Canadian Peony Society
(last revised June 2010)

Section A. Name. The organization shall be known as the Canadian Peony Society/ la Société canadienne de la pivoine ( herein referred to as the Society). The abbreviated form of the name of the Society shall be CPS in English and SCP in French.

Section B. Mission Statement. As a non-profit organization, our mission as a Society is to promote cultivation and enjoyment of peonies in Canada.

Section C. Activities. The following list of activities enables the Society to develop a national presence for members:
   a) encourage the collection and breeding of peonies in Canada
   b) distribute educational information about the genus Paeonia
   c) assemble and maintain a register of peonies bred in Canada, and of cultivars in various
       collections in Canada (public, private, or commercial)
   d) develop and maintain a listing of peony cultivars and species available from nurseries
       or institutions in Canada
   e) act in the national interest in responding to, and influencing, agencies or departments
       of federal or provincial governments in matters affecting the cultivation of peonies
   f) develop an agreed code of judging peonies that is appropriate for the country
   g) agree on the qualifications of individuals qualified to judge
   h) expedite new ideas and concerns among members
   i) assist in building and developing peony collections in botanical gardens across the country
   j) give appropriate national recognition to Canadian peony hybridizers and other Canadians
      who make exceptional contributions to peony growing in Canada
   k) promote the peony by showing, and writing about peonies for a national membership, the
       public and the media
   l)  promote the peony by offering for sale donated peony roots and donated peony seeds
   m) improve and extend the cultivation and the development of the peony in collaboration
       with other like minded organizations in other countries.

MEMBERSHIP:

   a) Types of memberships and fees shall be established by the Board of Directors of
       the Society.
   b) All members in good standing shall be entitled to attend meetings, participate in Society
       activities, receive all mailings/copies of the Newsletter of the Society.
   c) Memberships are in effect from January 1st to December 31st.
   d) The Board of Directors may revoke the membership of any person for justifiable
       cause with the refund of membership fee being at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS:

   a) Board of Directors, herein referred to as the Board, shall consist of President,
       Vice President, Immediate Past President, Treasurer, Membership-Secretary and
       5 Directors representing the regions of British Columbia including the Yukon; the
       Prairies including the North West Territories; Ontario; Quebec including Nunavut;
       the Maritime Provinces including Newfoundland & Labrador.
   b) The Officers of the Society shall include the President, Vice President, Treasurer
       and Membership-Secretary.
   c) The President, Vice President and Directors shall be elected on an annual basis at
       the AGM and shall hold office until their successors are elected at the next Annual
       General Meeting.
   d) The Board at the beginning of each new term of office shall appoint from the Society
       membership a Treasurer and a Membership-Secretary who shall remain in office
       at the pleasure of the Board.
   e) All members of the Board must be members in good standing of the Society.
   f)  Members of the Board receive no pay or honorarium, but are entitled to be reimbursed
       for approved documented expenses pertaining to the Society's business.
   g) A member shall not hold office of President for more than two consecutive terms
       and is considered ineligible to run for that position for at least four years after holding
       that position.
   h) Directors and the Vice-President may remain in office for consecutive terms without
       restrictions.
   i) A member of the Board may resign at any time by submitting a written resignation
      to the Membership-Secretary.
   j) The Board shall act for and on behalf of the Society in all matters.

ARTICLE IV

MEETINGS:

   a) There shall be an Annual General Meeting within the time frame of the annual peony
       bloom season, generally occurring between, but not restricted to, the first of June and
       the fifteenth of July. The Board shall decide on the place and date of such a meeting.
       Ten members shall constitute a quorum with a simple majority required for passage
       of any motions made except for changes to the Constitution.
   b) At least three weeks' notice of every Annual General Meeting shall be given by providing
       location, date and time of the meeting, and its agenda, by appropriate means.
   c) Members who are unable to attend the AGM will have the right to vote on issues identified
       in the Agenda through a procedure determined by the Board of Directors prior to the vote.
   d) There may be other General Meetings scheduled involving the full membership if deemed
       necessary by the Board. Such meetings will also be required to meet the conditions as
       noted in a. and b.
   e) The Board shall meet a minimum of four times a year, or more if deemed necessary.
       Such meetings will occur via conference call, by email or by some other form of internet
       connection.

ARTICLE V

CHANGES IN CONSTITUTION:

Articles of the Constitution may be repealed, amended or added to by an affirmative vote of two-thirds of members present at an Annual General Meeting, provided that there is a quorum of 10 members who are not members of the Board.  Notice of any proposed changes to the Constitution must be circulated to all members at least three weeks before the meeting.

DISSOLUTION:

In the event of dissolution, all of the remaining assets of the Society, after payment of liabilities, will be distributed on a practical and fair basis to not for profit horticultural societies or regional public gardens where peony collections have been maintained for the Society as approved by the Board.

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