liv poz mag.qxd - Positive Living BC

New BCPWA AGM
voting procedure
Now all BCPWA members can vote by mail
BCPWA’s Board of Directors will no longer be elected
solely by BCPWA members who can make it to the
Annual General Meeting (AGM) or who get an attending
member to use their proxy vote for them.
Instead, as of this year, you can vote by using a mail-in ballot
form that will be mailed to you in late July—or you can pick up
your ballot up at our office. An independent returning officer
will count the votes and announce the results at the AGM.
These fundamental changes are part of a package of
amendments to BCPWA’s bylaws that were approved at last
year’s AGM. From now on, all special resolutions—including
amendments to the bylaws, motions authorizing BCPWA
to borrow money, and similar major decisions—will be
resolved by BCPWA’s membership using mail-in ballots.
Regular and ordinary motions will still be dealt with at
the AGM.
Because of this change in voting procedures, BCPWA will
no longer use proxy forms for voting.
This year’s AGM will be held on the evening of Thursday,
August 19, 2010.
How the new system will work
All BCPWA members who receive mail from us will receive two mailings this year, one in June and one in July.
The first mailing will include:
3 Information about the AGM, including the date, time,
and place
3 An invitation to submit special resolutions for consideration
by the membership
3 If you want to run for the Board of Directors, there will
be an invitation to submit your personal information and
a statement about why you want to run for the Board.
This information will need to be submitted in a specified
format and be endorsed with the original signature of the
nominee and the signatures of two people who second the
nomination—all of whom must be full members of BCPWA
in good standing
3 A notice stating that the nominee information and the text
of any special resolutions must be received by the returning
officer by July 20, 2010
The second mailing will include:
3 The ballot to vote for the Board of Directors, including the
names of all duly nominated candidates received by the returning
officer
3 Statements and biographical information for all candidates
running for the available Board positions
3 If applicable, the ballot to vote for any special resolutions
submitted (the text and an explanation of the special resolutions
will also be included)
3 A notice stating that all mail-in ballots must be completed
and received by the returning officer no later than August
13, 2010 at 4:00 pm
3 A post-paid return envelope for you to send your completed
ballots
If you don’t currently receive mail from BCPWA, you
can apply in person at the BCPWA office to have your ballots
issued to you at the beginning of August. Remember,
there will be no more voting by proxy.
The minutes of the 2009 AGM and the 2010 annual report
and financial statements will be available by request by mail or
pickup at BCPWA two weeks before the AGM.
The deadline for the returning officer to receive a
request from a Board nominee for a ballot recount is no
later than August 26, 2010—seven days following the
AGM. Ballots can be destroyed by September 2, 2010—14
days after the AGM. 5
MayqJune 2010 living5 35