CONSTITUTION

  • Name
    The name of the organization is “CANADIAN FEDERATION OF FIJI ORGANIZATIONS”,
    herein referred to as “CFOFO”.
  • Purposes
    The CFOFO will be a non-profit, charitable and non-governmental (NGO) made up of
    Fiji-Canadian organizations, including Religious & Cultural, Social & Sporting, Businesses, Trades & Professionals, and Independents. CFOFO will be an umbrella organization representing Fiji-Canadian member organizations.

  • 2.1 To be a unified body representing Fiji-Canadian member organizations.
    2.2 To gain membership of existing and new Fiji-Canadian organizations.
    2.3 To foster co-operation and pool resources among member organizations.
    2.4 To recognize meritorious and exemplary services provided to the community by
    Fiji-Canadians.
    2.5 To represent and make representation to authorities, on behalf of member
    organizations.
    2.6 To affiliate with recognized world bodies that represents and advances the interest of member organizations, Fiji-Canadians and Fiji residents.
    2.7 To provide aid and assistance to approved projects.
    2.8 To promote world peace, harmony and democracy.
    2.9 To arrange educational seminars and informational meetings.
    2.10 To raise and receive funds for carrying out the objectives.
    2.11 To provide scholarships to deserving candidates.

    BY-LAWS
    Interpretation
    “Federation” means the “Canadian Federation of Fiji Organizations”.
    “Executive” means the “Executive Committee”.
    “Sub-Committee” means a “Special Committee”.
    “Societies Act” means the current edition of the “Societies Act of British Columbia”.
    “Member Organizations” means “Organizations: Religious & Cultural, Social &
    Sporting, Businesses, Trades & Professionals, and Independents”.
    “General Meeting” means “Annual General Meeting” and “Special General Meeting”.
    “Special Resolution” means “a resolution in which ⅔ of the membership is required
    to vote in favour for the resolution to be passed at a General Meeting”.
    Executive Committee must operate in a professional manner as per the provisions of the Societies Act and Robert’s Rules of Order.
  • 1. Aims and Objectives
    1.1 To foster cooperation and pool resources among member organizations.
    1.2 To recognize meritorious and exemplary services provided to the community by
    Fiji-Canadians.
    1.3 To represent and make representations to authorities on behalf of member
    organizations upon request.
    1.4 To affiliate with recognized world bodies that represent and advance the interest of member organizations, Fiji-Canadians and Fiji residents.
    1.5 To provide aid and assistance to approved projects.
    1.6 To arrange educational seminars and informational meetings.
    1.7 The operations of CFOFO will be carried out chiefly in the Province of British Columbia,
    and where required, in other Provinces of Canada.
  • 2. Membership
    2.1 Membership will be open to approved Fiji-Canadian organizations in good standing in the community.
    2.2 Independent status will be open to approved individuals eighteen years of age and
    older.
    2.3 All membership applications will be made in the prescribed form adopted by the
    Executive Committee. Upon approval of membership applications by the Executive
    Committee and upon payment of prescribed membership fee, the applicant
    organization will become a member organization of the Federation.
    2.4 All member organizations will have all the rights and privileges of the Federation and
    their representatives will have the right to hold office and vote.
    2.5 A member organization ceases to be a member of the Federation:
    a) when it withdraws its membership by delivering its letter of withdrawal to the
    Secretary of the Federation, or, by mailing or delivering it to the address of the
    Federation.
    b) when it is dissolved or ceases to operate.
    c) when they have not renewed their annual membership.
    d) when they are no longer in line with the purposes, aims and objectives.
    e) on being expelled by special resolution passed at a general meeting.
    i) The notice of a special resolution for expulsion must be accompanied by
    a brief statement of the reasons for proposed expulsion.
    ii) The member organization which is the subject of the proposed resolution for expulsion must be given an opportunity to be heard by its representative at the general meeting before the special resolution is put to vote.
  • Membership Fees
    3.1 Membership fee will be as decided by the Federation at a general meeting.
  • Membership Obligation
    4.1 All member organizations and their representatives will support and participate as a
    group in all approved projects and events of the Federation.
  • Administrative Structure
    5.1 The Executive Committee is made up of the following elected positions at the Annual
    General Meeting:
    -Chairperson
    -Two Vice Chairpersons
    -Secretary
    -Assistant Secretary
    -Treasurer
    -Assistant Treasurer
    -Five Committee Members
    -Two Trustees
    5.2 The term of the Executive Committee officials will be for a period of two (2)
    consecutive years with the exception of the Trustees, who will hold the position for a
    period of three (3) consecutive years.
    5.3 The Executive Committee will administer the affairs of the Federation and will
    formulate written policies for efficient administration, and when and where required,
    to establish Sub-Committees for carrying out the aims and objectives of the Federation.
    5.4 Removal of the members of the Executive Committee will only be done at a general
    meeting by special resolution.
    5.5 In the event of a vacancy, the vacancy will be filled by the Executive Committee. In the case of the position of Trustee, the vacancy can only be filled at a general meeting.
  • General Meetings
