Important Announcements - News

Amendment Proposal to Change Current State and County Coordinator Representative Seats to Regional Representative Seats on the USGenWeb Advisory Board

Proposed Amendments to the USGenWeb Bylaws - May 9, 2007 Sponsored by NVGenWeb

ARTICLE V. COMPOSITION OF ADVISORY BOARD

OLD: The Advisory Board membership shall consist of: the National Coordinator, four (4) State Coordinator Regional Representatives, eight (8) Local Coordinator Regional Representatives, one (1) Special Projects representative elected by members of the special projects, and one (1) at-large representative. All shall have voting privileges except the National Coordinator who shall vote only in the case of a tie. The regions from which State Coordinator and Local Coordinator Representatives are elected shall be decided by the Advisory Board on an annual basis.

NEW: The Advisory Board membership shall consist of: the National Coordinator, elected by the general membership; one (1) At-Large Representative elected by the general membership; three (3) Regional Representatives from each of the four regions, for a total of twelve (12) Regional Representatives to be elected by the respective regional members; one (1) Special Projects Representative elected by members of the national special projects. All shall have voting privileges except the National Coordinator who shall vote only in the case of a tie. The regions from which Regional Representatives are elected shall be decided by the Advisory Board on an annual basis.

ARTICLE VI: DUTIES/QUALIFICATIONS OF ADVISORY BOARD

OLD: Section 9. Nominees for National Coordinator 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. "In good standing" is demonstrated by responding promptly to email, actively supporting researchers' efforts to find information, maintaining their website with appropriate, up-to-date content, and serving as a good example of the guidelines and standards of The USGenWeb Project.

NEW: Section 9. Nominees for National Coordinator 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 Regional Representatives are the same with the addition that their service shall have been as a State Coordinator, County Coordinator, or one of the various positions associated with the states within the respective region. Qualifications of nominees for Special Project Representative are the same with the addition that their service shall have been associated with at least one of the National Special Projects. "In good standing" is demonstrated by responding promptly to email, actively supporting researchers' efforts to find information, maintaining their website with appropriate, up-to-date content, and serving as a good example of the guidelines and standards of The USGenWeb Project.

Section 10. The transition from State Coordinator and County Coordinator Representative seats to Regional Representative seats shall begin the first national election after the amendment is in effect, and shall first apply to seats with a term ending that election year. Remaining State Coordinator and County Coordinator Representative seats shall complete the transition the following year, according to the term expiration of remaining seats. Terms shall remain two years thereafter. [See chart accompanying the amendment.] This section will become obsolete once the transition is completed.

ARTICLE VIII. ADVISORY BOARD PROCEDURES

OLD:
Section 1. Nine (9) voting members of the Advisory Board shall constitute a quorum.

NEW:
ARTICLE VIII. ADVISORY BOARD PROCEDURES
Section 1. A majority of voting members plus one, of the Advisory Board shall constitute a quorum. The number of voting members shall be defined as the total number of members (excluding the National Coordinator) minus the number of vacant seats, if any. Example: 14 total Advisory Board members, one vacancy, means 13 voting members. A majority is 7 members, therefore a quorum is 8 members.

Chart:

