Constitution

Constitution Of National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada

Constitution

This constitution is amended and approved by the Council and comes in effect from 2009.  This Constitution has been drafted by the committee set up for this purpose and the committee consists of:

Dr. Bikram Lamba:  Chair
Massood  Mashadi: Member
Neel Nanda:  Member
Stephanie Williams: Member

Contents

  • ARTICLE ONE  The Organization
  • ARTICLE TWO  Goals of the Council
  • ARTICLE THREE   Management of the Council:
  • ARTICLE FOUR  Members:
  • ARTICLE FIVE  MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
  • ARTICLE SIX   POWERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
  • ARTICLE SEVEN  COMMITTEES
  • ARTICLE EIGHT  OFFICERS:
  • ARTICLE NINE  PROTECTION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS:
  • ARTICLE TEN  MEETINGS OF MEMBERS:
  • ARTICLE ELEVEN  FINANCIAL MATTERS:
  • ARTICLE TWELVE  GENERAL RESOLUTIONS:


ARTICLE ONE

The Organization

1.1 Name:  The name of the Council shall be National Ethnic Press and Media Council of Canada. The abbreviated form shall be NEPMCC.

Media shall cover Radio and electronic media and print media shall cover periodicals, newspapers, magazines, journals and any such other publication as may be deemed fit by the Council

1.2 Head Office: The Head Office of the Association shall be situated in the City Of Toronto, in the Province of Ontario, Canada, or at such place as the Board of Directors may from time to time decide

1.3    Mission: To promote and integrate economic, social and culture interest of Ethnic communities into the mainstream of Canadian society; to promote professionalism in the profession, to become a bridge among the diverse communities and the thus enable Canada become a really pluralistic society.

1.4 Objectives:

(a) To promote excellence in journalism in the ethnic media

(b) To promote economic interest of ethnic communities.

(c) To highlight the crucial roles these communities play in socio-economic and cultural life of Canada.

(d) To encourage ethnic communities achieve excellence and to participate fully in Canadian society.

(e) To foster and promote a better understanding and cooperation among the various ethnic groups in Canada.

(f) To gather and disseminate information which will lead to a better understanding and cooperation among the various ethnic groups in Canada and the mainstream society.

(g) To serve as forum for the study and discussion of barriers faced by ethnic groups to integrate fully in to the mainstream society.

(h) To study and interpret Canada’s role in international affairs and its position in relations to all nations dedicated to upholding the ideals of freedom and democracy.

(i) To consider, investigate, and deal with complaints about the conduct of the Ethnic Press and the conduct of persons and organizations towards the Ethnic Press.

ARTICLE TWO

Goals of the Council

2.1 The Ethnic Press Council of Canada shall take the initiative to serve the interests of the Ethnic Media Organizations and to be a means of connecting those Organizations to other media Organizations within the wider society in Canada.

2.2 Organize the activities and to clarify the Goals for the Ethnic Community Media Organizations.

2.3 The Ethnic Press Council of Canada shall participate very clearly in the work towards consolidating the principles of Multiculturalism and full co-operation between its Organizations and other Media Organizations and social and Unity establishments in Canada.

2.4 The Ethnic Press Council of Canada will take the form of a mediator to any conflicts that arise between its members or between any of those members and any other person. The Ethnic Press Council will look into the matter at the earliest meeting of its Board after those concerned or any other member of the organization sends the request.

2.5 Promoting and fostering knowledge about the Ethnic Community and its variety of cultures within the wider society in Canada.

2.6 The Ethnic Press Council of Canada will commit itself to the defence of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms as part of the Canadian Constitution and shall take the initiative to promote the basic principles of Human Rights as presented in the International Declaration of Human Rights of 1948 by the United Nations.

2.7 The Ethnic Press Council of Canada shall seek and strengthen co-operation between the Ethnic Media and similar organizations.

2.8 The Ethnic Press Council of Canada shall embrace and defend just causes, which concern Ethnic Journalists and Media personnel in Canada, in case they are being exposed to problems as a result of their intellectual, or Media work.

