BY-LAWS SELKIRK CHAMBER OF COMMERCE
EST. BY CHAMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Last Amended: November 2016
ARTICLE I - NAME AND OBJECT
• Sect. 1 Name of this organization shall be The Selkirk Chamber of Commerce.
• Sect. 2 The object of the Selkirk Chamber-of Commerce shall be to promote and improve trade and commerce, and the economic, civic, social and cultural development of The District served by this organization.
• Sect. 3 The usual place of the meeting shall be at: 3513 Rainham Rd., P.O. Box 286, Selkirk, ON NOA lPO and on occasion in the surrounding community of Selkirk.
• Sect. 4 The Selkirk Chamber of Commerce shall be non-sectional and nonsectarian, and shall not lend its support to a candidate for public office on a party political basis.
ARTICLE II - INTERPRETATION
• Sect. 5 Wherever the words "The Chamber" occur in these By-Laws, they shall be understood to mean "The Selkirk Chamber of Commerce" as a body.
• Sect. 6 Wherever the words "The Board of Directors" occur in these By-Laws, they shall be understood to mean "The Board of Directors of The Selkirk Chamber of Commerce".
ARTICLE Ill - MEMBERSHIP
• Sect. 7 Any reputable person, directly or indirectly, engaged or interested in trade, commerce, or the economic and social welfare of The District shall be eligible for membership in The Chamber.
• Sect. 8 Any associations, corporations, societies, partnerships, directly or indirectly, engaged or interested in trade, commerce, or the economic, civic, social and cultural development of The District may become members of The Chamber.
• Sect. 9 At any general meeting of The Chamber, any member in good standing may propose any eligible person or organization as a candidate for becoming a member of The Chamber, providing such candidate shall undertake, if admitted, to be governed by the By-Laws of The Chamber.
• Sect. 10 If such a proposal is carried by a majority of two-thirds of the members of The Chamber then present, such person or organization shall henceforth be a member of The Chamber, and shall have all rights and be subject to all the obligations of the members.
• Sect. 11 Membership shall continue from the time of admittance until a member has resigned in accordance with the provisions by these-.lly'"Laws or has been removed from the roll of members by action of The Board of Directors.
• Sect. 12 Any member of The Chamber who intends to retire there from or resign their membership may do so, at any time, upon giving to the Secretary ten days notice in writing of such intention, and upon discharging any- lawful liability which is standing upon the books of The Chamber against the member at the time of such notice.
• Sect. 13 the Board of Directors may remo_ve from the roll ot'members name of any new member failing to pay his annual dues within thirty days of his admission, or of any other member who fails to pay such dues within three months of the date they fall due. Upon such action by The Board of Directors, all privileges of membership shall be forfeited.
• Sect. 14 Persons who have distinguished themselves by some meritorious or public service maybe elected for an Honorary Membership by a majority of vote of The Chamber. Such recognition shall be for a term of one year or may be repeated. Honorary membership shall include all the privileges of active membership, except that of holding office, with exemption from the payment of annual dues.
• Sect. 15 Any member of The Chamber may be expelled by two-thirds vote of The Board of Directors.
ARTICLE IV- DUES AND ASSESSMENTS
• Sect. 16 (A) The annual dues payable by members of The Chamber shall be determined annually by The Board of Directors.
• Sect. 16 (B) Annual dues are due the end of May of each calendar year. Dues must be paid in order to vote or run for elected office.
• Sect. 17 Other assessments may be levied against all members providing they are recommended by The Board of Directors, and approved by a majority of the members present at a general meeting of The Chamber. The notice calling such general meeting shall state the nature of the proposed assessment. ARTICLE V - OFFICERS AND BOARD OF DIRECTORS
• Sect. 18 A President and 2nd Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer and three others (at least three) other members shall be elected or re-elected from among the members each year at the annual general meeting by ballot, and shall for The Board of Directors. They shall remain in office for one year or until their successors shall be appointed, but no such officer or member of The Board of Directors with the exception of the Secretary and Treasurer, and shall hold the same office for more than three years in succession. The retiring President shall by ex-officio a member of The Board of Directors.
• Sect. 19 Where a member of The Board Directors dies, resigns office, or is absent from three consecutive meetings of The Board of Directors, the Board of Directors may, at any meeting thereof, elect a member to be a member of The Board of Directors in place of the member who has died, resigned, or is absent.
• Sect. 20 Any Officer or Board member may be suspended from office or have their tenure of office terminated if, in opinion of The Board of Directors, such person is grossly neglected in the performance of their duties providing, however, that any Officer or Board member so suspended or whose tenure of office has been terminated, shall be at liberty to appeal the decision of the Board of Directors directly to the Membership at the next general meeting.
• Sect. 21 Any five (5) or more members of the Board lawfully met shall be quorum and a majority of such quorum may do all things within power of the Board.
• Sect. 22 The Board of Directors shall make such By-Laws, rules, and regulations as appear to it, best adapted to promote the welfare of the Chamber, and shall submit them for adoption at a general meeting of The Chamber called for that purpose.
