Bylaws

[Guest Red]

The bylaw committee made a proposal of 4 changes to the bylaws, which the President presented to the Exec. Board -- the Exec. Board rejected two of the proposed changes. What gets presented to the Membership for a vote, the 4 proposals by the bylaw committee, the 2 which the Executive Committee agreed to. Can all 4 be presented to the membership stating that the Exec. Board is agreed on 2 -- what is the correct way to handle this?

[Rob Elsman]

The bylaw committee made a proposal of 4 changes to the bylaws, which the President presented to the Exec. Board -- the Exec. Board rejected two of the proposed changes. What gets presented to the Membership for a vote, the 4 proposals by the bylaw committee, the 2 which the Executive Committee agreed to. Can all 4 be presented to the membership stating that the Exec. Board is agreed on 2 -- what is the correct way to handle this?

The committee on bylaws should present its report directly to its parent assembly.

[Guest dan]

The bylaw committee made a proposal of 4 changes to the bylaws, which the President presented to the Exec. Board -- the Exec. Board rejected two of the proposed changes. What gets presented to the Membership for a vote, the 4 proposals by the bylaw committee, the 2 which the Executive Committee agreed to. Can all 4 be presented to the membership stating that the Exec. Board is agreed on 2 -- what is the correct way to handle this?

What do your bylaws say about the proper procedure to be followed? In general, you should forst look to what your own governing documents prescribe.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

...what is the correct way to handle this?

Follow the METHOD OF AMENDMENT as laid out in your bylaws.

From the kind of questions you are asking (i.e., their convoluted nature), I suspect that you (collectively) are adding unnecessary steps.

Q. What is the method of amendment per your bylaws?

For example, "Why are there four parties involved?":

1. President

2. Executive Board

3. Executive Committee

4. General Membership

[Guest Red]

What do your bylaws say about the proper procedure to be followed? In general, you should forst look to what your own governing documents prescribe.

[Guest Red]

The by-laws only state that the bylaws will be reviewed for possible amendments at least once every 3 yrs, and that they may be amended by a vote of the majority of members present at a regular mtg. or special mtg.

[Kim Goldsworthy]

The by-laws only state:

1. that the bylaws will be reviewed for possible amendments at least once every 3 yrs, and

2. that they may be amended by a vote of the majority of members present at a regular mtg. or special mtg.

Then that's the ballgame!

1. "Review" has nothing to do with the amendment process, other than being a precursor or a nicety to the actual (a.) wording; (b.) motion; (c.) vote.

After the review, nothing need happen. - It is a superficial part of your process.

2. If the rule says, for example, "[These bylaws] may be amended by a vote of the majority of the members present at a regular meeting or a special meeting," then that is all you need.

• No Presidents.

• No Executive Boards.

• No Executive Committees.

• No Secretaries.

Only the general membership.

• No previous notice.

• No "super majority."

• No "readings".

So, again, why are you adding layer after layer of complication?