Preamble
Whereas we are devoted to the promotion of feminist principles, these principles shall be considered in all matters of policy, programs, action and any and all decisions relating to the Dalhousie Women’s Centre.
Whereas inclusion is foremost amongst these principles, all decision-making bodies within the Dalhousie Women’s Centre will give weight to input from all members and volunteers of the Dalhousie Women’s Centre community.
Whereas we operate in support of all women, the Dalhousie Women’s Centre works for a society free of oppression on the basis of age, race, colour, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, physical or mental ability, irrational fear of contracting an illness or disease, ethnic, national or aboriginal origin, family status, marital status, gender, source of income, or political belief or association.
Signs and posters made by our members.
DWC Board
The DWC Board governs Dalhousie Women’s Centre. The role of the Board is to oversee operations of the Centre and direct and support the Director. The Board assumes total liability for the activities of the Centre, and therefore holds ultimate discretion over the Centre’s activities.
All women of the Dalhousie/King’s/Halifax community are encouraged and invited to apply to sit on the Board. Recruitment typically happens in the Fall. Board terms run from January to January.
The Board shall consist of not less than six and not more than ten women.
The Board shall comprise of those who express interest in serving the Centre in that capacity. In choosing Board members, the Centre will ensure that women facing racist, ableist, classist, colonialist, and other forms of oppression have equal opportunity to partake in Board leadership and activities.
The Board shall be responsible for setting policy for the Centre. Policy decisions may be amended at Board meetings, and shall be effective immediately upon adoption by the Board.
The DWC Board is nonhierarchical and operates on consensus decsionmaking. Consensus will be reached when all members of the Board are comfortable with a decision. As a final resort, where consensus cannot be reached and all alternatives have been explored, a decision will be reached by at least 80% approval. Quorum shall be 60%.
It shall be the responsibility of the Chair to facilitate meetings, create and accept submissions to the agenda, and make the agenda available to the Centre membership 3 days prior to the Board meeting. Meetings of the Board shall be held at least once a month and shall be attended by all members as well as the Director, who shall not have a vote.
All community members are welcome at Board meetings and are welcome to share suggestions for Centre activities and operations at those meetings. Click here for our next meeting.
Additional meetings may be called as needed, at the discretion of the Board, provided notice is communicated to all Board members and the Director.
Accountability
Board
Concerns regarding Board members shall be submitted in writing to the Chair, and shall be discussed at the next Board meeting. Explanations, responses and actions shall be written and attached to the minutes, as well as conveyed to the concerned party(ies) as soon as possible.
Board members can be recalled for breach of their Memorandum of Understanding. (See Constitution Section 4e.)
Staff
The Board has the ability to remove staff if sufficient grounds exist. Grounds for removal of staff include, but are not limited to: i) absence at three consecutive meetings; ii) failure to fulfill responsibilities.
Concerns regarding staff shall be submitted in writing to the Board, and shall be discussed at the next Board meeting. Explanations, responses and actions shall be written and attached to the minutes, as well as conveyed to the concerned party(ies) as soon as possible.
Dismissal shall be preceded, where appropriate, by a verbal and written warning. In all cases, the employee shall have the right to answer to the concerns of the Board.
Constitution
Our Constitution is available for download here.
Affiliated Organizations
The Dalhousie Women’s Centre Society is a society pursuant to the Dalhousie Student Union Constitution. Our members should abide by the Dalhousie University Code of Student Conduct.
The DWC is funded by a direct student levy, collected on its behalf by the Dalhousie Student Union and King’s Student Union. The levy was approved by means of referendum questions posed to Dalhousie students in 1993 and 1998, and King’s students in 2007.
1993 Dalhousie Referendum
The following measure was carried by popular vote:
BIRT the DSU Student Council approve the following as a referendum question for the general 1993 General DSU elections:
“Do you support an annual levy of $2.00 per full-time student and $1.00 per part-time student to help maintain the new Dalhousie Women’s Centre, the objective of which include:
a.) To maintain a resource centre open to all members of the public.
b.) To promote public education and awareness of issues of particular importance to women.
c.) To provide a safe and supportive atmosphere for all women in our community.
1998 Dalhousie Referendum
The following measure was carried by popular vote, with a three-to-one margin:
Whereas: The Dalhousie Women’s Centre has operated off a levy of $2.00 from full-time students established in 1993.
Do you support the direct levy to the Dalhousie Women’s Centre be increased by $0.35 per student?
2007 King’s Referendum
In February 2007, the DWC (with support from our friend CKDU radio) ran a referendum question on the ballot of the University of King’s College student council elections. The referendum question asked King’s students to pay the same two dollar levy toward the DWC that Dal students pay.
Financial support from King’s would give King’s students the same access and ownership over the Centre that Dal students have. This King’s levy would mean the DWC would be able to continue to do the work it does on a long-term basis and King’s students are ensured the availability of an indispensable resource.
King’s students stood up for their future, for their resources, for their right to fully participate and take ownership over their community: they voted YES for the levy! We are happy to hear only 30 or so students voted against the levy.
The DWC would like to thank Johnathon Doucette for compiling, creating, and photocopying the promotional/informational brochure. Without you, we’d be relying on our good karma and personality! And of course the magical mystical Michael Catano and the whole CKDU gang for working with us on the levy, tabling, and reaching out to the student population.
But without you we would be nothing—
Thank You to all those at King’s who supported us and spread the good word about the DWC: V-Day Dalhousie and their amazing band of vagina warriors (Kathy, Joanna, et al); Aaron, Donna, and the King’s Pride Society community, and all of our friends at the School of Journalism! Special thank you goes out to Kaley Kennedy, King’s campus Safety Coordinator (2006) and VP External Chris Parsons—true friends and partners in social justice—and the entire Exec Council for their kind words and feedback.
And of course…Thank You to all the students of King’s for warmly welcoming us into your University community!
