fyi -- George
------- Forwarded message follows -------
Date forwarded: Sun, 23 Jul 2006 05:37:04 -0600
From: "Linda Haas Davenport" <lhaasdav(a)cox.net>
Date sent: Sun, 23 Jul 2006 06:36:01 -0500
To: STATE-COORD-L(a)rootsweb.com
Subject: [STATE-COORD] Proposed bylaws amendment
To all USGenWeb Project Members:
The Advisory Board recently passed a motion to set up a grievance
committee and a set of policies and procedures for the committee.
(
http://ilgenweb.rootsweb.com/GPC/usgwgpc.html).
The previous questions about conflicts between the bylaws and the
procedures are answered here:
(
http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/BOARD/2006-07/1153394832
http://archiver.rootsweb.com/th/read/BOARD/2006-07/1153395587)
Although the grievance committee can operate without a bylaw
amendment and the procedures are not in conflict with the bylaws a
bylaws amendment is needed for the following reasons:
To remove the AB from being required to "advise and mediate"
grievances.
To add the authority to establish a standing committee (a
housekeeping item needed per Sturgis).
To make the grievance committee a standing committee that cannot be
disbanded by future ABs. To make the outcome of a grievance binding.
Currently the way the bylaws read the AB, after reaching a decision
on
a grievance, can only make a recommendation which does not have to be
implemented. To insure that a dismissed CC or SP member's website not
be given away during the grievance process. Currently the AB does not
have that authority.
Since this amendment will directly effect the members of the
Project the AB is asking for input from the membership.
Please feel free to forward to any appropriate list.
Linda Haas Davenport
NC USGenWeb Project
*************
Proposed Amendment:
That the following articles of the USGenWeb Project are repealed
and replaced as stated below:
That Bylaws Article VI, (Duties/Qualifications of Advisory
Board), Section 3 is repealed to remove the comment " advising
and mediating, if necessary, any grievances or appeals,"
And, is replaced with the following which includes the authority
to establish standing committees and to oversee them.
Section 3. The responsibilities of the Advisory Board shall
include: addressing any problem issues as they arise, aiding the
state projects upon request, establishing standing committees,
overseeing elections, overseeing standing committees and
appointing a Webmaster to maintain the national website.
That USGenWeb By-Laws, Section XIV, Sections 1 and 2,
entitled "Grievance Procedures and Appeals Process" are repealed, and
to enact in lieu thereof a new Section XIV entitled "Standing
Grievance Committee".
Section 1. There shall be established a Grievance Committee as a
standing committee of the USGenWeb Project.
Section 2. The standing Grievance Committee will operate under a
set of Grievance Policies and Procedures that may change from
time to time. Changes to the Grievance Policies and Procedures
must be approved by the USGenWeb Advisory Board. The current
Grievance Policies and Procedures shall be displayed on the
National website.
Section 3. The USGenWeb Advisory Board will appoint the members
of the initial standing Grievance Committee, and subsequent
members be chosen from qualified applicants per the terms of the
Grievance Policies and Procedures.
Section 4. The responsibility of the standing Grievance Committee
shall be to administer fair, orderly, and speedy resolutions of
disputes in accordance with the Grievance Policies and Procedures.
Section 5. The outcome of a grievance, whether settled by
mediation or by arbitration, is binding upon the membership of
the USGenWeb Project.
Section 6. It shall be the policy of the USGenWeb Project
that all actions, whether under the national standing Grievance
Committee or of a local grievance or process at the state or
special project level shall be characterized by fairness,
courtesy, and respect for the dignity and the rights of each
individual involved.
Section 7. Appeals may be made to the USGenWeb Advisory Board and its
decision shall be final.
Section 8. To that end, the following rights and responsibilities
apply to all grievance processes within the USGenWeb Project,
XXGenWeb
State Projects, and Special Projects of the USGenWeb Project.
1) A member may choose to act as his or her own representative, or
may select someone to act as his or her representative. The member
retains the right to appoint, change or dismiss the representative at
any step of the procedure."
2) In actions resulting from the dismissal of a member from his
or her position within a State, Local, or Special Project, the
dismissed member may not be replaced until the expiration of the
time for the filing of a grievance, or if such grievance is
filed, until it's resolution. Nothing shall prohibit the
recruitment of a temporary coordinator to maintain any website.
3) No member shall be discriminated against for exercising their
right to request action by the standing Grievance Committee, for
participating in a grievance as a witness, or as a representative of
a
party to the grievance, and no disciplinary action shall be taken
against a party for their involvement in the grievance process.
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