Once the revised bylaws are posted, and we can get a hard copy from the Corporate Office, is anybody interested in meeting in the new Community Room to go over the new document and see if we have any concerns or if there's things they overlooked? We can also see how many of the 14 amendments we were not allowed to vote on at our Annual Membership meeting have been addressed.
Tom, Not that there’s not an interest, but even if a hard copy is attained, what do you feel can be done to change the outcome? The board has had these changes reviewed by their attorneys and I feel fairly confident there will be little opportunity to affect changes. I also feel it will be rather futile to try to change what we feel needs to be changed or addressed and trying to get any changes made to the pending documents. In other words, unless they are legally not enforceable, there’s nothing to discuss further. The board will decide to proceed with the changes and vote on them as written. The members will have little input in the outcome. So, even if the amendments from the annual meeting are not addressed there will be nothing any one us can do. I would like to think we have input, but I feel we have been shown we have no ability to change the outcome.
The one thing we can do is publically highlight any shortcomings or new rules that would perhaps further isolate the Members. I'm not saying the new bylaws will necessarily be bad, but there are issues that I believe need to be better defined. There are currently several bylaws that can be interpreted in several different ways. Bylaws should not be left open to interpretation. They must be clearly stated and mean only what they say. Just my opinion!
From the time the new bylaws are introduced to the first reading seems to me there’s little time to suggest edits. That short window indicates to me there will be no change entertained. There’s the introduction of the bylaws then a week later, the first reading, on its way to being voted on. Even if changes are warranted, there will be not enough time to get the information out there before the vote is taken. With only one week’s time between the members being informed of the changes then the voting process starts, seems to me that the board will not be encouraging people to participate in the process. The quick turnaround time seems to be doing everything possible to keep the membership out of the process altogether. Would love to collaborate with you again on this project as well, I am just not sure this is a collaborative process that is being driven here. I feel it’s a process of the membership being told this is the new bylaws, enjoy. Notice there’s no time scheduled for feedback or rebuttal. Just saying…..
In a normal process like this there would have been a release a comment period and then an opportunity to discuss the changes and any amendments necessary (See Sun City Wests process). I think we all agree that our process for all decisions is to inform the members what the Board decided. They go to great lengths to limit members who are involved to those who will say yes to anything proposed. My advice is to sit back and enjoy the magic act - Now you see member rights and now you don't.
Tom, I am willing to help with the review. That’s the best thing to do. If we notice any discrepancies we can try to get the board’s attention. I am most interested in how the members fair in all of this. Will keep an open mind and listen to concerns and ideas. I just have a few caveats that I would prefer to discuss offline, if that is possible. Thank you Tom
CM, there are two town halls scheduled in a couple of weeks which would give time for reasonable digestion of the new bylaws and two town halls to bring your concerns to the forefront. The group had a set schedule for release, review and comments before it went before the Board for the approval process. The schedule was tight but we wanted to be sure the members had plenty of time for review. I think that has happened here.
There is two dates for presentation set, then after the evening session, in less than a week’s time, the first reading occurs. Where’s the time for member comments? Did I misread the schedule of events? I see nothing scheduled for member comments. I see time scheduled for bylaws presentation. I don’t see any follow up scheduled time for member concerns or comments. Then less than a week after the second bylaw presentation, the first reading by the board. Isn’t it during this time, the board could decide to wave the second reading and adopt the changes as written? How does this translate to plenty of time for the members to be able to digest the changes? This feels as if no matter what the changes say or do, the members will not have any input as to what or how they are governed. These changes are not necessarily in the members best interests are they? This is going to be an edict and no member involvement is needed or encouraged. Would that be a good analogy for what is going to happen?
The purpose of every RCSC Town Hall I’ve attended was to inform and engage with members. Comments and questions were encouraged and addressed at each Town Hall. Until otherwise communicated, ALL the upcoming RCSC Town Halls will be as intended…members informed and welcome to engage in discussion. Key Aspects of All Town Hall Meetings • Direct Dialogue: They provide a platform for sharing information and direct conversation between those in power and those they represent or serve. • Open Communication: Town hall meetings promote open communication, transparency, and the sharing of ideas. • Flexibility: They can be held in various venues and formats, including in-person meetings, virtual platforms like Zoom, or a combination of both. • Focus on Feedback: A core element is the opportunity for attendees to ask questions, provide feedback, and voice concerns.
EO - Thanks for the "information" (411). I think what is being said here is the Board process is all window dressing and no substance. I very much appreciate your information and hope you realize that we all feel we are experiencing groundhogs' day.
So, we know how to copy and paste a description of a town hall meeting. Two way communication, open dialogue, blah blah blah. My point is that this is mere window dressing. So people can speak out: to what avail? Will it change what has been written affecting the change to the bylaws? Will any wording be removed or will any sentence be amended because of what a member wants to have changed? The simple answer is no. Once the attorney reviews the documents and gives their stamp of approval, these changes are a done deal. Any conversation is so you feel you actually had a say in the matter. Lip service. Nothing more. The board will approve all of the changes and nothing a member or member body is going to change the outcome. IMHO
“There is two dates for presentation set, then after the evening session, in less than a week’s time, the first reading occurs. Where’s the time for member comments? Did I misread the schedule of events? I see nothing scheduled for member comments. I see time scheduled for bylaws presentation. I don’t see any follow up scheduled time for member concerns or comments.” ~ CM “The purpose of every RCSC Town Hall I’ve attended was to inform and engage with members. Comments and questions were encouraged and addressed at each Town Hall.” ~ ~ EO We’ll know which Groundhog’s Day Town Hall version plays soon. • Presentation only, no member involvement • Member questions and comments encouraged (Goundhog’s Day movie trailer 1993)
So, members comments and questions are encouraged. Does anything the members say matter? Members are encouraged to speak out about the new bylaws. Any members comments can change the outcome? It’s kind of like the members are being told that they can share their comments and concerns, as they are welcome, but there will not be any change affected by anything a member says. Feel free to kill some time trying to question any of the new changes, as the changes have been reviewed and sanctioned by the attorney, and that’s all this board will hear. If the attorney says they are good, then that’s the final draft we are viewing. Nothing can change the outcome, as long as the attorney is the final decision making entity.
And it's not just what the bylaws say, it's also about how the Board interprets those bylaws. I have the perfect example that if it has not been corrected in this rewrite, then you will hear about it in my comments!
Tom, Since you have a specific example, then you will be looking for the corrected version in the new bylaws presentation. This would be the ideal scenario as to how or what can be amended, if it hasn’t been already. Look forward to hearing what the outcome is.
