Canadian Alpine Journal/Volume 1/Number 1/Constitution

by Alpine Club of Canada

CONSTITUTION

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1. The name of the Club shall be "The Alpine Club of Canada."

2. The objects of the Club are:

(a) The promotion of scientific study and exploration of Canadian alpine and glacial regions.

(b) The cultivation of art in relation to mountain scenery.

(c) The education of Canadians to an appreciation of their mountain heritage.

(d) The encouragement of the mountain craft and the opening of new regions as a national playground.

(e) The preservation of the natural beauties of the mountain places and of the fauna and flora in their habitat.

(f) The interchange of literature with other alpine and geographical organizations.

WORK OF THE CLUB.

3. The work of the Club shall be:

(a) The exploration and study of Canada's alpine tracts; and, with this end in view, it shall gather through its members literary material and photographs for publication and dissemination, and such publications shall be placed on record with the Secretary and Librarian, and be distributed to the members of the Club and to corresponding organizations.

(b) The promotion of the study of glaciers and glacial action in Canada, and of art as applied to mountain regions, for which purposes glacial and art sections shall be formed.

(c) The organization of a corps of reliable guides and outfitters, who shall be available in connection with the work of the Club.

(d) The sphere of action of the Club shall not be confined to Canada alone, but may extend to all the high mountain ranges of the world, and one of the objects of this organization shall be to obtain information concerning other alpine regions and to come closely in touch with those who are interested in all such matters.

MEMBERSHIP.

4. Membership shall be of five grades, viz.:

Honorary Members. Those who have pre-eminently distinguished themselves in mountaineering, exploration or research and in the sacrifice of their own interests to the interests of the Club shall be eligible for Honorary membership. Honorary members shall be elected only by a two-thirds majority of the recorded votes of the Club.

Active Members. (a) Those who have made an ascent of not less than ten thousand feet above sea-level in some recognized mountain region; their eligibility for election to be decided by the Executive Board.

(b) Those who for eight years prior to the date of organization have been annual visitors to Canada's mountain regions and have contributed to a knowledge of the same by means of scientific or atristic publication.

(c) Except as hereinafter specified, Active members only shall be entitled to vote.

(d) Active members may obtain life membership by the payment of fifty dollars, and shall thereafter be exempt from the payment of all dues.

Associate Members. Those who are unable to qualify as Active members, but, owing to the objects of the Club, desire to affiliate therewith and lend a helping hand towards its maintenance.

Graduating Members. Those who desire to become Active members, but are not yet qualified. They will be given two years to qualify, but such probation is not renewable.

Subscribing Members. Those who are unable to take an active part in the outdoor work of the Club, but desire to keep in touch with it by receiving its publications and exchanges.

OFFICERS.

5. (a) The officers of the Club shall consist of a Patron, a President, Vice-Presidents, a Secretary, a Treasurer, and a Librarian, who shall be elected to office biennially.

The President and Vice-Presidents shall not hold office for more than two consecutive terms.

(b) Officers of the Club shall be elected from the Active membership, but, if it be distinctly in the interests of the Club, as determined by the Executive Board, they may be elected from any other grade except that of Graduating or Subscribing membership, and for their term of office shall be vested with the powers and privileges of Active membership. In such case, however, the election must be by a two-thirds majority of the recorded vote of the Club.

ADVISERS.

6. (a) In addition, there shall be elected not less than three advisers, who, together with the officers, shall constitute the Executive Board of the Club. Their tenure of office shall be governed by subsection (a) of section entitled "Officers." Only residents of Canada shall be eligible for office upon the Executive Board.

(b) Advisers may be elected from any other grade, excepting that of Graduating or Subscribing membership, and for their term of office shall be vested with the powers and privileges of Active membership.

EXECUTIVE BOARD.

7. The Executive Board shall have the general charge, superintendence and control of the affairs, interests and property of the Club. It shall pass upon the eligibility of all proposed members and shall arrange and direct the working details and publications of the Club. The Executive Board shall have power to make by-laws for its own government, not inconsistent with this Constitution, which by-laws shall be submitted by the Board at the first annual meeting thereafter,

NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF MEMBERS.

8. Every nomination for membership must be made by not less than three members of the Club. Such nomination, with a statement of the qualifications of the proposed member, shall be submitted to the Executive Board, which shall pass upon the eligibility of the candidate. A ballot containing the names of such candidates as have been approved by the Executive Board, together with a statement of their qualifications and the names of their sponsors, shall be sent by the Secretary to each Active member. Such ballots as are returned to the Secretary within six weeks after they were sent out shall be canvassed by the Executive Board and the result declared in the minutes of the Board and in the next circular issued to members. A majority of the votes cast shall elect.

NOMINATION AND ELECTION OF OFFICERS.

9. The election of officers shall take place at every alternate annual meeting. Two months before such meeting, the President shall appoint a Nominating Committee of five Active members. This Committee shall prepare a list of candidates for the ensuing term and report it to the Secretary.

A ballot containing these nominations shall be mailed to each Active member at least six weeks before the date of election. At the meeting appointed for the election, these ballots shall be cast and the result declared. In case of a failure to elect, the existing officers shall hold over until their successors are elected.

DUES.

10. (a) Annual dues for Active members shall be five dollars.

Annual dues for Associate members shall be twenty-five dollars.

Annual dues for Graduating members shall be two dollars and fifty cents.

Annual dues for Subscribing members shall be two dollars.

(b) Members in arrears for two years, to whom have been mailed the usual notice for dues and a final notice, shall forfeit membership.

HEADQUARTERS.

11. The headquarters of the Club shall be at the city of Winnipeg.

ANNUAL MEETING.

12. An annual meeting of the Club for the election of officers and the transaction of other business shall be held at the Club's summer camp, or, failing a summer camp, at the Club's headquarters during the month of January.

QUORUM.

13. Seven Active members shall constitute a quorum of the Club for the general transaction of business, and three members of the Executive Board shall constitute a quorum of that Committee for the general transaction of business.

SUMMER CAMP.

14. A summer camp in some suitable part of the mountain regions shall be organized in each year for the purpose of enabling Graduating members to qualify for Active membership, and the members generally to meet together for study and climbing in the alpine districts of Canada.

SPECIAL MEETINGS.

15. Special meetings of the Club may be called by the President or by a Vice-President and the Secretary, acting under his authority. In such case due official notice shall be mailed to all members six weeks before such meeting, stating the purpose for which it is called.

LIBRARY.

16. A library or libraries shall be established where the publications of the Club and books, maps, photographs and works of art relating to mountain scenery shall be gathered together and filed for the use of its members.

AMENDMENTS.

17. Amendments to the Constitution and By-laws may be made at any regularly called meeting of the Club, provided that such amendment or amendments shall have the signatures of not less than five Active members of the Club and are acquiesced in by two-thirds of those recording their votes.

All such amendments shall be mailed by the Secretary to the members, on printed ballots, six weeks in advance, together with the names of the five members proposing the change. Such ballots as have been returned to the Secretary shall be canvassed by a committee appointed by the President and the result declared at the meeting aforesaid.