2.9 The Ethnic Press Council of Canada shall create an atmosphere of understanding and dialogue among its members, so they can exercise their Journalistic and Media profession and work in an atmosphere dominated with the spirit of understanding and brotherhood so that they can write, publish and spread their ideas with absolute freedom without resorting to personal attacks or trying to inflame troubles or weaken beliefs or values or spread or publish any destructive ideas which aim is to divide and fragment The Canadian Ethnic Communities in their new Country.

2.10 The Ethnic Press Council of Canada shall encourage unity among Ethnic Communities and promote their social, cultural and political involvement activities.

ARTICLE THREE

Management of the Council:

The Council shall be managed by a Board of Directors and all day to day functioning shall be responsibility of President and CEO

3.1 The President and CEO:

He shall be Chief Executive and shall be elected along with the Board of Directors for a period of 4 years to impart continuity.  The President, and in his absence the First Senior Vice-President, shall be President of any meeting of the Board. If none of such officers is present, the directors present shall appoint one of their number as President. In the event of a tie in the number as against a motion at any meeting of the Board the President of the meeting shall have a second or deciding vote

3.2 Board of Directors:

(a) The affairs of the corporation shall be managed by the board. It shall have up to 17 directors and five (5), Agents general. The members of the Board shall be elected for a period of 2.

(b) Elections for the Board will be held every two years (2), on the second Monday of the Month of March. The elections for the Board shall be between the hours of 6:00 pm and 9:30 pm.

(c) Every publication member of the Council shall have only one vote.  However there can be more than one director from the same publication.

Eligibility:

To be eligible for being elected to the Board, the candidate:

(1) should have been a member, in good standing, for a minimum of one period of two (2) years, prior to the date of the elections;

(2) Be nominated by 2 members of good standing

(3) have no conflict of interest, should have no commercial connection or business relationship with Council nor be a direct supplier or a provider of paid connected services to the Corporation.

(4) In order to assure continuity in the administration for the office of the president only can be candidate members who served at least tow periods in the executive board and shown ability to promote the interests of the organization and its members. Also only publishers and or Editors-In Chief or members representing a TV or Radio station and after the agreement of the administration of the Station can be accepted as a candidate for the office of the President, if he fulfils also provision 4 of this article.

(5) Free lance journalists or members without their own publication can be elected to the board, although they have no right to vote for the election of the new board.

3.3 Moderator:

The meetings of the Council shall be presided over by a Moderator who shall be elected along with members of the Board for a period of 2 years

3.4 Removal from the Board:

  • Any  Elected member of the Board of Director who is absent for three consecutive meetings without any serious reason, shall automatically  lose the.
  • The Council passes a vote of no confidence
  • He is declared insolvent, or is convicted of a crime
  • Has proven conflict of interest
  • Has been found guilty of unprofessional conduct

3.5:Seal

a) The Corporation shall have a corporate Seal of such design, as the Board shall determine.

b) The President or the Acting President and the Secretary of the Corporation shall sign all instruments to which the Seal of the Association must be affixed.

3.6 Flag:  The flag of the Council shall always be displayed at all functions.

ARTICLE FOUR

4.1 Members:

(a) The membership of the council is open to people who are/or have been involved in the Ethnic Media.

(b) The Board of Directors from time to time may invite people of goodwill who share the objectives of the corporation and are willing to promote the interests of the corporation, to be members.

(c) All membership rights and privileges shall commence for a new member when that person is on the membership list of the national office. All rights and privileges of renewing members shall commence when the membership is renewed on the membership list of the national office.

(d) All active members of the Corporation representing a medium, shall be qualified to be elected as directors or officers of the Corporation and its Chapters and to vote at all annual or special general meetings of the Corporation and its Chapters.

(e) Any member may withdraw from the Corporation by delivering to the Corporation a written resignation.

(f) If a member fails to pay his/her annual membership fee after the expiry of twelve (12) months, he/she shall automatically forfeit membership.

