Bylaws

Solar Energy Society of Alberta Inc.
Hereinafter SESA.
SOLAR ENERGY SOCIETY OF ALBERTA BY-LAWS.
1. The name of this organization shall be: Solar Energy Society of Alberta Inc..
2. As a chapter, SESA endorses the objectives of the national organization, the Solar Energy Society
of Canada Incorporated (hereinafter SESCI) and with appropriate modification and addition adopts them
as its own.
3. Consistent with the foregoing, the objects of SESA shall be as follows:
(a) To provide a resource of information to the various government sectors involved in energy
utilization and related technologies.
(b) To sponsor educational programmes and facilitate exchange of up-to-date information through
lectures, seminars and similar means.
(c) To serve members and the general public by making available sources of information related to
renewable energy, conservation and sustainable development.
(d) To create an awareness among Albertans, including members of provincial and municipal
governments, of the importance of solar energy and its proven potential as a means to reduce
dependency on non-renewable sources of energy.
(e) To enhance the quality of life in Alberta by promoting innovative concepts and improvements in
the application of solar energy and conservation techniques, which reduce the consumption of
pollutive fuels and expand the role of forms of energy with no negative impact on the environment.
4. 4.
(a) SESA recognizes SESCI as its parent organization and shall maintain its ties of affiliation
through regular communication and various forms of support to enhance the position of SESCI as a
voice truly representative of a nation-wide movement.
(b) The responsibility for agreements, expenses, debts, liabilities or statements made by
SESA are neither endorsed nor authorized nor initiated by SESCI and shall remain with
SESA and shall not be considered to rest with SESCI.
5. For the purpose of carrying out its objectives, SESA may raise funds in any manner it sees fit,
except that for the issuing of debentures, the membership shall vote in a Special Resolution.
6. Membership
(a) Membership in SESA shall be open to any resident of Alberta wishing to further its and
SESA's aims.
(b) Every member shall pay an annual chapter fee determined and varied from time to time by
decision of the Annual General Meeting.
(c) Membership can be held in SESA, in SESCI. or in both concurrently.
(d) Membership in SESA shall cease when fees are one year in arrears, or when the
Secretary receives a written resignation, or when a majority of the members present at a duly
constituted meeting vote for expulsion.
7. The officers of SESA shall be as follows.
(a) Chairman. The Chairman shall be the chief officer of the Chapter, preside at all meetings and
have the power to delegate duties not specified in the by-laws.
(b) Past-Chairman. The Past-Chairman, an ex-officio office holder, shall advise the current
Chairman and Executive in the light of past experience as Chairman and shall take office
automatically upon stepping down from the position as Chairman.
(c) Vice-Chairman. When the Chairman is unable or unwilling to discharge any function of office,
the Vice-Chairman shall assume that function. If at any meeting, neither Chairman nor Vice-Chairman
is available, another member shall be elected to preside in their absence.
(d) Secretary. The Secretary shall be charged with keeping minutes of all meetings and conducting
its correspondence in accord with the directives of the Executive. The Secretary shall keep
SESA's records and official documents. There shall be no official seal.
(f) Treasurer. The Treasurer shall receive all monies directed to SESA and keep one or more
bank accounts for this purpose and keep books to show clearly what sums have been received,
deposited and, if spent, for what purpose. Normal orderly procedures of book-keeping shall be
observed. Treasurer is at all times under the direction of the Chairman. The Treasurer shall keep
ready the necessary documentation needed for auditing and present an audited statement of the
financial position of SESA to the Annual General Meeting.
The Treasurer shall work together with the Secretary to file the Annual Return with the Corporate
Registry of Alberta.
The positions of Secretary and Treasurer may be combined in one person, if the Chairman so
decides.
(g) Editor. The Editor shall be responsible for producing the Newsletter.
(h) Publicity Manager. The Publicity Manager shall be responsible for advertising SESA's
lectures, seminars, workshops and similar events.
(i) National Representative. The National Representative shall be the primary liaison person with
the national organization, SESCI, and if possible, shall attend the Board Meetings of SESCI at the
Head Office.
(j) Member(s) at Large. Up to four Members at Large may be elected to carry out any specific
function or to help with the work of the Executive as it develops.
8.
(a) The above officers in 7 constitute the Executive, which shall, subject to the by-laws or any
directions given to it by majority vote at any meeting properly called and constituted, have full control
and management of the affairs of SESA.
(b) Any member of the Executive may, upon a majority vote of all members in good standing, be
removed from office for any cause which the membership deems reasonable.
(c) Officers shall be elected or re-elected annually at the Annual General Meeting by majority vote of
the members present.
9. Officers shall receive no payment for their services to SESA, but reasonable expenses incurred in
carrying out the functions of SESA shall be allowed by majority vote of the Executive, recipient not
voting.
10. Meetings
(a) Executive Meetings shall be called at least five times a year at the discretion of the Chairman.
One such meeting may be the Annual General Meeting, which shall be held in April, notice being
mailed to the last known address of each member for delivery at least eight days prior to the
meeting.
(b) At the Annual General Meeting, the Officers shall report to the membership on their activities.
The Treasurer shall present a written statement of SESA's finances, which shall have been
audited by two other members elected for this purpose at the previous meeting.
(c) Newly elected officers take up their duties at the conclusion of the Annual General Meeting.
(d) A Special Meeting shall be called by the Chairman or Secretary if either receives a petition
signed by a third of the membership in good standing setting out the reasons for such a meeting.
Notice for Special Meetings shall be 21 (twenty-one) days.
(e) The quorum for Executive meetings shall be 51 (fifty-one per cent), and for General and Special
Meetings shall be a quorum of the Executive plus 6 (six) other members.
11. Voting
(a) Voting shall be by show of hands, unless, by such majority vote, the members present express a
wish to vote by secret ballot. There shall be no provision for proxy voting.
(b) All members in good standing shall have the right to vote. Members in arrears shall not vote.
12. The books and records of SESA shall be available for inspection by members or duly constituted
authority at the Annual General Meeting or at the address of the Secretary, given three working days'
notice, or at the Chapter Office, if one is maintained, also given three working days' notice.
13. These by-laws may be rescinded, amended or added to by Special Resolution at the Annual General
Meeting or a Special Meeting. Such resolution, if passed, shall be dated, verified and filed with the
Corporate Registry of Alberta by the Chairman or delegate.
14. SESA may dissolve itself by a two-thirds majority of the Executive. Any assets become the
property of SESCI.
SIGNATORIES TO THESE BY-LAWS:
Name and Signature Complete address
1.
2.