National
Volunteerism
Initiative
Joint
Table
Operating
Principles
1.
Quorum
Given
that
the
Table
has
7
members
from
government
and
7
from
the
sector,
a
quorum
of
at
least
3
from
each
side
will
be
required
when
major
decisions
or
motions
are
being
made.
Note
that
it
is
not
necessary
for
both
government
and
the
sector
to
have
the
same
number
of
participants
at
each
meeting,
only
that
each
has
the
minimum
quorum
number
when
any
major
decisions
or
motions
are
proposed.
Since
Table
membership
is
non-substituted,
the
Table
will
continue
its
work,
whether
the
number
of
members
necessary
for
a
quorum
is
available
or
not.
2.
Confidentiality
Table
members
are
expected
to
be
open
and
candid
in
discussing
items
before
the
Table.
For
this
reason
it
is
important
to
maintain
confidentiality.
Table
members
are
committed
to
respecting
the
personal
privacy
of
Table
participants
and
agree
not
to
disclose
personal
information
or
views
expressed
by
individuals
during
meetings.
Deliberations
should
remain
confidential
until
there
is
general
agreement
and
consensus
to
make
them
public
(see
principle
3
below).
To
avoid
prejudicing
any
work
in
progress,
members
should
exercise
caution
when
speaking
with
individuals
outside
the
Table
about
ongoing
Table
discussions,
where
no
consensus
or
agreement
has
been
reached.
Key
messages
will
be
discussed
and
decided
upon
at
the
end
of
each
meeting.
3.
Public
Communication
and
Media
Regular
communications
about
the
progress
of
work
being
undertaken
by
the
Table
is
a
priority
and
should
be
part
of
the
ongoing
work
of
all
joint
Tables.
Records
of
discussion,
progress
updates
and
other
communications
tools
(questions
and
answers)
will
be
regularly
developed
and
approved
by
Table
members
for
posting
on
web
sites
and
communicating
with
the
media
and
other
interested
observers.
No
material
from
the
Table
will
be
made
available
to
people
outside
the
Table
without
prior
approval
by
the
Table
members.
4.
Reaching
Agreement
Table
members
will
seek
to
reach
consensus
wherever
possible.
If
for
whatever
reason,
consensus
can
not
be
achieved,
the
Table
Members
may
agree
to
a
recommendation,
through
another
process,
such
as
voting
or
permitting
dissenting
reports.
5.
Official
Languages
All
members
will
be
encouraged
to
participate
in
the
Joint
Table
deliberations
in
the
official
language
of
their
choice.
All
products
of
the
Tables
will
be
produced
in
both
languages
(e.g.
minutes,
joint
reports,
media
lines).
Simultaneous
interpretation
and
bilingual
materials
will
be
provided
at
the
first
meeting
of
the
Table
and
will
be
provided
at
subsequent
meetings
based
on
the
needs
of
Table
members
and
possible
guests.
6.
Accessibility
To
ensure
the
active
participation
by
any
members
who
may
have
accessibility
requirements,
Table
meetings
or
activities
will
be
held
in
facilities
that
are
barrier-free.
Where
required,
technical
aids,
anthropometric
equipment,
attendant
and
other
specialized
services
will
be
provided
to
accommodate
the
needs
of
Table
members
or
guests
with
disabilities.
7.
Expert
Members
and
Invited
Guests
The
Table
may,
from
time
to
time,
require
experts,
academics
or
other
voluntary
sector
representatives
to
attend
meetings
as
presenters,
advisers
or
observers
because
of
their
knowledge
of
the
subject,
of
the
sector
or
as
part
of
another
existing
Table
or
consultation
mechanism.
Such
invitations
will
be
agreed
to
in
advance
by
the
Co-Chairs.
