Purpose Statement & Objectives
Purpose:
We exist to stimulate, encourage and support Christians who write anywhere across Canada, to advance effective Christian writing, and to promote the influence of all Christians who write. Our organization shall be known as InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship (ICWF).
Objectives:
To sponsor an annual Fall Conference and an annual Spring WorDshop. To plan and/or participate in other events that are in harmony with our purpose and objectives.
To provide a newsletter informing members of ICWF activities and events, contests, member news and other material that relates to our purpose.
To applaud other groups of Christians who write and any activities that are in harmony with our purpose and are authorized by our members.
To increase our availability and influence to writers across Canada.
Membership:
Membership is open to anyone in Canada who concurs with the purposes of ICWF, who by signature subscribes to the Apostles’ Creed, and who pays the annual membership fee. The annual membership fee shall be adjusted periodically. Family membership shall be 4/3 of a single membership.
Membership shall be one year from the month application or renewal, expiring at the end of that time.
Only paid-up members shall have voting privileges and hold office.
Special Group Memberships will be made available to any group of five or more writers. They must agree to the Apostles Creed and pay a single family membership fee. They will receive one newsletter per five members.
Organizational Structure:
There shall be an Executive Committee consisting of a president, a vice-president, a secretary, a treasurer, at least three members-at-large, a newsletter editor, at least one associate executive from Alberta, and other associate executives from other locations as available and required. The executive group can include any resident of Canada who is a member in good standing, and who will fulfill agreed-upon duties. All (except associate executives) will be required to attend executive meetings. (Of necessity because of distance, meetings may be online chat room or telephone conference meetings.)
Commitment to a term of office shall be one year minimum, preferably two years. To ensure continuity, no more than four officers will be replaced yearly.
Officers shall not be remunerated for their work except for expenses incurred in their offices.
Associate Executives will represent a group of writers who live in close proximity to each other, or represent any other organized Christian writing group that wishes to affiliate with ICWF and has paid at least one individual or group membership fee.
Meetings:
There shall be an annual business meeting held in conjunction with each Fall Conference. Other meetings may be called at the discretion of the Executive Committee.
Policy Changes:
Any changes to the Constitution or By-laws shall be advertised in the FellowScript newsletter. All members in good standing may vote on the change either by mailing a ballot form or by e-mailing their vote to the Membership Secretary. The Membership Secretary will report the result of the vote in the next issue of FellowScript and any change approved by the members will be effective seven days after FellowScript has been mailed. (moved/approved AGM 2003).
Fiscal Year Policies:
The fiscal year is August 1 to July 31. Financial records shall be reviewed each year by two non-executive members. (2006 Change)
Disbanding:
Should ICWF fail to fulfill its purpose, the organization will continue to be valid within a smaller scope. If ICWF ceases to function over a period of three years, any existing assets shall be turned over to the Word Guild to be used as a bursary. (2006 Change)