RAPS 2017 Annual General Meeting & Volunteer Recognition Dinner
Date: May 25, 2017
Doors Open at 5:30. Seating available on a first-come-first-serve basis.
Time: AGM 6:00 to 7:30 pm | Volunteer Recognition & Dinner 7:30 to 9:30 pm
Location of both events: Richmond Nature Park Kinsmen Pavilion
11851 Westminster Highway, Richmond, BC, V6X 1B4
Parking is limited: Please try to carpool, take transit or prepare to park on Number 5 Road and walk to the venue.
RSVP: To ensure that we have enough food for everyone, please RSVP your attendance for the AGM & for the dinner by Sunday, May 21st, 2017.
RSVP at marian@rapsbc.com
Dear Members and Friends of the Richmond Animal Protection Society,
We hope that you will join us for the 2017 Annual General meeting of the Richmond Animal Protection Society.
In addition to routine business and the election of officers, this meeting will feature several very significant components.
Members will consider the following Special Resolution:
BE IT RESOLVED AS A SPECIAL RESOLUTION that the Society be and is hereby authorized to make application to the B.C. Registrar of Societies to change the name of the Society from “Richmond Animal Protection Society” to “Regional Animal Protection Society.”
The Board of RAPS is asking for the membership’s support to change the name of the organization to better represent the geographical area that RAPS serves. The branding and recognition of the organization will remain the same. Significantly, the name change is also intended to coincide with a re-envisioning of the organization that includes the creation of the RAPS Regional Animal Hospital.
On April 25, RAPS launched a Capital Campaign to construct an in-agency Veterinary Hospital, which is anticipated to open by the end of 2017 – with your support!
At this AGM, we will share with you the exciting news of the Regional Animal Hospital and the entire “RAPS Model” – a wholly new concept in community-supported, social enterprise NO-KILL animal care – of which the Regional Animal Hospital is at the heart. The Regional Animal Hospital will allow us to save and improve the lives of more animals than ever before.
A sponsor has stepped forward to host (pay for) a 400-person gala for RAPS this October 29th, 2017. Tickets will be $125 each. Save the date.
This is an extraordinarily exciting time to be involved with RAPS.
Please join us to find out more about this initiative and how you can help make it a reality. (If even half of the people reading this donate $200, we will be easily on track to open the Hospital this year!)
All are welcome to attend this meeting and learn about the changes coming to RAPS. To vote at the AGM, one must be a member in good standing of RAPS, which requires that they:
(a) Have been a member in good standing of RAPS since the last AGM; or meet all of the following criteria:
(b) Demonstrate that they are a member in good standing by supporting the purpose of RAPS, support the best interest of RAPS and have done no harm to RAPS; and
(c) Apply to the Board to be a member (click here for membership form) and provide a reference; and
(d) Be accepted by the Board as a member. The Board has the right to refuse anyone from membership at the sole discretion of the Board.
IMPORTANT: To be eligible to vote at the AGM on May 25, you must meet criterion (a) above OR submit membership application [criterion (c)] by May 15th, 2017 and meet criteria (b) and (d) above by the time of the AGM. The Board will meet prior to the AGM and will notify members by email (and only by email) of their acceptance as members no later than May 21st, 2017.
In addition to the Special Resolution outlined above, members attending the AGM will be requested to consider a number of motions:
(a) Approval of the 2016 AGM Minutes;
(b) Acceptance of the 2016 Financial Statements;
(c) Acceptance of Outside Accounting Firm as auditors;
(d) Election of Board members.
Board nominations:
If you would like to apply to be a Board member, please know that RAPS is a working Board. Members are expected to attend monthly board meetings, participate in fundraising and other events, as well as numerous special meetings with stakeholders throughout the year. Board members are also expected to attend numerous regular committee meetings. Board members fill specific roles including oversight of organizational objectives, policies and procedures. This includes being involved heading active committees such as finance/budgeting and accounting, human resources, legal, governance, marketing, public relations, policy, membership, thrift store operations, sanctuary operations, shelter operations, strategic planning, development and other areas that meet the core objectives of the organization. Board members provide either historical perspectives (the Founders of RAPS) or assist the Society in meeting all of its fiduciary and social requirements. New Board members must fill a specific role that meet the overall strategic objectives of RAPS.
Nominations for Board positions must accompany a minimum of five internal recommendations, including one Manager and one Board member, from existing active Society members and must fill a role on the Board. The selection committee has the sole right to recommend refusal of any nomination. Nominations will be accepted until May 15th, 2017, and must be accompanied by a biography of the individual, along with the expertise they bring to the Board. Click here for a nomination form.
Volunteer Appreciation
Please also join us after the AGM for a volunteer appreciation event. This is an amazing time for RAPS and this is an opportunity to renew old friendships and make new ones as we work together for an even better future for the animals we serve.
These are exciting times – be part of it!
Thank you and we look forward to seeing you on May 25th.
Eyal Lichtmann, CEO and Executive Director
Richmond Animal Protection Society (RAPS)
