Friends of Wentworth Park
By-Laws
Established May 22, 2007
1/Mission
To develop, promote and sustain Wentworth Park as "The People's Park".
2/Vision
Revival and restoration of Wentworth Park - prime green-space located in the heart of the Cape Breton Regional Municipality.
3/Objectives
A) Promote accessibility for all (including wheelchair users)
B) Promote awareness of the park through society and municipality communication and the media
C) Develop a long-term infrastructure plan based on stewardship
D) Promote usage and public interest in the park
E) Develop a financial plan to raise and delegate usage of funds and consider endowment potential
4/Interpretation
A) “Society” means Friends of Wentworth Park Society.
B) “Board” means Board of Directors of the Society.
C) “Directors” means Directors of the Board.
D) “Executive” means Officers of the Board.
E) “Members” means individuals who have made application.
5/Membership
Should fees be payable to the Society, at any time, for membership, these fees will be determined
by a two-thirds majority vote of members in good standing at any annual or special general meeting of the Society.
6/Fees
Should fees be payable to the Society, at any time, for membership, these fees will be determined by a two-thirds majority
vote of members in good standing at any annual or special general meeting of the Society.
7/Directors and Officers of the Society
(1) Directors of the Society shall be elected from among members in good standing. Executive Officers shall consist
of Past President, President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. The Board of Directors shall elect these Executive Officers.
(2) In addition to the elected members of the board, there shall be four standing positions for appointment.
These appointments shall consist of one each of the following, councillor, youth, business/organization, and one Kiwanis member.
(3) The Board may review appointed Board positions and make recommendations. Recommendations shall be determined
by the membership at an annual general meeting.
(4) At the discretion of the Board there shall be one Ex-Officio Board Member appointed from within the C.B.R.M.
Parks and Grounds or Recreation departments. Such individual shall hold membership and fall under the authority of the Society,
giving he/she the same privileges as all other board members, excluding voting privileges.
Terms of Office
(5) Terms of office shall be arranged to ensure no more than four elected board members leave office in any one year.
Terms of office shall be for a two-year period beginning immediately following the annual general meeting.
(6) Officers may be re-elected following a term in which they are absent from the Board.
Vacancies
(7) In the event of a death or resignation of a member of the Board, elected by the Society, a successor shall be
appointed by the Board and shall hold office for the un-expired term of the predecessor, with the exception of the
position of president. The board shall determine such an appointment.
8/Duties of the Officers
(1) Past President: The past president shall assist with the president’s duties and act as authorized and directed by the Board.
(2) President: The president shall preside at all meetings of the Board and of the Society. The president is responsible for
notification to the board of location, date and time of meetings, or any cancellations. The president shall sign
together with the Treasurer or any other authorized member of the Board in absence of the Treasurer all cheques
drawn by the Society. The president shall supervise the work of the Society and shall be the official spokesperson for the Society.
The president shall enter into contracts on behalf of the Society when authorized and directed to do so by the board.
The President shall be ex-officio member of all committees of the Society.
(3) Vice-President: The vice-president shall, in the absence of the president, perform all the duties of the office of president.
In the event of unforeseen circumstances or resignation of a president, the vice-president shall act as president for the
un-expired portion of the predecessor’s term of office.
(4) Secretary: The secretary shall take minutes of annual meetings, all special meetings of the Society, and all Board meetings.
At meetings the secretary shall record attendance, regrets, and proceedings, note the names of movers and seconders of motions,
and record the results of votes. The secretary shall take down comments of individual speakers only when specifically requested,
and at the discretion of the presiding officer. The secretary together with the president shall be responsible for preparation
and distribution of an agenda for all meetings of the Society. The secretary shall maintain a minute binder(s), and at all times
have copies of all minutes, documents, contracts, and any other business associated with carrying out the business affairs of the
Society.
(5) Treasurer: The treasurer shall, receive and have custody over all moneys of the Society. The treasurer shall deposit all funds
of the Society in a financial institution selected by the Board and disburse funds with the approval of the Board. The treasurer
shall have responsibility for proper receipt and custody of all records, deeds, securities, contracts and financial papers of the
Society. Safe keeping of such records shall be maintained together with the secretary in the minute binder(s) of the Society.
