ADnet By-Law Number 1

Table of Contents

REGISTERED OFFICE. 2

SEAL. 2

BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 2

VACANCIES, BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 2

QUORUM AND MEETINGS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 3

ERRORS IN NOTICE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 3

VOTING, BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 3

CODE OF CONDUCT, BOARD OF DIRECTORS. 4

POWERS. 4

REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS. 4

INDEMNIFICATION.. 5

OFFICERS OF CORPORATION.. 5

DUTIES OF PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT. 5

DUTIES OF SECRETARY.. 6

DUTIES OF TREASURER.. 6

DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR.. 6

DUTIES OF OTHER OFFICERS. 6

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE. 6

EXECUTION OF DOCUMENTS. 7

BOOKS AND RECORDS. 7

MEMBERSHIP. 7

ANNUAL AND OTHER MEETINGS OF MEMBERS. 8

ERROR OR OMISSION IN NOTICE. 9

ADJOURNMENTS. 9

QUORUM OF MEMBERS. 9

VOTING OF MEMBERS. 9

FINANCIAL YEAR.. 10

CHEQUES, ETC. 10

DEPOSITS OF SECURITIES FOR SAFEKEEPING.. 10

NOTICE. 10

RULES AND REGULATIONS. 11

BORROWING.. 11

INTERPRETATION.. 11

BY-LAW No. 1

 A by-law relating generally to the transaction of the affairs of Algoma District Community Network.

BE IT ENACTED as a by-law of Algoma District Community Network as follows:

 REGISTERED OFFICE

1. The Head Office of the Corporation shall be in the City of Sault Ste. Marie, in the Province of Ontario, and at such place therein as the directors may from time to time determine.

SEAL

2. The seal, an impression whereof is stamped in the margin hereof, shall be corporate seal of the Corporation.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

3. The affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by a board of twelve(12) directors elected from and by the members. All elected directors represent the Algoma District, regardless of their constituency. At least 2 of the elected Board members must work and reside outside the city limits of SSM and at least 2 of the elected Board members must work and reside within the city limits of SSM.

At the first annual meeting one half of the directors shall be elected for a one year term and one half of the directors for a two year term with subsequent elections to be for a two year term. The election may be by a show of hands unless a ballot be demanded by any member.

The members of the Corporation may, by resolution passed by at least two-thirds of the votes cast at a general meeting of which notice specifying the intention to pass such resolution has been given, remove any director before the expiration of his term of office, and may, by a majority of the votes cast at that meeting, elect any person instead for the remainder of his term. 

VACANCIES, BOARD OF DIRECTORS

4. Vacancies on the Board of Directors, however caused, may, so long as a quorum of directors remain in office, be filled by the directors from among the qualified members of the Corporation, if they shall see fit to do so, otherwise such vacancy shall be filled at the next annual meeting of the members at which the directors for the ensuing year are elected, but if there is not a quorum of directors, the remaining directors shall forthwith call a meeting of the members to fill the vacancy. If the number of directors is increased between the terms, a vacancy or vacancies, to the number of the authorized increase, shall thereby be deemed to have occurred, which may be filled in the manner above provided.

QUORUM AND MEETINGS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS

5. A majority of the directors shall form a quorum for the transaction of business. Except as otherwise required by law, the board of directors may hold its meetings at such place or places as it may from time to time determine. No formal notice of any such meeting shall be necessary if all the directors are present, or if those absent have signified their consent to the meeting being held in their absence.

Directors' meetings may be formally called by the President or Vice-President or by the Secretary on direction of the President or Vice President, or by the Secretary on direction in writing of two directors.

Notice of such meetings shall be delivered, telephoned, telegraphed or communicated electronically to each director not less than two working days before the meeting is to take place or shall be mailed to each director not less than five working days before the meeting is to take place. The statutory declaration of the Secretary or President that notice has been given pursuant to this by-law shall be sufficient and conclusive evidence of the giving of such notice. 

The board may appoint a day or days in any month or months for regular meetings at an hour to be named and of such regular meeting no notice need be sent. A directors' meeting may also be held, without notice, immediately following the annual meeting of the Corporation. The directors may consider or transact any business either special or general at any meeting of the board.

A director may participate in a meeting of the Board or committee of the board by means of a conference telephone or other communications facility as permits and such means shall be deemed for all purposes to be present at the meeting.

