Terms of Reference and Membership Guidelines

Transcription

1 Terms of Reference and Membership Guidelines 1. TERMS OF REFERENCE A. PURPOSE OF THE WEB ALLIANCE Revised December 28, 2015 The members of the WEB Alliance of Women s Business Networks collaborate to create change that supports better business, stronger communities and an enhanced business culture for women. B. ACTIVITIES The WEB Alliance engages in various activities with the general public, the business community and the government, to support, engage, and advise to achieve its goal. Its activities include, but are not limited to: a. Collaborating with and elevating Members organizations in BC; b. Serving as a resource for women in business and the trades, women entrepreneurs, professional women s groups and/or professional women; c. Consulting, advising and educating municipal, provincial and federal government, the business community and the general public on issues relating to its purpose i. The WEB Alliance is a non-partisan group; d. Hosting events; e. Producing reports. C. MEMBERSHIP AND APPOINTMENT a. Membership: A list of current Members can be found at and is included in Appendix A. b. Role of Members: Member organizations are expected to attend all meetings and to conform to Membership Guidelines. i. Exceptions may be accepted on a case-by-case basis. c. New Members: Interested organizations must apply to the WEB Alliance (see Membership Guidelines ). i. The Membership Chair will present all Members with the Membership Committee s recommendation(s) regarding applicant organizations on an ongoing and case-by-case basis, and will assume approval of the applicant s Membership unless there is objection from one or more Members prior to a set deadline date. Members will have two (2) weeks to voice an objection to an applicant s membership. Terms of Reference and Membership Guidelines WEB Alliance of Women s Business Networks Page 1 of 5

2 An online voting tool, , or other efficient online tool may be used for Members to voice objection to an applicant s Membership. ii. Once approved, the new Member(s) may attend the next WEB Alliance meeting. d. Non-Members will be invited to meetings for the purpose of education, advisory, collaboration, or other. D. LEADERSHIP The WEB Alliance is co-chaired by two volunteer representatives as named on the current WEB Alliance member list, subject to their terms. a. Term: The term of the Co-Chair position is two (2) years (the Term ). b. Nominations: Members of the WEB Alliance ( Members ) will be given the opportunity to nominate one or more organizations to become the next Co-Chair(s), and a list of candidates will be circulated to the Members. c. Voting will take place no later than one (1) month prior to the end of the current Term. i. Only Members in good standing can vote. ii. The two candidates with the greatest number of votes will become the next Co-Chairs. iii. In the event of a tie between more than two candidates, a re-vote will take place. d. The role of the Co-Chairs includes, but is not limited to: i. Setting and distributing the agenda to all Members; ii. Setting direction and priorities with input from Members, on an annual basis; iii. Serving as a media contact; iv. Providing input to Committee leads. e. In the event that a Co-Chair representative leaves the Co-Chair organization, Members may vote to either: bring in a different representative from the Co-Chair organization; keep the person by changing the Co-Chair organization, provided the organization is a WEB Alliance Member; or change both the organization and representative. WEB Alliance Committees and their responsibilities include: a. Treasury: Managing revenues (Membership dues, sponsorship, and other) and expenses. b. Events: Managing events and working with organizations that the WEB Alliance may partner with. c. Membership: Responding to Membership inquiries and recommending new Members to the WEB Alliance. d. Communications: Responding to website inquiries, elevating the WEB Alliance s presence on social media, website maintenance, meeting minutes and communications to WEB Alliance Members. Terms of Reference and Membership Guidelines WEB Alliance of Women s Business Networks Page 2 of 5

