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COPE Constitution and By-Laws
THE COALITION OF PROGRESSIVE ELECTORS:
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS (As amended and approved July 13, 2005)
Background
The Coalition of Progressive Electors (the “Society”) is a civic reform organization,
which unites individuals and groups seeking a progressive orientation in Vancouver's
civic life, by means of continuous organizing and campaigning around issues
affecting the people of Vancouver, and by nominating and electing candidates to civic
office.
The Society is based on the labour movement, and was initiated by the Vancouver
and District Labour Council in 1968.
Constitution (Approved by Members July 13, 2005)
1. The name of the society is The Coalition of Progressive Electors.
2. The purposes of the Society are:
a) to unite individuals and groups behind a program of progressive civic
reform;
b) to involve Vancouver residents and community organizations in public
action in furtherance of their interests and the collective interests of
Vancouver; and
c) to nominate and endorse candidates for election to civic office in order
to promote these purposes, and to provide direction and guidance to
such candidates, both before and after they have been elected.
By-Laws (Approved by Members July 13, 2005)
PART 1 – INTERPRETATION
1. In these bylaws, unless the context otherwise requires:
a) “Caucus” means those members of the Society holding elected office
on each of Vancouver City Council, Vancouver Park Board and
Vancouver School Board, respectively, and “Caucuses” means all such
members.
b) “Council” means Vancouver City Council.
c) “Executive” mean the directors of the society for the time being;
d) “Nominating Conference” has the meaning set out in Part 7;
e) “Park Board” means Vancouver Park Board;
f) “School Board” means Vancouver School Board;
g) “Society Act” means the Society Act of British Columbia from time to
time in force and all amendments to it;
h) “Voting Delegate” means a delegate of an affiliated organization
entitled to vote upon each question put to a general meeting, in
accordance with Part 2 Bylaw 2(c);
i) “Voting Member” means a member of the Society entitled to vote upon
each question put to a general meeting, in accordance with Part 2
Bylaw 1(a).
2. The definitions in the Society Act on the date these bylaws become effective
apply to these bylaws.
3. Except where the context otherwise requires, words importing the singular
include the plural and vice versa, and words importing a male person include a
female person and a corporation.
PART 2 – MEMBERSHIP
1. MEMBERSHIP
a) Any person who endorses the purposes of the Society may apply to the
Executive for membership and, upon acceptance as a member and
payment of the annual membership fee, is a member in good standing
with full membership rights in the Society, subject to the following
provisions:
(i) at the time of determination, an individual member who ordinarily
resides or works in the City of Vancouver or the University Endowment
Lands (the “UEL”), or a corporate member who ordinarily
maintains a place of business in the City of Vancouver or the
UEL, shall be a “Voting Member”;
(ii) a member who is not a Voting Member shall be a “Non-Voting
Member”.
b) A copy of the Society’s Constitution, Bylaws, policy and current platform
or, where the platform is extensive, a summary thereof, shall be made
available upon request to each member of the Society.
c) A person ceases to be a member of the society:
(i) by delivering his or her resignation in writing to the secretary of
the society or by mailing or delivering it to the address of the
society,
(ii) on his or her death or, in the case of a corporation, on
dissolution,
(iii) on being expelled, or
(iv) on having been a member not in good standing for 24
consecutive months.
d) A member may be expelled by a vote of two-thirds of the Voting
Members present at any general meeting, provided that:
i) The notice of a resolution for expulsion must be accompanied by
a brief statement of the reasons for the proposed expulsion; and
ii) The person who is the subject of the proposed resolution for
expulsion must be given an opportunity to be heard at the
general meeting before the resolution is put to a vote.
e) Subject to Part 2, Bylaw 3(c), a member ceases to be in good standing
upon failure to pay the annual membership fee within 2 months of the
date when it falls due.
f) The Executive shall not accept any individual or organization for
membership or affiliate status in the 45 days preceding a Nominating
Conference.
2. AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
a) Any organization which endorses the purposes of the Society may
apply to the Executive for affiliation, and upon acceptance as an affiliate
and payment of the affiliation fee is an affiliated organization in good
standing.
b) The provisions concerning good standing and ceasing to be a member
set out in Part 2 Bylaw 1(c), (d) and (e) hereof will apply equally to
affiliate organizations.
c) Each affiliated organization is entitled to be represented by five
delegates for its first five hundred members or part thereof, and one
further delegate for each additional five hundred members or part
thereof, at General Meetings and, provided that the affiliated
organization is in good standing and has authorized such delegates.
d) Each delegate of an affiliated organization who meets the residency
requirement set out in Part 2 Bylaw 1(a) (a “Voting Delegate”) shall
have the same voting rights as any Voting Member in good standing.
3. ANNUAL FEES
a) The annual membership fee and affiliation fee shall be determined by
the Executive from time to time, subject to ratification by majority vote at
the next following general meeting.
b) All annual fees fall due on the anniversary of the date when the
member's or affiliate organization’s application for membership or
affiliation was accepted.
c) The Executive, by simple majority approval, may waive the payment of
initial or annual membership or affiliation fees upon reasonable request,
such waiver to be effective only for the year in which the request is
made.
4. VOTING RIGHTS
a) Each member determined to be a Voting Member in good standing is
entitled to one vote upon each question put to a general meeting.
b) Proxy voting is prohibited.
PART 3 - GENERAL MEETINGS
1. General meetings shall be held at the time and place, in accordance with the
Society Act, that the directors shall decide.
2. Notice of a general meeting shall specify the time, day and place of the
meeting, and in general terms the nature of the business to be discussed at
such general meeting. Notice must be given in writing and may, without
limitation, be given by email, fax, personal delivery or mail, and in any event
must be given no later than 21 days prior to the date of the specified meeting.
3. The accidental omission to give notice of a general meeting to any member
does not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.
4. The Annual General Meeting shall be held once in every calendar year, not
more than fifteen months following the last preceding meeting.
5. All proceedings at a general meeting shall be governed by Robert's Rules of
Order.
6. All policy and the Society’s election platform must be approved by a simple
majority of the Voting Members present at a general meeting.
7. During each election year, there shall be held a one-day general meeting
known as the “Policy Conference”. Subject to Part 2 Bylaw 4(a), at the
Policy Conference members shall discuss and develop, and approve new
policy, affirm or revise existing policy, and discuss and adopt the Society’s
election platform.
8. In each non-election year, there shall be held a one-day general meeting,
dedicated to the discussion of topical issues, and known as the “Issues
Meeting”. Wherever possible, information on key topical issues shall be
included with the notice of meeting. A summary of the Issues Meeting shall be
published on the Society’s website. Any policy recommendations developed at
the Issues Meeting shall be referred for consideration to the next Policy
Conference.
9. Where referral of the issue to a Policy Conference would be untimely, such
issue shall be referred to the Executive, and the Executive shall meet and
develop a position statement on such issue for the guidance of those elected
officials endorsed by the Society. In so doing, the Executive will make every
reasonable attempt to obtain input from members and will then inform the
general membership of the position statement developed by the Executive as
soon as possible.
10. The Executive shall hold general meetings regularly throughout the year to
address topical civic issues. Any policy recommendations developed by the
general membership at these meetings will be referred to the next Policy
Conference or, where referral to a Policy Conference would be untimely, may
be referred to the Executive for the purpose of developing position statements
in respect of them in order to provide guidance to those elected officials
nominated and endorsed by the Society.
PART 4 - THE EXECUTIVE
1. The Executive shall consist of the following persons (the “Voting Executive
Members”):
(a) the Table Officers;
(b) five members-at-large, each of which must be a Voting Member, as
shall be elected by ballot at each Annual General Meeting. Any marked
ballot for the election of members-at-large to the Executive shall be
deemed spoiled if fewer than or more than four choices are marked on
it; and
(c) representatives of each Caucus, who may be so designated by the
respective Caucuses in the following proportions:
(i) one Voting Executive Member position for up to the first three
members in such Caucus, and
(ii) one additional Voting Executive Member position for every three
additional members in such Caucus.
