Dear Members,

The Board of Directors of The Edmonton Society for Christian Education hereby provides notice of a special resolution to amend the bylaws. This resolution will be presented for approval at a membership meeting, scheduled as follows:

• Date: June 4, 2024
• Time: 7:30 PM
• Location: Edmonton Christian High School 

Details of the Proposed Special Resolution

The special resolution involves changes to the Society's bylaws, specifically regarding membership eligibility and membership fees. The key points of the proposed amendment are:

• Introduction of Membership Criteria: Members must fulfill at least one of the specific criteria (parent/guardians and grandparents of current students, or current staff of the Society/Schools). Active membership now requires ongoing fulfillment of these criteria.
• Removal of Specified Membership Fee Amount: In accordance with best practices, the bylaws refrain from specifying membership fees. This approach allows the Board of Directors the flexibility to set appropriate fees and provides flexibility for future adjustments.  
• Special Consideration Mechanism: Introduces a mechanism for granting membership to those who do not meet the aforementioned criteria but demonstrate remarkable dedication to the Edmonton Society for Christian Education (ESCE) or Edmonton Christian Schools (ECS).

Rationale for the Changes

Our goal is to uphold the integrity of our membership by ensuring it comprises individuals who wholeheartedly endorse the Society's mission and actively participate in our community. Recently, we've observed an increase in individuals with no direct affiliation with the Society joining for reasons unrelated to our core values, mission, and vision. This deviation from the original intent of the bylaws, where only those directly impacted by our operations should have a say, necessitates a revision.

We believe that those directly affected by decisions made at ESCE and ECS should have voting rights, as they are the ones most impacted by the outcomes. This doesn't alter the ability of others to support us through their time and donations; rather, it emphasizes the importance of representation for those directly affected.

The proposed bylaw changes aim to realign our focus on individuals genuinely engaged with our schools, in harmony with the Society's foundational mission and vision. This shift promotes a more unified, community-driven membership, enabling us to make decisions that genuinely benefit our current school community and its families.

Voting Procedure

A special resolution requires a 75% majority vote of those present at the membership meeting.

Additional Information

For a comprehensive overview of the proposed bylaw amendments, please consult this document.

Thank you for your continued support, and we look forward to seeing you at the meeting.

God bless,

ESCE Board of Directors