The CATA membership will be asked to vote on two proposed changes to the CATA by-laws by voice vote during the Business Meeting at the CATA Symposium on May 22, 2012. The reason for the proposed change is outlined below. Members will be asked to vote for one of two options, also outlined below.
I. FIRST PROPOSED CHANGE: Relates to the composition of the CATA Executive Council
Current By-Law 5.1.1 The Executive Council of the CATA will be composed of the President, President-Elect, immediate Past President, Secretary, Treasurer, and three Board of Directors.
Reason for Proposed Change: The six-year commitment that has been required of individuals who run for President-Elect (2 years as President-Elect, 2 years as President, and 2 years as Immediate Past-President) has become an impediment to finding members willing to run for President. The Executive Council voted in February, 2012 to reduce the overall time commitment to four years. Since current by-laws require the Executive Council to include a Past-President, the proposed change will eliminate the position of Past-President on the CATA Executive Council. Note: All Past-Presidents will continue to be eligible to serve on the Past-President’s Committee, an ad hoc advisory committee to the Executive Council.
Members will be asked to vote for Proposed Option 1 or Proposed Option 2 as below:
Proposed Option 1: Change 5.1.1. to:
“The Executive Council of the CATA will be composed of the President, President-Elect, Secretary, Treasurer, and Board of Directors (3). “
This option eliminates the position of Immediate Past-President entirely, and does not replace that position on the Executive Council. There would be a total of 7 members on the Executive Council, with a quorum of 4 members required to conduct official business, which reduces the number of members on the CATA Executive Council by one (1).
Proposed Option 2: Change 5.1.1. to:
“The Executive Council of the CATA will be composed of the President, President-Elect, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer, and Board of Directors (3). “
This option eliminates the position of Immediate Past-President entirely, and replaces the Past-President position on the Executive Council with a Vice-President. There will continue to be a total of 8 members on the Executive Council, with a quorum of 5 members required to conduct official business. This option maintains the same number of officers and Board members as are currently on the Executive Council.
The Vice-President’s duties would include:
Assist the President-Elect with planning the CATA Symposium
Assume the position of President-Elect should the President not complete his or her term
Other duties as assigned by the President or Executive Council
II. SECOND PROPOSED CHANGE
Current by-law 7.3.3. lists one of the duties of the President-Elect as
“To serve as the coordinator for CATA Executive Council elections which includes, sending out nominee listing to the membership and collecting membership votes.”
Reason for proposed change: When the office of Past-President is eliminated, some other entity must assume the duties outlined in by-law 7.3.3.
Proposed change: under 9.1. Special committees (ad hoc):
“The Executive Council shall appoint an ad hoc committee to serve as the coordinator for CATA Executive Council elections which includes, sending out nominee listing to the membership and collecting membership votes, no later than December 31 of the year immediately preceding the year in which an election is to take place. The committee will be dissolved after the election.”
Members will be asked to vote “YES” or “NO” for this proposed change.
These proposed by-law changes will be discussed and members will have the opportunity to ask questions at the CATA Symposium, prior to voting.