Members Encouraged to Attend ARNBC AGM October 29

October 25, 2019

Proposal to change bylaws and reduce ARNBC fees to $1.00 or to a fee determined by members will be voted on

All registered nurse (RN) members are encouraged to attend the upcoming Association of Registered Nurses of BC (ARNBC) annual general meeting (AGM) on October 29, 2019 from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. at the Anvil Centre (777 Columbia St., New Westminster, BC).

Those in attendance will be able to vote on a proposal first brought forward in 2018 by fellow members to amend ARNBC bylaws to reduce the fees members are charged to $1.00 or an amount that is determined by members by Special Resolution at every ARNBC AGM. The member proposal also seeks to remove any ability for the ARNBC to collect member fees through other organizations in order to insure only ARNBC members are charged ARNBC fees.

At the time this proposal was brought forward, over 20 percent of the registration fees paid to the College of Registered Nurses of BC (CRNBC) were automatically transferred to ARNBC without the nurse's consent, even if the nurse had opted out of being a member of the ARNBC.

Since tabling this proposal, the regulatory colleges for all nursing designations have amalgamated to form the BC College of Nurse Professionals (BCCNP*). As of December 31, 2019, the BCCNP* will no longer collect fees on behalf of the ARNBC. While organizers are pleased to note the termination of this agreement between the mandatory regulatory college and the ARNBC, they are hopeful that fellow members will take this opportunity to ensure that in the future, nurses will continue to have the choice to join nursing-related associations, rather than be charged membership fees without their consent through other organizations.

All active, practicing RNs and nurse practitioners are eligible to attend the AGM and vote. If you are not already on ARNBC's membership list, you can register to vote at the event by visiting the "Not Yet Registered" table to sign up. If you are unsure of whether you are currently registered as a voting member, you can contact admin@arnbc.ca to inquire about your status, or inquire at the registration desk before the AGM.

The registration desk opens at 8:30 a.m. While the notice of the ARNBC AGM states that they would like advance registration by ARNBC members, this is not a legal requirement.

To learn more about the proposed amendment, please read our previous bulletin.

* On September 1, 2020, BC College of Nursing Professional (BCCNP) amalgamated with the Midwives of British Columbia (CMBC) to become BC College of Nurses and Midwives (BCCNM).