We have a request for a vote on a bylaw change before the upcoming AGM on November 7.  

We would like to make the quorum a number rather than a percentage of membership.

See below.  Vote ends November 3.  Please respond with a Yay, nay or abstain. 

Thank-you! 
Sarah Flogen
CFMHN President

Question Title

* 1. Member information

BE IT RESOLVED THAT THE CANADIAN FEDERATION OF MENTAL HEALTH NURSES BY-LAWS BE CHANGED AS FOLLOWS:

CURRENT BYLAW

4.08 Quorum

A quorum of members must be present in order to make decisions at annual or special meetings of members (refer to subsections 159(4) and (5) of the NFP Act). Without a quorum, any business carried out at a meeting is not binding on the corporation. The bylaws of a corporation usually contain the quorum requirement, which must be a fixed number of members, a percentage of members, or a percentage of members that is determinable by a formula. If the by-laws are silent on the subject, then a quorum is a majority of the members entitled to vote at the meeting (refer to section 164 of the NFP Act and section 70 of the NFP Regulations).
Subject to the NFP Act, a quorum at any meeting of the Members shall be twenty percent (20%) of the Members. If a quorum is present at the opening of a meeting of Members, the Members present may proceed with the business of the meeting even if a quorum is not present throughout the meeting. To determine quorum, a Member may be present in person, or by telephonic and/or by other electronic means.

Proposed Amendment to the CFMHN Bylaws

4.08 Quorum

A quorum of members must be present in order to make decisions at annual or special meetings of members (refer to subsections 159(4) and (5) of the NFP Act). Without a quorum, any business carried out at a meeting is not binding on the corporation. The bylaws of a corporation usually contain the quorum requirement, which must be a fixed number of members, a percentage of members, or a percentage of members that is determinable by a formula. If the by-laws are silent on the subject, then a quorum is a majority of the members entitled to vote at the meeting (refer to section 164 of the NFP Act and section 70 of the NFP Regulations).
Subject to the NFP Act, a quorum at any meeting of the Members shall be twenty-five (25) of the Members. If a quorum is present at the opening of a meeting of Members, the Members present may proceed with the business of the meeting even if a quorum is not present throughout the meeting. To determine quorum, a Member may be present in person, or by telephonic and/or by other electronic means.
RATIONALE

Due to the high number of members for the CFMHN it is challenging to meet the quorum of 20% of the total members. The CFMHN does not have direct access to the emails of those members who come through the interest group of the RNAO. A fixed number of 25 provides a minimum of enough decision makers to hold the meeting.

Having a quorum written as a percentage of Members which is high can result in not being able to hold the Annual General meeting which is where the business of the association is presented to the CFMHN members.

Question Title

* 2. Notice of Proposed Amendments to the CFMHN Bylaws

In accordance with the bylaws, notice is hereby given that the following bylaw amendment will be considered prior to the November 7, 2022 AGM of the CFMHN through a Special Resolution to the Members.

Please respond with your vote:

T