2. The Executive shall be the directors of the Society and may exercise all the
powers and do all the things that the society may exercise and do, subject to
these Bylaws and the Society Act.
3. The following persons (the “Non-Voting Executive Delegates”) may
participate in but not vote at Executive meetings:
(a) the chief organizer appointed by the Executive;
(b) elected officials not designated as voting Executive members;
(c) one delegate from each of the Education, Park Board, and Council
Committees;
(d) one representative from the Vancouver and District Labour Council; and
(e) one delegate from such other committees as are established from time
to time by the Society, provided that such delegates have been elected
to participate in Executive meetings by members of their respective
committees.
4. No Executive member shall be remunerated for being or acting as an
Executive member, but an Executive member may be reimbursed for all
expenses necessarily and reasonably incurred by the Executive member while
engaged in the affairs of the Society.
5. A member of the Executive who becomes an employee of the Society or who
contracts with the Society to provide service for a fee shall be a Non-Voting
Executive Member for the duration of the employment or the contract, but may,
with the approval of the Executive, participate in, but not vote at, any Executive
meeting.
6. Each Executive member shall cease to be an Executive member upon:
a) ceasing to fall within the provisions of Part 4, Bylaw 1;
b) ceasing to be a member in good standing, the authorized
representative of a corporate member in good standing or a delegate
from an affiliated organization in good standing, as the case may be; or
c) his or her resignation, retirement or death.
7. If an Executive member, other than an Executive member described in Part 4
Bylaw 1(c), ceases to hold office, the remaining Voting Executive Members
may, by simple majority vote:
a) call a general meeting for the purposes of electing a member to take the
place of the former Executive member;
b) appoint a member to take the place of the former Executive member
where calling a general meeting is impracticable; or
c) declare the Executive position vacant until the next following Annual
General Meeting.
8. An act or proceeding of the Executive is not invalid merely because there are
fewer than the prescribed number of Executive members in office.
PART 5 - TABLE OFFICERS
1. Table Officers shall be elected by ballot at each Annual General Meeting, and
shall be Voting Members in good standing who do not, at the time of the
Annual General Meeting, hold civic office. Any marked ballot for the election
of Table Officers shall be deemed spoiled if fewer or more choices than the
prescribed number of Table Officers are marked on it.
2. The Table Officers shall consist of the following:
a) the external co-chairperson, who shall be the chief executive officer of
the Society and the principal spokesperson of the Society;
b) the internal co-chairperson, who shall chair all Society meetings and
supervise the internal affairs of the organization, and who may act in
the external co-chairperson's place as required;
c) the recording secretary, who shall issue notices and keep minutes of all
meetings;
d) the corresponding secretary, who shall be responsible for receipt of,
responding to and dealing with all correspondence received by the
organization;
e) the membership secretary, who shall be the chair of the membership
committee and maintain membership records;
f) the treasurer, who shall keep financial records in accordance with the
Society Act, render financial statements to the Executive and members
as required and be a member of the finance committee.
g) the fundraiser, who shall organize, produce and supervise fundraising
plans and events, chair the fundraising committee and be a member of
the finance committee.
3. The Table Officers shall exercise all the powers of the Executive between
meetings of the Executive.
4. The Table Officers must retire from office at each Annual General Meeting
when their successors are elected.
5. Separate elections must be held for each office to be filled.
6. An election may be by acclamation, otherwise it must be by ballot.
7. If a successor is not elected, the person previously elected or appointed
continues to hold office until a successor is elected or appointed.
PART 6 - COMMITTEES
1. AREA COMMITTEES
(a) The Executive may establish committees to function in such areas of
the City of Vancouver from time to time as the Executive sees fit.
(b) The area committees shall consist of those members residing in each
designated area, and shall operate under the guidance of, and be
answerable to, the Executive.
