WFIS-NA
Bylaws
1. Name,
Headquarters, Insignia.
1.1 The name of this Regional Council shall be World Federation
of Independent Scouts – North America Regional Council.
1.2 The name shall be abbreviated as WFIS-NA.
1.3 The Regional Council shall have its Headquarters in the Town
or City where the Secretary resides.
1.4 This Regional Council, and all affiliated Associations, shall
wear the WFIS Zulu shield badge.
1.5 The Regional Council is part of the WFIS World Council, and
of the WFIS worldwide family.
2. Purpose
of the Regional Council.
2.1 To provide a means of international friendship and co-operation
between member organisations, and to promote traditional scouting
within the Regional Councils geographical area.
2.2 To organize, and run, provincial, state, and national jamborees,
camporees and training courses.
2.3 The Regional Council is organized for the purpose of furthering
the development of independent traditional Scouting Associations
in a style pursuant to the methods and ideas of the Founder of the
Scouting Movement, Lord Robert Baden-Powell of Gilwell.
2.4 The Regional Council is politically and denominationally neutral.
It shall refrain from taking any positions on political or religious
matters.
3. Membership.
3.1 Membership in WFIS is gained by following the steps outlined
below.
3.2 Associations must apply for admission in writing to the Regional
Council Secretariat.
3.3 The Secretariat shall confirm the admission provisionally in
writing (subject to an acceptance vote by the Regional Council),
and shall enclose a membership application form. The Secretariat
shall ask for copies of the applying associations By-Laws, Section
Handbooks, Photo's of activities, and Child Protection Policy.
3.4 The applying association should return the application form
along with the other material requested to the Secretariat. All
of the material they have submitted is to be reviewed by the Chief
Commissioners of the member associations, and a vote is held by
the Regional Council, and if accepted, they become a Prospective
Member.
3.5 At the next Regional Conference the application is presented.
Before this can happen, a Commissioner must have visit and met with
the applying association to get an actual look at their association
to ensure that it is being run as a proper independent and traditional
association.
3.6 If the Association is found to be acceptable to the visiting
Commissioner, a detailed report is tabled by them on all aspects
of their visit, and a vote is held by the members of the Regional
Council, and if accepted, the Prospective Member are granted Probationary
Membership for a two (2) years period.
3.7 At the end of their Probationary Membership period, if it is
acceptable to the Regional Council, another vote is held by the
Regional Council, and they may be granted full membership in the
WFIS. If it has been found that the Probationary Member Association
is not ready for full membership, a further 2 year period of Probationary
Membership may be called for and voted on.
3.8 Individual Explorers, Pathfinders, Rangers, Scouts or Scouters
may not be members.
3.9 Member associations must follow B-P’s original program
as laid out in ‘Scouting for Boys’, B-P’s original
program may be modernized for health, safety, first-aid, and environmental
reasons only.
3.10 Any Scouting Association in North America may apply for membership
(except those so noted) if it identifies with the goals of the Regional
Council and recognizes these bylaws.
3.11 Associations may withdraw from the Regional Council at any
time by formally writing the Secretariat.
3.12 Associations will be asked to leave if their actions are contrary
to the goals and interests of the Regional Council, or are harming
the reputation of the WFIS. Associations may also be asked to leave
the WFIS if they exhibit un-scout like behaviour.
3.13 The Regional Council shall keep a list of those Independent
Associations who have previously been rejected for membership, and
should include those Independent Associations with suspect adult
leadership.
4.
Rights and Obligations.
4.1 The member associations shall pay an annual membership fee.
The amount of the annual fee shall be fixed by the Regional Council.
4.2 Each member association will have one (1) vote at the Regional
Council table, regardless of the number of registered members it
currently has.
5. General
Government.
5.1 The Chairmanship of the Regional Council shall be provided by
the member associations in a rotational turn every twenty-four (24)
months. If no one else is willing to perform this duty, an incumbent
may continue in the position for a maximum of thirty-six (36) months.
5.2 The Regional Council will be comprised of the Chairmen of WFIS-NA,
a treasurer, a secretary, a WB Coordinator, the immediate past Chairman,
and the Chief Commissioners of member associations. In addition,
each association may appoint a WFIS-NA Representative (Non-Voting)
to carry on the day to day workings of the Council.
5.3 The World Council is the highest decision making body. It determines
principles and guidelines for working together.
5.4 The Regional Council has the right to invite guests who may
be granted the right to speak upon request.
5.5 The Regional Council should meet annually, either in person
or electronically.
5.6 The Regional Council may also convene extraordinary meetings
if necessary.
5.7 The Regional Council has a quorum if at least 51% of its members
entitled to vote are present, either in person or electronically.
5.8 If there is no quorum a new meeting must be set up within a
two (2) week period.
5.9 The Regional Council shall adopt its resolutions with a simple
majority of votes cast.
5.10 Written minutes shall be kept of all Regional Council meetings.
5.11 The Regional Council may form committees whose tasks, rights
and obligations can be fixed on a case-by-case basis. The committees
shall report to the Regional Council.
5.12 The Regional Chairman is a member of the WFIS World Council.
6. Bylaw
amendments and Dissolution of the Regional Council.
6.1 A majority of 80% of all present voting members of the Regional
Council shall be required to adopt a resolution changing the bylaws.
6.2 If the Regional Council is dissolved or its purpose eliminated,
the assets of the Regional Council shall go to the WFIS World Council.
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