It’s that time of year again. We meet, we eat, and vote for change. This year we have five progressive resolutions ready for your vote at the upcoming AGM on February 19.
We first introduced these to you in October when we posted the full details on REALTOR Link® and discussed them at our Member Breakfast meetings.
If you missed those meetings or need a quick refresher, here they are in summary:
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
This resolution proposes to adopt the Societies Act required threshold needed to pass a Special Resolution–a 66 2/3% majority, instead of the FVREB’s current threshold of 75%. This would align our Board with modern best practices in corporate governance, increased democratic decision-making, and greater efficiency in the service of our members.
With the high approval threshold of 75%, our Board has missed many opportunities to progress and improve. Yet even though resolutions have received member approval by as much as 70% and 73%, those opportunities, were lost due to the 75% approval threshold.
Resolution #4 – Provide brokerages the option to switch to Member Direct Billing
This proposes to give brokerages the option to switch to Member Direct Billing as a way for brokers to save time and resources and streamline processes. An option which many brokers have been asking for, it would provide brokerages the ability to choose what works best for their business, which in turn helps them optimize services to members in their office.
This resolution also includes permission for the CEO to reinstate a firm or member who has been suspended for non-payment, as more fully explained in the following, Resolution #5.
Resolution #5 – Reinstatement of members suspended or expelled for non-payment of dues
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. This resolution would give permission for the CEO to reinstate a firm or member instead of waiting for a meeting of the Board of Directors to do it.
If Resolution 4 is not passed at the AGM, Resolution 5 would be necessary for this specific change in procedure.
How to stay engaged
These Special Resolutions are important to our Board’s responsiveness to member needs, so we need your vote 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.
Read about AGM 2020 on REALTOR Link®, along with details on these By-laws and how you can participate and vote remotely.