VANDU - Genesis, Evolun, Org Struct, Activities - 2001.pdf

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A Case Study of Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) • To advocate for sensitive, inclusive, and humane policies and treatment of people who use drugs. The VANDU website also lists the organization’s guiding beliefs, which state that VANDU: • Is committed to increasing the capacity of people who use drugs to live healthy productive lives; we do this by affirming and strengthening people who use drugs to reduce harm to themselves and their communities; we organize in our communities to save lives by promoting local, regional and harm reduction education, interventions and peer support; • Challenges traditional client-provider relationships and empowers people who use drugs to design and implement harm reduction interventions; • Believes in every person’s right to health and well-being; we also believe that all people are competent to protect themselves, their loved ones and their communities from drug related harm; • Understands that some ways of using drugs are clearly safer than others; • Recognizes that the realities of poverty, racism, social isolation, past trauma, mental illness, and other inequalities increase people’s vulnerability to addiction and reduce their capacity for effectively reducing drug related harm. 16
A Case Study of Vancouver Area Network of Drug Users (VANDU) Governance “VANDU – man, they go to a shitload of meetings every week. If anything is happening, it seems that it is probably going to need VANDU’s okay. VANDU is always at the table.” – a VANDU member The constitution of VANDU allows for two types of memberships. The first, full membership, is reserved for people who presently use or formerly used illicit drugs. These members have both a voice and a vote at all meetings. The second type, supporting membership, is given to any person who has not formerly used and is not presently using illicit drugs. These members can express their views but cannot vote at meetings. To date, most supporting members have been parents or friends of drug users who want to contribute to the activities of VANDU. The constitution also stipulates that the number of supporting members shall not exceed ten percent of the full membership. Anyone interested in becoming a member is advised simply to come to a VANDUsponsored meeting or drop by the office to sign up and receive a membership card. The first VANDU board of directors was elected in December 1998. Board members are elected each year at the annual general meeting. Only full members are permitted to sit on the board, which consists of an executive (president, vice-president, treasurer, and secretary) and a number of members at large. Although the constitution states that the board will consist of the executive and at least “one or more other persons,” VANDU has consistently maintained a large board of approximately 25 directors. When asked why VANDU has such a large board, one member explained that “people get sick, end up in jail, get jobs; they just can’t always be there.” 17
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VANDU - Genesis, Evolun, Org Struct, Activities - 2001.pdf

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