CAMRA BC is run by a volunteer executive, currently made up of a president, vice president, secretary and treasurer, all elected to one-year terms at the annual CAMRA BC Annual General Meeting, and the presidents from each branch, elected at each branch’s AGM.
CAMRA BC is financially independent from both the hospitality and craft brewing industry but due to the close ties many have in the craft beer community there are times when elected executive do have business or employment ties to these industries. To help with transparency and to avoid perceived conflicts of interest, executives sign pledges to uphold the standards and duties outlined by CAMRA BC by-laws and the Society Act and are made aware that any breach of these duties and standards will result in action up to and including being removed from their executive position. Executives also declare any connections they have to the hospitality and/or brewing industry for reasons of transparency and if an executive does find themselves in a conflict of interest, they pledge to remove themselves from any discussion or vote related to the conflict.
General Responsibilities of Directors and Officers of CAMRA BC
Duty of Care:
Each board member has the duty to exercise reasonable care when making a decision for CAMRA BC. Reasonable care is what an ordinarily prudent person in a similar situation would do.
Duty of Loyalty:
A board member must never use information gained through his/her position for personal gain and must always act in the best interests of CAMRA BC.
Duty of Obedience:
A board member must be faithful to CAMRA BC’s mission. He or she cannot act in a way that is inconsistent with the organization’s goals. The board member is trusted by the members to fulfill the society’s mission.
Directors must:
Ensure the society follows the law.
Attend most board meetings, thus indicating their dedication to the society.
Duties of the CAMRA BC Board of Directors
Those elected and/or appointed to the board of directors of CAMRA BC have overall responsibility for the activities of the society. The board acts on behalf of the members to make overall policy decisions and provide oversight. The board has power and also responsibility. Specific duties of the board of directors and of individual board members, committees, and officers are set by the society bylaws.
Primary duties of the societal board:
Fiduciary responsibility
Board members are required to care for the finances and legal requirements of CAMRA BC. They must act in good faith and with a reasonable degree of care.
Mission and Vision
Board members are responsible for setting the mission of the society and assuring that all actions are related to and adhere to that mission. The board can change the mission, but only after careful deliberation.
Oversight
The board of directors does not participate in day-to-day decision-making; instead, they set overall policy, based on the society mission and vision, and they exercise an oversight function, reviewing the actions of branch officers and executives.
Annual General Meeting
At the annual meeting of the society, the board provides the president’s report, annual financial statements, oversees election of society board members, elects or appoints officers and key executives, and amends the bylaws, if necessary.
CAMRA BC President (Term = 1 year)
The president presides at all meetings of the society and of the directors.
The president is the chief executive officer of the society and must supervise the other officers in the execution of their duties.
CAMRA BC Vice-president (Term = 1 year)
The vice-president must carry out the duties of the president during the president’s absence.
CAMRA BC Secretary (Term = 1 year)
The secretary must do the following:
(a) conduct the correspondence of the society;
(b) issue notices of meetings of the society and directors;
(c) keep minutes of all meetings of the society and directors;
(d) have custody of all records and documents of the society except those required to be kept by the treasurer;
(e) maintain the register of members.
CAMRA BC Treasurer (Term = 1 year)
The treasurer must
(a) keep the financial records, including books of account, necessary to comply with the Society Act, and
(b) render financial statements to the directors, members and others when required.
(1) The offices of secretary and treasurer may be held by one person who is to be known as the secretary treasurer.
(2) If a secretary treasurer holds office, the total number of directors must not be less than 5 or the greater number that may have been determined under bylaw 25 (2).
In the absence of the secretary from a meeting, the directors must appoint another person to act as secretary at the meeting.
Communications (Term = 1 year)
Communicates the messages of CAMRA BC to the members, media, industry, and general public through conduits such as social media, web site content, media releases, and other notifications
Membership (Term = 1 year)
Coordinates and consolidates the membership records for CAMRA BC from each branch and oversees the issuing of membership cards and annual renewal notices.
Branch Executives
Branch executives shall have a minimum of three members: a president/chair, a secretary and a treasurer. Secretary/treasurer may be combined so long as the board has three members in total. Other officers may be elected/appointed as the branch sees fit.
Duties of the Branch Officers and Executive
Branch officers are responsible for overseeing day-to-day decisions regarding their branch.
Branch President (Term = 1 year)
The branch president is a de facto a member of CAMRA BC Board of Directors.
The branch president heads the branch executive, calls and chairs meetings, delegates duties as required and oversees the day-to-day operation of the branch.
The branch president is expected to be fully aware and responsible for the actions of the branch officers.
The branch president relays pertinent information on an ongoing basis to and from CAMRA BC.
The branch president submits an annual report on the branch activities annually to CAMRA BC in time for the AGM.
The branch president is responsible for branch elections and is the returns officer for voting at the branch component of the CAMRA BC AGM.
Branch Treasurer
The branch treasurer oversees the financial requirements of the branch on a regular basis, keeps accounts, is one of the required signees of cheques, ensures the branch bank account is in kept in good standing and reports directly to the Board of Directors when required.
The Branch Treasurer must submit a prompt, full, up-to-date branch financial report to the Board of Directors when requested, and prior to each AGM.
Branch Secretary
The branch secretary is required to record attendance, keep meeting minutes and ensure order is maintained at meetings.
The branch secretary is responsible for dissemination information to branch members.
Other Branch Officers
Branches may elect or appoint other officers as they see fit to perform the duties necessary to maintain a healthy branch. Branch officers report to the branch president.
All branch officers must uphold the best interests of CAMRA BC