Multicultural Council of
Revised Nov. 22, 1992
Name:
Interpretation:
a) The Act means the Saskatchewan Non-profit Corporation Act as amended, or substituted.
b) Immediate Past President refers to the individual who held the position of MCoS President during the immediate preceding term of office.
c) Past Presidents refers to individuals who have occupied the position of MCoS President at anytime.
d) Regional Multicultural Council is a non-profit organization composed of individuals, unicultural and multicultural groups operating at the local level serving a geographic area to promote multicultural objectives.
e) Unicultural organization is a non-profit organization established to preserve and promote a single culture.
f) Specialized multicultural organization is a non-profit organization made up of individuals, groups or organizations with a primary interest and a focus on a single component of multiculturalism such as multicultural business, multicultural education, folk arts, crafts, tourism, heritage, immigration and citizenship, multicultural health, multicultural youth, intercultural relations, or language.
g) Provincial means an organization which has membership and programs throughout the province, or includes a majority of potential members of the group who live in the province as members.
h) Affiliate Members are individuals or organizations who are not primarily organized around multicultural issues, but support the objectives of MCoS.
a) To
promote recognition of cultural diversity in
b) To
recognize and promote
c) To
promote understanding and acceptance of others through the appreciation of
cultures which make up the multicultural reality of the
d) To
recognize that the presence of different cultural (linguistic, religious,
racial, ethnic, etc.) groups in
e) To
foster an environment in which volunteer organizations and individuals can
contribute to the multicultural development of
f)
To recognize and enhance the contributions of different
cultural groups in
g) To promote positive cross-cultural relations through cross-cultural communication, contact and understanding;
h) To recognize the special contribution which refugees and immigrants bring into our province and assist the integration process which must occur;
i) To promote community education of the issues of multiculturalism;
j) To provide financial assistance to individuals and groups to resolve multicultural issues;
k) To promote, initiate, develop and assist the development of regional and/or local multicultural councils;
l) To promote interrelated activities with similar national and provincial organizations.
a) Regional Multicultural Councils;
b) Provincial Unicultural Organizations;
c) Provincial Specialized Multicultural Organizations;
d) Affiliate Members.
b) The board of Directors shall review and approve or reject the application.
c) Any application who is rejected may appeal the decision to the General Meeting.
d) The simple majority vote at the General Meeting shall be final in all cases.
Membership Fee Notice
b) Notification of any proposed fee change shall be given to each Member at least thirty (30) days in advance of the Annual General Meeting of the Council.
Membership Withdrawal
b) Any member who is ninety (90) days in arrears of payment of the annual fee may be struck from the membership by the Board of Directors.
Expulsion
c) Upon a three-quarter (3/4) vote at a General Meeting, of which prior notice of forty-five (45) days has been given, a member may be expelled for any cause which the Council may deem reasonable.
b) At least two general meetings shall be held each year.
9. a) Written Notice of any General Meeting shall be given at least forty-five (45) days in advance to each Member.
b) Members who represent, directly or indirectly, individual adult membership of less than 1,000 voting members shall be entitled to two voting delegates at general meetings. Members who represent, directly or indirectly, more than 1,000 voting members shall be eligible for three delegates.
c) Affiliate Members may have one observer delegate who shall not have the right to make motions, debate or vote but may speak at the discretion of the Chair, at general meetings.
Majority Voting
b) A majority voting of those present and voting shall decide all matters except those relating to the Constitution/Bylaws.
c) There shall be no voting by proxy
b) Candidates for all elected positions shall be nominated by a member in good standing or their official delegates at a general meeting
c) For all positions, the term of office shall begin at the end of the annual meeting at which the incumbent is elected and shall end at the end of the annual meeting two years later.
d) A maximum of two consecutive terms may be served as a director in the same position and no Board member may serve more than eight years in elected positions.
e) Candidates who receive the largest plurality of votes shall be declared winners.
f) The positions of President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer shall be elected at annual meeting by a vote of all the delegates.
g) The immediate Past President shall be ex-officio with full voting rights on the Board of Directors and Executive.
h) There shall be four directors nominated by regional multicultural members and elected by all delegates.
