MAC Bylaws Vote Complete
In May, MAC membership approved changes to its bylaws to reflect the new geographic boundaries of the Chapter and to bring the organization’s rules more in line with the actual practice of MAC members. Changes include the inclusion of Western Pennsylvania within MAC’s boundaries, movement of the fiscal year from July 1-June 30 to the calendar year, making the membership year run from October to September, changing the way election ties are handled, and broadening the possibilities of future standing committees.
Results of the vote are as follows:
Question 1 ARTICLE I. Name and Boundaries. Section 2. Boundaries PROPOSED AMENDMENT: change Chapter boundaries to reflect merger vote by adding Western Pennsylvania Change from: “The boundaries of this Chapter shall include the District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, and West Virginia.” To: “The boundaries of this Chapter shall include the District of Columbia, Maryland, North Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, and Western Pennsylvania.”
For: 123 (97.6%)
Against: 3 (2.4%)
Question 2 ARTICLE III. Membership. Section 3D. Dues. PROPOSED AMENDMENT: change the fiscal year of the chapter from: July 1 – June 30 to: January 1 – December 31. Change from: “The fiscal year of the Chapter shall be from July 1st to June 30th.” To: “The fiscal year of the Chapter shall be from January 1 to December 31.”
For: 122 (96.8%)
Against: 4 (3.2%)
Question 3 Article III. Membership. Section 3B,C, & E. Dues PROPOSED AMENDMENT: change the date that dues are payable from the beginning of the calendar year to match an October-September membership year. Change from: “B. Chapter dues shall be payable on joining the chapter and thereafter by the beginning of the calendar year. C. Dues shall be assessed on an annual basis for the period of one calendar year. E. If dues are unpaid by January 1, the dues shall be considered in arrears and without further notice the Active Member shall be suspended from all rights and privileges.” To: “B. Chapter dues shall be payable on joining the chapter and thereafter by the beginning of October each year. C. Dues shall be assessed on an annual basis for the period of one year from October 1 to September 30. E. If dues are unpaid by October 1, the dues shall be considered in arrears and without further notice the Active Member shall be suspended from all rights and privileges.”
For: 110 (88.0%)
Against: 15 (12.0%)
Question 4 ARTICLE IV. Officers. Section 3C Elections PROPOSED AMENDMENT: change procedure for breaking election ties to decide by a vote of the Nominating Committee rather than a paper ballot at the Annual Business Meeting. Change from: “If a tie occurs, the election shall be decided by a majority vote at the Annual Business Meeting. Voting shall be by paper ballot.” To: “If a tie occurs, the election shall be decided by a vote of the members of the Nominating Committee.”
For: 106 (86.2%)
Against: 17 (13.8%)
Question 5 ARTICLE VII Committees Section 1 A,B,C. Standing Committees PROPOSED AMENDMENT: remove the mention of specific committees in the Bylaws, as allowed by the MLA Model Bylaws, to allow changes to committee names to be made without requiring a Bylaws revision. Change from: “A. The Executive Board shall establish standing committees to consider matters of the Chapter that require continuity of attention by the members. The Executive Board shall recommend the name and size of each committee. B. Standing committees of this Chapter shall consist of Annual Meeting, Communications, Honors and Awards, Membership and Recruitment, Professional Development, and the Strategic Planning Committee. C. The MAC Chair, in consultation with the MAC Executive Board, shall designate committee members and chairs and when these appointments shall take effect. Unless otherwise approved by the Executive Board, members of standing committees shall be appointed for terms of 3 years, and may be reappointed for a second term. The Chair shall have the discretion to terminate appointments. Neither the Chair nor the Chair-Elect shall serve on or appoint members to the Nominating Committee.” To: “A. The Executive Board shall establish standing committees to consider matters of the Chapter that require continuity of attention by the members. The Executive Board shall recommend the name and size of each committee. B. The MAC Chair, in consultation with the MAC Executive Board, shall designate committee members and chairs and when these appointments shall take effect. Unless otherwise approved by the Executive Board, members of standing committees shall be appointed for terms of 3 years, and may be reappointed for a second term.The Chair shall have the discretion to terminate appointments. Neither the Chair nor the Chair-Elect shall serve on or appoint members to the Nominating Committee.”
For: 121 (97.6%)
Against: 3 (2.4%)
The complete bylaws may be found at: http://macmla.org/bylaws.html