Members OK electronic balloting, align fiscal-governance years

Information Outlook, July, 2005

SLA members voted overwhelmingly to approve two sets of amendments to the association's bylaws--one to allow for electronic voting by members, and the other to align the governance year with the fiscal year.

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The votes were cast at the SLA Annual Business Meeting, held during the annual conference in Toronto in June. Several hundred members attended the business meeting and voted almost unanimously to approve bylaws changes to permit e-voting. No one voiced opposition to the proposal.

"Online voting is the future of association democracy," said Janice R. Lachance, SLA executive director. "It allows for greater membership participation, recognizing and accommodating the reality that many active, valuable members sometimes cannot travel to our business meetings."

SLA is now accepting bids for a secure remote electronic voting system. The association plans to have a system in place before the end of the year.

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Members also demonstrated strong, widespread support for aligning the association's governance year with its fiscal year. Starting in 2007, SLA's governance year will begin in January when the fiscal year begins. The governance and fiscal years will run concurrently from January through December.

Previously--and until the change takes effect in 2007--the governance year was defined as June to June. Each successive year began at the end of the annual conference.

"Adjusting this nonalignment will result in more transparent financial and operational management for the long-term good of the association," Lachance said. "It reduces reporting requirements, which will make it easier to attract volunteer leaders."

SLA President-Elect Rebecca Vargha, who takes office in June 2006, will serve an extended term to allow for the transition. Vargha will serve until the succeeding president takes office in January 2008. Individual units are determining their own transition of terms and officers to align the governance and fiscal years.

New Caucuses

At its first meeting, on June 8 the 2005-2006 SLA Board of Directors approved two new caucuses: the Inclusion Caucus and the Architecture, Building Engineering, Construction and Design Caucus.

Here are the specifics of the two new caucuses.

Architecture, Building Engineering, Construction and Design Caucus

Scope: Seeks to serve information professionals working for public and private organizations in the building and real estate trades. This includes, but is not limited to, architecture, building engineering, construction, interior design, landscape architecture, development, public works, historic preservation, urban planning/urban design, planning, and real estate. Convener: Dennis Hamilton

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Inclusion Caucus

Scope: Will offer coordination of and partnering for the initiatives of various SLA units addressing diversity challenges as well as the collection and dissemination of information and best practices from our membership. Where the activities of other units are aligned with the scope of the Inclusion Caucus, the caucus will link to and promote the efforts of the other unit. Co-Conveners: TBD

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To join, a member should contact the membership department (membership@sla.org) for the caucus to be added to their existing membership. Caucus dues are $12 annually.

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