Northeast/North Central Region
STATES: Connecticut, Illinois, Indiana, Maine, Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Wisconsin
Current Seat and  Representative  Board year 2006-2007	Current Term Ending	New Name of Seat	New Seat Transition Date and Term
SC Representative  George Waller	8/31/2007	NENC Regional Seat 3	Elected summer of 2009 for a two year term beginning 9/1/2009, and ending 8/31/2011
County Coordinator Representative  Donna Allen	8/31/2008	NENC Regional Seat 1	Elected summer of 2008 for a two year term beginning 9/1/2008 and ending 8/31/2010
County Coordinator Representative  Jan Cortez	8/31/2008	NENC Regional Seat 2	Elected summer of 2009 for a two year term beginning 9/1/2009, and ending 8/31/2011
Northwest/Plains Region
STATES: Alaska, Colorado, Idaho, Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, Oregon, South Dakota, Washington, Wyoming
Current Seat and  Representative  Board year 2006-2007	Current Term Ending	New Name of Seat	New Seat Transition Date and Term
State Coordinator Representative Sundee Maynez	8/31/2007	NWPL Regional Seat 2	Elected summer of 2009 for a two year term beginning 9/1/2009, and ending 8/31/2011, with two year terms thereafter
County Coordinator Representative  Karen DeGroote-Johnson	8/31/2007	NWPL Regional Seat 3	Elected summer of 2009 for a two year term beginning 9/1/2009, and ending 8/31/2011, with two year terms thereafter
County Coordinator Representative  Greta Thompson	8/31/2008	NWPL Regional Seat 1	Elected Summer of 2008 for a two year  term beginning 9/2/2009 and ending 8/31/2010, with two year terms thereafter
Southeast/Mid-Atlantic Region
STATES: Alabama, Delaware, D.C., Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia
Current Seat and  Representative  Board year 2006-2007	Current Term Ending	New Name of Seat	New Seat Transition Date and Term
State Coordinator Representative  Freddie Spradlin	8/31/2008	SEMA Regional Seat 1	Elected Summer of 2008 for a two year  term beginning 9/2/2009 and ending 8/31/2010, with two year terms thereafter
County Coordinator Representative  Suzanne Shephard	8/31/2007	SEMA Regional Seat 3	Elected summer of 2009 for a two year term beginning 9/1/2009, and ending 8/31/2011, with two year terms thereafter
County Coordinator Representative  Linda Blum-Barton	8/31/2008	SEMA Regional Seat 2	Elected Summer of 2008 for a two year  term beginning 9/2/2009 and ending 8/31/2010, with two year terms thereafter
Southwest/South Central Region
STATES: Arizona, Arkansas, California, Hawaii, Kansas, Louisiana, Missouri, Nevada, New Mexico, Oklahoma, Texas, Utah
Current Seat and  Representative  Board year 2006-2007	Current Term Ending	New Name of Seat	New Seat Transition Date and Term
State Coordinator Representative  Larry Flesher	8/31/2008	SWSC Regional Seat 1	Elected Summer of 2008 for a two year  term beginning 9/2/2009 and ending 8/31/2010, with two year terms thereafter
County Coordinator Representative Bettie Wood	8/31/2007	SWSC Regional Seat 3	Elected summer of 2009 for a two year term beginning 9/1/2009, and ending 8/31/2011, with two year terms thereafter
County Coordinator Representative  Phyllis Rippee	8/31/2008	SWSC Regional Seat 2	Elected Summer of 2008 for a two year  term beginning 9/2/2009 and ending 8/31/201, with two year terms thereafter

Co-Sponsor: TNGenWeb, May 18, 2007

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Proposed Amendments to the USGenWeb Bylaws - February 20, 2007

In compliance with bylaw Article XVI, the KSGenWeb Project requests the following proposed amendment to the USGenWeb Bylaws be presented on the ballot during our annual voting period July 1, 2007 through July 31, 2007 for approval by The USGenWeb Project membership.

Proposed Amendments to the USGenWeb Bylaws - February 20, 2007

The State Coordinators represent the smallest segment of the USGenWeb Project membership. Their members makeup approximately 5% of the membership but they are allocated over 25% of Advisory Board positions. The State Coordinators should not have a larger ratio of representation than the Special Projects and Local Coordinators on the Advisory Board.

As the terms of the present positions for regional State Coordinator Representatives expire they will be replaced by the new positions of this proposal. Three (3) at-large representatives will replace three (3) State Coordinator Regional Representatives and one State Coordinator Representative elected by all State Coordinators will replace one (1) of the State Coordinator Regional Representative.

With the above as reference the KSGenWeb Project is sponsoring the following amendment to the USGenWeb bylaws.

Amend Article V. ARTICLE V. COMPOSITION OF ADVISORY BOARD which reads:

"The Advisory Board membership shall consist of: the National Coordinator, four (4) State Coordinator Regional Representatives, eight (8) Local Coordinator Regional Representatives, one (1) Special Projects representative elected by members of the special projects, and one (1) at-large representative. All shall have voting privileges except the National Coordinator who shall vote only in the case of a tie. The regions from which State Coordinator and Local Coordinator Representatives are elected shall be decided by the Advisory Board on an annual basis."

From the above, strike four (4) State Coordinator Regional Representative positions and replace with three (3) at-large representatives positions and one (1) State Coordinator Representative position.

The amended article will read: ARTICLE V. COMPOSITION OF ADVISORY BOARD

"The Advisory Board membership shall consist of: the National Coordinator and four (4) at-large Representatives, elected by all members of the USGenWeb Project, one (1) State Coordinator Representative, elected by State Coordinators, eight (8) Local Coordinator Regional Representatives, elected by Local Coordinators, one (1) Special Projects Representative elected by members of the Special Projects. All shall have voting privileges except the National Coordinator who shall vote only in the case of a tie. The regions from which Local Coordinator Representatives are elected shall be decided by the Advisory Board on an annual basis.

