OFFICER'S REPORTS, cont.
At the fall seminar, there was discussion about amending the Bylaws to make it the responsibility of rotating regions to organize the seminars. After reviewing the Bylaws and Standing Rules, I suggested to the Board that an amendment on this issue is not needed as I believe our governing documents already provide for this.
In summary, the First Vice President is automatically chairman of the committee on education and is to supervise the planning and presentation of the seminars. Each Regional Director is to work with the First Vice President to coordinate the educational programs within the respective regions. Regional directors can appoint a member of the hosting region to be in charge of the seminar. The local member (with the help of committee members) submits a proposed seminar schedule, program, and budget to the President and First Vice President for approval. The framework for establishing a committee in the hosting region with local members in charge of organizing the seminars appears to be in place. It just needs to be implemented in practice.
There is a Standing Rule provision that waives the seminar fee for the First Vice President. I suggested to the Board this provision should be eliminated. That provision was added many years ago when the First Vice President was doing all the work and it was viewed as unfair for the First Vice President to do all the work and still pay to attend the seminar.
With the hopes that the First Vice President’s role will be that of chairman and supervisor of the education committee using powers of delegation, it seems the waiver should not be given; otherwise, it should be given to the entire education committee.
Finally, I have been asked by our President to research the feasibility of adding an Emeritus membership category for our retired members. The thought is this membership might be a non-voting, free membership category. I am currently researching options and proposals.
All of the above topics will be discussed at the Board’s January meeting. Those items that the Board recommends for amendment will be presented to the membership at the spring meeting.
Laurie Guenther, ACP
WDALA Parliamentarian