Karen Santos Freeman
+1.703.647.4917
kfreeman@sla.org
SLA MEMBERS APPROVE ONLINE VOTING AND
GOVERNANCE-FISCAL YEAR ALIGNMENT
Bylaws Changes Overwhelmingly Supported
Alexandria, Virginia, USA, 21 June 2005 ? Special Libraries Association (SLA) members voted overwhelmingly to approve two sets of amendments to the association?s bylaws?one to allow for electronic voting by members, and the other to align the governance year with the fiscal year.
The votes were cast at the SLA Annual Business Meeting, held during the association?s annual conference in Toronto, earlier this month. Several hundred members attended the business meeting and voted almost unanimously to approve bylaws changes to permit e-voting. No one voiced opposition to the proposal.
?Online voting is the future of association democracy,? said Janice R. Lachance, SLA Executive Director. ?It allows for greater membership participation, recognizing and accommodating the reality that many active, valuable members sometimes cannot travel to our business meetings.?
SLA is now accepting bids for a secure remote electronic voting system. The association plans to have a system in place before the end of the year.
Members also demonstrated strong, widespread support for aligning the association?s governance year with its fiscal year. Starting in 2007, SLA?s governance year will begin in January when the fiscal year begins. The governance and fiscal years will run concurrently from January through December.
Previously?and until the change takes effect in 2007?the governance year was defined as June to June. Each successive year began at the end of the annual conference.
?Adjusting this nonalignment will result in more transparent financial and operational management for the long-term good of the association,? Lachance said. ?It reduces reporting requirements, which will make it easier to attract volunteer leaders.?
SLA President-Elect Rebecca Vargha, who takes office in June 2006, will serve an extended term to allow for the transition. Vargha will serve until the succeeding president takes office in January 2008. Individual units are determining their own transition of terms and officers to align the governance and fiscal years.
About SLA
The Special Libraries Association (SLA) is a nonprofit global organization for innovative information professionals and their strategic partners. SLA serves nearly 12,000 members in 83 countries in the information profession, including corporate, academic, and government information specialists. SLA promotes and strengthens its members through learning, advocacy, and networking initiatives. For more information, visit us www.sla.org.
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