Governance Committee

October 2006 Constitution and Bylaws Vote

During the July 20, 2006 Assembly Business Meeting, the Assembly considered recommendations of the Membership Working Group. During the meeting, the Assembly adopted 2 sets of Bylaws changes and deferred another set of Bylaws changes and conforming Constitution changes because it had not met the required review period for changes to the Constitution. During the meeting, the Assembly adopted Bylaws amendments that: 1. Provides each of the ESIP Federation Type IV Partners the option to name a non-voting member to both the Executive and Finance and Appropriations Committees. Previously, only one Type IV Representative could be a non-voting member on these committees. As our sponsors grow in number, the Membership Working Group felt it would be important to extend that option to all. 2. Provides Standing Committees the authority to elect a Vice Chair from within the committee. Previously, Vice Chairs were elected by the full Assembly. The proposed changes to the Bylaws and Constitution that were deferred until now relate to providing the ESIP Type caucuses the ability to elect a representative to each of the Administrative Committees of the ESIP Federation (Executive, Constitution and Bylaws, Finance and Appropriations, Partnership) Currently, only Representatives to the Executive Committee were elected by each Type caucus. The impact of the proposed amendment, when taken with the Vice Chairs being elected by the Standing Committees, will result in the Assembly having to elect 14 fewer positions each year. The text of the proposed Constitution and Bylaws changes can be found at ESIP_Con_Bylaws_final_for_Assembly_Review_October_2006.doc