Development of Draft Constitution and By-Laws (prepared for the ABR's eventual registration as an NPO)

The Draft Constitution and By-Laws were gone over in detail at the March 29th meeting of the Steering Committee.

DRAFT CONSTITUTION of the ALGONQUIN BACKCOUNTRY RECREATIONALISTS

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of the organization is the Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists - (ABR).

ARTICLE II - PURPOSE

The Purpose and Goal of the organization shall be to represent concerns of Algonquin Park's backcountry recreationalists to preserve, protect and enhance wilderness-like experiences in the backcountry of Algonquin Park.

Section 1 - Objectives

The Objectives of the organization shall be ...

(a) To minimize backcountry recreationalists' impact on Algonquin Park's campsites, portages and hiking trails.
(b) To minimize backcountry recreationalists' impact on Algonquin Park's environment .. its forest and lakes.
(c) To convince society at large to protect and improve wilderness-like recreational opportunities in Algonquin Park.
(d) To react against influences which may negatively impact wilderness-like recreational experiences in Algonquin Park.

Section 2 - Functions

The Functions of the organization shall be ...

(a) To educate backcountry recreationalists about low-impact practices.
(b) To encourage backcountry recreationalists to effectively report maintenance needs and improper practices.
(c) To help maintain and repair campsites, boardwalks, docks and other backcountry facilities.
(d) To educate backcountry recreationalists about backcountry recreation-related environmental issues.
(e) To promote influences which may positively impact wilderness-like recreational experiences in Algonquin Park.
(f) To react against influences which may negatively impact wilderness-like recreational experiences in Algonquin Park.

Section 3 - Activities

The Activities of the organization may include ...

(a) The holding of meetings, conferences or conventions.

(b) The publication of regular or special bulletin, brochure, booklet, guide, Internet website, forum or email communications to its members and the public.

(c) Participation in public and private consultation, advisory or lobbying activities. (d) Such other activities and undertakings as may seem appropriate to the organization.

(d) Such other activities and undertakings as may seem appropriate to the organization.

ARTICLE III - MEMBERSHIP

Section 1 - Regular Membership

Any person is eligible for individual membership, subject to acceptance by the organization's Board of Directors.

Section 2 - Obligation of Membership

All members shall be subject to any stated guidelines or 'Best Practices' policies adopted by the organization.

ARTICLE IV - OFFICERS

Section 1 - Designation of Officers

The officers of the organization shall be a President, a first Vice-President, a second Vice- President, a Secretary , a Treasurer and up to six Directors.

Section 2 - Board of Directors

The officers named in Section I shall constitute the Board of Directors with power to fix the time and place of organization's general meetings, communications and conferences/workshops as provided in the By-Laws. The Executive Committee shall conduct the business of the Association in the period between general meetings.

ARTICLE V - AMENDMENTS

This constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority of votes cast of responding members. Two month's notice of motion shall be required except where all of the members present and voting agree to accept the motion from the floor of a general meeting.

DRAFT BY-LAWS OF THE ALGONQUIN BACKCOUNTRY RECREATIONALISTS

Article 1. Name of Organization

The name of this organization shall be Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists. This organization may also be referred to as the ABR.

Article 2. Purpose and Goals of Organization

Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists' purpose is to represent concerns of backcountry recreationalists of Algonquin Park .. with the goals of preserving, protecting and enhancing wilderness-like experiences in the backcountry of Algonquin Park.

Article 3. Objectives and Programs of the Organization

- 3.1. Minimize backcountry recreationalists' impact on Algonquin Park's campsites, portages and hiking trails. Main programs in support of this objective include ...

- 3.1.1. Educate backcountry recreationalists in low-impact practices.

- 3.1.2. Encourage backcountry recreationalists to effectively report maintenance needs and improper practices.

- 3.1.3. Help in the maintenance and repair of campsites, boardwalks, docks and other backcountry facilities.

- 3.2. Minimize backcountry recreationalists' impact on Algonquin Park's environment .. its forest and lakes, by means of a program to ...

- 3.2.1. Educate backcountry recreationalists about their part in backcountry-related environmental issues.

- 3.3.1. Support those recommendations within the "Recommendations of the OPB" in "Lightening the Ecological Footprint of Logging" which enhance wilderness-like experiences in the backcountry of Algonquin Park.

- 3.3.2. Participate as stakeholders and/or advisors in opportunities for input to public inquiries, studies, projects and plans .. in support of the goals of the ABR.

