Little People of Manitoba

 

Bylaws

LITTLE PEOPLE OF MANITOBA INC.
“BY-LAWS” 2007 

FORWARD

These by-laws govern the Little People of Manitoba Inc.

PREAMBLE

Being concerned with the need for people of small stature to be accepted as full members of society with equal access to education and employment and with equal opportunity for self determination and being concerned in focusing public attention on the fact that it is perception (by both the small and average sized person) that places the greatest limitation on achieving those goals; Little People of Manitoba has been organized to assist , support, advocate and educate in all such matters and to enhance the life opportunities for all little persons in Manitoba.

To this end, the by-laws of which this preamble is a part, are herein set forth.

ARTICLE I - NAME

The name of this organization shall be Little People of Manitoba Inc., hereinafter referred to as "L.P.M."

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ARTICLE II - OBJECT

The object of L.P.M. shall be to provide and maintain, within its resources, an organization dedicated to uniting people of small stature [to be known as Little People] in the work of promoting their highest interest, sociability, good friendship and mutuality on the broadest principles of humanity on a non profit, non-political and non-sectarian basis, and for such other objects as shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of the act and the laws under which it is organized.

ARTICLE III - PURPOSE

The purpose of the L.P.M. is to assist it's members in adjusting to the social and the physical problems of life caused by their small stature through mutual assistance and the personal examples by each one of it's members.

( Further to: See attached Appendix "A": Mission Statement )

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ARTICLE IV - MEMBERSHIP

SECTION I - Requirements and Eligibility;

Any resident of Canada shall be eligible for membership in L.P.M. provided that, in making the prospective application member[s] can show satisfactory evidence of:

  1. Is a little person, generally no more than 4 feet and 10 inches (1.48 meters) tall, often due to a medical condition commonly referred to as dwarfism, or is a relative of a Little Person and living in the same household or in the same family.

  2. Payment of membership dues.

  3. Agrees to abide by the by-laws of the L.P.M. with no recourse against L.P.M., any officer or member thereof.

SECTION II - Classification;

There shall be four classes of members in L.P.M.:

  1. Regular Members shall be properly admitted little people only, who are 18 years of age, or older, and are current in dues.

  2. Associate Members shall be properly admitted average sized direct relative or guardians living in the same household with a little person properly qualified under Section I, or such other adult representative as may be acceptable to the Executive of the Organization. Associate members shall have voting privileges and shall exercise these privileges on behalf of their minor children who are little persons;

  3. Members at Large are spouses, or adult relatives and friends of a "Regular Member", who wish to participate in the activities and undertakings of the organization. Members within this category shall not have voting privileges.

  4. Honorary Members are those individuals who have contributed in a significant way, in Manitoba, to the welfare of the LPM organization, its members, and/or families. Any member may nominate a potential recipient but the nomination for honorary membership requires unanimous approval by the executive. These members do not have voting privileges.

SECTION III - Obligations and Duties of Members;

Members of all classes shall:

  1. Pay all dues on time.

  2. Accept the vote of the majority and give support to the wishes of the majority.

  3. Conduct themselves in a manner considered appropriate to the occasion while attending meetings, social functions, conventions, etc.

  4. Respect the chairperson of all meetings, and be properly recognized before speaking.

  5. Be loyal to the organization and its members.

  6. Voice any disagreements and complaints about the organization to the proper officer in writing, keeping in mind, the good of the organization and of its individual members.

SECTION IV - Termination of Membership

A person shall cease to be a member of the Association:

  1. by delivering her/his resignation in writing to the secretary of LPM or by mailing or
    delivering it to the address of LPM;

  2. on her/his death;

  3. on having been a member not in good standing for 12 consecutive months (usually for not paying dues);

  4. on being expelled;

  5. in the case of the corporation being dissolved.

SECTION V - Violation of the Rules;

Upon a complaint of violation by a member of Items A-F inclusive of Section III to the Executive, the Executive shall designate a member to discuss the violation with the offending member and to report back to the Executive on the results of such discussion.

The Executive, upon receipt of a report which recommends the revocation of membership, shall offer the opportunity to the member against whom the complaint has been lodged to be heard by all the Executive Committee.

  1. In the event that after such hearing, the Executive passes a motion to revoke the
    membership of the member, the motion shall be placed before the general membership at the next regular meeting for ratification.

  2. In the event that following such hearing it is determined that further action is not required both parties, the plaintiff and the defendant, shall be notified.

SECTION VI - Meetings;

There will be an Annual Meeting held early in January, at a convenient time and place, to elect a new LPM Executive.

  1. All other meetings shall also be held at times and places as pre-agreed by a majority of members.

  2. Special meetings of members may be called when a regular meetings has not been held for a period of three consecutive months by a group of five voting members in good standing who shall be authorized to call a meeting.

  3. An emergency meeting may be called by an executive member in the absence of the President or Vice-President.

  4. In the event that it becomes necessary during the ensuing year to change the time and/or place of a meeting, this change shall be made by the Executive committee and the members shall be notified of the change.

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ARTICLE VII - EXECUTIVE

SECTION I - Officers;

The officers of the L.P.M. Executive shall be as follows:

  1. President

  2. Vice-President

  3. Treasurer

  4. Secretary

who shall be chosen from the Regular Member Class. The executive will be assisted by three Trustees, two of whom shall be Associate Members.

In the event that there are insufficient regular members available, or willing, to assume the above executive positions, such positions shall be filled by election of non-regular members in good status. In the event that at the Annual Meeting the members of L.P.M. are unable to elect one or more of the executive and trustee positions, the President elected may appoint one or more members in good status from the general membership for the executive positions.