(c) The purpose of each area committee shall be:
(i) to take up local community issues;
(ii) to integrate the Society more closely into the local communities;
(iii) to build the Society 's membership and support;
(iv) to maximize the involvement of members in the Society 's
activities;
(v) to provide a nucleus for the Society’s election work; and
(vi) generally to promote the purposes and policies of the Society at
the local level.
(d) Each area committee shall elect a chairperson, vice chairperson, and
secretary as well as such other officers as the committee considers
necessary for its activities, and shall elect a delegate to the Executive.
2. POLICY AND CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE
(a) There shall be a standing Policy and Constitution Committee (the
“PCC”) of the Executive.
(b) The PCC shall consist of any Executive members who wish to
participate, one member from each Caucus and at least three members
from the general membership of the Society.
(c) The PCC shall be responsible for reviewing the Constitution and
making recommendations on constitutional change to the Executive
who shall ensure that notice of any constitutional amendments are
included in the notice of Annual General Meeting. Members in good
standing may submit proposed policy or constitutional amendments to
the PCC for consideration or for referral to the next Policy Conference.
3. ELECTION PLANNING COMMITTEE
(a) In good time prior to the holding of a civic election the Executive shall
strike an Election Planning Committee and shall appoint its chair and
co-chair. The term of the Election Planning Committee shall end at the
Nominating Conference.
4. CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
(a) During the civic election campaign, the Executive shall constitute the
Campaign Committee together with such other persons as the
Executive deems appropriate.
5. ADVISORY COMMITTEES
(a) There shall be three standing committees of the Society designated and
known as the “COPE Education Committee”, “COPE Park
Committee” and “COPE Council Committee”, for the purposes of
providing advice and support to the respective Caucuses from time to
time.
6. ADDITIONAL COMMITTEES
(a) The Executive and the Table Officers may establish such committees,
and delegate such of their powers, as they consider desirable for the
better carrying out of the purposes of the Society and the exercise of
their functions.
PART 7 - NOMINATION OF CIVIC CANDIDATES
1. In good time before each civic election, a general meeting to be known as a
"Nominating Conference" shall be held, for the nomination of candidates to
run for civic office with the Society’s endorsement.
2. To be eligible for nomination, a candidate must:
(a) be a member in good standing,
(b) be legally entitled to run for civic office,
(c) be a resident of the City of Vancouver, and
(d) pledge his or her support for the policies and purposes of the Society.
3. At each Nominating Conference, the Executive shall recommend how many
candidates the Society will nominate and endorse to run for each of Council,
Park Board and School Board. The Voting Membership shall, by simple
majority vote:
a) approve one or more of the Executive’s recommendations; or
b) to the extent that a recommendation of the Executive is not approved,
approve a motion from the floor, made and seconded by Voting
Members (or Voting Delegates from affiliated organizations, as the case
may be) who are in good standing.
4. Nomination shall take place by way of ballots (the “Nomination Ballots”)
bearing the names of all candidates put forward and approved to stand for
nomination to run for Council, Park Board and School Board, respectively.
5. A candidate’s name may be included on a Nomination Ballot if:
a) such candidate’s name has been put forward:
i) by the Executive; or
ii) by a motion from the floor made and seconded by Voting
Members (or Voting Delegates, as the case may be) who are in
good standing.
6. All Voting Members and Voting Delegates from affiliated organizations, who
are in each case in good standing and present at the Nominating Conference,
are entitled to vote to nominate candidates by marking a Nomination Ballot in
respect of each of Council, Park Board and School Board.
7. A marked Nomination Ballot shall be deemed spoiled if fewer than or more
than the maximum number of candidates for nomination, determined in
accordance with Part 7 Bylaw 3, are marked.
8. The Nominating Conference and the Policy Conference may be combined in
one general meeting.
PART 8 - MISCELLANEOUS
1. Borrowing Powers: In order to carry out the purposes of the Society, the
Executive may, on behalf of and in the name of the Society, raise or secure
the payment or repayment of money in the manner they decide and, in
particular but without limiting that power, by the issue of debentures.
2. A debenture must not be issued without the authorization of a special
resolution.
