Ok, for any one that is interested I have made HTML versions of the Utah (which I already like the looks of) and the National bylaws (which do not look like chapter bylaws at all). PM me if you want a copy of these two as they currently exist in the national and Utah chapter, copied into MS Word 97 HTML format. There is tool in MS Word that allows text changes to be tracked easily, both additions and deletions to be highlighted in color so it is easy to share proposed changes in an easy to read, and follow format.
I am use to huge amounts of reading and text creation of this kind of stuff on a daily basis so I am temporarily volunteering to help Brandon (Goodburbon) write, edit some bylaw versions for us to consider while I am still motivated to do so.
At some point the writers need additional eyes, to catch errors that get by those of us who have worked on the text too long (like simple grammer, and spelling errors. MikeForte tells me has a masters in English, so with his permision (?) I am going to ask him to hold back and be one of the grammer readers towards the end. I am also going to creat a simple short, yes or no question list of things to see what the general consensus is on some topics that pertain to the by laws, without dragging everyone into the long drawn out legaleas text that puts most people to sleep.
On seanR's suggestions, I apreaciate his help and input, but I think we can go way beyond what he has suggested and have a stronger, better organized chapter up and running just as fast, maybe faster, if we keep on the path we are already on. The process we have been going through on line here is getting us all better aquanted than delegating to a committee would ever do.
I am thinking doing some minimal work ( this kind of stuff goes fast for me) on the bylaws now is another way of getting some things going (chapter wise) in and of itself.
Otherwise, we will end up like most of the other chapters with a default set of national bylaws that say or do nothing useful about us, and once the chapter is formed no one will care to bother with revising it, as evidenced by most of the other chapters.
Beleive it or not the process going on in these threads the last few weeks has been gathering strength, and attracting new members, some who have just decided to pay up this week as new paying members because of the activity in this forum!
Also I see no reason to hold up an election for BOD Directors/Officers over the bylaws. We can work on them and probably have something acceptable ready to go before the election is even over with. Then we can impress the hell out of the national guys with what we have done.
goodburbon said:
OK here is what I have so far
Most of the chapters have adopted the national by-laws
here is the only one I got a link to that didn't
http://www.naxja.org/forum/showthread.php?t=14660
and here are Sean R's reccomendations
)Appoint three level headed people for a "nominating committee"
2)Have those people select the BOD, no vote is needed right now, hold your first election in the fall.
3)Adopt the national by-laws as your own for now, work on the real set once things get going.