BYLAWS
Part 1 — Interpretation
1 (1) In these bylaws, unless the context otherwise requires:
(a) “annual general meeting” means the meeting of the members that the Society must hold at least once in every calendar year and not more than 15 months after theprevious annual general meeting;
(b) “Board” means the board of directors of the Society;
(c) “Club” means the Rotary Club of Brentwood Bay;
(d) “directors” means the directors of the Society for the time being;
(e) “general meeting” means a meeting of the members of the Society; there are two (2) types of general meetings: annual general meetings and special general meetings;
(f) “in good standing” means a member who does not owe any money to the Club or the Foundation;
(g) “member” means a member of the Club who is in good standing with the Club but does not include an honorary member of the Club;
(h) “Society” means The Rotary Club of Brentwood Foundation;
(i) “Society Act” means the Society Act of British Columbia from time to time in force and all amendments to it;
(j) “special general meeting” means a meeting of the members of the Society that is called between annual general meetings in order to deal with urgent matters requiring members’ approval;
(k) “registered address” of a member means the member’s address as recorded in the register of members.
(2) The definitions in the Society Act on the date these bylaws become effective apply to these bylaws.
2 Words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa, and words importing a male
person include a female person and a corporation.
Part 2 — Membership
3 The members of the Society are the applicants for incorporation of the Society, and the members of the Club and those persons who subsequently become members, in accordance with these bylaws and, in either case, have not ceased to be members.
4 (1) The formalities of application for membership in the Society may be set from time to time by the Board.
(2) A person may apply to the directors for membership in the Society and on acceptance by
the directors is a member.
(3) Each member shall inform the Secretary or his designate in writing of his up‐to‐date address
and e‐mail address (if any) and fax number (if any) for the purposes of receiving notices
from the Society. This is an ongoing obligation.
5 Every member must uphold the constitution and comply with these bylaws.
6 The directors may determine the membership dues, if any. The directors may waive, in
whole or in part, membership dues for any member.
7 A person ceases to be a member of the Society:
(a) is no longer a member in good standing of the Club;
(b) by delivering his or her resignation in writing to the secretary of the Society or by
mailing or delivering it to the address of the Society;
(c) on his or her death or, in the case of a corporation, on dissolution;
(d) on being expelled,
(e) on having been a member not in good standing of the Society for 12 consecutive
months.
8 (1) A member may be expelled by a special resolution of the members passed at a general
meeting.
(2) The notice of special resolution for expulsion must be accompanied by a brief statement of
the reasons for the proposed expulsion.
(3) The person who is the subject of the proposed resolution for expulsion must be given an
opportunity to be heard at the general meeting before the special resolution is put to a
vote.
9 All members are in good standing except a member who has failed to pay his or her current
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annual membership fee, or any other subscription or debt due and owing by the member to
the Society, and the member is not in good standing so long as the debt remains unpaid.
10 (1) Every member must uphold the constitution and comply with these bylaws.
(2) Every member, except honorary members, has the right to:
(a) nominate a member for election as a director;
(b) stand for election as a director;
(c) be appointed as a director;
(d) vote at a general meeting;
(e) review Society documents after giving reasonable notice;
(f) ask that an auditor's report be read at the annual general meeting if an audit has been
conducted;
(g) ask that the auditor be present at a general meeting if one has been appointed and if
the financial statements will be presented; and
(h) receive a copy of the latest financial statement of the Society.
(3) Members are not personally liable for the Society’s debts or liabilities.
Part 3 — Meetings of Members
11 General meetings of the Society must be held at the time and place, in accordance with the
Society Act, that the directors decide.
12 Every general meeting, other than an annual general meeting, is an extraordinary general
meeting.
13 The directors may, when they think fit, convene an extraordinary general meeting.
14 (1) Notice of a general meeting must specify the place, day and hour of the meeting, and, in
case of special business, the general nature of that business.
