WFIS Americas Bylaws
1. Name, headquarters, insignia
1.1. The name of the Region is World Federation of Independent Scouts - Americas Region.
The name will be abbreviated as WFIS-AM.
1.2. The Regional Council shall have its Headquarters in the Town or City where the Secretary resides.
1.3. The Regional Council is the only body that can authorize:
(a) the use of the WFIS name, insignia and badge, and
(b) the production and sales of WFIS materials.
1.3.1 All full member Associations are entitled to use the WFIS name, insignia and badge and to wear the badge on their registered members’ uniform.
1.3.2 Prospect member Associations are entitled to use the WFIS insignia with the words “Prospect Member”, but may not wear the WFIS badge on their members’ uniforms.
1.3.3 Applicants may not use or wear the WFIS insignia or badge.
1.4. The Regional Council reports to, and is responsible to, the WFIS World Council.
1.5. The Regional Council draws its members from all Countries in North America, Central America, South America and the Caribbean.
2. Purpose of the WFIS-Americas Region.
2.1 To provide a means of international friendship and co-operation between member associations, and to promote traditional scouting.
2.2 To organize, promote, support, and/or assist, provincial, state and national jamborees, camporees and training courses.
2.3 To further the development of independent traditional Scouting Associations in a style pursuant to the methods and ideas of the Founder of the Scouting Movement, Lord Robert Baden-Powell of Gilwell.
2.4 The Region, its members and the Regional Council are politically and denominationally neutral. Everyone shall refrain from taking any positions on political or religious matters.
2.5 The Regional Council funds, including any surplus, will be used exclusively for the purposes stipulated in these bylaws.
2.6 The official language of the Region shall be English. Where there is a difference between any official documents due to language interpretation, the English document will be the correct version.
3. Membership.
3.1 Membership in the WFIS is gained as described in the World Council PO&R.
3.2 Suspension of membership is as described in the World Council PO&R.
3.3 Termination of membership is as described in the World Council PO&R.
4. Rights and Obligations.
4.1 Each Full Member Association shall pay an annual membership fee. The amount of the annual fee shall be fixed by the Regional Council. This fee may be in addition to the WFIS World Council fee, or it may include the World Council fee, as determined by the Regional Council.
4.2 Each Full Member Association in good standing will have one (1) vote at the Regional Council, regardless of the number of registered members it has.
4.3 All Full Members are in good standing except (1) a member who has failed to pay their current annual membership dues by the thirtieth day after its due date, or (2) a member who has failed to pay any other debt due and owing, or (3) a member that has their membership suspended.
4.4 No person shall receive any payment or any other benefit from association funds in their capacities as members except for reimbursement of expenses.
5. Regional Council Elections
5.1 Elections are held every three years unless there is a vacancy before the end of the three year term.
5.2 In the event of a vacancy occurring during the term of one of the elected Officers, an election shall be held for a full three year term.
5.3 Each Full Member Association in good standing is entitled to cast one (1) vote for each position on the Regional Council.
5.4 Each Full Member Association in good standing is entitled to nominate one (1) person for each of the three (3) Regional Council positions. The person nominated can be from any WFIS Full Member Association in good standing within the Region; the persons nominated do not have to be from their own Association. Re-election is permissible.
5.5 Nominations are sent to the appointed Elections Commissioner by the Chief Commissioner of each Full Member Association.
5.6 The members of the Regional Council must be at least 21 years of age.
5.7 Voting for the Regional Council election is done via email between set dates, no more than 14 days apart.
5.8 Votes are cast by the Chief Commissioner of each Full Member Association, on behalf of his/her Association.
5.9 There are three (3) elected positions on the Regional Council. They are:
(a) Chairman
(b) Secretary
(c) Treasurer
5.10 The Regional Council elections should be overseen by a neutral observer, called the Election Commissioner to ensure that the election itself is run on fair and impartial grounds.
6. Duties of the Regional Council
6.1 Duties of the Regional Council are as described in the World Council PO&R.
6.2 The Chair of the Regional Council will, if present, preside at all meetings of members of the Regional Council. The Chair will prepare and submit an annual report about their activities to the WFIS World Council. The report shall include all activities, the number of the individual member associations, the full names and contacts and a financial report of the past business year and shall be submitted to the WFIS World Council.
6.3 The Chairman is charged with the general management and supervision of the affairs and operations of the Regional Council.
6.4 In the absence of the Chairman, the Regional Council shall elect a person it sees fit toexercise any such duty or power of the Chairman.
6.5 The Secretary will be the official contact officer for the Regional Council, and will be responsible for the drafting of all Regional correspondence and literature at the direction of the Regional Council
6.6 The Secretary is responsible for the notification of meetings to Council members.
6.7 All correspondence received by the Secretary must be presented at the next applicable meeting.
6.8 The Secretary will take the minutes of each meeting and will present them at the next subsequent meeting at the direction of the Council.
