To: TRCMembership
Date: April22,2025
Re:
ChangestoMembershipClasses
RECOMMENDATIONS:
a. THATTRCFamilyMembershipbemodifiedtoincludeuptotwoadultsandthreechildrenuptoage eighteen,regardlessoffamilyrelationship;
b. THATanewCharitable(Donor/MemberHybrid)MemberClassbeapproved,tobeenactednolater thanDecember31,2025;
c. THATtheLifeMembershipClassbeexpandedtoincludedonorsreachingacumulativegiving threshold,tobeenactednolaterthanDecember31,2025;
d. ANDTHATatthepointwhenthenewCharitableClassisenacted,theSeniorandYouthClassesof membershipbeeliminated.
REPORT:
InadditiontobeinganessentialpartofTRC’sgovernancestructure,membershipisvitaltocreating communityatRiverwood.
CurrentlytherearefourvotingMembershipClassesforwhichindividualspayaMembershipfee:Adult ($50),Youth($35),Senior($40)andFamily($100).Additionally,LifeMemberships,forwhichthereisnofee, maybeconferredonpastBoardChairsandtheirspouses.Membersreceivearangeofbenefits,including freeordiscountedDiscoveryprograms,discountsatpartnerorganizationsandtherighttovoteatthe AnnualMembers’Meeting
Goingforward,TRCwillbelessreliantongrantfunding.Thisnewfinancialrealityhasledtoareviewof otherrevenuesourcesandhowtheyalign.AtitsFebruary25,2025meeting,theBoardofDirectors recommendedseveralchangestoTRC’scurrentMembershipClasses,informedbyfeedbackfroma workgroupcomprisedofTRCDirectors,VolunteerCommitteemembersandstaff.
a>
ModificationofFamilyMembershipClass
AtpresentTRCdefinesFamilyMembershipas“twoadultspluschildren”.ThecurrentBy-lawrefersto specificfamilyrelationships.Itisrecommended:
ThattheparametersofFamilyMembershipbeamendedto“Uptotwoadultsplusthreechildren under18”,toaccommodatelargerfamilies,and
Thatspecificrelationships(eg.father,grandparent)withinFamilyMembershipnolongerbe defined,inacknowledgementofthechangingnatureoffamilies.
Thesechangeswillalsorelievetheadministrativeburdenoftrackingrelationshipsthatarenotnecessary toknowfromaprogramdeliveryperspective.
b> NewCharitable(Donor/MemberHybrid)MemberClass
Atpresent,ifanindividualdonorwishestoreceiveMemberbenefits,theymustpayafurtherMembership fee.ThishastheeffectofrequiringTRCtorequestanadditionalamountfromadonorthatmayhave alreadygivensubstantiallymore.Thislackofalignmentbetweendonationsandmembershipcancreate confusionandmaypotentiallybeadisincentivetofurthergiving.
ItisthereforeproposedthataCharitable(Donor/MemberHybrid)MemberClassbecreated.ThisClassis intendedtoreflectannualcontributionssignificantlylargerthanTRC’sAdultMembership($50); recognitionwillincludeMemberbenefitsplusadditionalopportunitiesatdefinedgivinglevels,increasing withsizeofcontribution.
Otherorganizations,includingtheRoyalBotanicalGardensandtheTorontoBotanicalGardens,have introducedaCharitableMemberClass,inordertoharmonizetheirgivingprograms.
ItisanticipatedthatitwillrequiresometimetodevelopalignmentbetweenexistingMemberbenefitsand donorrecognitionopportunities.ItisthereforeproposedthattheCharitableMemberClassbeenactedata laterdatein2025(nolaterthanDecember31).Oncedeveloped,givinglevelswithinthenewClasswillbe subjecttoapprovalbytheTRCBoardofDirectors.
c> ExpansionofLifeMembershipClass
Inordertoencourageongoinggiving,itisproposedthattheparametersofTRCLifeMembershipbe expandedtorecognizedonorswhohaveachievedadefinedcumulativelevelofgiving.
ThethresholdlevelofgivingforLifeMembershipwillbeapprovedbytheBoardatthesametimeasthe CharitableMemberClass.
d> EliminationofYouthandSeniorMemberClasses
Itisrecommendedthat,forsimplicity,oncethenewCharitableMemberClassisenacted,theSeniorand YouthMemberClassesbeeliminatedinfavourofasingleAdultClass.Thischangeisproposedduetothe relativelysmall($10-$15)differenceinfeebetweentheAdult,SeniorandYouthclasses,andthefactthat therearepresentlyveryfewYouthMembers.
e> Summary
UnderTRC’sBy-Law,anychangestoMembershipClassesmustbeapprovedbytheMembership. Upon enactment,TRCwillhavefourvotingMembershipClasses:Adult,Life,FamilyandCharitable. Untilthat
time,TRC’scurrentMembershipClasseswillremainthesame.Noticeoftheenactmentwillbe communicatedtoallMembersinadvance.
f> CorrespondingBy-LawUpdates
TRC’sCorporateBy-Lawisitsmaingoverningdocument,settingoutoperatingrulesthatguidetheduties, rightsandresponsibilitiesoftheBoardofDirectorsandtheMembership.ApprovalofrevisedMembership ClasseswillthereforenecessitateanupdatetotheBy-Law.Inaddition,three“housekeeping”updatesare recommended:
Achangeofreferencefrom“AnnualGeneralMeeting/AGM”to“AnnualMember’sMeeting/AMM”in keepingwiththeOntarioNot-for-ProfitCorporationsAct(ONCA)
Provisionfornon-simultaneousapprovalofBoardmeetingminutes(e.g.byemail)
Updatestoasmallnumberofpronounsfroms/hetothey,whichweremissedinpreviousBy-Law updates.
ThebelowamendmentsrelatedtotheBy-Lawarethereforeproposed:
ProposedChange
ChangetoFamilyMembershiptoincludeuptotwoadultsand threechildren/youthuptoage18
Article/Section
8/Membership (2.MembershipClasses)
CreationofaCharitable(Donor/MemberHybrid)MemberClass 8/Membership (2.MembershipClasses)
DefinitionofLifeMembershipexpandedtoincludecumulative donorsreachinganidentifiedgivingthreshold
8/Membership (2.MembershipClasses)
EliminationoftheSeniorandYouthMembershipClass 8/Membership (2.MembershipClasses)
UpdatedreferencetoAnnualMembers’Meeting/AMMfrom AnnualGeneralMeeting/AGM throughout Provisionfornon-simultaneousapprovalofmeetingminutes 5/BoardMeetings(2.Place,Frequencyand MeansofMeeting)
Updatestopronouns
Submittedby:
HeatherShaw Chair
3/OfficersandDirectors(5.Treasurer) 5/BoardMeetings(3.Voting)