BY-LAWS of the MARITIME SOCIETY OF HOMEOPATHS

In these by-laws unless there be something in the subject or context inconsistent therewith,
(a) "Society" means MARITIME SOCIETY OF HOMEOPATHS.
(b) "Registrar" means the Registrar of Joint Stock Companies appointed under the Nova Scotia Companies Act.
(c) "Special Resolution" means a resolution passed by not less than three fourths of such members entitled to vote as are present in person, or by proxy, where proxies are allowed, at a general meeting of which notice specifying the intention to propose the resolution as a special resolution has been duly given.

Membership:

In order to be eligible for membership an applicant must:
be over 18 years of age and of good moral character, be a Canadian citizen, a landed immigrant or possess a valid and relevant work permit, be interested in supporting the objectives and goals of the Maritime Society of Homeopaths and adhere to the Code of Ethics of the Society.
For the purposes of registration, the number of members of the Society is unlimited.
Every member of the Society shall be entitled to attend any meeting of the Society and to vote at any meeting of the Society and to hold any office. but there shall be no proxy voting.
Membership in the Society shall not be transferable.
Membership in the Society shall cease upon the death of a member, or if, by notice in writing to the Society, s/he resigns her/his membership, or if s/he, ceases to qualify for membership in accordance with these by-laws.

Dues:

Annual dues shall be $40 per year. Registered Members shall pay an additional $40.
All members who are not paying dues will lose their status with MSH and the benefits, duties and privileges that come with it.

Categories of Membership:

a) Registered member
As defined under "Requirements for Becoming a Registered Member..."
b) Candidate member
1) meets the educational requirements
2) is in the process of submitting 2 cases to an auditor
3) length of candidacy is minimum one year from completion of education, and maximum 5 years
c) Student member
d) Supporting member
Anyone who feels inspired about homeopathy and would like to join MSH to support its mission statement.

The use of membership in the MSH as a reference:

Members who want to use their membership with MSH on stationery, in any advertisement, promotional material, publications, presentations or C.V., etc., must specify their type of membership. Supporting members further need to state that they are not professional and practicing homeopaths.

The use of MSH logo:

Only registered members are entitled to use it in any form of publication or sign or business card, etc.

Requirements for Becoming a Registered Member of this Society:

A homeopath is entitled to use the initial RMSH, if the applicant
I.
a) has graduated from a school or course of Homeopathy that either fulfills the academic requirements of the British Society of Homeopaths or is based on the core curriculum standards of the European and International Council for Classical Homeopathy. The syllabus of the schools or courses must either include or have an approved clinical training and case supervision as part of its education; has received approval of 2 non-acute cases with a 6 month follow-up, and has been in practice for a minimum of one year, or
b) is a registered member in good standing of the North American Society of Homeopaths, the British Society of Homeopaths or a comparable organization with similar registration requirements,
II.
has fulfilled the anatomy, physiology and pathology course requirements of the respective schools,
III.
fulfills the minimum of continuing education requirements:
a) 18 hrs per year in homeopathic education.

Infringement of the Code of Ethics:

Infringement of the code of ethics as deemed by the Peer Review Committee of the Maritime Society of Homeopaths renders registered members liable to disciplinary action with subsequent loss of privileges and benefits of the Maritime Society of Homeopaths.

Peer Supervision:

Complaints against a registered member are always investigated by the Peer Review Committee of the Maritime Society of Homeopaths, provided such complaints are put in writing. The member is then informed in writing of the complaint. The complainant’s letter is acknowledged and in most cases a copy of their letter is sent to the registered member concerned. A request for an explanation is made to the registered member by the Peer Review Committee, asking for a detailed explanation of their side of the matter within ten days, supported by documentary evidence where appropriate.

Examination of Complaints:

Registered members may be assured that all allegations made against them by individuals, whether patients or other registered members, will be carefully examined by the Peer Review Committee of The Maritime Society of Homeopaths.

Convictions:

The Peer Review Committee acts impartially and its decisions depend solely on the facts and circumstances of each case, at which time it is possible for a member to be expelled. Registered members should be aware that the Peer Review Committee is obliged to accept the findings of a court of law, and is not able to reopen the investigation of facts which led to a conviction. The Peer Review Committee will consider only the seriousness of the conviction and any surrounding circumstances in mitigation. Registered members should therefore treat with caution any encouragement to plead guilty to an offense and should take legal advice where possible.

