Proposal to Amend Article V, Section 2 - Number and Qualifications
Description of Proposal:
In the past there was an informal policy that to be elected or appointed to the National Board of Directors, a member should be a member in good standing for at least one year. Unfortunately, this policy, since it was informal, slipped away and opened the door for the possibility of other problems.
Summary of Effect:
Since candidates for an elected seat must post their qualifications before the entire body of veteran members, we believe there is less of a chance of an error being made. On the other hand, since the qualifications of an appointed member would be reviewed only by the president and other board members, a greater opportunity exists for an error to be made.
In both cases, there would be opportunities for us to learn more about the candidates and likewise, an opportunity for them to learn more about Veterans For Peace.
Submitted by: Ken Dalton, Veteran Member, Chapter 21, New Jersey
Walter Nygard, Veteran Member, Chapter 21, New Jersey
Joann Dalton, Associate Member, Chapter 21, New Jersey
To Amend Article V Section 2 Number and Qualifications:
Section 2. Number and Qualifications.
The Board of Directors will consist of at least thirteen (13) Directors. (Amended) The Board of Directors may change the size of the Board of Directors, subject to approval at the next Annual Convention. Directors must be Full Members of VFP at the time of nomination and through their term of office.
Any candidate, in order to run for an open seat on the National Board of Directors, must be a member of Veterans For Peace in good standing for at least ONE YEAR before filing to run for that open seat.
In order to be eligible to be appointed in order to fill a vacancy caused by a board member leaving the board, a member must be a member of Veterans For Peace in good standing for a minimum of TWO YEARS.
*These changes will not apply to anyone currently sitting on the National Board of Directors.
Board vote: Aye 6 Nay 6
Convention vote: Aye 25 Nay 24
Board rationale: While this amendment has a reasonable basis, it would also create unnecessary obstacles to our efforts to diversify and sustain, VFP.
Pro:
Several points why Veterans For Peace should adopt the proposal to have a one year membership in good standing before one can be elected or appointed to the VFP National Board of Directors.
1. By requiring a one year membership, the member has gotten to know and understand the organization before they have to make decisions about the organization.
2. During the one year membership, the board candidate will have a chance to prove their sincerity to our mission statement.
3. Finally, the one year membership requirement will give the general membership of VFP an opportunity to know the candidate in question and their ability to serve VFP and its members
In conclusion, we hope the member of Veterans For Peace will take our proposal seriously for the good of our organization.
Kenneth Dalton, Chapter 21 North Jersey, njvfpken22@aim.com
Con:
Proposed Bylaws Amendment 14-1 would do almost irreparable harm to current efforts to bring more diversity to Veterans For Peace.
Our membership is aging, and in sore need of younger veterans, female veterans, and veterans of color. We had a major success this summer when we brought 50 such veterans (15% of attendance) to our convention in Asheville. We want to build upon that success.
We must continue a proactive effort to recruit these veterans to VFP (and VFP leadership)!
The amendment is suspect as it comes on the heels of 2 recent appointments to the board of women veterans of color. These women are the only women veterans and veterans of color on the board. It appears that some people are too comfortable with our limited demographic.
This amendment, if passed, would keep Iraq Veterans Against the War members who have been associated with VFP for years from being able to run for the board because they may not have kept up their membership. This amendment will create unnecessary obstacles to our efforts to diversify, and sustain, VFP.
Patrick McCann, Chapter 16 Washing DC, unityact2@aol.com