CONFLICT OF
INTEREST
GENERAL
1. A conflict of interest is a situation in which a member has opposing loyalties
or obligations, whether personal, philosophical, or financial.
POLICY
2. Volunteer board members are responsible for decisions affecting policy, and must
exercise their duty of loyalty by avoiding any conflict of interest. A board member who
has a conflict of interest, or a perceived conflict of interest (e.g. is also a board or
staff member of a competing organization; is employed by a company doing business
transactions with the Board), must declare this at the first possible opportunity. Once a
conflict of interest is declared, the member may neither speak nor vote on any motion or
amendment made concerning the matter in question. Those who abstain from participation or
leave the meeting because of their declared conflict of interest are still counted when
determining a quorum. All declared conflicts of interest at this level must be recorded in
the Record of Proceedings.
3. Individuals holding a volunteer position with St. John Ambulance may hold a second
volunteer position in the organization only when the appointing authorities are aware and
consent to the appointment to the second position, having regard to potential conflict of
interest. Conflict of interest, or perceived conflict of interest, may arise in situations
where a volunteer is in a position to make decisions that are of benefit to another
volunteer position that they hold within St. John Ambulance.
4. Paid staff may serve as St. John Ambulance volunteers within the following
parameters:
a. the volunteer position is as a direct-service member (note that staff members may be
required to serve on committees as a function of their paid employment);
b. the volunteer service provided is totally voluntary, and without coercion;
c. the duties are performed outside the usual working hours of the staff member;
d. paid staff choosing to volunteer as Brigade members do so in accordance with StJCI
2-3-1, paragraph 19; and
e. a perceived conflict of interest does not exist.