Guidance:

If any registered member requires advice on a professional or legal problem, he or she may consult the Secretary of the Society, who will refer him or her to the appropriate person or committee for advice. If the society considers that giving advice may conflict with the judicial functions of the Society it may refer him or her to an independent adviser.

Duties and Privileges of Membership:

Members of the Society shall, at all times, uphold the mission statement, objectives, by-laws and Code of Ethics established by the Society. Members are expected to attend and participate in the activities of the Society to the best of their abilities. Established dues amount shall be paid in full by members and payment of dues should be kept current.
Registered members will receive a Society certificate that should be displayed in a prominent position in their place of practice. Registered members will be issued a Society membership number that may be used for verification of membership.

Benefits of Membership:

Membership in the Society entitles a person to:
a) Participate in the spontaneous insight process in selection of nominees for the Board of Directors and Committee Chairpersons.
b) Participate in the consensus process for making changes in the by-laws or other decisions which might be brought before the membership.
c) Serve on a committee.
d) After one year of membership, to serve as a committee chairperson.
e) After one year of membership, to serve on the Board of Directors.
f) During first year of actual operation of the Society the one year membership requirements may be relaxed to ensure participation.

Benefits of Registered Membership:

Ma) Registered members are entitled to apply for liability and malpractice insurance.

Fiscal Year:

The fiscal year of the Society shall be the period from Jan. 01 to Dec. 31.
The ordinary or annual general meeting of the Society shall be held within three months after the end of each fiscal year of the Society.

Meetings Of The Society:

General meetings shall be held at such time and place as the Chairperson and 2/3 of voting members decide.
Notice of any general meeting shall be sent a minimum of 14 days prior to the date set for such a meeting. Every such notice shall state the nature of business, time and place of meeting. Background information relevant to any decisions to be made at this meeting should also be included.
If changes in the by-laws are to be considered, the proposed changes shall be communicated in writing to all members of the Society at least two weeks before the meeting date.
The first annual general meeting of the Society shall be held no more than fifteen (15) months after the date of incorporation and thereafter an annual meeting shall be held at least once every calendar year and not more than fifteen (15) months after holding the last preceding annual meeting.
If within one-half hour from the time appointed for the meeting a quorum of members is not present, the meeting, if convened upon the requisition of the members, shall be dissolved. In any case, it shall stand adjourned to such time and place a majority of the members then present shall direct and if at such adjourned meeting a quorum of members is not present, it shall be adjourned sine die.
The Chairperson of the Society shall preside as Chairperson at every general meeting of the Society;
(b) If there is no Chairman or if at any meeting s/he is not present at the time of holding the same, the Vice-Chairperson shall preside as Chairman;
(c) If there is no Chairperson or Vice-Chairperson or if at any meeting neither the Chairperson nor the Vice-Chairperson is present at the holding of the same, the members present shall choose someone of their number to be Chairperson.
The Chairperson may, with the consent of the meeting, adjourn any meeting from time to time and from place to place, but no business shall be transacted at any adjourned meeting, other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place unless notice of such new business is given to the members.

Elections of Officers/Directors:

Officers are elected by members of good standing. Selection of officers is by the process of spontaneous insight. Instead of voting for or against someone a process of open communication and frank consideration of mutual interest is used whereby the person with the most appropriate talents and energy will become apparent to everyone in the group.
There shall be four (4) Officers or such other number as determined by members at any time.
The term of Officers is one (1) year.
The Officers may appoint a member as an Officer to fill any vacancy in the Officers.
The members may, by special resolution passed by seventy-five percent (75%) of the members present, remove an Officer before the expiration of his/her office, and may select a successor at the next General Meeting.

Decision Making:

The Society has power to repeal or amend any of these by-laws by a special resolution passed in the manner prescribed by law.
In general, decisions of the Society shall be made by consensus of the members present at a properly called meeting of the Society. Although consensus is not always the most time-efficient way to arrive at a decision, the process of reaching consensus stimulates open-minded communication and discussion. The point is for everyone to keep an open mind, and explore ways in which the goals of the Society can be reached using all of the energy and intelligence of the existing membership.
In order for decisions made at a meeting of the Society to be binding on the Society, a quorum of members must be present. A quorum is defined as one-quarter of the membership, or five (5) members, whichever is more.
The consensus process should be taken quite seriously and given time to work. In the case of a complete stalemate, a vote may be taken if requested by at least 75% of the members of the Society. In the case of a vote, each member present shall have one vote, and the question shall be decided by a simple majority.
The Chairperson shall have no vote except in the case of an equality of votes. In the case of an equality of votes he shall have a casting vote.

