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Read our membership solicitation letter below.

January 24, 2005

Dear Friends of Equal Parenting:

We write to invite your group to consider membership in the Canadian Equal Parenting Council. We believe the time is ripe for a cooperative effort across Canada that builds the best advantages of local relationships and national scale. The emphasis at this time is to encourage all equal parenting groups across Canada to join.
No doubt you are interested to understand CEPC's goals. You can see more at our web site, where you may find our Mission Statement. One could summarize our goals as follows:
CEPC GOALS

CEPC is committed to:

Promoting the rights of children to a significant relationship with both parents and grandparents.

Making post-separation equal parenting arrangements the social and legal norm.

Encouraging men, women, parliamentarians, and those involved in the administration and support of Family Law to recognize that there should be a sharing of the rights and responsibilities that have been historically assigned primarily to men or women. In short – we wish to eliminate gender bias in post-separation roles.

Eliminating both family violence and false allegations of family violence, and overcoming the stereotype that family violence is perpetrated only by men against women.

APPROACH

The growth of support for those impacted by the family law process is a direct result of the passion and independence of local leaders who are in touch with the needs of their members, as well as the capabilities of local support resources. CEPC cannot, and will not improve on the vital contributions made by local groups to the support of individuals.

However, social change on a national scale requires additional capabilities, including the ability to deliver:

Coordinated national lobbying efforts, with clear messages, delivered in Ottawa, provincial capitols, and local constituency offices.

Identification of the social and personal benefits of equal parenting.

A consistent, credible voice, well-known to the national media, to ensure reporting and commentary which recognizes our point of view, and in the future, advocates it.

Legal intervention in significant appeals to ensure that higher courts are made aware of the benefits of equal parenting, and the potential impact of their decisions on children and their families.

A credible argument to potential private and governmental funders that the national scope of our programming offers benefits to Canada that are worth investing in.

Up to this point in time there has not been one national organization that can publicly advocate for all Canadians who share our concerns. CEPC seeks to change this state of affairs.

HISTORY

Since 2001, various members of the Equal Parenting Movement from across Canada have discussed the desirability of creating a national organization. Regular conference calls have been held. A Mission Statement was drafted and application for federal incorporation was submitted. On January 12, 2004, CEPC was incorporated as a Canadian federal not-for-profit corporation. Auditors are Newman, Sversky LLP (Ira Eisen, C.A.) of Toronto. Our application for incorporation is posted at our web site. [Front Page Letters Patent] [Application for Incorporation attached to Letters Patent page one]

MEMBERSHIP - JOIN US!

At this time, we are encouraging membership on the part of local Canadian groups with interest in Equal Parenting.

Membership is free. It is simple to sign up. Go to our website's sign up page. Please be sure to insert the number of your members. Providing your email address will permit us to place you on our Listserve where you will receive notification re future events and you will be able to participate in our ongoing discussions and planning.

MEMBERS' MEETING AND ELECTIONS

The Annual General Meeting of CEPC was held by conference call on November 21, 2007. The co presidents were elected and the directors (including some new additions to the Board) confirmed the executive.

The bylaws currently provide for the election of the President at an annual general meeting of the corporation and that the other officers are to be appointed by resolution of the Board of Directors at the first board meeting following the annual general meeting.

The bylaws provide that Directors are elected at a second meeting of members but presumably the new Directors could be elected at the first members meeting.

The bylaws do allow for proxy voting. Proxy forms will be made available.

The intention of the founding directors and officers is to democratically encourage participation from across Canada. New directors and officers who wish to take on the responsibilities of helping CEPC are more than welcome to put their names forward.

Bylaw #1 is posted at our website. Bylaw #2 is the standard banking bylaw. [Bylaw #2 and Banking Resolution] There are no other bylaws at the moment.

IDEAS AND PROJECTS THAT ARE CURRENTLY UNDER CONSIDERATION

Organize a national convention of equal parenting groups with guest speakers from leading activists in Canada, Europe, the U.S.A. & Great Britain. The convention could include workshops on topics ranging from political action, court action, fundraising, advancing the case for the self-represented, and the role of civil disobedience in a social action movement.

Set up a central repository for education and information distribution that will support the goals, vision and principles of our organization and act as a national voice for pro family, pro children and pro equality elements in Canada.

Hire an executive director.

Lobby legislators full time on issues of importance to our movement.

Intervene in appellate level cases (provincial courts of appeal and Supreme Court of Canada) in cases that raise such issues as parallel parenting, shared parenting, fair tax treatment for joint custodial parents, etc.

Initiate equality rights and responsibilities litigation using all appropriate means including the Charter.

DONATIONS

We need your financial support. We are not yet able to accept credit card donations. We do have a bank account. Please donate. Here's how: Please make a cheque or money order payable the Canadian Equal Parenting Council. Send your donation to our secretary-treasurer, Gene C. Colman, 25 Bowring Walk, Toronto, Ontario M3H 5Z8.

As an advocacy organization, we cannot give receipts for charitable donations. On request, Mr. Colman will send a general receipt.

MORE INFORMATION

We would be pleased to hear from you. Do join us in accordance with the instructions above. If you wish further information or you just want to make a suggestion or offer your help, then until such time as we place your name on our Listserve, please contact one of our co-Presidents:

Maureen Geddes: Tel: 1-800-217-6730 or mgeddes@cangram.com

Bob McGuire: Tel: 1-877-547-0499 or bob@windsorfamilyforum.com

Thank you for your consideration. We look forward to hearing from you!

Membership Sign Up Form

To our members and supporters: If you know someone in the media who would be interested in reporting on the Canadian Equal Parenting Council, please notify our co-president, Maureen Geddes at: mgeddes@cangram.com