CONSTITUTION AND BY-LAWS (As amended and approved July 13, 2005)
Background
The Coalition of Progressive Electors (the “Society”) is a civic reform organization,
which unites individuals and groups seeking a progressive orientation in Vancouver's
civic life, by means of continuous organizing and campaigning around issues
affecting the people of Vancouver, and by nominating and electing candidates to civic
office.
The Society is based on the labour movement, and was initiated by the Vancouver
and District Labour Council in 1968.
Constitution (Approved by Members July 13, 2005)
1. The name of the society is The Coalition of Progressive Electors.
2. The purposes of the Society are:
a) to unite individuals and groups behind a program of progressive civic
reform;
b) to involve Vancouver residents and community organizations in public
action in furtherance of their interests and the collective interests of
Vancouver; and
c) to nominate and endorse candidates for election to civic office in order
to promote these purposes, and to provide direction and guidance to
such candidates, both before and after they have been elected.
By-Laws (Approved by Members July 13, 2005)
PART 1 – INTERPRETATION
1. In these bylaws, unless the context otherwise requires:
a) “Caucus” means those members of the Society holding elected office
on each of Vancouver City Council, Vancouver Park Board and
Vancouver School Board, respectively, and “Caucuses” means all such
members.
b) “Council” means Vancouver City Council.
c) “Executive” mean the directors of the society for the time being;
d) “Nominating Conference” has the meaning set out in Part 7;
e) “Park Board” means Vancouver Park Board;
f) “School Board” means Vancouver School Board;
g) “Society Act” means the Society Act of British Columbia from time to
time in force and all amendments to it;
h) “Voting Delegate” means a delegate of an affiliated organization
entitled to vote upon each question put to a general meeting, in
accordance with Part 2 Bylaw 2(c);
i) “Voting Member” means a member of the Society entitled to vote upon
each question put to a general meeting, in accordance with Part 2
Bylaw 1(a).
2. The definitions in the Society Act on the date these bylaws become effective
apply to these bylaws.
3. Except where the context otherwise requires, words importing the singular
include the plural and vice versa, and words importing a male person include a
female person and a corporation.
PART 2 – MEMBERSHIP
1. MEMBERSHIP
a) Any person who endorses the purposes of the Society may apply to the
Executive for membership and, upon acceptance as a member and
payment of the annual membership fee, is a member in good standing
with full membership rights in the Society, subject to the following
provisions:
(i) at the time of determination, an individual member who ordinarily
resides or works in the City of Vancouver or the University Endowment
Lands (the “UEL”), or a corporate member who ordinarily
maintains a place of business in the City of Vancouver or the
UEL, shall be a “Voting Member”;
(ii) a member who is not a Voting Member shall be a “Non-Voting
Member”.
b) A copy of the Society’s Constitution, Bylaws, policy and current platform
or, where the platform is extensive, a summary thereof, shall be made
available upon request to each member of the Society.
c) A person ceases to be a member of the society:
(i) by delivering his or her resignation in writing to the secretary of
the society or by mailing or delivering it to the address of the
society,
(ii) on his or her death or, in the case of a corporation, on
dissolution,
(iii) on being expelled, or
(iv) on having been a member not in good standing for 24
consecutive months.
d) A member may be expelled by a vote of two-thirds of the Voting
Members present at any general meeting, provided that:
i) The notice of a resolution for expulsion must be accompanied by
a brief statement of the reasons for the proposed expulsion; and
ii) The person who is the subject of the proposed resolution for
expulsion must be given an opportunity to be heard at the
general meeting before the resolution is put to a vote.
e) Subject to Part 2, Bylaw 3(c), a member ceases to be in good standing
upon failure to pay the annual membership fee within 2 months of the
date when it falls due.
f) The Executive shall not accept any individual or organization for
membership or affiliate status in the 45 days preceding a Nominating
Conference.
2. AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS
a) Any organization which endorses the purposes of the Society may
apply to the Executive for affiliation, and upon acceptance as an affiliate
and payment of the affiliation fee is an affiliated organization in good
standing.
b) The provisions concerning good standing and ceasing to be a member
set out in Part 2 Bylaw 1(c), (d) and (e) hereof will apply equally to
affiliate organizations.
c) Each affiliated organization is entitled to be represented by five
delegates for its first five hundred members or part thereof, and one
further delegate for each additional five hundred members or part
thereof, at General Meetings and, provided that the affiliated
organization is in good standing and has authorized such delegates.
d) Each delegate of an affiliated organization who meets the residency
requirement set out in Part 2 Bylaw 1(a) (a “Voting Delegate”) shall
have the same voting rights as any Voting Member in good standing.
3. ANNUAL FEES
a) The annual membership fee and affiliation fee shall be determined by
the Executive from time to time, subject to ratification by majority vote at
the next following general meeting.
b) All annual fees fall due on the anniversary of the date when the
member's or affiliate organization’s application for membership or
affiliation was accepted.
c) The Executive, by simple majority approval, may waive the payment of
initial or annual membership or affiliation fees upon reasonable request,
such waiver to be effective only for the year in which the request is
made.
4. VOTING RIGHTS
a) Each member determined to be a Voting Member in good standing is
entitled to one vote upon each question put to a general meeting.
b) Proxy voting is prohibited.
PART 3 - GENERAL MEETINGS
1. General meetings shall be held at the time and place, in accordance with the
Society Act, that the directors shall decide.
2. Notice of a general meeting shall specify the time, day and place of the
meeting, and in general terms the nature of the business to be discussed at
such general meeting. Notice must be given in writing and may, without
limitation, be given by email, fax, personal delivery or mail, and in any event
must be given no later than 21 days prior to the date of the specified meeting.
3. The accidental omission to give notice of a general meeting to any member
does not invalidate the proceedings at that meeting.
4. The Annual General Meeting shall be held once in every calendar year, not
more than fifteen months following the last preceding meeting.
5. All proceedings at a general meeting shall be governed by Robert's Rules of
Order.
6. All policy and the Society’s election platform must be approved by a simple
majority of the Voting Members present at a general meeting.
7. During each election year, there shall be held a one-day general meeting
known as the “Policy Conference”. Subject to Part 2 Bylaw 4(a), at the
Policy Conference members shall discuss and develop, and approve new
policy, affirm or revise existing policy, and discuss and adopt the Society’s
election platform.
8. In each non-election year, there shall be held a one-day general meeting,
dedicated to the discussion of topical issues, and known as the “Issues
Meeting”. Wherever possible, information on key topical issues shall be
included with the notice of meeting. A summary of the Issues Meeting shall be
published on the Society’s website. Any policy recommendations developed at
the Issues Meeting shall be referred for consideration to the next Policy
Conference.
9. Where referral of the issue to a Policy Conference would be untimely, such
issue shall be referred to the Executive, and the Executive shall meet and
develop a position statement on such issue for the guidance of those elected
officials endorsed by the Society. In so doing, the Executive will make every
reasonable attempt to obtain input from members and will then inform the
general membership of the position statement developed by the Executive as
soon as possible.
10. The Executive shall hold general meetings regularly throughout the year to
address topical civic issues. Any policy recommendations developed by the
general membership at these meetings will be referred to the next Policy
Conference or, where referral to a Policy Conference would be untimely, may
be referred to the Executive for the purpose of developing position statements
in respect of them in order to provide guidance to those elected officials
nominated and endorsed by the Society.
PART 4 - THE EXECUTIVE
1. The Executive shall consist of the following persons (the “Voting Executive
Members”):
(a) the Table Officers;
(b) five members-at-large, each of which must be a Voting Member, as
shall be elected by ballot at each Annual General Meeting. Any marked
ballot for the election of members-at-large to the Executive shall be
deemed spoiled if fewer than or more than four choices are marked on
it; and
(c) representatives of each Caucus, who may be so designated by the
respective Caucuses in the following proportions:
(i) one Voting Executive Member position for up to the first three
members in such Caucus, and
(ii) one additional Voting Executive Member position for every three
additional members in such Caucus.