3 e. Government Relations: Building relationships and liaising with various government representatives as needed. E. MEETINGS a. The WEB Alliance will meet once per quarter, for four times per year. b. Members will receive an agenda at least one (1) week prior to the meeting. c. As needed, Committees and Sub-Committees will be formed for the purpose of an event, research, reports, or other. d. Quorum: Both Co-Chairs and at least seven (7) Members. 2. MEMBERSHIP GUIDELINES A. MEMBERSHIP Membership is reserved for not-for-profit or charitable organizations, Social Ventures, and for-profit professional women s groups that are operating in British Columbia, and have, as part of their mandate, the goal to support women in professions, tradeswomen, or women entrepreneurs in BC. As proof of a track record of impact in the community, applicants must provide examples of how they have supported and/or provided resources to one or more of the aforementioned women s groups, within the last twelve (12) months. Members join the WEB Alliance from an altruistic desire to support the WEB Alliance s purpose. B. COST The cost of Membership is $200, due biennially. a. Cost will be due upon application to the WEB Alliance, and is refundable if application is denied. b. Membership Cost is non-refundable and non-transferrable, with the exception of a) i), above. c. Membership Renewal Cost is due 30 days prior to expiry. C. CONFLICT OF INTEREST Members who also represent a for-profit organization or business must disclose this information to the Co-Chairs or Membership Chair during the application process and, if they remain Members, must attend meetings and carry out their membership role as a representative of the not-for-profit/charitable organization. D. RESPONSIBILITIES Members must have a representative attend meetings in person or by phone. If unable to attend a meeting, Members may send a proxy (staff, volunteer, member of group or other) and are strongly encouraged to also provide thoughts and/or questions on the upcoming Agenda items. Failure to attend a meeting without satisfying the aforementioned Terms of Reference and Membership Guidelines WEB Alliance of Women s Business Networks Page 3 of 5

4 responsibilities and failure to attend more than one meeting may result in Membership being revoked. E. ROLE Members may participate in the WEB Alliance in several ways, including, but not limited to: F. TERM a. Sharing relevant information with fellow members; b. Participating on a Committee; c. Taking minutes; d. Providing social media support. Membership is for two (2) calendar years, renewable an unlimited number of times. G. APPLICATION + APPROVAL Organizations may apply to become a Member by completing the required application. The Membership Sub-Committee is responsible for reviewing the application(s), presenting recommendations to the Group (in between meetings is acceptable and encouraged, in order to allow for applicant to attend next formal meeting), and communicating with the applicants. Membership approval must be unanimous. H. RENEWAL Membership renewal shall be automatic. Renewal may not be granted if: a. the Member has not met their Responsibilities b. the Member does not pay the Membership Cost by the due date; or, c. because of other circumstances outlined in i) below. I. REVOKING MEMBERSHIP In extraordinary circumstances, if a Member organization s behaviour, reputation, or other, results in a recommendation to have their Membership status revoked, the following general process will take place: a. One or more Members who are concerned will raise issue with the Co-Chairs and the Membership Sub-Committee lead. b. A discussion will be held among the Co-Chairs, the complainant (if applicable) and all the Sub-Committee heads. c. A vote to revoke Membership will be held, with a minimum of the Co-Chairs and seven (7) Members participating and unanimously agreeing. i. A vote to the full Membership is not mandatory, especially if the matter is delicate. Terms of Reference and Membership Guidelines WEB Alliance of Women s Business Networks Page 4 of 5

5 APPENDIX A: Current List of WEB Alliance Members 1. Association of Women in Finance (AWF) 2. BC Women in Energy 3. BC Women Lead 4. Be Your Own Best Friend 5. Canadian Construction Women s Association 6. Canadian Women in Technology BC Chapter 7. CRAVE 8. ewomen Network 9. FrontFundr 10. Forum for Women Entrepreneurs (FWE) 11. Futurpreneur Canada 12. GroYourBiz 13. Influential Women in Business / WXN Board 14. Pink Tank 15. Professional Women s Network 16. Society for Canadian Women in Science & Technology (SCWIST) 17. The Canadian Bar Association of BC, Women Lawyers Forum 18. The Connected Woman Association 19. Vancouver Board of Trade Women s Leadership Circle 20. Women in Biz Network 21. Women of Whistler 22. Women on Board 23. Women President s Organization 24. Women s Enterprise Centre 25. Women s Executive Network 26. Young Women in Business (YWiB) Terms of Reference and Membership Guidelines WEB Alliance of Women s Business Networks Page 5 of 5