Directors And Officers Of The Society:

The subscribers to the Memorandum of Association of the Society shall be the first directors of the Society.
Any member of the Society shall be eligible to be elected a director of the Society.
The Chairperson of the Board is selected by spontaneous insight of the Board in the first meeting following the First Annual Membership Meeting and will serve from that meeting for the next year. The Chairperson will chair all Board meetings.
The Vice Chairperson(s) of the Society will be selected by the Board from the Board's membership. The Vice Chairperson(s) will chair any Board meeting at which the Chairperson is not present.
The Secretary of the Society will be selected by the Board of Directors from the Board's membership. The Secretary will be responsible for assuring that minutes of Board meetings are made available to any interested member of the Society.
The Treasurer of the Society will be selected by the Board of Directors from the Board's membership. The Treasurer is responsible for overseeing the financial management of the Society, for ensuring the availability to any interested member of the Society the financial statements of the Society, and for ensuring the proper preparation of the annual financial statement of the Society.
The selection of all Officers of the Society will be by spontaneous insight and take place at the first meeting of the new Board of Directors following the first annual Membership Meeting. Officers of the Society will serve for one year. An Officer may be selected by the annual spontaneous insight process to continue his or her Office for an additional year.
In the event that a director/officer resigns his/her office or ceases to be a member in the Society whereupon his/her office as director/officer shall ipso facto be vacated, the vacancy thereby created may be filled for the unexpired portion of the term by the Board of Directors from among the members of the Society.
Meetings of the Board of Directors shall be held as often as the business of the Society may require and shall be called by the Secretary. A meeting of directors may be held at the close of every ordinary or annual general meeting of the Society without notice. Notice of all other meetings, specifying the time and place thereof, shall be given either orally or in writing to each director within a reasonable time before the meeting is to take place, but non-receipt of such notice by any director shall not invalidate the proceedings at any meeting of the Board of Directors.
No business shall be transacted at any meeting of the Board of Directors unless at least one-third in number of the directors are present at the commencement of such business.
The Chairperson or, in his/her absence, the Vice-Chairperson or, in the absence of both of them, any director appointed from among those directors present shall preside as chairman for meetings of the Board.

Powers Of The Directors:

The management of the activities of the Society shall be vested in the directors who, in addition to the powers and authorities of these by-laws or otherwise expressly conferred upon them may exercise all such powers and do all acts and things as may be exercised or done by the Society and are not hereby or by Statute expressly directed or required to be exercised or done by the Society in general meeting. In particular, the directors shall have power to engage a coordinator and to determine his duties and responsibilities and his remuneration. The directors may appoint an executive committee consisting of the officers and such other persons as the directors decide.

Audits Of Accounts:

The auditor of the Society shall be appointed annually by the members of the Society at the ordinary or annual general meeting and, on failure of the members to appoint an auditor, the directors may do so. The Society shall make a written report to the members as to the financial position of the Society and the report shall contain a balance sheet and operating account. The auditor shall make a written report to the members upon the balance sheet and operating account, and in every such report, he shall state whether, in his opinion, the balance sheet is a full and fair balance sheet containing the particulars required by the Society and properly drawn upon as to exhibit a true and correct view of the Society's affairs, and such report shall be read at the annual meeting. A copy of the balance sheet showing the general particular of its liabilities and assets and a statement of its income and expenditure in the preceding year, audited by the auditor, shall be filed with the Registrar within fourteen days after the annual meeting in each year as required by law.

Miscellaneous:

The Society shall file with the Registrar along with its Annual Statement a list of its directors with their addresses, occupations, and dates of appointment or election, and within fourteen days of a change of directors notify the registrar of the change.
The Society shall file with the Registrar a copy in duplicate of every special resolution within fourteen days after the resolution is passed.
The seal of the Society shall be in the custody of the Secretary and may be affixed to any document upon resolution of the Board of Directors.
Preparation of minutes, custody of the books and records, and custody of the minutes of all the meetings of the Society and of the Board of Directors shall be the responsibility of the Secretary.
The books and records of the Society may be inspected by any member at any reasonable time within two days prior to the annual general meeting at the registered office of the Society.
Contracts, deeds, bills of exchange and other instruments and documents may be executed on behalf of the Society by the Chairperson or the Vice-chairperson and the Secretary or otherwise as prescribed by resolution of the Board of Directors.
The borrowing powers of the Society may be exercised by special resolution of the members.

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