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Archiver > USGENWEB-SW > 2004-06 > 1087070829


From: Jeff Scism <>
Subject: Re: [USGenWeb-SW] Advisory Boards
Date: Sat, 12 Jun 2004 13:07:09 -0700
References: <40C9F761.2B56704F@earthlink.net> <E1BYwur-0007hq-00@capitol.mail.pas.earthlink.net> <40CB461C.E27A1F2B@earthlink.net>
In-Reply-To: <40CB461C.E27A1F2B@earthlink.net>


Advisory or Consultant Members have the right to attend meetings,
participate in debate, and make motions, but are NOT COUNTED in
determining the quorum and do not have the right to vote.--

(Sturgis, Page page 178, under ex-officio members).

By calling the Board an "Advisory" Board, they are reduced to a
Non-voting committee. Hence anything they vote on is a violation of the
rules of Order, unless specifically provided for in the Bylaws.>>>> The
USGW does not have a "Governing Board".

Sturgis does not have anything to regulate "Advisory" Boards, mainly
because they are really a misnomer. Advisory committees and positions
are by PPA not allowed to VOTE, they can advise the appointing
authority. (See Sturgis page 178).

The Bylaws are set up in a fashion to make the NC the only authority,
and he/she only has to listen to advice from the Advisory Board, The
normal process is to have a "Governing Board" which has implied powers
of decision making, and can actually vote and implement changes.

As advisors the "votes " our board has been conducting are essentially
votes on what to advise the NC to declare. AND he/she doesn't have to
follow that "advice".

The Board, by the bylaws has "responsibilities" to do certain things,
the authority to do them independently is not vested in their job
description.

Responsibility and authority are two distinct things. Authority is
derived from a directive or procedure with the power of the director
(NC), responsibility implies doing a job, not authorizing the job.

A careful read of the current Bylaws also has many instances of
directive confusion, things such as Shall and Will are mandatory, and
can and should are optional, when used in Bylaws. The portion of
Section five (V) which says:" All shall have voting privileges except
the National Coordinator who shall vote only in the case of a tie. "
negates the position as being ADVISORY, so which is it, a Governing
Board (Board of Directors) Or an Advisory Group (Committee)?

This is a ROOT problem with the Bylaws and needs clarification as it
affects EVERY vote, past or present, taken by the Advisory Board.

Am I correct, or am I seeing this MUCH differently than the rest of you?

Here are the REFERENCED duties in teh Bylaws:

DUTIES OF ADVISORY BOARD

ARTICLE VI: Section 1. The Advisory Board shall perform the duties
prescribed by these Bylaws, and by accepted parliamentary procedures.

ARTICLE VI: Section 3.

The responsibilities (duties) of the Advisory Board shall include:

1. Addressing any problem issues as they arise
2. Aiding the state projects upon request
3. Overseeing elections
4. Advising and mediating, if necessary, any grievances or appeals
5. Appointing a Webmaster to maintain the national website.
6. Ensure that the national website is in compliance with the stated
bylaws of The USGenWeb Project.(ARTICLE VI: Section 4).
7. Remove links from the national website, as appropriate, to websites
which fail to meet the established guidelines/standards for The USGenWeb
Project or to websites which display inappropriate content. (ARTICLE VI:
Section 5).
8. Notify coordinators of non-compliant websites of a period of two (2)
weeks in which to bring their website into compliance. The two-week time
limit shall be flexible based on justifiable reasons presented by the
website coordinator.(ARTICLE VI: Section 5).
9. Administering the domains, usgenweb.com, usgenweb.net and
usgenweb.org, over which The USGenWeb Project membership has control,
and for which the members are the official lessees.(ARTICLE VI: Section 6).
10. Elect an acting National Coordinator if there is a vacancy in the
office of National Coordinator from its membership to serve until a
special election can take place within 90 days.(ARTICLE VI: Section 7).
11. In the event a board member is unable to complete his/her term, the
Advisory Board will appoint a replacement to serve until the next
scheduled election.(ARTICLE VI: Section 8). (This is like
self-appointing, normally the NC would select a temporary replacement)
12. Appoint a subcommittee to oversee elections.(ARTICLE VII Section 1.)
13. Accept Bylaws amendment proposals and request posting of proposed
Bylaws changes upon reciept on the National website by the
webmaster.(ARTICLE XVI Section 1). (NOTE this is not mandatory, it is a
REQUEST).
14.Propose Emergency Bylaws Amendments, as needed.(ARTICLE XVI Section 5).


DUTIES OF NATIONAL COORDINATOR

ARTICLE VI: Section 2.

The National Coordinator is responsible for (Duties):

1. The day-to-day administration of The USGenWeb Project
2. Serves as the public representative for the project
3. Presides at all meetings of the Advisory Board
4. Serve as an ex officio member of all sub-committees
5. Maintain the national organizational mail lists (i.e., State
Coordinators, Advisory Board, and any appropriate sub-lists).
6. Post proposed Bylaws amendments to the State-Coord-L List, and any
other appropriate lists, for dissemination to the members.(ARTICLE XVI
Section 1).



--
``

Jeffery G. Scism. IBSSG

Genealogy is the art of the living haunting the dead,
If we persist perhaps they will become annoyed
and tell us what REALLY happened.
~~~~



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