Constitution and Bylaws

Constitution

Name

The name of the society shall be the New West Farmers Market Society.

Purpose

The purpose of the Society:

a) To provide a seasonal open air produce market to New Westminster and environs;

b) To provide educational opportunities and information about healthy living, nutrition, and wellness issues, and to support local sustainable food initiatives;

c) As determined by the community, the New West Farmers Market Society and its membership, to undertake events, projects, and involvements which speak to the furtherance of the purposes stated herein by the Society.

Bylaws

Part One: Interpretation

1.1 In these bylaws, unless the context otherwise requires:

a) “Society” means the New West Farmers Market Society;

b) “Conflict of interest” means a conflict between the personal, professional, or vocational interest of a director with the interests of the Society in respect of any matter than director may from time to time deliberate or be required to decide by decision or vote;

c) “Directors” means the director of the Society as elected by the membership from time to time;

d) “Membership” means those person or persons who live, work, own or rent in the area known primarily as New Westminster.

Part Two: Membership

2.1 A General Membership is defined to include a person, a company, a co-operative organization, or a vendor group or any individual representing such as defined membership groups and membership confers one vote for the purposes of the definition. Membership in the New West Farmers Market Society shall be open to all in these defined categories that live, work, own, or rent in New Westminster, however membership opportunity is extended beyond that geographic area.

2.2 All members as defined by 2.1 shall have access to and voting powers within the Society with each member having one vote to cast at general or special meetings of the Society.

2.3 An annual membership fee will be set at each AGM and each membership shall expire concurrent with the AGM date set such membership fee being due and payable at that meeting to confer membership status and/or voting powers. Such fees would be annual and paid voluntarily to the Society. All members are deemed to be in good standing only if membership fees are up to date.

2.4 On being admitted to membership, each member is entitled to, and the Society shall provide without charge, a copy of the constitution and bylaws of the Society. Every member must uphold the constitution of the Society and comply with the established bylaws.

Part Three: Directors

3.1 The Society will be comprised of a maximum of seven (7) members known as the Board of Directors being titled President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, two Members at Large, as well as a voting Vendor position. Committees are at the discretion, direction, and approval of the Board.

3.2 Terms of Office for all directors shall be renewed annually at a general meeting of the Society and proper notice of said meetings shall be given. The Directors may at any time and from time to time appoint a member as a director to fill a vacancy. The Director so appointed holds office only until the next annual general meeting, but in any case, is eligible for election at that meeting.

3.3 To conduct any legal meeting of the Society a quorum shall be at least 3 directors of the Society.

3.4 The Board of Directors of the Society shall seek the views, reaction, and input from the membership on all matters of the proposed policy or other recommendations.

3.5 Meetings of the Board of Directors must be announced and published prior to the proposed meeting and the regular meeting schedule of the Board of Directors shall be determined by the directors from time to time in a regular meeting format.

3.6 The Board as it deems necessary may establish permanent (standing) or temporary (ad hoc) committees and appoint directors or members to such committees from time to time. Committees, their members, or assignees shall not have the power to act on behalf of the Society except with the express approval of the Board of the Society.

3.7 Emergency Powers of the Board: In such cases where the Board must provide representations, recommendations, or opinion to the City membership or other questioners, and if a meeting of the Society cannot be conveniently called in a timely manner, the Board is empowered to represent the views and positions of the membership subject to such positions being reviewed and accepted by a quorum in attendance at the next general meeting of the Society.

3.8 Any director failing to attend three consecutive Society general meetings shall be automatically deemed to have resigned from the board and the board shall be empowered fill the vacant position forthwith.

3.9 Every director of the Society shall exercise the powers and discharge the duties of his or her office honestly, and in good faith, and in the best interests of the Society and in connection therewith shall exercise the degree of care, diligence, and skill that a reasonable and prudent person might exercise. A director of the Society shall avoid matters, involvements, and voting position that might be deemed to be in a conflict of interest of the Society as defined in the interpretations of the term “conflict of interest”. A director must not be remunerated for acting on behalf of the Society but may be reimbursed for all expenses necessarily or reasonably incurred while engaged in the services of the Society.

3.10 Borrowing Powers: In order to carry out the purposes of the Society the directors may, on behalf of and in the name of the Society, raise of secure payment or repayment of the money in the matter they decide. The members may, by special resolution, restrict the borrowing powers of the directors, but any such restriction imposed expires at the next annual general meeting.

Part Four: Annual General Meeting

4.1 An annual general meeting shall be held for the Society and such meeting shall not exceed fifteen (15) months from the date of the previously held annual general meeting.

4.2 Annual General Meetings of the Society must be announced and published to the membership at least ten (10) days prior to the proposed meeting and the regular meeting schedule of the Board of Directors shall be determined by the directors from time to time in a regular meeting format.

4.3 The purpose of the annual general meeting shall be to elect or re-elect the Board of Directors of the Society, to also present reports to the membership as deemed appropriate by the directors, and to also present resolutions pertaining to the Society.

4.4 Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the procedures of the Annual General Meeting of the Society. Voting may be by a show of hands or by ballot as determined in advance by the directors of the Society. Proxy voting is not considered valid by the Society.

Part Five: Meetings of the Society

5.1 Quorum shall be as described in 3.3 above.

5.2 Robert’s Rules of Order shall govern the procedures of all meetings of the Society.

5.3 General meetings shall be scheduled and published to the membership at least ten (10) days in advance of the meeting at a time, place, and date set by the directors. Proper notification is deemed to have been delivered if in person, by mail, by facsimile, or other electronic means such as email and/or the internet via the website. Failure to publish meeting information in the paper does not constitute a breach of protocol and the Society is empowered to conduct such meetings regardless.

5.4 An agenda shall be produced and receive approval by majority vote at the commencement of each meeting. Acceptance, amendment, or additions to the agenda are made by majority vote.

5.5 The meetings of the Society shall be to receive or make proposals, recommendations, notifications, and conduct such business as shall properly come before the Society from time to time whether in writing or by petition of a member. Meetings are open to the public regardless of membership although membership shall determine voting rights of the attendee(s).

5.6 Minutes of each meeting shall be dutifully kept and disseminated to all directors in a timely manner. The President shall have custody of the minutes which minutes shall be held at the registered address of the Society.

5.7 Presentation may be provided from time to time to the Society’s meetings subject to the proper approval of the meeting. For scheduling considerations, presentation scheduling should be requested in advance to permit proper approvals of such presentation at regular meetings of the Society.

Part Six: Publication of the Constitution and Bylaws of the Society

6.1 The constitution and bylaws must be provided to each director of the Society at the time of election of that director.

6.2 These bylaws and the constitution cannot be altered except by special Resolution at a properly convened meeting of the Society.