Wednesday 22 May, 2013

PAL Canada® is looking for a new Executive Director and welcomes potential candidates to apply.


Please click here to obtain a copy of the job description.


CALL FOR NOMINATIONS TO PAL CANADA BOARD OF DIRECTORS

PAL CANADA is looking for several persons who want to make a positive difference in the lives of seniors who work (or have worked) in the professional performing arts. At our Annual General Meeting on June 24th, 2013 we shall be electing our new Board of Directors.  We strive to build a strong and effective board by ensuring that it is comprised of a broad and diversified base of talented and skilled people. Our Board will be made up of 10 persons elected at-large from across Canada as well as representatives from the 8 PAL Chapters in Halifax, Ottawa, Toronto, Stratford, Winnipeg, Edmonton, Calgary and Vancouver, and ex-officio representation from the professional associations and performing arts unions who founded PAL Canada® in the 1990’s.

This year there will be at least 6 vacant seats to be filled.  We have a particular need right now for candidates with backgrounds in the legal and communications professions and, as always, candidates with a knowledge of fund raising and accessing governments.  As well, we are most interested in hearing from potential candidates in Saskatchewan, Quebec, and Newfoundland and Labrador

The Board meets 6 times a year in Toronto, with members from other parts of Canada connected by conference call.  Meetings last approximately 2 hours.  Each member of the Board is expected to be actively involved with the activities of at least one of the Board committees.  All Board members need to become current members of PAL Canada® if they are not already.

Our Board members are passionate about the performing arts—the people who devote their lives to creating Canadian live performance, and to our mission:  Taking Care of Our Own.  Previous experience as a board member for a non-profit organization is an asset, as is experience in business or other professions.

If you are interested in being considered by the Nominations Committee, please contact  Allan Macmillan, Secretary at macmillan22@gmail.com at your earliest convenience.  Note also the final date of May 10, 2013 for receipt of formal submissions of nomination for election to the Board in the Notice of Elections below, as well as the mailing address.

 

NOTICE OF ELECTIONS: BOARD OF DIRECTORS, PAL CANADA FOUNDATION

The By-laws of PAL Canada® Foundation currently make provision for 10 Members-at-Large to be elected to its Board of Directors by the membership. The term of office is for two years from the date of the Annual General Meeting which, this year, will be held on June 24. The terms of all current members of the Board who are Members-at-Large will expire at the 2013 Annual General Meeting.  Four of the incumbents have indicated their willingness to stand for a further term.

There are, therefore, at least six seats to be filled.  If, by the deadline for nominations there are more nominations received than seats available, there will be an election and nominees will be advised as to the election procedures.

We encourage any member in good standing who would like to become a candidate for a seat on the Board of Directors to submit a nomination. If you are not currently a member in good standing and would like to be eligible for nomination, please contact the PAL Canada® office to make the necessary membership arrangements. The nomination will bear the signatures of two other paid up members of PAL Canada®, as well as that of the nominee indicating a willingness to serve. The inclusion of a brief biography of the nominee would be helpful, but it is not an absolute requirement at this point.

Nominations should be directed to the Secretary, PAL Canada® Foundation Inc., 110 The Esplanade. Suite 333, Toronto, ON, M5E 1X9 and must be received no later than May 10, 2013.

 

 

Estate Planning #2 – Power of Attorney

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Gail Packwood

Another possibility that none of us wants to consider but one that most of us probably should, is the question of what happens if we become mentally incapacitated.  Who makes decisions about our medical treatment when we are not able to and who looks after our property and finances?

Like most of the questions that come up when considering your estate planning, these ones are much easier if faced early, before they are a necessity.  A Power of Attorney or Continuing Power of Attorney for Property is the person or persons you assign to look after these decisions on your behalf when you are not mentally able to.  Do not be put off by the word “attorney”, the person you choose does not need to be a lawyer or legal professional.  Most often your Power of Attorney will be a friend or family member.

There are two separate legal documents for each of the two types - Power of Attorney and Continuing Power of Attorney for Property.  You can name the same person to look after both your personal care and your finances or you can list different people for each.  You can also name more than one person as your Power of Attorney if you think the decision-making will be too challenging or time consuming for one person to accomplish.

If you have a particularly complicated financial situation or you anticipate that it would be difficult for someone to carry out your wishes without causing family turmoil, you might want to consider a Trust Company for your Power of Attorney.  The company would charge a fee for this service, but their impartiality and professionalism might be worth it to you depending on your circumstances.

You can be as specific as you want to be in your documents outlining your wishes for your Power of Attorney to follow.  You can set specific instructions for your care if you are incapacitated or instructions for what to do with specific assets, investments etc. If you do not wish to appoint a Power of Attorney (and there is no legal requirement to do so), you can instead outline these instructions in what is called a Living Will. It is a document to be followed while you are still living, but unable to voice these wishes yourself.  Some people choose to include a Living Will with their Will.

However, if you do not have a Power of Attorney established and you do become mentally incapacitated, the government of your province by default becomes your guardian and decision maker.  In these instances, a friend or family member can apply to be appointed your guardian, generally a far better option for you and your loved ones.

It is very important that you speak with the person you are considering to select as your Power of Attorney or Continuing Power of Attorney for Property prior to naming them.  There is a great deal of responsibility that comes with the role and some people may not be comfortable with it.  Some of the decisions that they might face could be very challenging, especially if you have not been very clear in your desires. As well, the circumstances that your Power of Attorney will find themselves in are rarely, if ever, positive ones.

You are not required to have a lawyer do the paperwork to appoint your Power of Attorney and Continuing Power of Attorney for Property however seeking a legal opinion can be beneficial especially if your circumstances are complicated.

For more information, the Ministry of the Attorney General in Ontario has published a booklet which contains detailed information on selecting your Power of Attorney and the forms required to establish your Power of Attorney and Continuing Power of Attorney for Property.  It is available online here:

http://www.attorneygeneral.jus.gov.on.ca/english/family/pgt/poa.pdf

UNDER THE DISTINGUISHED PATRONAGE OF
HIS EXCELLENCY THE RIGHT HONOURABLE DAVID JOHNSTON, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D., GOVERNOR GENERAL OF CANADA
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