Article II – Membership
II.1 There shall be one category of membership.
II.2 Member organizations shall include all Sexual Assault Centres which are recognized as being in accordance with the aforementioned criteria and which are ratified at the Annual General Meeting.
II.3 Sexual Assault Centres wishing membership in the Canadian Association shall apply to the Association through the regional representative in their region. The centre shall signify in writing to the Representative Committee their agreement with the philosophies, goals and policies of the Canadian Association of Sexual Assault Centres. The regional representative in conjunction with the local centre(s) who have helped in the formation and training of the new centre will make a recommendation for endorsement after ensuring that the proposed centre does conform to the philosophy, goals, and criteria necessary for membership as per preamble and Article I.
The Representative Committee shall review and make recommendations on all applications for membership.
Sexual Assault Centres recommended by the Representative Committee for membership shall have all the privileges, rights and responsibilities of member centre of the Canadian Association.
If endorsement is refused, the recommendation may be appealed as per procedure outlined in 3.1 of the constitution.
Membership shall be ratified at the Annual General Meeting. Sexual Assault Centres accepted for membership shall receive immediate voice and vote at the Annual General Meeting.
II.4 Responsibilities of membership shall be:
a) to participate in the election, institution, supervision and evaluation of their regional representative;
b) to maintain communication with regional representative;
c) to have representation at regional meetings;
d) to take an active part in the regional Decision Making Process;
e) to inform the regional representatives of pertinent issues and concerns of centre members and sexual assault victims in their area;
f) to inform regional representative of changes in centre status and policies (ie. constitutional changes, new mailing address);
g) to provide support for and work towards the implementation of Canadian Association goals, and policies by:
i) ensuring that all members of member centres are familiar with the Canadian Association’s goals, objectives, policies, structures and resources;
ii) supporting Canadian Association actions in accordance with centre intesrests and priorities;
iii) utilizing the existing Canadian Association structures (name, regional representative, newsletters) and mechanisms as a resource for work within their communities in accordance with centre interests and priorities;
iv) supporting areas of Canadian Association policy which may or may not be centre’s priorities by informing their regional representative of issues and events in their communities concerning such policy areas;
h) to contribute whenever possible towards the expenses of their regional representative;
i) to send delegates to the Annual General Meeting whenever possible.
II.5 Member centres shall retain their own autonomy.
II.6 Member centres shall act in the name of the Canadian Association only in accordance with national policy.