NORTH GROUP
CONSTITUTION
- Saving The Region of Ontario North Group -
Established 2005
Article I: Name
A) This organization shall be referred to as Saving The Region of Ontario North Group
B) The recognized short form of this organization is STRONG
C) The name of the Saving The Region of Ontario North Group (STRONG) shall be used only in conjunction with those activities that have received the endorsement of the Executive Committee.
Article II: Mission Statement
STRONG, a grassroots, non-partisan organization, will endeavor to protect our collective heritage, the natural resources of Northern Ontario. As such we commit ourselves to the sustainability of our communities and the region as a whole, today and for the future.
Article III: Goals
- Propose amendments to present laws that allow the forest and mining industry to export unprocessed natural resources out of the region with a view to maximize value-added manufacturing of these resources within Northern Ontario.
- Increase public awareness through communication and education.
- Network with other organizations that have these common goals and are involved in the fields of forestry, mining, manufacturing, agriculture, including but not limited to non-governmental organizations, municipalities, municipal associations, unions, colleges and universities.
- Create linkages with regional First Nations to develop strategies that will enhance the standard of living both native and non-native communities.
- Work to ensure publicly owned infrastructure is kept in the public domain.
- Influence further development of hydroelectricity and other generating technologies that are affordable and friendly to the environment.
- Encourage the implementation of a regional energy pricing policy in order to keep our industries competitive.
Article IV: Membership
A) General membership status shall be granted to all citizens of Canada who opt to complete a membership application.
B) Delegate status shall be conferred on those members who have been in good standing since the last Annual General Meeting (AGM) and have purchased a STRONG membership card.
C) All delegates are entitled to attend Executive Committee meetings where they will have voice but no vote. Delegates will be encouraged to participate fully in all public discussions of the Executive Committee.
D) All delegates are entitled to cast one ballot at the STRONG Annual General Meetings held within the first two weeks of the month of May.
E) In order to be elected to a STRONG Executive Committee position, a member must have been an active delegate for a minimum of one full year and will have made every effort to attend as many Executive Committee meetings as possible during the year leading up to his/her nomination to the Committee.
F) All members and delegates shall be encouraged to participate on committees and in other ways in order to help STRONG achieve its goals.
Article V: Structure
A) STRONG’s executive committee shall consist of the following seven (7) positions, all of which will be elected for a two year term effective June 1 and ending May 31:
a) President
b) Vice-President
c) Secretary
d) Treasurer
e) Director (3)
B) Responsibilities of Executive Committee:
All Executive Committee Members are expected to be “in good standing”. As such, their membership dues are known to be current and they have made a bona fide attempt to attend all Executive Committee meetings.
An Executive Committee member that has missed three consecutive meetings without just cause, as determined by the other members of the Committee, shall be relieved of his/her duties.
The STRONG Executive Committee shall have the power to create and/or dissolve chapters throughout Northern Ontario. The chapter boundaries shall follow the provincial electoral boundaries.
The STRONG Executive Committee shall appoint the Chairperson for all chapters and will consider the recommendation of the individual chapter membership.
All chapters will be guided by the Constitution and bylaws of STRONG.
All public communications by STRONG will be made by the President or his delegate.
a) President shall:
Chair all Executive Committee and general membership meetings.
Be responsible for scheduling Executive Committee meetings and shall make every effort to inform each delegate and member of the Committee of the timing of such meetings.
Prepare the agenda for all meetings.
Represent STRONG at all outside meetings and in the media.
b) Vice-President shall:
In the absence of the President, assume his/her responsibilities.
Aid the President in meeting the objectives and goals of STRONG.
c) Secretary shall:
Take minutes at all Executive Committee and general membership meetings and will distribute them to all delegates wishing to receive them via e-mail or regular mail when requested, a minimum of seven (7) days before the next regular meeting.
