• In New Brunswick registration is filed with the Corporate Affairs Division of the Dept. of Justice.
• To become a registered society, the organization must file a memorandum of association with the province which states the name of the society, the objects (aims) of the society, the geographical area of its activities, the location of its registered office and the names, addresses and occupations of its founding directors.
• Initial registration fees vary.
• An Atlantic-based name search is required in all three provinces and a fee is charged.
• The organization must draw up a set of by-laws to govern its operation. Typical by-laws state the requirements of membership, the manner of conducting meetings, the appointment and powers of directors and officers, the auditing of accounts, and various miscellaneous rules and regulations. (Contact a lawyer for a standard format.)
• The organization is required to submit annual reports, including the list of directors and officers, the notice of registered office and the appointment of a registered agent. In Nova Scotia the society must also pay an annual fee.
• The membership of the organization must be served in accordance with the by-laws, holding meetings with the required quorum and presenting information such as audited financial statements.
• As the work of the association becomes more complex, committees should be set up that are accountable to the board of directors and that have members from the board and the general membership. Examples of committees include fundraising, communications, advocacy, research, coordinating, student actions, etc.
• The advantages of being a registered society include increased credibility with other organizations, government offices and the media.

Registered Charities:

• Charitable status may be acquired by registered societies from Revenue Canada, Charities Division.
• To qualify, the objects (aims) of the organization must fall within Revenue Canada's guidelines for charitable activities.
• The organization must submit an application to the Charities Division with the objects of the society as defined by the memorandum of association, a statement of past activities, planned activities for the next twelve months, the previous year's financial statement and a budget for the next year.
• The approval process takes several months.
• The new charity will receive a business number and a date of registration.
• The business number allows the charity to issue tax receipts for donations, to access grants from many foundations and to claim back part of its HST contributions.
• To maintain its charitable status, the organization must submit a "Registered Charity Information Return" within six months of its fiscal year end, together with a financial statement.

Coalitions and Networks:

• Organizations within a community that share goals can form coalitions. While the establishment of new organizations can help realize the community's vision and goals for education, organizations that already exist are valuable community resources to help advocate for the form of education needed by students of all ages. The cooperation among home and school associations, development organizations, school councils, senior citizens' groups, church organizations, youth groups and others can be a formidable force in a coordinated effort to protect and enhance community-based education.