ERRORS IN NOTICE, BOARD OF DIRECTORS

6. No error or omission in giving such notice for a meeting of directors shall invalidate such meeting or invalidate or make void any proceedings taken or had at such meeting and any director may at any time waive notice of any such meeting and may ratify and approve of any or all proceedings taken or had thereat.

VOTING, BOARD OF DIRECTORS

7. Questions arising at any meeting of directors shall be decided by consensus of those present at the meeting of Directors and eligible to vote. In the event that there is no consensus, and such consensus cannot be reached within three (3) days of the vote of the meeting of Directors, the matter may be approved by a vote of two-thirds (2/3) of the Directors eligible to vote.

All votes at such meeting shall be taken by ballot if so demanded by any director present, but if no demand be made, the vote shall be taken in the usual way by assent or dissent. A declaration by the Chairman that a resolution has been carried and an entry to that effect in the minutes shall be admissible in evidence as prima facie proof of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against such resolution. In the absence of the President his duties may be performed by the Vice President or such other director as the board may from time to time appoint for the purpose.

CODE OF CONDUCT, BOARD OF DIRECTORS

8. There shall be a conflict of interest and code of conduct statement for Members, Directors and Officers, as shall from time to time be fixed by the Board of Directors, which shall become effective only when confirmed by the members at an annual or other general meeting.

POWERS

9. The directors of the Corporation may administer the affairs of the Corporation in all things and make or cause to be made for the Corporation, in its name, any kind of contract which the Corporation may lawfully enter into and, save as hereinafter provided, generally, may exercise all such other powers and do all such other acts and things as the Corporation is by its charter or otherwise authorized to exercise and do.

Without in any way derogating from the foregoing, the directors are expressly empowered, from time to time, to purchase, lease or otherwise acquire, alienate, sell, exchange or otherwise dispose of shares, stocks, rights, warrants, options and other securities, lands, buildings and other property, movable or immovable, real or personal, or any right or interest therein owned by the Corporation, for such consideration and upon such terms and conditions as they may deem advisable.

Without limiting the generality of the foregoing , the Board shall have the power to:

1. Authorize expenditures on behalf of the Corporation from time to time and may delegate by resolution to an officer or officers of the Corporation the right to employ and pay salaries,

2. Raise and make expenditures of funds for the purpose of furthering the objects of the Corporation,

3. Appoint such agents as it deems necessary from time to time and those agents shall have such authority and shall perform such duties as are prescribed by the Board at the time of their appointment.

REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS

10. Subject to the approval of the Members, Directors may receive such reasonable remuneration allowable under the laws of Ontario from time to time and shall receive reimbursement of such expenses pre-approved at the meeting of Directors.

 INDEMNIFICATION

11.  Every director and officer of the Corporation and his or her heirs, executors and administrators, and estate and effects, respectively may, with the consent of the Corporation given at any of the meeting of the Members, from time to time and at all times, be indemnified and saved harmless out of the funds of the Corporation, from and against:

(a) all costs, charges and expenses whatsoever that he, she or it sustains or incurs in or about any action, suit or proceeding that is brought, commenced or prosecuted against him, her or it, for or in respect of any act, deed, matter or thing whatsoever, made, done or permitted by him, her or it, in or about the execution of the duties of his, her or its office; and

(b) all other costs, charges and expenses that he, she or it sustains or incurs in or about or in relation to the affairs thereof, except such costs, charges or expenses as are occasioned by his, her or its own wilful neglect or default. The Corporation shall provide reasonable liability insurance for Directors.

OFFICERS OF CORPORATION

12. There shall be a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer or in lieu of a Secretary and Treasurer, a Secretary-Treasurer, and an Executive Director and such other officers as the board of directors may determine by by-law from time to time. One person may hold more than one office except the offices of President and Vice-President. The President and Vice President shall be elected by the board of directors from among their number at the first meeting of the board after the annual election of such board of directors, provided that in default of such election the then incumbents, being members of the board, shall hold office until their successors are elected. The Executive Director shall be appointed by the Board of Directors under such terms and conditions as may from time to time be agreed to in writing between the Executive Director and the authorized officers of the Corporation.

