Votes and Polls (During the Fourth Quarter of 2008)

On 9/26/08, I, Randy Rowley, initiated a vote on three proposed amendments to the Bylaws (by me).  Their intent was to strengthen our voting procedures and to better address amendment proposal procedures and procedures on how we would deal with a proposal to remove a member from the Club.  The vote was finalized on 10/3/08.

Proposition 1

Ever since we have had Bylaws, our votes have been decided by a simple majority.  In looking at the Austin Christian Bass Club's Constitution and Bylaws they handle amendment votes as follows: "A two-thirds majority of members attending is required for passage."  I think that this is wise as it makes it more difficult to change the Bylaws.  Our Bylaws (along with our Statement of Faith) are our most important documents.  They describe how we will do things and how we won't.  Changing them should require a mandate from the members and not just a simple majority.

However, historically the vast majority of our votes have been unanimously approved or something like 15 - 1.  The only one that I can think of that passed that was even close was when I proposed to add that the Club will financially support a pro-hunting/pro-shooting/pro-conservation group.  As I recall that vote was 7 - 5 in favor (we eventually decided to donate $35 a year to the NRA).  If we had required a 2/3 majority back when that vote was taken the proposal would have failed.

We also need to make it clear that votes are decided by a 2/3 majority of those who decided to cast a vote and not 2/3 majority of all active Club members.  Historically the most votes that were ever cast on an amendment proposal was 19, which would not even be 1/3 of our present 64 active Club members.

I proposed to change our existing Bylaws from:

IV. Officers:

B. 5. ... "Any candidate or proposal approved by a majority vote of the active Club members or Club officers (as applicable) shall constitute as an official action of the Club.  If there is not a majority vote a runoff vote must be held using the same procedure as above, except without a minimum one week discussion period.  If there are multiple options in a vote, and a runoff must be held, the options that statistically cannot win will be eliminated from the ballot.  ...Any Executive Decision can later be overturned by a majority vote of the active Club members (an active Club member would have to propose a full vote on the Executive Decision).

P. The Club officers shall maintain an Annual Fiscal Year Budget (beginning each September the 1st).  The proposed Annual Fiscal Year Budget must be approved by a majority vote of the Club officers prior to implementation.  Any proposed unplanned purchase(s) of $50.00 or more must be approved by a majority vote of the Club officers prior to the purchase(s).

VI. Meetings:

A. Official meetings will be held according to the schedule of the Annual Calendar of Events that was approved by a majority vote of the Club officers.

To:

IV. Officers:

B. 5. ... "Any candidate approved by a majority vote or any proposal approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the active Club members or Club officers (as applicable) who cast a vote shall constitute as an official action of the Club.  If there is a tie during an officer election a runoff election must be held.  ...Any Executive Decision can later be overturned by a two-thirds majority vote of the active Club members who cast a vote (an active Club member would have to propose a full vote on the Executive Decision).  "Not a majority vote," "vote," and "using the same procedure as above, except without a minimum one week discussion period.  If there are multiple options in a vote, and a runoff must be held, the options that statistically cannot win will be eliminated from the ballot" were deleted.  The highlighted words were added.

P. The Club officers shall maintain an Annual Fiscal Year Budget (beginning each September the 1st).  The proposed Annual Fiscal Year Budget must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the Club officers who cast a vote prior to implementation.  Any proposed unplanned purchase(s) of $50.00 or more must be approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the Club officers who cast a vote prior to the purchase(s).  The highlighted words were added.

VI. Meetings:

A. Official meetings will be held according to the schedule of the Annual Calendar of Events that was approved by a two-thirds majority vote of the Club officers who cast a vote.  The highlighted words were added.

The proposition passed 12 votes to one.

Proposition 2

Another Bylaw that the Bass Club has for Involuntary Termination of Membership is "The Executive Committee, by unanimous agreement, is empowered to remove from membership any person who by willful action refuses to abide by this constitution and by-laws."  Our Bylaws regarding removing a member only call for a majority vote.  I like their concept as it is the same as our jury system.  Either 100 percent of the Executive Committee (or Executive Officers in our case) decides to remove the offending member or he is not removed, just as 100% of a jury has to agree that a defendant is guilty before a sentence can be considered.  If just one juror is not convinced then it is called a "hung jury" and the defendant walks.  Removing a member should only be considered for egregious violations of our Bylaws and/or Statement of Faith and should not be decided by a simple majority vote.  It has never been done before and I pray that it will never happen.  However, if such a proposal ever occurs I want to give the accused the same rights that our jury system gives defendants.

This would require the following Bylaw to be changed from:

III. Membership:  J.  Members and Youth members may be removed from active membership by their own request, by failure to renew their memberships, or as is determined necessary by a majority vote of the active Club members.

To:

III. Membership:  J.  Members and Youth members may be removed from active membership by their own request, by failure to renew their memberships (adult members only), or as is determined necessary by a unanimous vote of the Club's executive officers (presidents, vice presidents, and the membership director) who cast a vote.  ...majority vote of the active Club members" was deleted.  The highlighted words were added.

The proposition passed 12 votes to one.

Proposition 3

Presently every proposal by an active Club member to change the Bylaws and/or Statement of Faith has to be discussed for a minimum of one week by the active Club members (or officers for proposed changes to the Calendar of Events and Fiscal Year Budget) and followed by a vote of the active Club members.  We need to change this procedure in order to prevent proposals that clearly would not be in the Club's best interest or would hurt it from being presented to the active Club members and possibly causing dissension.  Imagine if an anti-hunter joined the Club.  He could wreck all kinds of havoc by making ridiculous proposals that, in accordance with our present Bylaws, we would have to discuss for at least a week and then vote on for at least a week.  The addition of "D" explains the procedures on how a proposal to remove a member from Club membership would be handled.

I proposed to change our existing Bylaw from:

VII. Amendment proposals to the Bylaws, Statement of Faith,  Annual Calendar of Events, or Annual Fiscal Year Budget:

1. Active members (only) can make amendment proposals.
2. Amendment proposals must be made to the Club President and can be in written (preferably) or oral form.
3. Amendment proposals do not require a "second" in order to be put to a vote.

To:

VII. Amendment proposals to the Bylaws, Statement of Faith,  Annual Calendar of Events, and/or Annual Fiscal Year Budget and Proposals to Remove Members from Membership in the Club:  The highlighted words were added.