By-laws

Uxbridge Senior Citizens’ Club

By-Laws – Dated May 9, 2023

Article I – Name and Objectives

Section 1 – Name

This organization shall be known as the Uxbridge Senior Citizens’ Club.

Section 2 – Location

The Headquarters and meeting place of the club shall be the Uxbridge Seniors Centre, 75 Marietta Street, Uxbridge, Ontario, L9P 1K4.

Section 3 – Purpose

1. The Uxbridge Senior Citizens’ Club is a member of the Older Adult Centre’s Association of Ontario and has the same goals as the OACAO.  The USCC will promote wellness, health, fitness, safety and education within its membership.

2. The Uxbridge Senior Citizens’ Club shall work to improve the social and recreational needs of older citizens and to keep before the public an awareness of Seniors in the community.

Section 4 – Policy

1. This organization shall be non-political and non-racial.

2. It shall operate democratically and in accordance with Parliamentary rules of order.

Article II – Membership

Section 5 - Membership

1. Membership in the USCC will be open to all senior citizens.

2. Members in the club will maintain their memberships by the payment of annual dues.  These dues will be used to address expenses such as

a. Costs of materials used in the day-to-day operation of the club

b. Rental costs to the building owner: the Township of Uxbridge

c. Club insurance

d. Defrayal of expenses such as monthly luncheons or excursions offered by the USCC to club members

e. Payments for USCC memberships in the OACAO

Article III - Officers

Section 6 – Officers

1. The executives of the club shall include

a. President

b. Vice-President

c. Secretary

d. Treasurer 

Further the following executive roles may be implemented at the direction of the executive

e. Membership / Elections

f. Entertainment / Kitchen

g. Communications / Activities / Time scheduling

2. Because the executive may have fewer than seven members, some executive members may be responsible for more than one of the positions listed above

3. The term of office shall be two years.

Article IV – Nomination and Election of Officers

Section 7 – Nominations

1. The officers will be elected at a bi-annual meeting to be held at the 75 Marietta building in or near the month of October in odd numbered years (ie 2023, 2025 etc).

2. Any member who is in good standing at the time of nominations shall be eligible to hold office in the club, if elected.

3. While nominations for board positions will normally be known in advance of an election, nominations from the floor at the meeting will be entertained.

4. In situations where nominations are not to be decided by acclimation, the vote for the above officers shall be by secret ballot cast either in person at an election meeting or submitted by email of mail directed to the “Membership / Elections” director 48 hours prior to the election meeting.  Tie votes will be decided by lottery or by subsequent ballots at the discretion of the “Membership / Elections’ director.

5. The newly elected executive shall assume their office immediately following the election.  The president carries out the obligation of swearing in the new officers.

Article V – Duties of Officers

Section 8 – President

The President shall

1. Act as chairperson at all meetings of the Club and of the Executive.

2. Appoint all committees which are not elective.

3. Have the power to remove committee members not performing the duties of their office.

4. Call a special meeting of the executive when deemed necessary.

5. Pick up the mail and distribute it to the appropriate person(s).

Section 9 – Vice-President

The Vice-President shall

1. Assist the President in the running of the club.

2. The Vice-President shall assume the responsibilities of the President in his/her absence.

Section 10 – Secretary

The Secretary shall

1. Prepare the minutes of all executive and club meetings

2. Be the primary focal point in the communications between the USCC and other organizations

Section 11 – Treasurer

The treasurer shall

1. Receive all monies paid to the club from any source

2. Deposit all monies received by him/her in a bank selected by the executive.

3. Keep a true record of all receipts and disbursements and pay all bills of the club after approval of the executive.

4. Make available to the auditors - the books and financial records of the club as required.

Section 12 – Membership / Elections

The Membership / Elections director shall

1. Be responsible for signing up new members and keeping a record of members of the club.  He/she will inform the executive and membership of new members and/or visitors at the next club event.