- 3.4. Oppose new factors which may threaten wilderness-like recreational experiences in Algonquin Park, by the following programs ...

- 3.4.1. Advise membership and the public of potential and developing factors that may impact on wilderness-like experiences in the backcountry of Algonquin Park.

- 3.4.2. React against new factors which threaten to impact negatively on wilderness-like experiences in the backcountry of Algonquin Park.

- 3.4.3 Algonquin Backcountry Recreationalists does not take a general pro or con position on logging within the park. However, it may exercise Objectives 3 and 4, in supporting the protection and improvement of wilderness-like recreational opportunities in Algonquin Park.

Article 4. Membership and Privileges

- 4.1. Regular Membership
Regular members shall be entitled to cast one vote in the election (per Article 6) of officers and in all business that the Board of Directors (BOD) refers to the membership. Regular members may hold office (per Article 6) and may also nominate themselves or members for office. Membership shall be determined after an application has been submitted and approved by a majority of the BOD.

- 4.2. Termination of Membership
Any member may terminate his/her membership upon written notification of the effective date of resignation to the BOD. The BOD may, by a majority vote, terminate a person's membership from the ABR.

Article 5. Board of Directors

- 5.1. Administration
The Board of Directors (BOD) consisting of its officers shall administer the affairs of the ABR. The BOD operates and makes decisions based upon group majority rule and is presided over by the President. The BOD shall be responsible for all business concerning the ABR. The BOD shall set and establish policy for the BOD. The Administration of BOD policy and the management of the day-to-day affairs of the ABR are delegated to the officers as specified herein.

- 5.2. The Officers of the BOD
Shall consist of a President, first Vice President, second Vice President, a Treasurer, a Secretary, up to six Directors and any appointed honourary BOD members..

- 5.2.1 The President shall
Chair and preside at BOD, general, and special meetings. Along with the BOD, have full power in appointment or dismissal of any committee chair, and may create or dissolve ad hoc committees, subject to the approval of the majority of the BOD. Be one of the two people (the other being the Treasurer) responsible to sign any documents related to financial matters, i.e. proposals, checks, etc.

- 5.2.2 The Vice-Presidents shall
Assist and/or represent the President in all business concerning the ABR membership.
Co-Chair all meetings and chair meetings in the absence of the President.

- 5.2.3 The Treasurer shall
Assist the President and the board in business concerning the ABR, plus be responsible for the following ..
A.) Receipt and recording of donations.
B.) Disbursement of authorized funds.
C.) Banking and accounting of all ABR funds.
D.) Preparing monthly financial reports listing all liabilities and assets of the ABR.
E.) Filing an annual financial report with any designated accounting firm.
F.) All financial reports required by provincial and/or federal governments.
G.) Transfer all financial reports in hard and electronic copy to the succeeding Treasurer within 60 days of termination of their term.
H.) Maintaining contact with corporate sponsors and advertisers, especially in the interest of fees collection.

- 5.2.4 The Secretary shall ..
Maintain all official records of the ABR.
Make proper entries in the minutes book of the ABR.
Serve all notices required by law or the Bylaws of the ABR.
Coordinate the election of the BOD.
Transfer all official records of the ABR (in hard and electronic copy) to the succeeding Secretary within 60 days of termination of their term.

- 5.2.5 The Immediate Past President shall serve on the BOD as a member of the executive.

- 5.2.6 Honourary BOD Members: the BOD may appoint honourary members. Honourary members will not have voting privileges.

- 5.2.7 Monetary Compensation: BOD members are strictly volunteers with no monetary compensation.

- 5.3 Appointed Officers: the Treasurer shall be appointed by the BOD at the beginning of each term.

Article 6. Elections and Term of Office

- 6.1. The Elections Committee
The election of the BOD members shall be organized and directed by the Elections Committee. The actions of the Committee must be impartial and fair to all the candidates. The Committee will prepare ballots to be emailed to all eligible members to vote for the BOD according to policies and procedures established by the ABR. The Elections Committee shall notify the membership in a timely manner of the open offices and solicit nominations for candidates as prescribed below.

- 6.2. Nominations and Eligibility
The BOD shall be elected by a vote of eligible ABR members. Each candidate must have been an official ABR member for at least 12 months in order to be nominated. A candidate may nominate him/herself with the support of at least 2 ABR members or may nominate a candidate with the support of at least 2 ABR members. The name of the nominated candidates and the supporting members must be submitted to the Elections Committee.

