From: loren@nokomis.mn.org (Loren D. Cahlander)
Subject: Re: Proposed constitution and bylaws
Organization: UNIX Users of Minnesota (President's home machine)
Distribution: mn
Date: Fri, 14 Aug 1992 14:06:25 GMT

In article <1992Aug13.162804.23956@news2.cis.umn.edu> rjg@umnstat.stat.umn.edu (Robert J. Granvin) writes:
>I've only browsed this, so I'm technically not qualified to repond.
>(So when has that ever stopped anyone?  :-)
>
>|> The following are the proposed constitution and bylaws. Please discuss
>|> them and suggest improvements.
>
>
>|>         A. Active Membership
>|>  
>|>            Active Membership will be extended to all persons interested
>|>            in UNIX, provided that:
>|>                 1. a membership application is completed
>|>                 2. current membership dues are paid
>|>                 3. a person must have attended two of the last three regular
>|>                    meetings.
>|>                 4. Active members who fail to attend at least 2/3 of
>|>                    the regular meetings will have their membership status
>|>                    changed to non-active.  This requirement may be waived
>|>                    for cause at the discretion Governing Board.
>
>This is perfectly OK (distinguishing between active and non-active, though
>one might choose to expand the definitions.  A person can be very active in
>the organization (should it expand beyond meetings), yet not be able to 
>attend 2/3rds of meetings.  This criteria should be very open to change
>and modification as the organization evolves (i.e., explicitly stated).
>
This is covered by:
                 4. Active members who fail to attend at least 2/3 of
                    the regular meetings will have their membership status
                    changed to non-active.  This requirement may be waived
                                            ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
                    for cause at the discretion Governing Board.
                    ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

>|>         B. Non-active Membership
>|>  
>|>            Non-active Membership will be extended to all persons interested
>|>            in UNIX, provided that:
>|>                 1. a membership application is completed
>|>                 2. current membership dues are paid
>|>  
>|>            Non-active members who fail to attend at least one of the regular
>|>            meetings in any twelve month period or show other interest in
>|>            retaining their membership status will be dropped from the membership
>|>            records.
>
>Bad.   Or at least bad wordings.
>
>Simply put, you can _not_ drop members who have paid membership dues.  Once
>you accept their money, you are obligated to carry them as members and
>provide service as long as they continue to pay their membership dues.
>
>A person who pays their membership dues annually but does not attend 
>meetings, does not respond to letters, does not vote on topics, or 
>whatever may be offered/presented to that member, cannot be dropped from
>the roster.  A "non active" (as noted here) categorization is perfectly
>fine, however.
>
>If you want control over the roster and ability to set criteria a member
>must meet to maintain a membership, then you cannot accept cash.  Once
>you accept money, you have entered into a contract with the individual.
>
How about:
           Non-active members who fail to attend at least one of the
           regular meetings in any twelve month period and have not
           paid their dues or show other interest in retaining their
           membership status will be dropped from the membership records.

>|>            Corporate membership:
>|> ** Any suggestions welcomed
>
>Rats nest.  :-)
>
>|>         B. In considering any question before a General Membership meeting,
>|>            only Active members are eligible to vote, one quorum has been
>|>            established.
>
>You may want to clarify here again what determines an active member.
>Otherwise, you should provide a method for an "inactive" member to
>become active again.  Would that be achieved by attending two of the
>last three meetings prior to the meeting where a vote is held?  And
>more esoterically, would that voting meeting count as one of the two
>meetings?
>

  How about adding to Article III, Section 1, subsection A:

        A non-active member may become active if (s)he has attended two of
        the last three meetings (including the current meeting.)

>
>Next, specify clearly what a paying member receives for his or her
>membership.  Does this include a newsletter?  If so, what's the
>frequency?  Finally, does UUM have a 501(c)3 or plan to obtain one?
             ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^

It is in the works.  We need some more donations before our Treasurer,
Fred Potthoff, feels comfortable in sending in the application.  I agree
with him.  We should have our status by the end of the year.
>
>-- 
>Robert J. Granvin                                       School of Statistics
>rjg@umnstat.stat.umn.edu                             University of Minnesota


-- 
Loren D. Cahlander           |             Internet: loren@nokomis.mn.org
UNIX Users of Minnesota      |   Alternate Internet: uum-president@mn.org
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