2. The Executive shall be the directors of the Society and may exercise all the
powers and do all the things that the society may exercise and do, subject to
these Bylaws and the Society Act.
3. The following persons (the “Non-Voting Executive Delegates”) may
participate in but not vote at Executive meetings:
(a) the chief organizer appointed by the Executive;
(b) elected officials not designated as voting Executive members;
(c) one delegate from each of the Education, Park Board, and Council
Committees;
(d) one representative from the Vancouver and District Labour Council; and
(e) one delegate from such other committees as are established from time
to time by the Society, provided that such delegates have been elected
to participate in Executive meetings by members of their respective
committees.
4. No Executive member shall be remunerated for being or acting as an
Executive member, but an Executive member may be reimbursed for all
expenses necessarily and reasonably incurred by the Executive member while
engaged in the affairs of the Society.
5. A member of the Executive who becomes an employee of the Society or who
contracts with the Society to provide service for a fee shall be a Non-Voting
Executive Member for the duration of the employment or the contract, but may,
with the approval of the Executive, participate in, but not vote at, any Executive
meeting.
6. Each Executive member shall cease to be an Executive member upon:
a) ceasing to fall within the provisions of Part 4, Bylaw 1;
b) ceasing to be a member in good standing, the authorized
representative of a corporate member in good standing or a delegate
from an affiliated organization in good standing, as the case may be; or
c) his or her resignation, retirement or death.
7. If an Executive member, other than an Executive member described in Part 4
Bylaw 1(c), ceases to hold office, the remaining Voting Executive Members
may, by simple majority vote:
a) call a general meeting for the purposes of electing a member to take the
place of the former Executive member;
b) appoint a member to take the place of the former Executive member
where calling a general meeting is impracticable; or
c) declare the Executive position vacant until the next following Annual
General Meeting.
8. An act or proceeding of the Executive is not invalid merely because there are
fewer than the prescribed number of Executive members in office.
PART 5 - TABLE OFFICERS
1. Table Officers shall be elected by ballot at each Annual General Meeting, and
shall be Voting Members in good standing who do not, at the time of the
Annual General Meeting, hold civic office. Any marked ballot for the election
of Table Officers shall be deemed spoiled if fewer or more choices than the
prescribed number of Table Officers are marked on it.
2. The Table Officers shall consist of the following:
a) the external co-chairperson, who shall be the chief executive officer of
the Society and the principal spokesperson of the Society;
b) the internal co-chairperson, who shall chair all Society meetings and
supervise the internal affairs of the organization, and who may act in
the external co-chairperson's place as required;
c) the recording secretary, who shall issue notices and keep minutes of all
meetings;
d) the corresponding secretary, who shall be responsible for receipt of,
responding to and dealing with all correspondence received by the
organization;
e) the membership secretary, who shall be the chair of the membership
committee and maintain membership records;
f) the treasurer, who shall keep financial records in accordance with the
Society Act, render financial statements to the Executive and members
as required and be a member of the finance committee.
g) the fundraiser, who shall organize, produce and supervise fundraising
plans and events, chair the fundraising committee and be a member of
the finance committee.
3. The Table Officers shall exercise all the powers of the Executive between
meetings of the Executive.
4. The Table Officers must retire from office at each Annual General Meeting
when their successors are elected.
5. Separate elections must be held for each office to be filled.
6. An election may be by acclamation, otherwise it must be by ballot.
7. If a successor is not elected, the person previously elected or appointed
continues to hold office until a successor is elected or appointed.
PART 6 - COMMITTEES
1. AREA COMMITTEES
(a) The Executive may establish committees to function in such areas of
the City of Vancouver from time to time as the Executive sees fit.
(b) The area committees shall consist of those members residing in each
designated area, and shall operate under the guidance of, and be
answerable to, the Executive.
