2007 Association Convention--New structure and bylaws

Wow! What an amazing convention in Phoenix this past weekend! It was my first national AAUW convention, and I sure picked the right one to attend. There were numerous briefing sessions about the proposed changes to the structure of the organization, all of which gave delegates ample opportunities to ask questions and come to the 2nd business session on July 1 full informed.

The leadership sent a strong message about the absolute need to change our structure through an opening welcome message on Friday, June 29, with a video by DeWitt Jones about how to "Focus Your Vision" and then followed it on June 30 with a plenary session led by strategic planning consultant Sherry Schiller. Schiller made a convincing case for why the proposed structural changes were necessary. She outlined 3 possible scenarios:
1. no changes, ensuring the organization's demise
2. structural changes, but no changes at the local level, allowing the organization to extend its survival but resulting in eventual demise
3. "Phoenix Rising" -- an understanding of the underlying needs for change at all levels, resulting in the organization's growth

And here's the amazing part...
After lots of listening, talking -- most of it intelligent debate, but with a few shrill voices in the mix -- it all came down to a vote of the delegates at the July 1 business session. A number of articulate voices came to the microphones to express their support for the proposal.

But I don't think anyone expected the result of the vote: UNANIMOUS approval! When we craned our necks around the room and realized there hadn't been a single "NO" vote, the delegates began to cheer -- a prolonged, standing ovation. It was a thrilling moment, and a big part of that thrill was the feeling of strength that comes with knowing that such a huge change came with such a strong consensus.

What now? Well, the changes approved mean that the next two years will be ones of transition for the board, and the bylaws committee (which did an AMAZING job, by the way, at this convention), will have their work cut out for them preparing new bylaws to present for membership approval in 2009. Remember that these changes don't kick in until July 1, 2009.

Another change gives the board the authority to call for a mail/email vote on items that come up between conventions (giving ALL of us a vote, not just those who can attend convention). For the time being, the delegate system still exists for conventions, but there is a real chance that when the new bylaws are presented in 2009 that we will be moving completely to a "one member-one vote" system, where any member attending convention gets one vote, rather than delegates receiving bundled votes on behalf of their branches.