AUTHORITY AND RESPONSIBILITY
Authority
The authority of the Executive Committee is established by the Bylaws. The Committee consists of not less than seven and not more than eleven members elected at the Annual General Meeting. Term of office is one year for the President, Past-President and President-Elect/Vice-President. Other Executive officers shall normally be elected for two years. No member may serve for more than two consecutive terms in the same office. The Executive shall have a meeting schedule that will allow it to conduct the Association’s business in a professional manner. Executive meetings are called by the President. Three members of the Executive shall constitute a quorum for Executive decisions at its regular or special meeting. If a vacancy occurs the Executive shall attempt to fill the vacancy until the next Annual General Meeting; any vacancy on the Executive may be filled by appointing a new member for the unexpired term.
The Executive shall ensure that the Association has a minimum of one meeting per year. Notices of meetings shall be sent to the membership two weeks before each scheduled meeting. A special meeting may be called on the instructions of any two members provided that they request in writing that the President call such a meeting, and state the business to be brought before the meeting. Fifty-one percent of active members present shall constitute a quorum for decisions at a regular or special meeting. Meetings are open to the membership and minutes are a matter of public record.
Responsibility
The Executive Committee is responsible for the conduct of AWA’s affairs. Its responsibilities include:
establishing and planning the AWA programming and advocacy activities;
advertising, selecting, and honouring the annual AWArd winner;
ensuring that the AWA has adequate financial resources for its goals and activities;
promoting the AWA, inspiring confidence in its mandate and services, and interpreting the work of the association to the community.
Duties
Preparation for Meetings
Members are expected to prepare for meetings by reading minutes and materials and by noting points they wish to discuss at meetings.
Active Participation
Members are expected to attend all Executive Committee meetings. If they are unable to attend they must advise the President in advance of the meeting. Active participation in the Association requires each member to serve in her appointed office and, if possible, to be prepared to serve on additional ad hoc or task-oriented committees.
Confidentiality
Items of Executive Committee business are confidential by nature, and Executive Committee members should be aware that although minutes of meetings are a matter of public record, discussion at the Executive Committee level should be considered confidential.