| THE
MORTGAGE INVESTMENT ASSOCIATION
OF BRITISH COLUMBIA
CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS
First Adopted 1917
Amended 1938
Amended 1951
Amended 1960
Amended 1964
Amended 1975
Amended 1979
Amended 1983
Amended1990
Amended 1998
Amended 2000
Amended 2001
Consolidated 2003
Revised and Rewritten 2004
WHEREAS:
A. A large amount of capital is invested in real estate mortgages in the Province
of British Columbia;
B. Such investment of capital is and can be materially affected by present and
future legislation;
C. It is expedient that there be an organization of those companies and other
legal entities engaged in the Mortgage Lending
Industry (as defined herein) in British
Columbia.
1. NOW
THEREFORE THE MORTGAGE INVESTMENT ASSOCIATION
OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (the "Association")
has been duly formed to achieve the following
objectives:
a. To examine, consider
and inform its membership of any proposed
or existing legislation in any way affecting
the Mortgage Lending Industry.
b. To create and maintain
mutual confidence between those engaged
in the Mortgage Lending Industry and the
general public.
c. Where decided by
the membership that it is in the best
interests of the Mortgage Lending Industry
and the general public as concerns such
matters to promote united action to obtain
the best possible legislation.
d. To discuss and consider
all matters affecting the general interest
of its Members.
e. To co-operate with
other associations having a common interest
with the Association and pursue any of
the foregoing objectives.
f. To provide a forum
to exchange information and build business
relationships among its membership in
the context of the Mortgage Lending Industry.
g. Such other objects of common interest
as may from time to time arise.
It is distinctly understood
that the Association is not created for
the purpose of affecting, in any way,
rates of interest, and it shall not be
within the province of the Association
to discuss any matter or take any action
that could directly or indirectly interfere
with free competition amongst companies,
associations, firms and individuals in
connection with the business of investing
and lending mortgage capital and any company
or individual represented in this Association
shall be free to lend its money at any
rate of interest or on any terms that
it thinks proper, and the Association
shall not be used in any manner as a combination
of said companies, associations, firms
and individuals as against the
borrowing public.
BYLAWS
PART I
MEMBERSHIP
2. MEMBERS
a. The Members of the
Association shall consist of the organizations
admitted as Members to the Association.
b. There shall be only one type of Member
in the Association
c. All Members of the Association shall
be Voting Members.
d. Each Member shall be entitled to one
representative in the Association for
the purposes of voting but shall be allowed
as many representatives for all other
purposes as such Member deems appropriate.
e. The identity of the voting representative
of a Member may be changed from time to
time as often as desired and at the sole
discretion and will of the Member. In
the event that a Member has only one representative
attending at a meeting of the Association
in which a vote is being conducted the
voting representative for that Member
shall be the representative in attendance.
In the event that a Member has more than
one representative attending at a meeting
of the Association in which a vote is
being conducted the voting representative
for that Member shall identify him or
herself as being the voting representative
for that Member and the other representative
or representatives of that Member shall
abstain from voting.
f. Each Member shall be entitled to one
vote on the affairs of the Association.
3. APPLICATIONS FOR
MEMBERSHIP GENERALLY
All applicants for membership
shall apply to the Secretary stating the
name(s) of the applicants, the names of
the representative(s) of the applicants,
and such application(s) shall be considered
by the Executive Committee.
4. REQUIREMENTS FOR
MEMBERSHIP
To become a Member, an
applicant for membership must, in the opinion
of the Executive Committee be an entity
whose ordinary course of business is involved
in the Mortgage Lending Industry and who
has demonstrated an ethical business conduct
consistent with the objectives of the Association.
5. MEMBERSHIP GENERAL
The membership shall consist
of those who have applied and who in the
future will apply for membership in the
Association and who have met and who in
the future will meet the criteria for membership
as determined by the Executive Committee
and who continue to meet membership requirements
and obligations
6. The Executive
Committee shall determine if an applicant
meets the requirements for membership and
shall have an absolute discretion to approve
or reject any application and shall not
be obliged to furnish any reasons for its
decisions.
7. If the Executive
Committee approves the application to become
a Member the applicant will, upon payment
of the membership fee, become a Member and
shall be bound by this Constitution and
these By-Laws.
8. When
a decision to accept or reject a membership
application has been made the Secretary
shall advise the applicant of such decision.
Upon acceptance the applicant shall pay
the annual membership fee.
9. Each
Member voting representative shall have
one vote which vote shall be forfeited immediately
upon his or her ceasing to be a Member representative.
In the case of an individual ceasing to
be a Member representative, the Member shall
substitute its replacement voting representative
as soon as practical.
10. SUSPENSION
AND DISQUALIFICATION
a. A Member who ceases to meet the membership
requirements shall cease to be a Member.
b. The membership of any Member may be
terminated for non-payment of fees.
c. The Executive Committee after due enquiry,
may suspend or expel any Member for conduct
which in its opinion is injurious to the
reputation, or objectives of the Association.
d. No Member shall be suspended or expelled
without first having been called before
the Executive Committee to be heard, and
every such Member so called shall receive
at least seven days’ notice in writing.
