August 2025 Newsletter

Greetings all. We have two purposes for this early August Newsletter. 

1. The Christmas Cheer Choir is gearing up again to do its great work in our senior centres. Seona Sydor Producer, Ruth McDonald Music Director. Please confirm your interest / intent to join the Christmas Cheer Choir to msydor5@rogers.com. She needs to prep music, so can you try to hit her Deadline of August 25th. The group will rehearse once weekly starting September 3rd at 1 p.m. at Christ First, 1700 Mazo Crescent – probably the small choir loft upstairs but room tbd. Seona is looking to book daytime performance dates, though one or two might be in the evening. Please let her know if you’d like to sing with us in this great group. 

   
   

2. CMT AGM SEPT.16, 2025 and your CMT By-Law (see link below): Your Board has spent part of its summer revising CMT’s By-Law No.1. We thank Jay Prestage, attorney at law, for his invaluable advice as we went through the revision process. Changes to our bylaw must be made at an AGM, and you must have the opportunity to give feedback or express your concerns. Essentially, the purpose of these revisions is to make the By-Law less constrictive, giving more flexibility to the Board in its day-to-day operation, and become more compliant with ONCA (Ontario Not for Profit Corporations Act). 

   
   

Here’s what we did in our revisions:

1. We moved the numbers of mandated mtgs to read "at least quarterly". (This frees the Board from its previous provision of monthly meetings).

2. We made the prescribed numbers of directors more fluid – with at least 5 positions (including president, treasurer, secretary, Vice President, Director of Production), and no more than 12 directors. (This gives the board more flexibility with how future titles of different directorships may evolve).

3. We removed the mandated position of a "musical consultant" again to promote fluidity, be less rigid, at recommendation of legal counsel and our current music consultant, Joey Gargaro

4. We removed sections on suspension as these provisions are already laid out in ONCA.

5. We moved some prescribed procedural items (like Selection Committee, Production Committee) to “CMT’s Policies” where it belongs. This will allow your Board to adapt most efficiently to how we operate on a day-to-day matter.

6. We now allow a CMT director to serve as Chair of MTM if approved by the CMT Board.  (Currently, Rita serves as co-Chair)

The attached By-Law will be presented for ratification at CMT’s Sept.16th, 2025 AGM.  Please review and send your questions or concerns to christinemcm@gmail.com by August16th, 2025.

The proposed revised By-Law is linked here: 2025 CMT Bylaw for ratification.pdf

Here’s a bit more info on your upcoming AGM

Who can attend? 

Members in good standing (Casts of Something Rotten, True Tales, Christmas Cheer 2024, Lifetime members, and those who renewed their membership after the 2024 AGM)

When is the AGM? 

Tuesday, September 16th at 7:30 p.m. by zoom. 

What to expect? 

Your early September newsletter will include:

1. Zoom link for members only

2. Agenda of CMT’s 2025 AGM

3. Minutes of CMT’s 2024 AGM

4. Directors’ Reports

5. Your slate of nominees for new members of the Board (Future Board members will come from this slate of nominees. Nominations may be made to Jacki Kingston Jacki.kingston@sympatico.ca by August 17th)

6. Your proxy allowing us to hold the AGM in case you can’t attend.

7. Your Proxy to support our revised By-Law. No.1. in case you can’t attend.

8. Your Proxy to vote for the Board members as listed in the slate of nominees in case you can’t attend.

Thanks for reading this newsletter. Please enjoy your summer and we hope to see you at our upcoming CMT Open-the-Season Social at the Irish Club (4120 Ridgeway Drive) at 7:30 pm on Sept.5th.