By Law

      By-Law No. 1

A by-law relating generally to the conduct of the affairs of Canada Chinese Universities Union (hereinafter “the Union”).

Table of contents

•           Section 1 – General

•           Section 2 – Membership

•           Section 3 – Operating Principles

•           Section 4 – Organizational Structure

•           Section 5 – Dissolution and Liquidation

•           Section 6 – Supplement

Section 1 – General

1.01 Incorporated Name 

The incorporated name of this not-for-profit organization is Canada Chinese Universities Union.

1.02 Nature  

The association is a not-for-profit federal organization, a Chinese universities alumni in Canada.

1.03 Address

600 Victoria St E, Whitby, ON L1N 9Z3

1.04 Objectives

  1. To enhance member friendship, strengthen exchanges and promote member benefits through various entertainments, cultural and sports activities and interactions among alumni in Canada, especially in the Greater Toronto Area, Ontario;
  2. To help members integrate into and contribute to Canadian society.

Section 2 – Membership

2.01 Two Categories of Membership

  1. Alumni Association Member – Any Chinese university alumni association which is federally or provincially registered in Canada can apply to join the Union and become an Alumni Association Member of the Union;
  2. Individual Member – Any individual who is not a member of any Chinese university alumni association in Canada can apply individually to become an Individual Member of the Union.

2.02 Open Organization

GTA members of any Chinese university alumni association in Canada also become members of the Union when the association joins the Union as an Alumni Association Member. All members of the Union can voluntarily join or withdraw from the Union by agreeing to abiding by the Articles of Incorporation and by-laws of the Union.

2.03 Equal Legal Status of Members

All members of the Union have equal legal status. According to the Articles of Incorporation and by-laws of the Union, each and every member agrees to share rights and undertake obligations for the development, prosperity and long-term stability of this common community.

2.04 Membership Application

Any Chinese university alumni association applying to join the Union must submit the following application materials:

  1. Written application to join the Union;
  2. Relevant materials of the association, including the record of the association. 

Any Chinese university alumni association applying to join the Union must submit the following application materials:

  1. Written application to join the Union;
  2. Copy of a valid government issued ID and graduation certificate issued by a Chinese university or college.

2.05 Procedure for Joining the Union

  1. The Secretariat receives applications for joining the Union;
  2. Relevant materials and qualifications are reviewed by the Secretariat and approved by the Board of Directors.

2.07 Termination of Membership

A membership in the Union is terminated when:

  1. the member dies, or, in the case of a member that is an alumni association, the association is dissolved;
  2. the member fails to maintain any qualifications for membership as required in the Articles of Incorporation or by-laws of the Union;
  3. the member resigns by delivering a written resignation to the Secretariat of the Union in which case such resignation shall be effective on the date specified in the resignation;
  4. the member is expelled or terminated in accordance with the articles or by-laws of the Union;
  5. the Union is liquidated or dissolved under the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act.

Subject to the Articles of Incorporation and by-laws of the Union, upon any termination of membership, the rights of the member, including any rights in the property of the Union, automatically cease to exist.

Once a membership is terminated, the member cannot reapply to join the Union within 3 years from the termination date.

Section 3 – Operating Principles

3.01 Operating Funds

The operating funds mainly come from government funding, membership dues, fund raising and donations.

3.02 Operating Expenses

Funds shall be used within the business scope of the Union as specified in the Articles of Incorporation, and shall not be distributed among members. Expenses mainly are:

  1. salary of the Secretariat staff;
  2. rent of the Secretariat office;
  3. office facilities of the Secretariat;
  4. maintenance fees of the Union website and platform;
  5. daily operating expenses of the Union;
  6. expenses for conference activities and publicity fees, etc. 

3.03 Funds Management

The Union’s funds shall be kept in a special account by the Secretariat, with dedicated personnel responsible for management and supervision by the Board of Directors. Annual budget shall be reviewed and approved by the Board of Directors and executed by the Secretariat.

The Secretariat shall submit an annual financial report of incomes and expenses to the Board of Directors every year for review.

Section 4 – Organizational Structure

4.01. Basic Structure

The Union is a system of chairman responsibility, and the chairman is the representative of the Union. The decision-making body of the Union is the Union Committee, and the executive body of daily affairs is the Secretariat.

4.02. Board of Directors

The Board of Directors is the highest authority of the Union, and shall convene a Board of Directors meeting at least once every year. A Board of Directors meeting must be attended by more than two-thirds of the board members. Resolutions reached in a Board of Directors meeting can only be valid with consent of more than two-thirds of the board members present.

4.03. Election of Union Committee members

  1. The Union shall have a chairman and an executive chairman;
  2. a certain number of Union Committee members recommended by Alumni Association Members each of which must has more than 100 members, and 100 members can recommend 1 Union Committee member;
  3. a certain number of Union Committee members each of whom jointly recommended by 100 or more Individual Members;
  4. The Union shall have a Secretary of the Union Committee, a Treasurer, a Chief Marketing Officer, Chief Technical Officer and a Secretary of the Secretariat;
  5. Also, the Union shall have an independent Supervisor.

4.04. Responsibilities of the Board of Directors

a.         Amendment of the Union’s Articles of Incorporation;

b.         Approval or termination of membership;

c.         Approval or termination of executive director;

d.         Election of chairman;

e.         Decision making on changes to or termination of the Union;

f.          Decision making on major issues that affect the development of the Union.

4.05. Chairman and Executive Chairman

The Chairman shall be the founder of the Union and the Executive Chairman of the Union shall be one appointed by the Chairman. Where the Chairman cannot perform his/her duties, a new chairman shall be elected by the Board of Directors. The Chairman or the Executive Chairman has the power to veto any decisions of the Board of Directors;

Both Chairman and Executive Chairman of the Union shall serve for a term of five years.

4.06. Responsibilities of the Chairman and/or Executive Chairman

a.         Formulating the Union’s policies and programs;

b.         Hearing and reviewing work plan and work report of the Secretariat;

c.         Reviewing, approving and modifying management regulations of the Union;

d.         Review and approval of financial budget and annual financial report.

4.07. The Secretariat

The Secretariat is the permanent office of the Union Committee and is responsible for the coordination and management of the daily affairs and projects of the Union.

4.08. Responsibilities of the Secretariat

a.         Implementing resolutions made by the Union Committee of the Union

b.         Organizing, managing and coordinating all the work within the Union;

c.         Recruiting members and developing the cause of the Union;

d.         Preparing for and convening of chairman’s meeting and Board of Director’s meeting;

e.         Preparing “Annual Work Report” and financial statements for chairman’s meeting;

f.          Formulating the “Next Year’s Work Plan (Draft)”;

g.         Preparing annual financial budget and annual financial statements;

h.         Receiving applications for joining the Union and reviewing qualifications of applicants;

i.          Receiving applications of standing directors and reviewing qualifications of applicants.

Section 5 – Dissolution and Liquidation

5.01 When the Union needs to be dissolved due to termination, dissolution, division or merger, the Board of Directors shall propose, vote for the dissolution to take effect.

Section 6 – Supplement

6.01 Amendments to this constitution shall be proposed by the Board of Directors, which will take effect after discussion and approval of the Board of Directors.

6.02 The final interpretation of this by-law lies with the Union.

6.03 This by-law will take effect from the date of its official publication.