Nominations of officers

[Guest Karen Simac]

In our organization, nominations for officers are due to the Nominating Committee on May 15 to be voted on at our annual meeting on June18 th.

However, There will be a vote on changes to our by- laws on June 17. If the new by-laws are passed it changes the the structure of our officers and board members.

Should the proposed by-laws pass on June 17th, which by-laws are used for this election? In other words do we need to wait for the next election (2015) to utilize the new structure of officers?

Thank you for any guidance you can give.

[Guest Edgar]

Should the proposed by-laws pass on June 17th, which by-laws are used for this election? In other words do we need to wait for the next election (2015) to utilize the new structure of officers?

 

Any changes ("amendments") to the bylaws will take effect the moment they're adopted (i.e. right in the middle of the meeting) unless a "proviso" is included which delays their implementation (e.g. until 2015). So you could include such a proviso or you could wait until after the election before you consider amending the bylaws. After all, the proposed amendments might not be adopted at all. Or you could, and I think should, consider the amendments first so then you're electing officers to offices and terms of office that actually exist.

 

Also keep in mind that the report of the nominating committee is just the first step, not the last word, in the electoral process. It's followed by nominations "from the floor" and members are also free to "write in" votes for someone who wasn't nominated at all.

[Weldon Merritt]

Bylaws changes become effective immediatly upon adoption, unless a later date is specifically statted. If you don't want the changes you adopt on June 17 to apply to the eclection on June 18, you can add a proviso stating that the provisions become effectve with the 2015 election cycle.