The Bylaws Revision Committee (BRC) is starting the final review process of
first draft proposals. Members are encouraged to send comments or
suggestions related to the following articles.
ARTICLE V DUTIES AND QUALIFICATIONS OF THE ADVISORY BOARD
Section 1. The Advisory Board shall perform the duties prescribed by these
Bylaws, by the parliamentary authority, and by adopted standing rules and
policies.
Section 2. The National Coordinator (NC) is the principal administrative
officer of The USGenWeb Project with decision authority subject to approval
of the Advisory Board. The NC serves as the public representative for the
project and presides at all meetings of the Advisory Board. The NC shall
serve as an ex officio member of all committees and maintain the national
organizational e-mail lists and any appropriate national sub-lists. The NC
shall appoint a Recording Secretary and Parliamentarian to the Advisory
Board to serve for the term of the NC or until relieved. The NC is
authorized to appoint "special committees" deemed necessary or when directed
by the Advisory Board. The appointment of the Recording Secretary, the
Parliamentarian, and "special committees" shall be subject to confirmation
by the Advisory Board. A simple majority vote of the AB shall confirm the
appointment.
Section 3. The Advisory Board is responsible for promptly addressing and
resolving national issues, intervening in state issues only upon breach of
USGenWeb bylaws. Duties of the Advisory Board include appointing a
Webmaster to maintain the national website, appointing and overseeing all
standing committees including, but not limited to an Election Committee and
a Grievance Committee, and appointing special committees as necessary.
Section 4. It shall be the responsibility of the Webmaster and the Advisory
Board to ensure that the national website is in compliance with the stated
bylaws of The USGenWeb Project.
Section 5. The Advisory Board is authorized to remove links from the
national website, as appropriate, to websites which fail to comply with the
bylaws, rules or policies of The USGenWeb Project or to websites which
display inappropriate content. Coordinators of non-compliant websites shall
be given a 14 day "Notice to Comply". During the 14 days covered by this
notice, the coordinator may request extension, subject to approval of the
Advisory Board.
Section 6. The Advisory Board shall be responsible for administering
internet domains registered to The USGenWeb Project.
Section 7. In the case of a vacancy in the office of National Coordinator, a
special election shall be completed within 60 days to seat a National
Coordinator for the remaining term of office. The Representative at Large
shall serve as Acting National Coordinator until the special election is
completed. In the event that the Representative at Large is unavailable or
otherwise unable to serve in this capacity, the Advisory Board shall choose
an Acting National Coordinator from among its membership.
Section 8. In the event a board member is unable to complete his/her term,
the Advisory Board shall request the Election Committee to conduct a special
election in the affected region. The newly elected representative shall be
seated within 21 days of the vacancy, and shall serve until the next
scheduled election.
Section 9. Nominees for National Coordinator and Representative at Large
shall have the following qualifications: at least one year (the twelve
months immediately preceding an election) of continuous service and current
activity as a member in good standing, and eligibility to vote within The
USGenWeb Project. Qualifications of nominees for State Coordinator
Representative, Local Coordinator Representative, and Special Project
Representative are the same with the addition that their service shall have
been as a State Coordinator, Local Coordinator, or one of the various
positions associated with the Special Projects, respectively.
Section 10. Any elected Advisory Board member may be removed from office
for cause by 2/3 majority action of the AB, or, by a recall vote initiated
by petition of constituents (if 100 votes elected, 51 petitioners shall
cause a recall vote). Cause for removal by the AB is limited to continued,
gross, and willful neglect of the duties of office. Causes for removal by
constituents may include, but is not limited to, the following offenses:
dereliction of duty, excessive failure to participate in Advisory Board
votes, ethics violations, and behavior unbecoming an Advisory Board member.
The petition must be posted on the BOARD-L mailing list at least thirty (30)
days before the vote takes place. Any vote to remove an officer must be
preceded by a presentation of facts showing cause for removal and shall
allow for rebuttal by the officer in question before the vote takes place.
ARTICLE VI. ELECTION PROCEDURES
Section 1. A standing Election Committee (EC) shall be appointed by the
Advisory Board to conduct national-level elections and other referenda in
accordance with Standing Election Procedures and these bylaws. The Election
Committee shall also conduct state-level elections or referenda upon
request.
Section 2. It shall be the responsibility of the Elections Committee to
announce those positions for which nominations are needed.
Section 3. Nominations shall be received June 1 through June 14 from
prospective constituents of the nominee. A list of candidates, with
hyperlinks to available individual campaign pages, shall be posted to the EC
website before the voting period begins. The voting period shall be July 14
through July 31. Terms of office shall begin on September 1. In the event a
member is nominated for more than one position, the nominee shall notify the
EC Chair for which office they wish to declare their candidacy.
Section 4. A majority of those members voting shall elect. No member shall
hold more than one voting office at any one time. Unopposed candidates for
election shall be announced the winner by acclamation by the EC Chair. In
the event of multiple candidates for the same office and no majority is
achieved the two candidates with the greatest number of votes shall be
candidates in a run-off election.
Section 5. All members of the Advisory Board, with the exception of the
National Coordinator, shall be elected to two-year terms. The National
Coordinator shall be elected to a one-year term.
Section 6. All members as defined in Article III of these bylaws shall have
the right to vote.
Section 7. For elections of regional County Coordinator Representatives,
each member shall have one vote in each region in which they maintain one or
more eligible county or local sites. For elections of State Coordinator
Representative, each member holding the position of State Coordinator or
Assistant State Coordinator shall have one vote. For elections of Special
Projects Representative, each member holding the position of File Manager
within one or more eligible Special Project shall have one vote. Each member
shall have one vote for the offices of National Coordinator and
Representative-at-Large.
All revision drafts may be viewed at
http://home.mchsi.com/~sagitta56/
Roger Swafford
BRC - Chairman