[IUG] IUG Bylaws amendments (Voting Soon)

["Seeman, Corey" <cseeman at bus dot umich dot edu>]

Hello - 

The IUG Site coordinators were notified yesterday about an upcoming election for bylaws amendments.  Here is the text of the message.

--message--

On behalf of the IUG Steering Committee, I am writing to inform you about an upcoming vote to amend the IUG bylaws.  These changes were approved by the IUG Steering Committee at our meeting at ALA Midwinter in Philadelphia this month.  

The changes in the bylaws are noted in brackets "[]" below:

Proposed Bylaws change #1: Should a fifth 'member at large' be added to the IUG Steering Committee?

ARTICLE V. IUG STEERING COMMITTEE
Section 1.  The IUG Steering Committee shall consist of the executive officers of the organization and five [previously four] members of the organization elected at large to represent a broad spectrum of the user population.  Steering Committee meetings are open to all interested parties.

Reason for the amendment: We are seeking a fifth member-at-large position for the Steering Committee to assist in the management of an organization that continues to grow and expand in services offered.  Our desire is to have a Steering Committee member serve as a liaison to the regional groups.


Proposed Bylaws change #2: If a fifth 'member at large' steering committee is added, should we elect three member at large members in even years?

ARTICLE V. IUG STEERING COMMITTEE
Section 3.  Terms of Office for Members-at-Large The membership shall elect five [previously four] IUG members to serve on the IUG Steering Committee for a two-year term.  To provide for continuity, two members-at-large would be elected in odd years and three members-at-large would be elected in even years [this section reflects the new voting pattern].

Reason for the amendment: Since we are proposing to change the number of members-at-large, we need change the way in which they are elected.  With this structure, four new steering committee members will be elected each year.  Also, the third member at large will be elected in years with no secretary treasurer election.


Proposed Bylaws change #3: Should the proposed provision in the case of a tie be adopted?

ARTICLE VIII.  NOMINATIONS AND ELECTIONS
Section 2.  Elections
d. All candidates will be elected by majority vote.  In the event of a tie, the winner will be determined by a coin toss, to be mediated by the IUG Past-Chair immediately following the election [the second sentence is new].

Reason for the amendment: In reviewing the bylaws, we discovered that we had no provision for a tie vote.  We have not had a tie in recent elections, but we had some that were very close.  This will provide a process should a tie occur after the voting.

If you have any questions, please direct them to me.  Please look for the voting to open on Monday January 28, 2008.  Voting will end on February 13, 2008.  This will allow us, if approved, to modify our call for Steering Committee nominees and elections for new Steering Committee members.

--end--

We are voting on these bylaw changes first, and then will open up a call for nominations for people to run for Steering Committee.  We need to know how many positions will be open as we invite candidates.  I will send more information in the coming weeks.

If you have any questions about these bylaws amendments OR running for Steering Committee, please do not hesitate to contact me at cseeman at umich dot edu dot   Serving on the IUG Steering Committee has been a tremendous experience and I hope you will consider it.

Best -- 

Corey Seeman
IUG Past Chair, 2007-2008
cseeman at umich dot edu