SUMMER, EARLY AUTUMN GOOD TIME FOR AREA COORDINATION

According to the bylaws, “Area subdivisions of the Council exist to provide a convenient forum for meetings of affiliated chapters between Council meetings.”

The purpose of such meetings is to communicate significant actions of the Executive Committee (EXCOM) and to prepare Area Directors for subsequent Executive Committee (EXCOM) meetings.

The latest Executive Committee (EXCOM) meeting was held May 19th in conjunction with the Chapter Presidents Leadership Workshop at Vandenberg AFB. At that time it was decided to hold the next meeting on November 30th, the start of the Council of Presidents annual meeting set this year for San Luis Obispo.

The next few months might be a good time to schedule area meetings at some central location and at a time convenient at least to most chapter presidents. It might be useful to get better acquainted, review some of the highlights of the Chapter Presidents Leadership Workshop, identify issues important to chapter members and potential courses of action, share what works and what doesn’t–a best practices session, and in general coordinate activities in advance of the upcoming November 30-December 2, 2007 annual meeting.

If it hasn’t been done already, State Directors might arrange, either through appointment or an election, an alternate State Director who can and will represent the Area and cast votes in the absence of the State Director.

The bylaws indicate that area directors, who will chair the meetings, shall exchange agenda information well in advance of their respective meetings so chapters will have a chance to vote on major proposals.

Any officer or affiliated chapter submitting a proposal for Council action which clearly involves the entire Council shall submit the information for consideration as an agenda item.

Proposals for action by the Council shall normally be in the form of a resolution or motion, which can be voted on, in the same format, and essentially the same wording, by all Areas. The resolution or motion shall not be binding upon the Council until approved by all Areas. The Executive Committee (EXCOM) shall have the authority to resolve inconsistencies in wording, or amendments to the original resolution or motion, when the versions passed by all the Areas are not exactly the same.

An area meeting can meet the need for camaraderie and conduct of the Council’s business, and well in advance of Council meetings so members are fully informed and there are no surprises.

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