Categories and Fees: 

The membership of the Council shall be:

Category

Fee for 1 yearFee for 2 yearsLife membershipFull member
$35$70$1500For 1 member
$70$140$3000For 2 members
$30$60 Associate members
$1000$1500$9500Corporate membership

ARTICLE FIVE

MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS

5.1 Calling of Meetings: Meetings of the Board for the transaction of such business as may properly come before such meetings may be held at such time and place as the Board may determine. Meetings of the Board may also be called at any time by three (3) directors, one of who shall be the President or the Vice-President of the Board, and shall be held at the principal office of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada in Ontario at such time as shall be determined by the person or persons calling the meeting.

5.2 First Meeting of the New Board: Provided a quorum of directors be present, each newly-elected Board may without notice hold its first meeting immediately following the meeting of members at which such Board is elected.

5.3 Regular Meetings: The Board may appoint a day or days in any month or months for regular meetings at a place and hour to be named.

5.4 Observers at Meetings: In the event that a director cannot be present at any meeting of the Board, he may designate, in a written instrument filed with the secretary of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada, a representative to act as observer at such meeting. Observers may attend and join in the discussions at any meeting of the Board but shall not be entitled to notice thereof, shall not have the right to vote thereat and shall not be counted as directors for quorum or any other purposes.

5.5 Notice: Written notice shall be given of the time and place of each meeting of the Board and the time, place and purpose of, and person or persons calling, each special meeting of the Board. Such notices shall be given to each director addressed to him at his address as it appears on the records of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada not less than fourteen (14) days before the scheduled date of the meeting. No notice of any meeting need be given, however, to any director who shall attend such meeting or who waives notice thereof in writing before or at such meeting, and no notice need be given of any meeting which is adjourned to be reconvened at another time, provided that the time and place of the reconvened meeting is announced at the meeting at which adjournment is taken. Any business may be transacted at any meeting of the Board, notwithstanding that the notice of such meeting does not specify such business as one of the purposes thereof. Any business, which might have been transacted at a meeting, may be transacted at any reconvened meeting.

5.7 Quorum: Except as otherwise required by law, the presence at any meeting of the Board of fifty percent (50%) of the total number of directors, shall be necessary and sufficient to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, a majority of the directors present, or, if no director is present, any officer of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada Present, may adjourn the meeting for a period of time not exceeding twenty (20) Days and thereafter from time to time for periods not exceeding twenty (20) Days, provided that the meeting shall not be adjourned to a date beyond the date of the next meeting of the Board.

5.8 Voting: Each director shall have one (1) vote at all meetings of the Board. Except as otherwise required by law or as hereinafter provided, all matters shall be decided by a majority vote of the directors present at the meeting.

ARTICLE SIX

POWERS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

6.1 General: The affairs, activities and property of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada shall be managed, directed and controlled by the Board, except as otherwise provided by law or by the Ethnic Press Council’s charter or by laws.

6.2 Gifts, etc: The directors shall have the power to take such steps as they may deem requisite to enable the corporation to require, accept, solicit or receive legacies, gifts, grants, settlements, bequests, endowments and donations of any kind whatsoever for the purpose of furthering the objects of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada.

6.3 Borrowing of Money: The directors may from time to time:

a) Borrow money upon the credit of the corporation;

b) Limit or increase the amount to be borrowed;

c) Issue debentures or other securities of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada;

d) Pledge or sell such debentures or other securities for such sums at such prices as may be deemed expedient;

e) Secure any such debentures, or other securities, or any other present or future borrowing or liability of the Ethnic Press Council, by mortgage, hypothec, charge or pledge of all or any currently owned or subsequently acquired real and personal, moveable and immovable, property of the Ethnic Press Council and the undertaking and rights of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada; and may delegate all or any such powers to two (2) or More of the officers and/or directors of the corporation to such extent and in Such manner as may be provided by the directors at the time of each such delegation.

