ARTICLE 1 – CRITERIA FOR MEMBERSHIP
1.1 Member centres shall adhere to the policy, objectives and goals of the Canadian Association as stated.
1.2 Each centre shall do one or both of the following:
a) work for social change andprevention of sexual assault through education,
b) sexual assault crisis intervention
a) work for social change andprevention of sexual assault through education,
b) sexual assault crisis intervention
1.3 Member centres shall abide by the following code of ethics and principles:
a) to maintain confidentiality of services
b) to ensure client/victims right to support
c) to ensure client/victim’s right to self-determination
d) to ensure client/victims right to advocacy
e) to ensure client direct services shall remain free of charge
f) to work towards the eradication of myths that perpetrate rape and sexual assault.
a) to maintain confidentiality of services
b) to ensure client/victims right to support
c) to ensure client/victim’s right to self-determination
d) to ensure client/victims right to advocacy
e) to ensure client direct services shall remain free of charge
f) to work towards the eradication of myths that perpetrate rape and sexual assault.
ARTICLE II – MEMBERSHIP
11.1. There shall be one category of membership.
11.2. Member organizations shall include all Sexual Assault Centres which are recognized as being inaccordance with the aforementioned criteria and which are ratified at the Annual General Meeting.
11.3. 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 1.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.
11.4 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; 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 interests 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.
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; 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 interests 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.
11.5 Member centres shall retain their own autonomy.
11.6 Member centres shall act in the name of the Canadian Association only in accordance with national policy.
ARTICLE III – TERMINATION OF MEMBERSHIP
111.1 Membership in the Canadian Association may be terminated by.
a) written resignation to the Representative Committee through their regional representative;
b) the unanimous resolution of members of the Representative Committee to, suspend the membership of the member centre in question until the decision can be ratified at the Annual General Meeting:
b) the unanimous resolution of members of the Representative Committee to, suspend the membership of the member centre in question until the decision can be ratified at the Annual General Meeting:
i) regional representative contacts the centre in question to investigate the complaint,
ii) regional representative is responsible for initiating and carrying out the investigation of the complaint on a regional level,
iii) the Representative Committee is notified of the results of the investigation and makes a recommendation,
iv) if there is a recommendation to suspend membership, the Representative Committee must send a letter by registered mail asking the centre in question to submit a letter of resignation, or request for appeal within 60 days of the date of the letter. No response form the centre shall be considered a resignation,
v) if an appeal is requested, the Representative Committee shall review its recommendation within 60 days,
vi) if the appeal is dismissed, a motion to terminate the membership of the centre in question will be introduced at the Annual General Meeting.
ii) regional representative is responsible for initiating and carrying out the investigation of the complaint on a regional level,
iii) the Representative Committee is notified of the results of the investigation and makes a recommendation,
iv) if there is a recommendation to suspend membership, the Representative Committee must send a letter by registered mail asking the centre in question to submit a letter of resignation, or request for appeal within 60 days of the date of the letter. No response form the centre shall be considered a resignation,
v) if an appeal is requested, the Representative Committee shall review its recommendation within 60 days,
vi) if the appeal is dismissed, a motion to terminate the membership of the centre in question will be introduced at the Annual General Meeting.
111.2 Grounds for complaint against a member group are failure to adhere to the goals, objectives and criteria for membership and/or failure to fulfill responsibilities as members in the Canadian Association (as per 11.4).
111.3 A centre whose membership has been terminated at the Annual General Meeting may reapply for membership in the Canadian Association at a later date. The centre must assure the Canadian Association that it meets the membership criteria. The centre must also signify in writing their agreement with the philosophies, goals and policies of the Canadian Association and their intent to fulfill all responsibilities of membership.