Comments, FYI, that appeared on the SW list. I won't forward these as a general rule, but wanted to let you know that it's one place where CCs from our region discuss things. This list is archived at: http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/USGENWEB-SW/ If you are a CC and want to subscribe to this list, let Bettie Wood, one of our regional reps know: Wood, Bettie E-mail Address(es): nana321@earthlink.net Susan ----- Original Message ----- From: "Jeff Scism" <Scismgenie@adelphia.net> To: <USGENWEB-SW-L@rootsweb.com> Sent: Thursday, April 22, 2004 8:38 PM Subject: [USGenWeb-SW] [Fwd: [ALL-L] Bylaws Revision News - Final Review Changes] > I feel this is the MOST IMPORTANT section of the Bylaws. > > I also feel that the "final" version cited here is a BIG mistake. > > Point one, Bylaws will now be approved by a simple majority of VOTING > members, the NORMAL requirement isd a 2/3rds majority of the entire > membership, although this change makes it simpler to make changes with > less general approval, I feel the process will NEVER get that far. > > Point 2, The reason the process will not get to a general vote is as > follows: The process as written, still requires pre-approval by 5 > states before it can be balloted, unfortunately THERE IS NO PROCESS to > process such stste approval, no mechanism to place it before various > states to get support, and in fact some state Coordinators > intentionally block anything considered to be "political" from reaching > the CCs for consideration. > > Point 3, requiring a pre-approval of 10% of the states is too difficult > to get any proposal through. > > Summary- This Subsection unless corrected to FACILITATE and establish a > workable process will lock the bylaws into place and prohibit changes > unreasonably, > > I ask the SW area representatives to petition for areopening of the > Bylaws revision section to allow a rewrite in a manner that facilitates > necessary changes, rather than administer the future proposals out of > any chance of being seen, or acted on. > > The process stipulated to change the by-laws tied the hands of the > members who as many say, drive this organization, and the process as > written will deny any changes. > > > > -------- Original Message -------- > Subject: [ALL-L] Bylaws Revision News - Final Review Changes > Resent-Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 20:16:54 -0600 > Resent-From: USGENWEB-ALL-L@rootsweb.com > Date: Thu, 22 Apr 2004 21:17:11 -0500 > From: Roger Swafford <sagitta56@mchsi.com> > Reply-To: USGENWEB-ALL-L@rootsweb.com > To: USGENWEB-ALL-L@rootsweb.com > > (**Please forward to all appropriate project lists**) > > The Bylaws Revision Committee (BRC) has approved amendments to > Article XV during final review. Final review amendments are > hi-lighted in green on the revisions page of the committee website > http://home.mchsi.com/~sagitta56/revisions.htm > > > To strike out "two-thirds (2/3)" from vote requirement regarding membership > votes to approve bylaw amendments. > > > Result - > ARTICLE XV. AMENDMENT TO BYLAWS > Section 1. These Bylaws may be amended by the membership of the USGenWeb > Project through a majority vote by members who vote on the proposed > amendment to the bylaw. > Section 2. Members of any XXGenWeb may submit an amendment proposal (in > proper format with desired wording) to their State Coordinator for review > and presentation to the XXGenWeb membership by referendum. A majority vote > of approval shall cause the proposal to be forwarded to the Advisory Board > to be posted on the national website and notice to be sent to the membership > via appropriate email lists. > Section 3. Proposed amendments from state projects must be posted for > display on the national website (with attribution of the state sponsor and > date ) not later than 1 June. To qualify for placement on the annual > election ballot proposed amendments must have an additional four (4) states > as co-sponsors. State projects may co-sponsor an amendment proposal by > majority of legal votes cast by its members to support the amendment. > Section 4. Voting on proposed amendments to the bylaws shall occur during > the annual voting period concurrent with voting in the annual election. A > majority of members voting within that time frame is required to adopt. > Section 5. In the case of an urgent matter affecting the operations of The > USGenWeb Project, the Advisory Board may amend the bylaws by 2/3 majority > vote. Amendments adopted by the Advisory Board must be ratified by majority > vote of the membership during the voting period of the regularly scheduled > election. > Section 6. Amendment proposals of XXGenWeb's posted on the national website > which do not obtain the required co-sponsors shall be removed on 1 June > annually and may not again be proposed without modification. Amendment > proposals which fail to be adopted by the membership may remain posted on > the national website for 1 year and placed on the ballot a second time > provided additional co-sponsors or modification is made to those proposals. > Any amendment proposal that fails to be adopted after appearing on the > ballot twice shall not be reconsidered. > > Final review of articles has now been completed. Members are encouraged to > comment via the Discuss-L email list, or contact BRC members directly for > possible reconsideration of specific articles or sections. > Reconsideration is dependent on approval of the BRC to re-open the article > or section. > > Roger Swafford > BRC - Chairman > > > > ==== USGENWEB-ALL Mailing List ==== > The USGenWeb Project is not a commercial project. > > > > > ==== USGENWEB-SW Mailing List ==== > To browse the mail list archives, go to > http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/index/USGENWEB-SW/