ARTICLE SEVEN

COMMITTEES

The General Assembly:

7.1 Contains all members of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada. The general assembly shall hold its meetings no less than three times a year, upon a call from the Ethnic Press Council’s Executive Committee. The general assembly shall discuss, in its meetings, the Ethnic Press Council’s Annual Program; its plans, Policies and any proposals presented to it. It shall take decisions and present any recommendations to the Ethnic Press Council of Canada’s Executive Committee. The quorum of the general assembly will be fifty (50%) plus one (1) of the members present. In case the quorum is not complete, a call for the meeting shall be renewed within two weeks, and if a quorum is not complete for the Third time, the general assembly shall hold the meeting with those members who answered the call and who are present one hour past the determined Time for the meeting. The general assembly of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada may call a Special meeting, upon the consent of the Executive Committee, to discuss any matters that are related to the Ethnic Press Council. An endorsed official Request must be presented by at least presented twenty five (25%) of the Council membership, as a minimum requirement, in order for the special Meeting to be held.

7.2 Executive Committee: The Board may from time to time elect from among its member an executive committee consisting of a minimum of five (5) people.

a) Powers: During the intervals between the meetings of the Board, the Executive Committee shall possess and may exercise all the powers of the Board in the management, direction and control of the affairs, activities and property of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada in such manner as the Executive Committee shall deem best for the interests of The corporation and in all cases in which specific direction shall not have Been given by the Board, May from time to time impose; provided that The Executive Committee shall have no authority to:

(i) Do anything as must by law be performed by the Board itself;

(ii) Submit to members any question or matter requiring the approval of members;

(iii) Approve the budget; and

(iv) Adopt, amend or repeal by – Laws.

b) Term of Office: Each member of the executive committee shall serve until his successor shall have been appointed or until he ceases to be a director, whichever shall first occur.

c) Notice: All member of the Executive Committee must receive seven (7) days written notice, other then by mail, of each meeting of the Executive Committee. Notice by mail shall be sent at least fourteen (14) days prior to the meeting. No error or omission in giving notice of any meeting of the Executive Committee of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada shall invalidate such meeting or make void any proceeding taken thereat and any member of such committee may at any time waive notice of any such meeting and may ratify, approve and confirm any or all proceedings taken or had thereat.

d) Resignation: Any member of the Executive Committee may resign at any time by delivering a written resignation to the Secretary. Any such resignation shall take effect upon delivery unless otherwise specified therein to take effect at a later date.

e) Removal: The Board may remove any member of the executive Committee at any time.

f) Vacancies: Any vacancy of the Executive Committee may be filled by the Board from among its members or, for the interval prior to the first meeting of the Board after the vacancy occurs, by the Executive Committee.

g) Procedures: Subject to any restrictions or regulations imposed from time to time by the Board, the Executive Committee may fix its own rules of procedure. The President of the Board shall be the President of the Executive Committee. At any meeting of the Executive Committee, Matters, unless otherwise required by law, shall be decided by a majority of those present and a majority of committee members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

h) Meetings: Meetings of the Executive Committee may be held at the head office of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada. The Executive Committee shall keep minutes of its meeting in which shall be recorded all action taken by it, which minutes shall be submitted as soon as practicable to the Board.

i) Remuneration: Member of the Executive Committee shall receive no remuneration for serving as such but are entitled to reasonable expense incurred in the exercise of their duty.

7.3 Other Committees: The Board or, if authorized by the Board, the Executive Committee, may from time to time appoint other Committees which shall have such membership and such functions as the Executive Committee, as the case may be, from time to time may determine. Subject to any restrictions or regulations of the Board or the executive Committee, as the case may be, each such committee may appoint its own chairman and other officers and may fix its own rules of procedure. The Board or the executive Committee, in the case of committees appointed by the Executive Committee, may abolish any such committee at any time. Committee members shall receive no remuneration for serving as such, but are to be reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in the exercise of their duty. The Board can remove any member.

