Two By-law amendments were delivered to members towards the end of August. Included in the package was a memo from our Property Manager attaching yet another document of sorts - a Co-op Participation Registration Sheet. It stated that the 'Mandatory Completion Deadline For Submission' was August 30, 2013. I only opened up the package the day before and seeing that I needed time to think about what participation category I would like, I haven't yet filled in the form.
Upon reading the Participation By-law No. 14, there is no mention of how many hours a member should contribute to the co-op each month, although it has always been assumed that it was four (4) hours.
Article 2.02 states in part:
While participation is compulsory, as far as possible the actual areas of assistance will be voluntary, based on members' preferences and abilities.
This is an oxymoron to me - we are going to force you to participate and this will serve as your volunteer hours.
Article 3 of the Participation By-law states that a Member Involvement Committee:
...'will establish procedures for monitoring and evaluating the Co-op's participation requirements, the current participation of members and the Co-op's program for facilitating member participation.
Having lived in this co-op for 23 years, I remember there being a Member Involvement Committee, but I haven't a clue as to what they did or accomplished. As a non-stop volunteer, I was never asked to hand in a participation slip. I wish I had done so as this would provide further proof that all my participation hours were for naught.
The Memo dated August 21, 2013 stated that members must now volunteer only 2 hours (per month). Many of the new sign-up Committees are being resurrected from before the co-op's Financial Solvency By-law # 31. They are as follows:
Board of Directors
Welcoming, Membership and Education
Neighbourhood Watch and Security
Communication/Newsletter/Website
Social & Recreation
Diversity
Blocks/Participation
Policy and Procedures, Bylaw Review
Landscaping/Gardening/Lawn care
Other (Be specific)
Both By-law 16 (Parking By-law) and By-law 26 (Feeding Animals and Wildlife) have monetary consequences should members violate same. For infractions of the Parking By-law, members will first receive a written warning. Members will be fined $50. for the second violation 'and the vehicle will be towed at the owner's expense'. The offending member will be fined $100. for the third infraction, and 'the vehicle will be towed at the owner's expense as well as a notice to appear before the Board will be issued'.
Members who violate the DO NOT FEED By-law will not have to endure $100. fines (they only go up to $50.), but will have to appear before the Board of Directors and this could include The Aspiring Nut's owner.
Seeing that there will be a Blocks/Participation Committee, fines for non-participation will soon ensue. And who will suffer the wrath of management's crackdown on non-participants - subsidized members. The purpose of instituting fines is to create a sledge hammer to pound vulnerable members into submission.
By-laws and committees are the bane of co-op residents for a multitude of legit reasons.
ReplyDeleteThere's the sheer number of both.
By-laws that are poorly-written, lifted from the CHF model, cut and paste from other co-ops add little to clarity or common sense. I think in earlier post you said there were about 25 by-laws at your co-op. Yet there's a by-law review committee?
I'd be wary of co-op members having the skills, and understanding the legal ramifications, of reviewing, rewriting or adding more by-laws.
Same goes with committees. There's a fallacy that the health of a co-op is measured by the number of committees, the number of people on committees and what of significance is ever accomplished. Do you need ten people on membership, 5 or on a "Welcoming" committee or anybody on a "Diversity Committee?
I've seen other co-op's by-laws and the sheer numbers of committees and purpose is mind-boggling not to mention, pointless. Mercifully, our place is on the low end of both committees and by-laws. Not saying that this makes either more effective,productive or understandable.
I find it really strange that # of participation hrs is not specified anywhere. Of course, by-laws and policies are often kept open-ended to suit co-op and BOD so that interpretation favours them and frustrates members.
But mere fact that your co-op has a Part Comm and a Member Involvement Comm to log Part hours, produce endless paperwork and provide easy Part hrs for more people speaks to lunacy of it all.
Welcoming/"Education" is code for indoctrination.
ReplyDeleteSocial/Recreation: Creates, strengthens and justifies cliques/factions. If you're not willing to socialize with directors, committee people etc., then you're "not one of us" and thus, an enemy.
"Safety" Committee: Given what you said about crime at your co-op and neighbourhood, I can't see too many people willing to be active.
Policy, Procedures, By-Law Review: That is BOD's responsibility and duty, provided that they have a clue what they're doing.
Of course, there's more but I'm sure you get my drift.