(2) The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to, or the non‐receipt of a notice by, any
of the members entitled to receive notice does not invalidate proceedings at that meeting.
15 The first annual general meeting of the Society must be held not more than 15 months after
the date of incorporation and after that an annual general meeting must be held at least
once in every calendar year and not more than 15 months after the holding of the last
preceding annual general meeting.
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Part 4 — Proceedings at General Meetings
16 Special business is:
(a) all business at a special general meeting except the adoption of rules of order, and;
(b) all business conducted at an annual general meeting, except the following:
(i) the adoption of rules of order;
(ii) the consideration of the financial statements;
(iii) the report of the directors;
(iv) the report of the auditor, if any;
(v) the election of directors;
(vi) the appointment of the auditor, if required;
(vii) the other business that, under these bylaws, ought to be conducted at an
annual general meeting, or business that is brought under consideration by the
report of the directors issued with the notice convening the meeting.
17 (1) Business, other than the election of a chair and the adjournment or termination of the
meeting, must not be conducted at a general meeting at a time when a quorum is not
present.
(2) If at any time during a general meeting there ceases to be a quorum present, business then
in progress must be suspended until there is a quorum present or until the meeting is
adjourned or terminated.
(3) A quorum is the lesser of seven (7) members or 25% of the members present or a greater
number that the members may determine at a general meeting.
18 If within 30 minutes from the time appointed for a general meeting a quorum is not
present, the meeting, if convened on the requisition of members, must be terminated, but
in any other case, it must stand adjourned to the same day in the next week, at the same
time and place, and if, at the adjourned meeting, a quorum is not present within 30 minutes
from the time appointed for the meeting, the members present constitute a quorum.
19 Subject to bylaw 20, the president of the Society, the vice president or, in the absence of
both, one of the other directors present, must preside as chair of a general meeting.
20 If at a general meeting:
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(a) there is no president, vice president or other director present within 15 minutes after
the time appointed for holding the meeting, or
(b) the president and all the other directors present are unwilling to act as the chair,
the members present must choose one of their number to be the chair.
21 (1) A general meeting may be adjourned from time to time and from place to place, but
business must not be conducted at an adjourned meeting other than the business left
unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.
(2) When a meeting is adjourned for 10 days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting must be
given as in the case of the original meeting.
(3) Except as provided in this bylaw, it is not necessary to give notice of an adjournment or of
the business to be conducted at an adjourned general meeting.
22 (1) A resolution proposed at a meeting must be seconded, and the chair of a meeting may
move or propose a resolution.
(2) In the case of a tie vote, the chair does not have a casting or second vote in addition to the
vote to which he or she may be entitled as a member, and the proposed resolution does not
pass.
23 (1) A member in good standing present at a meeting of members is entitled to one vote.
(2) Voting is by show of hands, unless the members otherwise decide.
(3) Voting by proxy is not permitted.
24 A corporate member may vote by its authorized representative, who is entitled to speak
and vote, and in all other respects exercise the rights of a member, and that representative
must be considered as a member for all purposes with respect to a meeting of the Society.
Part 5 — Directors and Officers
25 (1) The directors may exercise all the powers and do all the acts and things that the Society may
exercise and do, and that are not by these bylaws or by statute or otherwise lawfully
directed or required to be exercised or done by the Society in a general meeting, but
subject, nevertheless, to:
(a) all laws affecting the Society;
(b) these bylaws, and;
(c) rules, not being inconsistent with these bylaws, that are made from time to time by
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the Society in a general meeting.
(2) A rule, made by the Society in a general meeting, does not invalidate a prior act of the
directors that would have been valid if that rule had not been made.
26 (1) The officers of the Society shall be appointed by the directors. The officers of the Society
shall be president, vice president, secretary, treasurer and such other officers as the
directors may decide.
(2) The number of directors must be five (5) or a greater number determined from time to time
at a general meeting by special resolution.
(3) All directors of the Society shall be members, excluding honorary members who are not
eligible to be directors.
