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2020 Annual General Meeting

Although COVID-19 forced the cancellation of the training classes for our 68th International Training
Seminar in Chicago, we are still holding elements of the 68th Seminar in a virtual format.

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The 2020 Awards will be presented during an online ceremony on Monday 3 August and we will be
holding a virtual 2020 Annual General Meeting, next month on September 3 at 4 pm (New York time).
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In the coming weeks an email will be sent out to all members asking you to respond and advise us if you
will be attending the Virtual AGM. When you receive the AGM invitation email, we are asking you to reply,
so we can purchase the appropriate level of our Zoom video conferencing platform licence, to
accommodate the number of members attending on-line.

At the AGM we will be voting on a number of motions for proposed changes to our Constitution. These
proposed amendments have been reviewed by the Constitution By-laws and SOP Committee, and the
Board who has approved for them to be presented at this AGM, for discussion and possible acceptance by
the members.

Recommendation 1: Appeals
The 2019 President’s Review Committee report recommended a number of changes to our SOPs around
ethics investigations and the establishment of an Appeals process. The new Ethics Committee’s SOPs and
an Appeals SOP has been establish and approved by the Board. The final stage of this review is amend the
Constitution to acknowledge the appeals process. We therefore propose the last two paragraphs in
orange be added to the end of Article 2 Section 4 of the constitution.
“Article 2 – MEMBERSHIP
Section 4. Termination

Membership in the Association shall terminate by (1) voluntary withdrawal, or (2) when any
member is in arrears with dues or other obligations to the Association, or (3) by a two-thirds
(2/3) majority vote of the Executive Board when the Board, in its discretion, determines that any
member has exhibited conduct inconsistent with the objectives or qualifications of the
Association.

The Executive Board may also place on probation, censure or suspend the membership of any
member but only then after a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Executive Board. The
President shall appoint a three member committee to initiate such review or investigation,
except in cases of termination by voluntary withdrawal or for non-payment of dues, in which
case Article 6, Section 1, shall apply. The Executive Board shall also give any such member due
notice, and an opportunity to be heard before any such termination, probation, censure or
suspension of membership. Any terminated, probated, censured or suspended member may be
reinstated by a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote of the Executive Board.
Where, as the result of an Ethics Investigation, an individual’s membership has been
permanently terminated or suspended for a period of 3 months or longer, the member may
appeal their suspension or termination, subject to the criteria and processes outlined in the
Association’s Standard Operating Procedures.
Any individual who has their membership terminated by the Board is not entitled to either a full
or partial refund of any membership fees already paid.“

Recommendation 2: Removal of Board members and officers
This item was submitted last year by the then President Bill Johnson and following a review of the issue,
the Committee has recommended a constitutional amendment to provide a mechanism the removal of
either:
• an officer appointed by the President, or
• an elected board member

under certain circumstances.

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