Revised as of 22 April 2004

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Article 1: Name

  1. The name of this body shall be the Council of Nova Scotia Archives / Conseil des Archives de la Nouvelle-Écosse (CNSA).

Article 2: Objectives

  1. The aims of the Council are to promote acceptable standards, procedures, and practices among archival repositories in Nova Scotia, to provide members with a common meeting ground for discussion of archival issues, to exchange ideas on archival matters, to provide a network for archival cooperation throughout the province, and to provide liaison with the Canadian Council of Archives (CCA).

Article 3: Membership

  1. Institutional membership shall be open to any institution housing archival records and meeting requirements defined by the CNSA .
  2. Each institution shall be permitted to send one voting delegate to the Annual General Meeting of the Council.
  3. General membership shall be open to any institution not meeting Institutional Membership requirements and wanting to support the aims and objectives of the CNSA.  General members may attend all meetings and events of the Council of Nova Scotia Archives but may not vote.  General members will be placed on the mailing list and will receive all CNSA and CCA publications.
  4. Membership shall be open to any individual who supports the aims and objectives of the Council.  Individual members may attend all meetings and events of the Council of Nova Scotia Archives but may not vote.  Individual members will be placed on the CNSA mailing list and will receive all CNSA and CCA publications.
  5. Honorary members may be appointed by the Executive on recommendation by the membership in recognition of outstanding contributions to the archival community.  Honorary members are the equivalent of individual members but pay no dues.

Article 4: Executive

  1. Officers
    The Officers and Executive of the Council shall be:
    1. President
    2. Vice-President
    3. Secretary
    4. Treasurer
    5. Two Members at Large
    6. Communications Officer
    7. Provincial Archivist - ex officio, non-voting
  1. Term of Office:
    The term of office for positions shall be two years except for the Editor which shall be for three years.  The Vice-President will assume the office of President at the end of two years.
  2. Election of Officers:
    1. Vice President
      A Vice President shall be elected in each odd calendar year.
    2. Member at Large
      One member at large shall be elected each year for a two year period.
    3. Secretary
      A Secretary shall be elected every even calendar year.
    4. Treasurer
      A treasurer shall be elected for a three-year term commencing April 1999 and thereafter every even calendar year.
    5. Communications Officer
      The communications officer will be elected in 1992 and every three years thereafter.
  3. Duties of Officers:
    The officers shall perform duties pertaining to their offices and other duties as may be assigned by the Council.

Article 5: Committees

  1. Select Committees:
    The Executive Committee may from time to time, appoint select committees as it sees fit.  Such Committees will cease to exist at the termination of the next Annual General Meeting.

Article 6: Meetings

  1. There shall be an Annual General Meeting of the Council.  Other general meetings shall be held from time to time as required.

Article 7: Management

  1. Executive:
    1. The administration of the affairs of the Council shall be vested in the Executive.
    2. The Executive shall have power to fill all vacancies in office pro tem, the person so appointed to serve only until the next Annual General Meeting of the Council.
    3. Meetings of the Executive may be called by the President at such times and places as he or she may designate and shall also be called upon the request of a majority of the Executive.
    4. A majority of voting members shall constitute a quorum for the Executive.
  2. Finances:
    1. It shall be the duty of the Executive to review and approve the financial report of the Treasurer.
    2. Signing powers for all financial documents shall be vested in the hands of the Treasurer and either the President or the Secretary.  At the discretion of the Executive signing powers may also be accorded other members of the Executive.
    3. The Treasurer shall submit the financial statement to the Annual General Meeting of the Council.
  3. Fiscal Year:
    The fiscal year of the Council shall be from 1 April to 31 March.

Article 8: Amendments

  1. The constitution may be amended by a two-thirds majority vote taken at the Annual General Meeting provided that notice of any motion is given by the President no less than two months prior to the next General Meeting.  It shall then be the duty of the President to advise the membership of any proposed changes at least one month prior to the A.G.M.

Article 9: Affiliation

  1. This Council may affiliate itself with such organizations as it deems fit, upon consent given by the vote at the Annual General Meeting.  It may elect representatives and pay any membership fee which may be required by the said organizations.

Article 10: By-Laws

  1. By-laws may be adopted and amended by vote of the Council upon the written report of the Executive or of a special committee appointed by the Executive to report thereon.
  2. The Executive may amend, suspend, or add to these by-laws, such changes to be ratified at the next General Meeting of the Council.
  3. Membership Fees
    1. The annual fee shall be $50.00 for General and Individual Members.
    2. To remain in good standing members must pay fees within three months of the commencement of the fiscal year of the Council.
    3. The annual fee may be revised only by a majority vote at the Annual General Meeting.
    4. The Institutional membership fee is a graduated fee based on an institution’s total operating budget, including salaries.

      Budget

      Fee
      Under $10,000 $50.00
      $10,001 to 25,000 $75.00
      $25,001 to $100,000 $100.00
      $100,001 to $250,000 $150
      $250,001 to $500,000 $300
      More than $500,001 $400

       

  4. Meetings
    1. Special Meetings:
      Special meetings of the Council may be called by the President or upon the written request of twenty-five percent of the Council.  At least one month notice of the meeting shall be given, and only the business specified in the notice shall be transacted.
  5. Nominations and Elections
    1. Nominations and Elections:
      At least three months prior to the Annual General Meeting the Executive shall appoint a Nominating Committee of three members not holding seats on the Executive.
    2. Nominating Committee:
      a) The Nominating Committee shall report its nominations to the President at least one month prior to the Annual General Meeting.
      b) Further nominations may be placed on the floor of the Annual General Meeting provided the written consent of the nominee has been obtained.
  6. Standing Committees:
    1. Education:
      To co-ordinate those activities of the Council of Nova Scotia Archives which promote the training, education, and professtional development of its members.
    2. Preservation:
      a) To promote accepted preservation procedures in the archives of Nova Scotia and to act as liaison with the Preservation Committee of the Canadian Council of Archives.
      b) To administer the Carman V. Carroll Award for Outstanding Achievement in Archival Preservation.
    3. Nova Scotia Subject Heading Authority:
      To promote the use of the Nova Scotia Subject Heading Authority; to up-date listings in the publication and to print and distribute amendments as necessary.
    4. Dr. Phyllis Blakeley Award:
      To administer the annual award given in memory of Dr. Phyllis Blakeley for excellence in archival work.
    5. Grants:
      To coordinate, disseminate and supervise applications for and allocations of grants funding to support projects initiated by the CNSA or its constituent members.
      Also, to assist as required, the Executive in any advocacy action the Executive initiates in the interests of the CNSA.
    6. Archway Committee:
      To administer the ArchWay project, and in cooperation with the Executive Committee, ensure necessary funding is secured in a timely manner and project deadlines are set and achieved.
    7. The Council may at its general meeting establish other standing committees as it deems fit.
    8. The chairperson of each standing committee shall submit a report to the President at least three weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting.
    9. Membership on standing committees shall be for a period of two years, once renewable, from the date of the annual meeting. The Executive may, under certain circumstances, extend the terms.
  7. Records of the CNSA:
    1. The archival records of the CNSA will be housed at PANS in accordance with the terms and conditions of a record of gift agreement between the CNSA and PANS.
    2. Officers:
      Retiring officers and chairpersons of CNSA positions and committees should pass on their official CNSA files to their successors in office.
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