ARTICLE EIGHT

OFFICERS:

8.1 Titles and Qualifications: The officers of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada shall consist of the Chairman of the Board (the “President”), Senior Vice-President of the Board, the Secretary, the Treasurer and such other officers (including one more Assistant Secretaries and Assistant Treasurers) as the Board may from time to time elect or appoint, who shall perform such duties, exercise such powers determine. The President and the Vice-President shall be chosen from the directors and each may hold office only so long as he remains a Director. Any two (2) or more officers may hold by the same person, except That the same person shall not be President and Vice-President.

8.2 Election and Term of Office: The Board shall elect Officers. The term of office for each officer shall be for a period of two (2) years or until his successor is elected or appointed or until his death, resignation, disqualification or removal, whichever shall first occur.

8.3 Resignation: Subject to contract obligations, if any, any officer may resign at any time by delivering a written resignation to the Secretary. Any such resignation shall take effect upon such delivery unless otherwise specified therein.

8.4 Removal: The Board may remove any officer at any time. Such removal shall be without prejudice to any contract rights of the person so removed.

8.5 Vacancies: The Board may fill any vacancy in any office at any time for the unexposed portion of the term.

8.6 Powers and Duties: The officers of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada shall assume such power and duties, except as may be modified by the Board, as generally pertaining to their respective offices and such other powers and duties as from time to time may be prescribed by the Board. Any officer may be required by the Board to give bond, at the expense of the corporation, for the faithful discharge of his duties, in such form and amount and with such surety as the Board may determine. In furtherance and not in limitation of the generality of the foregoing, and subject to the direction of the Board, the powers and duties of the respective officers shall be as follows:

(a) President: The President shall preside at all meetings of the members And the Board, and shall be the chief executive of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada. Subject to the direction of the Board he/she shall:

(i) Have general charge of the activities, affairs and property of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada.

(ii) Have the power and responsibility to employ, retain, promote, Dismiss and supervise the employees and other agents of the Ethnic Press Council.

(iii) See that all orders and resolutions of the Board are carried into effect; and

(iv) Perform such other duties and have such other powers, not inconsistent with these by-laws, as may be assigned to him from Time to time by the Board.

(b) Vice-President: The first Vice-President shall, at the request or in the Absence or disability of the President, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the President.

(c) Secretary: The Secretary shall:

(i) Have custody of the records and documents of the corporation, which shall at all reasonable times be open to inspection by any Director;

(ii) Have custody of the seal of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada;

(iii) Cause all notices to be duly given in accordance with the provisions of these by-laws and as required by law;

(iv) Keep the minutes of all meetings of the members, the Board and any committees thereof; and

(v) Keep a record of the names and addresses of the members and directors.

(d) Treasurer: The Treasurer shall:

(i) Have care and custody of the funds and securities of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada;

(ii) Deposit all monies received by the Ethnic Press Council of Canada in the Ethnic Press Council of Canada’s bank account in such Banks, trust companies or other depositories as from time to time May be approved by the Board;

(iii) Have charge of the disbursement of the funds of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada in accordance with the directions of the Board;

(iv) Keep complete and correct records of account, including a record of receipts and disbursements of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada. Which shall be at all reasonable times open to inspection by any director; and

(v) Render to the Board whenever requested a report of the financial condition and operations of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada.

(e) Patron: There shall also be the honorary office of Patron. The Patron shall be appointed by the Board after ratification by the General membership.

8.7 Agents and Attorneys: The Board shall have power from time to time to appoint agents or attorneys for the Ethnic Press Council with such power of management or otherwise (including the power to appoint as may be thought Fit).

8.8 Fidelity Bonds: The Board may require such officers, employees and agents of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada as the Board deems advisable to furnish bonds for the faithful discharge of their duties, in such form and which such surety as the Board may from time to time prescribe.