- 6.2.2. Voter Eligibility
ABR members may participate in the election process if any required membership dues are paid as of the nomination deadline of the election year.

- 6.3. Election of BOD
The email ballots shall be received, counted and reported by the Elections Committee as soon as possible after the election. Candidates receiving the majority of votes for the number of BOD positions shall be declared the winners.

- 6.4. Duration of Term
The term of BOD membership shall be three years, to begin 60 days after the completion of elections.

- 6.5. Notice of Elections
An election notice shall be sent to all members not less than sixty (60) days prior to the election date.

- 6.6 Removal From BOD
A BOD member may be removed from office for not fulfilling his/her duties as specified in Article 5 or by ABR membership termination (Article 4.2.).

- 6.6.1. Terminated BOD Members
Any BOD member who has been removed from office or whose ABR membership has been terminated is automatically vacated from the BOD and must surrender all materials belonging to the ABR. A President who is removed from office is not considered as an Immediate Past President for the succeeding term. Should the President be removed, the First Vice President of the BOD shall assume the office of President for the remainder of the term and shall be the Immediate Past President for the succeeding term.

- 6.7. Vacancies
The order of succession shall prevail in the event of a vacancy in any office due to death, resignation, disqualification, or otherwise. The resulting vacancy must be filled by the BOD within thirty (30) days of the vacancy for the unexpired portion of the term.

Article 7. Committees

The BOD shall have the power to establish any committee to conduct the business of the ABR. The assessment of need and creation of a committee should be through the majority agreement of the BOD.

Article 8. Jurisdiction

- 8.1. Geographic Boundaries
The ABR shall consider its jurisdiction to be Algonquin Park and it's surrounding area and will represent the concerns of Algonquin Park's backcountry recreationalists within that area.

Article 9. Fiscal Year

- 9.1. Duration of Fiscal Year
The Fiscal Year of the ABR shall begin on Jan 1 and end on Dec. 31 of the same year.

Article 10. Dues

- 10.1. It will be a priority that the ABR not require fees for membership. Voluntary donations will be requested and promoted. Should membership fees ever be considered, a motion accepting that change will have to be passed by the steering committee/board of directors.

Article 11. Meeting

- 11.1. Quorum

- 11.1.1. To establish a quorum for a BOD meeting, not less than one half (1/2) of the BOD must be present. Voting issues shall be determined by majority vote of BOD members present.

- 11.1.2. No quorum will be required for a general ABR membership meeting, voting issues shall be determined by majority vote of members present.

- 11.2. General Meetings
One (1) general meeting shall be held each fiscal year.

- 11.3. Special Meetings
The President (at the request of the majority of the BOD) can call a special meeting of the ABR general membership.

- 11.4. Meeting Notices
A notice for each General or Special Meeting shall be sent to each member. The notice shall include the place, date and time of the meeting and shall be delivered in writing or electronic form not less than ten (10) days prior to the meeting.

- 11.5. BOD Meetings
The BOD shall meet at least twice during the fiscal year.

Article 12. Assets

- 12.1. Assets
In the event that the ABR is dissolved, any assets acquired by the ABR shall be disseminated to the Friends of Algonquin Park.

Article 13. Donations

- 13.1. Receiving donations
The ABR, a non-profit organization, may accept donations from individuals, corporations, agencies and other organizations.

- 13.2. Eliciting donations
The ABR, a non-profit organization, may elicit donations from individuals, corporations, agencies and other organizations.

Article 14. Liability of Members

- 14.1. Liability
No member of the BOD shall be personally or otherwise liable for any debts, liabilities, and/or obligations of the ABR.

Article 15. Amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws

- 15.1. Amendment Procedure

- 15.1.1 A motion to amend the constitution or bylaws must first be made, entertained, and approved by the BOD.

- 15.1.2 The proposed amendment, after BOD approval, shall be submitted in writing to the Secretary for presentation by mail or by email to the regular membership.

- 15.1.3 ABR approval of proposed amendments shall be 2/3 of responding voters.

- 15.1.4 All amendments to this constitution shall become effective immediately after being accepted by a vote.

These draft by-laws, in their entirety, were approved by a 6/7 vote of the founding members of the ABR on:

Date: March 29, 2008

President : Barry Bridgeford

Vice-President : Sean Rowley

Vice-President : Mark Rubino

Treasurer : Mark Steele

Secretary : Jeffrey McMurtrie

Director : Derek Specht