Science Fiction and Fantasy Society of Upper Canada

Related Links
By-law • Enabling resolution

Page Table of Contents

Purpose, Name, and Structure
Officers and Directors
Voting Members

Top >

Purpose, Name, and Structure

Purpose

As defined by our by-law and by our original non-profit corporate filing, the objects of the society are:

The establishment and operation of a cultural society for the purposes of

encouraging the creation, appreciation, and understanding of science fiction, fantasy, and speculation in all media, including print, online, visual, theatrical, and all other forms;
uniting the residents of Ontario who share interests in science fiction, fantasy, and speculation in all media;
holding and supporting conventions, readings, viewings, exhibitions, publications, and other events and activities, as a way of uniting this community and encouraging the creation of these works;
organizing educational activities for the benefit of members and non-members in subjects associated with science fiction, fantasy, and world-building, including such fields of study as literature, literacy, science, mathematics, history, mythology and comparative religions, linguistics, economics, political science, and other subjects;
promoting and supporting literary and other prizes, awards and distinctions, to recognize and honour the best creative and organizational talents in the regional, national, and global speculative and science fiction communities;

and such other complementary purposes not inconsistent with these objects.

Name

The name "Science Fiction and Fantasy Society of Upper Canada" was chosen to resemble the "Filk Society of Upper Canada", an organization we greatly respect. "Society" was also chosen to resemble groups like the Philadelphia Science Fiction Society, the Baltimore Science Fiction Society, etc. which in turn trace origins back to the Science Fiction League that was the earliest fan organization back in the 1920s. "Society" also indicates the non-profit and community aspects of the organization, to distinguish us from for-profit corporate enterprises. (The acronym "SFFSoUC" can be prounounced "siff-sowk". "SFContario" can be prounounced "ess-eff-kon-tar-ee-oh" or more simply as "seff-kon-tar-ee-oh".)

Structure

So the corporation is designed to be a legal entity which can organize activities and projects such as conventions. The convention is an autonomous organization which is governed by an enabling resolution from the corporation defining the relationship with and responsibilities of the convention.

< Top >

Officers and Directors

Officers

Officers are elected annually at the annual general meeting by the voting members of the Society.

President: Alexander von Thorn
ensures compliance with the legal obligations of the Society, holds meetings and elections of directors and officers

Vice-President: Diane Lacey
may chair meetings or perform other duties in the President's absence or at the direction of the President

Secretary: Catherine Crockett
records minutes of meetings, stores corporate documents, maintains the list of voting members

Treasurer: Marah Searle-Kovacevic
maintains financial records and presents an annual financial statement to the board of directors

(Note that the actual tasks of the officers of the corporation may and often will be delegated; officers only hold the legal obligation of ensuring that tasks are peformed by someone.)

Directors

The board of directors represent the interests of the community. They are elected for two-year terms on a rotating basis at general meetings by the voting members of the Society. The directors approve budgets and major obligations (e.g. hotel contract) of conventions (or other projects and activities of the corporation), review the financial statement prior to its presentation to a general meeting, may replace corporate officers in the event of resignation or other vacancy, and if necessary may call for special meetings of the voting members of the corporation.

As of November 2009, the directors of the corporation are: Alexander von Thorn, Marah Searle-Kovacevic, Diane Lacey, Catherine Crockett, and Claire Beaumier.

< Top

Voting Members

Members must have attended at least three meetings of the Society within the past , including the current meeting, to be entitled to vote. This normally will include any membership fee required for the meeting (i.e. convention membership).

As it is logically impossible to have attended three meetings until the third meeting, a category of charter members has been created. Charter members have full voting rights up to and including the second annual general meeting. There are about twenty charter members of the corporation.

Our by-law requires that directors and officers of the corporation are elected by the voting members of the Society. Also, major projects (e.g. conventions) require an enabling resolution to be approved by the membership to delegate the project to an organizing committee and to define the relationship between the corporation and the organizing committee.

SFC Home

SFContario Online