CCFMS New Club Application Form

Thank you for considering Membership with the CCFMS.

Step 1: To apply, please complete the application form below. You can save at any time and finish it later. Once completed, please submit and it will automatically be sent to CCFMS via email, CCing the submitter.

Step 2: The CCFMS board will review the application – and if necessary, may ask for more information and/or clarification.

Step 3: Upon approval:

  • Membership dues to the CCFMS shall be paid as outlined below
  • Dues for a new club are based on family and individual membership counts ONLY as of the date of acceptance into the CCFMS
  • You can either mail (Canada Post) your cheque c/o the CCFMS Treasurer 629 Ester Street, Sudbury, ON P3E 5C6 or you can e-transfer to executiveofCCFMS@gmail.com
  • Upon payment, full membership status with all the attendant rights, privileges, and obligations, shall be extended to the new club

Applicant clubs are not required to be incorporated but the CCFMS recommends that clubs be incorporated as a not-for-profit corporation. Consider these points:

  • Incorporation establishes a club as a legal entity and indicates that it is, or intends to be, a stable organization.
  • It also means that a club can – for example (but not limited to):
    • can sign contracts under its club name;
    • have bank accounts in its club name;
    • limit the fiduciary liability of its members (such as, individual club members are not personally liable for debts of the club);
    • improve the chances of a club receiving government grants.
  • There are (legal/tax-definition-type) differences between non-profit and not-for-profit. One difference is non-profits have salaried employees, whereas, volunteers manage not-for-profit organizations. Non-profits are usually large and national in scope; not-for-profits are smaller and localized in scope.
  • Charity? Applicant clubs can also be a registered charitable organization, if they so wish – being a registered charity comes with, at least, two (2) obligations. They are listed below:
  • Provide scholarships, bursaries, and prizes for scholastic achievement in the Earth Sciences or Lapidary Arts – an activity of geology/lapidary clubs;
  • Even if your club decides to provide scholarships, bursaries, and prizes for scholastic achievement, your club is not required to become a charitable organization;
  • Submit an annual tax filing with Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).

The CCFMS recognizes that your club may not have incorporated at the time of this application – though, may, perhaps, plan to incorporate as a not-for-profit corporation.

  • Please note that Manitoba, Ontario, and Québec, currently, require – for newly incorporated organizations – a minimum of three (3) directors (usually the President, Treasurer, and Secretary – also known as executive and/or officers):

In the online form, you will be asked to upload your Constitution and Bylaws. The CCFMS expects that your club Constitution and Bylaws will be consistent with CCFMS objectives, the CCFMS Codes of Ethics, and standards of practice.

CCFMS objectives are:

  1. To encourage co-operation and information exchange amongst clubs and other organizations interested in mineralogy, earth sciences, and lapidary arts;
  2. To promote the study of mineralogy, earth sciences, and lapidary arts; and
  3. To promote the conservation of, access to, and exploration of important geological and mineralogical occurrences.

CCFMS Code of Ethics and standards of practice are:

  1. Field Trip Kit – which includes Code of Ethics for Field Trips, Health & Safety Best Practices for Field Trips, and guidelines on how to run a field trip (field trip leaders and participants);
  2. Lapidary Kit – which includes Code of Ethics for Lapidary workshops and guidelines on how to run a lapidary workshop (workshop leaders and participants);
  3. Emergency guidelines for everyone when emergencies happen.