STATEMENT IN FAVOR OF PROPOSED BY-LAW CHANGES 1, 2, 3 & 4

By: Rich Fisher, Bill Bartz and Laura Bryan

Your BOD (Board of Directors) are members that are very well informed of the administrative, social and financial needs of your club.  All of the propositions were deliberated, reviewed and approved for these ballots either unanimously or one vote short of unanimous.  We recommend that you vote yes to all four.  It is recognized that any CHANGE can be more difficult for some than for others, however we need to recognize that we are in CHANGING TIMES and adjust our by-laws accordingly.

The staunch limitations of the antiquated Roberts Rules have not allowed the club to move forward in a progressive way and to make the changes needed to attract new members and fill the needs of its current members.  CHANGE IS NEEDED.  Après must develop a more contemporary set of rules that will allow the club to be consistent with the times and attract and compliment a new generation of members.
 

Proposition 1

Your BOD was one vote short of unanimous in its decision to recommend that the membership approve the reduction of the quantity of Board Members.  We realize that this will possibly eliminate our individual position but feel it is for the overall good of the club.  The by-laws requirement for 12 Directors was written when the club membership was approximately three times larger than the current membership.  With the lower total membership, we have had difficulty filling all 16 Board positions and we do not need 12 directors and 4 officers.   Due to unfilled Board positions there were 4 separate Board Meetings in the last year where a quorum was not reached and no voting could occur.  With the smaller BOD we are more assured of reaching a quorum when directors are unable to attend.  As an added benefit, the club will be giving away fewer lodge coupons each month.  Where the workload requires it, we will recruit/appoint Assistant Directors to spread the workload and this proposal allows us to increase the number of Directors if the need arises.  The e-mail voting procedure is available but requires a lot of additional work for our Volunteer BOD and delays the tallying of the vote as e-mail is not available at BOD meetings.
 

Proposition 2

We need to reword our definition of “Children” to be in conformance with US law, which sets the age of adulthood at 18.  Club membership will remain at 21 and over.
 

Proposition 3

There is no perceived impact on the “nature of the club” under this proposal.  It is seen as a simple housekeeping measure to enable us to adjust to changing conditions.  The requirement for a 2/3 majority has rarely been an issue but we recognize that a simple majority is in conformity with most government and club policies.  As individuals, when we vote for government changes a simple majority governs.  Why should our club be any different?
 

Proposition 4

What is stated for proposition 3 applies here also.

The last time a 2/3 majority of the club membership vote was not reached we had 62% of the votes cast in favor of the by-law change, i.e.: nine votes short of 2/3.  This means that 38% of the member’s votes, A SIGNIFICANT MINORITY, controlled the decision.  How fair is that?  

Research indicates that a large portion of the minority, noted above, are members who are not current with the week to week needs of the club.  Do not let them confuse the issue by thinking there is some hidden agenda.

It is seen that this proposal will let us carry out important club governance, and allow the majority voice of the Club be heard instead of being over-ridden, time and again, by a minority who are steeped in the ways of the past which are steering the Club towards its demise.

Members, your help and cooperation are needed to support your Board of Directors to develop a new direction for the club.

Please vote YES on Proposition 1, 2, 3 & 4 and help us forge a new path for Après.

go to the index page
go to CONS