Article #1: Name of Organization

 

Section 1:01

The name shall be Ontario Fire Communicators Association.

 

Section 1:02

The Association shall consist of a minimum of (8) Municipal Fire Departments.

 

 

 

Article #2: Objectives

 

Section 2:01

To study the mutual problems in the field of fire communications and promote the exchange of ideas between its members.

 

Section 2:02

To promote professional development, suggest new and improved methods of training, education and guidelines and to seek accreditation for Ontario Fire Communicators.

 

Section 2:03

To seek and suggest, in cooperation with the Fire Chief’s and manufacturers, improvements in the design of communications related equipment.

 

Section 2:04

To foster a spirit of comradeship amongst its members.

 

Section 2:05

To create communications related representation to express our views as requested and/or required.

 

Section 2:06

We, the members of this Association, believe that through the discussion of mutual problems and the resolving of issues we can foster a higher degree of skills, knowledge and accountability throughout the Fire Communications profession.

Article #3: Membership

 

Section 3:01

Municipalities with a Fire Communications Division are welcome to be members of this Association upon payment of dues. Dues are per fire department or Communications Centre.

 

Section 3:01.1

Communications Centres who are contracted to dispatch fire services are welcome to be members of this Association upon payment of dues.

 

Section 3:01.2

The Association will accept individual associate members; it is preferred that associate members be in a communications related field.

 

Section 3:01.3

The Association will accept Commercial members; it is preferred that commercial members be in a communications related field.

 

Section 3:01.4

The Association will accept student members; it is preferred that student members be in a communications related field.

 

Section 3:02

Applications for membership shall be submitted to the Membership Committee.

 

Section 3:03

Approved members will be notified.

 

 

 

Article #4: Meetings

 

Section 4:01

An annual meeting of the membership shall be convened each year. Time, date and location of the annual meeting to be decided by a majority vote of the Executive Committee.

 

Section 4:02

Special meetings may be called by the President when he/she deems necessary. A minimum of four (4) days notice must be given.

 

Section 4:03

Notice of Executive Committee meetings will be delivered, telephoned, emailed, mailed or faxed to each Executive Committee member 14 days before the meeting is to take place. A majority of the members of the Executive Committee shall form a quorum for the transaction of business.

 

Section 4:04

Quorum at the annual meeting shall be a majority of the Executive Committee plus members from at least 5 different member organizations. [this should be workable and stop any one organization from controlling the Association]

 

Section 4:05

No error or omission in giving such notice for a meeting of the Executive Committee, annual meeting or special meeting shall invalidate such meeting or invalidate or make void any proceedings taken or had at such meeting and any Executive Committee member may at any time waive notice of any such meetings and may ratify and approve of any of all proceedings taken or had thereat.

 

 

 

Article #5: Remuneration of Executive Committee

 

The Executive Committee shall receive no remuneration for acting as such.

 

 

 

Article #6: Voting

 

 

Section 6:01

Each membership shall be entitled to one (1) vote regardless of the number of representatives from said membership. This vote to be cast by designated representative in attendance at the meeting. [Trying to decide who gets the single vote for a department and how to get them to agree on how to vote may be a challenge. You might want to consider giving each fire communicator from a member department an individual vote. That way whoever turns up can vote the way they feel on a particular issue. Also it is a way to get more individuals directly involved]

 

Section 6:02

There shall be no voting by proxy.

 

[Do you want Associate members, Commercial members and student members to have a vote? If not you have to state that here –“Associate members, commercial members and student members do not have voting privileges”

 

 

 

Article #7: Jurisdiction and Authority

 

Section 7:01

Resolutions passed by this Association and pertaining to maintenance or repair shall not be construed to be binding on an individual where these resolutions may affect or be contrary to rules, regulations, procedures and by-laws of said individual’s communications centre or municipality.