The minutes must be recorded, typed and e-mailed to the President or his/her designate for review before they are circulated to the members of the Executive Committee and delegates.
d) Treasurer shall:
Be responsible for budget preparation and financial responsibilities such as ensuring the account is up to date and all monies are accounted for.
The treasurer shall provide a financial report at all Executive Committee and general membership meetings.
The treasurer will prepare a financial statement for auditing purposes on a bi-annual basis to be presented at the Annual General Meeting and election of the Executive Committee.
h) Director shall:
Be a member of STRONG for more than 2 years.
While directors are not required to attend every meeting or event they should make themselves available for consultation purposes when necessary.
Directors are full members of the Executive Committee and therefore have voice and vote at all meetings they attend.
Directors count for meeting quorum and as such, they should make every effort to attend the bi-monthly meetings of the Executive Committee.
Article VI: Election Procedures
A) Elections for the Executive Committee will be held at the AGM, in the month of May, every second year.
B) Nominations and elections will be held at the AGM and must be publicly advertised thirty (30) days in advance.
C) Nominees for Executive positions that are unable to attend the AGM must indicate their willingness to stand for a position in writing and such intention will be made known at the AGM by a member in good standing before the elections are held.
D) Elected members will assume office on June 1st
E) To be eligible for election a member must:
a) be a member in good standing of Saving The Region of Ontario North Group.
b) not accept more than one executive position at any one time.
F) In the event a member of the Executive Committee resigns their position, the remaining members of the Committee shall be empowered to appoint a replacement from the list of delegates as an interim measure until the next AGM and Elections of Officers.
Article VII: Meetings
A) There will be a minimum of one executive meeting every two months.
B) Notification of executive meetings will be provided at least two weeks in advance so that all executive members, and delegates that have indicated an interest in participating, may have sufficient time to make arrangements to attend.
C) Requests for special meetings must be submitted in writing to the President at least three weeks in advance, stating the reason for such a request.
D) Quorum will consist of 2/3 of the Executive Committee.
E) STRONG will follow Robert’s Rules of Order in conducting their meetings.
Article VIII: Amendments
A) Proposed constitutional amendments require a two-thirds majority of the executive committee and will only become effective upon ratification by the membership at an Annual General Meeting.
B) There must be a minimum of thirty (30) days advance notice of any meeting that will address a proposed Constitutional amendment.
Article IX: Finances
The financial operation of STRONG shall be governed as follows:
a) Overall financial policy shall be formulated by the Executive Committee.
b) The STRONG bank account shall be registered under the names of the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer. This group shall hereby be recognized as the Finance Committee.
c) No member of STRONG is empowered to make purchases on behalf of the organization without permission of the Finance Committee.
d) STRONG may use any legal means it deems necessary to raise funds to support its goals and objectives.
Budgets
a) The fiscal year end for STRONG will be December 31st.
b) Budgets shall be prepared by the Treasurer and approved by the Finance Committee.
c) Auditors shall be appointed by the Executive Committee at the Annual General Meeting. STRONG finances will be audited every two years and a report will be made at the AGM.
d) The Finance Committee shall act as trustees.
Bank Account
a) The President, Vice-President, Secretary and the Treasurer, shall have sole signing authority on the bank account. Any two (2) of the four (4) signatures are required at all times.
Article X: Dissolution
In the case that STRONG must dissolve as an organization, all moneys remaining in the account will be used to pay off any debt belonging to STRONG. Any surplus funds will be donated to an organization with similar goals and objectives as STRONG, as determined by a two-thirds majority of the Executive Committee.
Article XI: Interpretation
A) The Constitution shall be interpreted by the Executive Committee.
B) The ultimate authority of STRONG will reside with the membership at general meetings.
Article XII: Constitution
A) This first Constitution for STRONG was presented and adopted at the Annual General Meeting held in Kapuskasing, Ontario on June 16th, 2007.
B) The Constitution shall be signed and deemed in effect from the first meeting following the AGM and election of the Executive Committee on June 16th, 2007.
