This is a final reminder that the Cornwall Curling Club’s Annual General Meeting (AGM) takes place this evening, Friday May 26, at the Club, with reception at 6:30 pm and the meeting starting at 7:00 pm. The bar will be open, and the debit/credit card machine will be operation. All Club members are encouraged to attend. A quorum of at least fifteen adult members who are not current Directors is required.
To save time, members are encouraged to read last year’s draft AGM minutes (below) in advance of the meeting. These minutes are to be approved at this year’s AGM.
Cornwall_Curling_AGM_Minutes_2015-2016 (PDF, 2.4 mb)
As specified in our by-laws, the meeting will include:
- Approval of last year’s AGM minutes (above)
- Business arising from last year’s AGM minutes
- Committee reports and the President’s Report.
- Financial statement: to be distributed at the meeting.
- Review of bylaws (see proposed Motion to Amend below)
- Election of Directors.
- Any other business relative to the management of the Club.
Proposed bylaws Motion to Amend
The Board of Directors will be forwarding a motion to be voted on at the AGM to amend the bylaws to change the term of directors from two years back to three.
Preamble:
As per the current bylaws the affairs of the Cornwall Curling Club are conducted by a volunteer Board of Directors comprised of 12 club members.
In October 2014, at a special general meeting, a members vote was passed on a motion to amend the term of board members from three to two years effective for board members starting at the spring 2015 Annual General Meeting (AGM). The motion also allowed for the serving of two consecutive two-year terms subject to election at the AGM.
The main arguments presented in favor of the motion were:
- The motion would allow more members to be involved as board members
- Members would be more willing to serve as board members because of the reduced term
The main arguments presented against the motion were:
- Two-year terms would require more recruiting as six board members (1/2 of the board) opposed to four board members (1/3 of the board) on average would be retired each year.
- Board member contributions and decision effectiveness would suffer from the lack of experience resulting from the shorter term. The two consecutive term rule was implemented for this reason although it does conflict with the 2nd argument in favor of the motion.
After discussions at several board meetings the current board (2016/2017) decided at the March 19, 2017 board meeting to put forward a motion at the 2017 AGM to revert to the previous bylaws of board members serving three-year terms applicable to Board members starting their term at the 2017 AGM.
The arguments in favor of the motion are:
- Recruiting 6 new members versus 4 new members has proven difficult despite the reduced term from three to two years.
- The trade off between diversity and inclusiveness from the two-year term and effectiveness and continuity from the three-year term favours the three-year term.
The arguments against the motion are:
- The Board has no arguments against the motion
The Motion:
To amend the current term of board members from two to three years.
If the motion is passed by 2/3 of the Adult Members at the 2017 AGM the following bylaws will be amended as indicated:
Current bylaws:
2.1.6 Each Director shall be elected for a term of two (2) years ending at the second annual meeting after the Directors election. [Rev. Oct2014]
2.1.8 No Director shall be eligible for election to more than two consecutive terms. [Rev. Oct2014]
2.1.11 Any Director may be removed before the expiration of the Director’s two-year term by an affirmative majority vote of the Directors present at any regular meeting of the Board or at a special meeting duly convened for that purpose. Another person may be elected by simple majority vote to hold office for the unexpired portion of the two-year term of the Director so removed. [Rev. Oct 2014]
Amended to:
2.1.6 Each Director shall be elected for a term of three (3) years ending at the third annual meeting after the Directors election. [Rev. Oct2017]
2.1.8 No director shall be eligible for election to consecutive terms.[Rev. Oct2017]
2.1.11 Any Director may be removed before the expiration of the Director’s term by an affirmative majority vote of the Directors present at any regular meeting of the Board or at a special meeting duly convened for that purpose. Another person may be elected by simple majority vote to hold office for the unexpired portion of the term of the Director so removed. [Rev. Oct 2017]
All current members are welcome to discuss this with current Board members in advance of the AGM if you have questions or require further clarification.