Such notice shall contain a statement of
the reasons alleged for suspension or expulsion
of such Member. A Member suspended or expelled
shall have the right to appeal such suspension
or expulsion to the Association at its next
annual meeting at which a majority of those
Members present may allow the appeal or
confirm the decision of the Executive Committee.
PART II
FEES
11. The annual membership
fee payable by Members shall be fixed from
time to time by the Executive Committee
which shall promptly be paid to the Treasurer
and shall apply to the period commencing
January 1 and ending December 31 of each
year.
12. The
Association shall have the right to levy
additional assessments on all Members at
any time as may be required to cover expenses
of the Association. Any assessment must
be approved by a two-thirds majority of
the Executive Committee.
PART III
OFFICERS
13. The Association shall,
from amongst the representatives of Members,
elect a President, a First Vice President,
a Second Vice President, a Secretary and
a Treasurer at its annual meeting and each
officer so elected shall commence office
at the time of election at the annual meeting
and subject to By-Law 26 continue in office
until his or her successor is elected, or
if no successor is elected then for so long
as he or she remains the
representative of a Member. In addition
to being a representative of a Member generally,
the President, First Vice President and
Second Vice President must each be a representative
of a Member who meets the traditional lender
criteria set forth in the Criteria Statement
appended to these By-Laws.
14. The
Executive Committee shall conduct the business
of the Association and subject to the Constitution
and By-Laws, take all steps and do all things
necessary to promote the objectives of the
Association.
15. PRESIDENT
The President shall preside at all meetings
of the Association and shall be the Chief
Executive Officer of the Association and
President of the Executive Committee. The
President, when necessary, may act for and
in the name of the Association with the
approval of such members of the Executive
Committee as are available for consultation.
16. FIRST VICE
PRESIDENT
The First Vice President shall assist the
President in carrying on the administration
of the Association and shall act as President
in the President’s absence or inability
to act or at his or her request.
17. SECOND VICE PRESIDENT
The Second Vice President shall assist
the First Vice President in carrying on
the administration of the Association, and
shall act as First Vice President in the
First Vice President’s absence or
inability to act or at his or her request.
18. SECRETARY
The Secretary shall keep the Association’s
records and minutes. The Secretary shall
also maintain membership rosters and co-ordinate
meetings of the Association and the Executive
Committee and give notices of meetings to
the membership and perform all usual duties
of the office.
19. TREASURER
The Treasurer shall have charge of the books
and financial records of the Association
and account for all money of the Association,
maintain an account in a financial institution
selected by the Executive Committee, pay
all accounts approved by the President,
present at the annual meeting of the Association
or as required by the Association, annual
financial statements coincident with the
calendar year and prepared on a "Notice
to
Reader" basis, and shall perform all
the usual duties of the office.
20. The Treasurer
annually shall prepare and submit a budget
for approval by the Executive Committee.
21. The Executive
Committee shall determine the honorarium
to be received by the Secretary and the
Treasurer.
22. SIGNING
OFFICERS
The signing officers of the Association
shall be:
a. the President,
b. First Vice President, and
c. Treasurer,
and all documents shall be executed by any
two of such officers.
23. DIRECTORS
Each member of the Executive Committee shall
be a Director of the Association. Additionally
the Executive Committee shall appoint a
minimum of three directors who are not elected
members of the Executive Committee and each
Director so appointed shall, commence office
at the time of appointment at the annual
meeting and subject to By-Law 26, continue
in office until his or her successor is
appointed, or if no successor is appointed
then for so long as he or she remains the
representative of a Member.
24. NOMINATIONS
Subject to the restrictions set forth herein,
any Member may nominate one or more Members
for election or appointment as the case
may be to the Executive Committee.
25. TERM OF OFFICE
The term of any office
shall commence at the time of election or
appointment at the Association’s annual
meeting and shall terminate upon the election
of a successor officer or director.
26. To
be eligible for election or appointment,
a person must be a representative of a Member.
Any qualified Officer or Director is eligible
for re-election or re-appointment.
If an Officer ceases to be a representative
of a Member during the term of his or her
office, he or she shall remain an Officer
at the discretion of the Executive Committee,
for the remainder of the term of his or
her office, but he or she shall not be eligible
to hold an office for the ensuing term or
terms.
If the President, First Vice President or
Second Vice President ceases to be a representative
of a Member who meets the traditional lender
criteria set forth in the Criteria Statement
appended to these By-Laws during the term
of his or her office he or she may at the
discretion of the Executive Committee, retain
his or her office for the term of such office
but he or she shall not be eligible to retain
his or her office for the ensuing term or
terms.
If a Director who is not an Officer ceases
to be a representative of a Member, during
the term of his or her directorship, he
or she may at the discretion of the Executive
Committee, retain his or her directorship
for the term of such directorship but he
or she shall not be eligible to retain his
or her directorship for the ensuing term
or terms.
The Executive Committee shall make every
reasonable effort to ensure that its composition
will at all times be comprised of no less
than 51 % of representatives of Members
who meet the traditional lender criteria
set forth in the Criteria Statement appended
to these By-Laws but any failure to do so
shall not invalidate any bona fide act of
the Executive Committee undertaken in the
course of their duties.
