This document was prepared to respond to questions most frequently asked about the organization, its constitution, and its bylaws.  It is hoped that the information will satisfy any questions you might have.  For further information, please contact us.

History

The need for a national organization became apparent to some A.I.M. members in the early 1990's. Discussions regarding extending our organization to other areas of British Columbia or other provinces always came back to the problem of controlling the name Association for Injured Motorcyclists and the conduct of new chapters who might not adhere to the guidelines of our existing chapters' constitutions and bylaws.

The name and logo for the Association were never trademarked or registered and therefore could be used by anyone who wanted to set up and call themselves A.I.M. The second problem that lack of trademark presented was the American organization "Aid to Injured Motorcyclists" (A.I.M.) which is a referral organization for a group of personal injury lawyers headed by Richard Lester. This is not a non-profit association, has no elections or even dues for joining. There was constant confusion between the names and some threats of litigation over the years.

The chapters of A.I.M. in B.C. decided at their annual meetings, and by votes at the chapter level, to establish a national organization with a distinct registered name, logo, constitution and bylaws. This organization would have a name which couldn't be confused with the American lawyers referral network and would have minimum standards that organizations must meet in order to use that name. This would protect us all as the organization grew.

Name:  Alliance for Injured Motorcyclists Canada (A.I.M. CAN)

This name was approved to stop the confusion and as a better description of an organization of independent chapters who would make all the day to day decisions at a local level.

Please remember, the constitution and bylaws of A.I.M. CAN govern the conduct of business of the national organization. There are very few bylaws that bear directly on the chapters except those that spell out the membership requirements of a chapter applying to join, the adherence to the purposes of the organization by chapters, the right of chapters to meet together to direct the national organization and to decide what level of funding they will extend annually. There are provisions that require reporting of programs, financial reports, membership levels and operating under approved constitutions and bylaws.

Frequently Answered Questions

Q.	Will A.I.M. CAN interfere with the day to day affairs of the chapter or dictate programs or events?
A.	Each chapter will be independent in the conduct of day to day business, in planning and carrying out events and in programs to assist accident victims.  A.I.M. CAN bylaws provide no opportunity for the national executive to interfere in these matters as long as a chapter is adhering to the purposes and bylaws under which it was chartered and is not bringing the rest of the organization into disrepute.
Q.	Will the A.I.M. CAN executive be paid to conduct the business of the national organization or hire paid staff to function for them?
A.	The bylaws of A.I.M. CAN are similar to your chapter's, and all other non-profit organizations, and provide that no governor or officer may be paid for anything other than reasonable expenses incurred in carrying out their volunteer duties.  There is provision in the bylaws to hire an executive director or other staff if and when needed.  This need would arise when the organization became too large to manage with volunteers and could only happen after the governors from each affiliated chapter approved such an expenditure at an annual meeting of the National Assembly.
Q.	Can the A.I.M. CAN executive borrow money and put the affiliated chapters in debt?
A.	The provisions of the A.I.M. CAN bylaws are similar to those of provincially registered chapters which allow for borrowing and debentures at most non-profit levels.  The Board of Governors (delegates from the chapters) meeting at the annual general meeting have sole authority "to conduct the business discipline and management of the corporation" and specifically have responsibility "to receive reports from the National Board, act on policy recommendations, act on program or resolution recommendations, approve a Year of Planned Action (budget and program for the coming year) and to appoint an auditor and receive their report."  The answer is yes, the A.I.M. CAN executive may borrow but only with the prior approval of the chapters.
Q.	Won't there be funding required by the national organization that will deplete the reserves at the chapter level?
A.	The chapters originally set the A.I.M. CAN annual dues at CAD$2.50 per individual member per year.  This figure was initially set with the cost of registration and trade marking of the national organization in mind.  This funding level or dues check off will fluctuate with need and will be set by the governors for the chapters at the annual general meeting each year.  It could be substantially lower depending on the need to set up new chapters for example and the increasing number of members overall in the national organization.  Remember that if your local chapter members understand the need for a national organization and the value in expanding to riders in other areas they will gladly pay the minimal increase in dues required to make it happen.
Q.	Why are the A.I.M. CAN bylaws so extensive, and why do they cover so much?
A.	Many of the bylaws are required in order for acceptance as a federally recognized non-profit corporation and some of the material has been included for the future so that the bylaws don't have to be amended every time the organization reaches another level (an expensive proposition).  See the list on the next page of some bylaws of special interest at the local chapter level. Bylaws of Special Interest to Chapters (Copy supplied to each chapter): 3.1-3.9  Chapters as Members 4.1-4.4  Regions (as needed) 5.1-5.6  Individual Chapter Members & Others 5.8  Chapter Governors 6.1-6.3  Authority of Chapter Governors 6.4-6.5  Meeting of Chapter Governors 6.7  Voting of Chapter Governors 6.8  Proxies of Chapters or Regions 8.1  Officers 16.1  Dues
Q.	Won't it cost the local chapter a lot of money to pay the expenses for their governors to attend the annual meeting/convention each year?
A.	Attendance at this meeting by chapter governors is important because this is the meeting that provides direction from the local chapters to the national organization for the coming year.  All important items of business and the projected budget must be circulated to the chapters in advance in order for the chapters to decide how their governors will vote on the issues at the annual meeting.  Chapters may decide not to send delegates and have the right to vote by proxy instead.  They can do this by filling out a proxy form (included with the notice of business) indicating how their votes are to be applied to each order of business.  This proxy could be carried by another chapter or by a regional vice president on their behalf.  A.I.M. CAN will attempt to move the annual meeting each year in order to help chapters attend in person at least every other year.  For instance, the convention could be in the west one year and the east the next.  At the present time, the possible extremes of location would be Vancouver Island one year and Lethbridge the next.  There is no charge to enter the annual meeting -- it must be freely open to all delegates.  Because the membership of A.I.M. CAN are motorcyclists and ride all over to attend events there should be minimal expenses involved in a chapter finding delegates who will be willing to bill only for any additional expenses incurred as a result of their involvement in actually representing their chapter.
Q.	What advantages are there for a chapter to belong to A.I.M. CAN?
A.	Membership in A.I.M. CAN will allow a chapter to be builders and contributors to the growth of their philosophy and purposes in new chapters across the country.  A.I.M. CAN will be a vehicle that will allow chapters to share expertise, experience and programs.  For instance, new chapters will have the existing pool of knowledge from which to draw when they start up and begin to establish events, visitation programs, public relations programs and assistance to injured riders.  Established chapters will benefit through networking to improve their programs and operating procedures.  We all can learn something new from our friends.  A.I.M. CAN will act as a hub for the dissemination of information, ideas and procedures to all chapters and will supply policy manuals and how-to information to all chapters.  Finally, the individual members of chapters will benefit from the network of chapters across the country in many ways.  The most obvious would be the assistance available to a member who has an accident or other difficulty on the road.  There also may be advantages of membership such as reduced insurance rates, travel information, etc.