward a list of names of candidates eligible to be voted in as board members, in the event that the next yearly meeting so declares.

Motions to the yearly meeting.

Determination of budget.

A decision on the size of the yearly fee, as well as the time frame allotted for its payment within the current year.

Other matters to be listed in the official notice of the yearly meeting, and other incidental matters, which the yearly meeting unanimously declares fit for debate or treatment.

The yearly meeting of the organisation is to be held within the month of March. The official notice must be delivered to all members at least one full month before the yearly meeting.

§ 9. MOTIONS

Members of the organisation have the right to submit motions, which; in order to be put forward at the yearly meeting, must be submitted to the board at least two weeks before the yearly meeting is due to be held.

§ 10. THE BOARD

Duties of the Board, and its members:

To carry out decisions, made by the yearly meeting

To lead organisation activities

To appoint persons authorised to sign for the firm of the organisation. The firm of the organisation is to be signed by the board, or if the board so decides, by specially appointed persons or a person.

To deliver annual reports to the yearly meeting, concerning organisation activities and economical administration.

To propose an annual budget    

§ 11. ACCOUNTANTS

The economical administration of the board and the annual reports of the organisations are to be accounted for by at least one accountant, who shall be appointed for each accountancy year, together with a replacement.

§ 12. BOOKS OF ACCOUNT

The books of account of the organisation shall be delivered into the hands of the accountants at January 31 at the latest. 

§ 13. CHANGE OF RULES 

The yearly meeting votes on changes to the organisation rules. A simple majority vote on at least two separate, but consecutive yearly meetings is mandatory, and of these yearly meetings, at least one has to be annual.

§ 14. EXTRA ANNUAL MEETINGS

A notice of an extra annual meeting of all members might be distributed, if the board sees fit, or if at least ten members of the organisation make a motion to this effect. Notices of extra annual meetings must reach all members at least one full month before each extra meeting.

§ 15. DISSOLUTION OF THE ORGANISATION

A decision to dissolve the organisation might eventually be taken, if there is at least two thirds majority for a vote to this effect on two consecutive yearly meetings. In the event of dissolution, the board will be responsible for motions in order to distribute any economical assets of the organisation. In general, it shall be proposed that these assets will go to activities that could further the understanding of Viking age voyages.