By laws, pass #2

[Erik Olson <erik@thekrib.com>]

This is from Bob McCaw.  His bylaws draft (which is too big to include
here) can be viewed at

http://www.aquatic-gardeners.org/bylaws.html

(Yes, I have been slacking all week... also not been around a computer
with Microsoft Word at a time I could convert the file into html.  Note
that Bob's "3 weeks" is actually now about 2 weeks by the time you read
this, so we should probably work fast.)

  - Erik

----- Original Message -----
From: Bob McCaw <rmccaw@mediaone.net>
To: <aga-Mcm@Thekrib.Com>
Sent: Saturday, July 29, 2000 11:56 AM
Subject: By laws, pass #2

I am attaching a first draft of the bylaws of the AGA.

I believe that parameters 3 through 7 in Erik's 6/2 post have been
incorporated into this draft.  I have used "Board of Directors" for
"Steering Committee", "President" for "Chair", etc. to keep with
traditional terminology.  If people feel strongly, I can add some language
to the Bylaws stating that there are two equivalent names.  BTW, I have
assumed that the President and the Chair are the same person.  True?

A few sections in the Bylaws have not been completed, because there are a
couple of open issues I'd like to discuss:

1.  Conventional wisdom is that it is a good idea to have periodic
meetings of the Board of Directors, keep a minute book, etc.  Mary tells
me that most Board (Steering Committee) decisions are made by exchanging
e-mail and reaching a consensus.

There are several sections of the Bylaws that describe Directors' meetings
(Article 3, sections 7 through 13).  Similarly, Members meetings are
described in Article 12.  These sections, as drafted, describe a more
traditional organization, and need to be revised to realistically reflect
the AGA.

Please let me know how you would *like* Board and membership meeetings to
be structured.  I, in turn, will find out what we can best do to
accommodate the ideal arrangement.  Note that the election of the Board is
probably best addressed under the topic of membership meetings.

2.  Article 11, sections 2 through 4 and 9, address the requirements for
membership in the AGA.  Please let me know how you would like these
sections to read.  The issues here are:  what are the dues, when do new
members get voting rights, when do membership privileges lapse, and
whether there are any requirements other than payment of dues for
membership.

3.  I intended to name the initial Directors in the Articles of
Organization (another document which must be filed with the State).  When
you wish to hold another election is up to you and can be specified in the
sections we're working on.

The Directors will serve two year terms, with one half of the Directors
being elected each year.  Do you wish to specify the remaining term of the
existing directors, or should those terms be selected at random (one-half
with one year remaining, one-half with two)?

*****

I will be out of town for about three weeks.  Please get back to me when
possible about these questions, and I'll incorporate your desires into a
second draft when I get back.

Bob McCaw