As your Bylaws Chair, it amazes me that no matter how well you try to get
the bylaws finalized, there is always something to be changed the next year.
 
At our fall state board meeting, the attendees voted on changes to the
policy & procedures so it now reflects how we are currently running our
organization.  At next May's convention there will be a proposal to shorten
the title of the "Vice president finance and planning/treasurer" to "Vice
president finance/treasurer".  Also being proposed is an amendment that when
the state bylaws are changed the bylaws chair is allowed to make the same
changes to the state policy & procedures, eliminating the six month time lag
we now have.
 
Bylaw changes at the national level were voted on at the July National
Convention in Reno NV.  One was to create the e-MEMBER membership category
that will allow ladies (and gentlemen) to join our organization, get the
great information we offer, but at a level of involvement that fits their
busy schedules.  The biggest change was to modify our national board of
directors by changing from representation by state to representation by area
(now eight areas, each of which covers five to twelve state federations).
Michigan is in Area 4 which includes Ohio, Wisconsin, Minnesota, South
Dakota, and North Dakota.
 
Additional bylaw changes will be voted on at a special mid-year National
Convention on February 16. 2008 to further re-define the board.  These
proposals include eliminating the office of president-elect, making the
office of national president a two-year term effective 2009, and giving the
immediate past national president a greater role in leadership continuity.
These bylaw changes were e-mailed to "All Members of BPW/USA" in
mid-November and are on the national website (log-in to BPW Member Area >
Call to BPW/USA Convention > download or open PDF document).
 
With electronic voting being possible at the national level, members who
cannot attend the mid-year Convention in person (or the Policy & Action
Conference being held the three days prior) now have the option to attend
via webinar.  The registration form is available online at www.bpwusa.org,
click BPW Member Area and log-in, then select Calendar > Event Registration
> BPW/USA Convention (Feb 16). When I looked Saturday night, there was NO
COST to attend in person or via webinar; they just need to know who will be
attending. Register for the special mid-year National Convention and let
your voices be heard!
 
I realize that not everyone believes "bylaws are fun", but they exist to
provide your leaders guidelines on how to run your organization.  So please
take an interest.  If anyone needs assistance updating their local bylaws,
please don't hesitate to give me a call (269-983-0655).
 
Happy Holidays!
 
Linda Stright
BPW/MI Bylaws Chair &
Region 3 co-coordinator