The AAPG Annual Meeting in Salt
Lake City is rapidly approaching, and the House of Delegates has
some important business to conduct there.
One constitution and four bylaws amendments will
be brought forward for consideration by the HoD at its meeting on
Sunday, May 11.
Here's a summary of the proposals:
Electronic Ballot Amendment to the Constitution: Article VIII, Sections
1 and 5.
The AAPG Ballot Committee formally requested — and the Executive
Committee proposes — that this amendment to the constitution
be made to allow for voting of amendments to the constitution
by electronic mail or a combination of mail and electronic mail
or other suitable ballots.
If the House approves this amendment, the proposed amendment
will be mailed to the AAPG members within 60 days after the annual
meeting. The amendment has to be approved by two-thirds majority
of the members who cast votes.
Electronic Ballot Amendment to the Bylaws: Article II, Section 10
and 11.
Likewise, the AAPG Ballot Committee formally requested that
amendments to the bylaws be made to allow for voting of the election
of officers and the filling of officer vacancies by means of electronic
balloting or other suitable means or a combination of electronic
and printed balloting.
Nomination by Petition Procedures Amendment: Article II, Section
10.
A review and analysis of the procedure for nominations of officer
candidates was made by the Constitution and Bylaws Committee.
It was the consensus of the committee and the HoD officers that
the current system is effective and reasonable and does not warrant
drastic changes.
There exists some timing issues however, that ought to be addressed,
and are proposed as changes to the bylaws.
Publication of candidates' names in the EXPLORER rather than
the BULLETIN was a request from AAPG staff, as the EXPLORER is
more flexible with respect to lead time for publication. The deadline
for submission of additional nominations by petition was advanced
by one month (to October 15) to thus advance the publication of
the names, and to allow for the candidates to be recognized at
such Section and regional meetings as possible, without placing
an undue burden upon the petition candidates.
Typically, candidates for office are not selected by the Executive
Committee until the annual meeting, and not notified until shortly
thereafter. Only at that time might a petition candidacy be initiated.
Selection Integrity Amendment: Article II, Section 14 (new).
This amendment is made to promote fairness and impartiality
in the AAPG officer nomination and honors and awards process,
and to protect the rights of all members to compete for nominations
and awards on an equal basis, by eliminating members of the governing
bodies from consideration for those offices and awards.
This amendment was proposed by the officers of the HoD and the
chairman of the Constitution and Bylaws Committee.
Ethics Committee Amendment: Article XI, Section 2.
This proposed change comes from the Ethics Committee. It is
the opinion that this committee needs to be increased in number
from three to five so that if one or more members of the Ethics
Committee have to excuse themselves because of a conflict of interest,
the Ethics Committee still will be able to function properly and
proceed with their investigations as needed.
All of the committee chairs and their members have
done a wonderful job in preparing for this year's meeting in Salt
Lake City. It would be absolutely impossible to accomplish the goals
set forth without the volunteer help of everyone involved. I thank
each and every one of them for making the House Chairman's job a
whole lot easier.
I also would like to congratulate this year's House
officer nominees — Valary Schulz and Deborah Sacrey for chairman-elect,
and Steve Goolsby and Clint Moore for secretary/editor for agreeing
to stand for election at the House of Delegate's meeting.
Those elected will join George Eynon as the new leaders
of the House, with terms beginning July 1.