• Sect. 23 The Board of Directors or at its request, the President may appoint Committees or designate members of The Board of Directors or of The Chamber or others, to examine, consider, and report upon any matter or take such action as The Board of Directors may request.
• Sect. 24 The Board of Directors may suspend Chairperson from office or have their office terminated for just that cause. Any Committee may be terminated by The Board of Directors.
• Sect. 25 The meetings of The Board of Directors shall be open to all members of the Chamber who may attend, but may not take part in any of the proceedings, unless recognized.
• Sect. 26 No public pronouncement in the name of The Chamber may be made unless authorized by The Board of Directors or by some person to whom The Board of Directors has delegated this authority.
• Sect. 27 (A) The President shall preside at all meetings of the Chamber and Board of Directors. The President shall regulate the order of business at such meetings, receive and put lawful motions, and communicate to the meeting what they think may concern The Chamber. The President shall, with the Secretary, sign all papers and documents requiring signature on behalf of The Chamber unless someone else is designated by the Board of Directors. It shall be the duty of the President to present a general report of activities of the year at the Annual Meeting.
• (B) The Vice-Presidents shall act in the absence of the President, and in the absence of both Officers, the meeting shall appoint a Chairperson to act temporarily.
• (C) The Treasurer shall have charge of all funds of The Chamber and shall deposit, or cause to be deposited, the same in a recognized financial institution selected by The Board of Directors. Out of such funds the Treasure shall pay amounts approved by The Board of Directors, shall keep a regular account of the income and expenditure of the Chamber, and submit any statement thereof for presentation to the annual general meeting and at any other time required by the Board of Directors. The Treasurer shall make such investment if the funds of The Chamber as The Board of Directors may direct. The Treasurer shall, with the President or Secretary, sign all notes, drafts and cheques.
ARTICLE VI — MEETINGS
• Sect. 28 The Annual Meeting of The Chamber shall be held in the month of June in each year at the time and place determined by The Board of Directors. At least two weeks' notice of the Annual Meeting shall be given.
• Sect. 29 Regular general meetings of The Chamber shall be held monthly at the time and place designated by The Board of Directors. At least one weeks' notice of such meetings shall be given.
• Sect. 30 Special general meeting of The Chamber may be held at any time when summoned by the President, requested in writing by any three members of The Board of Directors, or any given ten members of The Chamber. At least one day's notice of such meetings shall be given.
• Sect. 31 The Board of Directors shall meet from time to time (at least once a month) as may be necessary to carry on the business of The Chamber.
• Sect. 32 Notice of all meetings naming the time and place of assembly shall be given by the Secretary, via email shall constitute sufficient notice.
• Sect. 33 At any annual meeting or general meeting, 8 members shall be a quorum and, unless otherwise specifically provided, a majority of members present shall be competent it do and perform all acts which are or shall be directed to be done at any such meeting.
• Sect. 34 Minutes of the proceedin8s of all general and Board of Directors meetings shall be entered in books and kept for that purpose by the Secretary.
• Sect.35 The entry of such minutes shall be signed by the person who presides at the meetings at which they are adopted.
• Sect. 36 All books of The Chamber shall be open at all reasonable hours to any member of The Chamber free of charge.
ARTICLE VII - VOTING RIGHTS
• Sect. 37 Every member in good standing represented at any general meeting shall be entitled to one vote providing that the vote of an association, corporation, society, partnership, shall, in each such case can be assigned to individuals.
• Sect. 38 Voting at Board or general meetings shall normally be by show of hand, or if requested by the Chairperson, by standing vote. A roll call vote shall be taken if requested by five members providing such request receives the approval of two-thirds of the members assembled.
• Sect.39 The presiding officer shall vote only in the case of a tie. Upon an appeal being made from a majority vote unless otherwise provided in these By-Laws.
• Sect. 40 Motions or amendments shall be carried at any Board or general meeting by a majority vote unless otherwise provided in these By-Laws.
ARTICLE VIII - BY-LAWS
• Sect. 41 By-Laws may be made, repealed, or amended by a majority of the members if The Chamber present at any general meeting, notice of such proposal having been given in writing by one member and seconded by another at a previous general meeting and duly entered as a minute of The Chamber.
• Sect. 42 Such By-Laws shall be binding on all members of The Chamber, its Officers, and all other persons lawfully under its control.
ARTICLE IX - AFFILIATION
• Sect. 43 The Chamber, at the discretion of The Board of Directors, shall have power to affiliate with The Ontario Chamber of Commerce, The Canadian Chamber of Commerce, and any other organizations in which membership may be in interest of The Chamber.
ARTICLE X - FISCAL YEAR
• Sect. 44 The fiscal year of The Chamber shall end the thirty-first day of December in each year.
ARTICLE XI - PROCEDURE
• Sect. 45 Parliamentary procedure shall be followed at all General and Board Meetings in accordance with “Roberts Rules of Order”.