Canadian Association for Spiritual Care Ontario Council

Terms of Reference

Purpose

CASC Ontario serves the Ontario membership of the Association by providing leadership in promoting the professional practice and enhancing the professional identity of our membership.

Functions

CASC Ontario Council:

  1. provides leadership in relationship to the development of a professional college and developing of our Association in Ontario
  2. promotes and enhances the recruitment and retention of members, identifying the value of CASC/ACSS membership in Ontario
  3. advocates with employers, faith groups and government for spiritual care and counselling practice and education in Ontario
  4. seeks and supports opportunities for collaboration with other associations, agencies, councils, etc.
  5. support implementation of standards of practice for spiritual care, pastoral counselling and education in Ontario
  6. supports and promotes opportunities for professional affiliation, continuing education, and research by CASC Ontario members
  7. advises and liaises mutually with each of the Ontario Regions on the work of CASC Ontario Council

Membership

The membership of the CASC Ontario Council shall include ten (10) members:

• Three (3) representatives living in the Ontario North East Region

• Three (3) representatives living in the Ontario Central Region

• Three (3) representatives living in the South West Region

• One (1) representative living in North Western Ontario

Note: The three (3) Ontario Professional Practice Chairs must be included as three (3) of the ten (10) members of the CASC Ontario Council.

The CASC Ontario Council may include ad hoc members as needed.

These members will fill the positions of;

• Chair

• Vice-Chair/Past-Chair

• Secretary

• Treasurer.

Members may serve for two (2) consecutive terms after which they may not serve on the Council for at least one year. The Chair can only serve as Chair for one two year term. The Past-Chair is Past-Chair for one (1)year in the Chair’s first year and the Vice-Chair is Vice-Chair for one (1) year during the Chair’s second year. For all other members, membership on the Council will be for a two (2) year term. Members of CASC Ontario Council are designated by the membership at Ontario Regional Annual General Meetings.The Chair, Vice-Chair/Past-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer of CASC Ontario Council will rotate geographically from the Ontario regions. Note: This may be modified when boundaries are re-drawn.

Members of the Council are expected to attend a minimum of three-quarters of the meetings of the executive. There are regularly 10 meetings per year; three quarters constitute 7.5 meetings. Non-compliance will be considered resignation from the Council, at the Council’s discretion.

Officers

The Officers of CASC Ontario Council shall be the Chair, the Vice-Chair, the Secretary and the Treasurer.

The Chair shall:

• call and preside at the meetings of CASC Ontario Council

• provide leadership and direction to CASC Ontario Council in fulfilling its Purpose and Functions

• set the agenda with the Secretary following call for submission of items

• advise and report with transparency with each of the Ontario Regions for the annual budget of CASC Ontario Council

• advise and report with transparency with each of the Ontario Regions on matters pertaining to the work of CASC Ontario Council

The Vice-Chair/Past-Chairshall:

• monitor relations with the public and with members on behalf of the CASC Ontario Council

• other duties as delegated by the Chair

• orient and assist the Chair to that position

• offer continuity on the council

The Secretary shall:

• record the minutes of all meetings of CASC Ontario Council

• receive and prepare correspondence on behalf of CASC Ontario Council

• ensure copies of minutes of all meetings are stored in Association’s Archivesand provide general monitoring to the CASC ON Council link on the National web site

• prepare and distribute agenda, minutes and related documentation to CASC Ontario members prior to meetings.

• obtain approval of the minutes by the Chair.

• set the agenda with the Chair following call for submission of items.

• other duties as delegated by the Chair

The Treasurer shall:

• attend and participate in all meetings of CASC Ontario Council

• have oversight for all fiscal matters and make regular reports to CASC Ontario Council

• present an audited financial statement and an annual budget for approval annually

• other duties as delegated by the Chair

Meetings

CASC Ontario Council will meet regularly at the call of the Chair, usually monthly.

Special meetings of CASC Ontario Council may be called by the Chair.

Quorum

At all duly called meetings of CASC Ontario Council a majority of the members will constitute a quorum. This constitutes 6 or more members, which must include a minimum of one member from each Region.

Reports, Consultations and Communication

CASC Ontario Council is accountable to Ontario CASC/ACSS membership for its work on their behalf and will report directly to the membership at Regional Annual General Meetings, via electronic communication and via the CASC/ACSS website. CASC Ontario Council will consult regularly with each of the Ontario Regions and with CASC/ACSS National.

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