    6.1 The general meeting of the Federation must be held once in every calendar year and
    within three (3) months of the preceding annual general meeting date, at a time,
    venue and date to be decided by the Executive Committee and in accordance with the
    provisions of the Societies Act.
    6.2 The agenda of the Annual General Meeting must include the following:
    i) adoption of the annual report of the Federation.
    ii) adoption of the circulated financial report of the Federation.
    iii) appointment of the Auditor.
    iv) any other business that, under the provisions of these bylaws ought to be considered at a general meeting.
    v) election Executive Committee positions.
    6.3 At a general meeting, each member organization may be represented by up to two (2)
    representatives.
    6.4 At a general meeting, presence of seven (7) representatives is required to form a
    quorum.
    6.5 In the event a required quorum is not reached within thirty (30) minutes of the time
    set for the general meeting, the Chairperson must postpone the meeting to another day
    and time. Those members present at the rescheduled meeting will form the quorum.
    6.6 General Meeting Protocol:
    a) The Executive Committee will decide and be responsible for calling all the
    general meetings of the Federation in accordance with provisions of the
    Societies Act.
    b) The Executive Committee must send written notices to member organizations and their representatives of all general meetings, specifying the venue, day and the time of such meetings, and in case of special business, the general nature of that business.
    c) The Executive Committee must also hold general meetings on the written request by requisitionists of more than ten percent (10%) of member organizations as per the provisions of the Societies Act.
    d) The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to, or the non-receipt of a notice by any of the member organizations, does not invalidate the proceedings of that meeting.
    e) Voting at all meetings will be by show of hand except for the special resolution(s), which will be held by secret ballot. Proxy voting will not be permitted.
  • Executive Committee Meetings
    7.1 The Executive Committee will meet once every two (2) months or as and when the need arises in accordance of these by-laws.
    7.2: “General Meeting Protocol” applies to Executive Committee meetings.
    7.3 At an Executive Committee meeting, presence of five (5) members is required to form a quorum.
  • Duties
    8.1 Each representative of the member organization of the Federation will fully participate in promoting the purposes, aims and objectives of the Federation and when called upon to do so, will serve on Sub-Committees.
    8.2 The Chairperson will preside at all meetings of the Federation. The Chairperson will be the chief executive officer of the Federation and will supervise the Executive Committee members in the execution of their duties.
    8.3 One of the Vice-Chairpersons will carry out the duties of the Chairperson during the Chairperson’s absence.
    8.4 The Vice-Chairpersons duties will include the following: Fundraising, Membership
    Recruitment, Scholarship Awards Program and Social Events. These duties will be
    delegated by the Executive Committee.
    8.5 The Secretary’s duties will include the following:
    a) conduct all correspondence of the Federation.
    b) issue notices of meetings of the Federation and the Executive Committee.
    c) keep minutes of all meetings of the Federation and the Executive Committee.
    d) have custody of all records and documents of the Federation and the Executive Committee except for those required by the Treasurer.
    e) maintain the register of member organizations.
    8.6 The Assistant Secretary will assist the Secretary in the execution of the secretarial
    duties.
    8.7 The Treasurer’s duties will include the following:
    a) keep the financial records, including books of account necessary to comply with
    the Societies Act.
    b) prepare monthly financial reports to the Executive Committee.
    c) to help in the preparation of the audited annual financial statements for the
    member organizations at the Annual General Meeting.
    8.8 The Assistant Treasurer will assist the Treasurer in the execution of the financial
    duties.
    8.9 Other members of the Executive Committee will carry out additional duties as
    delegated by the Executive Committee.
  • Accountability
    9.1 The Executive Committee must be accountable to the members of the organization.
  • Finance
    10.1 Funds of the Federation must be deposited with a trading bank or a community credit union and operated as approved by the Executive Committee.
    10.2 The audited account of the Federation must be approved annually and copies must be circulated to member organizations at the Annual General Meeting.
    10.3 The Federation will appoint an Auditor at its Annual General Meeting.
    10.4 The member organizations may, by special resolution, restrict the borrowing powers
    of the Executive Committee, but such a restriction imposed expires at the following Annual General Meeting.
  • Trustees
    11.1 Two (2) Trustees will be elected at a general meeting for a term of three (3)
    consecutive years.
    11.2 The assets of the Federation will be vested upon the two Trustees.
    11.3 Trustees will be responsible for carrying out such duties as per the Trustee Act.
  • Changes to these By-Laws
    12.1 Changes to the Constitution and Bylaws must only be done as per the provisions of
    the Societies Act by special resolution.
  • Dissolution
    13.1 In the event of dissolution, after payment of liabilities of the Federation, the assets of the Federation must only be distributed to a registered charitable organization at the discretion of the Trustees.

  • November 25, 2018 (Amended)
    April 15, 2007 (Amended)
    November 28, 2003 (Original)