Name
The Conference of the Canadian Bar Association (the Association) shall be known as the "General Practice, Solo and Small Firm Conference" (the Conference).
Purpose
The Conference is a forum for members in general practice, solo practice and small firm practice, and its objectives are:
- to recognize the role of the general practitioner, solo practitioner and small firm practitioner, and promote policies that enhance their effectiveness;
- to promote the participation of the general practitioner, solo practitioner and small firm practitioner within the Association;
- to organize professional activities and programs of interest to the general practitioner, solo practitioner and small firm practitioner, including the economics and efficiencies of practice, quality of life, and the public's perceptions of the capacity and worth of general practitioners, solo practitioners and small firm practitioners;
- to act as the national voice of general practitioners, solo practitioners and small firm practitioners within the framework of the regular activities of the Conference and those of the Association.
Membership and dues
Any member in good standing of the Association is eligible for membership in the Conference.
Application for membership in the Conference shall be in such form and manner as prescribed by the Association, and shall be accompanied by the prescribed dues.
Dues for membership in the Conference shall be in the amounts set by the Conference, in consultation with the corresponding Branch Conferences and Sections, and approved by the Council of the Association, payable upon enrollment and thereafter annually in advance each year, at the beginning of the Association's fiscal year next following such enrollment.
Any member of the Conference whose annual dues are more than five months past due shall cease to be a member of the Conference. Any person who ceases to be a member of the Association also ceases to be a member of the Conference.
Officers
The officers of the Conference are the Chair, the Vice-Chair, the Secretary-Treasurer and the Immediate Past Chair.
Chair
The Chair presides at all meetings of the Conference and of the Executive Committee and appoints the chairs and members of all committees of the Conference who are to hold office during the Chair's term.
The Chair plans and supervises the activities of the Conference subject to the direction and approval of the Executive Committee. The Chair keeps informed of the activities of the Conference, implements its decisions and has other powers and duties usually associated with such office or as may be designated by the Executive Committee.
Vice-Chair
The Vice-Chair assists the Chair in the performance of the responsibilities of that office as the Chair may request. The Vice-Chair presides at meetings of the Conference and the Executive Committee in the absence of the Chair.
Secretary-Treasurer
The Secretary-Treasurer consults with and assists all the officers of the Conference in the work of the Conference generally as they may request. The Secretary-Treasurer is the liaison between the Conference and the Association staff with respect to the retention and maintenance of books, records, papers, documents, and information in any form and other property pertaining to the work of the Conference. The Secretary-Treasurer keeps a record of the proceedings of all meetings of the Conference and of the Executive Committee and maintains and distributes, as necessary, a current copy of the Conference's orientation handbook.
Immediate Past Chair
The Immediate Past Chair assists the Chair in the performance of responsibilities of that office, as the Chair may request. The Immediate Past Chair presides at meetings of the Conference and the Executive Committee in the absence of the Chair and Vice-Chair.
Term of Office
The term of each Officer is one year, beginning at the adjournment of the Annual Meeting of the Association after elected.
The Vice-Chair becomes the Chair at the adjournment of the next Annual Meeting of the Association and is not again eligible for either office.
The terms of the Chair, Vice-Chair or Secretary Treasurer may be extended to two years by a unanimous decision of the Executive Committee.
Executive Committee
Composition
The Executive Committee shall be composed of:
- the Officers of the Conference;
- the Chairs of any corresponding Branch Conferences, Sections or Committees; and
- five Members-at-Large elected by the members of the Conference at its Annual Meeting.
Term of Office
The term of a Member-at-Large shall be three years beginning at the adjournment of the Annual Meeting after elected. No person shall be eligible for nomination or election as a Member-at-Large of the Executive Committee for a full or unexpired term unless currently a member of the Conference.
Powers and Functions
The Executive Committee is vested with the powers and duties necessary for the supervision and control of the affairs of the Conference.
Between meetings of the membership, the Executive Committee has authority to perform the functions that the membership of the Conference might perform. The Executive Committee shall report to the members at each Annual Meeting upon any actions taken since the last Annual Meeting of the Conference.
The Executive Committee may direct a referendum by mail or electronic ballot of the members of the Conference. A majority of the votes cast in the referendum shall determine the policy of the Conference with respect to the question submitted. Such referendum shall be conducted according to rules established by the Executive Committee.
