ACS COMMENT
Faster Bylaw Reviews For Divisions & Local Sections HARMON B. ABRAHAMSON, CHAIR, COMMITTEE ON CONSTITUTION & BYLAWS
C&B’s full review, which normally takes Constitution & Bylaws (C&B) since 2011. I three to four months if subcommittees are was an associate member in 2006–07 and available to do the reviews. Unfortunately, have been a full committee member since the expedited bylaw review process is not 2008. During that period, available to any unit that is there have been a lot of incorporated. changes, not only to the To take advantage of the ACS Governing Documents expedited bylaw review, (www.acs.org/bulletin5) a division or local section but also to unit bylaws. In must first answer a few fact, from 2010 to 2012, C&B specific questions to alcertified bylaw changes for low tailoring of the model divisions and local sections bylaws to the specific situat a rate more than three ation of the unit. After C&B times as high as was typical receives the responses to a decade earlier. The peak the questions from either came in 2011, when the comthe chair or the secretary of mittee certified 28 sets of the unit, C&B will prepare unit bylaws. a document that shows the Despite that tremendous We are pleased alterations compared with activity, 108 local sections the unit’s current bylaws that more and and three divisions have not using Microsoft Word’s more ACS updated their bylaws since “track changes” feature. Council members 1999, out of the 187 local The unit must then submit are making sections, 32 divisions, and the proposed bylaw changConstitution five international chemies to its members for a vote cal sciences chapters in in accordance with the cur& Bylaws their ACS. We understand that rent bylaws, which in most choice for volunteers have more imcases will be by U.S. mail committee portant things to do than or in a meeting. The date of membership. updating bylaws, but keep voting and the vote results in mind that bylaws, both must then be submitted to on the national level and on C&B, which will certify the the unit level, are the rules new unit bylaws on behalf and regulations that govern how you do of the ACS Council. Of course, local secbusiness. If your unit bylaws have not been tions and divisions still have the option of updated, they likely still refer to outdated going through the more in-depth review membership categories and do not allow process, which might be better suited to you to conduct elections through elecyou if your bylaws need to include special tronic means. provisions. With an eye toward reducing the backlog of out-of-date unit bylaws, I am happy to IN ADDITION TO its involvement in bylaw announce that C&B has developed an exreviews, C&B has a direct impact on ACS pedited bylaw review process. This process governance through the petition process. uses C&B’s model bylaws as a template and C&B reviews all petitions submitted to must be followed exactly. Otherwise the change the ACS Governing Documents. It unit bylaw changes will need to undergo often suggests or requires changes so that CHUCK KIMMERLE/U OF NORTH DAKOTA MEDIA RELATIONS
I HAVE BEEN chair of the Committee on
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NOVEMBER 4, 2013
petitions meet the intent and goals of petitioners while avoiding or minimizing unintended problems for the society and its members. Although C&B is neutral on the subject of the petitions, it is in a good position to influence the society’s governance documents. C&B also has direct input in setting rules and regulations for how the society does business, not only on the national level through the ACS Governing Documents but also at the level of ACS divisions, local sections, and international chemical sciences chapters. We are pleased that more and more ACS Council members are making C&B their choice for committee membership. C&B is a good committee for a new councilor who wishes to learn about the inner workings of the society, as well as for more seasoned councilors who want to put their experience and knowledge of governance to work for the society. Note that C&B is a standing committee of the council, and as such, only councilors are eligible to serve on it. But even though it’s necessary for you to be a councilor to be on the committee, you’re certainly not required to be a lawyer. Good editorial skills and knowledge of the society’s governance structure are assets for C&B members. IF YOU’RE A COUNCILOR and interested
in guiding the governance of the society, we encourage you to consider joining C&B, which meets all day Sunday during ACS national meetings and Wednesday afternoons after council meetings as necessary. We also welcome others to attend the committee’s open meetings, which are typically held early Sunday afternoon during ACS national meetings. For more information about C&B, contact Staff Liaison Barbara Polansky at either
[email protected] or bpolansky@ acs.org, or call (202) 872-4071 or (800) 227-5558 ext. 4071. ◾