SECTION II - Nominations and Elections;

  1. Nominations and elections for the executive shall be held at the annual meeting in each year.

  2. An election may be by acclamation if there is only one nominee for the position who accepted the nomination. Otherwise, having two or more candidates for a given position the selection of the candidate shall be by secret ballot. The successful candidate shall be the person receiving the highest number of votes.

SECTION III - Term of Office;

  1. Each office shall be held for a period of one year and officers and trustees will take their positions in office at the first meeting after the annual meeting.

  2. Term of office will expire at the Annual Meeting that elects the new officers.

SECTION IV - Succession of President;

The order of Succession to Presidency in case of vacancy is:

  1. The Vice-President shall succeed the President.

  2. The filling of all other vacancies shall be at the discretion of the new President, either by appointment or election among the executive members. The term of office shall expire at the next Annual Meeting.

SECTION V - Duties;

  1. President: He or she shall preside at all meetings of the members. He or she shall keep in touch with all problems, shall appoint all temporary committees necessary to further the work of L.P.M. and the interest of the members. He or she shall vote only in the case of a tie.

  2. Vice-President: He or she shall in the absence of the President assume the duties of the President, in particular, shall chair regular and executive meetings. Shall assist the President wherever possible.

  3. Secretary: He or she shall attend and record all general meetings and executive committee meetings, execute all such writings as may be required. The functions of executing the members' by-laws, annual membership, along with the duties of historian, shall be co-ordinated, but not necessarily done by the Secretary.

  4. Treasurer: He or she shall keep a full and complete record of all L.P.M.'s financial transactions, all moneys received and disbursed. These records will be open to review anytime. The Treasurer shall deposit all funds to the club's credit in a chartered financial institution as determined by the Executive.

  5. Trustees: They will assist in planning, organizing, and implementing club activities. They also act as auditors in the preparation of financial statements.

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ARTICLE VI - SPECIAL POSITIONS

SECTION 1 - Family Coordinator

The family coordinator will be one of the parents of little children and will be responsible for:

  1. organizing and participating in the first personal contact between LPM and the parents of a new born or young little persons;

  2. research and prepare updated information materials on “Dwarfism” to be distributed among LPM members and potential members and families;

  3. interact and liaison with doctors and the medical profession in issues of common interest;

  4. reach out into the community for little people children and their families.

This position will be filled by election on every third regular Annual Meeting. A second consecutive period can be served by the family coordinator member when ratified at the Annual Meeting.

SECTION II - LPM Youth Coordinator

The Youth Coordinator position must be filled by a teenager or young adult who is a little person and a LPM member in good standing. He or she will be elected for a period of two years renewable for a second period of two more years at a regular Annual Meeting.

The youth Coordinator will be responsible for organizing appropriate activities for the young members, serve as a role model, and display leadership in representing the young LPM members in Manitoba and Canada.

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ARTICLE VII - EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

SECTION I - Membership;

The Executive Committee consists of the four officers of L.P.M. and the three Trustees.

SECTION II - Duties;

The Executive Committee shall do such acts and perform such duties as shall be specified in these by-laws.

SECTION III - Meetings and Quorum;

The Executive Committee shall hold such meetings as it deems necessary upon such notice as it shall from time to time determine necessary and a majority of the committee shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business of the committee. A majority vote of the quorum at any meeting shall be the act and deed of the committee.

SECTION IV - Acts Without a Meeting;

The Executive Committee may under such rules as it may from time to time prescribe, perform any or all of its acts or duties by telephone, mail, telegram, or fax without the necessity of a personal meeting.

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ARTICLE VIII - DUES

SECTION I - Dues;

Membership dues shall be annual in nature and shall be in an amount to be determined by the Executive and presented for ratification at the Annual Meeting in each year.

SECTION II - Collection of Dues;

Membership dues shall be payable at the first regular meeting following the annual meeting in each year.

ARTICLE IX - FUNDS

SECTION I - Sources of Income;

  1. Membership dues.

  2. Donations.

  3. Miscellaneous sources, fund raising ventures, and grants

SECTION II - Disbursements;

  1. General operating expenses.

  2. Cost of publishing and mailing the newsletter.

  3. Cost of publishing and mailing a members’ handbook and an annual membership list for new members.

  4. Cost of other publications including stationary, brochures and postage.

  5. Such other items as approved by the membership.

SECTION III - Records;

Records of all financial transactions shall be maintained in accordance with accepted accounting principles and made available for review at all meetings.

SECTION IV - Banking;

  1. An account or accounts shall be maintained in a chartered financial institute as designated by the Executive and all income shall be deposited to the said account and all disbursements shall be disbursed by cheque from the said account.

  2. The signing authority shall be the Treasurer and one of the President or Vice- President of the organisation.

ARTICLE X - AMENDMENTS

Any amendments to these by-laws must be handled on the basis of the following procedures:

  1. All amendment proposals from the membership, must be submitted in writing and signed by not less than 3 members in good status. The proposal will be referred to a by-law Committee appointed by the President.

  2. The amendment must be read as proposed at two (2) consecutive meetings with a committee report must be presented. Immediately following the second reading, a vote shall be taken on the amendment.

  3. Minimum 14 day notice must be given to the membership in writing specifying the time, date, and place of the second reading, and the vote to be taken on the amendment.

  4. Each proposal must be considered and voted upon separately. A majority affirmative vote by those present and voting is needed for adoption.

ARTICLE X - DISSOLUTION OF LPM Inc.

If, upon the dissolution of the Association and after all debts and liabilities of the Association are satisfied, there remains any property whatsoever, title to same shall be transferred to a similar and active Little People organization in Canada as may be determined by the members of the Association at the time of the dissolution.


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Submitted to LPM membership for first reading and discussion on January 21, 2007

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