The Committee

Friends of Rural Communities and the Environment, FORCE, is a federally registered not for profit corporation.  It is a citizen-based advocacy group with hundreds of supporters in Campbellville, Kilbride, rural Milton, Mountsberg, Freelton, and Carlisle.  FORCE was formed in June 2004 - involving the community selection of a Steering Committee - to oppose the Lowndes Holdings (now owned by St Marys Cement Group CBM) application and to protect our natural and built environments in the face of this proposed large-scale, below the established groundwater table, aggregate development in the Northeast Flamborough portion of the amalgamated City of Hamilton.

The name, Friends of Rural Communities and the Environment was selected to clearly identify who we are and to speak positively about what we want to protect. Furthermore, the acronym, FORCE, was consistent with the mental and moral strength that we would muster to consistently and positively direct attention to the issues of the proposed quarry.

Friends of Rural Communities and the Environment was officially incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation on June 28, 2004 by Letters Patent.  This gave the organization a separate legal identity which enables it to appear on behalf of the community in legal proceedings.  Incorporation was sought under federal, rather than provincial, legislation allowing FORCE to expeditiously adopt broad objects reflecting its environmental and community focus as well as its advocacy role (download the Application for Letters Patent - 97 KB).  Please note that the Letters Patent, themselves, are not available in electronic form.  They are held at our corporate offices.

Standard by-laws were filed as part of the incorporation process (download By-laws - 138 KB).  A preferred organizational structure was then obtained through the passing of various resolutions by the Board of Directors and/or membership. In January 2007 an amendment was may to the by-laws to incorporate a mechanism to terminate the membership of individuals who are members of the Corporation but not Directors. View details of the amendment (57 KB).

First, four officers (Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary and Treasurer) were created and provision was made for the appointment of new Directors (download Directors’ Resolution regarding Officers and Directors - 62 KB).  Second, a resolution was passed allowing for and appointing Board members who are not Directors of the Corporation but who are active participants on the FORCE Steering Committee and who conduct business and activities on behalf of the Corporation (download Directors’ Resolution regarding Members - 62 KB).  Finally, a resolution was passed by the membership.  It confirmed the appointment of the three initial Directors and of one additional Director (download General Membership Resolution confirming/appointing Directors - 49 KB).  A resolution has also been passed concerning the conduct of financial and contractual matters by the Corporation.  Appointment of auditors was approved as well.

FORCE has also developed and adopted corporate policies:

• Conflict of Interest and Disclosure- revised - revised April 2, 2007 (132 KB)
• Conflict of Interest and Disclosure - Policy/Procedure No 1.0 (60 KB)
• Respect for Privacy and Protection of Personal Information - Policy/Procedure No 2.0(59 KB)
• Meeting Attendance and Work Expectation - Policy/Procedure No 3.0 (142 KB)

Review Annual Reports and Audit Reports.

The 2007 - 2008 Steering Committee assignments are listed below:

• Chair & Spokesperson
  
  • Graham Flint, Mountsberg
• Vice Chair, Strategy & Advocacy
  
  • Mark Rudolph, Mountsberg
• Secretary
  
  • Jerry (Joseph) Bloom,Mountsberg (Meetings)
  • Herb Lawson, Freelton (Corporate)
• Legal/Technical Coordination
  
  • Dan Curran-Blaney, Freelton
  • Jan Whitelaw, Mountsberg
  • Gary Tansley, Milton
• Special Events
  
  • Mark Simone, Freelton
  • Gwen Todd, Carlisle
  • Tom Weinstein, Milton
• Community Outreach
  
  • Glen Lawson, Freelton
• Signs
  
  • Michael Brazeau, Freelton
• Finance & Treasury
  
  • Silke Flint, Mountsberg
• Communications/Web
  
  • Bonnie Lendrum, Flamborough
  • Diana McCabe, Kilbride
  • Brian Wiseman, Freelton