RTM/LVL Wiki

The Association shall be known in English as “Right to Move,” and in French as “La Voie Libre” and hereafter shall be called “RTM,” “LVL” or “RTM/LVL”.

English and French are the official languages of La Voie Libre/Right to Move.

1. In all communications and at meetings of RTM/LVL, members may use either official language.
2. Resolutions of RTM/LVL may be adopted in either or both official languages.
3. Official notices of RTM/LVL shall be posted in either official language.
4. All documents of RTM/LVL shall be considered authoritative in the language of their original adoption.

The objective of RTM/LVL is the promotion of sustainable transportation with a special emphasis on the bicycle and other human-powered devices.

Services provided by RTM/LVL in fulfilling its mandate will include, but are not limited to:

• Providing a high-accessibility bicycle workshop, at which its members may come in and use its tools, and learn how to maintain and/or improve their bikes.
• Acquiring and maintaining a stock of used and new bicycle parts and accessories which can be purchased by members to complete projects which they undertake at the RTM/LVL shop.
• Receiving donated bicycles and fixing them up to sell to members at a reasonable price.
• Holding workshops and classes to educate people on topics such as bicycle maintenance and safety.

1. RTM/LVL is open to the public at large for membership and Volunteer involvement, with a special emphasis on involvement with the Concordia University community.
2. RTM/LVL may have staff or contracted workers to provide continuity, skills and facilitation of the day-to-day business of the organization.
3. RTM/LVL shall be non-partisan. Its objectives shall be carried out without the purpose of gain for its members and any profits or other accretions shall be used for promoting the objectives of RTM/LVL.
4. RTM/Lvl is a consensus-based organization wherein, except for all items at General Meetings, decision-making is based on a 'unanimity minus one vote' decision rule.
5. RTM/LVL shall actively promote the inclusion of underrepresented groups within its membership.

In these Articles and Bylaws, the following definitions apply, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. “member”: member of RTM/LVL;
2. “Board”: the Board of Directors of RTM/LVL;
3. “Board member”: member of the Board of Directors of RTM/LVL;
4. “voting Board member”: a Board member elected by the members of RTM/LVL;
5. “non-voting Board member”: an ex-officio or appointed Board member;
6. “majority resolution”: a resolution based upon a majority of votes cast, including blanks and abstentions;
7. “two-thirds resolution”: a resolution based upon a two-thirds majority of votes cast, including blanks and abstentions.
8. “shop”: the physical space(s) within which RTM/Lvl carries out most of its operations.

There shall be the following classes of members:

• General Members
• Volunteers

• General Membership is open to the public at large. General Membership is available through, and begins upon, payment of a fee to RTM/LVL.
• Volunteers in the organization shall be limited to General Members interested in furthering the objects of RTM/LVL and shall consist of anyone whose application for admission as a volunteer has been approved as outlined in the Policy Manual and Guidebook.

• All members shall have voting privileges in elections and general meetings of RTM/LVL.
• All members shall be eligible to sit as Board members.
• All members shall be entitled to benefit from the services of RTM/LVL.
• Every document of RTM/LVL shall be open to inspection by any member upon reasonable request, except for minutes of Board meetings held in closed session.
• If any General or Volunteer member is hired by RTM/LVL, he/she retains his/her status and privileges as a General or Volunteer Member.

Any member may be expelled from the organization by a consensus of Volunteers at a monthly meeting or at a special meeting called for that purpose.

1. The Operation and administration of RTM/LVL and its facilities shall be governed by the Bylaws set forth below and by the RTM/LVL Policy Manual and Guidebook referred to therein.
2. Volunteers shall be responsible for administering the Bylaws, managing the organization on a day-to-day basis, and ensuring implementation of and adherence to policies outlined in the Policy Manual and Guidebook.