DUTIES OF PRESIDENT AND VICE-PRESIDENT

13. The President shall, when present, preside at all meetings of the members of the Corporation and of the board of directors. The President shall also be charged with overseeing  the Executive Director carries out his duties in a diligent, professional and effective manner and take such actions as deemed necessary to safeguard the general management and supervision of the affairs and operations of the Corporation. The President with the Secretary or other officer appointed by the board for the purpose shall sign all the by-laws and membership certificates. During the absence or inability of the President, his duties and powers may be exercised by the Vice President, and if the Vice President, or such other director as the board may from time to time appoint for the purpose, exercises any such duty or power, the absence or inability of the President shall be presumed with reference thereto.

 

DUTIES OF SECRETARY

14. The Secretary shall be ex officio clerk of the board of directors. He shall attend all meetings of the board of directors and record all facts and minutes of all proceedings in the books kept for that purpose. He shall give all notices required to be given to members and directors. He shall be the custodian of the seal of the Corporation and of all books, papers, records, correspondence, contracts and other documents belonging to the Corporation which he shall deliver up only when authorized by a resolution of the board of directors to do so and to such person or persons as may be named in the resolution, and he shall perform such other duties as may from time to time be determined by the board of directors.

DUTIES OF TREASURER

15. The Treasurer, or person performing the usual duties of a Treasurer, shall keep full and accurate accounts of all receipts and disbursements of the Corporation in proper books of account and shall deposit all moneys or other valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the Corporation in such bank or banks as may from time to time be designated by the board of directors. He shall disburse the funds of the Corporation under the direction of the board of directors, taking proper vouchers therefor and shall render to the board of directors at the regular meetings thereof or whenever required of him, an account of all his transactions as Treasurer, and of the financial position of the Corporation. He shall also perform such other duties as may from time to time be determined.

DUTIES OF EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

16. The Executive Directors shall be charged with the general management and supervision of the affairs and operations of the Corporation. The Executive Director shall have the power to bind the Corporation in accordance with Section 18 – Execution of Documents subject to any restrictions that may from time to time be imposed by the Board of Directors. The Executive Director shall be a member of the Executive Committee and any other committees to which he may from time to time be appointed.

DUTIES OF OTHER OFFICERS

17. The duties of all other officers of the Corporation shall be such as the terms of their engagement call for or the board of directors requires of them.

 

EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE

18. There shall be an Executive Committee and such committees of the Corporation as the board considers necessary to assist in carrying out the objects of the Corporation and to appoint the chairmen and members of such committees and fix any remuneration if any to be paid to committee members.

The Executive Committee shall be comprised of the President, Vice-President, Secretary-Treasurer, Executive Director and two members at large. Between meetings of the Board, the Executive Committee may conduct the Corporation business and affairs, except it shall not make or alter Bylaws, or amend or appeal resolutions of the Board. A majority of the Executive Committee shall constitute a quorum.

EXECUTION OF DOCUMENTS

19. Deeds, transfers, licences, contracts and engagements on behalf of the Corporation shall be signed by either the President, Vice President or Executive Director and by the Secretary, and the Secretary shall affix the seal of the Corporation to such instruments as require the same.

Contracts in the ordinary course of the Corporation's operations may be entered into on behalf of the Corporation by the President, Vice President, Treasurer, Executive Director or any person authorized by the board.

The President, Vice President, the directors, Secretary or Treasurer, or any one of them, or any person or persons from time to time designated by the board of directors may transfer any and all shares, bonds or other securities from time to time standing in the name of the Corporation in its individual of any other capacity or as trustee or otherwise and may accept in the name and on behalf of the Corporation transfers of shares, bonds or other securities from time to time transferred to the Corporation, and may affix the corporate seal to any such transfers or acceptances of transfers, and may make, execute and deliver under the corporate seal any and all instruments in writing necessary or proper for such purposes, including the appointment of an attorney or attorneys to make or accept transfers of shares, bonds or other securities on the books of any company or corporation.

Notwithstanding any provisions to the contrary contained in the by-laws of the Corporation, the board of directors may at any time by resolution direct the manner in which, and the person or persons by whom, any particular instrument, contract or obligations of the Corporation may or shall be executed.

BOOKS AND RECORDS

20. The directors shall see that all necessary books and records of the Corporation required by the by-laws of the Corporation or by any applicable statute or law are regularly and properly kept.

MEMBERSHIP

21. The membership shall consist of the applicants for the incorporation of the Corporation and such other organizations and other legal entities as are admitted as members by the board of directors. A member of the Corporation is an individual or organisation in good standing and who have paid the required dues or fees.

