PTS fails to reach quorum at annual general meeting

Low membership turnout not representative of PTS's importance, ED says


PTS, formerly known as Pink Triangle Services, failed to reach quorum at its annual general meeting Sept 17, the organization’s third attempt at an AGM in less than one year.

After a contentious attempt to hold an AGM on Sept 25, 2012, the organization successfully staged one on Nov 29, 2012.

Executive director Claudia Van den Heuvel says PTS has grappled with low membership turnout at AGMs since 2005.

“We’re not entirely certain what the reason is for not reaching quorum on a regular basis, but we’re hoping with another promotion in the next day or two, we’ll see our quorum at the next meeting,” she says.

Failure to reach quorum is not reflective of the organization’s importance within Ottawa’s queer community, Van den Heuvel maintains.

Accountant Ray Folkins, who is PTS’s auditor, says he works exclusively with not-for-profit organizations and charities and confirms the challenge of reaching quorum is not unique to PTS.

“The quorum is set quite high,” Folkins says. “Twenty-five members of 100 members. It doesn’t sound too high, but it is in terms of getting people out.”

Capital Pride (CP) volunteer coordinator Tara Shaw attended PTS’s attempted AGM and has used the organization’s resources in the past. PTS is an exemplary partner for CP events, Shaw says.

Shaw calls the failure to reach quorum “unfortunate.”

Several bylaw amendments were scheduled for a vote at the AGM, and Van den Heuvel says the revisions are largely influenced by changes to the Not-For-Profit Corporations Act. PTS consulted a lawyer to draft the bylaw changes, which will now go up for a vote on Oct 1, when PTS makes another attempt to hold an AGM.

PTS offers many resources to Ottawa’s queer community, including the Dr Kelly McGinnis Library and social support groups such as Pink Triangle Youth, BiAmore and Polybilities. It is located at 331 Cooper St.

Algonquin College journalism grad. Podcaster @qqcpod.

Read More About:
Power, Activism, News, Ottawa, Canada

Keep Reading

The new generation of gay Conservative sellouts

OPINION: Melissa Lantsman’s and Eric Duncan’s refusals to call out their party’s transphobia is a betrayal of the LGBTQ2S+ community

Over 300 anti-LGBTQ2S+ bills have been introduced this year. This doesn’t mean we should panic

OPINION: While it’s important to watch out for threats, not all threats are created equally. Some of these bills will die a natural death

Xtra’s top LGBTQ2S+ stories of the year

The best and brightest—even most bewildering—stories from a back catalogue brimming with insight

Elon Musk and Texas attorney general Ken Paxton are suing Media Matters. Here’s why queer and trans people should care

OPINION: When politicians and the rich leverage the power of the state to quell dissent, we all lose