For the first time in memory, TWHBEA has approved a budget earmarking a reserve of funds for use in mailing proposed bylaws changes to its membership, says Buster Black, TWHBEA Vice President at Large, Bylaws. “This is a significant commitment to recognizing the importance of keeping our own governance timely even in these days of tight money for everyone,” he added. TWHBEA’s present bylaws call for proposed amendments to be submitted to the Bylaws Committee in writing prior to April 1. Thereafter, proposals are considered by the committee and passed along to the Executive Committee for approval or disapproval at its April meeting. Approved amendments are published in the July issue of the Voice and submitted by mail to the members for a final vote. Even though proposed amendments may be mailed along with ballots for the election of directors in order to save money, the lack of a total overlap of the mailings and the cost of printing ballots, receiving them and counting them involves an additional expense estimated at around $14,000 according to TWHBEA’s accountants. Historically, explained Black, the practice was to find and apply available funds from other categories within the budget whenever a mailing of ballots for voting on bylaws changes was needed. In these days of more restrictive funding practices, the possibilities of finding surpluses here and there are no longer likely. Thus Black lobbied for and his committee was granted the restricted reserve for any necessary mailing. If the April 1 deadline or the April Executive Committee meeting dates are passed with no proposed amendments going forward to a vote of the membership, the reserve for mailing will be released to be applied for other budgetary purposes.    

Black has announced that the first point of business for the new Bylaws Committee will be consideration of clarification of the applicability of periods of delay attaching to rights of appeal available to any director receiving certain regulatory suspensions. For now TWHBEA’s bylaws address the matters of directors “on” suspension or “serving” a suspension but do not refer to whether sanctions should be applied only after due process rights of appeal have been exhausted. In addition, at the December membership meeting Black offered a list of points for clean up or correction which will be addressed by the committee. Any member may propose an amendment to the bylaws provided it is submitted to the bylaws committee in writing prior to April 1. Emails will be considered writings and may be addressed to the committee in care of Black at lblack@twhbea.com.