A'fore y'all start sendin' in your heartfelt ideas for honesty, transparency, and such, you do need to take a few minutes {actually more than a few HOURS} and figure out the words to make those laudable ideas work in a very nuts-n-bots "mechanical" way such that a 4th grader (who hasn't been "left back or socially passed") can read, understand, and apply.
and now for my next magical trick . . . .
Mark . . . Your characterization of my words as being "heartfelt" seems as though you are attempting to belittle my ideas. Is there something wrong with "heartfelt"? Are my ideas less valued because they are sincere and caring?
Perhaps you could also clarify your concluding statement . . . "figure out the words to make those laudable ideas work in a very nuts-n-bots "mechanical" way such that a 4th grader (who hasn't been "left back or socially passed") can read, understand, and apply." Surely you are not implying that the education level of the AAW membership is so low that you have to stoop down to our level to help us understand? Yes, Mark, I know that you're a lawyer . . . and that I have a doctoral degree . . . but, you know what? I never think less of those who have hadn't the opportunities that I have had. I'm guessing that you feel the same way that I do. But, your words can be misinterpreted.
As for your request that I "need to take a few minutes {actually more than a few HOURS} and figure out the words to make those laudable ideas work in a very nuts-n-bots "mechanical" way" . . . sorry, but I'm not on the committee (remember?). I don't have hours of my time to present my draft of the bylaws.
However, I will give you a few nuts and bolts ideas to consider. And, please Ron . . don't ask me to email these to the Bylaws Committee. You're sitting here reading them. Just cut and past.
When I talk about the Bylaws I think in terms of "transparency, forthrightness, and integrity". (Visit the MAG site for my original post.) By transparency I'm thinking that the AAW should operate in a manner in which we all have a seat at the table. I'm not interested in having the members micromanage the BOD or central office staff. That's the job of the Executive Director and President of the Board. However, all of the members should have open access to what is going on with the organization.
From your earlier posts, Mark, I can predict you're reactions to my next statement. But, frankly, its the Technology Age. And that means electronic communication. Everybody's doing it, Mark. And if they're not . . . they soon will be. We need to use the internet to the advantage of the AAW. To make it short . . . the AAW needs to turn to the internet to keep the members apprised of the goings on of the organization. Specifically:
Board Meetings should be broadcast live over the internet. Video recordings should be made . . . and posted in the Members Only forum. I'm not asking for personnel actions to be broadcast, I understand the legal requirements for privacy. However, there is no reason any the Board Meetings' general session should not be make available for us to observe. We could even have a portion of that BOD meeting open to live questions from the membership via such software programs as Elluminate or Skype.
That's just one example of transparency. There are more ways of helping the AAW's leadership become transparent. It's a matter of opening avenues for members to learn more about what's going on . . . and to participate, if they so desire.
As far as my requests for "forthrightness and integrity" . . . . that covers a wide array of avenues. You're an attorney, your entire profession is built around those cornerstones. But, to offer a few quick suggestions . . . a system of checks and balances needs to be built into the Bylaws. Committee Chairs need to have clearly defined responsibilities. The Executive Director needs to write a Professional Development Plan each year outlining his/her goals for the organization. At the end of the year, the President of the Board sits down and conducts a review of the Professional Development Plan and an evaluation of the ED. Incidentally, included along with the evaluation should be an assessment of the ED's disposition. (The dispositions should be clearly identified in the contractual terms of employment.) If you need help deciding on dispositions . . . just let me know. My university students and colleagues evaluate my own dispositions on an annual basis.
Among my other ideas . . . the minutes of Board meetings should be prepared and finalized within two weeks of the Board meeting. There's no need to wait months and months for the next BOD meeting to approve the minutes. Why not have the minutes written and approved via a conference call . . . within two weeks of the BOD meeting? Then, the minutes are posted on the AAW Members Only site.
But, it all starts with the election of the BOD. And, in my thinking, that means an open election with open discussions with the candidates. As long as the BOD has a selection committee to decide on who is qualified to run . . . . they will never have my trust. Open the candidacy to anyone who has been an AAW member for two years or three or whatever. Let them announce their candidacy in a designated forum ares of the AAW website. Allow the members to engage them in a forum dialogue . . . then, let us vote. It's the Technology Age, remember?
Those are just a few examples of what I think needs to be done to rebuild the faith and trust of the membership.