1. Amendments to the Bylaws may be made by a two thirds (2/3) majority of the members in attendance at a General Meeting, in a referendum held in accordance with the same rules governing elections, as per Bylaw 6B.
2. Notice and wording of the proposed Bylaw change must be announced subject to the same rules as govern the announcement of General Meetings as per Bylaw 6A.
3. All amendments to the Constitution and Bylaws of RTM/LVL may be adopted in either official language.

1. The management, administration, and control of the affairs of RTM/LVL are vested in the Board, subject to these Bylaws and the division of responsibilities outlined in Bylaw 5A. Without diminishing the generality of the foregoing, the Board:
   • may make such rules and regulations as it considers advisable for the conduct of the affairs of RTM/LVL, provided such rules and regulations are consistent with these Bylaws and Articles;
   • may appoint standing or ad hoc committees and task forces, to carry out specific functions as determined by the Board;
   • shall ensure the keeping of proper financial records;
2. The Board shall elect, from among themselves:
   • A Chair
   • A Secretary that shall be responsible for taking and managing minutes and other responsibilities outlined by the board
   • A treasurer that shall be responsible for monitoring the finances of the organization, for authorization of spending in excess of $100 (whether by cheque or credit), for the provision of quarterly financial reports to volunteers and members, and for the creation of ad hoc committees related to inventory, internal audits, and tax-filing, as required.
3. The Chair shall ensure the effective chairing of the Board, and give notice of the agenda.
4. Minutes shall be kept of all meetings of the Board.

1. The Board shall consist of three to seven RTM/LVL members who have been elected in accordance with Bylaw 6E as voting members to represent RTM/LVL.
2. The term of office for voting Board members shall normally be one year, beginning November 1 and ending October 31, or until their successors are elected or appointed, whichever comes later.
3. Voting Board members shall retire at the expiration of their term at which time their successor shall take office.
4. Voting Board members shall not serve more than three (3) terms consecutively.
5. The Board shall have the right to appoint or remove other non-voting Board members, from time to time as it sees fit.
6. No remuneration shall be paid to a voting Board member for being or acting as a voting Board member or Officer, but a voting Board member or Officer shall be reimbursed for all expenses incurred by her/him while engaged in the affairs of RTM/LVL, subject to authorization by the Board Treasurer according to financial guidelines determined by the Board.
7. All major decisions that significantly affect the image and administration of RTM/LVL must be made by consensus.

1. The Board shall be elected at a General Meeting, in which:
   • Nominations shall come from the floor;
   • All candidates shall have the opportunity to present themselves, and members present at the meeting shall have the opportunity to ask questions of them;
   • Any candidates who cannot be present due to extenuating circumstances may present a written platform that will be read on their behalf;
   • Elections shall be conducted by secret ballot.
   • Members present can vote for more than one candidate, to a maximum of seven. Members voting will list their selections in order of preference with the first being the most preferred and the last being the least preferred.
   • Candidates must receive the support of 2/3 of members present in order to be elected to the board, regardless of their preferential ranking. In the event of a tie of votes for any 2 or more candidates when there is only one seat left to be filled on the board, the candidate with the highest preferential ranking will take the place.
   • If less than three candidates are elected, the people present will elect at least one more board member from the remaining candidates with a minimum support of 1/2 of the members present.
2. All publicity materials for the General Meeting shall give notice of the Board elections.
3. In order to elect a board, quorum must be present as defined in Bylaw 6E.
4. The operation of these election rules will be overseen by an impartial electoral officer, who will be selected for that purpose.

1. A Board member may resign by presenting resignation in writing, which shall be effective upon acceptance by the Board.
2. A voting Board member may be removed by a consensus resolution of a duly-held meeting of the volunteers of RTM/LVL.
3. A voting Board member who has resigned or who has been removed shall be replaced for the duration of his/her term by an Alternate member appointed by the Board only if at least four (4) voting Board members still hold office. If there are less than four (4) voting Board members, a by-election is to be held in accordance with Bylaw 5C. All conditions with respect to voting Board members in these Bylaws shall also apply to Alternate Board members.