ARTICLE NINE

PROTECTION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS:

9.1 Limitation of Liability: No director or officer of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada. Shall be liable for the acts, receipts, neglects or defaults of any other Director or officer or employee, or for joining in any receipt or other Corporation through the insufficiency or deficiency of title to any property acquired by order of the Board for or on behalf of the Ethnic Press Council, or for the insufficiency or deficiency of any security in or upon which any of The monies of the Ethnic Press Council shall be invested, or for any loss or Damage arising from the bankruptcy, insolvency or tortuous act of any person with whom any of the monies, securities or effects of the Ethnic Press Council shall be deposited, or for any loss occasioned by any error of Judgment or oversight on his part, or for any other loss, damage or misfortune whatever which shall happen in the execution of the duties of his Office or in relation thereto unless the same shall happen through his own wilful neglect or default.

9.2 Indemnity: Every director and officer of the Ethnic Press Council and his heirs, executors and administrators and estate and effects, respectively, shall from time to time and at all times be indemnified and saved harmless out of the funds of the Ethnic Press Council from and against:

(a) All costs, charges and expenses whatsoever that such director or officer Sustains or incurs in or about any action, suit or proceeding that is brought, commenced or prosecuted against him for or in respect of any Act, deed, matter or thing whatsoever made, done or permitted by him in Or about the execution of the duties of his office; and

(b) All other cost, charges and expenses that he sustains or incurs in or about Or in relation to the affairs of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada; Except such costs, charges or expenses as are occasioned by his own Neglect or default.

ARTICLE TEN

MEETINGS OF MEMBERS:

10.1 Annual Meeting: An annual meeting of the members of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada shall be held not later than eighteen (18) months after The incorporation of the Ethnic Press Council and subsequently at least once In every calendar year and not more than fifteen (15) months after the Holding of the preceding annual meeting. At every annual meeting, in addition to any other business which may properly come before the meeting, the following business shall be transacted:

(a) The Board shall present an annual report detailing the activities of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada during the immediately preceding fiscal Year, which report shall include the financial statement for such fiscal Year prepared in accordance with Canadian generally accepted Accounting principles consistently applied; and

(b) Auditors shall be appointed for the ensuing year and their remuneration shall be fixed by the members or the Board shall be authorized to fix their remuneration.

10.2 Place and Time: The annual meeting of members shall be held at the place and time to be determined by the Board.

10.3 Special Meetings: The Board shall have the power to call for a special meeting of members at any time. The Board shall call a special general meeting of members on written requisition of members carrying not less than thirty percent (30%) of the voting rights.

10.4 Notice of Meeting: Except as otherwise required by law, written notice of each meeting of members shall be given to each member, addressed to such member at the address which appears on the records of the Ethnic Press Council, not less than fourteen ( 14 ) and not more than sixty ( 60 ) days before the scheduled date of such meeting. Each such notice shall state the time and place of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the Purpose for which the meeting is called and by whose order it is Called in order to allow a member to form a reasoned judgment. No notice of any meeting need to be given, however, to any such member who shall attend such meeting or who waives notice thereof in writing before or at such Meeting and no notice need be given of any meeting which is adjourned to be Reconvened at another time, provided that the time and adjournment is taken. No business may be transacted at any special meeting except as specified in the notice thereof. Any business, which might have been transacted at a meeting, may be transacted at any reconvened meeting.

10.5 Meeting Without Notice: A meeting of members may be held at any time and place without notice if all members entitled to vote thereat are present in person or represented by proxy or waive notice or, otherwise consent to, such meetings and matters may be considered which the Ethnic Press Council of Canada at a meeting of members may transact.

10.6 President and Secretary: The President of the Board, if present, shall be President of any meeting of members. If the President is not present within fifteen minutes (15) from the time fixed for holding the meeting, the First Vice-President shall be President. If none of such officers is present at such time, the members present shall choose one of their numbers to be President of the meeting. The Secretary of the Ethnic Press Council shall act as secretary of the meeting. If the Secretary is not present, the President of the meeting shall appoint some other person to act as secretary. In the event of a tie in the number of votes cast for and against a motion, the President of the meeting shall have a second or deciding vote.

