Updated 3/25/08

Proposed By-Laws Blog

The ABANA board has proposed revisions to the by-laws and has posted the proposed by-laws on the ABANA web site for review by the membership. The pointers to the pages with the proposed changes and text are below.

This page will serve to record the suggestions that have come in from members and to hold commentary from the board. In these items we will explain the background of those changes about which members have had questions.

Please ask questions and let us know your thoughts. Even if you see a similar comment already here it doesn't hurt to express agreement. Or disagreement for that matter. Unless you ask us otherwise we won't post your e-mail address but we'd like to post a name for reference but we will shorten it such as "Tom A." or "Sam from Cleveland" etc.

Please be specific. Rather than saying "your grammar is poor", tell us exactly what is wrong and where. If possible suggest solutions.

And don't put it off. In order to be in the election issue of the Anvil's Ring we need to get all the issues settled by around the first of May 2008. The Bylaws Committee will create the final corrected copy and get the approval of the full board before the magazine deadline. The final version presented to the membership for approval will be in the Anvil's Ring.

Please contact any board member with your comments and suggestions.

Thanks,

Bylaws & Procedures Committee
Chair: Wayne Coe
Members: Chris Winterstein, Paul Boulay & Don Kemper

(Click on names to e-mail)

The .pdf version of the proposed By-Laws for downloading is HERE.

The web version indicating both deletions and additions is HERE.

The web version with deletions hidden is HERE.

Commentary and Rationale notes will go here.

This is great stuff to be getting out to the membership. Take Care,
Dave K. (3/25/08)

Regarding: Creation of additional classes of membership or classes of services: (Article III - Section 1 - f.) -- I usually do not question things such as this but I wonder. Am I to assume that in the creation of a new class of membership will also result in the creation of new services or lesser / greater services? And what would be the purpose of creating a new class of membership.
Especially if it is to offer a lesser due/fee to a member for a lesser services such as no Anvils Ring. I have owned and operated an art related business for 15 years and in my experience I feel any one who wants to join would expect a great service in return and I think ABANA should provide the expected service to the fullest. However I also feel the member should also expect to pay their share to receive the awarded benefits. To offer a lesser degree of service at a lower cost would not necessarily benefit ABANA financially. I only speak from my experience and perhaps I am ignorant as to the process you are involved with. I only wanted to add my thoughts and see ABANA prosper.
Mathew C. (3/21/08)

Initial Response -- will be enhanced soon:
The purpose of the additional classes of membership is to be able to address specific needs of the membership.  This would be additional services such as the Professional Section and others as they become recognized or identified without the necessity and expense of additional by-laws amendments.
Wayne (3/21/08)

I have a comment about one of the revisions to the bylaws. Article X, Section 3. Election Procedures is amended as "The Board of Directors may determine other methods of conducting elections if it is determined that such other method is in the best interest of the membership and the Association..."
Someday members might wish that this sentence was a little more specific as there is no clear way to say who determines or how it is determined what is in the best interest of the membership and Association. If I was interested in anarchy, this is the door I could use. If I can make a suggestion, I would alter the wording to something like: "The Board of Directors may conduct elections using other methods if the Board has adopted such a method by majority vote in an announced meeting and if member notification meets the criteria prescribed above in this section."
Jim L. (3/21/08)

Jim, Thanks for your comment and interest. The present by-laws are very specific as to how ballots are cast, where they are sent, how they are counted and by whom. I have had a number of members comment to me that the ballots should be sent to an independent ballot counting service rather than being handled in house. I attempted to devise a method of accomplishing this, however, I was unable to discover such a service in a timely fashion or get agreement with other members of the By-Laws Committee and the Board. The purpose of drafting this section in this manner was so that we could get revisions to the membership this year and not have to go through the amendment process again soon and incur the burden and expense.
By-Laws generally should be drafted in such a manner that the governing body can effect changes when needed. The Complete Idiot's Guide to Robert's Rules (and I don't want to admit that by quoting from this text that I am a complete idiot) states at page 39 "Give freedom; avoid taking it away. By-Laws shouldn't put unnecessary restrictions on the organization. Instead, the by-laws should be an empowering document. Only restrict those things that are necessary to restrict, such as duties of the members. Beyond that, allow for flexibility within the by-laws."
I hope that this answers your concerns and those of others either studying the proposed revision or reading your comments. If I have not adequately covered this please e-mail me and we will go into it further.
Sincerely,
Wayne Coe, By-Laws Committee Chairman (3/23/08)

I read that attempts were made to correct grammar in the by-laws; I would like you to note that the use of the pronoun "their" is traditionally reserved to agree in number (that is, singular or plural) with plural nouns e. g., in the phrase the following example does illustrate a mis-use; that is, if the subject of the sentence is "Members" then its antecedent should be "their" and not "his/her". "Honorary Life Members shall be exempt from payment of any annual dues for [his or her] lifetime and shall be entitled to all the privileges of a Family/Household Member."
Terry W. (3/21/08)

Thanks Terry, You can not believe how many of those singular/plural pronoun issues I corrected. I guess that I over looked this one. I agree, wholeheartedly, that all of these type errors should be corrected. I also want to thank you for taking the time to not only look at but to study the suggested revisions.
Wayne (3/21/08)

In Article VIII - Section 3 - duties of officers -- Secretary -- As presented the proposed text has:
The Secretary shall conduct all correspondence and carry into execution all orders, votes and resolutions not otherwise committed; keep a list of the members of the Association; collect the fees, annual dues and subscriptions and pay them over to the Treasurer; notify the President of the election of Directors and Officers; notify members of their appointment to committees; furnish the chairman of each committee with a copy of the vote under which the committee is appointed, and at his or her request give notice of the meetings of the committee; prepare, under the direction of the Board of Directors, an annual report of the transactions and condition of the Association, and generally devote his or her best efforts to forwarding the business and advancing the interests of the Association.
The original intent seems to be that the secretary shall inform the membership of the results of election as well. Propose that it read: notify the President and members of the Association of the election of Directors and Officers; ...
Paul B.(3/20/08)

Agree.
Wayne (3/21/08)

I vote YEA. You'all are doing good things.
Clay S. (3/20/08)