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The following letter has been sent to members of the AAUW NC board about the
bylaws changes. Branch presidents are asked to communicate the rationale for these
changes to their branch members - particularly those who will be delegates at
the April convention. All concerns should be reported to Karla Atkinson, bardofb@citcom.net,
506 Stone Dr., Brevard NC 28712, 828-884-7648 as soon as possible - preferably
in time for discussion at the March 5 retreat.
February 15, 2005
Dear AAUW NC Board Members (including Branch Presidents):
I am sorry that the Board retreat scheduled for late January had to be canceled
because of the weather. However, based on my last conversation with President
Joanne Hill, the retreat has been rescheduled for March 5, 2005 in Greensboro.
Two significant agenda items need our attention. One matter concerns the proposed
changes to the AAUW NC Bylaws. The other focuses on finishing the strategic plan
for the upcoming year.
This communication addresses the bylaws changes and asks two questions:
(1) Should the Board support the proposed bylaw changes? and if so, (2) How can
AAUW NC go about educating the membership on the history and rationale behind
these changes before a vote in April?
To consider these questions, you should have a copy of two documents: (a)
the SUMMARY of the results from the SURVEY which
was sent to AAUW NC members in reference to the current structure and organization
of AAUW NC and (b) the SUMMARY of the proposed BYLAWS
changes. Both of these documents can be downloaded from our web site: www.aauwnc.org.
(Those who love looking at data and combing through strikeouts, italicized words
and rephrased paragraphs will find all the raw
data re. the surveys and bylaws changes also on our web site. Analyze to your
heart’s content!)
NOTE: Association Bylaws Committee Chairperson Caroline Pickens has read a
draft of the proposed bylaw changes and wrote last week, “Basically everything
looks fine, and I found the survey results interesting. You did a nice job. There
are a few typos I noticed and a couple of minor suggestions...”
As chairperson of the Reconnection (RCC) Goal VI Committee, I am recommending
that the Board support all of the proposed bylaws changes for four reasons:
FIRST, the changes provide more flexibility for doing business at the state
level.
- For example, two people could share a position as an elected officer, an
appointed officer or a committee chairperson. Generally the structure of committees
will be more flexible as well. Committees can be condensed/renamed or “realigned”
to reduce the number of people on the Board. Standing committees can be added
“as necessary to conduct the business of the organization.”
- The proposed changes allow for more flexibility in Board voting by email,
conference call or electronically. Furthermore, chairpersons of standing committees
and branch presidents may appoint someone to carry their vote at state Board meetings.
Voting privileges at state convention would be extended to members of state committees;
voting proxies for branch presidents and greater representation of MALs at state
convention are proposed.
- In summary flexibility in committee structure, job delegation and voting privileges
is a means of connecting more members to the business of AAUW NC. At the same
time doing state business should become a more efficient and effective process.
SECOND, the changes bring more accountability at the state level for carrying
out work related to the mission.
- Under the proposed bylaws changes the Executive Committee will assume a greater
role in approving Presidential appointments and doing strategic planning. The
Board will assume a greater role in approving Ad Hoc Committee plans/programs.
Association’s job descriptions have been added to further define the duties
of the state officers and align these duties with Association business.
- A provision has been added to the bylaws to make explicit that Board members
are expected to miss no more than one Board meeting in a row
The time frame for developing and presenting a budget to the membership is more
realistic.
- These proposed bylaw changes add organizational oversight not only to the
process of restructuring but to the development of goals, practices, state-branch
interactions and resources which are addressed by other RCC groups.
THIRD, the changes are designed to encourage more members to participate in
AAUW NC.
- The proposed bylaws allow presidents even greater freedom to “speak
their voice” with a proxy if they are not able to be present at a state board
meeting or at convention.
- Extending convention voting privileges to committee members and increasing
the representation from MALs at convention also invites participation from these
members.
- Allowing two members to share a position as an elected or appointed officer,
or as a committee chairperson, “lightens the load” on leaders and at
the same time encourages more participation.
- Finally, the emphasis on committees functioning without requiring each committee
member to serve on the Board may better match the skills and time constraints
of members. Quite simply, more members may be eager to serve on a committee if
they know they don’t have to deal with ALL the Board business.
FOURTH, the changes clarify sections of the current bylaws which are outdated
or vague.
- The proposed changes address a review (not audit) of state financial records.
- The definition of a quorum at state convention is clearer.
- Voting privileges for branch presidents at convention and voting privileges
for Association committee and board members who are members of AAUW NC are also
clarified.
Thank you for considering these issues and giving careful thought to the original
question: “Should the Board support the proposed bylaw changes?” Most
of these proposed bylaw changes were supported by those responding to the survey
sent out a few months ago. (A profile of the survey respondents can be found on
the Survey Summary Results on our web site).
The Board will be asked to vote formally on this question in the near future.
You know where I stand...
Sincerely,
Karla Atkinson, RCC Goal VI Chairperson
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