Formal Phrases for Clubs and Associations
The written Swedish of föreningsliv — minutes, motions and memberships.
Föreningssvenska — the language of the Swedish association, learned at every stable and needed everywhere: the officers (ordförande, kassör, sekreterare), the årsmöte liturgy in order (kallelse → dagordning → protokoll → revisionsberättelse → ansvarsfrihet → valberedning), the voting machinery (motion, votering, handuppräckning, kvalificerad majoritet), the stadgar and the quorum, the membership economics (arbetspass, aktivitetsbidrag) — closing with the annual ritual: vi tackar den avgående styrelsen.
- 1
en förening
an association
Tip: The building block of Swedish civil society.
- 2
styrelsen
the board
Tip: Standard.
- 3
ordföranden
the chair
Tip: Formal.
- 4
kassören
the treasurer
Tip: Standard.
- 5
sekreteraren
the secretary
Tip: Standard.
- 6
årsmötet
the annual general meeting
Tip: The central event.
- 7
kallelsen
the notice of meeting
Tip: Must go out in time.
- 8
dagordningen
the agenda
Tip: Standard.
- 9
protokollet
the minutes
Tip: Standard.
- 10
föra protokoll
to keep the minutes
Tip: Fixed phrase.
- 11
justera protokollet
to approve the minutes
Tip: 'justera' is the technical verb.
- 12
revisorerna
the auditors
Tip: Even small clubs have them.
- 13
revisionsberättelsen
the auditors' report
Tip: Read aloud at the AGM.
- 14
ansvarsfrihet
discharge from liability
Tip: 'bevilja styrelsen ansvarsfrihet'.
- 15
valberedningen
the nominating committee
Tip: Proposes the new board.
- 16
en motion
a motion
Tip: From a member.
- 17
en proposition
a proposal from the board
Tip: From the board.
- 18
instämma i ett förslag
to second a proposal
Tip: Standard.
- 19
gå till votering
to put it to the vote
Tip: Formal.
- 20
handuppräckning
a show of hands
Tip: Standard.
- 21
sluten omröstning
a secret ballot
Tip: On request.
- 22
enkel majoritet
a simple majority
Tip: Standard.
- 23
kvalificerad majoritet
a qualified majority
Tip: For statute changes.
- 24
stadgarna
the statutes
Tip: The club's constitution.
- 25
ändra stadgarna
to amend the statutes
Tip: Usually needs two meetings.
- 26
beslutsförhet
a quorum
Tip: Standard.
- 27
mötet förklaras öppnat
the meeting is opened
Tip: The formula.
- 28
mötet förklaras avslutat
the meeting is closed
Tip: The formula.
- 29
övriga frågor
any other business
Tip: Always the longest item.
- 30
en medlemsavgift
a membership fee
Tip: Standard.
- 31
ansöka om medlemskap
to apply for membership
Tip: Standard.
- 32
utträda ur föreningen
to resign one's membership
Tip: Formal.
- 33
en medlem med betald avgift
a member in good standing
Tip: Practical wording.
- 34
ett arbetspass
a volunteer duty
Tip: Common in riding and sports clubs.
- 35
ett arbetsschema
a rota of duties
Tip: Standard.
- 36
vara befriad
to be exempt
Tip: Formal.
- 37
en uppförandekod
a code of conduct
Tip: Increasingly standard.
- 38
ett policydokument
a policy document
Tip: Standard.
- 39
en trygghetspolicy
a safeguarding policy
Tip: Required for youth activity.
- 40
ett utdrag ur belastningsregistret
an extract from the criminal record
Tip: Required for leaders of minors.
- 41
ett aktivitetsbidrag
an activity grant
Tip: From the council.
- 42
söka bidrag
to apply for funding
Tip: Standard.
- 43
en verksamhetsberättelse
an annual report
Tip: What was done last year.
- 44
en verksamhetsplan
an activity plan
Tip: What will be done next.
- 45
ett budgetförslag
a budget proposal
Tip: Standard.
- 46
räkenskapsåret
the financial year
Tip: Standard.
- 47
en hedersmedlem
an honorary member
Tip: Rare and meaningful.
- 48
vi tackar den avgående styrelsen
we thank the outgoing board
Tip: The customary line.
- 49
för deras arbete under året
for their work during the year
Tip: Standard.
- 50
Med vänlig hälsning, styrelsen
Best regards, the board
Tip: Standard sign-off.