2.4 Member Locals - All Locals of the Provincial Association are Member Locals. A Member
Local has the following rights:
(a) to vote, through its appointed Representative or by proxy in accordance with Bylaw 7.6;
(b) to attend, and speak at, any general meeting of the Society through its appointed Representative;
(c) to endorse candidates for Director; and
(d) to receive notices of general meetings of the Society.
2.5 Member Local Representatives - Each Member Local is required to provide in writing, the name of one individual who will represent that Member Local at any general meeting of the Society. That individual is the Representative of the applicable Member Local. Each Member Local is required to notify the Secretary-Treasurer of the Society as soon as there is a change of their Representative.
2.6 Affiliate Member - any person who does not belong to a Member Local may apply for membership of the Society and, on acceptance of their application by the Directors or their delegate, will be an Affiliate Member. Affiliate Members have the following rights:
(a) to vote;
(b) to attend, and speak at, any general meeting of the Society;
(c) to receive notices of general meetings of the Society; and
(d) if elected or appointed, to serve as a Director.
2.7 Director Member – if an individual is elected or appointed as a Director of the Society, that individual shall be admitted as a Director Member of the Society, with the following rights:
(a) to vote;
(b) to attend, and speak at, any general meeting of the Society; and
(c) to receive notices of general meetings of the Society.
(d) If the Director Member was, before their election, the Representative of a Member Local, they shall cease to be the Representative of that Member Local and the Member Local shall appoint another individual to serve as its Representative.
PART 6 - ELECTIONS
6.1 Elections: Directors shall be elected by secret ballot unless only one candidate is nominated for a given vacancy, in which case such candidate shall be elected by acclamation and no election will be held.
6.2 Ballot Committee: The President shall appoint a ballot committee composed of Directors who are not candidates for re-election, and that committee shall hand out, collect and tally the ballots. The ballot committee will then turn over all the ballots to the Secretary-Treasurer who shall preserve them for one year. The candidate receiving the plurality of votes shall be declared elected. A candidate for office may appoint a witness to observe the ballot committee in the distribution, collecting and tallying of the ballots.
6.3 Tie Vote: In the event of a tie vote, a second election will be held immediately. If the second election results in a tie, the President will determine the winner by drawing lots in the presence of all candidates
6.4 Oath of Officers: Before taking office, each newly elected officer shall subscribe to the following;
"I _____________________ DO HEREBY PLEDGE MY HONOUR, TO PERFORM THE DUTIES OF MY OFFICE, TO DELIVER ALL BOOKS, PAPERS AND OTHER PROPERTY OF THE SOCIETY IN MY POSSESSION AT THE END OF MY TERM TO MY SUCCESSOR IN OFFICE, AND AT ALL TIMES TO CONDUCT MYSELF AS BECOMES A MEMBER OF THE BRITISH COLUMBIA PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS BURN FUND (AND THE BRITISH COLUMBIA PROFESSIONAL FIRE FIGHTERS’ ASSOCIATION AND THE INTERNATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF FIRE FIGHTERS.)"
PART 7 - MEETINGS
7.3 Notice of General Meeting: The Society will send notice of every general meeting to:
(a) each member shown on the register of members on the date the notice is sent; and
(b) the auditor, not less than 7 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date of the general meeting. No other person is entitled to notice of a general meeting.
7.4 General Meetings by Communications Medium: The Board may resolve, in its discretion, to hold any general meeting in whole or in part by Communications Medium. Where a general meeting is to be conducted using Communications Medium, the Board must take reasonable steps to ensure that all participants are able to communicate and participate in the meeting
7.5 Annual General Meeting
(a) An Annual General Meeting shall be held at least once every calendar year.
(b) The President, Vice-President, or Secretary-Treasurer will chair all meetings.
(c) A quorum will be five members provided at least one is the President, Vice-President or Secretary-Treasurer.
(d) Each Member Local shall send their Representative to bring forward the concerns of the Local and vote on the issues presented to them.
(e) Each Affiliate Member shall have voice and vote.
(f) Each Director Member shall have voice and vote.
(g) Any member of the Provincial Association may attend the Annual General Meeting as a visitor but will not have voice or vote.
(h) With the exception of elections or meetings conducted in whole or in part by Communications Medium, voting will be by a show of hands.
(i) Voting by proxy is permitted in accordance with Bylaw 7.6.
(j) The order of business shall be;
(i) Call the meeting to order,
(ii) Adoption of rules of order;
(iii) Minutes of the previous Annual General Meeting;
(iv) President's report;
(v) Secretary-Treasurer’s report;
(vi) Executive Director's report;
(vii) Auditor's report;
(viii) Appointment of the auditor;
(ix) Amendments to the Constitution or Bylaws;
(x) Such other business that is time sensitive and requires immediate action;
(xi) Election of Directors;
(xii) Swearing in of Officers;
(xiii) Adjournment.
7.6 Proxy Voting: Proxy voting is permitted at general meetings, subject to these Bylaws and in accordance with the following rules:
(a) A Member Local may, by form of proxy, appoint a Director its proxy holder to attend and act on its behalf at a specified general meeting, and any adjournment of that meeting.
(b) A form of proxy appointing a proxy holder is not valid unless it is:
(i) in a form approved by the Directors;
(ii) signed and dated by a Representative of the Member Local.
(c) A form of proxy must state the meeting for which it is valid and, if it does not state the general meeting for which it is effective, it will be deemed effective for the next general meeting held on or after the date indicated on the form of proxy.
(d) A Director who is a proxy holder may vote on behalf of the Member Local which has appointed that proxy holder, in addition to exercising any voting rights of that Director.
