Here are the summaries of the Special Resolutions that will be presented for your vote at the next Annual General Meeting on February 19.
We urge members to review each one before the AGM so that you are familiar with what each one means before you decide. Note that each of these resolutions refers to proposed By-law changes whose wording is also available to review in greater detail under Proposed By-law Amendments/Actual Resolution on REALTOR Link.®
Resolution #1 – Change the Board of Directors Term Start Date from March 1 to April 1
This provides the Board of Directors and staff with additional time to complete the necessary tasks between the year-end of December 31 and the Annual General Meeting, such as conducting an audit, among other things.
The new term would start April 1 and run to March 31. For the transition year, the Board of Directors would sit an extra month longer, from March 1 to March 31.
Resolution #2 – Staff job title change
This is a resolution to make a housekeeping change to our By-laws to update two staff positions from Director of Operations to Executive Director, and Bookkeeper to Controller, in order to ensure our By-laws remain current.
Resolution #3 – Adopt Societies Act recommended 66.6% threshold to approve Special Resolutions
The FVREB’s current threshold for approving Special Resolutions, even small housekeeping changes in our By-laws, has become very difficult to reach at 75%. It has meant that one quarter (25%) of those members voting at an AGM have the power to prevent changes that the large majority, (up to three quarters) of our members want and need for our Board to continue growing and progressing.
As a non-profit society, the FVREB falls under the provincial Societies Act. In the revised Act from 2016, the recommended percentage of votes needed to pass Special Resolutions was changed from the previous 75% to 66.6%. This was made by legislation to enable non-profit organizations like ours to align with more modern practices of governance and democratic decision-making.
The Societies Act 66.6% majority respects the will of a clear majority of members. However, our current 75% threshold is so limiting that positive changes that would advance the Board and the future of our business, can and frequently do fail.
It’s important that changes to the Board By-laws are well-considered and presented clearly to members, and that we get a healthy majority of our voting members to agree on the Board’s major decisions.
Adopting the Societies Act standard will allow our Board to maintain its efficiency and effectiveness. A strong Board empowers our members with better tools and supports for their success.
Resolution #4 – Provide brokerages the option to switch to Member Direct Billing
Member Direct Billing is a new way to handle dues (FVREB, BCREA and CREA) and certain fees to the Board. Rather than the brokerage collecting member payments and submitting them to the Board, Member Direct Billing would mean some invoices would be sent directly to the members individually, and payment would be each member’s responsibility.
Many brokers have been asking for a Member Direct Billing option for years and this year they may finally get their wish.
Member Direct Billing would be entirely optional for a brokerage. But those who choose to enrol their office need all of the members of that brokerage to be included in the Member Direct Billing payment system.
Individual members will not have the option to enrol in Member Direct Billing or opt out; choosing Member Direct Billing is up to the brokerage.
Brokerages that choose not to enrol in Member Direct Billing would continue to collect payments from members, and submit them to the Board, as they do now.
Of course, if a brokerage opted to enroll in Member Direct Billing, they would no longer qualify for the standard 7.5% discount they get from the Board by collecting and promptly submitting fees from members. But we know that some brokerages would be glad to forgo that discount rather than carry that responsibility.
Resolution #4 also includes permission for the CEO to reinstate a firm or member who has been suspended for non-payment. It would mean that once a member or brokerage’s account was paid up, there would be no delay in getting them back to business.
Resolution #5 – Reinstatement of members suspended or expelled
If Resolution 4 is not approved at the AGM, Resolution 5 would be required to empower the CEO to reinstate members and brokerages that were previously suspended or expelled for falling behind in their accounts. This is because the provision to empower the CEO to reinstate members is written into Resolution #4, but if #4 fails, we still want this ability.
Our current By-laws state that suspended members for late payment must wait until the Board of Directors meets and approves of their reinstatement, an unnecessary interruption in their business that could last for up to 60 days.
If the payments were up-to-date, the CEO would be permitted to handle the matter more efficiently and not cause unnecessary delay.
Get engaged and make your voice heard
These Special Resolutions are important to our Board’s responsiveness to member needs, and your vote is needed to make these changes. If you have questions about the By-laws, be sure to contact your Board of Directors or send us an email at communications@fvreb.bc.ca.