Membership to Vote Online on Bylaw Updates Before 2020 Annual Meeting

September 24, 2020

The Michigan Library Association Board of Directors is recommending changes to the organization’s bylaws. Due to the global pandemic and a virtual annual meeting for 2020, an online vote will take place between Monday, October 5, and October 29 at 2:00 pm. An announcement of the results of the voting will take place at the MLA Annual Meeting on Thursday, October 29 at 2:45 pm. All members eligible to vote based on the current bylaws (organizational members, unaffiliated library directors, and affiliated/unaffiliated individual members) will receive voting instructions via email. All members are encouraged to read the proposed draft of the MLA Bylaws and note the following changes generally and by section.

General corrections include correcting spelling mistakes and making the wording of titles of officers consistent throughout the document. We have also removed all sections and references concerning voting by Proxy.

Section 2.4 d

We are proposing that organizations that pay for any of their staff to be affiliated individual members be able to transfer a membership to a new staff when a staff member leaves their employ.

Section 2.6 a

We are proposing that all membership categories (except Strategic Partner Members) be allowed to vote on all matters to come before the membership.

Section 3.8

We are proposing updating a quorum to a majority of those voting members who are present in person at a membership meeting (instead of 50)

Section 4.3 and 4.4

We are proposing to add an ex-officio member to the board of directors represented by the immediate past president of the Michigan Association of Media in Education (MAME).

Section 5.7

We are proposing to allow the Board of Directors the ability to take action without a meeting – in essence, the ability to vote by email.

Section 7.2 b

We are proposing that the nominating committee present a slate of candidates for the board that mirrors the State of Michigan's racial representation.

Section 8.2 d

We are proposing that the Secretary/Treasurer be elected by the current board from among its members for a 1-year term.

Section 11.2

We are proposing that an annual audit review or full audit be done each year.

Section 12

We are proposing the inclusion of a non-discrimination statement.

The MLA Board of Directors recommends the passage of these updates to the MLA Bylaws.