Proposed LifeRing Bylaw Changes
Twenty-third Annual Congress | Sunday, June 4, 2023
Notice of Proposed Bylaws Amendment to Change
Proposal for Amendment to Current Bylaws Article 7.1:
LifeRing Community Member Sue Betts proposes an amendment to LifeRing Current Bylaws Article 7.1 to allow any active LifeRing Community member to propose Bylaws Amendments and BOD Actions within thirty days of the LifeRing Annual Conference.
LifeRing Bylaws Article 7.1 currently permits only registered delegates to submit proposals for Bylaws amendments and BOD actions. If passed, this amendment would permit all active LifeRing Community members to submit proposals for Bylaws amendments and BOD actions.
The proposed amended language change is identified below.
Amended Bylaws Language Proposal:
ARTICLE 7 Proposals for Bylaws Amendments and Board Actions [Added 2013.] 7.1 A delegate An active LifeRing Community member may submit proposals for Board actions (so long as such proposed Board actions would not violate the Bylaws or other organizational documents of LifeRing) and amendments to the Bylaws, provided that such proposals must be submitted in writing to LifeRing, either by email at service@lifering.org, or by mail at the mailing address listed on LifeRing’s website, at least thirty days prior to the Annual Congress (the delegate who submits a proposal, an “Initiator”). The Board shall then establish a committee to work with each Initiator to review that Initiator’s proposal. In connection with such review, the committee may propose revised language for the proposal, which revised language, if any, must be provided to the Initiator by no later than 6:00 p.m. Pacific time on the seventh day prior to the first day of the Annual Congress for which the proposal was submitted. The Initiator shall have until 6:00 p.m. Eastern time on the day prior to the first day of the Annual Congress to validate any revised language proposed by the Board committee. If the Initiator does not validate the language proposed by the Board committee by that deadline, the proposal shall not be presented at that Annual Congress.
Impact on Other Bylaws Amendments and Supporting Documentation
The proposed amendment to Current Bylaws Article 7.1 will not impact Bylaws Article 6.9, which identifies registered Delegates and Delegates at Large as the only LifeRing Community members permitted to vote on the absentee ballot.
This amendment would impact language included in the Eligibility Determination for Proposed Bylaw Changes document currently and annually posted on the LifeRing website during the Annual Conference Season.
Operational Impact
The vetting process for Initiators should be minimal. LifeRing Members are clearly defined in Current Bylaws Article 4.
Financial Impact
None.
Impact on Nonprofit Status
None.
Support for Bylaws Amendment Request:
The Delegates' Registration Deadline is 10 days prior to Congress. Requiring Bylaws amendments and BOD actions proposals to be completed only by registered Delegates and Delegates at Large 30 days prior to the Annual Congress is cumbersome and exclusionary.
I hope you agree that allowing all active LifeRing Community members an opportunity to propose amendments Bylaws and Board Actions is a good way to include our active community and offer more voices a chance to be heard.