1. The Board shall hold regularly scheduled meetings at least 4 times per year. At least five (5) days’ written notice of the time and place of meetings shall be communicated to the board and members by email.
2. Quorum shall be a simple majority of the voting Board members then holding office.
3. Any proposal to be considered by the Board must be accompanied by a memo containing a complete description of the project or action, including advantages, disadvantages, implications and costs. The proposal and memo must be submitted to the memorandum Chair or Secretary at least seven (7) days prior to consideration and made available to Board members at least five (5) days prior to consideration. All proposals must be sponsored by a member of RTM/LVL. If this procedure is not followed, a two-thirds resolution of the Board is necessary to consider the proposal.
4. A Board voting member who would possibly be put in conflict of interest by a proposed contract or transaction with RTM/LVL shall disclose such interest and shall not vote on, or be counted in the quorum for, a resolution concerning the proposed contract or transaction. Such resolutions shall be voted on by secret ballot.
5. Meetings of the Board and its committees shall be open to all members of RTM/LVL; the Chair shall make every effort to enable the attendance and participation of members.
6. Notwithstanding subsection 5, a particular meeting or portion thereof may be held in closed session of voting Board members or committee members upon majority resolution of the Board or committee, only for the purpose of discussing the following matters:
   • discussions regarding proposed, pending, or current litigation;
   • personnel matters, leading to the hiring, firing, promotion, demotion, suspension, salary level or evaluation of staff members.
7. Special Meetings of the Board, to consider matters of particular concern or urgency, shall be called by the Chair;
   • at her/his discretion, or:
   • upon majority resolution of the Board, or:
   • upon receipt of a written request from any three (3) Board members, or:
   • upon receipt of a petition duly signed by 5% of the members of RTM/LVL.

1. Notice shall be given by the Board at least twenty-one (20) days prior to a General Meeting by:
   • e-mail to all members
   • a notice posted conspicuously in the RTM/LVL Workshop and in at least three (3) conspicuous places on the Concordia University campus.
2. Notices of a General Meeting shall clearly state the date, time, place, and proposed agenda of the meeting.

1. RTM/LVL shall hold an Annual General Meeting at a time and place determined by the Board in accordance with these Bylaws.
2. The following business shall be conducted at the Annual General Meeting:
   • receiving the annual report and audited financial statements of RTM/LVL for the preceding fiscal year,
   • receiving the report of the Board and volunteers with respect to the activities of the preceding year,
   • Election of a Board of directors as per Bylaw 5.
3. Any matter concerning RTM/LVL's activities, in addition to those specified in the bylaws., may be considered at the Annual General Meeting, provided that the matter is brought to the attention of the Board at least fourteen (14) days prior to the date of the Annual General Meeting for placement on the agenda of the meeting.
4. The Board shall be responsible for seeing that the notice requirements of Bylaw 6A are met. 5.A person designated by the Board shall chair/facilitate the Annual General Meeting.

1. Special General Meetings, to consider matters of particular concern and urgency, shall be called by the Chair:
   • upon a majority resolution of the Board, or
   • upon receipt of a petition conducted in accordance with regulations set by the Board stating the purpose(s) of the meeting and duly signed by ten (10) percent of the members of RTM/LVL.
2. The Board shall be responsible for seeing that the notice requirements of Bylaw 6A are met.
3. The Chair of the Board, or a designate from the Board, shall chair the Special General Meeting.

1. Quorum at a General Meeting shall be fifty (50) percent of the volunteer members of RTM/ LVL plus three (3) percent of General Members of RTM/LVL.
2. If within one half hour from the time appointed for an Annual General Meeting, quorum has not been reached, quorum shall be twenty five (25) percent of volunteers or 8 volunteers, whichever is larger, but the meeting may transact only such business as is referred to in Bylaw 6B.2 and no other business.

1. Each member shall be entitled to one vote at General Meetings.
2. Voting by proxy shall not be allowed.

The fiscal year of RTM/LVL shall be from November 1 to October 31 of the following year.

The seal, an impression whereof is stamped in the margin hereof, shall be the seal of the organization.