6.9 Copies of minutes must be forwarded to the World Council by the Secretary.
6.10 The Secretary will be responsible for the safe custody of all corporate books and records. No information may be released from these books or records except as authorized by the Regional Council.
6.11 The Treasurer will be responsible for all financial matters for the Regional Council.
6.12 The Treasurer will collect the annual WFIS registration fee, as set by the World Council, and forward them to the World Council Treasurer.
6.13 The Treasurer will look after insurance matters in the case of World or Regional Jamborees hosted by the Region.
6.14 The Treasurer will be responsible for the safe custody of all corporate books and financial records, and no information may be released from these books except as authorized by the Regional Council.
6.15 The Regional Council may form committees whose tasks, rights and obligations can be fixed on a case-by-case basis. The committees shall report to the Regional Council.
7. Regional Wood Beads Training
7.1. The Regional Council shall designate three Wood Beads Training Coordinators, one each to represent the three geographic areas of the Region (South America; Central America, Mexico and Caribbean; and North America).
7.2. The Wood Beads Training Coordinators shall be appointed for a three (3) year term.
7.3. Each Full Member Association in good standing is entitled to nominate a candidate for each of the three (3) positions. The person nominated can be from any WFIS Full Member Association in good standing within the Region.
7.4. Candidates must be part of a training team in their Association and have the support from their Association and have at least 3 Wood Beads.
7.5 Wood Beads Training Coordinators may perform the following duties within their area if requested by a member association:
a) evaluate Association training manuals for compliance with the WFIS Training Standard;
b) support Association training, including TTT training;
c) provide Regional WB Courses;
d) provide Regional TTT Courses.
7.6 The Wood Beads Training Coordinators will work directly with the WFIS World Council Wood Beads Training Coordinator in all questions and qualifications of the WB Training. They shall send all names and qualifications to the World Council Wood Beads Training Coordinator and get the certification of the WB Training from the World Council Wood Beads Training Coordinator.
7.7 The Wood Beads Training Coordinators may appoint Trainers and are responsible for their Training Team.
8. General assembly
8.1. The general assembly is the highest decision-making body of the Region. It determines principles, policies, and guidelines for working together.
8.2. The following will have a seat and a vote in the general assembly:
(a) Each member of the Regional Council, and
(b) One delegate of each Full Member Association in good standing.
8.3. One delegate from each Prospect Member Association will have a seat and the right to speak at the general assembly but shall not have a vote.
8.4. Invited guests may be granted the right to speak on request. The general assembly shall decide on this beforehand.
8.5. The Regional Council may also convene extraordinary meetings of the general assembly at any time. The Regional Council shall be obligated to do so if at least 50 % of the Full Member Associations in good standing so demand in writing, stating the purpose and the reasons.
8.6. The general assembly has a quorum if at least 51 % of the Full Member Associations in good standing are present.
8.7. If there is not a quorum, the committee shall convene a new meeting of the general assembly with at least one week of notice. The meeting shall have the same agenda and shall have a quorum regardless of the number of voting members who are present. The invitation to this second meeting shall point out this special quorum status.
8.8. The following, in particular, are the responsibilities of the general assembly:
a) electing the Regional Council
b) electing two auditors
c) approving the actions of the committee and the auditors
d) adopting resolutions on the election rules and the rules of procedure
e) adopting resolutions on bylaw amendments or the dissolution of the Region
f) approving the budget and annual account including recommending the amount of the membership dues
g) resolving measures in the interest of the Region’s purpose.
h) deciding the admission, suspension and termination of association members.
8.9. The chairman shall preside over the general assembly.
8.10. The general assembly shall adopt its resolutions with a simple majority of votes cast unless a different majority of votes is required by law or the bylaws.
8.11. Elections and voting shall take place anonymously if a member so moves, otherwise the voting shall be open.
8.12. Written minutes will be kept on the meetings of the general assembly, in which the resolutions adopted and the results of elections and voting shall be recorded in full, and the subject matter of the remainder of the meeting shall be stated. The minutes shall be signed by the Chairman and the Secretary who thereby guarantee the accuracy of the minutes.
8.13. The general assembly may form work groups whose tasks, rights and obligations can be fixed on a case-by-case basis. The committees shall report to the general assembly.
9. Business year
9.1. The calendar year is the business year.
10. Bylaw amendments and dissolution of the Region
10.1 A majority of three fourths (75%) of all Full Member Associations in good standing shall be required to adopt a resolution changing the bylaws or dissolving the Region.
10.2 If the Regional Council is dissolved or its purpose eliminated, the assets of the Regional Council shall go to the WFIS World Council.