Section Expenses

Sections are vital to the operation of OBA and its ability to express the views of the legal profession in this province. The administrative support that the Director of Sections and the Sections staff are prepared to handle, are set out in the Section Executive Reference Manual. Each Section must be financially self-supporting over the course of its annual activities.

These guidelines apply to regular Section activities. Expenses associated with unusual Section activity require the advance approval of the Director of Sections. This is not intended in any way to discourage preparation and submission of briefs and reports by the Sections. However, if this important function of a Section involves expenses, these should be cleared with the Director of Sections or Section Co-ordinator before any commitments are made or expenses incurred.

At Section program/meeting or social functions of Sections, a registration fee is to be collected from those attending to cover the cost of the following:

1. food and refreshments;
   
2. facilities and equipment rentals;
   
3. taxes and gratuities;
   
4. any costs, including travelling, of speakers and panelists, and gifts;
   
5. guests, if any;
   
6. an additional contingency cost (currently 10-20%) of direct costs.
   

These costs are to be included in the calculation of the fee collected from those attending the meeting.

Guests at Section programs/meetings must attend at the expense of the member or members by whom they were invited.

If the circumstances of a particular Section program/meeting indicate it would be inequitable to include the entire expense of a speaker and gift in the cost for that event, sponsorship by the Section involved should be sought to cover the shortfall e.g. a member firm may be asked to cover these extra costs and would be acknowledged as having done so.

Subject to availability and advance notice, the OBA Centre facilities are available for the use of Section Executives or Sub-committees established by Sections. The OBA actively encourages the use of these facilities whenever possible. A light meal or refreshment may be provided for these groups and arranged by the Sections staff.

OBA will not pay room rentals for Section Executive or Sub-committee meetings held outside of OBA facilities, unless specifically authorized. Catering, if necessary, willed be provided and coordinated by OBA.

Unless approved otherwise (in exceptional cases) by the Chair or Director of Sections, Section members should assume that any travel is at their own expense. There are no funds available to defray the travel expenses of Section Executive or Sub-committee members. Photocopying of briefs and other documents often represents a substantial part of a Section's expenses. In order to minimize costs, any substantial quantity of copies must be made at the OBA, unless arrangements can be made elsewhere at a cost lower than the rate then charged by the OBA.