Constitution
I. Objectives
The Canadian Committee on Women's History (CCWH), affiliated with the Canadian Historical Association (CHA), has amongst its goals: promoting teaching and research in the field of women's history; disseminating information about sources, current research and publications; encouraging archival preservation of significant source materials; linking Canadian researchers and teachers together and with similar groups in other countries; and monitoring the status of women in the historical profession.
II. Non-profit Status
The organization shall be carried on without purpose of gain for its members, and any profits or other accretions to the organization shall be used to promote its objectives.
III. Membership
Membership is open to any person interested in any aspect of women's history.
IV. Categories of members
The Committee shall have three categories of members: sustaining, general and student or unemployed.
V. Amendments to the Constitution
Amendments to the Constitution may be proposed by any member at the annual general meeting. They must be passed by 2/3 of those members present.
VI. Structure
There shall be an executive made up of a Chair, an Associate Chair/Editor, five regional representatives, one independent scholars representative, two student representatives, a secretary/treasurer and a liaison person. All members of the Executive shall be members in good standing of the CCWH.
Normally the Chair shall take up the post automatically after serving one year as Associate Chair/Editor. The Chair shall be the chief executive officer of the Committee and shall preside at all meetings of the executive and the membership, shall have the general and active management of the affairs of the Committee and shall see that all orders and resolutions of the membership are carried into effect.
The Associate Chair/Editor shall be elected for a term of one year at the Annual General Meeting. She or he shall, in the absence of the Chair, perform the duties and exercise the powers of the Chair. She or he shall also edit and arrange for the production and distribution of the Newsletter and ensure that the Minutes of the Annual General Meeting are produced in both official languages.
One regional representative shall be elected for a term of two years from each of the following regions: B.C., the Yukon and the Northwest Territories; Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba; Ontario; Quebec; and New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, and Newfoundland. Regional representatives shall represent the interests of their regions to the Executive and shall act with the independent scholars representative and student representatives as the Nominating Committee for the CCWH.
One independent scholars representative will be elected for a term of two years, shall represent the interests of independent scholars or freelance women's historians (who do not have an institutional affiliation as either faculty or as graduate students) to the Executive and shall act with the regional and student representatives as the Nominating Committee for the CCWH.
Two student representatives shall be elected annually by the CCWH and their election will be subject to the approval of Graduate Students Committee of the CHA. That Committee shall be requested by the CCWH to attempt to maintain a regional balance. Student representatives shall represent the interests of students to the Executive and shall act with the regional representatives and the independent scholars representative as the Nominating Committee for the CCWH.
The secretary/treasurer shall assist the Chair and the Associate Chair/Editor in the performance of their duties. She or he shall be appointed by the Associate Chair and shall not be a voting member of the executive.
The Liaison Person shall liaise with international committees on women's history and shall be elected at the Annual General Meeting to a five year term.
VII. Auditors
Any member of the CCWH may examine the books and records of the association. Official auditors shall be appointed by the Executive and confirmed by the members at the Annual General Meeting. The report of the auditors shall be submitted to the Executive and through it to the members along with any recommendations arising from the report.
VIII. Meetings
An Annual General Meeting shall be held at least once in every calendar year, normally in conjunction with the annual conference of the Canadian Historical Association, and not more than fifteen months after the last such meeting, at a place and time designated by the Executive.
A quorum for the transaction of business at an Annual General Meeting shall consist of five per cent of the membership, or twenty members, whichever is less.
IX. Dues
The schedule of dues shall be reviewed from time to time by the Executive and approved by the membership at the Annual General Meeting.
X. Activities
Among other means to encourage study and research of the history of women, the CCWH shall produce a Newsletter and a Directory of Historians of Women, and shall award prizes for articles written on the history of women.
(SPRING 2000)