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United Seniors of Maryland (USM) Bylaws
Please note that a USM Bylaws Committee was appointed at the September 2011 USM meeting, to review and recommend revisions to these USM Bylaws. If anyone has suggestions for the Bylaws Committee, please feel free to contact any of the members of the committee:
Paul M. Bessel, Chairman - paul@bessel.org Below is the report of the Bylaws Committee, dated January 27, 2012, or you can click here to see it in pdf format.
USM - United Seniors of Maryland Background This USM Bylaws Committee was appointed by the USM President in October 2011. It consists of chairman Paul M. Bessel; Wendy Kronmiller, Susie Jablinske, and Ted Meyerson. The January 27, 2012, report of the Bylaws Committee was distributed to all USM members by email, and it was discussed in detail at the USM meeting on February 13, 2012. Several suggestions were made and agreed to, and the USM Bylaws Committee recommends adoption of the proposed new USM Bylaws shown below. (The old USM Bylaws are on the USM website at http://unitedseniors.net/bylaws.htm ) New Recommendations 1. Ratification of USM Standing Committee Chairmen The proposed new USM Bylaws state that the USM President appoints the Chairmen of the USM Standing Committees. It was suggested that there should be provision for the USM General Membership Meeting, where all USM members can attend and vote, to be presented with these appointments and have the opportunity to approve or disapprove each of them. The Bylaws Committee agrees. If any USM member feels a particular Committee Chairman appointment is not a good one, that USM member will have the opportunity to explain that to the USM Membership, which will have the final say on whether that person or someone else becomes Chairman of that committee. 2. Public Relations (PR) Committee It was suggested that there should be a Public Relations (PR) Committee to produce the USM newsletter and take other actions to promote USM and its goals among the general public and with government officials. The Bylaws Committee agrees. Since there would now be 5 instead of 4 Standing Committees, if the Board of Directors is still to have an odd number of members with a maximum of 15, the number of additional Board members would be changed to 1 to 5 instead of 2 to 6. These are the positions on the Board that could be held by any USM member — individual or organizational representative— who shows the ability and willingness to help USM by attending meetings of the USM Board and taking on specific tasks for USM. 3. Open Meetings It was also suggested that the Bylaws should specifically state that USM General Membership Meetings are open to potential new members and other guests who are interested in the work of USM. The Bylaws Committee agrees and has included this, with provision for closed meetings if they are ever necessary. Conclusion The USM Bylaws Committee recommends that the USM members vote to adopt the proposed new USM Bylaws, by the required 2/3 vote, at the USM meeting on March 19, 2012, to become effective at the time of elections for new USM officers at the May 2012 General Membership Meeting. Below are the proposed new USM Bylaws, with the changes made after discussion at the USM general membership meeting on February 13, 2012. Proposed New USM Bylaws Article 1 - Name & Purposes Article 2 - Membership Article 3 - General Membership Meetings & Board of Directors Article 4 - Officers Article 5 - Committees Article 6 - Amendments
Article 1 - Name & Purposes 1. Name - The name of this organization shall be United Seniors of Maryland, and it may also be referred to as USM.
Article 2 - Membership 1. Organizational members - Organizational members shall consist of (a) organizations with an interest in promoting the goals of USM, and (b) Maryland public agencies interested in senior and intergenerational issues. The USM Board may reject membership in USM of an organization if it finds that action to be in the best interests of USM. 2. Individual members - Individual members shall consist of persons interested in senior issues who wish to be members of USM. 3. Dues - Dues shall be set by the USM Board for each fiscal year, which shall be from July 1 through June 30. Delinquencies in payment of dues shall result in loss of voting privileges and of membership, in a manner and time determined by the USM Board of Directors. Article 3 - General Membership Meetings & Board of Directors 1. General Membership Meetings - The USM General Membership Meetings shall consist of representatives of all organization members and of all individual members who wish to attend, and shall also be open to potential new members and others interested in the work of USM except when a closed meeting might be necessary. To the extent practicable, USM shall have General Membership Meetings from September through June, on dates and times set by the Board of Directors. A quorum at General Membership Meetings shall consist of at least 25 members, representatives of organizational members and/or individual members. 2. Board of Directors - The Board of Directors shall consist of (a) the 4 elected USM officers and the Immediate Past President of USM, (b) the Chairmen of the USM Standing Committees defined in these Bylaws, and (c) 1 to 5 additional USM members nominated from time to time by the other members of the Board and ratified at a General Membership Meeting . The Board may act for USM, but all its actions, must be reported at the next General Membership Meeting for ratification. If the Board finds that a particular issue is important and the members present at a particular General Membership Meeting may not be representative of the entire membership, it may schedule the vote on that subject for a future General Membership Meeting and inform all USM members of the date of the vote on that subject. The Board shall meet when called by the USM President, normally at the start and/or conclusion of each General Membership Meeting. Board meetings will be open to all USM members except to the extent a matter involving privileged or personal information is to be discussed. 3. Types of meetings - Meetings of USM, including Membership and Board meetings, may be held in person, by telephone, email, or any other method deemed reasonable for fair discussion and decision-making. 