Become a Regional Member

Overview

Eligibility for Regional Association Membership status requires a confidence vote by the individual and instructor members of Paddle Canada in your region; that is, Paddle Canada members in your region must vote to support your application for Regional Member Association status.

Please review carefully the Eligibility Criteria as well as the Rights and Responsiblities for a Regional Member Association below prior to completing your application.

Eligibility Criteria

Regional Member Association applications are considered based upon the following criteria:

Provincial or Territorial in Focus and Scope:
That is, the association making application should have the ability to take members from all regions of the province or territory they seek to represent. This would be demonstrated by a listing of geographic distribution of members.
Active Association:
The association should be able to demonstrate such normal activities as running elections for its directors, and running successful activities throughout the year.
Membership Base:
The association should have a respectable number of members given the population base of the region.
Not-for-Profit Status:
The Association should be a not for profit entity.
Share the same aims and objectives as Paddle Canada:
The association should be willing to support the four pillars and the ten objectives of Paddle Canada.

Rights and Responsibilities of Regional Member Associations

(This section is currently under review)

Paddle Canada Instructional Programs
Rights		Responsibilities
Access to use and promote the Paddle Canada Canoe, Sea Kayak and River Kayak certification programs and their portability across Canada. Require all Paddle Canada instructors residing in the region, to be members in good standing with at least one of the Regional Member Associations, where one exists. Use of Paddle Canada certification, logos, materials, etc, as part of organisational promotion and written materials.		Promote the Paddle Canada Canoe, Sea Kayak and River Kayak programs to the region Eliminate gaps on Paddle Canada program usage in the region. i.e Facilitate River Kayak instructor courses to boost Whitewater instruction in the region. Increase the number of Paddle Canada instructors in the region Increase the number of Paddle Canada courses run in the region Offer and/or facilitate instructor rectification clinics in the region Identify and report violations of the Paddle Canada program and policies.
Paddle Canada Products and Services
Rights		Responsibilities
Discounted rates to Paddle Canada's products such as KANAWA, Canada's Paddling Magazine subscriptions and preferred rates on the Waterwalker Film Festival.		Offer subscriptions to KANAWA, Canada's Paddling Magazine to local members Encourage regional article submissions to KANAWA, Canada's Paddling Magazine Organise and offer Waterwalker Film Festival in the region Encourage regional submissions to the Waterwalker Film Festival
Paddle Canada Governance
Rights		Responsibilities
Within the parameters of the Paddle Canada Constitution and Committee Terms of References, may nominate individuals to serve on various committees of Paddle Canada, including but not limited to: Paddle Canada Board of Directors, Canoe Program Development, Sea Kayaking Program Development Committee, and River Kayak Program Development Committees.		Ensure appropriate individuals are nominated to serve on the Paddle Canada Board and Committees Communicate regularly with Regional Board members Provide input and feedback on Paddle Canada programs.
Paddle Canada Advocacy and Communication
Rights		Responsibilities
Gain national support for regional advocacy issues. i.e. Small craft regulations, hydro development. Liaise with other Regional Member Assocations and Paddle Canada Board Members. Attend and participate in the Paddle Canada Annual General Meeting (AGM) as a non-voting member.		Bring forward regional advocacy issues of national interest.

Application Process

The Board of Directors reviews Regional Member Association status every two years in conjunction with the election of a Paddle Canada Director from that region. The Board of Directors, with the aforementioned support of members in your region, approves or disapproves Regional Association Membership status.

Regional Member Associations will be invoiced upon approval, with rates based on population (Statistics Canada) as follows: (New reduced pricing for 2010)

Less than 1,000,000 residency $100 + GST
Greater than 1,000,000 residency $200 + GST

Contact Member Services for more info or to apply