2. Be responsible for all elections as described in “Section 7” above.

Section 13 -Entertainment / Kitchen

The Entertainment / Kitchen director shall

1. Be responsible for the planning of all social events.

2. Be responsible for all events related to food.

Section 14 – Communications / Activities / Time Scheduling

The Communications / Activities / Time Scheduling director shall

1. be responsible for the creation and publication of all newsletters and letters to the USCC membership.

2. Be responsible for the scheduling of all club activities.

Section 15 – By-Law Committee

1. A By-Law Committee made up of the club executive and five to six club members may be chosen by the president.

2. The By-Law Committee shall meet and discuss any changes to the club by-laws to keep them up to date.

3. By-Law changes shall be approved at a general meeting of the club after one month’s notice of the intent to propose these changes.

Article VI – Finance

Section 16 – Revenue

1. The revenue of the USCC shall be derived from membership dues, proceeds from social and recreational functions, donations from any source and bank interests.

2. Membership dues are to be determined by the club executive annually and apply to each fiscal year which extends from September 1 until the following August 31.

3. All bills and accounts will be submitted to the USCC executive for approval before payment is made.

4. The three (3) signing officers of the club shall be

a. Treasurer

b. President 

c. Vice-President

5. Two signatures are necessary for a cheque to be valid.

Article VII – Meetings

Section 17 – Business Meetings

1. There will be one regular executive meeting on the second Tuesday of each month at a time to be announced (TBA).

2. There will be a full business meeting and election of officers biannually as specified in Section 7, above.

Section 18 – Entertainment // Other Meeting

1. There shall be one regular entertainment/informative meeting on the third Tuesday of each month except July and August. 

2. Other activities may be promoted by the members of the club when approved by the executive.

3. A quorum for regular and special meetings shall be at the discretion of the president.

Article VIII – Election Obligations

Section 19 – Obligation of Officers

Before assuming duties of office, new executive members will subscribe to the following

1. “I, ________, do sincerely pledge to perform duties of my office to the best of my abilities and in accordance with the principles of this club.”

2. “I also solemnly promise that I will deliver to my successor in office all records and other property of this club that may be in my possession at the close of my term of office.”

3. The new executive will assume their respective offices immediately after taking the oath.

Article IX – Member Responsibilities

Section 20 – Membership Responsibilities

1. The USCC members with wheelchairs must make their own arrangements to get to and from meetings, activities and other events.  This can possibly be done through Community Care Durham http://communitycaredurham.on.ca/services/ or through the Durham Region Transit Specialty Service 

http://durhamregiontransit.com/en/routes-and-schedules/on-demand-specialixed.aspx.  There are requirements for registering with Durham Region Transit including a doctor’s report.  Travelling for medical appointments takes priority over traveling for socialization in both cases.  However, if a van is available, you may be able to use one of these services.

2. USSC members should not take on responsibility for assisting disabled members when that disability requires a member to take physical action to help the disabled member(s). Since all members are seniors, they should also not be asked to lift, pull, or push objects such as wheelchairs or walkers.  The USCC will not be held responsible for problems arising to USCC members who fail to follow this requirement.  Those members do so at their own risk.

Appendix A – Vision Statement

The following has been accepted as the USSC “Vision Statement”:

Our purpose is to enhance the lives of all Uxbridge Seniors (young and old) by providing a welcoming place for participation in activities which enable members to learn, develop friendships and experience an enhanced quality of life within our community.

Appendix B – Goals for the Older Adult Centers” Association of Ontario (AOCOA)

The goals of the OACCOA are

• To be a trusted, credible, well respected, efficient, and effective organization.

• To be self-sustaining/stable funded organization.

• To be a recognized leader in the resources/supports for community based older adult centers.

• To be an effective advocate to all levels of government on the issues of older adult centers.

• To support centers in meeting Government reporting requirements and to set standards to assure that OACAO members deliver quality experiences to older adults in our community.