10.7 Persons Entitled to Be Present: The only persons entitled to attend a meeting of members shall be those entitled to vote thereat, the auditors of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada and others who, although not entitled to vote, are entitled or required under any provision of the Act or the letters patent or By-laws to be present at the meeting. Any other person may be admitted only on the invitation of the chairman of the meeting or with the consent of the meeting.

10.8 Quorum: Except as otherwise required by law, the members present at any meeting of members entitled to vote thereat, holding at least fifty-one percent (51%) of the votes of all members shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. In the absence of a quorum, a majority of such members present or by proxy or, if no member is present, any officer of the corporation present, may adjourn the meeting for a period of time not exceeding twenty (20) days.

10.9 Voting: Except as otherwise required by law or the charter or by-laws of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada, all matters acted upon at any meeting of the members shall be decided by majority vote of those members entitled to vote. Unless a poll is demanded by any member, every question shall be decided in the first instance by a show of hands and a declaration by the President that a resolution has been carried or not carried and an entry to that effect made in the minutes of the meeting shall be admissible in evidence as Prima facie proof of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of votes cast in favour or against such resolution. The demand for a poll may be Withdrawn, but if a poll is demanded and not withdrawn, the question shall be decided by a majority of votes of the members represented at the meeting and such poll shall be taken in such manner as the President shall direct and the Result of such poll shall be deemed to be the decision of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada with respect to the matter being dealt with. Each voting member shall have the right to exercise one (1) vote.

10.10 Proxies: At any meeting of members a proxy duly and sufficiently appointed by a member shall be entitled to exercise, subject of any restrictions expressed in the instrument which appointed him, the same voting rights that the member appointing him would be entitled to exercise if present at the meeting. Either a form of proxy or a reminder of the right to use a proxy should be attached to the notice of meeting going to all voting members. A proxy must be a member. An instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing and shall be acted on only if, prior to the time of voting, it is deposited with the secretary of the corporation of the meeting or as may be directed in the notice calling the meeting.

10.11 Adjournment: The President at a meeting of members may, with the consent of the meeting and subject to such conditions as the meeting may decide, adjourn the meeting from time to time and from place to place.

ARTICLE ELEVEN

FINANCIAL MATTERS:

11.1 Financial Matters: The Ethnic Press Council of Canada shall depend on Annual membership fees from its members and from unconditional aids, gifts and contributions. All financial aids should be received in an official manner and should be put in the Ethnic Press Council of Canada’s account.

11.2 The Ethnic Press Council of Canada shall open a Bank Account registered in the name of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada All checks written by the Ethnic Press Council of Canada should be endorsed or signed by the President or Vice-President and the Treasurer of the Ethnic Press Council of Canada.

11.3 The new financial year shall begin on January 1st and it will end December 31 of each year.

11.4 In the event of dissolution or winding-up of the Ethnic Press council of Canada, all its remaining assets after payment of its liabilities shall be distributed to one or more organizations in Canada carrying on similar activities.

ARTICLE TWELVE

GENERAL RESOLUTIONS:

12.1 The by – laws or any article of its articles may be amended after a special the executive committee to discuss such amendments calls meeting. Decisions to be taken in regard to such amendments shall be acted upon after they have been agreed upon by not less than two thirds (2/3) of the Votes cast.

12.2 The media pass shall be issued only to members who are active journalists – full time or free lance and have been members for at least 2 years.

12.3 The Board meeting shall be held in camera and in case some member comes to such a meeting, he shall not participate in discussions. However the general meeting shall be open to all.

12.4.    The executive shall meet every month, the Board shall meet every second month and in case there is a round table or a lecture then the general body shall meet after the Board meeting.

12.5 The Council shall adopt an appropriate Privacy policy as per the current laws

12.6 The Council shall adopt a Code of Ethics that shall be observed by the members

12.7 Each member publication shall print “Member of National Ethic Press and Media Council of Canada” on the masthead

12.8 Each member shall wear a pin of the Council. There shall be pins for different members according to their seniority: one for less than 5 years, one for more than but less than 10 years and third for more than 10 years.

12.9 The Logo of the Council shall be used by the member publications to show their membership.