27. VACANCY
Should any office in the
Association appointment, fill that vacancy.
28. DUTIES
The Executive Committee
shall advise and assist the President in
performing the duties of the President.
The members of the Executive Committee shall
at all times act in a manner consistent
with the objectives of the Association and
attend meetings of the Executive Committee,
the regular luncheon meetings and the annual
meetings of the Association as often as
possible.
Upon appointment or election each member
of the Executive Committee shall sign a
conflict of interest agreement in the form
agreed upon from time to time by the membership
of the Association. Pursuant to the terms
of such agreement each member of the Executive
Committee will agree that in carrying out
their duties as a member of the Executive
Committee they will represent the interests
of the Association first and foremost and
without undue consideration or bias in favour
of the interest of their respective
employer, their particular area of business
or in favour their personal interests. The
failure of a member of the Executive Committee
to abide by the terms and conditions of
such agreement shall be grounds for the
Executive Committee to terminate the office
or directorship of such member of the Executive
Committee and further grounds to terminate
the membership of the Member or to require
the Member appoint a replacement
representative.
29. The
Executive Committee may meet for the dispatch
of business, adjourn or otherwise regulate
its meetings at its discretion. A quorum
necessary for the transaction of the business
of the Executive Committee may be fixed
by the Executive Committee, and unless so
fixed shall be majority.
30. The
Executive Committee may engage and pay for
the services of a solicitor or solicitors
whenever necessary.
31. SPECIAL COMMITTEE
Special Committees may
be appointed by the Executive Committee
for any purpose and may be dissolved by
the Executive Committee.
PART IV
MEETINGS
32. ANNUAL MEETINGS
The Association shall meet annually
in the period 15 May to 15 September at
such time and place as the Executive Committee
shall select.
33. SPECIAL MEETINGS
Special meetings of the Association may
be called by the President or any two members
of the Executive Committee. The purpose
of such special meetings shall be stated
in the notice calling such meeting. No business
shall be considered at such meeting other
than that for which it is called. Special
meetings of the Association shall be held
at such time and place as the President
or, in his or her absence, the First Vice
President shall
determine.
34. NOTICE OF MEETINGS
Not less than 30 days written notice of
all annual meetings and special meetings
shall be given to every member of the Association
at its address as it appears on the records
of the Association.
35. The
order of business to be observed at the
annual meeting, unless changed by order
of the President or pro tem president, shall
be:
a. Secretary presenting the Minutes
of the annual meeting and any special meeting;
b. Report of Treasurer;
c. Report of President;
d. Report of Committees;
e. Notices of Motion;
f. Unfinished business;
g. General business;
h. Election of officers.
36. QUORUM
The quorum for any annual
meeting or special meeting shall be the
number of representatives of Members present.
PART V
RESOLUTIONS
37. Any person who acts
as Chairman of a Special Committee shall
have the power to implement, according to
its terms, any recommendation of or resolution
passed by the Special Committee if that
recommendation or resolution has first been
approved by the Members or by the Executive
Committee.
38. Where,
in the opinion of the Executive Committee,
it is in the interest of the Association
that immediate action be taken or representations
be made on behalf of the Association and
that the circumstances are such that it
is not feasible to defer the consideration
of the same until the next meeting of the
Association, the President, with approval
of the Executive Committee, shall have power
to take such action or make such representations
as may be deemed expedient.
39. If
a vote is tied, the motion shall fail.
40. Any
resolution or motion may be voted upon by
a show of voting cards or hands.
PART VI
AMENDMENTS
41. The Constitution and
By-Laws of the Association may be amended
by a two-thirds affirmative vote of Members
present at any annual meeting or special
meeting of the Association.
42. The
Executive Committee may pass any further
By-Law not inconsistent with these By- Laws
as it may see fit for the proper administration
of the affairs and furtherance of the objectives
of the Association. Such further By-Laws
shall continue in force until the next annual
meeting or special meeting of the Association
and in default of confirmation thereof shall
from such annual meeting or special meeting
cease to have force or effect.
PART VII
GENERAL
43. The use of the singular
or either gender in this Constitution and
these By-Laws shall include the plural or
other gender where appropriate.
PART VIII
DEFINITIONS
"Director" means
an elected member of the Executive Committee
and any person who is not elected a member
of the Executive Committee but is appointed
as a director by the Executive Committee
under the By-Laws of the Association.
"Executive Committee"
means the elected Officers and the appointed
Directors of the Association.
"Mortgage Lending Industry" means
those businesses whose ordinary course of
business involves the direct making, insuring
or servicing of mortgage loans in British
Columbia as well as those businesses whose
ordinary course of business involves consulting
to those businesses involved in such direct
making, insuring or servicing of mortgage
loans in British Columbia. For greater certainty
wherever the expression Mortgage Lending
Industry is used in the context of the interests
of the Association it shall have as its
primary focus the interests of the business
of directly making, insuring or servicing
of mortgage loans.
"Officers" means
the President, First Vice President, Second
Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and
the immediately past President of the Association. |