As new Chair of the AARC Bylaws Committee, I would like to take a minute of your time (I know you are all fast readers) and comment on the progress and the help we need from affiliate Bylaws Committee Chairpersons.

Wow, when Jerry Luedke had to resign due to an overwhelming work load with a new job, and I inherited this job, I had no idea what I was getting into. I have been involved in writing our state's bylaws but not having to evaluate someone else's. With the tutelage of my "pro" Bylaws Committee member, Bob Fluck, and the assignment of Trish Blakely as consultant from the Board, Dianne Kimble, Laura Lucas and I are plugging away.

I know many of you are frustrated with the amount of time it takes to get your bylaws approved and in place. Part of the delay is the transition of Chairs. Another problem is that not everyone is following the policy and procedure for submitting their new bylaws. A letter from the Society's bylaws chairperson, or the affiliate President must accompany the proposed bylaws explaining the primary changes included in their submission. These two things must be mailed to Pat Lee at AARC so that she can log in their date off receipt. She then copies them and distributes them to the committee members with a deadline for recommendations to be forwarded to the Chair. The proposed bylaws have to have the strike through (for areas to be deleted) and the underlines (for areas to be added). It would really be helpful if a contact person, i.e., bylaws Chair's name, address, phone and e-mail address were included in the accompanying letter to facilitate and expedite communication. The committee than each makes recommendations; these are tabulated and sent back to the affiliate. When revisions are made, these must again be mailed to Pat Lee with a cover letter explaining what was done. She will log them in and send them to us for another review. If everyone agrees that affiliate bylaws re not in conflict with AARC bylaws, and also flow well and make sense, the committee will recommend to the Board of Directors that they be approved. Only then should the state society mail the newly revised and approved bylaws to their members for ratification. Until that occurs, states must go by their previous bylaws.

I know all of this was explained and reiterated by Trish Blakely when she was Chair of the Bylaws Committee. However, considering some of the problems this committee has had, we thought it best to remind everyone of the correct process. Additionally committee members change and sometimes information is not forwarded to the next person.

We have made quite a bit of headway. We are working with ten states, and have a few who will have to wait till the year 2001 for review. As volunteers, you all know there is just so much we can accomplish in a given time. I sincerely apologize for any inconvenience the turnover has caused for you, and I ask for your patience. Believe me, I couldn't ask for a more active committee, and I believe they can vouch for the high level of communication that I generate, and that we share.

I just wanted to take this opportunity to remind you of this process, ask your patience and prepare anyone who is running for election to this committee. It's great to work with such a professional and dependable committee. It really makes it worthwhile.

Thank you for working with us to improve the turnaround time, and for understanding why it takes so long to accomplish approval. Each time we receive a set of bylaws, we must look at them as though for the first time.

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