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Independent Living News & Policy from the National Council on Independent Living

Summary of Proposed Bylaw Amendments

April 30, 2018

Edit: Article III, Section I – Membership: “Individual NCIL members who want to have the opportunity to vote at the Annual Council Meeting must have their membership dues paid in full prior to the start of NCIL’s Annual Council Meeting.”

Explanation: This has always been true in practice, but we did not feel it was clearly stated in the Bylaws.

Edit: Article III, Section I – Membership: “Upon payment of appropriate dues, it shall be assumed that a member automatically supports NCIL’s mission, [begin stricken text] goals, advocacy priorities, and the IL philosophy [end stricken text] vision, and Guiding Principles; copies of which shall be forwarded to all CIL or SILC members annually by the NCIL office with a notation that they are what the dues and membership support.

Explanation: We certainly hope members support NCIL’s goals, advocacy priorities, and the IL Philosophy, but we changed this to match the language in our Standard Operating Procedures, and because goals and the IL philosophy are not documented in any way that we can send to the membership for a vote. Our Guiding Principles are the closest thing to this and we will continue to share those with our members. This language was also shown separately three times under each membership type. We simply moved it up to the top of the Membership section and lightly edited so it applies to all members.

Edit: Article III, Section I – Membership: The NCIL Governing Board shall establish membership dues for CIL and SILC, Organization, and Individual memberships.

Explanation: This is existing bylaw language, but it was shown separately three times under each membership type. We simply moved it up to the top of the Membership section and lightly edited so it applies to all members.

Edit: Article III, Section I – Membership: Members have the right to be present at Governing Board meetings, the Annual Council Meeting, and fully participate in the committees to which they or their representative(s) (CIL, SILC or Organization members) is (are) duly appointed. All committee and subcommittee members must also be Individual NCIL members.”

Explanation: This is existing bylaw language, but it was shown separately three times under each membership type. We simply moved it up to the top of the Membership section and lightly edited so it applies to all members.

Edit: Article III, Section VI – Resolution Voting Procedures: If the voice vote is too close to determine, the Chair may ask for a show of voting cards or a ballot vote.

Explanation: This has always been true and is existing language from our Standard Operating Procedures on resolution voting. We added it to the Bylaws so the two sections would be consistent.

Edit: Article IV, Section II – Governing Board Duties:

  1. Contribute or secure an annual financial contribution to NCIL at the level recommended by the Resource Development Subcommittee and approved by the Board. (Give or Get Policy)
  2. All Governing Board members are expected to attend all board meetings. On rare occasion, inclement weather or adverse personal circumstances may make in-person attendance impossible. In such instances, a board member may join by telephone.
  3. All NCIL Governing Board members shall actively participate on at least one committee or subcommittee of the NCIL board. If a board member does not choose a committee or subcommittee on which to participate within three (3) months of their election or appointment to the NCIL Governing Board, the President of the NCIL board will assign the board member to a committee or subcommittee.

Explanation: This has always been true and is existing language from our Standard Operating Procedures on Board duties. We added it to the Bylaws so the two sections would be consistent.

Edit: Article IV, Section VI – Term of Office: [begin stricken text] If an officer position is vacant at the time of the annual council meeting, the floor shall be opened to nominations for the position and an election shall be held during said annual council meeting. The individual will be elected for the remainder of the term. No individual may be elected for the same officer position for more than two full consecutive terms. [end stricken text]

Explanation: The SOPs already dictate procedures around vacancies and we felt that this was already explained in the vacancy language under Governing Board as well as each type of board position.

Edit: Article IV, Section X – Meeting Minutes: All business meetings minutes of the Governing Board shall be recorded by the NCIL staff and disseminated to the Board members within 20 days of such meetings. The Executive Committee teleconference meeting minutes shall be recorded by the NCIL staff and disseminated to the Board members within fifteen (15) business days of the teleconference.

Explanation: This has always been true and is existing language from our Standard Operating Procedures on meeting minutes. We added it to the Bylaws so the two sections would be consistent.

Edit: Article IV, Section XII – Special Meetings: The President of NCIL and the Executive Director confer with the Governing Board if they feel that an additional Governing Board meeting is needed within a given year.

Explanation: We replaced the previous language around special meetings with our existing language from the Standard Operating Procedures on additional board meetings. They essentially said the same thing, but now two sections are totally consistent.

Edit: Article IV, Section XIV – Vacancies: If the term is greater than one-year, the President may call for a special election by the membership to fill that position.

When a vacancy for Youth at-large occurs, the chair of the Youth Caucus shall consult with NCIL’s Youth Caucus and make a recommendation for a replacement to the President. The President shall, in consultation with the Executive Committee and with the approval of a majority of the Executive Committee, appoint a replacement for the balance of the term. If the term is greater than one-year, the President may call for a special election by NCIL’s youth members to fill the position.

Explanation: This is existing language from our Standard Operating Procedures on vacancies. We added it to the Bylaws so the two sections would be consistent.

Edit: Article IV, Section XV – Resignation, Suspension, or Removal: The President may resign by giving written notice to the Vice President.

Explanation: The current language directs resigning board members to submit their letter of resignation to the President, but it does not provide a process for the NCIL President’s resignation. This edit corrects that.

Edit: Article IV, Section XV – Resignation, Suspension, or Removal: The notice shall come from the President of the Governing Board with the reason or reasons for the proposed action. Said notice will come from the Vice President, when the President is the board member subject to suspension or removal.

Explanation: This is very similar to a previous edit in the same section. The current language regarding suspensions and removals outlines a process for board members, but does not provide a process for the NCIL President’s suspension or removal. This edit corrects that.