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BY LESLIE DeLONG, CHAIR
Three Constitutional amendments were passed by the delegates
at the 13th National Convention in Springfield, Illinois.
A brief summary of the changes and their significance to
State Councils and Chapters follows:
Article II, Section
12
2005 Constitution
The State Council shall submit its election results to
the National Membership Department within sixty (60) days
after the council elections; and a list of committee chairs
within one-hundred-twenty (120) days.
The 2007 amendment made
the following addition to this section:
The State Council
shall submit its election results to the National Membership
Department within sixty (60) days after the council elections;
and a list of committee chairs within one-hundred-twenty
(120) days. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution
or the National Disciplinary Policy, the Charter of any State
Council that fails to file its election report within the
specified period shall be automatically suspended upon written
notice of suspension to the National Board of Directors.
In such cases, no charges shall be required under the National
Disciplinary Policy for such suspension to be effective.
Written notice of such suspension shall be sent to the State
Council at its last-known address.
Such suspension shall continue
until (1) the State Council shall file its election report
for the election year which caused the suspension; or (2)
the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall relieve the
State Council of the responsibility for the filing of such
report for the election year in question; or (3) the Charter
of such State Council shall be thereafter revoked upon the
filing of charges under the National Disciplinary Policy.
Impact
on State Councils: The Corporation has the ability to immediately
suspend, without formally filing charges through the National
Disciplinary Policy, any State Council that does not submit
its election results within sixty days and its list of committee
chairs within one-hundred-twenty days. The amendment emphasizes
the importance of filing this information with the Corporation
and is in agreement with the policy already in force related
to the filing of annual financial reports.
Article II, Section
4, Paragraph A
2005 Constitution
A. The delegates to a State Council shall elect from the
membership within the state, whether Chapter or otherwise,
a President, a Vice President, a Secretary, a Treasurer,
or Secretary/Treasurer, and such other officers as may be
deemed necessary or proper by the council. Election of officers
of the council, held after December 31, 1986, shall, upon
nomination, be by vote at a meeting of the Council to be
held in June of each even-numbered year. Officers shall serve
for a term of two (2) years or until the seat held by such
officer shall be deemed vacant pursuant to the provisions
of this Constitution.
The 2007 amendment deleted the words “in
June” and
replaced them with “the 2nd calendar quarter.”
Impact
on State Councils: This amendment gives more flexibility
to State Councils in scheduling their election meetings.
Greater flexibility may help the councils find more reasonable
hotel and meeting rates and may allow elected individuals
more time to arrange to attend the Leadership Conference.
Article
III, Section 9
2005 Constitution
The Chapter shall submit the election results and a list
of committee chairs to both the State Council and the National
Membership Department not later than sixty (60) days after
the Chapter elections.
The 2007 amendment made the following
addition to this section:
The Chapter shall submit the election
results and a list of committee chairs to both the State
Council and the National Membership Department not later
than sixty (60) days after the Chapter elections. Notwithstanding
any other provision of this Constitution or the National
Disciplinary Policy, the Charter of any Chapter that fails
to file its election report within the period specified herein
shall be automatically suspended upon written notice of suspension
to the appropriate State Council and the National Board of
Directors. In such cases, no charges shall be required under
the National Disciplinary Policy for such suspension to be
effective. Written notice of such suspension shall be sent
to the Chapter at its last-known address.
Such suspension
shall continue until (1) the Chapter shall file its election
report for the election year which caused the suspension;
or (2) the Board of Directors of the Corporation shall relieve
the Chapter of the responsibility for the filing of such
report for the election year in question; or (3) the Charter
of such Chapter shall be thereafter revoked upon the filing
of charges under the National Disciplinary Policy.
Impact
on Chapters: The Corporation has the ability to immediately
suspend, without formally filing charges through the National
Disciplinary Policy, any Chapter that does not submit its
election results and its list of committee chairs within
sixty days of their elections. There is no extension for
filing the list of committee chairs at the Chapter level.
The amendment emphasizes the importance of filing this information
with the State Councils and the Corporation and is in agreement
with the policy already in force related to the filing of
annual financial reports.
The committee will continue to review
the bylaws of any State Council that wishes us to do so.
Just send an electronic copy to us via the VVA web site “Contact
Us.”
The following information is available, or will
be available soon, on the Constitution Committee page at
www.vva.org
- Description of the most recent constitutional
changes and their impact on State Councils and Chapters
- Templates for State Council and Chapter Bylaws
- List of State Constitutional Committee Chairs and
contact information
- FAQs related to the Constitution.
Committee members: Leslie DeLong,
Chair; Ken Holybee, Ben Humphries, Bob Johnston, Bill Messer,
Craig Tonjes; Special Advisers: Barry Hagge, Mary Miller,
Bruce Whitaker; Staff Liaison: Tracie Houston.
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2008, Vietnam Veterans of America. All Rights Reserved. 8605 Cameron
Street, Silver Spring, MD 20910