As terms of State Coordinator Regional Representative positions expire they will be replaced with the positions of this amendment. The first two State Coordinator Regional Representative positions terms that expire will be replaced by the one (1) State Coordinator Representative to be elected by all State Coordinators and by one (1) at-large representative. The remaining two (2) State Coordinator Regional Representative positions, upon expiration of their term, will be replaced by two (2) at-large representatives. " Altered March 27, 2007 with the following:

"As terms of State Coordinator Regional Representative positions expire they will be replaced with the positions of this amendment. When the terms of the State Coordinator Regional Representative positions for the Southeast/Mid-Atlantic region and the Southwest/South Central region expire in 2008 they will be replaced by two (2) at-large representatives positions designated RAL (A) and RAL (B) respectively.

When the term of the State Coordinator Regional Representative position for the Northeast/North Central region expires in 2009 it will be replaced by one (1) State Coordinator Representative position to be elected by all State Coordinators. When the term of the State Coordinator Regional Representative position for the Northwest/Plains region expires in 2009 it will be replaced by one (1) at-large representative position. This last at-large representative position created by this amendment and the existing at-large representative position in 2007 which term also will expire in 2009 will have positions designated RAL (C) and RAL (D) respectively."

Co-Sponsor: TNGenWeb, March 3, 2007; Approved as Amended March 27, 2007
Co-Sponsor: NVGenWeb, April 28, 2007; Approved as Amended March 27, 2007
Co-Sponsor: WAGenWeb, May 9, 2007; Approved as Amended March 27, 2007

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Proposed Amendments to the USGenWeb Bylaws - January 29, 2007

The WVGenWeb Project requests that the following proposed amendments to the USGenWeb Bylaws be presented to the USGenWeb Project membership for approval in accordance with Bylaws Article XVI, Section 3. To this end: it shall be posted to the Project website and mailing lists for a period of at least thirty (30) days prior to the annual voting period of July 1-July 31.

"These USGenWeb Bylaws; Article VI (Duties/Qualifications of Advisory Board), Section 3 and Article XIV (Grievance Procedures and Appeals Process) are repealed and replaced as stated below.

Article VI, Section 3.
The responsibilities of the Advisory Board shall include addressing any problem issues as they arise; aiding the state projects upon request; establishing and overseeing committees; reviewing grievance appeals in accordance with the Grievance Committee Procedures, and appointing a webmaster to maintain the national website.

Article XIV, Section 1.
A standing Grievance Committee will be established.

Article XIV, Section 2.
The Grievance Committee will operate under the Grievance Policies and Procedures. Changes to the Grievance Policies and Procedures may be made by the Advisory Board or may be proposed by the Grievance Committee for approval by the Advisory Board. The current Grievance Policies and Procedures shall be displayed on the National website.

Article XIV, Section 3.
The Advisory Board will appoint the initial members of the Grievance Committee. Thereafter, the Grievance Committee will recommend for approval by the Advisory Board a slate of members to fill vacant positions.

Article XIV, Section 4.
The Grievance Committee will administer a fair, orderly, and timely resolution of a grievance in accordance with the Grievance Policies and Procedures.

Article XIV, Section 5.
The resolution of a grievance is binding upon the membership.

Article XIV, Section 6.
All actions, whether by the national Grievance Committee or by a grievance process at a state or special project level, shall be characterized by fairness, courtesy, and respect for the dignity and the rights of each individual. To that end, the following rights and responsibilities apply to all grievance processes within the USGenWeb Project, XXGenWeb Projects, and Special Projects.

Article XIV, Section 6(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 change or dismiss the representative at any step of the procedure; however, such action will not affect the point at which the change or dismissal occurs.

Article XIV, Section 6(2).
When a member is dismissed from a position in a State, Local, or Special Project, that member's position may not be filled until the expiration of the time for that member to file a grievance. When the said member files a grievance, that position may not be filled unless the grievance resolution against the member calls for the member to lose that position. Nothing should prevent the unlinking of the member's website and establishing a temporary website pending resolution of any grievance.

Article XIV, Section 6(3).
Nobody shall be discriminated against for participating in the grievance process."

Co-Sponsor: IAGenWeb, February 6, 2007
Co-Sponsor: KYGenWeb, February 7, 2007
Co-Sponsor: MOGenWeb, February 7, 2007
Co-Sponsor: PAGenWeb, February 11, 2007
Co-Sponsor: TNGenWeb, February 11, 2007
Co-Sponsor: GAGenWeb, February 27, 2007

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