New Windsor/Essex humane society memberships to be determined

Article content

As a meeting that could shape future policies of the Windsor/Essex County Humane Society approaches, new members are frustrated to learn that their paid memberships won’t automatically grant them a voice, contrary to what they thought upon signing up.

“These are people who care about the humane society and want to get involved,” said Steuart Bruce, a monthly donor and volunteer who paid for a membership on July 19. “They’ve just been slapped in the face — they feel lied to. We haven’t been told, but basically, we didn’t buy a membership.”

Article content

An e-newsletter posted to the organization’s website in late July highlighted that new members would get voting privileges at annual general meetings (AGM). In addition, they would also receive a $10 discount on any cat or dog adoption and a 20 per cent discount on Royal Canin pet products.

“Memberships must be purchased at least 30 days before scheduled AGM for voting privileges,” read the e-newsletter. “The AGM date for 2024 has not yet been set but we anticipate it being announced soon. Prices are $25 for a family membership, $25 for a single, or $15 for senior/student.”

The link to purchase a membership now directs website visitors to a page that no longer exists.

“There’s been no formal communication that our memberships are considered pending,” Bruce said. “We won’t know the status of them until after the Oct. 4 meeting.”

Speaking to the Windsor Star on Thursday, Matt Carlini, chair of the board of directors, said a proposal for a self-governing membership structure was presented to the board and approved on June 11.

Members who joined before that date are eligible to vote in the upcoming meeting, according to Carlini. However, those who joined after will not have a say.

Article content

“(Those members) can either approve or reject it,” Carlini said. “That will set our bylaw structure and then we’ll be able to communicate with everyone about how we’re governed.”

Under Ontario’s Not-for-Profit Corporations Act 2010, which took effect Oct. 19, 2021, charitable organizations were given a three-year “transition period” to update their bylaws ahead of the October 18, 2024 deadline.

Carlini said that requirement was a driving force behind the board’s decision to consider a change in governance.

“We’re going to have some different perspectives on governance,” Carlini said. “That’s okay and it’s welcomed. At the end of the day, we’ve got to do what’s right for animals and continue with the mission of the humane society.

“If we go to a self-governing model, our intent would be to still have a lot of public engagement.”

Dexter Robinson, a former board member who served for almost nine years, said an influx of people recently became members to have a say at the upcoming meeting. 

According to Robinson, few people have purchased memberships or showed up to meetings in past years. However, he said there’s never been a situation where people have “lost faith in the board.”

Article content

“The board encouraged people to join,” Robinson told the Star. “I think they realized too many people were involved and cut it off.

“My faith in this board has totally evaporated.”

The humane society underwent a sudden change of leadership after Melanie Coulter, the organization’s longtime executive director, was let go in July. 

The Star learned that the board’s decision to fire Coulter came after it hired a lawyer to probe employee complaints.

Last week, the organization announced that Jessica Sartori stepped into the role of interim executive director, while Rob Moroz, the humane society’s recently interim executive director, is away on vacation. 

Moroz was hired in July to assume the role after the board, without public explanation, terminated Coulter. 

When asked about the number of people who signed up for a membership, Carlini could not provide an exact figure but estimated that it was likely more than a hundred.

“For the individuals that applied after June 11, the status of their member will be announced once it is known,” Carlini told the Star. “That could mean voting rights, they may be able to attend the upcoming AGM or they may not, depending on what the membership approves.

“With respect to refunding those post June 11 applications, that is certainly something the new board will need to consider. Those applications were not an attempt to generate additional donations.

“The right thing will be done with respect to their money.”

mholmeshill@postmedia.com

Article content