Amended April 6, 2016
Amended April 12, 2017
Amended January 28, 2020
Amended February 18, 2020
Amended February 10, 2021
Ratified April 8, 2021
Amended March 31, 2023
Ratified April 11, 2023
Amended November 29, 2023
Ratified April 3, 2024
The directors of a GSA-UW shall manage or supervise the management of the activities and affairs of the GSA-UW in compliance with the Act.
5.1.0 Calling Board Meetings. Meetings of the Board of Directors may be called by the Chair, by a motion of Council, or by a petition of not less than fifty percent of the members of the board.
5.1.1 The Chair of the Board. The Chair shall be appointed by the directors and shall carry out the duties of the chair in accordance with the GSA-UW policies and procedures.
5.1.2 Notice. The Chair will send notice to the directors at least seven (7) days prior to a board meeting. An emergency meeting may be called within twenty-four (24) hours to deal with specific limited matters. If electronic means of communication, including but not limited to ZOOM, Teams, or telephones, are used as part of the meeting, the notice must contain instructions on how to attend and participate via the chosen form of electronic communication. Additionally, if voting is to occur during the meeting, the notice must contain voting instructions.
5.1.3 Meetings The holding and conduct of all meetings of the Board and its committees, including notice thereof, and right to attendance thereat, shall be in accordance with the Act, GSA policies, and procedures.
5.2.0 Election of Directors. Eleven (11) directors shall be elected in accordance with the Act, the by-laws, and GSA-UW policies and procedures at the Annual General Meeting.
5.2.1 Eligibility. All members of the Board, both voting and ex-officio, must be members of the GSA-UW at the time of their election or appointment.
5.2.2 Decision. The candidates receiving the highest number of votes shall assume the available positions.
5.2.3 No acclamation of directors. If the number of nominations received for directorships is less than or equal to the number of positions available, those nominees will not be acclaimed. A ballot will be used with each candidate’s name, and the candidate will win if more votes are cast ‘yes’ than ‘no’.
5.3.0 Term of Office.
Terms of office of the Directors shall normally be held for two (2) years from May 1st following their election and shall last until April 30th of the second year following their election.
Directors appointed after May 1st, shall hold office, unless otherwise removed from office, until the next Annual General Meeting.
5.3.1 Staggered Term of Office. The 2-year term in office will be staggered for each half of the directors of the Board. At the election of directors, the duration of their term in office will be stated.
5.3.2 Director may hold office for more than one term. An eligible member may hold office as a director for more than one (1) term.
5.4.0 Duties of Directors. In addition to the statutes of the Act, it shall be the duty of all Directors to:
(a) Provide written consent to act as director and to uphold their fiduciary responsibility,
(b) Attend all meetings of the Board,
(c) Be familiar with the Letters Patent, Supplementary Letters Patent, By-Laws, GSA-UW Policies & Procedures, the Ontario laws governing not-for-profit corporations, and the previous business of the Board,
(d) Act in a responsible manner in conducting the affairs of the GSA-UW,
(e) Be an ex-officio Member of GSA-UW Council in good standing.
(f) The Board shall appoint officers of the GSA and ex-officio members of the Board.
(g) Nothing in this section shall limit the GSA, through its by-laws, from establishing additional provisions for the holding of the office of Director.
(h) To create committees, including the Board Executive Committee, to facilitate the functioning of the GSA-UW. Board may specify the duties, powers, and responsibilities of such Board committees.
5.5.0 Attendance. Attendance is restricted to Board members and those with the right to attend as outlined in GSA policy. Anyone with permission of the Chair may attend the meeting. Anyone, with permission of the Chair may make a 5-minute presentation to the Board on an issue of concern. The Board may vote to go into confidential session and exclude all non-directors from the meeting. The Chair may unilaterally move the meeting into confidential session only to discuss the need for an extended confidential session.
5.5.1 Participation by Telephone or Other Communications Facilities. With 24 hours advance notice, or with the consent of all Directors who are present, a Director may participate in a meeting of the Board or of a committee of Directors by telephonic or electronic means that permits all participants to communicate adequately with each other during the meeting. A Director participating by such means is deemed to be present at that meeting.
5.6.0 Voting. Questions arising at any meeting of Directors shall be decided by a majority of votes. In case of an equality of votes, the Chair, in addition to their original vote, shall have a second or casting vote. Voting shall occur according to the methods prescribed in Robert’s Rules of Good Order. However, a ballot may be used if demanded by and Director present at the meeting. If the meeting minutes include a declaration by the Chair that a resolution has been carried or defeated, then this is proof of the Board’s decision unless evidence of the number or proportion of the votes recorded in favour of or against the resolution is presented. In the absence of the Chair, the Board may from time to time appoint a Director to perform the duties of a Chair.
5.7.0 Protection of Directors. Except as required by the Act, no Director or officer of the GSA-UW shall be liable for the acts, neglects or defaults of any other Director or officer or for joining in any receipts or other act of conformity, or for any loss or expense happening to the GSA-UW through insufficiency or deficiency of title to any property acquired by the order of the Board for or on behalf of the GSA-UW, or for the insufficiency or deficiency of any security in or upon, or any damage arising from, the bankruptcy, insolvency or tortious act of any person with whom any of the monies, securities or effects of the GSA-UW shall be deposited, of for any loss occasioned by any error of judgment or any oversight on their part, or any other loss, damage or misfortune whatever, which may happen in the execution of the duties of their office or in relation thereto, unless the same shall happen through the dishonesty of the Director or officer.
5.8.0 Remuneration of Directors
(a) The Board may fix the remuneration of the directors, officers, and employees of the GSA-UW.
(b) A director, an officer, or a member may receive reasonable remuneration and expenses for any services to the GSA-UW that they perform in any other capacity.
(c) Subject to the GSA-UW Policies, remuneration of the directors, officers, and members must be reviewed annually and recorded in the policies & procedures manual.