4. Parliamentary authority - To assure fairness and efficiency, all meetings of USM shall be governed by the latest edition of Robert’s Rules of Order, except when the provisions of the USM Bylaws provide otherwise. Article 4 - Officers 1. Titles and Duties - The officers shall be President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer. a. President - The President shall preside at meetings of the USM Membership and USM board; be an ex officio member of all committees; appoint chairpersons and members of standing committees with ratification at a General Membership Meeting, appoint special committees to perform specific tasks; and be the principal spokesperson for USM. b. Vice President - The Vice President shall assist the President in the performance of the duties of that office, and other duties as assigned by the President or the Board. c. Secretary - The Secretary shall take minutes and record attendance at USM meetings; send notices of meetings; and maintain copies of minutes and a directory of members. d. Treasurer - The Treasurer shall keep financial records; handle income and expenses; file necessary financial reports and forms with government agencies, and report to the USM General Membership Meetings and Board meetings about USM finances. 2. Elections and Term of office - A Nominating Committee shall recommend candidates at the General Membership Meeting in April, with elections and installation of new officers at the General Membership Meeting in May of even-numbered years. The terms of USM officers shall be 2 years, starting immediately after election at the General Membership Meting in May until their successors are elected at the General Membership Meeting in May two years later. The President may serve only two consecutive two-year terms. 3. Vacancies - Vacancies in any USM officer position may be filled by the USM Board and ratified at a USM General Membership Meeting.. 4. Conflict of Interest - Whenever a director or officer has a financial interest in any matter coming before the board of directors, the affected person shall: (a) fully disclose the nature of the interest and (b) withdraw from discussion, lobbying, and voting on the matter. Any transaction or vote involving a potential conflict of interest shall be approved only when a majority of disinterested directors determine that it is in the best interest of USM to do so. The minutes of meetings at which such votes are taken shall record such disclosure, abstention and rationale for approval. Article 5 - Committees 1. Standing Committees - USM shall have the following standing committees, whose Chairpersons and members shall be appointed by the USM President and ratified at a USM General Membership Meeting: a. Legislation - The Legislation Committee shall review all legislation that is of interest to the members of USM and shall recommend public positions for USM on legislation. When possible, such positions shall be voted on by the USM General Membership Meetings or Board of Directors, but if the Legislation Committee decides that faster action is needed, the Legislation Committee is authorized to take public positions on legislation in accordance with previous precedents set by the USM General Membership Meetings and the USM Board. b. Forum - The Forum Committee shall organize and run the USM Annual Government Forum and any other USM public events. c. Membership - The Membership Committee shall encourage new organizations and individuals to become USM members, and shall contact USM members whose dues are unpaid to encourage their continued membership. d. Public Relations (PR) - The Public Relations Committee shall produce the USM newsletter. It shall also promote USM and its goals among the general public and with government officials who can assist USM in reaching its goals. e. Information Technology (IT) - The IT Committee shall assist USM to keep computerized records, have a professional website, maintain a USM presence in electronic media, and assist USM members and others with electronic record keeping and operations. 2. Special Committees - The USM President may appoint special committees when they are needed, and may give them deadlines and charters for their operation. Article 6 - Amendments 1. Notice - Any USM member may propose an amendment to the USM Bylaws by submitting it in writing to the USM President or USM Secretary. Notice of proposed amendments shall be given to the members of USM as soon as practical, including notice of the date set by the USM Board for voting on the proposed amendment.. 2. Approval - Proposed amendments to the USM Bylaws may be adopted at a General Membership Meeting, after members have received reasonable notice (usually at least one month), by 2/3 of its members present and voting.
UNITED SENIORS OF MARYLAND BYLAWS ARTICLE 1. PURPOSES The purpose of the United Seniors of Maryland (USM) shall be to maintain a
continuing coalition dedicated to influencing legislation and public policy for
the betterment of the lives and wellbeing of Maryland seniors, with special
attention to those most vulnerable.
USM - United Seniors of Maryland Some things to think about concerning the USM Bylaws as of October 11, 2011 (PB) Does the "Purposes" section adequately and concisely describe USM’s current purposes? Should we revise it to be more concise and specific about USM’s goals and purposes? Are the USM current membership categories adequate and proper for USM as it operates now? Should all Organizational members continue to be on the governing body of USM or should there be some limit? Should Individual members have some voice in USM policy decisions, such as some representation on the USM Board? Should the USM Bylaws give authority to the USM Board to set dues, thus providing more flexibility than setting the dues in the Bylaws and requiring Bylaws amendments for all dues changes? Should the USM officer positions be changed, for example by changing Vice Presidents for certain functions to committee chairmen as is done in other organizations? Should some be appointed rather than elected? Should the dates of elections and new officers taking office be changed? Should there be some limitation on nominations of officer candidates from the floor, such as a need for biographies in advance, so the voting members are not faced with surprise candidates about whom they no nothing? Should the manner of filling vacancy in officer positions be changed? Should there continue to be a Bylaws requirement for monthly meetings? Should there be more flexibility for the leaders to decide when and how USM should have meetings? Should the USM Board continue to include a representative from every organizational member, even if that leads to a cumbersome number on the Board? Should we consider a different and smaller Board and if so, how should it be selected? Should the quorum requirement (one-third of organizational members with voting privileges) be changed? Should organizations be permitted to be represented by a different person from that organization at different meetings? Should there be specific provisions permitting meetings by phone, video, or electronic means? Should the Executive Committee include more than just the elected officers and the Immediate Past President? Should the provisions about how USM takes positions on legislation be changed, to provide more flexibility? Should the Bylaws amendment process be changed, such as eliminating the requirement for 2 votes, majority to approve consideration, followed by 2/3 vote to adopt at a later meeting? |
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