27 (1) The directors must retire from office at each annual general meeting when their successors
are elected.
(2) The Board shall be elected by a single ballot.
(3) An election may be by acclamation, otherwise it must be by ballot.
(4) If a successor is not elected, the person previously elected or appointed continues to hold
office.
28 (1) The directors may at any time and from time to time appoint a member as a director to fill a
vacancy in the directors.
(2) A director so appointed holds office only until the conclusion of the next annual general
meeting of the Society, but is eligible for re‐election at the meeting.
29 (1) If a director resigns his or her office or otherwise ceases to hold office, the remaining
directors must appoint a member to take the place of the former director.
(2) An act or proceeding of the directors is not invalid merely because there are less than the
prescribed number of directors in office.
30 The members may, by special resolution, remove a director, before the expiration of his or
her term of office, and may elect a successor to complete the term of office.
31 A director must not be remunerated for being or acting as a director but a director may be
reimbursed for all expenses necessarily and reasonably incurred by the director while
engaged in the affairs of the Society.
Part 6 — Proceedings of Directors
32 (1) The directors may meet at the places they think fit to conduct business, adjourn and
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otherwise regulate their meetings and proceedings, as they see fit.
(2) The directors may from time to time set the quorum necessary to conduct business, and
unless so set the quorum is a majority of the directors then in office.
(3) A director with an interest in a contract or transaction with the Society can be counted as
part of the quorum at the directors’ meeting at which such contract or transaction is
approved but shall not be entitled to vote regarding such contract or transaction.
(4) The president is the chair of all meetings of the directors, but if at a meeting the president is
not present within 30 minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the vice
president must act as chair, but if neither is present the directors present may choose one
of their number to be the chair at that meeting.
(5) A director may at any time, and the secretary, on the request of a director, must, convene a
meeting of the directors.
(6) A representative of the Club shall be entitled to attend meetings of the Board and shall be
provided notice of all meetings of the Board but shall not have the right to vote at a meeting
of the Board.
(7) Directors can participate in directors’ meetings and vote in person, by telephone or by any
other communication medium as long as all directors are able to communicate with each
other.
(8) Members may be present at any meeting of the Board.
(9) A member may address the Board if:
(a) he or she makes the request in writing;
(b) the request is delivered to the President at least five (5) business days prior to the
meeting in question;
(c) the President, with the advice of the officers of the Society, approves the request.
33 (1) The directors may delegate any, but not all, of their powers to committees consisting of the
directors and other members as they think fit. Each committee shall include at least one (1)
director.
(2) A committee so formed in the exercise of the powers so delegated must conform to any
rules imposed on it by the directors, and must report every act or thing done in exercise of
those powers to the earliest meeting of the directors held after the act or thing has been
done.
34 A committee must elect a chair of its meetings, but if no chair is elected, or if at a meeting
the chair is not present within 30 minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting,
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the directors present who are members of the committee must choose one of their number
to be the chair of the meeting.
35 The members of a committee may meet and adjourn as they think proper.
36 For a first meeting of directors held immediately following the appointment or election of a
director or directors at an annual or other general meeting of members, or for a meeting of
the directors at which a director is appointed to fill a vacancy in the directors, it is not
necessary to give notice of the meeting to the newly elected or appointed director or
directors for the meeting to be constituted, if a quorum of the directors is present.
37 A director who may be absent temporarily from British Columbia may send or deliver to the
address of the Society a waiver of notice, which may be by letter, telegram, telex or cable,
of any meeting of the directors and may at any time withdraw the waiver, and until the
waiver is withdrawn:
(a) a notice of meeting of directors is not required to be sent to that director, and;
(b) any and all meetings of the directors of the Society, notice of which has not been
given to that director, if a quorum of the directors is present, are valid and effective.
38 (1) Questions arising at a meeting of the directors and committee of directors must be decided
by a majority of votes.
(2) In the case of a tie vote, the chair shall have a second or casting vote.