The treasurer, together with the secretary, is responsible for maintaining a true and accurate record of all receipts and
disbursements. The treasurer is responsible for the preparation and distribution of an annual financial report.
The treasurer shall render to the Board, whenever required by the Board, an account of all transactions, and shall
accurately report to the Board of the Society, when requested to do so, the financial position of the Society.
The treasurer shall have such other powers or duties as the Board or president may prescribe.
(6) Directors: The remaining directors of the Board shall have such powers and duties as the Board or president may prescribe.
(7) All members of the Board shall exercise their responsibilities in good faith and in the best interests of the Society.
9/Board Meetings
Meetings of the Board shall be held monthly, unless otherwise directed by the board, or shall be called from time to time by
the president or two officers of the board and a quorum at any such meeting shall consist of a majority of the Board.
10/Remuneration and Expenses
There shall be paid to the members of the Board of the Society such expenses as may be incurred by them in carrying out the
business affairs of the Society. No such expenses shall be incurred unless authorized by the Board, nor shall they be paid
without proper receipt(s).
11/General Meetings
(1) An annual general meeting shall be held once in every calendar year (not being more than fourteen months after holding
of the last preceding annual general meeting) and at a place as may be determined by the Board.
(2) All members shall receive not less than fourteen days notice of the annual general meeting, specifying the place, date and time.
A detailed financial statement shall be available upon request and be reported at the annual general meeting.
(3) The Board may, whenever they deem fit, convene a special meeting of the Society. All members shall receive notice of a special
meeting specifying the place, date and time of the meeting, no less than seven days prior to the special meeting.
(4) The members in attendance at a general or special meeting shall constitute a quorum; non-receipt of notice shall not invalidate
the proceedings of any meeting of the Society.
(5) In all cases election to the Society shall be by secret ballot.
(6) In the equality of votes, another ballot will be taken for election to the board.
(7) In the equality of votes dealing with any issues discussed before the membership of any meetings of the society,
a tied vote shall be recorded as defeated.
Order of Business
(8) The order of business at an annual meeting shall, according to circumstances, be as follows:
(a) Meeting to be called to order
(b) Notice convening the meeting
(c) Minutes of preceding annual meeting to be read
(d) Business arising from the minutes
(e) Reports of officers and committees
(f) Election of officers and members of the Board
(g) New business
(h) Other
12/Amendments
These By-Laws may be altered or added to under the authority of an extraordinary resolution of the Society,
which shall be a resolution passed by two-thirds vote of the members in attendance at an annual general meeting at
which such resolution is presented.
13/Rules of Debate
(1) The chairperson may require that motions be offered in writing.
(2) No question shall be put to the meeting without being properly moved and seconded. If the chairperson accepts the motion,
he will direct the secretary to read it aloud, then the chairperson shall ask for discussion; when the discussion has ended,
the chairperson will ask, “Are you ready for the motion?” If the question is called for, the chairperson shall give the mover
the privilege of closing the debate. After the mover has spoken there shall be no further discussion and the motion shall
be put to a vote.
(3) After the motion has been read, no other motion shall be accepted by the chairperson, unless it is a motion to amend the
main motion.
(4) When an amendment is offered, the amendment shall be put before the main motion; an amendment to the amendment shall
be put before the subsequent amendments in like order.
(5) No individual shall have the privilege of speaking more than twice to any question without permission of the chairperson,
except for the mover of the resolution, who shall have the privilege of closing the debate.
(6) When two or more individuals rise at the same time the chairperson shall decide who shall speak first.
(7) Any individual desiring to speak shall rise in their place, and be recognized by the chairperson before addressing the chairperson.
(8) No individual shall interrupt another who is addressing the meeting or address the chairperson while an individual is speaking,
except in a point of order.
(9) When necessary, for rules of order not mentioned here, Robert’s Rules of Order shall be the authority, except where it is
in conflict with these By-Laws.
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