An organization shall name a designate and alternate(s) to represent the organization in the affairs of the Corporation.

Members may resign by resignation in writing which shall be effective upon acceptance thereof by the board of directors.

In case of resignation, a member shall remain liable for payment of any assessment or other sum levied or which became payable by him to the corporation prior to acceptance of his resignation.

Each member in good standing shall be entitled to one vote on each question arising at any special or general meeting of the members save and except for members aged sixteen (16) years and younger. Corporations, partnerships and other legal entities may vote through a duly authorized proxy.

Each member shall promptly be informed by the Secretary of his admission as a member.

There shall be dues or fees payable by members, as shall from time to time be fixed by the board of directors, which shall become effective only when confirmed by the members at an annual or other general meeting.

The Secretary shall notify the members of the dues or fees at any time payable by them and, if any are not paid within 30 days of the date of such notice the members in default shall thereupon automatically cease to be members of the Corporation, but any such members may on payment of all unpaid dues or fees be reinstated by unanimous vote of the board of directors.

ANNUAL AND OTHER MEETINGS OF MEMBERS

22. The annual or any other general meeting of the members shall be held at the head office of the Corporation or elsewhere in Ontario as the board of directors may determine and on such day as the said directors shall appoint.

At every annual meeting, in addition to any other business that may be transacted, the report of directors, the financial statements and the report of the auditors shall be presented and a board of directors elected and auditors appointed for the ensuing year and the remuneration of the auditors shall be fixed. The members may consider and transact any business either special or general without any notice thereof at any meeting of the members. The board of directors or the President or Vice President shall have power to call at any time a general meeting of the members of the Corporation. No public notice nor advertisement of members' meetings, annual or general, shall be required, but notice of the time and place of every such meeting shall be given to each member by sending the notice by prepaid mail, telegraph or electronic notice, ten days before the time fixed for the holding of such meeting; provided that any meetings of members may be held at any time and place without such notice if all the members of the Corporation are present thereat or represented by proxy duly appointed, and at such meeting any business may be transacted which the Corporation at annual or general meetings may transact.

 

ERROR OR OMISSION IN NOTICE

23. No error or omission in giving notice of any annual or general meeting or any adjourned meeting, whether annual or general, of the members of the Corporation shall invalidate such meeting or make void any proceedings taken thereat and any member may at any time waive notice of any such meeting and may ratify, approve and confirm any or all proceedings taken or had thereat. For the purpose of sending notice to any member, director or officer for any meeting or otherwise, the address of any member, director or officer shall be his last address recorded on the books of the Corporation.

ADJOURNMENTS

24. Any meetings of the Corporation or of the directors may be adjourned to any time and from time to time and such business may transacted at such adjourned meeting as might have been transacted at the original meeting from which such adjournment took place. No notice shall be required of any such adjournment. Such adjournment may be made notwithstanding that no quorum is present.

QUORUM OF MEMBERS

25. A quorum for the transaction of business at any meeting of members shall consist of not less than three members present in person or represented by proxy; provided that in no case can any meeting be held unless there are two members present in person.

VOTING OF MEMBERS

26. Subject to the provisions, if any, contained in the Letters Patent of the Corporation, each member of the Corporation shall at all meetings of members be entitled to one vote and he may vote by proxy. Such proxy need not himself be a member but before voting shall produce and deposit with the Secretary sufficient appointment in writing from his constituent or constituents. No member shall be entitled either in person or by proxy to vote at meetings of the Corporation unless he had paid all dues or fees, if any, then payable by him.

At all meetings of members every question shall be decided by a majority of the votes of the members present in person or represented by proxy unless otherwise required by the by-laws of the Corporation, or by law. Every question shall be decided in the first instance by a show of hands unless a poll be demanded by any member. Upon a show of hands, every member having voting rights shall have one vote, and unless a poll be demanded a declaration by the Chairman that a resolution has been carried or not carried and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the Corporation shall be admissible in evidence as prime facie proof of the fact without proof of the number or proportion of the votes accorded in favour of or against such resolution. The demand for a poll may be withdrawn, but if a poll be demanded and not withdrawn the question shall be decided by a majority of votes given by the members present in person or by proxy, and such poll shall be taken in such manner as the Chairman shall direct and the result of such poll shall be deemed the decision of the Corporation in general meeting upon the matter in question. In case of an equality of votes at any general meeting, whether upon a show of hands or at a poll, the Chairman shall be entitled to a second or casting vote.

