CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF FORCES LINEMEN CONSTITUTION

NAME OF ASSOCIATION

Section 1 - The name of this organization shall be "THE CANADIAN ASSOCIATION OF FORCES LINEMEN", hereinafter referred to as the Lineman's Association.
Section 2 - The Lineman's Association was formed on the basis of a requirement identified by senior CF Linemen and supported in a subsequent survey of active, retired and former Canadian Forces Linemen initiated on 18 December 1986.
Section 3 - The National Headquarters of the Lineman's Association shall be in Ottawa, Canada.

ASSOCIATION ORGANIZATION

Section 1 - For administrative and operational purposes, the territory of the Linemen's Association will be sub-divided into regions. Each region's territory may be further sub-divided into branches.
Section 2 - Each region shall be a constituent part of the Lineman's Association. Each branch's territory shall include the urban and/or suburban areas of the town or city in which it is situated. The membership of a branch shall comprise those members who reside in the branch's territory.
Section 3 - All regional associations and branches shall be governed by the constitution and by-laws of the National Lineman's Association. Regions shall derive their authority from the executive committee of the National Lineman's Association. Regional associations and their constituent branches shall be established or abolished only with the approval of the National LINEMEN's Association executive committee.
Section 4 - Regional Associations and their constituent branches which have been authorized by the Lineman's Association executive committee shall be in accordance with the directory issued annually by the Lineman's Association National Headquarters in Ottawa. This description shall include the name given to each region and/or branch, the territory in which it operates and its headquarters.

PURPOSE

Section 1 - The purpose of the Canadian Association Of Forces Linemen shall be to provide a means of friendly association for serving, retired and former Canadian Forces Linemen, to foster among them a spirit of mutual helpfulness, to uphold the ideas and traditions of the Lineman trade and to promote the happiness, well-being and usefulness of the membership.

MEMBERSHIP

MEMBERSHIP IN THE LINEMEN'S ASSOCIATION SHALL BE VOLUNTARY

Section 1 - Regular Members - Voting member

Regular membership in the Linemen's Association is open to all former and serving Canadian Forces Linemen. The criteria for regular membership is that a member must have passed a Basic Line Course and, if a Communication Reservist, have served for a cumulative period of one year as a Lineman in a Regular Force unit. All applications for membership will be reviewed and approved or refused by the membership committee of the association. Regular members may transfer from one region to another on posting, change of residence, etc.

Section 2 - Associate Membership - Non voting

In cases where personnel who do not meet the requirements for regular membership, they may be granted associate membership at the discretion of the Association Executive Committee, upon receipt of a request that has received the concurrence of the Association Membership Committee. An associate member may wear the Linemen's Association pin, emblem, etc, and shall be entitled to such privileges as the Association Executive Committee may designate. Associate members will be required to pay membership dues. Associate members shall not exceed twenty percent of the regular membership. Associate membership's shall be reviewed annually by the membership committee. The membership committee shall make recommendations annually to the executive committee regarding the renewal, expiration or revocation of associate membership's.
Section 3 - Honorary Membership - Non voting

Honorary membership may be granted to a person making a truly unusual or outstanding contribution to the Line Trade, generally over an extended period of time. Honorary membership in the Linemen's Association must be recommended by the membership committee and approved by the executive committee. Honorary members do not have the right to vote or hold office but will normally be entitled to all other membership privileges and may wear the association pin, emblem, etc. Honourary members shall be exempt from the payment of membership dues. Honourary membership remains in effect for the lifetime of the member.

NATIONAL AND REGIONAL EXECUTIVE COMMITTEES

Section 1 - The executive committee of the national office of the Linemen's Association shall consist of a president, vice president, secretary and a treasurer.

Section 2 - The executive committee of the regional offices of the LINEMEN's Association shall consist of a President, Vice President, Secretary and a Treasurer for each region.

Section 3 - The terms of office for the President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer of both the National and Regional offices of the association shall be for a period of two years or as otherwise directed by the membership during the annual meeting. The term of office for the first President of the Linemen's Association shall be for a two year period while the term for the Vice President will be for a one year period. Subsequent terms of office for the Vice President will follow the normal two-year pattern. The terms of office for the President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer shall commence on the first day of April following their election

Section 4 - No person shall hold the office of President, Vice President, Secretary, or Treasurer for consecutive complete terms unless so directed by the membership during the annual meeting. Executive committee members shall not serve more than one term in the same office, except that; a person who has been appointed to fill a vacancy in such an office for the remainder of the term, may also be nominated and elected to that office for the following term.

Section 5 - Unless provided otherwise herein, executive committee members shall not hold more than one office at any time in the Linemen's Association. This applies to offices at both the National and Regional levels.

COMMITTEES

Section 1 - There shall be standing committees to promote the following activities:
- auditing;
- social activities;
- fellowship committee;
- long range planning committee;
- membership committee;
- nominating committee; and
- information committee.

Section 2 - Other special committees may be established at the discretion of the executive committee of the national or regional office level.

MEETINGS

Section 1 - Association meetings at both the National and Regional levels may be held at the call of its executive committee. A general meeting shall be held at least once per year on petition of not less than fifty percent of the general membership. All members shall be notified at least twenty-one days prior to the meeting. For the annual general meeting at the national level, twenty-five members shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business. For the annual general meeting at the Regional level, forty percent of the regional membership shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Section 2 - The annual general meeting at the Regional level will be held not later than 30 October, on a day and location determined by the executive committee. This date will permit Regional representatives the time needed to prepare submissions for the annual general meeting at the national level.

Section 3 - Regional associations may appoint a delegate or delegates to represent their region for the purposes of voting at the annual general Linemen's Association meeting. The Regional Delegate(s) shall be authorized to represent their region and will be entitled to a proportionate number of votes based on the number of paid up members for their region as of

31 December of the applicable year.

Section 4 - The annual general meeting at the National level will be held during the annual NDHQ Linemen's Seminar and Tasking Meeting.

ADMINISTRATIVE AND FISCAL YEARS

The administrative and fiscal years of the Linemen's Association shall run concurrently, from 01 April to 31 March as established by the association.

REVENUES

Section 1 - Each regular and associate member shall pay to the LINEMEN's Association such applicable fee, membership dues and other fees as are prescribed by the association. Membership dues shall be payable annually as of 01 April. Annual membership dues for each member shall be forwarded to the National Headquarters of the Linemen's Association. The National Headquarters shall reimburse each Regional Headquarters once per annum, a sum equal to fifty percent (50%) of the region's paid up membership dues as of 31 December of the applicable year. Regional Association Headquarters shall in turn reimburse each branch association once per annum, a sum equal to fifty percent (50%) of the branches paid up membership dues as of 31 December of the applicable year. No other assessments shall be levied for membership.

Section 2 - Association funds shall be derived from annual membership dues, donations, entertainment revenues or from such other sources as may be approved by the association executive committees at the National and Regional levels.

AMENDMENTS

Section 1 - Proposed amendments to this constitution and to the By-Laws may be initiated, by the executive committee at the regional or national level or by members, upon presentation of a petition to the applicable executive committee recommending proposed amendments and bearing the signatures of not less than ten percent (10%) of the national or forty percent (40%) of the total regional membership.

Section 2 - Proposed amendments to this constitution and By-Laws affecting the association must receive the endorsement of the applicable Regional executive committee prior to being submitted to the National association office.

Section 3 - Proposed amendments to this constitution and By-Laws, upon receipt of the required approvals, may be adopted at any meeting of the membership by a majority of the members present and voting, provided notice of the proposed amendments was sent to each member at least twenty one days prior to the date of the meeting.