Computing Services Special Interest Section Bylaws
Current bylaws
Previous amendments:
2002-2003 |
1999-2000 |
Comments (2000) |
1997-1998 |
Comments (1997)
Comments (2000)
Don Arndt, Bylaws Committee Chair
January 16, 2000
These proposed amendments to the CS-SIS Bylaws comprise the first step towards implementing the CS-SIS Strategic Plan, which was adopted on July 20, 1999. The specific language from the Strategic Plan that is at issue reads as follows:
STRATEGIC DIRECTIVE #1: REVITALIZE THE LEADERSHIP AND INVOLVEMENT OF THE CS SIS MEMBERSHIP
Specific Action #1: Amend the bylaws to add two members at large to the executive board.
Implementation: Assign the task of drafting the amendment to the executive board or a committee of its choice. The PLL Strategic Plan could be used as a resource for this amendment.
Anticipated completion: Annual Meeting 2000
The CS-SIS Bylaws Committee decided to use the OBS-SIS bylaws as its model for making these amendments. The OBS-SIS treats Members-at-Large as SIS officers; that is, it accords them the same standing as the Chair, Vice-Chair, and Secretary/Treasurer. It also gives the Members-at-Large two-year terms, but staggers their elections annually (one Member-at-Large to be elected during odd numbered years and the other during even numbered years) so that one of them will always have at least a year of experience for continuity's sake. The duties of the Members-at-Large are being left purposefully vague in the Bylaws for the time being. The Strategic Plan suggests specific duties for the Members-at-Large, and we may want to include these duties in the Bylaws. This decision should be debated further, however, since doing so will require the SIS to amend its Bylaws if at any time in the future it decides to change or reassign the specific duties of the Members-at-Large.
AALL's Bylaws Committee has given its approval for the specific language of the amendments contemplated above. They have checked the language of our proposed amendments against the AALL Bylaws to make sure that there are no conflicts. According to our Bylaws, "notice of proposed amendments shall be mailed to the Section's members, or be published in the Section's newsletter, 30 days in advance of the meeting, or of the mailing of ballots." Since the print version of the CS-SIS newsletter has been functionally replaced by our e-mail discussion list and our web site, we must use these electronic means to give notice to the SIS membership that a ballot will be mailed to them 30 days from the date of that notice. As Secretary/Treasurer, I will mail out the ballots once the 30 days have passed. In accordance with our Bylaws, the issue will be decided by a simple majority of the votes returned. Our Bylaws do not specify how much time to give people to respond. Neither do AALL's Model Bylaws. In the absence of a required deadline, the Committee decided to give 30 days from the date the ballots are mailed out for the responses to be received. If the e-mail/web notice goes out in mid-January, then the ballots can be mailed in mid-February and responses can be tabulated in mid-March. Assuming that the membership votes favorably on the proposed amendments, then we should have enough time to include candidates for the vacant Member-at-Large office in our election this year. Elections must be completed at least two (2) months prior to the date of the annual meeting, which means they should be done by the end of April. If the planned timeline is met, therefore, we can mail out the election ballots on April 1st and tabulate them on April 30th.