Author: Woodsworth Housing Co-op

Journée Blanche at Woodsworth, Saturday Oct 5, 2024

Woodsworth’s very own arts festival is coming on Saturday October 5th, full of art, crafts, food and music! We are calling it Journee Blanche because it will coincide with Nuit Blanche, Toronto’s annual all-night celebration of contemporary art. Our own co-op festival will run early in the day so that everyone will be free to go out later to enjoy Nuit Blanche when it starts in the evening.

Professional and amateur artists are welcome to take part, and if they wish to sell their work, we encourage them to do so. Inspired by Nuit Blanche, our goal is to spark dialogue, transform common spaces, and to create opportunities for members to explore the co-op’s physical space and the creativity within it. Members will get a chance to see their community in a whole new light.

We are therefore calling for all co-op artists and artisans to reach out to us, at socialwoodsworth@gmail.com. We’re looking for filmmakers, quiltmakers, visual artists such as photographers, graphic designers and painters, poets, musicians, jewelry makers, woodworkers, knitters, dancers etc. If you’ve painted all your life but have never exhibited, we would like to give you an opportunity to do so. Are you an amateur video photographer? Do you do animation? We’d like to showcase your work in creative ways, around the co-op. If you have ideas and suggestions, we want to hear from you. By the way, we are also extending our invitation to budding artists, the children and youth of the co-op. We want to hear from all of you!

We anticipate this event will be a unique co-op wide experience, the first-ever ‘Journée Blanche at Woodsworth’ in our community’s history. To ensure its success, we will need a dedicated team of volunteers. Volunteer helpers will play a vital role in bringing this exciting day to life, contributing to the vibrant atmosphere and making lasting memories for all involved. Whether you lend a hand with setup, assist during the event, or help with cleanup, your participation will be invaluable.

Join us in making co-op history, and creating a day to remember. If you’d like to volunteer, please send us a note at socialwoodsworth@gmail.com.

Thank you and let’s get planning!

GMM Oct 16, 2024: Organizational Amending Bylaw #87 for Organizational Bylaw #83

Proposed updates to the Organizational Bylaw.
The last of the updates to the Organizational Bylaw from the Co-op Housing Federation of Canada (CHFC) are based mostly on the changes to the Ontario co-op act will be coming to members at the next general members meeting (GMM).  The Organizational Bylaw covers the governance of the co-op.

See also this summary of changes.

Organizational bylaw #87 amendments for electronic updates2

GMM Oct 16, 2024: Summary of changes to the Organizational Bylaw proposed by Bylaw #87

NOTE: This document is not for approval by the membership. It is an aid for the Organizational By-law # 87 to amend the Organizational By-law #83 – (ORGANIZATIONAL AMENDING BY-LAW #87)

Most changes relate to the changes to the Ontario Co-op Corporations Act. The amending document was developed by the Co-operative Housing Federation of Canada (CHFC).

Article 2:  Applying for Membership — Signing Application – relating to electronic updates

Article 4:  General meetings
– Continuing meetings – Continuing the meeting at a later time and Quorum
– Attendance by Non-Members – clarification

Article 6:  Member Control – Requirements for All Requisitions; confidentiality

Article 9:  Role of the Board of Directors and Board Procedures – clarification relating to electronic updates

Article 11:  Board Procedures
– Numbering changes to match CHFC’s model Organizational Bylaw
– Resolutions in Writing – new paragraph
– Board polls – clarifies procedure and refers to new paragraph

Article 12: Early Ending of Directors’ Terms
– Vacancies – clarifies what happens if there is a vacancy, if members don’t ratify an appointee and calls for an election with the new normal process.

Article 16: Staffing – Staff Information
– Backup copies – new paragraph requiring staff to keep a record of passwords, e-mail addresses, and similar data and share with lawyer or auditor

Article 17: Committees – Role of Committees – requires sending minutes to the Board

Article 18: No Payment of Directors and Officers – expansion of One Year Gap before someone connected to an out-going director can be paid by the co-op or receive an honorarium from the co-op.

Article 19: Conflict of Interest – change of just one word for clarity from “benefits” to “affects”

Article 20: Confidential Information – Access to Personal Files and Accounts
– Added (f) Staff, Board and committee access to member files which restricts access

Article 21:  Confidentiality Situations
– No Recording of Meetings – electronic update
– Disputes between members – recommendation of order changed for clarity

Article 24:  Financial – Major Commitments – clarification of length of time of contracts for member approval
– Adjusting items in housing charges –  new paragraph about changing what is included in housing charges or not included in housing charges by a vote of the members at a general meeting.
– Approval Process – How member approval is given – clarification

Article 26: Giving Notices – Delivery by electronic mail – new paragraph says what can be sent by email if the member has consented
– Notices to Co-op – new (d) Exceptions – what cannot be sent by email even with consent of the member

Schedule A: Rules of order – electronic

Schedule C: Director’s Ethical Conduct Agreement – clarification of point 1 and expansion of point 6.

This document is a summary only.
The changes are available in the amending bylaw document –
GMM Oct 16, 2024: Organizational Amending Bylaw #87 for Organizational Bylaw #83.

GMM Oct 16, 2024: Membership Bylaw #89 amending Membership Bylaw #84

There is disagreement between a procedure in the Membership Bylaw with the Occupancy Bylaw relating to proof of income during the membership process. Since the Occupancy Bylaw takes precedence and because it seems procedurally advisable, the following is a proposed amendment to the Membership Bylaw.  It has been approved by the Board of Directors and will be brought to the members at the upcoming general members meeting (GMM).

Membership Bylaw #89 amending Membership Bylaw #84
Passed by the Board of Directors on August 20, 2024
Confirmed by the members on <date> with a two-thirds majority

Article #2.5. Proof of income

External and Returning Member applicants for membership must provide official or verifiable proof of income in a form determined by the co-operative.

Internal applicants (long-term guests and Turning 16’s) must show proof of income prior to joining the internal waiting list.

Article #5.1.2. Restrictions on joining the internal waiting list

(e) Financial disclosure

Members must provide official or verifiable proof of income in a form determined by the co-operative to join the internal waiting list or inherit a unit alone if the other unit members move out of Woodsworth.