By-Laws for a new era
The ACLU of Pennsylvania has more than 18,000 members and a statewide staff of 16 in three offices. Every year a budget of nearly $1.7 million is raised and spent. Our by-laws were last revised more than 20 years ago, when we were a much smaller and less active group. At its December 2006 meeting, the Board of Directors decided that the existing Board of only 13 members was inadequate to the task of overseeing today's ACLU of Pennsylvania and that the by-laws needed to be revised. This major revision to the by-laws was the product of more than a year's work by a broad-based Governance Committee, which was chaired by Clark Moeller, a former Board member from Towanda, Bradford County.
Questions & Answers
Why did the Board of Directors decide to expand?
The ACLU of PA is one of the largest ACLU affiliates in the country but has one of the smallest boards. Much of the work of a board is done through committees. The expanded board of 25 will provide a productive number of working committees and will provide leadership opportunities for a larger number of dedicated ACLU of PA members. What does a Board member do? A board member articulates, enhances and supports the over all mission of the ACLU of PA. The board provides financial oversight and ensures that resources are in place to support and grow the mission. This includes personal financial support at each board member's discretion, fundraising work, and participation in one or more of the board committees. Board members serve as ACLU of PA ambassadors, voices for civil liberties and civil rights in the larger world. A person may serve on the board for two three-year terms before rotating off for at least a year. Former board members, as well as other ACLU members who have not been on the Board, can serve on Board committees as well. Who do we want to fill the new Board member seats? The Nominating Committee is seeking ACLU of PA members with a passion for civil liberties and civil rights. Our commitment is to build a geographically, racially, ethnically and professionally diverse slate. We are looking for individuals who have extended financial support to the ACLU of PA at a level of their own discretion and understand that an important part of board service includes asking others to support the ACLU of PA. How do I submit my name to the Nominating Committee for consideration? Submit your name, with contact information and a short biographical statement to the post office box or email address below by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, September 8, 2007. Please explain in your statement why you would like to serve, and note how long you have been a member of the ACLU. The Nominating Committee will consider all submissions and the list of selected candidates will be posted this web site on Monday, September 10, 2007. If I am not selected by the Nominating Committee, is there another way to get on the ballot? Yes, the new by-laws include a petition process. The signatures of 25 ACLU of PA members are required. A petition form will be available on this web site on Monday, September 10, 2007. Signed petitions must be submitted by 5:00 pm on Monday, September 24, 2007 to the post office box or fax number below: Board Nominations / ACLU of PA
P.O. Box 40008
Philadelphia PA 19106
or
boardnominations@aclupa.org
or
Fax: 215-592-1343 (If you fax or email, please mail the originals afterward.) Once the ballot is complete, how do I cast my vote? The voting ballot will be included in the October 2007 newsletter and due back no later than November 10, 2007. All ACLU of PA members are eligible to vote in the election. Is the board of the ACLU-PA Foundation separate from the Union board? Under our by-laws in effect for the last 20 years, the same people have constituted the Board of the ALCU-PA and of its affiliated non-profit Foundation. Under the new by-laws, that system is changed. Under the new Foundation by-laws, the Foundation itself -- in contrast to the ACLU-PA -- will have no chapters or members, and will be governed by a Board of Trustees. The Foundation Trustees will be the members of the Union Board plus one independent Trustee who is a member of the ACLU-PA but not a member of the Union Board. This is designed to ensure that the Foundation Board is always reminded to keep the ACLU's educational and charitable activities absolutely nonpartisan and separate from any lobbying or other legislative program. How is the Independent Trustee of the Foundation board to be chosen? Under the new Foundation by-laws, there will be no election for Foundation Board members. Those ACLU members elected to the Union Board will also serve on the Foundation Board. The independent Trustee will be elected by the rest of the Foundation Board members. Any member of the ACLU-PA who wishes to be considered for the Foundation Board seat as Independent Trustee should contact the Nominating Committee before November 1, 2007, by e-mail: boardnominations@aclupa.org. Have the new Foundation by-laws already been approved and adopted? The new Foundation By-Laws (31k PDF) have been approved by the present Foundation Board pursuant to the current by-laws of the ACLU Foundation of Pennsylvania. However, because the new by-laws will eliminate the concept of Foundation "membership" and thus could be viewed as reducing the rights of ACLU-PA members to vote for these Board members, the current Foundation board decided to put the ultimate question of adoption of the new Foundation by-laws to a vote of the membership at the annual meeting, to be held May 5, 2007, at Camp Hill, PA. More information about that meeting is available here. A copy of the notice can be found here. How can I learn more? We're so glad you asked… 1. You can read the new by-laws. 2. You can leave a message at 215-592-1513 x 505 or email bylaws@aclupa with questions. 3. Attend the ACLU of PA State Membership Conference on May 5, 2007, at the Radisson Penn Harris Hotel and Conference Center in Camp Hill. (Please note that this is a location change from previous conferences)
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