i) There shall be one director nominated by provincial unicultural organization members and elected by all delegates.
k) If the position of President becomes vacant, the Vice President shall assume the duties of President to complete the term. If the positions of Vice President, Secretary or Treasurer become vacant, the Board of Directors shall appoint one of their members to fill the vacancy to complete the term. If a position of Director becomes vacant, the Directors may appoint one of the delegates to a General Meeting to complete the term.
l) Persons appointed to complete a term shall be eligible for two (2) additional consecutive terms in that position, if elected.
m) An Executive Officer of a Director maybe be removed from office for failure to perform properly his/her duties, on the vote of a majority of the General Meeting.
n) The Board of Directors may from time to time, appoint committees and chairpersons as it deems necessary and shall confer upon them powers and duties as the Board of Directors shall determine.
o) All meetings of the Board of Directors shall convene at the call of the President, and notice thereof shall be given to the members of the Board at least ten (10) days prior to the meeting.
p) A quorum of the Board of Directors shall consist of the majority of the Board of Directors.
14. The President shall:
a) Call all meetings of the membership and Board of Directors.
b) Chair all the General and Board of Directors Meetings and shall be ex-officio of all committees.
c) Be responsible for the implementation of policies passed by the General Meeting.
d) Enforce all bylaws and regulations relating to the administration of the Council
e) Call special meetings of the Council upon written petition of one-fourth (1/4) of the Members or a special meeting of the Board of Directors upon written request of one-third (1/3) of the Board of Directors.
f) Appoint representatives to such other bodies and/or joint committees with other organizations as may be deemed advisable. All such appointments shall be reported to the Board of Directors at its next meeting
g) During periods between General Meetings, the President, with the approval of the Board of Directors, is empowered to issue directions and to establish temporary policies or procedures not otherwise specifically covered by the Bylaws.
14. The Vice
President shall:
a) In the absence of the President, chair the General and Board of Directors meetings.
b) In the event of the President being unable to act, be Acting President
c) Perform such other functions entrusted to him/her by the General Meeting or the Board of Directors.
16. The
Secretary Shall:
a) Keep a full and accurate record of all proceedings at all meetings of the Membership and Board of Directors.
b) Keep record of all communications and correspondence.
c) Prepare and issue all notices of meetings.
d) Fulfill such other duties as may be assigned from time to time by the Board of Directors or General Meeting.
e) In consultation with the President, have the power to assign any portion of his/her duties to the staff
a) Be responsible to keep accurate records for all financial transactions of the Council
b) Be responsible for receiving and depositing all monies of the Council.
c) Prepare and submit such financial statements as the Board of Directors and/or General meeting may require form time to time.
d) All cheques drawn by the Council shall be signed by the Treasurer and countersigned by the President or Vice President.
e) Prepare and file the annual return under the Non-Profit Corporation Act within the prescribed deadline.
f) In consultation with the President, have the power to assign any portion of his/her duties to the staff.
18. The Director shall:
a) Have the authority to run the affairs of the Council between General Meetings.
b) May appoint staff necessary to administer and carry out the programs of the Council.
19. Each committee shall perform duties as assigned by the Board of Directors, shall keep proper records of the proceedings and report regularly to the Board of Directors.
20. No committee
shall incur any liability to the Council without prior authorization in writing
form the Board of Directors.
21. The books of the Council shall be audited annually and the Auditor’s Report on the Council’s financial affairs shall be presented at the Annual General Meeting.
22. At least three (3) months prior to the Annual General Meeting, the General Meeting shall appoint an independent auditor to audit the financial affairs of the Council.
23. Upon the dissolution of the Council, assets shall be dispersed pursuant to
Section 184 of The
Non-Profit Corporation Act.
24. The Constitution and Bylaws of the Council shall not be rescinded, altered or
added to unless such proposed amendments have first been presented in writing to all Members at least forty (45) days before the General Meeting. The proposed amendments must be passed by three-quarters (3/4) votes of the delegates present and voting at the Annual General Meeting.
25. Roberts Rules of Order, newly revised, shall apply to all questions of procedure not specified in these Bylaws.