Lonestar MensaLonestar MensaBylaws Change ProcessBylaws Change Process

Annual GatheringAnnual GatheringBylaws WorkshopBylaws Workshop

Don DrumtraDon Drumtra2008 July 4 2008 July 4

Why Do It?Why Do It?

• Electronic voting

• Any change opens up all parts

• An opportunity to try new things

What Did We Do?What Did We Do?

• Set up a bylaws committee

How Did We Do It?How Did We Do It?

• Asked for volunteer members• Looked for diversity

– Heavy hitters– Different skills– Folks who disagree– Registered parliamentarian– LocSec (ex officio)

How Did We Do It?How Did We Do It?

• Empowered members– Decisions by majority consensus– Presence not required to vote– Vote each time on all past work– Only decisions are recorded– Provided personal workbooks– Begin and end on time (one hour)

How Did We Do It?How Did We Do It?

• Agreed on rules and process– Consider and agree on ideas

(questions and answers)

– Develop draft paragraphs– Discuss and modify draft

paragraphs (loop until agreed)– Consider and approve final draft

paragraphs (loop until agreed)

How Did We Do It?How Did We Do It?

• Provided visibility to all– Recognized participants up front– Open convenient meetings

(with TGIT)– Open Website– Monthly reports in newsletter and

to ExComm– Input from members encouraged

WebsiteWebsite

• Bare bones– Only HTML– No templates, CSS, or graphics

• Updated within 48 hours

• Self archiving(except drafts and Homepage (agendas))

• Home page archives

End ProductsEnd Products

• Draft new bylaws– Last resort alternatives if necessary

• Old bylaws LILO changes and explanation

• Continuing minutes (single session)

• Continuing reports

Challenges FacedChallenges Faced

• Proposed Wiki

• Proposed discussion site

• Platform for Website

• Setting the quorum (3)

• War stories

Questions?Questions?

http://lonestar.us.mensa.org/bylaws/http://lonestar.us.mensa.org/bylaws/

drumtra@aol.comdrumtra@aol.com