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Difference between revisions of "Non-Profit Member Rights and Participation (Societies Act FAQs)"
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Non-Profit Member Rights and Participation (Societies Act FAQs) (view source)
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{{Societies Act FAQs TOC}} | {{Societies Act FAQs TOC}} | ||
{{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[Pacific Legal Education and Outreach Society]] (PLEO) in | {{REVIEWED | reviewer = [[Pacific Legal Education and Outreach Society]] (PLEO) in January 2024}} | ||
==Member Rights== | ==Member Rights== | ||
===What are the rights of non-profit members?=== | ===What are the rights of non-profit members?=== | ||
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All members have the right to receive written notice and reasons for their expulsion and the right to make reasonable representations to the non-profit regarding their expulsion. Members have the right to request the attendance of the non-profit’s auditor at a meeting during which the financial statements or the appointment or removal of the auditor will be considered, provided the non-profit receives a written request at least 7 days before the meeting. Finally, members have the right to inspect records listed under [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/lc/statreg/15018_01#section20 s. 20] of the ''Societies Act'', though the non-profit may impose a notice period and time restrictions. | All members have the right to receive written notice and reasons for their expulsion and the right to make reasonable representations to the non-profit regarding their expulsion. Members have the right to request the attendance of the non-profit’s auditor at a meeting during which the financial statements or the appointment or removal of the auditor will be considered, provided the non-profit receives a written request at least 7 days before the meeting. Finally, members have the right to inspect records listed under [https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/lc/statreg/15018_01#section20 s. 20] of the ''Societies Act'', though the non-profit may impose a notice period and time restrictions. | ||
===How many votes can a member have? Can family memberships get two votes? Can we use weighted voting?=== | |||
Under [https://canlii.ca/t/8v16#sec84 s. 84] of the ''Societies Act'', a voting member has only one vote. | |||
===What can a member or director do if the non-profit isn't following its bylaws or the ''Societies Act''?=== | ===What can a member or director do if the non-profit isn't following its bylaws or the ''Societies Act''?=== | ||
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==Member Participation== | ==Member Participation== | ||
===Can anyone become a member of the non-profit?=== | ===Can anyone become a member of the non-profit?=== | ||
No person has a right to membership in a non-profit, unless the bylaws say otherwise. Under the ''Societies Act'', it is up to the directors of the non-profit to accept or deny memberships | No person has a right to membership in a non-profit, unless the bylaws say otherwise. Under the ''Societies Act'', it is up to the directors of the non-profit to accept or deny memberships, subject to the non-profit’s bylaws. However, courts have decided that if the non-profit wants to be selective about memberships, then criteria for rejecting members must be included in the bylaws. The directors cannot reject applicants based on criteria they themselves determine [https://canlii.ca/t/j8fbl#par52 (''Farrish'' at paras 52-63)]. In addition, once a person is a member, there is a process that must be followed ([https://www.bclaws.gov.bc.ca/civix/document/id/lc/statreg/15018_01#section70 s. 70]) to discipline or remove that person as a member. | ||
Finally, the ''Societies Act'' requires that individuals be 19 or older to become members, unless the bylaws state otherwise. | |||
{{Societies Act FAQs NavBox}} | {{Societies Act FAQs NavBox}} | ||