39 A resolution proposed at a meeting of directors or committee of directors need not be
seconded, and the chair of a meeting may move or propose a resolution.
40 A resolution in writing, signed by at least two‐thirds of the existing directors and placed with
the minutes of the directors is as valid and effective as if regularly passed at a meeting of
the directors.
Part 7 — Duties of Officers
41 (1) The president presides at all meetings of the Society and of the directors.
(2) The president is the chief executive officer of the Society and must supervise the other
officers in the execution of their duties.
42 The vice president must carry out the duties of the president during the president’s
absence.
43 The secretary must do the following:
(a) conduct the correspondence of the Society;
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(b) issue notices of meetings of the Society and directors;
(c) keep minutes of all meetings of the Society and directors;
(d) have custody of all records and documents of the Society except those required to be
kept by the treasurer;
(e) have custody of the common seal of the Society;
(f) maintain the register of members.
44 The treasurer must:
(a) keep the financial records, including books of account, necessary to comply with the
Society Act; and
(b) render financial statements to the directors, members and others when required.
45 (1) The offices of secretary and treasurer may be held by one person who is to be known as the
secretary treasurer.
(2) If a secretary treasurer holds office, the total number of directors must not be less than 5 or
the greater number that may have been determined under bylaw 25(2).
46 In the absence of the secretary from a meeting, the directors must appoint another person
to act as secretary at the meeting.
Part 8 — Seal
47 The directors may provide a common seal for the Society and may destroy a seal and
substitute a new seal in its place.
48 The common seal must be affixed only when authorized by a resolution of the directors and
then only in the presence of the persons specified in the resolution, or if no persons are
specified, in the presence of the president and secretary or president and secretary
treasurer.
Part 9 — Borrowing
49 In order to carry out the purposes of the Society the directors may, on behalf of and in the
name of the Society, raise or secure the payment or repayment of money in the manner
they decide, and, in particular but without limiting that power, by the issue of debentures.
50 A debenture must not be issued without the authorization of a special resolution.
51 The members may, by special resolution, restrict the borrowing powers of the directors, but
a restriction imposed expires at the next annual general meeting.
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Part 10 — Auditor
52 This Part applies only if the Society is required or has resolved to have an auditor.
53 The first auditor must be appointed by the directors who must also fill all vacancies
occurring in the office of auditor.
54 At each annual general meeting the Society must appoint an auditor to hold office until the
auditor is re‐elected or a successor is elected at the next annual general meeting.
55 An auditor may be removed by ordinary resolution.
56 An auditor must be promptly informed in writing of the auditor’s appointment or removal.
57 A director or employee of the Society must not be its auditor.
58 The auditor may attend general meetings.
Part 11 — Notices to Members
59 A notice may be given to a member, either personally or by mail to the member at the
member’s registered address or by facsimile or by email or by other means as determined
by the members from time to time.
60 A notice sent by mail is deemed to have been given on the second business day following
the day on which the notice is posted, and in proving that notice has been given, it is
sufficient to prove the notice was properly addressed and put in a Canadian post office
receptacle. A notice that is sent my facsimile or email is deemed to have been given on the
first business day following the date that it is sent.
61 (1) Notice of a general meeting must be given to:
(a) every member shown on the register of members on the day notice is given; and
(b) the auditor, if Part 10 applies.
(2) No other person is entitled to receive a notice of a general meeting.
Part 12 — Bylaws
62 On being admitted to membership, each member is entitled to, and the Society must give
the member without charge, a copy of the constitution and bylaws of the Society.
63 These bylaws must not be altered or added to except by special resolution.
Part 13 ‐ General
64 At any time the directors may require, on terms and conditions, a director, officer, member,
or a former director, officer, or member to return any property or document belonging to
the Society that happens to be in the control or possession of such director, officer, member, or such former director, officer or member.
7159A West Saanich Road Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1P7
7159A West Saanich Road Brentwood Bay, BC V8M 1P7