(c) The purpose of each area committee shall be:
(i) to take up local community issues;
(ii) to integrate the Society more closely into the local communities;
(iii) to build the Society 's membership and support;
(iv) to maximize the involvement of members in the Society 's
activities;
(v) to provide a nucleus for the Society’s election work; and
(vi) generally to promote the purposes and policies of the Society at
the local level.
(d) Each area committee shall elect a chairperson, vice chairperson, and
secretary as well as such other officers as the committee considers
necessary for its activities, and shall elect a delegate to the Executive.
2. POLICY AND CONSTITUTION COMMITTEE
(a) There shall be a standing Policy and Constitution Committee (the
“PCC”) of the Executive.
(b) The PCC shall consist of any Executive members who wish to
participate, one member from each Caucus and at least three members
from the general membership of the Society.
(c) The PCC shall be responsible for reviewing the Constitution and
making recommendations on constitutional change to the Executive
who shall ensure that notice of any constitutional amendments are
included in the notice of Annual General Meeting. Members in good
standing may submit proposed policy or constitutional amendments to
the PCC for consideration or for referral to the next Policy Conference.
3. ELECTION PLANNING COMMITTEE
(a) In good time prior to the holding of a civic election the Executive shall
strike an Election Planning Committee and shall appoint its chair and
co-chair. The term of the Election Planning Committee shall end at the
Nominating Conference.
4. CAMPAIGN COMMITTEE
(a) During the civic election campaign, the Executive shall constitute the
Campaign Committee together with such other persons as the
Executive deems appropriate.
5. ADVISORY COMMITTEES
(a) There shall be three standing committees of the Society designated and
known as the “COPE Education Committee”, “COPE Park
Committee” and “COPE Council Committee”, for the purposes of
providing advice and support to the respective Caucuses from time to
time.
6. ADDITIONAL COMMITTEES
(a) The Executive and the Table Officers may establish such committees,
and delegate such of their powers, as they consider desirable for the
better carrying out of the purposes of the Society and the exercise of
their functions.
PART 7 - NOMINATION OF CIVIC CANDIDATES
1. In good time before each civic election, a general meeting to be known as a
"Nominating Conference" shall be held, for the nomination of candidates to
run for civic office with the Society’s endorsement.
2. To be eligible for nomination, a candidate must:
(a) be a member in good standing,
(b) be legally entitled to run for civic office,
(c) be a resident of the City of Vancouver, and
(d) pledge his or her support for the policies and purposes of the Society.
3. At each Nominating Conference, the Executive shall recommend how many
candidates the Society will nominate and endorse to run for each of Council,
Park Board and School Board. The Voting Membership shall, by simple
majority vote:
a) approve one or more of the Executive’s recommendations; or
b) to the extent that a recommendation of the Executive is not approved,
approve a motion from the floor, made and seconded by Voting
Members (or Voting Delegates from affiliated organizations, as the case
may be) who are in good standing.
4. Nomination shall take place by way of ballots (the “Nomination Ballots”)
bearing the names of all candidates put forward and approved to stand for
nomination to run for Council, Park Board and School Board, respectively.
5. A candidate’s name may be included on a Nomination Ballot if:
a) such candidate’s name has been put forward:
i) by the Executive; or
ii) by a motion from the floor made and seconded by Voting
Members (or Voting Delegates, as the case may be) who are in
good standing.
6. All Voting Members and Voting Delegates from affiliated organizations, who
are in each case in good standing and present at the Nominating Conference,
are entitled to vote to nominate candidates by marking a Nomination Ballot in
respect of each of Council, Park Board and School Board.
7. A marked Nomination Ballot shall be deemed spoiled if fewer than or more
than the maximum number of candidates for nomination, determined in
accordance with Part 7 Bylaw 3, are marked.
8. The Nominating Conference and the Policy Conference may be combined in
one general meeting.
PART 8 - MISCELLANEOUS
1. Borrowing Powers: In order to carry out the purposes of the Society, the
Executive may, on behalf of and in the name of the Society, raise or secure
the payment or repayment of money in the manner they decide and, in
particular but without limiting that power, by the issue of debentures.
2. A debenture must not be issued without the authorization of a special
resolution.