Meetings
The Executive Committee will normally hold three regular meetings each year; first at the time and place of the Annual Meeting of the Association and during each fall and each spring, at a time and location designated by the Chair. At the Chair's initiative, or on request of five members of the Executive Committee, the Chair may call a special meeting of the Executive Committee between regular meetings. The Chair shall give at least ten days notice to the members of the Executive Committee of the date, time and place of a special meeting. Participation in and the conduct of meetings may be by way of conference call or other electronic means.
Members of the Executive Committee absent from a meeting may communicate their vote on any proposition, in writing to the Secretary-Treasurer and it shall be counted with the same effect as if cast personally at the meeting.
If a meeting of the Executive Committee is not feasible the Chair, on his or her own initiative or upon the written request of five members of the Executive Committee, shall submit in writing to the members of the Executive Committee any item on which the Executive Committee is authorized to act. The Executive Committee may vote on the proposition either by ballot or by any form of telecommunication or other electronic means, confirmed in writing, to the Secretary-Treasurer who shall record the proposition and votes.
At least two members of the Executive Committee constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. Decisions shall be by majority vote of the members present and voting.
Compensation
No salary or compensation for services shall be paid to or by any member of the Executive Committee, or member of any committee, except as may be specifically authorized by the Board of Directors of the Association.
Vacancies
If an Officer or Member-at-Large fails to attend two successive meetings of the Executive Committee, that person's seat on the Executive Committee shall be automatically vacated unless excused for good cause by the Executive Committee.
Between Annual Meetings of the Conference, the remaining Executive Committee members may fill any vacancies in the positions of the Officers or the Members-at-Large.
Nomination and election
Nominating Committee
At any time not later than the close of the spring meeting, the Chair shall appoint a Nominating Committee of three members from the Executive Committee to make nominations for the positions of officers and Members-at-Large. The Chair may appoint a member to fill any vacancy in the Nominating Committee.
Nominees
The Nominating Committee shall make its recommendations not later than 60days before the opening of the Annual Meeting. The Chair shall, not later than 30 days before the Annual Meeting, notify the Executive Committee and each Branch of the Association of the name and address of the nominees. The Chair shall announce the time and place of the election.
Other nominations may be received in writing by the Chair prior to the Annual Meeting or upon nomination from the floor at the Annual Meeting.
Elections
Elections shall be held at the Annual Meeting of the Conference. Elections for each contested position shall be by ballot unless otherwise ordered by resolution adopted by the Conference at the meeting. Each position to be filled by election shall be voted upon separately. Election shall be by a majority of the votes cast and a run?off election to choose between the two leading candidates shall be held if a majority vote is not initially obtained.
Conference meetings
Annual Meeting
The Conference shall meet annually in conjunction with the Annual Meeting of the Association. The Chair shall give advance notice to the members in an appropriate Association publication of the date, time, place and tentative agenda for the Annual Meeting.
Special Meetings
The Conference may hold a Special Meeting for the transaction of business upon 30 days notice by the Chair and shall hold a Special Meeting upon the request in writing addressed to the Chair of 10% of the members of the Conference. The meeting shall be held not more than 60 days after receipt of the request. Notice of a Special Meeting shall contain the time, date, place and purpose of the meeting.
Quorum
The members of the Conference present at an annual or special meeting shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.
Decisions binding the Conference shall be by majority vote of the members present and voting.
Committees
Standing Committees
Standing committees for membership, programs, scope and correlation, publications and products, and planning shall be appointed each year. The Secretary-Treasurer shall be an ex officio member of the planning committee.
Other Committees
The Chair, with the advice of the officers, may establish other committees as necessary and desirable to promote the purpose and goals of the Conference.
Representation of association position
Any action by the Conference must be approved by the Board of Directors of the Association before the action can be effective as the action of the Association. Any resolution or recommendation adopted or action taken by the Conference, on request of the Executive Committee or the Conference, shall be reported by the Chair to the Board of Directors of the Association for action by the Association.
Amendments
This By-law may be amended at any meeting of the Executive Committee by a majority vote of the Executive Committee members present and voting, or at an Annual Meeting of the Conference by a majority vote of the members of the Conference present and voting. Such amendments become effective upon adoption by way of resolution of the Council of the Association.