Bylaws to be discussed in the CCE AGM on 8th October at 7PM

Dear Ottawa Comhaltas members,

This note is to inform you of the branch Annual General Meeting, coming up on Wednesday, October 8th. Full details are below, but first I wanted to highlight why it's especially important this year that as many members as possible attend. In a nutshell: we need you to help us approve a new set of bylaws in order to continue to exist as a not-for-profit organization. It's not exactly the most exciting draw to a meeting, perhaps, but our existence depends on it!

This year, Industry Canada is requiring that all not-for-profit (NFP) organizations essentially re-apply to be incorporated. This is because Canada has a new NFP Act, and all existing NFPs must fall under these new rules. In order to do this, we must re-file our updated bylaws with Industry Canada by October 17th.

How does this apply to you? Well, in order to submit bylaws to Industry Canada, the membership must first vote to approve them. Specifically, we must vote on a special resolution at our AGM, and it requires the approval of a majority of members. So we need you there to cast your vote. If you can't make it but would still like to cast a proxy vote, please contact me for more information on this procedure.

And what are you voting on, exactly? Our bylaws set out how Ottawa Comhaltas is run. Our old bylaws, from 1985, refer to outdated procedures and methods of communication. So we're updating them to make sense for how we do things now.

These new bylaws will be ready for your perusal shortly, and I will send them in a separate email. In the meantime, here are the details of the meeting:

Wednesday, October 8th, 2014 at 7pm

University of Ottawa, Arts Building, 70 Laurier (corner of Laurier and Waller), Room 509

Link to campus map, which shows parking areas:
http://www.protection.uottawa.ca/en/parking-map.html

Or consider taking public transit: the Laurier station on the Transitway is right by the Arts Building


Two other quick notes: first, you need to be a paid-up member in order to vote at this meeting. Remember that you can now renew your membership online! Here is the link:
http://www.ottawacomhaltas.com/membership-and-class-registration.php


You can also pay your membership in person at the AGM.

Finally, at our AGM we will be electing a new executive, and there are currently no candidates for the following positions: Irish Officer, Public Relations Officer, Youth Officer, and Auditor. If you or anyone you know would be interested in serving on the executive (it's fun, we promise!), please contact Maureen Maher.


Hope to see you all on Oct 8! (And, of course, at the ceili this Saturday 27 October, too.)


Caitlin Crockard
Secretary, on behalf of the CCE Ottawa executive

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Caitlin Crockard
Secretary, Ottawa Branch
Comhaltas Ceoltoiri Eireann
ottawacomhaltas.com