Public Sector Lawyers' Conference By-laws

  • February 16, 2002

WHEREAS the Public Sector Lawyers' Conference would like to encourage more of its members to actively participate in the Conference decision-making process.

WHEREAS the Public Sector Lawyers' Conference would like to ensure the efficient functioning of the Conference in a manner that is flexible, accountable and democratic.

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the By-laws of the Public Sector Lawyers' Conference be amended:

  1. to increase the number of members-at-large from two to four, in Article 4.0;
  2. to clarify that the Secretary-Treasurer will prepare and keep minutes of the meetings of the Officers, by changing "Directorate" to "Officers" in Article 4.4(a);
  3. to streamline the nomination and election process, by repealing article 6.1 and replacing it with:

    "A Nominating Committee composed of the Chair as chair, Vice-Chair and Immediate Past-Chair shall nominate at least one member of the Conference for the office of Secretary-Treasurer and at least four members of the Conference for the offices of Members-at-Large. The nominations shall be announced by way of notice in an e-mail to the Conference members at least thirty (30) days prior to the Annual Meeting of the Conference. Other nominations may be received in writing prior to the Annual Meeting or upon nomination from the floor at the Annual Meeting. Each member present at the Annual Meeting shall be entitled to vote. The Chair shall count the votes. The nominee receiving the greatest number of votes for the office of Secretary-Treasurer shall be elected to that office. The four nominees receiving the greatest number of votes for the position of member-at-large shall be elected to that office. Nothing precludes a member-at-large from being nominated for the office of Secretary-Treasurer at the end of the term as member-at-large.";

  4. to streamline the notification process for meetings, by repealing Article 9.2 and replacing it with:

    "Special meetings of the Conference may be called at such time and place as the Officers may select and 30 days notice of the date, time, place and purpose of the meeting shall be sent to each member.";

  5. to clarify that the officers may meet by telephone conference call, in Article 9.6; and
  6. to streamline the by-law amendment process, by repealing Article 10 and replacing it with:

    "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 or Special Meeting of the Conference by a majority vote of the members of the Conference present and voting. Notice of any proposed amendment shall be given to the Secretary-Treasurer not less than 30 days before the meeting or at which the amendments are to be considered. Not less than 15 days notice of the proposed amendment shall be given in writing by the Secretary-Treasurer to the Executive Committee. 

    Such amendments become effective upon adoption by way of resolution of the Council of the Association."

Certified true copy of a resolution carried by the Council of the Canadian Bar Association at the Mid-Winter Meeting held in Moncton, N.B., February 16-17, 2002.

John D.V. Hoyles

Executive Director/Directeur exécutif