About CARP Chapters

CARP Chapters provide the opportunity for CARP members to participate actively in CARP’s mission. Chapters rely on volunteer members who engage with each other and their community to promote awareness of CARP and our goals. Chapters serve as the voice of the national association to local members and community stakeholders. At the same time, Chapters are the eyes and ears of members, reporting back to the National Office with the interests and concerns of their Chapter by identifying local and regional issues and ensuring the development of CARP advocacy takes into account the needs and wishes of members. Chapters operate independently, with volunteer boards responsible for recruiting new members, developing engaging programs and activities and promoting local and national advocacy platforms.

Chapters are led by a Board of Directors with a mandate to work with the CARP National Office toward achieving our shared mission. The Chapter Board of Directors represents and promotes CARP’s interests in the community. They build support for the organization’s initiatives and represent the Chapter in local and provincial forums. The Chapter Board of Directors stands as CARP’s local presence, and speaks to the community as the organization’s voice.

Chapter Board Members:

  • Contribute their skills, expertise, credibility and reputation in the community to the organization. 
  • Assist the CARP National Office in growing membership.
  • Act as ambassadors to the community on behalf of the organization. Represent members of the Chapter to local elected officials, media and other stakeholders.
  • Recruit other volunteers to support the local Chapter.
  • Solicit financial sponsorship/partnerships/advertising to support chapter activity.  

Chapter Boards should be made up of approximately one dozen volunteers who serve as directors or lead sub-committees of the board that report to the board. The Chapter’s local advocacy focus is developed by the Chapter Board of Directors and approved by the National Office. The program is implemented by the Chapter Board and subordinate committees, often with assistance from the National Office. For example; A CARP national advocacy priority is improvements to Home Care. In support of that campaign, CARP National creates a list of stakeholders who need to be contacted for an upcoming event, and distributes those names to the Chapter Board. The Board would be responsible to contact and send the information to those groups, in addition to those already known to the Chapter Board, through various methods such as personal invitation, Chapter newsletters or auto-dialed calls.

The Chapter Board of Directors provides the National Office ongoing reporting: including an Annual Plan; Annual Financial Statements and quarterly reporting of meetings, events and advocacy activity.

The Chapters should operate at no ‘out of pocket’ expense to volunteers. Reasonableness should be the guide for the Board of Directors when reimbursing expenses to volunteers.  (For example, covering the mileage costs of volunteers attending a regular meeting in the community should not be reimbursed; but mileage for a volunteer attending a meeting in another community representing CARP may be reimbursed by the Chapter, if claimed and approved by the Board of Directors.

Objectives of Chapters and Duties of the Chapter Board of Directors

  1. To promote CARP beyond the current membership base in the Chapter catchment area and to actively recruit new membership in the Association and renew current members.
  2. To support, promote, organize or take part in activities that are within the mission and mandate of CARP and to meet the requirements as outlined in Chapter Pledge.
  3. To provide a means through which members can engage in activities that support CARP’s mission and to sustain a productive relationship with CARP National Office.
  4. To help foster equality of opportunity for aging Canadians by promoting their continued growth and development, self-respect, self-confidence and purpose; by encouraging their participation in contemporary life and by stimulating public awareness of the rights and interests of an aging population and recognition of its potential.
  5. To devote the energies of the chapter to furthering its goals of advancing and improving the well-being of aging Canadians.
  6. To co-operate with other non-partisan groups in advocating for measures which may directly or indirectly advance and protect the rights and interests of Canadians as we age.
  7. To investigate and negotiate local benefits for Chapter members and seek sponsorship funding to sustain the activities of the Chapter.
  8. To volunteer without purpose of gain for any Board member.  Any profits or other contributions to the Chapter shall be used solely to promote its objectives.
  9. To conduct Chapter activities with the utmost observance of ethical standards and propriety of conduct.
  10. The Chapter shall not independently arrange for, advertise or offer to chapter members, any products or services already offered by CARP to its members – and must abide by the contractual arrangements between the CARP National Office and their partners, including the right of first refusal for CARP Affinity Partners. Such activities, if carried on by the Chapter, would diminish the strength of CARP.

 
About CARP

CARP is a national, non-partisan, non-profit organization committed to a ‘New Vision of Aging for Canada’ promoting social change that will bring financial security, equitable access to health care and freedom from ageism. “CARP” stands for the Canadian Association of Retired Persons, and is our historic and corporate name. CARP members need not be retired, nor is age a barrier for membership in our association. Anyone who supports our mission is welcome to join CARP.

 

Our Mandate is to promote and protect the interests, rights and quality of life for Canadians as we age.

Our Vision is to have a society in which everyone can live active, independent, purposeful lives as they age.

Our Mission declares that CARP is committed to enhancing the quality of life for all Canadians as we age by:

  • Advocating for social change that will bring financial security, equitable and timely access to health care and freedom from discrimination and ageism;
  • Ensuring that the marketplace serves the needs and expectations of our generation and providing value-added benefits, products and services to members; and building a sense of community.