FINANCIAL YEAR

27. Unless otherwise ordered by the Board of Directors, the fiscal year of the Corporation shall begin on January 1, and terminate on December 31.

CHEQUES, ETC.

28. All cheques, bills of exchange or other orders for the payment of money, notes or other evidences of indebtedness issued in the name of the Corporation, shall be signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the Corporation and in such manner as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the board of directors and any one of such officers or agents may alone endorse notes and drafts for collection on account of the Corporation through its bankers, and endorse notes and cheques for deposit with the Corporation's bankers for the credit of the Corporation, or the same may be endorsed "for collection" or "for deposit" with the bankers of the Corporation by using the Corporation's rubber stamp for the purpose. Any one of such officers or agents so appointed may arrange, settle, balance and certify all books and accounts between the Corporation and the Corporation's bankers and may receive all paid cheques and vouchers and sign all the bank's forms or settlement of balances and release or verification slips.

DEPOSITS OF SECURITIES FOR SAFEKEEPING

29. The securities of the Corporation shall be deposited for safekeeping with one or more bankers, trust companies or other financial institutions to be selected by the board of directors. Any and all securities so deposited may be withdrawn, from time to time, only upon the written order of the Corporation signed by such officer or officers, agent or agents of the Corporation, and shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the board of directors and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. The institutions which may be so selected as custodians by the board of directors shall be fully protected in acting in accordance with the directors of the board of directors and shall in no event be liable for the due application of the securities so withdrawn from deposit or the proceeds thereof.

NOTICE

30. Any notice (which term includes any communication or document) to be given, sent, delivered or served pursuant to the Act, the letters patent, the by-laws or otherwise to a member, director, officer or auditor shall be sufficiently given if delivered personally to the person to whom it is to be given or if notice is published in the Sault Star or if delivered to his recorded address or if mailed to him at his recorded address by prepaid air or ordinary mail, or if sent to him at his recorded address by any means of prepaid transmitted or recorded communication. A notice so delivered shall be deemed to have been given when it is delivered personally or the date it is published in the Sault Star or at the recorded address as aforesaid; a notice so mailed shall be deemed to have been given when deposited in a post office or public letter box; and a notice sent by any means of transmitted or recorded communication shall be deemed to have been given when dispatched or delivered to the appropriate communication company or agency or its representative for dispatch. The Secretary may change or cause to be changed the recorded address of any member, director, officer or auditor in accordance with any information believed to him to be reliable.

RULES AND REGULATIONS

31. The Board of Directors may prescribe such rules and regulations not inconsistent with the By-laws of the Corporation relating to the management and operation of the corporation as they deem expedient, provided that such rules and regulations shall have force and effect only until the next annual meeting of the Members of the Corporation when they shall be confirmed, and failing such confirmation at such annual meeting of Members shall at from that time cease to have any force and effect.

BORROWING

32. The directors may from time to time

(a) borrow money on the credit of the Corporation; or

(b) issue, sell or pledge securities of the Corporation; or

(c) charge, mortgage, hypothecate or pledge all or any of the real or personal property of the Corporation, including book debts, rights, powers, franchise and undertakings, to secure any securities or any money borrowed, or other debt, of any other obligation or liability of the Corporation.

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

From time to time the directors may authorize any director, officer or employee of the Corporation of any other person to make arrangements with reference to the moneys borrowed or to be borrowed as aforesaid and as to the terms and conditions of the loan thereof, and as to the securities to be given therefore, with power to vary or modify such arrangements, terms, and conditions and to give such additional securities for any moneys borrowed or remaining due by the Corporation as the directors may authorize, and generally to manage, transact and settle the borrowing of money by the Corporation.

INTERPRETATION

33. In these by-laws and in all other by-laws of the Corporation hereafter passed unless the context otherwise required, words importing the singular number or the masculine gender shall include the plural number or the feminine gender, as the case may be, and vice versa, and references to persons shall include firms and corporations.

 

PASSED by the Board of Directors and sealed with the corporate seal this 16th day of April , 2002.

Charles C. Whitfield                                                       Greg Punch

President                                                                      Secretary/Treasurer