Introducing Your By-Laws Committee

In order to determine exactly what the Bylaws Committee is all about, we need to take a look at the definition of “bylaws” from Webster’s Dictionary. “Bylaws (n.) are the written rules for conduct of a corporation, association, partnership or any organization. Bylaws generally provide for meetings, elections of a board of directors and officers, filling vacancies, notices, types and duties of officers, committees and other routine conduct. Bylaws are, in effect, a contract among members and must be formally adopted and/or amended.”

Essentially, MEA’s Bylaws Committee studies and reviews our organization’s bylaws and recommends amendments to the Board of Directors for approval. Amendment suggestions can be brought forward by committee members, Board members and/or Executive committee members.

The committee recently had the first change of 2010 approved by the Board of Directors at the March meeting. Article VI, Section 1 was changed to read, “The standing committees shall consist of the Building, By-Laws, Communications, Elections, Finance, Health & Welfare, Membership, Political Action, Social & Recreation, and Standing Rules committees. Ad Hoc committees are those committees formed for a specific purpose or event and are to be formed as needed by the Board of Directors or President with confirmation from the Board of Directors.” In addition, Article VI, Section 2 now reads, “The President shall appoint the Chair of all standing and Ad Hoc committees.”

These amendments were to address the fact that many of the previously listed committees were no longer active.

The current members of the committee are Second Vice President Jan Lord, Ananta Baidya, Sheila Beale, Stephanie Clark, Mary Enyeart, Carmel Honeycutt, Pete Lynch and Board Secretary Kyle Wiggins. The committee meets at least once per month, one hour prior to the Board of Directors meeting.

For more information about the By-Laws Committee or amendment suggestions, please contact Jan Lord at jlord@sandiego.gov